Registration opens for Rural, Small Town Conference

Registration is now open for the 2014 National Rural & Small Town Mission Conference, Nov. 6-8 at the Kansas City Airport Marriott in Kansas City, Mo.

Congregational leaders from rural and small-town settings are encouraged to attend the Nov. 6-8 conference in Kansas City, Mo. (LCMS Communications)

Congregational leaders from rural and small-town settings are encouraged to attend the conference, with the theme “Small Places, Big Mission — Standing in the Gap.”

The Rev. Todd E. Kollbaum, director of LCMS Rural & Small Town Mission, said the conference will give participants practical advice and ideas for engaging their communities that they can take home.

Kollbaum said conference aims to help congregations reach the vast mission field right outside their doors, thus the theme of the conference.

“The idea still prevails [in some rural and small-town congregations] that everybody out here is churched,” said Kollbaum, whose office is organizing the conference. “But we know full well that upwards of one third, and in some places an even higher percentage, have no affiliation with a Christian church whatsoever.”

Speakers include Kollbaum and:

the Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer, president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis;

the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Rast Jr., president of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.; and

the Rev. Richard Boring, executive for Missions and Outreach with the LCMS Nebraska District.

In addition to plenary sessions, participants will be able to choose from a variety of breakout sessions on topics such as witness and outreach strategies, reaching inactive members, stewardship, new-member assimilation, health and life issues, Lutheran schools and early childhood mission opportunities, and pastoral strategies, among other topics.

Conference registration is $200 per person or $375 per couple, which includes all sessions, materials and some meals. The registration deadline is Sept. 15.

Lodging is available at the Marriott for $87 per night for one or two guests, plus tax. Call the hotel at 816-464-2220 or click here. Participants should inform the reservation agent that they are attending the “2014 LCMS Rural & Small Town Conference.” The deadline for room reservations is Sept. 25.

For more information — including a bulletin insert for congregations — or to register for the conference, visit lcms.org/rstm/conference, call 888-463-5127 or email rstm@lcms.org.