Whirlwind Reflections It has been over a month since Synodical Vice President David Buegler and I completed our whirlwind tour around the district and put before 67 interested congregations what financial goals Fan into Flame presents and the opportunities our congregations may choose to follow. I thought I would share with you some reflections.

First, any type of broad mission-oriented fund raising challenges us to suppress notions that we've picked up as Americans. “Why organize such a large-scale effort to begin with? Why can't each congregation just decide what missions they'd like to support and do it directly on their own?” Those are valid questions. But the proposed projects are well beyond the scope of any one or several congregations. Pastor Buegler expresses it best: “Doing together what we could never do separately.” Who of us alone could place 35 missionaries in foreign fields? Who of us alone could decide where best to send them? Who alone could refurbish the seminary in India? How could a handful of congregations fund 60 new mission outposts? Even our most ambitious Ohio District congregation has begun only 3-4. Synod-wide efforts such as Fan into Flame (and previous campaigns) mesh well with one of our foundational reasons for organizing as a Synod, “Our Lord's will that the diversities of gifts should be for the common profit.” Why exist as a Synod if each congregation goes its own way with no thought for the rest?

Secondly, while local congregations have a better feel for what's going on in their own setting, they may not have the information necessary to decide what priority should be given to the multitude of projects that exist. The advantage of a World Missions department ought to be that their vision extends further and they are in a better place to assess trends and priorities, and know where missionaries or capital expenditures are needed most.

That leads to my third reflection: fund-raising campaigns call for trust. That is why Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men” (2 Cor 8:20-21). At one time high trust levels existed among our congregations. Members' offering envelopes contained only two categories: home and missions. Where those missions fields were, what priority one field had over another – that was left to those whose worldwide scope was more informed than that of the typical congregational member. Insofar as suspicions creep in, insofar as rumors are allowed their sway, insofar as trust is occasionally broken - people become more cautious or distrusting. With internet access, folks are open to a wider range of information. They take matters into their own hands in a way that says, “We think we know as much, if not more than you.” But such an approach is incredibly time-consuming for locals who feel compelled to investigate every mission project available. Their desire to be good stewards can be compromised by all of the time spent investigating each proposed project.

Finally, there is something to be said for working together as Synod in such a venture. St Paul wrote to the Corinthians about the effect their gifts to the Jerusalem church would have: “This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proven yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the Gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you” (2 Cor 9:13-14). Benefits abound to both receivers and givers of such gifts when we work together as the Synod we say we are and have pledged ourselves to be.

- President Cripe