2008 National LMM Gathering, Omaha NE, August 1-3

2008 National LMM Bus Tour, July 30 – Aug 5, 2008 & Registration

2008 NCLMM Gathering Follow Up

Coming of Age 2008 Lutheran Men's Gathering

Twenty years ago, less than 200 of the founding fathers of Lutheran Men in Mission gathered under the theme “Visions and Dreams” to launch a new men's ministry, partially supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, with the vision and dream that one day it would be a robust, self-supporting ministry of this church, changing the lives of thousands of men. That day has come.

August 1-3, 2008, men of all ages will gather in Omaha, NE under the same theme verse as the founders, “...your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” (Acts 2:17). We will celebrate 20 years of ministry and lalunch the next great step. Lutheran Men in Mission will continue to grow and become a financially self reliant, separately-incorporated ministry of the ELCA.

Lutheran Men in Mission will come of age. More importantly, generations of men will come together in Jesus Christ. We will serve, we will play, we will learn, we will worship, we will encounter God – and each other - and we will grow! Bring your son, bring your friend, and bring your Dad – join us! Click here to get further details and registration information.

The NCLMM will provide a charter bus to the Gathering in Omaha.

LMM Convention Tour:    July 30 - August 5, 2008      Omaha, Nebraska

Wed. July 30th: We'll depart Salisbury (& other locations) early this morning & travel 1-40 west (via Asheville & Knoxville) to Nashville, Tennessee to 1-24 west to Paducah, Kentucky for overnite (making meal &rest stops along the way) Thur. July 31st: We'll continue west today to the "Gateway City to the West" ­St. Louis, Missouri. Here we'll enjoy the transporter ride to the top of the 630 ft high stainless steel arch, a visit to the pioneer museum, Mississippi Riverboat cruise and a visit to Grants Farm - home of the famous budweiser horses! Late this afternoon we'll continue west to the Kansas City area for overnite.

Fri. August 1st: Our first stop this morning will be at the Harry F. Truman library & museum - remember "The Buck Stops Here"! We'll visit the library & museum and the gravesites of President & Mrs. Truman in the courtyard. From here we'll travel through Kansas City and head north on 1-29 to the historic town of St. Joseph, Missouri - home of the eastern terminus of the Pony Express. We'll visit the Pony Express Museum (the original stables have been restored along with lots of other interesting artifacts) and Jesse James Home (where the outlaw had been living quietly as "Mr. Howard" until he was killed here by an associate on April 3, 1882. From here, we'll continue north to the bustling city of Omaha.

Sun. August 3rd: Depart Omaha at app. 1 :00 p.m. - Travel 1-80 east through Council Bluffs and across the "Hawkeye State" of Iowa to Bettendorf for overnite. Mon. August 4th: Our first stop this morning will be at the World Headquarters of the John Deere Corporation - nothing says "American Made" like John Deere. After our visit here, we'll travel 1-74 east to Indianapolis - the "City of Speed"­we'll stop at the Indy Motor Speedway and maybe even get to take a ride around the track. From here, we'll head south to Louisville, Kentucky for overnite.

Tue. August 5th: We'll take a sightseeing tour of Louisville to include Churchill Downs, the Louisville Slugger Baseball Bat Company and other sites as time permits. We'll depart Louisville and travel through the "Bluegrass State" of Kentucky by some of the states most beautiful horse farms to Lexington. Here we'll head south on 1-75 to Knoxville to 1-40 east to Statesville & on to Salisbury. Tour Includes:

Roundtrip motorcoach transportation (late model European Van Hool motorcoach with restroom, reclining seats, panoramic windows, baggage area, individual temperature control, video/vcr/dvd system)

Four nights first class hotel accomodations w/Porter Service Services of a professional tour director from Toney Tours Admission to all listed attractions

All local sightseeing enroute and all transfers and sightseeing in Omaha All tolls & Parking fees

Driver hotel accomodations provided by Toney Tours Complete Price Per Person:

$469 Double $453 Triple $445 Quad $629 Single Price is based on 44 paying passengers

Itinerary copyright by Toney Tours - 181 Wells Mill Rd - Bostic, N.C. July 27, 2007 (use or reproduction without permission not permitted)

Click here for bus trip registration.

2008 Gathering Follow Up

The 85th annual gathering was held at St. Marks Lutheran Church, Mooresville, N. C. on February 2nd, 2008. Approximately 180 attended the Saturday event. It was a great event and a time to meet new friends and renew old acquaintances.
 
Our theme this year was “HERE I STAND” which is certainly what our Lord expects of each of us. He expects us to stand up and be counted especially when we are told in the New Testament to “Go out and make disciples of all nations”.
 
The Rev. Dr. Larry Yoder, a well known professor at Lenoir-Rhyne was the keynote speaker for the afternoon session. He challenged each one to stand up and be recognized as Lutherans by the stand we take.  
 
Our national LMM Director, Mr. Doug Haugen gave updates on the activities of the national Men in Mission and gave insight into building men's ministries through small group bible study. Mr. Martin Rosowski, who is the Managing Director of the Mainnerarbeit of the EKD (the Evangelical Church of Germany which includes the German Lutheran Church and also the General Secretary of the European Forum of Christian Men addressed the Gathering and told about men's ministries in Europe.     
 
Rich White of the LMM Development Council reported on the progress of the capital campaign to fund an endowment for the LMM to become a self-incorporated and financially independent.
 
Rev. Phil Tonnesen, assistant to Bishop Bolick, introduced the Rev. Ernie Hinojosa, as our new N. C. Mission Developer. Rev. Hinojosa updated us on the current status of mission development work and what we can expect to occur in the next several years. 
 
The following officers were reelected for 2009.
Don Williams, President Daniels-Lincolnton
Dale Nettnin, Vice President Holy Trinity-Hickory
Tony Poovey, Secretary Advent-Charlotte
John Fisher, Treasurer Wittenburg-Granite Quarry

Tom Monterose, St. Mark's-Mooresville and Todd Nichols,Christ the King-Cary were elected to serve as at large members of the Executive Board,
 
The keynote speaker for the dinner banquet was the Rev. Dr. Marcus J. Miller, President of LTSS. He spoke on our theme “Here I Stand”. He also gave and update on the search for the person to fill the NCLMM Chair in Mission and Bible at LTSS.


Russ McKittrick presented the HOG (Hands of God) award to the men of Redeemer-Gastonia. The men of Redeemer were repeat winners. They are very involved in church and community projects such as Habitat for Humanity and have made several trips to the gulf area to assist in Katrina relief efforts.

Honorary Life Memberships were presented to Mr. Martin Rosowski and Lori Monterose.

A special thank you goes to the men, ladies and youth of St. Mark's. They did an outstanding job in making the Gathering one of the best ever. A special thanks to Lori Monterose for her leadership in coordinating the afternoon and evening activities