lutherans engage the world: may-june 2016

8/17/2019 Lutherans Engage the World: May-June 2016

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Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD

May – June 2016, Vol. 4, Issue 5


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888-THE LCMS (843-5267)

lcms.org

May – June 2016 vol. 4, no. 5

Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD

2 Sending and Supporting Those Who ProclaimGod’s Word

4 Grounded in the Word of God

8 Through Thick and Thin: Caring forChurch Workers in Crisis

12 Pastoral Care from the Pulpit 19 Loving and Serving the Homeless in New Orleans

inspire

4

12

Engaging the Church in the work of witness and mercy across the globe in our life together.

LUTHERANS ENGAGE THE WORLD is published bi-monthly by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

© 2016 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Reproduction for parish use does not require permission. Such reproductions,

however, should credit LUTHERANS ENGAGE THE WORLD as a source. Print editions are sent to LCMS donors, rostered workers and

missionaries. An online version is available (lcms.org/lutheransengage). To receive the print edition, we invite you to make a financial

gift for LCMS global witness and mercy work. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are property of the LCMS.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright ©

2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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How Will They Hear?

God has given His Church a beautiful gift for the

salvation of men. Te gift is His own Son — Jesus

Christ preached into our ears, poured over us in

Baptism, placed upon our lips in the Lord’s Supper.

Just as surely as our heavenly Father has located

Himself and His gifts in tangible elements like water,

bread and wine, so He locates His saving Word in the

preaching and spiritual care of called and ordained

servants of the Word in the Office of the Holy Ministry.

For Rom. 10:14 says, “How then will they call on him

in whom they have not believed? And how are they to

believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how

are they to hear without someone preaching?”

In a world where the culture of the day assaults every

value we hold as children of God, it is imperative to our

witness and mercy work that we have well-equippedpastors. Tese men of God bear His living, forgiving Word

to us from pulpits, podiums and on our porches.

Well-prepared pastors, deeply rooted in God’s Word

and our Lutheran Confessions, preach and teach in ways

that bring Christ fully into the midst of our broken lives.

Being fortified with Word and Sacrament, we are

then equipped to go into the world and speak the Word

of God that has been spoken to us. We bear the mercy

of Christ that has been shown to us. And in all of it, the

Holy Spirit creates repentance and faith where and when

He chooses.

Tis is how it works in the Lord’s Church. Tis why we

invest so deeply in training pastors and caring for them.

It’s also why our global partners’ chief request is for the

LCMS to provide theological education and seminary

training for their pastors and other church workers.

Tis issue of Lutherans Engage the World focuses

largely on theological education and the service of

pastors and missionaries as they bring God’s Word to

the world.

In Christ,

Pamela J. Nielsen

Associate Exe cutive Director,LCMS Communications

engage

inform 3 10 Questions 9 Making an Impact in Ethiopia 10 Theological Education Around the World 16 Synod Chaplain Wears

Several Hats

16

involve 21 As a Steward, You Have Rights

S T A F F

David L. Strand executive director, communications

Pamela J. Nielsen executive editor

Erica Schwan director, design services

Megan K. Mertz managing editor/staff writer

Erik M. Lunsford manager, photojournalism

Lisa Moeller designer

Annie Monette designer

Chrissy Thomas designer

E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E

314-996-1215

1333 S. Kirkwood Road

St. Louis, MO 63122-7295

[email protected]

lcms.org/lutheransengage

Cover image: The Rev. Daniel

Conrad, an LCMS missionary to

Mexico, witnesses to a fellow

passenger as he travels via public

transportation in congested

Mexico City.

PHOTO: LCMS COMMUNICATIONS/ERIK M. LUNSFORD

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T

heological education makes an

enormous difference in the lives of

God’s people, and that’s why the LCMS

is so heavily invested in this work around

the world.

Te goal of our work is the sending and

ongoing support of those who proclaim

God’s Word, rightly distinguished in Law

and Gospel. Article V of the Augsburg

Confession confirms that the ministry of

Word and Sacrament was instituted for this

very purpose, so that the Holy Spirit is given

to work saving faith — the faith that God

counts for Christ’s perfect righteousness

— in the hearers of the Word. So, “how are

they to believe in him of whom they have

never heard? And how are they to hear

without someone preaching? And how are

they to preach unless they are sent?” (R.

:–).

You and I participate in God’s “send-

ing” in a mutual response of love toward

our fellow Christians and the Synod’s global

church partners, who repeatedly plead:

“Help us!” How often we hear that they are

genuinely suffering from a shortage of well-educated servants of the Word — Lutheran

ministers apt to teach, marked by pastoral

hearts grounded in faithful proclamation of

the Gospel and fervent desire to care for the

souls of God’s people — who are truly pre-

pared to carry out often-difficult duties

in the abundant fields of 21st-century

global mission.

We answer these urgent requests

with sustainable, accountable

actions. hrough our Synod’s

Global Seminary Initiative, we are steadfastly

forming new pastors at our St. Louis and

Fort Wayne seminaries for future church

service and leadership in their countries

of origin. Moreover, we continue to pre-

pare and send LCMS missionary theologi-

cal educators from the U.S. to teach and

train future church workers in their own

seminaries and contexts. he outcome of

this powerful work is an increase in the

number of former unbelievers who are

daily brought into the gracious presence

and worship of our holy God.

In the sending of His Son, the Savior of

the world, God has provided life and free-

dom in the face of death and slavery. Tus,

we are about the work of bringing others to

encounter a crucified and risen Jesus, prior

to His return in glory and judgment on the

Last Day. Indeed, there is an urgency to this,

since, as God reminds us, “Yet once more

I will shake not only the earth but also the

heavens” (H. :).

We have an unchangeable promise for

that final seismic moment. It is to be

preceded by the sending of God’s

heralds who faithfully carryout the ministry of His

living, active Word.

Te result is a

gathering of every tribe, nation, people and

language on a holy mountain, full of grace

and mercy and glory — the fulfillment of

a great intervention that took place once

upon another mountain marked by fire and

judgment. Te Son of God was there, for

all of us, in the crucial and crucified role.

He has made the difference that counts

into eternity.

In Christ,

Rev. Kevin D. Robson

C M O, L C—

M S

“And how are they to hearwithout someone preaching?

And how are they to preachunless they are sent?” (R. :–)

Sending & SupportingThose Who Proclaim God’s Word

nspire

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DISTRICT PRESIDENT REV.

DONALD J. FONDO

W I

T H

10 Q u e s t i o n s

by Pamela J. Nielsen

6.

What are you most excited aboutin your district?

I am excited about the ministry thathas begun among the Anyuak [Africanimmigrants] at Trinity in Sauk Rapids, Minn.The Lutheran schools in our district are trulymission outposts, as over half of the childrenenrolled are not members of an LCMScongregation. Our district camp recentlydedicated a Creation Science EnvironmentalLearning Center. Our members and rosteredworkers have a heart for mission andsupport projects in Kenya and Liberia.

7.

What one thing do you want people to know about district presidents?

District presidents are men of God who arehere to serve Christ and His Church, and ourdesire is to be of help.

8. When you hear that a pastor or parishis facing a struggle, how do youapproach the situation?When I was first elected, I sat down onenight and composed a list of conflictsituations in the district. My list totaled 35.Shortly thereafter, I was asked at a circuitpastors’ meeting what my vision was for thedistrict. My first response was: “It’s difficult

to see if you’re buried in mud.” I proposed to our district BOD that we establish acongregational care counselor position. Thegoal is to direct the focus upon the powerof the Word of God and seek reconciliation

through a process of Bible study andmediation. My greatest concern is thatconfession and forgiveness predominateand the grace of God is received and given.

9. If someone visited your part ofMinnesota, what one place wouldyou tell them to see?Since we are the land of 10,000 lakes, I

would recommend that you start with thegreat lake of Superior. But don’t stop there.

10. What do you like to do when youget a day off?Whatever my wife would like to do! I enjoysporting events, traveling, reading, andsometimes it’s just good to rest.

Deaconess Pamela J. Nielsen is

associate executive director for

LCMS Communications.

1.

What is your greatest joy in servingas district president?

The privilege of working with and servingfaithful people of God: the congregationsand ministries, rostered church workers anddistrict staff. It’s a joy to follow in the train of

those who have gone before us in this partof God’s kingdom, people whom He used tobring us to where we are today.

2. What is your greatest challenge?It is a significant challenge to assistcongregations and called workers to dealwith conflict biblically and confessionally.There is a great need to help our peoplesee what it means to be the Body of Christ.Another challenge is assisting rural/small-

town congregations as they deal with thereduction of family farms and a decliningpopulation base. Outreach and stewardshipneed attention. There is a tendency to makesurvival No. 1 and forget the real mission of

the Church. That’s why it’s so important tobe in the Word and see how God keepsHis promises.

3. What is the main role of a districtpresident in regard to the pastors inhis district?

I see my role as trying to be Aaron-likein holding up the prophet’s hands [therostered church workers]; like Barnabas inencouraging the workers, congregations andother ministries; or like Moses in conductingoversight according to the Word of Godand the Synod Handbook and civil law[ecclesiastical supervision].

4. What misperceptions do peoplehave about the role?Some think that once a pastor is elected tobecome a district president, he stops beinga shepherd and becomes a bureaucrat who

is no longer in touch with life in the parish.Also, a district president is neither a saviornor an enemy.

5. How do you handle the demandsand stresses of the job?The Word of God and the Sacramentssustain me. I am thankful for the love of mywife and family; the blessing of friends; the

tremendous support of our district vice-presidents, board of directors, circuit visitors,members of the [Council of Presidents]; and

the kindness of fellow church workers andcongregational members.

“My greatest concern is that confession andforgiveness predominate and the grace ofGod is received and given.” — District President Rev. Dr. Donald J. Fondow

• Raised in Wisconsin

• Attended Lutheran schools

from first grade through seminary

• Married to Connie, and they have two

married sons and two grandsons

• Drives 35,000-40,000 miles a

year carrying out his duties

nform

MINNESOTA NORTH DISTRICT

198 PARISHES

MOST RURAL

DISTRICT

IN THE SYNOD

42 ACTIVECOMMISSIONEDWORKERS

143 ACTIVEPASTORS

What’s the vocation of district president like? We talked to the Rev. Dr. Donald J. Fondow,president of the LCMS Minnesota North District, to get the answer firsthand.

May–June 2016 lcms.org/LUTHERANSengagelcms.org/givenow/globalmission 3



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Grounded in the Word of God ThIs Is A StOrY Of TwO ChUrChEs In TwO CiTiEs In

TwO VeRy DiFfErEnT PaRtS Of ThE WoRlD PrEvAiLiNg

AgAiNsT DiScOrD AnD StRiFe WrOuGhT By SaTaN.

In SrI LaNkA

In the island country of Sri Lanka off the

tip of India, lush green tea plantations

blanket the upcountry hilltops, soothing the

senses like a cup of tea steeped from leaves

plucked by barefoot workers. Among the

gentle curves of mountains are the calm,gentle and strong people of the Lanka

Lutheran Church.

Te LCMS began work in Sri Lanka in

1927 as a natural outgrowth of its work in

India. Te Lanka Lutheran Church became

a partner church in 2001.

In this sleepy locale, Satan sowed

discord. He stirred wicked men to steal

property, slander the church and assault

family members of church leaders. He

sifted the Lanka Lutherans, and yet they

remain faithful.In the face of evil, the Lanka Lutherans

remain grounded in the Word of God.

“Martin Luther stood for the Word alone

because the Word alone is strong,” said the

Rev. S. Devanesan, treasurer of the

by Roy S. Askins

Lanka Lutheran Church. “Trough the

Word, Martin Luther brought reform to

the church.”

o heal and protect the church, the

Lanka Lutherans seek deeper theological

study for pastors. Tis training preparesthem to proclaim the Word for the souls

placed in their care.

Te Rev. Roger James, LCMS missionary

to Sri Lanka and South Asia area director,

provides ongoing theological education

for the eight vicars and three pastors of the

Lanka Lutheran Church.

In a recent class on the Augsburg

Confession, James said, “Every heresy

begins with ‘We bel ieve the Bible.’ hus,

the church makes, studies and holds

to confessions that keep her true toscriptural teaching.”

He explained that to combat false

teachings, the church returned to

Scripture and then set forth the proper

interpretation of the Bible in creeds and

confessions for all Christians.




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Children listen as Vicar M. Anton Raj reads

Psalm 121 during worship at a preaching

station in Kandapola, a village of Nuwara

Eliya in the Central Province of Sri Lanka.

nsp

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In addition to regular teaching, James

also visits congregations and homes as

opportunities arise. Te vicars, who serve

local preaching stations, join him and

learn to pray the psalms in the homes

of the people they serve. After sharing a

psalm and prayer, James blesses one ormore members of the household.

Teological education for the Lanka

Lutherans has been difficult. Vicar P.

Gnanakumar studied over 12 years in

different programs while he served as

a vicar and evangelist. He began in the

Lanka Lutheran Church seminary, but it

later closed. He then landed in a different

program at Lanka Bible College, from

which he expects to graduate this summer.

Gnanakumar knows the need for

Lutheran theological education. Tisbecame clear when he simultaneously

studied the topic of Christian worship from

Lanka Bible College and from the Rev.

Dr. Wilfred Karsten, pastor of Holy Cross

Lutheran Church, Moline, Ill., who has

traveled to Sri Lanka 16 times to provide

short-term theological education.

He saw a clear difference between

the two teachings on worship. At Lanka

Bible College, worship centered on the

expression and emotion of worshipers.

“But Lutherans understand the worshipservice differently,” said Gnanakumar. For

Lutherans, “the congregation participates,

but God is coming, and we focus primarily

on Christ and God, not ourselves.”

In MeXiCo

In sprawling Mexico City, which is steeped

in hot light and Latin hues, an urban

cacophony surrounds the mission work of

the Rev. Daniel Conrad and yler McMiller.

Here, Satan attacks the church in similar ways to Sri Lanka.

Conrad, an LCMS missionary to Mexico,

provides pre-seminary training and

mentoring to men interested in becoming

pastors in the Lutheran Synod of Mexico

(SLM). Te LCMS has been working in

Mexico since 1940, and the SLM became a

partner church in 1968.

rained Lutheran pastors are scarce in

Mexico because no new pastors have been

ordained in the last 15 years. Until about

a year and a half ago, the SLM lacked itsown route to ordination, so pastors who

retired or died were not replaced easily.

o prevent churches from closing, laymen

stood up to provide for the church. Tese

faithful men do not consecrate or baptize,

but they lead services and read sermons

written by Conrad or other pastors.

However, church leaders who do not

understand the Word of God are not

properly equipped to teach others. “In

order to feed the people spiritually, you

have to be trained adequately. It’s hard tofeed a people spiritually when you’re not

trained yourself,” Conrad said.

Tat’s why the SLM sent four men to

begin their studies at Seminario Concordia

in Buenos Aires, Argentina, last August.

Te LCMS is assisting with this by providing

a yearly stipend of $7,500 to each of the men

to help them pay for the five-year program.

But since not all of the laymen are

able to leave their homes to study at a

seminary, 12 others have started a new

distance-education program, which isoperated jointly by Seminario Concordia

and Concordia Teological Seminary, Fort

Wayne, Ind. Conrad provides mentoring

to these 12 men as they progress through

their online studies.

Conrad uses the analogy of a skyscraper

to explain the need for orthodox teaching in

the Word of God and the catechism.

“Everyone loves the beautiful windows

and architecture,” he said, “but how often

do people go down to the basement and

praise the basement? And yet, without thebasement, the entire building cannot stand.”

One of the men that Conrad is working

with is Alejandro Arevalo. He led his

congregation, El Buen Pastor, through a

particularly difficult struggle. He made a

bold confession that ran contrary to the

predominant culture. Conrad has started

building a foundation of catechetical and

scriptural knowledge with Arevalo, on

which his seminary education will build.

On a Friday night, Conrad sat with

Arevalo at the kitchen table following adinner of homemade tacos and sliced

avocados. In the adjacent room, McMiller

plucked at his guitar, teaching Arevalo’s

two teenage sons a few notes after

catechism class.

In OrDeR To FeEd ThE PeOpLe SpIrItUaLlY,

YoU HaVe To Be TrAiNeD AdEqUaTeLy.

“"

The Rev. Roger James hikes a hilly jungle

trail on his way to a Palm Sunday service

at Immanuel Lutheran Church on the Eila

Rubber Plantation in Sri Lanka.




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Both Conrad and McMiller traveled

hours by bus and train to reach the family’s

home. It’s just the way of life in congested

Mexico City.

“Pastor Conrad’s work is about helping

these guys be the Lutherans they really want

to be,” McMiller said. Whether in Sri Lanka, Mexico, the

United States or elsewhere, Satan will attack

the Body of Christ. But Jesus promises that

“the gates of hell shall not prevail against”

His Church (M. :). Tanks to assistance

with theological education, these two

church bodies are not alone.

The Rev. Roy S. Askins is director of

Communications for the Synod’s Asia Pacific

and Southern Asia and Oceania regions.

Erik M. Lunsford, manager of Photojournalism

for LCMS Communications, also contributed

to this article.

Learn more:

About Sri Lanka: lcms.org/srilanka

About Mexico: lcms.org/mexico

View the photo galleries:

lcms.org/photo/missionaries-

in-mexico and lcms.org/photo/

sri-lanka-miss ions

A young adult listens as Tyler McMiller leadscatechesis at the Lutheran Church of the

Good Shepherd in Mexico City, Mexico.

The Rev. Daniel Conrad chats with a guest

following worship at the Lutheran Church of

San Pedro in Mexico City, Mexico.

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ThRoUgH ThIcK AnD ThIn:

Caring for Church Workers in Crisis

by Megan K. Mertz

Tis was the situation facing an

LCMS missionary and his wife. Te

couple made the difficult decision

to leave their work in Ghana and

return to the United States when

the missionary’s Parkinson’s disease

symptoms became more severe. After returning to the U.S., his

mobility continued to decrease as

the family’s medical bills increased.

Tat’s when the Rev. Dr. Carlos

Hernandez, director of LCMS Church

and Community Engagement, heard

about the couple. In partnership with

the LCMS Minnesota South District,

Hernandez was able to provide a

grant to help cover the family’s high

insurance deductible and also to

purchase an electric wheelchair.Te grant came through Soldiers

of the Cross, an LCMS mercy

program made possible by gifts

from Lutherans who care about

church workers. Soldiers of the Cross

provides transitional or emergency

financial assistance as well as

pastoral care to current church

workers affected by health problems,

employment interruptions and

other emergencies.

“My family and I are very gratefulto you and Soldiers of the Cross,” the

missionary later wrote to Hernandez.

“Without your assistance, it would

have been very difficult for us to

pay our bills or to have the electric

wheelchair.”

In 2015, Hernandez gave out 79

Soldiers of the Cross grants, which

are matched by the recipient’s

district. Since 2012, the program

has given out more than $1 million

in financial assistance to church

workers in crisis.

Hernandez also works with a

similar program called Veterans

of the Cross, which assists retired

church workers — or their widowedspouses or dependent children — by

supplementing low or inadequate

pensions to help these faithful

servants afford the cost of necessities

such as medication, food and

utilities. Veterans of the Cross is

funded by generous donations to

the LCMS Office of National Mission

and administered by Concordia

Plan Services.

As of March, Veterans of the

Cross was providing monthlystipends to 25 retired church-worker

families. Assistance is provided as

long as need is demonstrated.

“Te Soldiers and Veterans of

the Cross programs are ready at

any time to respond to the needs

of our church workers,” Hernandez

said. “We want both our domestic

and international workers to know

that we’re not going anywhere. We

so value the Gospel proclamation

ministries they have carried out orcontinue to conduct, and we want to

support them in their work.”

Megan K. Mertz is managing

editor of Lutherans Engage the

World and a staff writer for LCMS

Communications.

Learn more:

lcms.org/soldiersofthecross

lcms.org/veteransofthecross

A debilitating injury or illness can put enormous strain on afamily. In the blink of an eye, anticipated wages may be lost,and a family member may need to assume a new role as acaregiver — all while medical expenses pile up.

MERCY |MOMENT nspire

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Making an Impact

Te partnership between Te Lutheran Church—Missouri Synodand the Ethiopian Evangelical Church MekaneYesus (EECMY) is a great illustration of the impactof the Global Seminary Initiative (GSI).

GLOBAL SEMINARY INITIATIVE UPDAT

Scholarships toStudy HereGSI scholarships awarded

through LCMS seminaries support those who are studying in the U.S. to serve as

leaders and professors in their home

countries. Some examples include:

Deaconess Tadelech Shumblo

received her Master of Arts from

Concordia Teological Seminary

(CSFW), Fort Wayne, Ind., last

summer. She returned to Ethiopia with

a two-year plan to build awareness

and offer training in diakonia (mercy).

Tis past year, she also helped

coordinate mercy work with those

affected by the drought in Ethiopia.

Abdi Tadesse leads the Christian-

Muslim Relations track of the Bachelor

of Teology program at Mekane Yesus

Seminary (MYS) in Addis Ababa. He

began his study in the Ph.D. program

last summer. One track of CSFW’s

Ph.D. in Missiology focuses on missions

to Muslims — a perfect match for the

teaching he does at MYS.

Lalissa Gemechis is working on the

proposal for his doctoral dissertation.He worked for 12 years at the EECMY

central headquarters as the university

students’ ministry coordinator and

in the Children and Youth Ministry

Department before being selected to

study in the U.S. When he returns as

a professor at MYS, he will have been

greatly strengthened in his biblical and

confessional identity.

in

Ethiopia by Robert V. Roethemeyer

Scholarships toStudy ThereGSI scholarships awarded

through MYS make it pos-sible for 6o students to study in the M.A.

in Teology program. Tese are not

ordinary students. A few are the very top

graduates from the Bachelor of Teology

program, while most are pastors with 15

to 20 years of service. Of these, some are

teaching or leading regional seminaries;

some are serving in leadership roles in

one of the 24 synods (comparable to the

LCMS’ districts); and others are pastors of

congregations in Ethiopia’s largest cities,

such as Addis Ababa, Hawassa, Hosanna

and Nekemte.

Faculty from Hereto Teach ThereDuring the past two academic

years, LCMS professors and pas-

tors with advanced degrees have

taught courses in the M.A. in Teology

program, providing needed faculty at

MYS while Ethiopian faculty like adesse

and Gemechis are studying in the U.S.

Tis year, the GSI supported the travel

of two professors from CSFW; three

from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; one

from the LCMS Office of International

Mission; two from our partner seminary

in Novosibirsk, Russia; and a pastor from

Canada with a doctorate in theology.

Pastors’ ConferencesIn February, the GSI helped

host a pastors’ conference in

Shinyanga, anzania, for pastors and

deaconesses of the Evangelical Lutheran

Church in anzania. In April, the

initiative also funded a conference for

LCMS and Ethiopian pastors.

Books fromHere to ThereTe Synod’s profes-

sors did not travel to Ethiopia empty

handed. Trough the coordination of the

Chemnitz Library Initiative, enough cop-

ies of Te Lutheran Study Bible and the

Book of Concord were sent so that all the

M.A. students could add these essential

texts to their pastoral libraries before

graduating. Additionally, more than 100

newer academic titles from ConcordiaPublishing House were added to the

seminary’s library collection.

“Every person trained through GSI

has an impact on 30 to 50 other people

each time they teach,” said the Rev. Dr.

Albert B. Collver III, director of Church

Relations for the LCMS and GSI admin-

istrator. “In terms of investment, GSI

provides some of the best returns on the

investment, getting the Gospel out to

more people than is first apparent. Te

people trained because of GSI train ad-

ditional professors, teachers and futurepastors who, in turn, do likewise. GSI is

Gospel multiplication!”

The Rev. Robert V. Roethemeyer is a GSI

professor and director of Library and

Information Services and vice -president

of Strategic Planning and Mission

Execution for Concordia Theological

Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Learn more: lcms.org/makeagift/gsi

nform

9May–June 2016 lcms.org/LUTHERANSengagelcms.org/givenow/globalmission

http://www.lcms.org/makeagift/gsihttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://www.lcms.org/makeagift/gsi


12/24

Vocational deaconess formation

In 2012, LCMS deaconesses serving as missionaries in Latin America began mentoring

Dominican women who wanted to become deaconesses as well. So far, 15 Dominican

women have participated. This work led to the development of a formal deaconess-training

program, which launched in early May. The program will include 10 Spanish-language

courses — developed during the next five years — and will be used to train deaconesses

from Mexico, Venezuela, Panama and Guatemala, in addition to the Dominican Republic.

The program intentionally teaches future deaconesses how to witness, as well as challenges

them to identify the principal area in which they will work. In the Dominican Republic,

deaconess students identified ministry to people with disabilities as a primary area,

although they also distribute food to the poor, teach Bible lessons in local schools and

visit community members.

The educational standard in this

continent is coming up higher and

higher and many of our congrega-tions need well-trained pastors w

better education with better

certificates. But the most importa

thing is that they are grounded in

the proper theology of the church

Rev. Dr. Joseph Ochola OmoBISHOP OF THE E VANGELICAL LUTHERCHURCH IN K ENYA L AKE DIOCESE ANRECTOR OF M ATONGO LUTHERAN THEOLOGICAL COLLEGE

MINISTRY TO THOSE

WITH DISABILITES

have participated in the mentoringprogram and are already making adifference in their community by:

DOMINICANWOMEN

VISITINGCOMMUNITYMEMBERS

TEACHINGBIBLE LESSONSIN SCHOOLS

DISTRIBUTING FOOD

DOMINICAN

REPUBLIC

Scholarships

for seminarian

and deaconess

students

Matongo Lutheran Theologica

College is a seminary of the

Evangelical Lutheran Church in

Kenya. The seminary draws

pastoral candidates and

deaconess students from acro

Eastern Africa. Matongo offersa Bachelor of Theology degree

and can accept international

theology students, two things

that set it apart from other

conservative and confessional

Lutheran seminaries in Africa.

There are currently four LCMS

missionaries serving at the

seminary, and the LCMS

continues to provide scholar-

ship assistance for a number

of students.

for student scholarships(2015-2016 school year)

CURRENTSTUDENT

KENYA

A ROUND THE W O R LD

The Gospel is at the heart of all Lutheran education, and teaching the faith is a

hallmark by which the LCMS is known throughout the world. Our international

church partners are imploring us to teach God’s saving Word to their pastors and

church leaders. They know that well-trained church workers will teach the faith to

laypeople, who will tell their families and neighbors about salvation in Christ

Jesus. The LCMS is making the investment of people and resources to walk

alongside our international partners in this way. Every context is different,

requiring creativity and ongoing commitment as we assist in a variety of ways

aimed at strengthening global seminaries and forming well-trained pastors who

will carry God’s Word to their flocks.

THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION


http://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://www.lcms.org/projectcataloghttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://www.lcms.org/projectcatalog


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In the late 1990s, a group consisting of several LCMS missionaries; representatives from

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and scholars in Hong Kong began the enormous project

of translating Luther’s Works into Chinese. The goal of the project is to translate

15 volumes of Luther’s Works into both traditional and simplified Chinese.

Translating Luther ’s Works into Chinese

As this work involves multiple levels of translation and editorial

work…the process can be incredibly complicated. Yet all this time

and effort pales in comparison to the opportunity for Luther to

speak the Gospel in Chinese and for the key Reformation writings

to be shared with over 1.3 billion people in their own language.”

Rev. Carl Hanson, LCMS MISSIONARY ANDDIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS FOR THE A SIA P ACIFIC REGION

VOLUME 5IS EXPECTEDIN 2017

VOLUMES 1-4HAVE ALREADYBEEN PUBLISHED

Seminary educationThe Lutheran Center for Theological Studies (CLET) in Dapaong, Togo, serves

as a regional seminary for church bodies in eight countries in French-speaking

West and Central Africa. The CLET program prepares men for ordination into

the Holy Ministry and includes two years of on-campus education, followed by

a vicarage. Since many of the men who desire to serve in the pastoral office

have only a limited level of education, a one-year novice (pre-seminary) year

also is offered on-campus to prepare them for the pastoral program.

IN MARCH 2015, THE YOUNG EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF BURKINA FASO

ORDAINED ITS FIRST FIVE PASTORS, ALL OF WHOM SPENT THREE YEARS STUDYING AT THE CLET.

GRANTS

IN 2015

Plus $25,000 to begin

construction on dorms

CURRENT

STUDENTS

TOTAL

GRADUATES

Being a confessional Lutheran in our region is a lonely way. We need

each other to shore each other up in our faith. Opportunities to actually

sit down and talk to like-minded Christians and Lutherans are valuable

to our own resolve in strengthening our witness of Christ, comforting

in getting to know others who suffer for the Gospel with us, and edifying

in sharing our common confession together.”

Rev. James Krikava, LCMS REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR EURASIA

Regional conferences CZECH

REPUBLIC

TOGO

HONG

KONG

The LCMS Eurasia region helped host the Network of Young Lutheran Theologians

conference in February. About 60 pastors, seminarians and laypeople gathered to

discuss topics of importance for their Lutheran church bodies throughout Europe.

The annual event was founded by European pastors for the sake of sharing

together in the struggles of standing firm in the faith in this region.

The Rev. Sam Yeung, director of the Literature Department of The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod

Lord willing, the CLET will be forming the next

waves of ordained pastors in relatively young Lutheran

church bodies in some of the poorest regions offrancophone Africa. The support from the LCMS and

her congregations for operational costs, library

materials, student tuition and health-care grants is

essential to the running of this institution. It is a great

blessing to serve our African partners in this capacity.”

Rev. Jacob Gaugert , LCMS MISSIONARY AND THEOLOGICAL EDUCATOR AT THE CLET

GET INVOLVED | To learn how you can support projects like these, visit lcms.org/projectcatalog .

nfo


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by Jeni Miller



15/24

P H O T O S : L C M S C O M M U N I C A T I O N S / E R I K M .

L U N S F O R D

reaching.

It’s just one of those things that pastors

do, right? Te preachers preach, and the

hearers hear. No big deal. God said to

“preach the Word,” and so we do. On this

side of heaven, that preaching may look

like a normal guy, standing behind an

oddly shaped podium, rattling on about

a Bible-related topic.

But have you ever stopped to wonder

why? What is this phenomenon, and why

in the world would God come up with

this, anyway?

Te Rev. Wally Arp, quoted above, has

been a pastor for nearly 30 years, and he

currently serves at St. Luke’s Lutheran

Church in Oviedo, Fla. As a seasoned

pastor, he’s had many years to hone his

skills, especially in preaching, and has

pondered the “why” question.

“We are creatures under God — He

created us body and soul, physical and

emotional — not disembodied spirits,” Arp

explained. “God wants to speak to us in

the nature that He created us. And it’s that

incarnational aspect of God’s love for us that

drives the preaching task. It’s an extension of

His incarnational presence among us. Tat

flesh-and-bones pastor among the people

he’s preaching to, it’s a bit like when there’s

a little child afraid of the storm at night, and

the parent calms them by saying, ‘Jesus is

with you.’ Te pastor in the preaching office

brings Christ to the people.”

Of course, there are a multitude of

definitions of “preaching” out there. But

according to Arp, in the LCMS we can speak

of preaching as “[God’s] truth communicated

through personality — unchanging truth that

is proclaimed, announced.”

Unlike simple public speaking,

preaching has the power to kill with the

Law and raise the hearer back to life

again with the Gospel. It’s not just “a guy

in a box regurgitating God’s Word in the

Bible back to us,” Arp said. “But through

the person of the preacher, who is by no

means insignificant and who has love and

passion and integrity and commitment

to Christ, the Holy Spirit delivers God’s

Word to the listener. hat preacher is a

bridge between the world of the Bible and

the world we live in.”

Newer pastors, too, understand

the power of preaching and the great

significance behind this all-important

activity that God instituted for the good

of His people.

“Preaching is not merely a speech

about the Bible,” explained the Rev. Mark

Nierman, pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran

Church in Loveland, Colo. Nierman wasordained in 2003 and served one other

parish before coming to Mount Olive.

“Sure, a good sermon will give

information about a text of Scripture for

our learning, but the goal of preaching

is much more than just conveying

information about the Bible. … Simply put,

preaching is proclaiming Christ and Him

crucified to the hearer. Faith comes from

“Tere’s an intensity to it. You struggle every time you do it.

A mentor and friend on vicarage used to say, ‘Te Sunday

you don’t have butterflies and aren’t nervous about

getting in the pulpit is the Sunday you shouldn’t do it.’”

nspire




16/24

hearing. Te Holy Spirit works through the

preached Word to create and sustain faith

in God’s people.”

Good Sermon, PastorJust as preaching may have varying

definitions depending on whom you

ask, so does t he description of a “good”

preacher. In the LCMS, Arp explained, “A

good preacher loves the Word, loves Jesus

and loves the people. And he cannot get

enough of any of them.

“A good preacher has an absolutecommitment, love, passion and

excitement for the Word of God,” Arp

said. “Good preaching is always rooted

in the Word. Also, when you’re listening

to a preacher who actually believes

what he’s saying, i t’s obvious that he’s

had interaction with the living Word of

God and that it ’s actually penetrated

his own heart. My vicarage supervisor,

when someone would compliment him

on a sermon, he’d say, ‘Just remember, I

preach to myself first!’ … Like his hearers,he’s a real person with a real life and

real struggles, and the Gospel is the only

solution he’s found in his own life.”

Nierman agrees: Tat commitment to

the Word is what makes for good preaching.

“A person may be an eloquent speaker,

but it is not eloquence that makes a

good preacher,” Nierman noted. “A good

preacher is always sticking to the text of

Scripture and conveying to the hearer

what God is speaking to us through that

text. A good preacher simply speaks God’s

Word. But God’s Word can be diff icult at

times to understand. Good preaching is

the clear preaching of God’s Word that the

people can easily understand.”

Nothing Worthwhile Is Ever EasyBut if you ask most pastors how they

preach so that people can easily

understand, they’ll probably tell you that

although it’s incredibly worthwhile, it

isn’t, well, easy .“Even when you have enough time to

really develop a sermon — which pastors

rarely have — it’s still hard,” Arp said.

“I’ve heard it said that standing in the

pulpit and preaching for 15 minutes is as

exhausting as working eight hours.”

If preaching is a challenge for the

veteran pastor, then surely i t’s no simple

task for a younger pastor, either.

“It is a joy to proclaim the Good News

to God’s people from the pulpit,” Nierman

acknowledged. “But regular preaching isa rigorous task. Some weeks preaching

comes easily — ideas for il lustrating come

quickly, and the writing process goes

smoothly. Other weeks it is extremely

hard, and you struggle to get the words

out on the page. I can think of many times

when, during the Divine Service, I sing

the words of a hymn that so beautifully

communicate God’s Word, and I think

to myself, ‘Wow, that one stanza of this

“Pasors lovto talk

about preaching, nd the laity love

to ear theirpastors preach he Gospel.”

— T R . R G ,

LCMS

The Rev. Wally Arp, senior pastor of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Oviedo, Fla.,

makes the sign of the cross during Communion.

The Rev. Mark Nierman, pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church

in Loveland, Colo., preaches during a Lenten service.




17/24

hymn communicates the Gospel more

wonderfully than my entire sermon!’”

So, why do they do it, week after week?

God commands pastors to preach the

Word. Plus, most pastors love the Word so

much that they can’t help but preach it.

But there’s even more to it than that.

Preaching is pastoral care. Te Word of

God proclaimed from the pulpit creates and

sustains faith in a person, and in so doing itoffers the kind of spiritual care that you can

only get through the pastoral office.

“As we gather in God’s house for

worship, we bring with us the cares and

burden of life in this sinful, fallen world,”

Nierman said. “We battle temptation. We

carry with us the guilt and shame of our

sin. We struggle with fears. Te devil, the

world and our own sinful nature have

been hard at work directing us to think in

worldly ways and to not put our trust in

God. Trough preaching, we are able torest in God’s Word. We hear that our sins

are forgiven. We are directed to Christ

and are reminded that His perfect love

casts out all our fears. We are assured that,

even though we face many troubles in this

world, Christ has overcome the world. We

need this time together in God’s Word so

that together as God’s people, we can live

in it and encourage one another by it.”

Just as he mentioned that preaching

connects God’s Word to the world in a

very incarnational way, Arp reiterated thatpreaching brings the care of Christ to bear

on the lives of the hearers, right through the

words delivered by the pastor in the pulpit.

“Preaching is pastoral care because it

meets people in their circumstances of life,

the joys and the tragedies,” Arp explained.

“From the pulpit, on an ongoing basis, the

pastor connects everyday life and vocation

to who [his people] are in Christ, bringing

God’s Word to bear on what people are

experiencing day after day after day.”

It may seem like a radical thought, thatpreaching can protect, comfort and nourish

God’s people. But since God has set up His

pastors to be His undershepherds, it makes

perfect sense.

“A shepherd will protect the sheep

from danger,” Nierman added. “Tis

is a part of pastoral care in preaching.

Trough preaching, the pastor will warn of

dangerous teachings and ways of thinking

and living that are contrary to God’s Word.

With the upcoming 500th

anniversary of the Reformation

in 2017, now is the best time

to honor that occasion with a

renewed focus on preaching. Te

Synod’s “Preach the Word” (PW

initiative is meant to offer pastors

an opportunity to improve on the

craft of preaching and laity on the

vocation of hearing. Here’s

what you need to know.

L E A R N M O R E :blogs.lcms.org/tag/preach-the-wor

hat Twelve teaching modules are being

developed based on the results of recently

completed surveys and focus groups on

preaching conducted by the LCMS.

ho Pastors will gather in groups of three to stud

a module on a certain aspect of preaching,

such as delivery, the Sacraments or preachi

to a persecuted people.

how The modules will be available via the Interne

so pastors can join together from separate

geographic locations.

hy According to the Rev. Randall Golter, who

leads PTW, “The devil hates good Law and

Gospel preaching, but it is what Christ does

His prophetic office: to call pastors to preach

the Gospel and for His people to hear the

Gospel. And the Church is built, sustained an

expanded to the world, as He promised”

(M. :–).

Luther was known as a preacher of the Gosp

and an expounder of the Holy Scriptures. W

better way to honor Luther — and Jesus — th

to improve our preaching and the hearing of

hen January 2017

‘Preach h WordI N I T I A T I V E

about preaching:

…

Believe sermons should be

biblical, Christ-focused and

proclaim Law and Gospel.

Think poorly of sermons that try

to entertain or water down the

Gospel so as not to offend.

Want the sermon to convict

them of their sin, point them

to Christ and equip them to

face the world.

Aren’t typically aware of all

that goes into preparing and

delivering a sermon, but they do

know that it takes a lot of work.

Often remember one main

point, illustration or key

observation from a sermon.

Believe that sermons need to

have application, relevancy for

everyday life.

…

Think preaching is very important.(99 percent said it is “important”

or “very important.”)

Find time management

a challenge.

Worry about getting into a rut.

Struggle to find something

new to say.

Te LCMS recently

conducted surveys and focus

groups that discovered these

thoughts about preaching.

When Law and Gospel are clearly present in

a sermon, it will benefit the hearer and they

will be nourished by God’s Word, bringing

them the comfort of the Gospel.”

Maybe preaching is kind of a big deal

after all. Tanks be to God.

Deaconess Jeni Miller is a freelance writer

and member of Lutheran Church of the

Ascension in Atlanta.


http://blogs.lcms.org/tag/preach-the-wordhttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://blogs.lcms.org/tag/preach-the-word


18/24


The Rev. William Weedon leads a missionary send

service at the LCMS International Center in St. Lo



19/24


distinctions of Lutheran theology, the

history of the LCMS and a Lutheran

approach to various issues of the day.

In his director of Worship role, Weedon

is responsible for proposing and creatingprograms that carry out the purposes and

aims of the Synod in matters of worship.

He also oversees the IC’s Community

Chest — a collection of donations from

among Synod employees for helping out

other Synod employees in times of crisis,

including those working at deployed

locations.

“We’ve helped people [in the IC] after

the recent flooding, people with legal

difficulties, people coping with catastrophic

medical bills, and all kinds of situations likethat,” Weedon said.

Although not an employee of the

Synod’s radio station Worldwide KFUO,

Weedon makes time to host the station’s

program “Ty Strong Word,” which airs

weekdays around 11 a.m. Central time. Te

program also is

available

via podcast at

kfuo.org .

“It’s unusual

for someoneoutside of KFUO

to host a program

like this, but

it’s an example

of the [LCMS]

Office of National

Mission’s

commitment to

providing biblical

“Good morning,people loved byGod” — those who work at theSynod’s International Center (IC) in St.Louis hear these comforting words over the

intercom around 9:45 a.m. each weekday,

just as they are reminded chapel service is

about to start.

Te voice behind those encouraging

words is the Rev. William Weedon, director

of LCMS Worship and IC chaplain. In

addition to ensuring the roughly 300

people working in the IC have the privilege

of daily worship and also pastoral care

when needed, his myriad other duties

extend well beyond the walls of the Synod’sheadquarters.

Multitasking Worship, ChaplainDutiesIn his chaplain role, Weedon works with

the Synod president’s office in planning

and supervising all chapel

services at the IC and

Lutheran Church Extension

Fund, as well as rendering

informal chaplaincy and

counseling services toemployees as requested.

He also visits hospitalized

IC employees.

Weedon said he currently

is organizing and teaching

the first unit of “Lutheran

U,” an educational offering

that seeks to inform Synod

employees regarding the

catechesis nationwide,” Weedon said.

Preaching, Speaking Acrossthe SynodIn his role with LCMS Worship, he also

has a full plate of preaching and speaking

commitments at LCMS conferences

across the nation. One conference

Weedon is particularly involved with is

LCMS Worship’s 2017 Institute on Liturgy,

Preaching and Church Music, scheduled

for July 24-28, 2017, at Concordia University

Chicago, River Forest, Ill.

Weedon said the theme of the

conference — which will take place in

the year of the 500th anniversary of the

Reformation — is “Te Just Live by Faith:

Make Tis Plain,” based on Hab. 2:4.

Keynote sessions during the confer-

ence will focus on how to allow this core

biblical theme, which is “so important and

beloved in the Lutheran heritage, to bring

its sparkling clarity and joy to sermon,

service and song.”

Weedon also said the goal is to ensure

that worship delivers the promises of God’s

Word in every aspect of the service, as each

element helps God’s people proclaim and

take to heart the message of the Scriptures

read on that particular day.

“Te way the service is conducted, the

way the readings are read, the way the

music is played — all of this can be and

should be animated with the deep joy of

the Gospel, of the sinner’s free justification,”

Weedon said. “Tat’s after all the very heart

of the biblical revelation itself — God in

Christ reconciling the world to Himself and

not imputing to us our sins.”

SYNOD CHAPLAIN

Wears Several Hats by Roger Drinnon

“The way the service is conducted, the waythe readings are read,

the way the music is played — all of thiscan be and should be animated withthe deep joy of theGospel, of the sinner’s

free justification.”

nform

http://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://www.kfuoam.org/http://www.kfuoam.org/http://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://lcms.org/lutheransengage


20/24

18 lcms.org/LUTHERANSengage May–June 2016

He said the conference is “designed to

be a blessing for pastors, musicians and any

lay persons who care deeply about worship

and serving up the Word of God richly

and excellently in the assembly of saints,

maximally using the vast resources of our

Lutheran heritage and celebrating and

exploring the new gifts that the Holy Spirit

delights to pour out on the Church.

“We’re excited to hold the 2017 Worship

Institute at [CUC,] River Forest this time,”

Weedon said, “given that school’s significant

contribution to music and worship in our

church body for so many years.”

For more information about the

conference, call 888-HE LCMS (843-5267)

or email [email protected] .

Roger Drinnon is director of Editorial

Services and Media Relations for LCMS

Communications.

Learn more:

u Read: lcms.org/resources/worship

u Listen: kfuo.org/category/thy-strong-word/

Free Resources from LCMS WorshipLCMS Worship aims to nurture an

understanding and love for the Lutheran

heritage in Christian worship. Helpful

resources available for free include:

• Let Us Pray weekly prayers;

• Lectionary summaries for Sundayreadings;

• Bible studies;

• Children and youth resources;

• Liturgy audio files;

• Organ instructional videos;

• Radio interviews on worship topics,including a series on the historic liturgyand numerous hymn studies; and

• Unwrapping the Gifts, an electronicpublication devoted to topics of worship.

p The Rev. William Weedon hosts the program “Thy Strong Word” on Worldwide KFUO.

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

http://lcms.org/lutheransengagemailto:infocenter%40lcms.org?subject=http://www.lcms.org/resources/worshiphttp://www.kfuo.org/category/thy-strong-word/http://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://www.kfuo.org/category/thy-strong-word/http://www.lcms.org/resources/worshipmailto:infocenter%40lcms.org?subject=http://lcms.org/lutheransengage


21/24

Loving AND Serving the Homeless in New Orleans

Every Sunday morning, Donna LeeJohnson went to the park to read. As she

sat there, she observed the people coming

and going across the street at Gloria Dei

Lutheran Church in New Orleans as she

heard strains of music drifting in the air.

Finally one week, she went in and sat

in a pew — bringing her trash bags full of

clothing with her.

When the Rev. Gregory Manning, pastor

of Gloria Dei, came over to greet her, sherecalls saying, “Hi, I’m Donna Lee, and

I’m homeless.”

Tat was more than three years ago, and

Johnson is still attending Gloria Dei, where

she has found “a big family” that “cares and

worries” about her.

In addition to attending worship regu-

larly, she also volunteers in Gloria Dei’s food

pantry, cleans the building

and helps prepare snacks

for the church’s summer and

tutoring programs.“I guess it was the Holy

Spirit,” Johnson says of the

day she first entered Gloria

Dei. “He said, ‘Get up, and go

in. It’s time.’”

‘Love Them

Where You See Them’

You have to “love them where

you see them,” says Manning,

who has a passion for

homeless ministry. As he walks to church each

day, he greets many of the

homeless people who sleep

at the local Salvation Army

shelter. Tey are required to leave the shelter early in the morning,

and they can’t return until the late afternoon.

“I truly believe that God gives us the opportunity to meet

people all the time,” he says — a belief that he likes to reiterate

whenever he drives past a homeless person standing on a street

corner. “Te light could have been green. God allowed your car

to stop here, and it was for a reason. So,

I never pass up that opportunity.”

One way his congregation cares

for the community is through its food

pantry. What started as a small closet for

emergency needs now serves more than

770 people.

Rising to the Occasion

Manning dreams of expanding this min-

istry even further. Earlier this year, GloriaDei received a $25,000 grant to open a

center where homeless people can come

during the day.

Gloria Dei was one of 55 applicants

selected to receive a “Stand With Your

Community” grant. Funding for this pro-

gram — which celebrates Martin Luther’s

passion for all to know the true Gospel as

the 500th anniversary of the Reformation

approaches — was provided

through a partnership be-

tween the LCMS, TriventFinancial and Lutheran Church

Extension Fund.

Homeless people will be

able to come to the day center

to wash their clothes, use a

computer and have mail deliv-

ered. Te center also will pro-

vide daily breakfast and lunch

and the opportunity to attend

chapel each week. In addition,

a case manager will be on-site

to help address medical andhousing needs.

“Right now, we’re right on

the cusp of some amazing

things happening with Gloria

Dei,” Manning says. “We have so many different types of people

who come here … because it fills a void in their life, a void of love.”

Learn more: blogs.lcms.org/2016/stand-grants-enable-mercy

View the photo gallery: lcms.org/photo/helping-homeless-

new-orleans

by Megan K. Mertz

pDonna Lee Johnson, who is homeless,

attends Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in New

Orleans and volunteers at the food pantry.

pThe Rev. Gregory Manning (left), pastor of Gloria Dei, greets a

volunteer at the food pantry.

WITNESS|MOMENT nspire


http://blogs.lcms.org/2016/stand-grants-enable-mercyhttp://lcms.org/photo/helping-homeless-new-orleanshttp://lcms.org/photo/helping-homeless-new-orleanshttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://www.lcms.org/givenow/globalmissionhttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://lcms.org/photo/helping-homeless-new-orleanshttp://lcms.org/photo/helping-homeless-new-orleanshttp://blogs.lcms.org/2016/stand-grants-enable-mercy


22/24

lcms.org/freetobefaithful

“The free exercise of religion extends beyond the practice of our faith in houses

of worship. We must be free to put our faith into action in the public square

and, in response to Christ’s call, demonstrate His mercy through our

love and compassion for all people without government penalty.”

REV. DR. MATTHEW C. HARRISON, PRESIDENT

THE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNOD

lcms.org/lcmsu #Liberty2017 LCMSU @ LCMSU

Metro D.C.University of Maryland

Jan. 4-6, 2017

Get in on the discussion about issues related to religious liberty.

Join LCMS Life Ministry as we proclaim God’s truth that all

life is sacred — from the very beginning until the natural end.

Register now!

We're taking a

360° look at life!

Jan. 27-29, 2017

Washington, D.C.

lcms.org/lifeconference

http://www/lcms.org/freetobefaithfulhttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lifeconferencehttp://www.lcms.org/lcmsuhttp://www/lcms.org/freetobefaithful


23/24

As a Steward,

You Have Rightsby Mark Hofman

I assume that you, reader, are a donor

who is joyfully supporting corporate Synod’s

work in one or more of its various facets:

international missionaries or projects;

national programs or missionaries; mercy/

human-care and disaster-response ministry;

Ministry to the Armed Forces; through our

Global Mission Fund, arguably

one of the most potent ways

to give; or even through the

I have this list of your rights stapled to

a bulletin board next to my desk so I can

see it every day. Each member of my team

does too, as we go about our work and our

service to you.

Since space in this magazine is limited,

I invite you to visit the Synod’s Leader Blog

at blogs.lcms.org/2016/as-a-steward-you-

have-rights to read an extended version of

this article to learn more about the steps

we are taking to honor your rights.

I’m curious to know how you think we

are doing at honoring and respecting your

rights as a donor. If you’d like to share your

thoughts — the good and even the

not-so-good — and suggestions so we can

improve our service to you, please send an

email to [email protected]

and write “For Mark — My Rights” in the

subject line.

In a future Steward’s Corner, I plan to

go one step further and share with you the

code of ethical principles and practices we

adhere to when it comes to our work with

you. You deserve to know that as well.

Mark Hofman, CFRE, MBA, is the executive

director of LCMS Mission Advancement.

unrestricted gift, the most vital of all

donations.

But donors really are — you are —

“stewards” of God’s material blessings and a

vital partner in the ministry responsibilities

handed to us by the Synod at-large.

I’d like to share a few things theLCMS is morally and ethicallyobligated to do for you.

Be i n fo r med o f o u r m iss io n, t he wa y

we i n te nd to use

do na ted reso u rces a

nd o u r ca pac i t y to use do na t io ns

e f fec t i ve l y fo r t he i r

i n te nded p u r poses;

Be i n fo r med o f t h

e ide n t i t y o f t hose s

e r v i ng o n o u r g o ve r

n i ng

boa rd, a nd to e x pec t

t he boa rd to e xe rc is

e p r ude n t j udg me n

t

i n i ts s te wa rds h i p re

s po ns i b i l i t ies;

Ha ve access to o

u r mos t rece n t, i nde

pe nde n t l y a ud i ted

fi na nc ia l s ta te me n ts

;

Be ass u red yo u r g

i f ts w i l l be used fo r t

he p u r poses fo r w h i

c h

t he y we re g i ve n;

Rece i ve a p p ro p r

ia te ac k no w ledg me n

t a nd recog n i t io n;

Be ass u red t ha t i n fo r ma t io n a

bo u t yo u a nd yo u r

co n t r i b u t io ns is sec

u re a nd is ha nd led w i t h res pec t

a nd w i t h

co n fide n t ia l i t y to t h

e e x te n t p ro v ided b y

la w;

E x pec t t ha t a l l re

la t io ns h i ps yo u ha ve

w i t h i nd i v id ua ls

re p rese n t i ng us w i l

l be p ro fess io na l i n

na t u re;

Be i n fo r med as t

o w he t he r t hose see

k i ng do na t io ns a re

vo l u n tee rs, e m p lo ye

es o f t he o rg a n iza t io

n o r h i red so l ic i to rs

;

Ha ve t he o p po r t

u n i t y fo r yo u r na me

to be de le ted f ro m

ma i l i ng l is ts t ha t w

e ma y i n te nd to s ha

re; a nd

As k q ues t io ns w

he n co ns ide r i ng ma

k i ng a do na t io n,

as we l l as to rece i ve

p ro m p t, t r u t h f u l a n

d fo r t h r ig h t

a ns we rs to t hose q u

es t io ns.

A S O N E O F O U R D O N

O R S A N D G O D ’ S S T E W

A R D S,

Y O U HA V E T H E R I G H

T T O :

nvolve STEWARD’S|CORNER

When a person’s Gospel-motivated heart and our work line up, we often see it embodied as a charitablegift. We use the word “donor” to describe a person who makes a gift like this.

21May–June 2016 lcms.org/LUTHERANSengage

http://www.blogs.lcms.org/2016/as-a-steward-you-have-rightshttp://www.blogs.lcms.org/2016/as-a-steward-you-have-rightsmailto:mission.advancement%40lcms.org%20?subject=http://lcms.org/lutheransengagehttp://lcms.org/lutheransengagemailto:mission.advancement%40lcms.org%20?subject=http://www.blogs.lcms.org/2016/as-a-steward-you-have-rightshttp://www.blogs.lcms.org/2016/as-a-steward-you-have-rights


24/24

This magazine was developed

for you, as one who has supported the Witness,Mercy, Life Together work of the LCMS with your time

and/or financial gifts. Whether your efforts and gifts werefor disaster relief, a specific ministry or an individual

missionary, you are a vital part of the Synod’s work

around the world. The stories found in these pages are

about how YOU are making a difference and changing

lives with the Gospel and Christ’s mercy.Lutherans

Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about

the difference you are making in the world and to say

THANK YOU for all you do.

Visit lcms.org/projectcatalog to learn more.

Come explorethe NEW LCMSmission project

catalog!Are you interested in caring for children, buildingchurches or furthering theological education around

the world? These are just a few of the special nationaland international mission projects YOU can champion.

Have questions? Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888 930 4438

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Burlington, WI

Permit No. 12

lutherans engage the world: may-june 2016

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