I Was Asked To Look Ahead

As I think about the history of the church body that has been my home for nearly 49 years and the District where my ministry has centered, I was challenged to consider what could be in the Ohio District. Here is a quick look ahead and what is possible if our movement is lead by faith.

For generations, the Ohio District LCMS has been a vibrant Gospel presence across Ohio, northern Kentucky, and West Virginia. Our congregations have been rooted in Scripture, faithful to the Lutheran Confessions, and committed to raising up generations shaped by grace and sent to serve.

But in recent years, a different narrative has crept into institutional church bodies across America, including right here in the Ohio District. It’s been a season marked by plateau, fragmentation, and uncertainty. Mission engagement has slowed. Even within our own district we’ve wrestled with confusion over direction, fatigue, and transitions in leadership. Staff who once carried the vision have carried the burdens of leadership instead of its joys.

Yet in this moment, I believe God is doing what He has always done: calling His people to rise, to return, and to rebuild.

The Future is a Movement — Not a Memory

I sense the Spirit stirring. Congregations are asking bold questions. Leaders are longing for connection. Communities are ready for a church that shows up with truth and love. It’s not a time to simply recover what was. It’s time to press toward what could be.

To make this super personal to me, here are three intentional shifts that must happen to move the needle in the Ohio District.

A vision rooted in three bold movements:

1. Church Planting That Sparks New Life
   • Goal: Launch 12 new LCMS congregations by 2032.
   • We need to prioritize high-growth areas, underserved populations, and innovative models that bring Word and Sacrament ministry into new neighborhoods. We must invest in assessment, coaching, and partnerships to support church planters from call to community.
2. Church Revitalization That Honors the Past and Fuels the Future
   • Goal: Actively revitalize 25 existing congregations through coaching, resource-sharing, and collaborative ministry models.
   • Many of our churches carry deep roots but need fresh vision. Through a new revitalization initiative, we’ll walk alongside pastors and lay leaders to reignite mission, renew worship, and reconnect with their communities.
3. Lutheran Schools That Thrive
   • Goal: Grow and strengthen 15 Lutheran schools and early childhood centers into centers of excellence in both faith formation and academic development.
   • We believe our schools are mission outposts and discipleship hubs. We’ll invest in leadership development, teacher support, and innovative models that extend the reach of Lutheran education into the next generation.

Key Staffing to Support the Vision

To fuel this movement, we must build a team equipped for the work ahead. We will seek:

• A full-time Mission Executive (or equivalent) who will champion church planting, guide revitalization efforts, and equip congregations to live on mission.
• A Director of Lutheran Schools who will strengthen school leadership, foster collaboration across campuses, and support missional excellence in education.

This is more than strategy — it’s stewardship. These roles will ensure that mission is not just a department but a culture that touches every church, school, and leader across the district.

A Culture of Care and Leadership

But growth is not just about programs. It’s about people.

We are committed to restoring health and unity within the district office and across our Tri-state region. Our staff will be a team marked by grace, clear communication, and deep trust. We will invest in one another through monthly meetings and an annual staff retreat, because a healthy team creates healthy churches. And we will raise up leaders — pastoral and lay, young and seasoned — who listen, serve, and boldly lead.

It’s time that we reclaim our identity: not as a district in decline, but a network on mission. Not isolated churches, but a Gospel movement connected by faith, love, and shared purpose.

The fields are ripe. The workers are gathering. The Spirit is moving.