Offerings from congregations for synodical purposes increased slightly over $1 million in 1984, an increase of 7.9 percent over 1983 offerings, according to a report to congregations by Pastor Daniel W. Malchow, the synod's stewardship counselor.

Congregations subscribed $13.9 million for synodical purpose8 in 1984 and remitted 98.7 percent of that goal.

Malchow also reported that over $16 million in Reaching Out funds have been received so far. These reports, he said, "give us much for which we should be extremely grateful to our God."

Congregational subscriptions for 1985 amounted to an increase of 2.5 percent over 1984 subscriptions. "It cannot be denied," said Malchow, "that this carries some disappointment. At a time when we are trying to get many more missionaries into the fields and a few more professors into our worker training schools, we were hoping for a greater increase. Any expansion of workers now comes into doubt."