History of CAN-DO Missions

October 1992	Bd .... For Parish Services approves concept for "Youth Great Commission" Project as presented by Dist. Exec. Ray Schkade
November 1992	District Board of Directors approves funding for project.
January 1993	Synod Board for Mission Services agrees to underwrite cost of survey team trip to Russia.
February 1993	Task Force forms to develop "Youth Great Commission" project. Committee decides to 'launch' project at District Youth Gathering, Glorybound '93
March 1993	Survey Team selected to investigate possible mission trip sites in Slovakia and Russia. Team includes: DCE Kevin Pieper - Salem, Tomball Ms. Diane Hemff - Mount Olive, Corpus Christi Scott Vystercil, youth - Lord of Life, Plano Christy Fuchs, youth - Grace, Arlington Project CAN-DO (Christ Among Nations - Disciple Outreach) chosen as official name of the project. Job description developed and three candidates for director are identified. Three congregations selected to 'pilot' CAN-DO campaign: Small church - Lord of Life, Plano Mid-size church - Our Savior, Austin Large church - Salem, Tomball
May 1993	District Board of Trustees issues call to Randy Potts as first Project CAN-DO Director.
June 1993	Survey Team makes trip to Slovakia and Russia to identify potential mission work sites for Project CAN-DO. New Director Randy Potts accompanies team replacing Diane Hemff who could not attend.
July 1993	Ray Schkade submits proposal to Wheat Ridge Foundation for $90,000 3-year grant to underwrite "Youth Great Commission" project.
August 1993	DCE Randy Potts officially installed as new Project CAN-DO Director at Texas District Bd. of Directors meeting.
November 1993	Project CAN-DO officially offered to the youth and congregations of the Texas District at GLORYBOUND '93, the district youth gathering.
May 1995	Board of Directors approved changing 'project' status to full Texas District Mission status.
June 1996	Director Randy Potts accepts call to serve as the Minister of Youth and Assimilation at Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Alpharetta, GA.
July 1996	DCE Ron Scherch from Bethel, Dallas, accepts call to be the next Director of CAN-DO Missions. Ron served faithfully from July 1996 through April 2007 when he received a call to be Director of Recruitment Services for LCMS World Missions in St. Louis, MO. During Ron's leadership Can-Do facilitated trips to numerous domestic locations and 10 international locations.
2006	Concordia University Texas adopts CAN-DO Missions and moves their office form the Texas District to Concordia University.
August 2007	Patricia Fick accepts the call as CAN-DO Missions Director.
August 2011	CAN-DO adds medical mission trips to accomodate the requirement for Concordia Bachelor of Science nursing students to participate in a medical mission trip before they graduate.
March 2019	CAN-DO Missions celebrated 25 years in Ministry.
Present	CAN-DO Missions continues to provide College and medical mission trips.

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