[ Up ] [ October 2000 Mission Partners.pdf ] [ August 2000 Mission Partners ] [ July 2000 Mission Partners ] [ June 2000 Mission Partners ] [ April 2000 Mission Partners ] [ March 2000 Mission Partners ] [ February 2000 Mission Partners ] [ January 2000 Mission Partners ] [ December 1999 Mission Partners ] [ November 1999 Mission Partners ] [ October 1999 Mission Partners ] [ September 1999 Mission Partners ]

September 1999

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Smithville, Ohio
150+ Years Young and Challenging

This 150 year old congregation is located in a very small community near Wooster, Ohio, and is led by Pastor Ted Rust. His tenure of 10 years has resulted in remarkable changes.

St. Paul has been largely land-locked with houses on three sides of the sanctuary. The congregation and Pastor Rust began looking to the future very seriously in 1989. One plan called for expanding the present building and making the church handicapped-accessible with the installation of an elevator. It was concluded that the cost might exceed the cost of building a new church, that the congregation would still be faced with an aging structure and that parking would continue to be a problem. The decision to build a new sanctuary was a difficult one because the congregation has many members whose families have deep roots at their present location.

Pastor Rust challenged the congregation to give $25,000 annually to the building fund. At first the task appeared insurmountable but the membership faithfully and consistently met the challenge.

Consequently, the building fund reached acceptable levels for a serious look at land acquisition. At least two sites were considered. One presented a possible environmental problem and the second appeared adequate. However, St. Paul was blessed with a donation of a seven-acre parcel on the eastern edge of Smithville. An architect was hired and the ELCA building consultant reviewed the plans and made recommendations. The ELCA Mission Investment Fund, already providing an investment opportunity for St. Paul’s building fund, provided a loan of $575,000 against the projected building cost of $1,200,000.

Ground was broken in the summer of 1998. By the time you get this newsletter, St. Paul will have held its first service, scheduled for September 26, 1999. Dedication of the new church will be held on October 24, 1999. Pastor Rust has asked me to extend an invitation in this newsletter for all readers to attend the dedication service. Bishop Marcus Miller will participate.

This writer has had the opportunity of taking a tour of the nearly completed church. It is beautifully situated, a pastoral setting with farm vistas at the rear of the building. The surrounding area is projected residential which Pastor Rust envisions as new member potential. The structure is impressive, simplistic modern yet appealing to these older, traditional eyes. It is obviously a place of worship.

The sanctuary will seat 250. St. Paul welcomes 200 at worship at three Sunday services: 8:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 6:00 p.m. There is room to expand and parking is very adequate.

A transition team of 18 volunteers meeting weekly, is charged with making the change from the old church building to the new church building as smooth as possible. This group will extend invitations to the dedication service on Sunday, October 24, 1999 at 4:00 P.M. There will be a meal served following the service.

It is gratifying to know that St. Paul members did much of the inside carpentry work. Stained glass windows are a result of memorial gifts in memory of loved ones. Pastor Rust praises his congregation for all the work that has been donated.

Other gifts have been received from Mission Partner relationships both within the Northeastern Ohio Synod and outside our area:

	Concordia Lutheran, Barefoot Bay, Florida
	Faith Lutheran, Massillon, Ohio
	Redeemer Lutheran, Woodstock, Illinois
	St. John Lutheran, New Washington, Ohio
	St. John Lutheran, Oak Harbor, Ohio
	Zion Lutheran, Doylestown, Ohio
	Salvation Army, Wooster, Ohio

More than 50 individuals from all over the country have specified gifts to St. Paul. In short, Pastor Rust says, "We have been blessed."

Mission Partner Challenge 

"Precept" studies indicate that there are 23,607 people within a five-mile radius of St. Paul, Smithville. Nationwide 50% of our population is unchurched. Pastor Rust sees St. Paul from a new perspective — that that they have been blessed to become a blessing to others. (Gen. 12:2) He is keenly aware of synod outreach efforts, having chaired the synod Outreach Committee, and believes St. Paul is poised to seek out the unchurched because of a deep commitment to the great commission in Matthew 28: 19-20, "Go and make disciples of all nations....". New studies show that 58% of the unchurched are looking for a church affiliation and are waiting for an invitation. Pastor Rust wants to extend that invitation within the five-mile radius of his new church in a "new mission" sort of way.

One of Pastor Rust’s goals is to knock on 1000 doors by dedication Sunday, October 24, 1999. He would appreciate some Mission Partner help with volunteers from other synod congregations. It is an opportunity to witness. Pastor Rust has trained St. Paul members for this evangelism effort and he is willing to train all volunteers to make the 1000 door goal.

How can your congregation participate? Please call Pastor Ted Rust at (330) 669-2111 or Barbara Schuster, Akron-Wooster Mission Partner Coordinator at her office number (330) 262-2201 or her home (330) 669-2509. It is probable that this effort will take place on the remaining Saturdays between now and October 24,1999. Let’s get behind St. Paul and volunteer to knock on doors of the unchurched. My hat is in the ring, is yours? It costs $0, only your time and dedication. So please share your time with St. Paul and call Pastor Rust or Barbara Schuster to become part of this very exciting ministry.

COMPUTER FREEBEE

Please contact the writer if you are a church seeking a computer and a monitor. There is a Compaq Presario 600 Series computer and a Compaq SVGA Color Monitor available. They are in good condition and would suffice for most church purposes.

  How to Reach Us | Email Us | Table of Contents | Search | Map to Synod Office | FAQ

Send mail to our web steward with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1999  Northeastern Ohio Synod, ELCA, 1890 Bailey Road,  Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221-5259.
Phone: (330) 929-9022 - Fax: (330) 929-9018 - Email: office@neos-elca.org