NOT NORMAL MISSION ENDOWEMENT COMMITTEE MEETS WITH OLD MISSIONARY GARY ON AUGUST 15TH, 2020 AT IMMANUEL AT LOTTS CREEK, LONE ROCK, IOWA!

“Normal Congregations” when they received an inheritance, the normal thing to do is the attitude of “well, now we have a reserve at the congregation, and we can save this for a rainy day, because “we may need that money”.

That was NOT the case with the NOT NORMAL people who served on the Mission Endowment Committee at Immanuel Lutheran Church at Lotts Creek congregation at Lone Rock, Iowa.  They indicated that the Lord had given them this large inheritance to TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS and not use the gift for “operational expenses” of the congregation.

Nearly every year, Old Missionary Gary had the privilege of going to meet with the members of this special NOT NORMAL committee and they would select special mission projects and missionaries to support.  That was the case on August 15th, 2020, when the meeting began at 6:00PM with 7 members of this committee, and that was the full committee with every single one attending.  The evening began with a special “home made” pizza and desert meal provided by Missionary Judy Kuecker and the other ladies.

Then Old Missionary Gary presented a total 5 new projects and missionaries for the committee to pray about and discuss.  Wow, what a blessing in that the members have recommended to the entire congregation that the funding from the Endowment this year go to ALL FIVE OF THE PROJECTS!  What a blessing and encouragement!  Normal congregations would have picked just one, but once again we see the vision of this NOT NORMAL committee and congregation!  Over the years this congregation has provided support for the Lord’s Mission always at “JUST THE RIGHT TIME”.

Pictured with our Boss in the background, the entire committee featured from left to right Missionary Rodney Bierle, Chairman, Missionary Pastor Duane Miesner, Missionary Judy Kuecker, Missionary Sherri Luedtke, Missionary Brent Opheim, President of the congregation and Missionary Mike Riggert and Missionary Denise Chrischelles!  WHAT AN AMAZING GROUP OF NOT NORMAL PEOPLE!!!!!!!

This congregation is truly NOT NORMAL, and what a JOY to have the privilege of working with them.  Old Missionary Gary then on Sunday had the privilege and honor of speaking in the Bible Class and reporting in the Worship Service, which included St. Luke Lutheran Church at Cylinder, Iowa also….it was a very special Mission Service for BOTH congregations.  God truly blessed the weekend, and it was a time we will always remember!!  We thank God for NOT NORMAL congregations like Immanuel and St. Luke.

Without God calling special friends like these folks, old Missionary Gary could NOT HAVE KEPT ON ALL THESE WONDERFUL 27 YEARS!