LCMS World Mission Blog

Evangelgram—March 2010

2010-03-12T15:44:16Z

A new issue of the Evangelgram is now available online. This is a monthly e-publication highlighting outreach efforts in the LCMS. This month’s issue includes articles on topics such as: the mission of Christ, proclaiming Christ with cell phone towers, mission resources, and more.

Download the Evangelgram
View more news resources from LCMS World Mission

Evangelgram - January 2010 A new issue of the Evangelgram is now available...
Evangelgram - August 2009 A new issue of the Evangelgram is available online....
Evangelgram - July 2009 A new issue of the Evangelgram is available online....

India Schools Project-Video

2010-03-10T20:47:49Z

India became the first foreign mission field of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod in 1895. Over the next 50 years, many LCMS missionaries served in India and founded schools. The buildings built during the tenure of the missionaries have fallen into disrepair and have been eaten by termites.

The schools are a major avenue of Christian witness in Indian Lutherans’ communities. Parents want to send their children to the Lutheran schools, knowing of the spirituality and sincerity of the Christian teachers. The 82 schools of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church reach 18,000 students and their families with the Gospel message. However, without the much-needed building repair and renovation, the schools will be closed by the Indian government.

If you would like to support the schools in India, please visit: http://www.lcms.org/?6450.
Pray for our LCMS missionaries in India
Watch the video on YouTube

India - IELC Golden Jubilee - Video India - IELC Golden Jubilee ; In June 2008,...
Good News from Rev. Herb Hoefer in India “I am now in Ambur, where I have been...
Sharing the Gospel in Cambodia-Video Seth and Shannon Hoeppner serve as GEO missionaries in Battambang,...

Audio interview with Jotham Johann

2010-03-08T21:41:53Z

Listen to an audio interview with Rev. Jotham Johann, consultant for National Mission at LCMS World Mission. Jotham began serving in this capacity on Feb. 1, 2010.

Subscribe to the podcast RSS feed, or access the files via the iTunes Music Store.

Audio interview courtesy of KFUO Radio AM 850

Audio interview with Rev. Don Johnson Rev. Don Johnson has served the Lord as the...
Audio interview with Josh Lange Listen to an inteview with Josh Lange, as he...
Audio Interview with James Neuendorf James Neuendorf serves as a the communications specialist for...

Sharing the Gospel in Cambodia-Video

2010-03-12T15:45:15Z

Seth and Shannon Hoeppner serve as GEO missionaries in Battambang, Cambodia. (GEO missionaries are Globally Engaged in Outreach for 1-2 years). The Hoeppners work with Trinity Lutheran Church in Battambang, teaching English and sharing the Gospel. Watch the video

Download the Hoeppners’ prayer card.
Support their work financially.

India Schools Project-Video India became the first foreign mission field of the Lutheran...
VYM Japan Video [Watch Video on YouTube] VYM (Volunteer Youth Ministry) is...
From GEO Missionaries Seth and Shannon Hoeppner in Cambodia “Years ago, when Trinity Lutheran Church in Battambang first...

Chilean church plans for post-earthquake ministry

2010-03-10T20:49:00Z

IELCHI President Carlos Schumann

In the midst of the chaos following the Feb. 27 earthquake and resulting tsunami, leaders and members of the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI) remain focused on how they can minister to each other and to others in their communities.

An earthquake hit Chile in the early morning of Feb. 27, with its epicenter near Concepción, Chile’s second-largest city. The resulting tsunami, looting, lack of water and electricity, road closures, and airport closings have affected millions of Chileans.

On March 2, Rev. Carlos Schumann, president of the IELCHI, wrote an e-mail to President Kieschnick, expressing thanks for his concern and encouragement during this difficult time. President Schumann wrote, “I enormously thank President Kieschnick for putting all the support force of the Synod to our service.”

Schumann also shared that after a special meeting of the IELCHI, plans are emerging for ministry in this post-disaster situation. Schumann shared that the church will take advantage of contacts that they have in areas badly affected by the earthquake to visit and see how they can help. He also stated that they hope to establish a base of operations in one of the affected areas and that the church hopes to respond to both urgent and long-term needs, both material and spiritual. Schumann shared that the IELCHI hopes to minister to smaller communities where damage is proportionally higher than in some of the larger cities—communities that have been “forgotten by TV cameras” and have suffered damage from the tsunami that followed the earthquake.

Rev. Dr. Jorge Groh, regional director for LCMS World Mission in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Olga Groh, director of project management in Latin America and the Caribbean for LCMS World Mission and LCMS World Relief and Human Care, have been in contact with President Schumann and others from the IELCHI since the earthquake hit. The Grohs and, potentially, other LCMS representatives, plan to visit Chile on March 12 to help evaluate the opportunities for post-disaster ministry and to encourage the leaders and members of the IELCHI.

Rev. Christian Rautenberg, an IELCHI pastor serving in Santiago, Chile, expressed thanks for the support the Chilean Lutherans have received from their brothers and sisters in other countries, and shared an update on the IELCHI’s steps to minister to people in their communities. On March 2, he wrote, “Thanks for the message and support in the times that we are living. Thank God we are already quite recovered from the destruction. The electricity is gradually returning, along with the water. As it was reflected yesterday in an urgent meeting with IELCHI, God has been our refuge and strength despite the forces of nature. He is still sustaining us every moment with His grace.

“I’m still making visits to people who have suffered badly. This morning, I visited several families in the community of La Florida, a neighborhood with many poor households where one family that goes to church lives. We are still in the stage of gathering information and making a list of people that we are going to visit—especially in the south. We are bringing the encouragement of the Word to all those we meet.”

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil, Lutheran Church—Canada, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay, and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have pledged to support their Chilean brothers and sisters in various ways in this time of need.

On behalf of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, LCMS World Relief and Human Care (the mercy arm of the LCMS) is working cooperatively with LCMS World Mission (the mission sending arm of the LCMS), LCMS congregations and districts, and U.S. and international partners to provide immediate and long-term relief for the people of Chile and Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI). Learn more about the LCMS’ partner/sister church, the IELCHI, at www.ielchi.cl.

To give a gift in support of relief efforts in Chile, go to www.lcms.org/help.

LCMS offers prayers and support for Chile and partners The president of the LCMS' Chilean partner church body said...
Pray for Haitians affected by earthquake; LCMS missionary family confirmed safe LCMS World Mission asks you to join in prayer...
Regional missionaries re-deployed to help with Haiti response Photo: Members of the assessment team, pastoral care personnel,...

Good news from People of the Book Lutheran Outreach in Michigan

2010-03-10T20:48:38Z

“Sheila” was baptized on Oct. 18, 2009. Her life story is a testimony that God is faithful to answer those who call upon Him in faith, whatever their level of Bible knowledge happens to be.

Sheila shares, “I was born in South India into an orthodox Hindu family. In the morning, we had to worship Hindu gods before we left the house. I know now that it was all idol worship because it involved the fear that if you did wrong, the gods would punish you. It was always a matter of trying to please these gods. It was also manipulative: ‘If you do this for me, I will do that for you,’ were the kind of prayers offered. It was like getting the attention of your god, and giving something so that you would get something in return. But, in the end, they were only duties we were forced to perform.

“As a child, I never knew the concept of salvation or of a Savior. But later on in school, I met Christians who demonstrated to me true faith and confidence in prayer. I had a few personal experiences with prayer. One of my teachers prayed for me when I had surgery and I observed Christians on the national cricket team as they prayed. I had a small Bible, which one of my friends left for me. I used to hold that Bible when I prayed to Jesus. I was really on my own spiritually—there was nobody to tell me what a Christian is, or how to pray. All I know is that when I prayed to Jesus in faith, things began to happen. I saw answers, God’s answers.

“To begin with, I consider my coming to this country [the United States] a miracle. And once I was here, I saw many miracles by which God pointed me to the true way and connected me with Christians who could really help. One Indian friend introduced me to a Hindu convert to Christianity, who in turn introduced me to Missionary Cynthia Khan. The very next Sunday, she brought me to the church where they spoke in Hindi. The Khans took me into their own home when my employer told me he couldn’t pay for my housing. Whenever I had a question about the Bible, it was answered in the devotion book or the Bible reading the family did.

“I once asked why it was necessary for Jesus to have been baptized. Four days later, that very question was answered in ‘Portals of Prayer’—the reason for Jesus being baptized was that He took our sins on Himself. Another miracle was that of my mother. I had never talked with my parents about conversion to Christianity. Yet one day, out of the blue, my mother called and said, ‘It’s okay if you convert and become a Christian.’ I don’t know why she said that, but I consider that the Holy Spirit was speaking through her.

“In all these circumstances, I see that it has been the Living God who was guiding me. Yet, only a year ago, I would never have dreamed of my being baptized as a Christian. But now, knowing the True God, I am living the life He promised I would have. It is only faith in the Triune God that saves you. You have to believe in Him more than your parents, or the gods that they serve. Jesus can do what no one else can do; He washed our sins by the blood He shed for us. As a Christian, we have to believe in God’s Holy Word. We should not treat these words from the Bible as something inconsequential, but rather, we should firmly believe that what Christ has done for us will take us to heaven. I am forever grateful for what my brothers and sisters at POBLO have done, for their love, concern, and patience. And I am thankful to my God, because He is the Living God. With Him, all things are possible.”

Learn more about People of the Book Lutheran Outreach.

Good news from Deaconess Carol Halter in Hong Kong “As the days go by, many new immigrants from...
From St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tracy, Calif. Women from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tracy, Calif.,...
Good news from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia “Vyacheslav ‘Slava’ Ostanin, president of ICHTHYS prison ministry and...

LCMS offers prayers and support for Chile and partners

2010-03-08T21:42:53Z

The president of the LCMS’ Chilean partner church body said his members and pastors are safe following the Feb. 27 8.8 magnitude earthquake even as the church body’s assessment of damage continues.

“By God’s grace, [none] of our church members and pastors’ families have suffered,” wrote Rev. Carlos Schumann, president of the Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile (IELCHI), in an e-mail to the LCMS.

The LCMS is monitoring the needs of the partner church and has pledged assistance in the aftermath of the earthquake that claimed more than 700 lives, toppled thousands of buildings and homes, and left an estimated 2 million people homeless.

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, president of the LCMS, expressed sorrow and concern for the Chilean people and the IELCHI in an electronic letter Sunday to Schumann.

“We thank God that He remains faithful to His promises, and we pray that He will give you strength and wisdom for the challenges of today, tomorrow, and for many days and years to come,” Kieschnick wrote. “May the peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds through faith in Christ Jesus our Lord!”

The IELCHI, while still assessing the earthquake’s effects on its members, buildings, and schools, has reported no serious damage from the quake to its congregations and schools. The earthquake is one of the worst on record.

Kieschnick asked staff from LCMS World Mission-led by Rev. Dr. Jorge Groh, regional director for Latin America-and LCMS World Relief and Human Care, to remain in contact with the IELCHI. “While already committing human and fiscal resources to relief and rebuilding in Haiti, we stand ready to be of assistance in any way possible in the aftermath of this very powerful earthquake in your country,” Kieschnick wrote in his electronic letter.

Rev. Christian Rautenberg serves at the IELCHI’s mission site in the Chilean capital, Santiago, which was also affected by the quake. In an e-mail to Groh on Monday, March 1, he wrote, “Today we are having an emergency church meeting to analyze the situation and the requests for help and support because this situation is also an opportunity to bring the Gospel message in an integrated manner to those who are suffering.”

Schumann thanked the LCMS’ brothers and sisters that are praying for us and our country.

“So, just [one] thing remains firm: God’s merciful and powerful hands where your life by faith quietly rests,” he wrote in a reply to Kieschnick. “I’m really [appreciative of] your kind, warm and friendly concern about us and the whole Chilean church.”

On behalf of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, LCMS World Relief and Human Care (the mercy arm of the LCMS) will work cooperatively with LCMS World Mission (the mission sending arm of the LCMS), LCMS congregations and districts, and U.S. and international partners to provide immediate and long-term relief for the people of Chile and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Republic of Chile.

Learn more about the IELCHI
Read about LCMS World Mission in Chile

Chilean church plans for post-earthquake ministry In the midst of the chaos following the Feb. 27...
LCMS assessment team in Haiti Photo: Rev. Dr. Jorge Groh, regional director of Latin...
Pray for Haitians affected by earthquake; LCMS missionary family confirmed safe LCMS World Mission asks you to join in prayer...

National Mission News-Winter 2010

2010-03-05T16:50:34Z

National Mission Good News is a quarterly newsletter from the LCMS World Mission—National Mission Team. It informs and encourages LCMS pastors, missionaries, and laypeople for faith in action.

The Winter 2010 edition of the National Mission Good News is now online:

Sharing good news of what God is doing through the LCMS in the U.S.
Resources
“Missionaries For Jesus – Wherever You Are!”
Congregations and pastors learn much from The ‘72’
The mission field is at our doorstep

Download PDF Newsletter:

Download the latest issue

National Mission News — Fall 2009 National Mission Good News is a quarterly newsletter from the...
National Mission News - Spring 09 National Mission Good News is a quarterly newsletter from LCMS...
Evangelgram—March 2010 A new issue of the Evangelgram is now available online....

Good news from Andrea Herman in Guinea

2010-03-05T16:50:02Z

“God and His ways continue to amaze me. My friend Evie has often mentioned she’d like me to go with her to greet her family in another town, but I don’t often travel there. Another thing she and her husband both mention frequently is that I don’t lie; I do what I say I’m going to do. Sadly, that is very uncommon here, which is why they noticed the difference almost immediately. Not long after, they started asking me basic questions about my religion. They said they knew I was a Christian even before I told them because I didn’t lie. Their observations continued over several months.

“The day arrived in November when I had planned to travel to Evie’s family’s town, so we planned to go together. What I thought was going to be a simple trip to a nearby town to greet my friend’s family and meet her long-lost daughter turned into something of
potentially eternal significance. I had already thought through whether or not to try to tell a Bible story on the way, but had decided against it, since driving here requires 100 percent concentration and at least one set of eyes. However, about 10 minutes into the hour-and-a-half trip, Evie said, ‘My husband wants to know what your religion is all about. So tell me everything. I’ll go home and tell him what you said, and if he likes it, we’re in.’

“I almost had to pinch myself. I kept thinking, ‘THIS is how it’s going to happen?’ At the moment, it seemed so abrupt. Despite my surprise and unpreparedness to explain all these details (in Maninka), I tried to cover all the foundational things about our faith that would be important to know for someone considering a complete change of life and worldview. These are the times when all I can do is pray for God to provide the words, and that it would be correctly understood by my friend. So we started with God creating the world and the fall into sin, God’s plan to send Jesus to save us, His life, death and resurrection so that we could be forgiven and go to be with God forever in heaven. I was talking about our sinfulness, and how when we believe in Jesus, He stands in our place so God doesn’t see our sinfulness, only Jesus’ holiness. At the end of an hour or so of trying to explain things, her response was, ‘So Jesus is the Way?’

“Again, I was dumbfounded. First, at her comprehension of my words, but even more so by her profound understanding of the concepts I was trying to express. It was so exciting to see the Holy Spirit at work so clearly. Evie went home, explained things to her husband, and asked me to come and get them the next Sunday, because they wanted to come to church! Not only is it extremely rare for someone in Guinea to make a public appearance at a Christian worship service so quickly, but the fact that the husband and wife came together to worship was a first in this area. It’s exactly what we hope and pray for—that families would come to worship God together, so it was a very exciting day. Please pray for this family, that the Holy Spirit would be working in their hearts and that their interest in Jesus is genuine. Out of sheer amazement that this all happened so quickly, I couldn’t help but ask Evie some questions. I found out that previously, in another country, they had lived in an apartment building where Christians gathered for worship, and they knew the pastor of that fellowship, which had positively impacted them.

“So much of their information about Christianity did not come from asking about our doctrine or theology—rather, they based the rightness/righteousness of our faith entirely upon the actions of those who claimed to be believers.”

Download Andrea Herman’s prayer card.
Give a gift online to support Andrea’s ministry in Guinea.

From Andrea Herman in Guinea “I was shocked at how many opportunities God provided...
Good news from Tim and Heidi Norton in Guinea “‘Now Thank We All Our God!’ Although Thanksgiving is...
From Tim and Heidi Norton in Guinea “‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers whenever you face...

Good news from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia

2010-03-05T16:49:47Z

“On Jan. 31, the Lutheran congregation in Nizhniy Novgorod, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia (ELCIR), celebrated the 15th anniversary of its reestablishment. The first Lutheran congregation in Nizhniy Novgorod was founded in 1580 and was the second-oldest Lutheran congregation in Russia (the first one was in Moscow). Its original members were foreign merchants who traveled with their goods up and down the Volga River, as well as the military. Ethnically, they were Germans, Swedes, Dutch, and Lithuanians. In the 1820s, the Russian czarist authorities allowed the congregation to build a church building out of stone in the city’s central street. Up until 1917, the congregation’s membership was around 1,000 Lutherans. In 1931, the Soviet authorities stopped the congregation’s work and confiscated its church building. In 1961-63, it was demolished.

“By God’s grace, however, on Jan. 30, 1995 the Lutheran congregation in Nizhniy was re-established and duly registered with the justice directorate of the Nizhniy Novgorod Oblast. Instrumental in the revival of the church in the 1990s were members of the Ingrian-Finnish and German cultural societies. The congregation would like to thank all the people who have been helping their church in its rebirth and growth—in particular, the episcopate of the ELCIR and the volunteers and missionary pastors of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod for their invaluable assistance. During these 15 years, the public pastoral ministry to the congregation has been carried out by Pastors Alexander Prilutskiy from 1995 to 1997, Rev. Douglas Reinders (LCMS) from 1998-2000, and Rev. Yaroslav Boychenko from 2000 to the present time.

“The congregation currently has 70 communicant members. It is ethnically mixed—it has ethnic Finns, Germans, Estonians, students from Tanzania, and, of course, Russians. The missionary from Finland, Miina Viitanen, is active in youth work. The congregation’s baroque and romantic organ built by Hoffrichter Orgel GmbH is a gift from fellow-Lutherans in Essen, a sister city of Nizhniy. On Jan. 31, almost all of the congregation members gathered for the anniversary worship service, as well as guests, including Rev. Prilutskiy (the congregation’s first pastor, now academic dean of the Theological Institute of the ELCIR in Koltushi, Russia), Rev. Leif Camp, the first LCMS missionary who worked with the group in the 1990s, Rev. Sergey Shanin, president of the Moscow District of the ELCIR, Rev. Jon Muhly, area facilitator of LCMS World Mission in Russia, and Rev. Kai Lappalainen, Finnish missionary to Narva, Estonia. The Sacrament of Holy Communion was celebrated by Pastors Shanin and Prilutskiy. The musical accompaniment on the organ was kindly provided by Yulia Lotova, organist of Sts. Peter and Paul Cathedral in Moscow. ‘They were all with one accord in one place’ (Acts 2:1). Please pray for God’s continued blessing upon this church in its efforts to proclaim the faith in Jesus to more people.”

Learn more about LCMS World Mission’s work in Russia.

Good news from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in Russia “Vyacheslav ‘Slava’ Ostanin, president of ICHTHYS prison ministry and...
Audio Interview with missionary John Muhly Jon Muhly serves the Lord as a missionary in...
From St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tracy, Calif. Women from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tracy, Calif.,...