Leader Development Committee:

Lisa Nolan, Chairman  LeaderDevelopment@lwml-ned.org

The Leader Development Committee is to help, encourage and equip women to reach out in love; to provide materials and training to assist members in increasing leadership skills in LWML; create and provide ideas, techniques, and resources which will enrich and stimulate individuals to increase membership within the organizations.

A Time To Lead - October 24-26, 2008

     Attending the Assembly of Leaders weekend in St. Louis was a wonderful experience.  It was encouraging, educational, uplifting and an all around blessing! I was truly humbled and honored to be counted among those in attendance.

     "To Everything There Is a Season... a Time to Lead," was the theme and approximately 200 women were gathered to learn of all the LWML has to offer. We were also given tools to motivate and mobilize other women, to desire and learn how to lead others to God’s glory and for the furthering of His Kingdom.

     There were four major speakers who outlined the LWML's current primary targets and organizational goals:

Christ-Centered Living – Being nourished by the Word and guided by the Spirit, each woman is actively demonstrating God’s love.

Telling the Good News – In response to our Lord’s Great Commission, each woman is compelled to share the Gospel, pray for, and recognize opportunities to do so, and then confidently live and speak her faith.

Partnering for Diversity – Oneness in Christ is strengthened through intentionally teaming with our LCMS sisters of varied ethnic, cultural, generational and organizational backgrounds.

Building Up Our Sisters in Christ – LWML members grow and mature through mentoring relationships and through the training and support of current and potential leaders.

     We were also given a completely detailed overview of each and every department of the LWML.  We learned of all national LWML has to offer to district leaders/societies and how they can help us to better serve Christ, sharing His love and shining His light back in our corner of the country. I was completely overwhelmed by the realization of the wealth of resources available to us!

     The worship times and lifting of our voices in adoration and praise was led by the most amazingly talented and spirit-led worship team. They were from St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ellisville, directed by Bobby Schroeder. It was wonderful!

     I think my favorite part of the Assembly of Leaders weekend was Ida Mall’s presentation about Telling the Good News.  Why thinking about it makes me well up with tears, I can’t say.  I guess it’s because Ida has such a warm, loving, encouraging way of giving practical tips that it touches my heart. I think just about anyone could learn to share Jesus' love, especially when following her simple, down-to-earth suggestions.  The NED will be offering opportunities in the future to view Ida’s message. Stay tuned!

     The Assembly of Leaders weekend was filled with Scripture, prayer, sharing, receiving, learning, fellowship and worship. Who could ask for anything more?

     I pray the New England District Assembly of Leaders attendees will be able to share some of what we learned that weekend, to God’s glory and the furthering of His Kingdom.

Yours, because I’m His,

Lisa Nolan, Leader Development Chair