The LCMS outreach ministry, Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ (OAFC), held its 2008 National Training at St John Lutheran Church and School, Champaign, IL as the Host Congregation, 161 Youth & Adult Ambassadors from 17 states attended the July 15-21 event along other guests and speakers. Ambassadors were hosted by 8 other local LCMS churches.

Matthew 10:27 provided our theme for 2008, “Agents of Christ – Secret No More”. This theme was echoed throughout the week in Bible Studies and workshops.

Summer Training had a new beginning as OAFC hosted a Youth Rally for the youth of the Champaign area. Music was provided by Resonance of Concordia Chicago and Sibling Harmony. Activities allowed for Ambassadors to meet the youth. The day ended with a Rally Closing Event where Rev. Harry Therwanger of Concordia Chicago gave the message.

We were blessed with two speakers: Seminarian Jacob Mueller who spoke of his experiences and observations while a student at Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane Pretoria South Africa and Rev. James Liken who brought us the Roman Centurion Julius and a concert. Ambassador leaders and guests also conducted 25 workshops throughout the week.

In addition to activities for the entire group, each person was also assigned to one of 10 smaller teams. In our team groups we had Bible study each morning, personal devotion time, worked on and heard personal witnesses, and prepared for several outreach events. On Thursday evening we braved the heat to canvass for St. John and teams canvassed on behalf of their assigned church on Saturday. On Sunday morning each team had a special part in sharing the Gospel of Christ during Sunday School and Sunday Worship at their host congregation. Each team also led a devotional program at a nursing home in the area.

From our canvasses, we were privileged to visit 4090 homes.  We talked with people at 1507 of these homes.  No one was home at another 2583 homes where we left Gospel literature. 54 persons were discovered who welcomed a follow-up visit.  Of the 1507 people we talked to, 345 made a confession of being certain of going to heaven because Jesus Christ had paid for all of their sin.

OAFC is a partner in the Ablaze vision of the LCMS in reaching 100 million people with the Good News of Jesus by 2017. During our calls we talked to 175 persons toward that goal. These are people who have no church or are not active in a church, and to whom we have been able to share the Good News of Jesus, and who have a chance to respond to that message.

On Friday WGNN 102.5 FM played an interview done earlier in the week. This interview gave us a good opportunity to share the ministry of OAFC. You may hear the interview through their stations web site www.greatnewsradio.org.

On Sunday evening we held our closing Happening at St. John Lutheran Church. Rev. John Dreyer of Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne gave the message. During the week, we stayed in homes of the local Lutheran families and many of these families attended the closing worship.

A closing devotion ended the week on Monday morning, but this last day of Training was also the beginning of special tours for two experienced Ambassador travel teams who traveled until July 30. One team traveled for the next 10 days to LCMS churches in the Milwaukee area while the other team traveled to Escanaba, Michigan with daily stops between. They canvassed for these churches and are shared the Gospel and OAFC training with them. 

We praise God for blessings He brought to His kingdom through this summer’s OAFC National Training and the outreach of the Traveling Teams. Next summer we will gather July 14-20, 2009 in the Lincoln or Seward, Nebraska area at a site that is still to be determined.  LCMS youth are encouraged to plan during this next year to join us. Check www.oafc.org for information.

Several New Years Gatherings are also being planned. Details are being completed for gatherings at Christ Lutheran Church & School in Stevensville, Michigan; in the Oklahoma City area and in the Ogallala, Nebraska area. Information will be posted on the web site and in the OAFC E-Mail Crier as it becomes available.

Other Summer Training Pictures
Stories are told of life, ministry & seminary in South Africa.	Youth take part in the Cross Cultural game as part of the Youth Rally.	Ladies are ready to share Jesus & OAFC at www.greatnewsradio.org	After swimming, recreation and relaxing everyone gathers for a closing devotion.