Growth area #1: Strengths to build on

1. Increase the number of members actively participating in the ministries of the church.

   1. Improve communications about the ministries
   2. Explore additional ministries needed by the community
   3. Uncover the gifts and talents of members

2. Increase active participation of Jr. and Sr. high school students in LCC's church life.

   1. Establish youth choir(s)
   2. Explore possibilities of contemporary worship service
   3. Provide regular Bible study opportunities
   4. Expand service projects, including intergenerational opportunities

3. Continue to support excellence in music ministry, and establish a task force to explore and implement, e.g. contemporary music, alternative liturgies, healing services, non-Sunday morning worship opportunities.

1. Identify target group(s), e.g. intergenerational, non-members youth, young families
2. Identify ways to contact/invite target group(s)

Growth area #2: Aspects of our congregation that need to be fixed

4. To minister to the needs of our members, develop and support fellowship opportunities, based on similar needs or interests, for example:

   1. Widows, widowers, divorced
   2. Mothers of pre-schoolers
   3. Single adults (20s, 30s, 40s)
   4. Young married couples
   5. Caregivers of ill family members
   6. Those with chronic illness

Growth area #3: Mission to our communities

5. Develop and implement a plan to engage members in contributing time and talents to Lutheran Social Services (Brainerd).

Growth area #4: Aspirations for the next 4-5 years

6. Explore and develop Wednesday evening as "church night," which might include any combination of the following:

   1. All committee meetings
   2. Confirmation
   3. Adult classes (Bible study, topical, parenting, etc.)
   4. Children's program
   5. Child care
   6. Light meal
   7. Contemporary worship service
   8. Choir rehearsal

7. To encourage lifelong learning, develop a comprehensive schedule of Bible studies with a variety of lengths, formats and difficulty.

8. Establish Small Group Ministry based on

   1. Bible study, prayer, relationship-building, mission/ministry
   2. Lay leaders are trained in small-group dynamics and leadership