Steps to Starting a Lutheran Pioneer Program

Listed below are steps you should follow as you consider beginning or reactivating a Lutheran Pioneer Train in your congregation. You may have already completed some of these steps. Others may not be appropriate for your congregation. The steps are meant to be a guide.

 Get the permission and support of your Pastor and responsible congregation board or committee.

1. Contact your National Train Advisor.
2. He can answer questions and help you in your study of Lutheran Pioneers.
3. Hold an information meeting for interested adults and boys.
1. Have your National Train Advisor present if possible.
2. Show "Lutheran Pioneers - Onward to the Future" video.
4. Assess the interest of the boys and adults.
1. Recruit adult help for the program
5. Hold a second meeting of adults willing to serve as leaders or Train Council members.
1. Have your National Train Advisor present if possible.
2. Make a decision on whether to proceed with chartering or reactivating a Train.
3. Study the included article "Duties of a Train Council" to learn about the roles of leaders and Train Council members and begin organizing your Train.
4. Decide on a method of funding your program. Possible methods would be funding through the congregation budget, a door offering, some type of fund raising project, support by a group from the congregation, assessing each boy a certain amount or a combination of several of these ideas. Your decision depends on your congregation’s policies.
6. Submit the "Membership Registration" form to the National Office.
1. Estimate the number of boys you will have. You can update it later
2. List all leaders, even potential ones. You can update the list later
3. When your membership gets to the National Office, a Train Library will be put together and sent to you
4. You will be invoiced for your membership based on the information in the letter that accompanied this booklet.
7. When your Train Library arrives, meet with the potential leaders to go through the materials.
1. Plan your first several meetings and activities.
2. Share the information with the Train Council
8. Publicize your meeting nights and activities.
1. Let parents know about your meeting and activity plans.
2. Inform the congregation board or committee that oversees your program.
9. Hold your first meeting with the boys.
10. Inform the National Office of any changes in your membership or leadership.
11. Continue your meetings and begin planning future meetings and activities.
1. Use the books in your Train Library.

May God bless your Lutheran Pioneer program that with His help you will lead your boys on the Godly road to Christian adulthood.