DALLAS, Some organizations celebrating a milestone
anniversary host a big party to reflect back on all the good work they have
done. Today, much of our work is done through 'Leadership
Communities ,' in which the participants are all focused on similar ministry
initiatives.
Both the Leadership Network and Halftime Web sites offer free e-newsletters
and downloadable concept papers for church leaders, as well as tapes, videos
and other resources available for a nominal charge. And Leadership Network is
spreading its innovative research and practical applications even further
through a broadcast initiative with Church Communication Network and book
publishing ventures with Zondervan and Jossey-Bass.

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Members Reach $2.5 Million Matching Grant Aiding Tsunami Survivors

5 million

Members of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans have given more than
$2. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a
broad range of financial products and services including life
insurance, annuities, mutual funds, disability income insurance, bank
products and more.5 million members, has a long history of ministering
to both the physical and spiritual well-being of its members.

christianity synodical

Soon, Leadership
Network was also sponsoring forums for executive pastors, worship leaders,
youth leaders, and other pastoral and lay ministers in need of the same kind
of peer-to-peer experiences.
The funding has been used to provide immediate relief in the form
of clean water, food, shelter and basic supplies."
In addition to member gifts, Thrivent Financial and an affiliate,
Thrivent Life Insurance Company, have given $5 million for tsunami
relief efforts to LWR and the disaster relief programs of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, The Lutheran Church--Missouri
Synod and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

About Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is a not-for-profit Fortune 500
financial services organization helping 2.8 million members achieve
their financial goals. The AME Church
is called and committed to uplifting and assisting all persons, regardless of
race, ethnicity , gender, educational, and/or socio-economic status. In this regard, the Department has and continues to work
tirelessly to partner with organizations which are able to train, teach and
hence effectively and efficiently equip AME pastors and congregations to do
the work, in order to address the various spiritual and temporal conditions of
persons everywhere, at anytime.

church spirituality

James C.ourjourneyofhope.

About CTCA
Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America(R) provides advanced
Patient Empowerment Medicine(SM) through a network of cancer treatment
hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Washington
and Philadelphia.

leaders evangelical

Leadership Network became the vehicle
to fill that need."
Another one of Leadership Network's groundbreaking initiatives -- Halftime
-- grew out of Bob Buford's best-selling 1995 book by the same name. "On behalf of the people we serve , we give thanks to
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' members for this unprecedented
outpouring of support," says Kathryn Wolford, LWR President. Moreover,
cancer in particular exacts an especially heavy price among African Americans. Last year, Cancer Treatment Centers of America created the "Our
Journey of Hope" lay ministry training program as an outgrowth of its
integrative approach to treatment and in response to requests from patients
and spiritual leaders.
Inasmuch as lung cancer is said to be the No.

offices evangelical

Since its inception, Leadership Network has also shown a strong commitment
to capturing and distributing knowledge to the larger Christian community."
And that's something to celebrate!

About Leadership Network: Based in Dallas, Texas, Leadership Network is a
non -profit public charity that fosters church innovation and growth through a
variety of programs, resources and strategies.

Sites related to the Lutheran denomination known as the Evengalical Lutheran church in America.

primary spirituality

leadnet.
Taking the biblical mandate to "evangelize the whole world" to heart, the
Department of Church Growth, under the leadership of Bishop Preston Warren
Williams II, Commission Chairman , and Dr.

elca evangelical

But there's
also no question that the core of what we do will remain the same --
identifying , connecting and helping high-capacity Christian leaders multiply
their impact.
The AME Church , one of the largest African-American churches in the United
States with more than 2.

christianity liturgy

"
Before long, Leadership Network found that senior pastors weren't the only
ministry professionals hungry for this kind of experience.halftime.
Cancer Treatment Centers of America's (CTCA) whole person approach to
cancer care incorporates the latest technologies and therapies with
complementary care including nutrition, mind-body medicine and spiritual
support.

church stewardship

For example, right now we're doing a lot of work with rapidly
growing multi-site churches and other churches with a strong, externally
focused ministry. The funds will also
be used for longer term programs to repair and rebuild clinics ,
schools, homes, businesses and livelihoods., 625 Fourth Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN 55415-1665,
1-800-THRIVENT (800-847-4836) a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent
Financial for Lutherans. The Department is global in its vision and
mission, understanding that every person is a "citizen " of the world and all
persons are candidates for atonement.

denomination religion

Our experience is that the interaction , dialogue and
sharing among Leadership Community participants inevitably accelerates the
innovation process. And, as these innovators go back into their own worlds,
their ministries grow farther and faster than they could ever have dreamed.477.org
"Our members' generosity continues to amaze me, but it isn't a
surprise that they've reached this milestone well before the April 15
deadline ," said Brad Hewitt, senior vice president of Fraternal
Operations at Thrivent Financial., Director of Pastoral Care and Social Services
for Cancer Treatment Centers of America's flagship hospital in Zion, Ill.

synodical frequently

Leadership Network Celebrates 20 Years of Equipping Innovative Church Leaders

"From the very beginning," says Buford, who still serves as LN's chairman
of the board, "we knew we had caught on to something. Through self-
assessment tools, books, events and other resources , Leadership Network's
Halftime initiative (http://www.org or contact Rick Long at
1. ZION, Ill.
African-Americans have the highest mortality rate of any ethnic or racial
group in the United States for all cancers combined and for most major
cancers, according to the American Cancer Society .

synodical asked

Business Editors

MINNEAPOLIS----

With Thrivent Financial's $5 million , total contribution
more than $7.5 million to Lutheran World Relief's (LWR ) Wave of Giving campaign
to assist tsunami survivors in South Asia as part of a Thrivent
Financial member matching grant. Psychological counseling
for survivors is also an integral part of the efforts in the region.
LWR will keep its supporters informed about its programs and impact in
South Asia through a special Web site, www.
As a free service, Cancer Treatment Centers of America will be
implementing "Our Journey of Hope" at AME churches. "We are delighted to have made a place for this vital training
at our 19th annual seminar on Church Growth and Evangelism.

leaders locator

What's ahead in the next 20 years? According to Buford, "Leadership
Network will continue to evolve along with the church itself.

campus asked

With the help of Harold Myra and Paul Robbins of
Christianity Today, Buford gathered a group of 25 senior pastors of large
churches around the country to ask a single question, "What can I do to be
useful to you?" The pastors answered unanimously that they wanted a forum for
peer -to-peer interaction and learning.6698 x 102 or rlong@sourcepub.5 million match, but surpassed it on Friday.com . The facilities provide a comprehensive, patient-centered
and multidisciplinary path to cancer care by integrating cutting-edge medical
treatments with time-honored support therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy,
psychological counseling and spiritual therapy.

spirituality christianity

Leadership Network (http://www.com

Securities are offered through Thrivent Investment Management
Inc ., The African
Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Cancer Treatment Centers of America will
be working together to establish and train cancer-focused healthcare lay
ministries in the AME Church 's 6,200 congregations around the world. This
major new initiative was announced at this week's AME Church's Annual Seminar
in Birmingham, Ala.

denomination christianity

What we did was create
a structure to make that possible . With
over 450,000 copies now in print, Halftime has reoriented many high-achievers
from a life of success to one focused on significance.
LWR is one of the highest rated international humanitarian
agencies according to the independent American Institute of
Philanthropy.

stewardship campus

In recognition of its 20th year of service, Leadership Network decided
to look forward -- with an even greater focus on helping innovative church
leaders multiply their reach and impact. "We continue to find ways to
leverage our members' desire to make a difference. For more information, visit www. Member NASD. Member SIPC .

Percy McCray, Jr. James C.

christianity fellowship

"The department of Church Growth and Development of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church is pleased to be in partnership with CTCA to establish 21st
century lay ministries impacting cancer patients throughout the world.

It is in fellowship with the related church body, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

elca evangelical

com . and MEMPHIS, Tenn."
For more information on CTCA's Our Journey of Hope program, visit
http://www.

About the AME Church
Founded in 1787 in Philadelphia, PA by a former slave, Bishop Richard
Allen, the African Methodist Episcopal church has served as the oldest
denomination formally founded in North America and the first denomination to
address the spiritual and temporal needs of African Americans.

stewardship primary

"
Twenty years later, the Dallas-based organization has helped some of the
biggest and most highly respected churches in the United States, as well as
other innovative leaders who are beginning to build the next generation of
churches.
Current CEO Tom Wilson says, "While Leadership Network's focus has always
been on innovators, our methods have evolved over the years along with the
needs of today's church. As a not-for-profit organization, Thrivent
Financial sponsors national outreach programs and activities that
support congregations, schools, charitable organizations and needy
individuals. For more information, visit
http://www.

liturgy stewardship

In this case, the
tsunami survivors have benefited more than if our members, LWR or
Thrivent Financial had helped individually.
"Our goal at Cancer Treatment Centers of America is to provide the best
possible care, including spiritual care, to cancer patients and their loved
ones, and that includes serving spiritual leaders and their congregations,"
explains Rev. Wade, Director of Church Growth and
Development.

christianity relevant

The pastors so
appreciated the chance to gather together across denominational lines, learn
from each other and step outside their comfort zones. Members had until April 15 to reach
the $2.waveofgiving.cancercenter.

lutheran fellowship

primary synodical

org ) was launched in 1984 by social
entrepreneur Bob Buford, who was then owner of a successful cable television
company in Tyler, Texas.halftime.org ) takes this a step deeper by working
directly with individuals who are looking to repurpose their lives, as well as
churches that want to encourage such transformations in their congregations. 1 killer of African Americans,
it is only natural that the AMEC would unite with CTCA to develop an in-depth
spiritual response to the pervasive rise of cancer in the African -American
community," says Rev."
A growing body of research shows spiritual beliefs can play a vital role
in helping people better cope with cancer and other illnesses, both physically
and mentally. According to research published by Dale Matthews, MD, and David
Larson, MD, of the National Institute of Healthcare Research, "Patients with a
strong religious commitment recover faster, live longer or cope better in
seven out of eight studies of cancer, four out of five studies of high blood
pressure, four out of six studies of heart disease and five out of seven
studies of general health .com .

periodicals denomination

For more on Leadership
Network, see http://www.800.thrivent.

African Methodist Episcopal Church to Use Cancer Treatment Centers of America's Cancer Training Program

Wade, Executive Director is
consistently pressing forward to reach persons throughout the world, by any
means necessary.

synodical periodicals

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