LCMS WORLD MISSION - Press Release - 11/20/2003

The Association of Lutheran Mission Agencies (ALMA) annual conference is planned for Jan. 9-11 in St. Louis, under the theme "Walking Together with Beautiful Feet."

ALMA is an organization of more than 70 independent mission groups started by LCMS members and congregations. The annual conference, sponsored by ALMA, brings together representatives of ALMA mission societies and LCMS World Mission staff, who hear presentations on a variety of mission-related topics and share their ideas and experiences with one another.

While it is designed for ALMA member societies, mission leaders and those interested in starting a mission society, the conference is open to anyone with an interest in mission.

This year's conference will offer workshops on the "top 10" trends in global mission, developing mission support, working with congregations and districts in mission, PowerPoint marketing, producing effective newsletters and using the ALMA Web site.

Plenary sessions on "Creating an Alliance to Advance the Mission" and "Mission Involvement" will be presented, respectively, by staff of the People of the Book Lutheran Outreach, a Dearborn Heights, Mich.-based Muslim outreach ministry, and Rev. Norbert Oesch, executive leader of the Pastoral Leadership Institute.

A group of young people attending LCMS colleges and universities will talk about their involvement in "Beautiful Feet," an annual mission conference for college students. The students are seeking a closer relationship with ALMA member societies and campus mission groups, according to Rev. Steve Hughey, a planner and workshop leader for the conference.

The ALMA conference also will include a banquet, with Dr. Dale Meyer as speaker. Meyer, former speaker of radio's "The Lutheran Hour," is host of the television program "On Main Street" and serves as Gregg H. Benidt Memorial Chair professor of homiletics and literature at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Conference participants also may take a first-hand look at mission work among Bosnian immigrants in St. Louis.

Registration is $100 and includes meals. Registration forms are available on the ALMA Web site at www.alma-online.org (click on "Conference Information"). For more information, contact Eileen Miesner at (573) 824-5857 or eileen@showme.net

Story courtesy LCMS E-News