LCMC Annual Gathering

Tim and I had the opportunity to go to Denver, CO earlier this week to attend the LCMC Annual Gathering! It was SO much fun and a lot of learning went on! Tim was CERTIFIED in the LCMC while we were there! Which is a BIG relief, yet opened a bunch of doors for decisions to be made! Tim can start looking for a call pretty much anytime now! Although he won't be able to start until after he completes his internship and graduates in May! As I am writing this I've realized some of you who read this probably don't know what LCMC stands for...well it stands for Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ. The LCMC is a Lutheran denomination that started about 10 or 11 years ago. The denomination has grown significantly since there was a split in the ELCA, which is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America...majority of those who left the ELCA became apart of the LCMC. It has 695 US Congregations, 102 Congregations World Wide and covers 11 Countries and it's continuing to grow, which is great!

While we were in Denver we had the opportunity to meet new people and catch up with some old friends that we haven't seen for a while! During the conference we attended breakout sessions that taught both of us a lot. Tim went to sessions that pertained to the call process, pensions & benefits and one for seminarians. I went to a session that talked about Women of the Word, which is what women in the LCMC are referred to and gave wonderful ideas on how to get groups started, maintained and resources to which you could start a group. The next session was conflict and resolution which talked about how to resolve conflict with in a church or even just in every day life. The speaker for that session was really interesting, he has his own company that comes into situations to resolve the conflict and he also did some training with the FBI for hostage negotiating which I think tells you how gifted he is! The last and final session I went to was taking your church to the next level, it was based off a book with the same title and you'll have to forgive me as I can't remember the author is at the moment, but the session was really informative on the stages of a church life and what is needed to keep the church growing and how to take it to the next level.

Below are some pictures of the trip, mainly scenic views of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and Colorado...I have only ONE picture of the hotel we stayed at and it's actually a part of the lobby. Before I show these photos there is one thing I am going to ask from those who read this and that is, we would greatly appreciate any and all prayers for us over the next seven and a half months as we finish internship and try to discern where God is calling us to serve. And I think this is also a good time to thank those of you who have been praying for us, we couldn't do it without your support and encouragement!

The hotel lobby waterfall! LOVED THIS!

This is either very southern ND or very northern SD...

This is SD between Belle Foruche and Spearfish...

This is entering WY from Spearfish SD...

Wyoming between Douglas and Cheyenne! There WAS snow!!!

Colorado somewhere between WY boarder and Denver

Hot Air Balloon we saw a few of these outside of Denver!

A suburb of Denver! BEAUTIFUL! 

Thanks for looking and many blessings!