Steven J. Rye

As I leave Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter, I’ve been developing some “talking points” for the discernment process regarding what comes next for me in my life. They are offered here without much narrative, but I’d be glad to share about any of this moving forward

A Summary Of Accomplishments WHILE AT LORD OF LIFE:

• Planted Mission on HEARTS – frequent references to make it an integral part of our life together
• “Teed up” the congregation for a successful capital campaign (they were eventually able to raise $900,000 in pledges)
• Stephen Ministry Initiation – sending four Stephen Leaders for training – 1000+ hours of caring
  • sought to institute a culture of assertiveness (not so successful at that)
• Strategic Planning / Prioritizing ministry resources
• Constitution updating / reconfiguring
• Shifting council structure to be organized around our mission – shifting focus of conversation from maintenance to mission;
• Impactful Sermons – as evidenced by a high School Council member giving example that had stuck with him: shalomify…
• Implemented Church Community Builder
  • required step for preparing congregation to have a successful capital campaign
• Support Raising
  • Parking Lot cash raised – $106k
  • Staff Salary (went from 30 hours a week to full time + benefits)
  • 6% rise in giving my last year;
  • Raised $55k out of a goal of $60k for over the course of the summer for budget shortfall;
• Justice for Staff members re: compensation
  • Brought up to guidelines (esp. Pr. Erika)
  • Raised business manager an entire pay grade (Anne)
• Master Class – Multi-year Bible Study – saw it through to completion
• Navigated music staffing changes – this involved some extremely choppy water;
• Navigated Worship Time Change / Worship Format Changes
• Weathered COVID in an unusually good way (utilizing my Tech skills)
  • The initial shutdown of COVID.
    • Swift pivoting to broadcasting videos on YouTube.
    • Learning Video editing to help with the broadcasting.
    • Initiating a weekday devotional
    • Parking lot worship services, which were broadcast over a radio.
    • Implementing social distancing measures.
  • Daily Video Devotional – 12:45s
  • Parking Lot Worship Service
  • Commended for Holden Evening Prayer / Couple Vigils…. just me & video running
  • Had a Phone Calling Team – calling people during Covid
  • Updated sound system board
  • Installed video system and began online broadcasting
  • Despite these challenges, we actually gained households of givers during this time.
• Created Confirmation Promo videos
• Served on the Synod Council
• Ministry to School Bus Drivers who staged in our parking lot (providing them coffee)
• ALL-HOUSEHOLD PRAYER CALLS – Prior to COVID…I personally called all households of the congregation – invited them to share something to be prayed about.
• Communion Ministers (started before I went on Sabbatical and has kept going to this day .. I seek to create enduring ministries, not just a flash-in-the-pan.)
• Expanded Lutheran Worship to minister to the Northern Lakes Facility
• Encouraged the introduction of Head 2 Heart Confirmation – a systematic approach to confirmation
• Created an Emergency Worship Service – any time, any place, under any circumstances;
• Led through a congregational process of discontinuing the prohibition on same-sex marriages;
• Regular Ministry
  • Worship Leading & Planning
  • Financial Oversight
  • Adult Living Facility worship services
  • Confirmation Lessons
  • Youth Ministry 
  • Men’s Fellowship
  • Leadership to the Staff
  • Council Agenda Setting
  • Pastoral care – shared roughly fourty cases at a time
  • Life Crisis ministry

Financial Generosity Over the Previous Six years
(not including COVID $$)

WHILE AT PURDUE LUTHERAN MINISTRY

• Purchasing and moving into the PLM property….on the busiest corner of West Lafayette – and an ideal location to partner with Our Saviour’s;
• Gathering a new community of about 120 students every year
• Campus Safety & Security –
  • Especially a specific emergency – a shooting on campus – where I was able to minister in some
• Speaking to / being a resource to congregations in the area
• FUNDRAISING IN GENERAL – best in synod; one of best in the ELCA;

WHILE AT EMANUEL

• Increased attendance from 133 average worshipping attendance to 175 average / increased family involvement;

• ⁃ Preschool – doing Jesus time;