Lucco shared the conference's new mission statement - "Every Church A Strategic Mission Outpost on a Shared and Expanded Mission Field" as part of his annual report, stating that three areas of ministry - church revitalization, church planting and churches planting ministries of compassion and justice - will receive primary focus.

During his sermon, Lucco used the Luke 19 story of Zacchaeus the tax collector to describe how Jesus Christ seeks the lost, and he challenged churches to do the same. He shared his growing faith journey, telling delegates from 35 congregations about how the love of a Young Life staff member helped bring him into a new life in Christ.

"We live in challenging times," said Lucco at the conclusion of his annual report to delegates. "The need for individuals and churches that embody the gospel and are used by God to find lost people and help hurting people has never been greater. Our meeting these days will celebrate what God is doing in us and through us and call us to a deeper commitment to Jesus Christ and the work of his kingdom."

In other news:

• Delegates read into the minutes a proposed revised constitution and by-laws that will be voted on at next year's annual meeting, according to conference Chair Ken Larson.
• Conference delegates approved the recommendation of denominational membership of Christ Covenant Church in Wixom, Michigan, a church plant started by Nathan Pawl. That recommendation will be considered by delegates to the Evangelical Covenant Church Annual Meeting in June. The congregation had its grand opening service last September after starting preview services in January 2002.
• Associate Supt. Larry Sherman spoke about another church plant, Life Church in Canton, Michigan, and showed a video of recent developments there. Life Church was started by pastor Alex Rahill and held its first weekly service on April 16 in a local school.
• Delegates re-elected Larson, Pawl and Carole Lindberg to second terms on the conference executive board.
• The conference board agreed with a matching funds initiative to help the conference's fledgling Churches Planting Ministries initiative. Lucco discussed the initiative that is under way at the conference level, noting that a HELP offering will help provide financial resources. Larson stated that the conference will match what is raised at the local level. The HELP offering from the conference then will be matched up to a maximum of $30,000 by the Evangelical Covenant Church to support new and expanded ministries.
• James Swanson, Brian Haight, Brian Kyle, John Madvig and Jon Meyer - five of six candidates for ordination from the conference - shared their testimonies during last weekend's business session, according to Beverly Bubb, conference office manager. A Friday evening banquet launched the annual meeting.