Four congregations volunteered to serve as First-Round Congregations for Equipping the Saints. Gloria Dei in Menomonee Falls was the second congregation to conduct the five-week campaign and completed the appeal in late March 2022, exceeding their goal.

Pastor Jaime Larson-McLoone shares the meaning of participating in the campaign.

Gloria Dei was in the midst of our Equipping the Saints campaign when I arrived as pastor. It was such a gift to start my first call and right away see how enthusiastically and generously the congregation responded to the stories of God at work in and through our synod – and the hopes and dreams of what God might do next through our Equipping the Saints pledges and offerings. Inspired by the powerful stories told in videos, some impromptu personal testimony one Sunday when we had a tech issue, and a Spirit-filled word from Pastor Marilyn Miller at the close of our campaign, we responded generously and exceeded our goal! Thanks be to God!

The Equipping the Saints Campaign has a goal that each member of the Greater Milwaukee Synod has a chance to hear the story and decide for themselves if they desire to make a financial gift to help us reach the goal. The first step in that campaign is normally to have a council presentation by video. Contact Joyce Caldwell at joyce.caldwell@gmselca.org to learn how to make that presentation to your congregation.

Congregation leader training begins in November. This training is for whoever will lead your appeal in the congregation and is great continuing education for your Stewardship Team to learn all about conducting a special gifts appeal. Send as many people as you like, and feel free to send your stewardship team even if you have not had the council visit presentation yet.