Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 165

2026 Convention Workbook
130 
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
using the tools we have always had in the LCMS.
We treasure the Bible, the Book of Concord, and the hymnal. 
The ordinary elements of water, bread, and wine become extraor -
dinary when connected to the Word of God. What amazing power 
comes into the lives of people through preaching, teaching, baptiz-
ing, absolving, and communing around the altar!
May the Lord Jesus continue to work mightily through our 
faithful commitment to make disciples of all nations through His 
Means of Grace. He will guide the next generations of our children 
and grandchildren in this place we call home, the LCMS Oklahoma 
District!
David R. Nehrenz, President
R46
Pacific Southwest District
The Pacific Southwest District is honored to welcome the Synod 
to our district as the 2026 Synod convention gathers in Phoenix 
around the theme Christ Is Risen Indeed. The mission of the district 
is to effectively resource congregations and schools for transform-
ing lives and making the Great Commission REAL! Here are 10 
highlighted ways that this mission is being fulfilled as we partner 
together to proclaim the risen Christ. (References to applicable 
2023 Synod convention resolutions are included at the bottom of 
each section.)
The 47th Convention of the Pacific Southwest District gathered 
under the theme Redeemed to Tell, inspired by Psalm 107:2: “Let 
the redeemed of the Lord tell their story.” The convention, held 
June 25–27, 2025, at the beautiful La Quinta Resort in the desert 
of Southern California, reflected the hope and joy in which 265 
congregations and 136 schools came together to tell the stories of 
God’s abundant faithfulness to the 36 million people who live with-
in the district.
Evangelism, Mission, and Church Planting
The district continues to pursue the creation of 100 new Gos-
pel-proclaiming ministries by 2031, the 100th anniversary of the 
district. To date, over 50 intentional Gospel-proclaiming ministries 
have begun. The Lutheran Mission Society of San Diego, under 
the guidance of Mission Director Rev. Dr. Tardelli V oss, is work-
ing with over 50 lay evangelists who come from many different 
cultures and are individually connected to local San Diego County 
congregations. Many of these individuals are now pursuing LCMS 
pathways into rostered church work. The Coastal Mission Society 
has become a guiding force for church planting in the district. Rev. 
John Alwood, a career church planter who recently colloquized 
into the LCMS, leads this equipping and planting effort that has 
already launched 13 new locations that will soon qualify as “new 
church starts.” On Sept. 30, 2025, the district, in partnership with 
the LCMS Office of International Ministry, hosted a FORO in San 
Diego that introduced mission opportunities on both sides of the 
U.S.-Mexico border. President Omar Garza of the Lutheran Synod 
of Mexico participated. (Res. 1-03A, “To Plant More Churches”; 
Res. 11-03A, “To Love and Disciple Peoples of All Ethnicities, 
Languages, and Skin Colors”; Res. 1-05A, “To Increase Mission 
Efforts to Immigrants and Various Cultural Groups in North Amer-
ica”; Res. 2-07A, “To Commend Use and Attendance of FOROs”)
In the Western Region, which includes the Enid, Kingfisher, 
and Panhandle circuits, outreach continues among the Burmese 
Karen people. The result includes multiple baptisms and confirma-
tions. Lutherhaven Retreat Center is located near Knowles and of-
fers wilderness and waterfront experiences. Youth retreats are held 
in the summer. Continuing education courses are also hosted for 
church workers. Various seminary professors have taught there and 
discovered the open spaces of the Oklahoma Panhandle.
In the Central Region, which includes the Oklahoma City, 
Lawton, and Norman circuits, the Hispanic ministry continues. The 
future growth of these ministries offers exciting potential. We sup-
port pastors and missionaries from this region who now serve at 
the new seminary in Shinyanga, Tanzania. We also assist in church 
planting in Italy and Latvia. One teaches systematics and also as-
sists in pastoral formation. Ministry to the armed forces has contin-
ued at the U.S. Army Training Center at Ft. Sill. Local pastors have 
conducted the Divine Service on the military base for the soldiers 
who are serving our country.
In the Eastern Region, which includes the Tulsa, Miami, 
and Ponca City circuits, spiritual doors have opened for outreach 
among Hispanic people. Also, our Camp Lutherhoma resides on 
120 acres in beautiful eastern Oklahoma, located along the Illinois 
River just east of Tahlequah. The mission of the camp is to nurture 
discipleship in Jesus Christ in outdoor settings. It ministers to hun-
dreds of youth during summer and winter programs. They learn 
how to share the love of Christ to the world. The camp also offers 
its beautiful facilities as retreat settings for groups, congregations, 
and families.
When a tornado went directly through Camp Lutherhoma in 
June of 2025, we worked together with district volunteers, the Lu-
theran Early Response Team, and Ross Johnson from LCMS Di-
saster Response to begin the extensive recovery and clean-up work. 
By the grace of God, no one was seriously injured, even though 
the camp was filled with youth campers. It was a joint effort that 
brought together dedicated and joyful service in the midst of a 
stressful event. God be praised!
Three campus ministries are active in Norman (University of 
Oklahoma), Stillwater (Oklahoma State University), and Tulsa 
(The University of Tulsa). The impact from these ministries has in-
cluded baptisms, confirmations, and marriages. Students have been 
directed into various church vocations of deaconess, teacher, direc-
tor of Christian education, and pastor. Pastoral supervised vicars 
and student peer ministers have served in these campus ministries. 
English-as-a-Second-Language programming and international 
student ministries on campus have also brought the Gospel to vari-
ous cultural and people groups.
The saints of Oklahoma continue to carry out the Great Com-
mission. Christ Is Risen Indeed is what we proclaim in the south-
west part of our country and throughout the world. “In fact Christ 
has been raised from the dead. … By a man has come also the res-
urrection of the dead. … In Christ shall all be made alive” (1
 Cor. 
15:20, 21, 22).
The 
dedicated, sanctified service of our congregations is excep-
tional. We are friendly people. We are faithful to the Word of God. 
We are family oriented.
We rejoice in sacred spaces, sacred words, sacred music, sa-
cred ways of acting and speaking. We are shaped by God’s Word, 
and not by the world. We understand that in today’s world, the old 
things have become new. The Gospel is best delivered to people by