This Sunday (September 20) Sandi and I would like to invite you to lunch at St. John’s!

The meal will be a home cooked collection of German dishes, including Sauerbraten and Bratwurst, along with several authentic dishes to compliment them. Sandi and I both enjoy cooking and we couldn’t think of a better time of year to bring out German food. Because of the extensive preparation involved, we are asking for reservation (please see last paragraphs of this message). We’re serving the dinner in the gym at noon to give you the opportunity to meet a dear friend and to support a ministry we personally treasure.

Pastor Vern Gundermann, former pastor of Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood MO, will be our guest preacher on Sunday morning. Our luncheon will give you an opportunity to meet him more personally and to learn more about the ministry of the Pastoral Leadership Institute.

Pastor Gundermann’s heart for the church and its called leaders is contagious. He and David Christian worked together for many years. He also worked very closely with Dr. Norb Oesch (brother of St. John’s member, Mim Roth) in the founding of the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI). As a member of the advisory board for PLI,  Pastor Gundermann will tell us about the work and mission of PLI and how it shapes and nurtures pastors in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) to carry out their God-given calling to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up. (Ephesians 4:12)

The Pastoral Leadership Institute is a 4-year leadership training program for LCMS pastors and their wives. Personally, Sandi and I are privileged to have been students of the institute from 1999-2003 and are currently students in a 2-year extension of that training. What we learned and experienced through PLI has blessed our marriage, our ministry and helped us discover and develop the gifts God has given each of us. Sandi and I were blessed to have Pastor Gundermann personally recruit us for PLI. We along with hundreds of other pastors and their wives have been blessed by leaders like Pastor Gundermann. As a result, the harvest and its workers (volunteer and professionals) in churches all over the world have benefited and indeed, many more souls have been connected to Jesus.

I really would like you to learn more about PLI and meet one of the pioneers who brought this blessing to our Lutheran Churches and pastors. It’s also my prayer that you might be among those who will support this ongoing work of the Pastoral Leadership Institute.

Sandi and I are donating the cost of meal and would ask for a minimum donation of $25.00 per household to the Pastoral Leadership Institute. Our family frequently enjoys a meal out on a Sunday afternoon and would certainly pay more than that for our meal. But that’s not really the point. What’s most important to us is that you meet Pastor Gundermann and learn more about one of the best kept secrets in the LCMS. I know that many of you who love the church and care deeply for our church workers will see how this organization is blessing our pastors and their wives.

I hope that the visit of Pastor Gundermann and our meal together would inspire us all to pray for pastors and leaders in Kingdom work. I’m also convinced it will inspire those who feel led to support the continuing education of our pastors to be among the financial partners in this ongoing ministry.  PLI relies on the support of congregations and individual donors to operate and provide leadership training for pastors and their wives. Our prayer and goal is that members and friends of our congregation would donate over $10,000 this year to support other pastors and their wives—just as Sandi and I benefited from contributors. Your gift will enable others to have the opportunity to attend PLI training and grow as leaders in Christ’s Church.

RESERVATIONS

Sandi and I welcome children and youth to the dinner, so don’t hesitate to include them. We’ll also arrange to have the nursery stay open an extra hour for parents who would like some extra help. We’re sensitive to your afternoon schedules and plan to keep the entire event to about an hour.

We hope you will come!
Pastor Bill and Sandi Geis

"The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field." (Matthew 9:37-38)