Director for Evangeilical Mission (DEM) Rev. Larry Strenge Rev. Larry's Bio:

Pastor Larry Strenge is the SW MN Synod "Director for Evangelical Mission." Pastor Larry is a "deployed staff" person for the ELCA. As such, he does most of his work within the SW MN Synod. Particularly, Pastor Larry has three main areas of work within the synod. Mission outreach or evangelizing is about 65-70% of his time. Here he works with congregations who receive support from the ELCA to grow a new mission or a renewed ministry focus. An example would be the Sudanese African Ministry at Bethlehem in St Cloud. Additionally in this area he works with congregations in rural or small town settings to rediscover a passion for evangelizing in their context. In this role Pastor Larry uses the experience of being a mission developer in the ELCA to help congregations- or teams within new or renewing congregations-- rediscover God's purpose and how to live out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20). A main interest is in "Doorway Evangelizing" where he is available to do shorter or longer trainings on evangelizing. Mission Support is his second area of focus taking about 20% of his time. Here Pastor Larry works with our Stewardship Table (formerly called a Stewardship Team) to provide resources and training primarily in the area of financial stewardship. The final 5-10% of Pastor Larry's time is working in the area of coaching. Here he works with pastors and congregations helping individual pastors or A.I.Ms. focus on what God is calling to be done and how to do this more effectively. Pastor Larry is available through the Synod office number or via his cell phone 320-249-1135.