Reports - Central Illinois District - Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Prison WorkLincoln Correctional CenterLogan Correctional Center, LincolnPittsfield Correctional CenterWestern Correctional Center, Mt. SterlingGreen County Work Camp, RoodhouseThe district has a number of people from our congregations who provide volunteer jail and prison ministry. Two pastors, theRev. Charles Olander and the Rev. Stephen Southward, are employed by the district part-time to conduct prison ministry at theprisons listed above.Special MissionsDevelopmental Disabled Ministry, LincolnDeaconess Linda Schaefer has special abilities to work with the Developmentally Disabled. Deaconess Schaefer serves thedevelopmentally disabled in Lincoln, Atlanta, Jacksonville and elsewhere telling them of the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.Campus WorkUniversity of IllinoisEastern Illinois UniversityIllinois State UniversityWestern Illinois UniversityAll universities and colleges in our Central Illinois District have a volunteer contact campus pastor from a nearbyLCMS congregation.Four state universities have a special facility and a full-time campus ministry for our students and others.These campus ministries provide important spiritual care at a very important time in the life of our young people. Ministry tostudents is provided by Rev. Rich Milas (U of I); Rev. Ken Hoover and Director of Young Adult Ministry, Greg Witto (EIU);Vicar William Jensen (ISU); Rev. Michael Burdick (WIU).Foreign MissionLatviaIn 2005 we began to support our partner church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia.After the iron curtain fell in the late 1980’s, Latvia gained her independence from communist Russia in the early 1990’s. Fiftyyears of Soviet rule had almost wiped out the Lutheran Church. Before the communist takeover the majority of the people ofLatvia were Lutherans. During the Russian rule 80% of all Lutheran pastors did not survive. With the coming of freedom inthe 1990’s, the church had few members, few pastors, no seminary, and they were given back 300 church buildings, all inneed of much repair.By the grace of God the “new” church in Latvia numbers 40,000 people and they have a seminary training new pastors. Theyare a church faithful to the Word of God and have a great desire to spread the Good of Jesus Christ to others. Our partnershipwith them will give us a special way to support the Word and Sacrament ministry of the Latvia Lutheran churches.2009 Convention Section B – Reports Page 21