Join Mike Gibson, Pacific Southwest District President, as he shares some thoughts about Living Your Faith Confidently in Election Week.

Mission West Online Conference is a live-broadcast conversation with Tod Bolsinger, author of “Canoeing the Mountains: Christian Leadership in Uncharted Territory,” plus live conversations with leading West Coast practitioners in healthcare, government, and community engagement. “Canoeing the Mountains” was Outreach Magazine’s 2020 “Resource of the Year In Leadership,” and uses the Lewis and Clark expedition as its central metaphor for adaptive leadership. Bolsinger is a West Coast native, Vice-President and Chief of Leadership Formation at Fuller Seminary, and at the forefront of the leadership conversation on adaptive change.

Pacific Southwest District - The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod PSD was live.

This season has revealed many challenges, Many have experienced a strain on face-to-face relationships that are now pushed into on-line connections or socially distanced gatherings. For some congregations, "scattered" church has been the norm from the start. Remaining connected outside of the Sunday morning gathering has always served to deepen the critical social bonds among members of these churches. This week's interview is with one of the amazing speakers for our District All Workers Conference in November. Ashely Paavola is the Director of Youth and Family Ministry at All Nations Church in St. Louis. On this call she is joined by her husband and the Pastor of All Nations, Rev. Chris Paavola. Together we discuss the blessings of using the family/community model of creating and maintaining strong relationships through small groups and scattered ministries. Join us as we continue to grow in our understanding of how to navigate and integrate to the gathered/scattered reality of ministry in 2020!

Pacific Southwest District - The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod PSD was live.

Welcome to the Pacific Southwest District Facebook Live Update

As founding pastor of the ethnically and economically diverse Mosaic Church in Little Rock, Mark DeYmaz is no stranger to the challenges of ministry. Mark learned early on that it wasn't good enough to simply survive the financial ups and downs in the congregation. He wanted the congregation to thrive; to sustain and even grow their ministries even in the midst of the most challenging of times. This led to his study and application of an innovative three-legged economic system for the church - one that many consider to be a revolution in how we fund our ministry. Join Rev. Dominic Rivkin in his interview with Mark about his latest book The Coming Revolution in Church Economics. You'll be inspired to learn about the three distinct ways to stabilize your funding while blessing and connecting with your community!

For years House Churches and Missional Communities have navigated the waters of building community in creative and innovative ways. Join District Mission Executive Rev. Dominic Rivkin and three practitioners of House Church models as they chat about home-based ministry in our new reality. It's our prayer that their experiences will bless and inspire your ministry now and into the future.

Join District President Mike Gibson as he interviews Rev. Jeffery Scheer (new to PSD) who serves as Interim Director of Chaplains and Manager of Clinical Pastoral Education at Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, CA. Chaplain Scheer offers an inside look into spiritual care ministry for COVID patients and families and clarity on what is permissible in hospital visitation and ideas for pastoral care.

In a recent survey of Pacific Southwest District congregations, 55% reported a moderate to severe decline in congregational giving through this pandemic period. We asked and found that 57% of the responding congregations did not have an intentional annual stewardship emphasis in place pre-COVID19. We're learning that congregations with a strong culture of stewardship have been better able to weather unpredictable storms, like those we're all experiencing, Join Mission Executive Rev. Dominic Rivkin as he interviews our very own District President, Rev. Dr. Mike Gibson to chat about four key discipleship concepts to lead your congregants in stewardship of all God's gifts, even in anxious and challenging times.

In his 30 years as a Navy Chaplain, Pastor Rob Crossan served in crisis situations around the globe. Join him and Mission Executive Rev. Dominic Rivkin as they discuss the critical importance of self-care in the midst of the battle.

"I'd call, but what do I say?" So many of us who are reaching out to connect with leaders, staff, congregants, and friends wonder about the most helpful questions to ask. Join Master Coach and CEO of CoachNet Global Jonathan Reitz along with Mission Executive Dominic Rivkin as they discuss "Four Questions to ask in a Crisis".

Every one of our church/school partnership ministries has been uniquely effected by COVID-19. Each have had to innovate and flex to continue to serve...

PSD President Mike Gibson interviews Ken Graves, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist about the emotional and relational impact of COVID-19 on children, youth, and families.

Join District President Mike Gibson and a panel of Christian Therapists (all LCMS members) to talk about the emotional, relational, and psychological impact of the COVID-19 on Seniors, Marriages, and Church Workers.

The U.S. Government recently approved the largest single relief package to help our economy weather this challenging time. The details of the CARES Act can be daunting, but District COO Jon Niederbrach joins Mission Executive Dominic Rivkin to break it down to 5 critical points. Please check out other resources on our website www.psd-lcms.org.

When it comes to effective ministry, often the size of the congregation takes a backseat to its overall health. For over 30 years God has focused pastor Karl Vaters' ministry in the small church context. We believe that it takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people, and small churches that are adaptable and healthy are uniquely equipped to navigate the coming post- COVID reality. Join Karl and Mission Executive Dominic Rivkin as they chat about new opportunities for congregations under 200 people. Look for more information on our District sponsored, free, live-streamed Small Church Conference on June 27th!

Easter is coming! We have the opportunity to bring our congregations an at-home Easter experience that will proclaim God's glory in our Risen Savior while helping them remain connected to their Church family. Join District Mission Executive Dominic Rivkin as he speaks with Pastor Drew Ross and Worship Director Chris Peterson from Christ Costa Mesa as they provide quick tips for planning your Easter celebration.

Holy Week is rapidly approaching! Many congregations and leaders are considering new and creative ways to observe Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as home-based experiences. Join Mission Executive Dominic Rivkin along with Pastors Aaron Smith, Tim Ahlman, and Derek Klemm as they discuss how this new reality is playing out in different congregations in our District.

How did we do? Please take our Symposium Survey to let us know: https://goo.gl/forms/SPPsiH1pQLxYnbd83 American education is changing rapidly, driven by powerful forces such as economics, politics, demographics, and technology. We have already seen enormous changes in education over the past few decades that have transformed how we serve students and how our schools function. It is difficult to imagine that our models will not continue to be changed in significant, perhaps radical, ways over the next few decades. Join us as we discuss the disruptors and trends that will have a significant impact on the future of learning in Christian schools. We will explore together how we can leverage our strengths as Lutheran schools while navigating this ever-changing landscape in education.

Our PSD Lutheran Schools have done a phenomenal job of continuous student learning during this time of pandemic. Our principals, directors and teachers have pivoted with agility to remote learning at home, while keeping the relationships strong with the students and their families. Here is a video I am PROUD to share with you, showing the excellence with which our schools deliver their education, even in times of crisis! #EducationalExcellenceInAction #ConnectedInChrist ~Rachel Klitzing, Executive Director of School Ministries You can download this video at the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FnAyEXTSoMwk-szjMATiEuCklw3lJUC5/view?usp=sharing

Pacific Southwest District - The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod PSD was live.

Pacific Southwest District - The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod PSD was live and their video will be available soon.