The Synod’s “What a Way” initiative officially got under way this summer by awarding 24 scholarships and continuing-education certificates to Concordia University System schools and announcing its new Web site.
“We felt that the best thing we could do to introduce the initiative was to give the best we have to offer — scholarships and continuing-education certificates to our Concordias,” said Dr. L. Dean Hempelmann, chairman of the What a Way working group that started building the initiative two years ago.
Hempelmann describes What a Way as “a program to help us in the LCMS rebuild a lifestyle in our homes and congregations of encouraging people to serve the Lord as church workers and for church workers to remain steadfast in their high calling.”
Four $3,000 scholarships and 20 $250 continuing-education certificates went to delegates to the July 10-14 Synod convention in St. Louis and to youth and adults registered for the July 24-28 LCMS National Youth Gathering in Orlando.
Those receiving the $3,000 scholarships are Rev. Don Hougard of Germantown, Wis.; Eileen Clark, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; Brittney Nelson, Fremont, Neb.; and Dana Kitsch, Cando, N.D.
Hempelmann said the recipients’ names were drawn at random.
The new Web site, describes the What a Way initiative and lists resources available. Among those resources is a DVD that appeals to youth to think about their vocational choices and features professional church workers talking about their vocations.
Participants at a “One Mission Ablaze: Igniting Congregations” event last year in Lafayette, Ind., chose the DVD to receive funding from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, specifying that it be produced and offered in time for the youth gathering.
Posted Aug. 26, 2004
