Rev. Lucas Bitter and Meredith Bitter
Tuesday, Jan 24
3:15 – 4:30 pm
By 2026, many churches are participating in some kind of community service or compassion ministry. But are we carrying out those initiatives to the best of our missional ability? What would it take to make sure our community service actually leads to more people hearing about Jesus?
This session will examine the community service-minded culture of post-Christian America and then bring in a church’s unique opportunities to connect and collaborate. Participants will be challenged to comb through the many “perfectly adequate” service opportunities in their community and single out those “very best” initiatives that will maximize opportunities to share the gospel in the long run. (HINT: It’s not necessarily about how you’re serving your community but rather who is serving with you . . .)
The prayerful goal of this breakout is to help you “dial in” your community service initiatives to produce as many evangelism opportunities as possible.
Rev. Lucas Bitter serves as the pastor of Intown Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Ga. Over the past eight years in this growing, diverse, urban congregation, he has seen incredible stories of God working in people’s hearts. Lucas, his wife, Meredith, and their two children enjoy biking, soccer, and gathering with friends in the vibrant city neighborhoods of Atlanta.
Meredith Bitter has worn many hats during her years in Georgia, including substitute teacher, public school high school Spanish teacher, and stay-at-home mom to Elijah and Gabby. She currently serves in a part-time role as worship coordinator and tech admin at Intown and feels so blessed to be part of WELS Home Missions and urban ministry. She also serves on the WELS Women’s Ministry Executive Team and is passionate about encouraging women in their many vocations, both in and outside of church.
