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God has raised this Jesus to life and we are all witnesses of

this fact. Exalted to the right hand of God he

has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has

poured out what you now see and hear

[Acts 2:32,33]

NATIONAL MAGAZINE OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

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Good Shepherd College, Howard Springs NT

Year 12 student

Enjoys playing video games and playing music

Fav text: 1 Samuel 17:45

Jacob KoehlerGood Shepherd, Para Vista SA

Administration manager

Enjoys spending time with family and being there for them

Fav text: Romans 8:1

EDITOR/ADVERTISING phone 0427 827 441 email rosie.schefe@lca.org.au

SUBSCRIPTIONS phone 08 8360 7270email lutheran.subs@lca.org.au

www.thelutheran.com.au We Love The Lutheran!

As the magazine of the Lutheran Church of Australia (incorporating the Lutheran Church of New Zealand), The Lutheran informs the members of the LCA about the church’s teaching, life, mission and people, helping them to grow in faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. The Lutheran also provides a forum for a range of opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the policies of the Lutheran Church of Australia. The Lutheran is a member of the Australasian Religious Press Association and as such subscribes to its journalistic and editorial codes of conduct.

CONTACTS Editor Rosie Schefe 197 Archer St, North Adelaide SA 5006 phone 0427 827 441 email rosie.schefe@lca.org.au

Executive Editor Linda Macqueen 3 Orvieto St, Bridgewater SA 5155 phone 08 8339 5178 email linda.macqueen@lca.org.au

Design and layout Comissa Fischer Printer Openbook Howden

ADVERTISEMENTS and MANUSCRIPTS Should be directed to the editor. Manuscripts are published at the discretion of the editor. Those that are published may be cut or edited. Advertisements are accepted for publication on a date-received basis. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply endorsement by The Lutheran or the Lutheran Church of Australia of advertiser, product or service. Copy deadline: 1st of preceding month Rates: general notices and small advertisements, $18.00 per cm; for display, contract and inserted advertisements, contact the editor.

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THE LUTHERAN AT THE TOPWhile trekking in the Peruvian Andes it can be difficult to get your hands on a printed copy of your favourite magazine. But Terry and Joy Krieg from Zion, Gawler SA, packed their trusty tablet so that they could take a breather with The Lutheran app on the track to Machu Picchu. What an inspirational cover for a pair of tired hikers resting at Funerary Rock …!

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People like you are salt in your world [ Matt 5:13 ]

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Grace, Riverview Qld

Carer and volunteer

Enjoys reading, movies and family

Fav text: Philippians 4:13

Erica Young

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10

‘Tell me a story! Tell me a story!’

Parents and teachers know the value of stories. Stories keep boredom at bay when nights are long and days are full of nothing. Stories can excite and stories can calm. Stories transmit history, give meaning to the ‘whys’ of our culture, take us to places we’ve never been. Stories have been part of the human experience ever since we began talking to each other.

You don’t need big technology to tell stories. Okay, it might help to have a Hollywood-sized budget, but it isn’t essential. All you really need is a voice, a memory to recall or a spark of imagination and you can hold an audience. And if the story is good enough, they’ll listen.

At Pentecost twelve men in Jerusalem began to tell a story. We don’t know whether they all spoke at once and whether they told it in exactly the same way, but we do know people listened. First they were amazed that these rough-heads from Galilee were speaking in the various languages of their hearers. Then they began truly to listen, as Peter laid out the story for them. The story of who Jesus was, how he had taught people and performed miracles, how he had died and was now alive again.

The people who heard that story understood because Peter didn’t hold back. They had killed the Messiah, but he was no longer captive to death. Now God was offering them his forgiveness. ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’ (Acts 2:38). About 3000 didn’t wait to be told twice.

Because of that Pentecost story, we too have a story to tell. It resonates in our hearts. The Holy Spirit gives us the words, too—perhaps not in the same way, but he still helps us to witness to how living as forgiven people can change us forever.

In this issue we have other stories flavoured by Pentecost. Stories of how translators work to bring Scripture alive for people in their heart language, the first language that they learn. Stories of how actions and words remembered can still provide openings for the Holy Spirit to enter hearts and bear fruit there. Stories of how important it is to tell Jesus’ story to the next generation, to the people next door, to people we meet each day.

It’s a story worth the telling.

FEATURES

05 Heart sounds

10 An Indian harvest

22 God’s ‘HOUSE RULES’

COLUMNS

04 Heartland

09 Reel Life

12 Little Church

13 Inside Story

16 Letters

17 Directory

18 Stepping Stones

20 Notices

21 Bookmarks

24 Bring Jesus

26 Heart and Home

28 World in Brief

30 Coffee Break

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I find it hard to forgive. I am reasonably good at being calm. I can let most things go through to the keeper. But when someone does get under my skin and really upsets or offends me, it’s hard to forgive. It is initially more satisfying—and quite natural—to nurse my hurt, woundedness and outrage.

That does not necessarily mean that I will plan my revenge or try to hurt the offender. Mostly it just means that I become less of the person God means me to be. When I hold back on forgiveness, I only hurt myself.

Are you like that? I really don’t know, but you might be. We rarely speak about this, not even to ourselves. We might wonder why we are sad or can’t find any joy in the day God has made for us. Mostly we don’t connect these feelings with our struggle to forgive others. I am not necessarily referring to people who live under daily abuse and attack—especially from family members—but even

then, bitterness and hate tend to hurt the already-wounded more than they do the offender.

When I refuse to forgive others, I am really refusing to let God forgive me. ‘For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses’ (Jesus, in Matthew 6:14,15).

The truth is, God really does want to forgive us. When we offend him, God does not nurse his anger and resentment, retreating into the heavenly realms. Instead, he comes looking for us. He joins us. He sees things from our perspective. He hurts where we hurt and he cries where we cry. He laughs with us and feels the dust of the earth between his toes. ‘He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin’ (Hebrews 4:15 The Message).

So, refusing to forgive only adds to the suffering of Jesus. Rather than live in his Easter light, I choose the dark shadows of Good Friday. My failure and my sin are played out on the cosmic scale, in the battle between God and Satan for mastery of my soul.

Yes, it can feel gratifying (for a moment) to put myself at the centre and choose to be offended. But I soon know it is time to walk

away from my self-righteous pride and let God do what only God can do: ‘… bind up the brokenhearted … proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners …’ (Isaiah 61:1). There’s just no point in clinging to my sin when Jesus has set me free.

I still find it difficult to forgive. There are times when I can and times when I can’t. Like you, I’m a work in progress—and sometimes progress is hard to see. It’s a good thing, then, that our heavenly Father has enough love and enough forgiveness for all of us to share. That keeps me going as I slowly learn to forgive. I hope it does you as well.

When we offend him, God does not nurse his anger and resentment, retreating into the heavenly realms. Instead, he comes looking for us.

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by Rosie Schefe

In Papua New Guinea a self-confessed ‘nerd in hiking boots’ wends her way along steep and narrow mountain tracks, putting to work her trust in God every time she steps onto a bridge. In the Northern Territory town of Katherine, another woman listens joyfully as 800 Aboriginal men, women and children from across the north gather to share their experiences and understandings of the gospel.

As linguists and translation workers, Hanna Schulz and Margaret Mickan are

carrying on a vision of cross-cultural mission which has been part of the Lutheran Church for centuries. They are sent out to do this work—in Papua New Guinea and northern Australia respectively—by Lutheran Bible Translators Australia (LBTA).

From the beginnings of the Reformation, Martin Luther recognised the importance of the ‘language of the heart’—of being able to hear and read Scripture in the language spoken by families in their homes. Luther’s first translation of the New Testament (from Greek to German) took just eleven

Through this language I can hear [God] talking directly to me. Now I am sensing through the language that he is like my close relative

Two women working across two ancient cultures; united by the desire to provide the gospel in a language which people can understand in the centre of their being.

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‘So many children attended the Koriki language summer school that there were not enough desks for everyone, so we just used the floor instead.’

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weeks to complete, but he continued to refine both it and his later translation of the Old Testament for the rest of his life.

As the Protestant movement grew, the work of translation also grew. Many of the missionary societies of the 19th century understood the importance of linguistic studies for their missionaries, wherever they were destined to serve. Today LBTA works in partnership with Wycliffe Bible Translators, a non-denominational Christian organisation working internationally in the field of language development and producing local translations of Scripture where possible.

When talking about the importance of having the Bible available in heart (first) language, Margaret quotes the words of Elcho Island (NT) woman Yurranydjil Dhurrrkay: ‘Through this language I can

hear [God] talking directly to me. Now I am sensing through the language that he is like my close relative.’

‘Do we see God as our close relative?’ Margaret asks. ‘This shows the impact that Scriptures in heart language can have.’

In March this year Margaret celebrated 30 years of work, first as a literacy worker and then as a translation worker, specialising in Kriol. Kriol is a language shared by many Aboriginal people living in northern Australia—from Queensland’s cape to the West Australian Kimberley, and roughly south to Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. Many Kriol-speakers have lost their own language, but plenty have not, using Kriol as a tool for communication across language groups.

By contrast, in March, Hanna was preparing to return to Papua New Guinea after her first Australian furlough. She has spent the past two years as an ‘apprentice’, building relationships, building her own skills by assisting others on their projects and experiencing the broad range of tasks in which she will become engaged, as she seeks out a language community and an associate to partner with in translation.

NORTHERN TERRITORY

Margaret Mickan’s life-work began in Halls Creek, Western Australia, where she was first sent to learn Kriol. In the early days she spent a week in the town, then a week in a nearby community, Yiyili, where the school was set up as a multilingual facility. It operated in three spinifex bough shelters: one for when students were learning in English, another for learning in Kriol, and the third for when students were learning in the community’s own language, Gooniyandi. She remained in Halls Creek for about four years, completing a video in Kriol on the story of Ruth, which remains a well-used resource today.

From there Margaret went to Derby, where her task was mostly encouraging people to use Kriol materials that were already completed. In 1991 she moved to Darwin (she still calls Palmerston home today).

By this time the New Testament and about a quarter of the Old Testament had been translated into Kriol, but the work had stopped because translators working on it had left Darwin. In a meeting with Kriol-speakers, Rev Gumbuli Wurramara told Margaret and her fellow workers

Above left: Kriol speakers Michael and Julie Miller work with Margaret Mickan to record the story of Joseph for a DVD (inset). Top right: Margaret Mickan prepares for an audio recording of the story of Daniel, read by Kriol speaker, Mandy Sammy (in the temporary studio area). Recordings like these are valued by people with limited literacy skills. Above right: Margaret Mickan and Mandy Sammy check the text for a children’s Bible-story book in Kriol. Having a complete Old and New Testament in Kriol has made development of resources like this much faster.

Working on translation is hard. We always prayed, asked God to help us and guide us

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Lance and Gwen Tremlett (from the Church Missionary Society), ‘We’ll translate. You help us’. So they did.

‘It was amazing; they worked and worked’, Margaret explains. ‘They hand-wrote their translation, and we could hardly keep up with the checking and consultation processes. It was really inspiring and encouraging.’

The full translation was finally completed and had its first print run in 2007. ‘The day the entire Kriol Bible was dedicated was the highlight of my life’, Margaret said. ‘It was so exciting; people were praising God.

‘Working on translation is hard. We always prayed, asked God to help us and guide us. The translators stuck at it: a couple of them lost husbands and other close family members while we were working, but they persevered. Everyone had a strong desire to see it completed.’

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Papua New Guinea often promotes itself as the ‘Land of the Unexpected’, and Hanna Schulz has learnt to enjoy that description. ‘There are unexpected blessings and unexpected challenges’, she grins.

While scriptural materials have been available in Tok Pisin for some time, Hanna says that these are a poor substitute for people being able to read and understand the Bible in their heart language. ‘Pidgin is largely a trade language, with only between 2000 and 3000 words. It is heart languages which express the depths of faith, and for most people that is not Tok Pisin. A heart language truly connects with people; more faith is poured into their hearts. It really tells people, “God loves you, just as you are”. God is accessible’, Hanna explains.

Community trainee-teacher Andrew uses one of the literacy books produced during January this year in the Koriki language, Gulf Province, PNG. He is teaching the children underneath his half-finished house as the tide comes in below.

The people were overwhelmingly thankful that we were helping their kids to read and write in their own language

Papua New Guinea is home to more than 850 languages. This is one of the many challenges to literacy in the country. Access to education, level of teacher training, availability of resources and family responsibilities also pose significant challenges. Education is officially in English, and often resources are limited in local language. Translators work to build literacy through workshops, material production and the training of community-based teachers. This is work that brings special joy and pride to speakers.

Hanna spent some time working on a literacy project in the Koriki language in Gulf Province. ‘The people were overwhelmingly thankful that we were helping their kids to read and write in their own language’, she says.

She has contributed to other projects in a variety of ways during this apprenticeship: working alongside

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LUTHERAN BIBLE TRANSLATORS AUSTRALIA Lutheran Bible Translators Australia (LBTA) was formed in 1981 to oversee the ongoing promotion of translation and literacy work to bring the gospel to people in their first (heart) language. It operates under the oversight of LCA Mission International and in partnership with Wycliffe Bible Translators.

As well as current workers Margaret Mickan and Hanna Schulz, LBTA employed Bill and Di Eckermann from 1989 until 2001. Bill is a committee member of and consultant to LBTA.

You can find out more about supporting Margaret or Hanna financially (either on a regular basis or through a one-time gift) by contacting LBTA on 08 8267 7334 or emailing lbta@lca.org.au

You can also keep up with what Hanna is doing on her blog: blessingsandbubbles.blogspot.com

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translators and advisers as they check early drafts, making certain that the correct words are used for the context; reviewing how different sounds are rendered into an alphabet to ensure consistency; describing the grammar of a language, to help translations sound natural; checking that the genre of each book is translated appropriately for its theological purpose.

‘I helped with the follow-up from one final theological check on a New Testament. We talked through about a thousand issues the consultant had identified, and brought this back to just two remaining questions’, Hanna says. This is a long process of prayer and conversation, as translation workers and fluent speakers work through complex problems of language, culture, theology, meaning and intent.

As she travelled back to Papua New Guinea after two months in Australia, Hanna was looking forward to the next steps along her path: finding a partner to work with and a community keen to begin the journey. She has decided to partner with her colleague and

friend Catherine Rivard, who has also spent two years working on various translation projects in Papua New Guinea. Together they are now looking at which language community they will commit to working with long-term. ‘It means looking at a lot of reports, spending time with a community, lots of prayer and discernment. Then we jump in at the deep end again!’ she explains.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

The advent of computers into the field of translation is having a profound effect, Margaret and Hanna say. Hanna has found herself involved in training language users to use computers effectively. Margaret has seen translation evolve from pen and paper among the Kriol translators to the latest in computers, which are also being used to develop multi-media resources.

The development of a program called OurWord has enabled indigenous people to take responsibility in translation. The translators work from a related, consultant-checked language translation they understand well to

produce a good first draft in their own language. As well, the program has the capacity to upload data via satellite for storage as well as for interaction with mentors or other translators.

Much of Margaret’s work these days is back in the field of Scripture engagement—encouraging people to use the material that is available. This also includes recording of Scripture for people who are semi-literate, creating Sunday school materials and working on a children’s Bible-story book—all in Kriol.

She is also involved in the setting up of a resource centre in Katherine, where people will be able to come to produce resources to spread the gospel in their communities, whether it be DVDs, music or Christian materials for camping. The centre will also be used as a training facility to support Aboriginal Christians in their ministries, such as teaching Sunday school.

Both women are encouraged by the many supporters who share their vision and support their work financially and in prayer. ‘Supporters are partners in this work, whether they are consistent supporters or help just once—all are special’, Margaret stresses.

‘It is so encouraging to have so many people supporting, encouraging and praying for me’, Hanna says, after taking on 18 opportunities to speak to congregations and church bodies in just eight weeks.

‘It is also amazing to see faithful Australian Lutheran people going about their faith, being Christians in an Australian context. We come in so many flavours.' she said.

Left: Catherine Rivard (left) checks a draft of Sunday school materials with some of the Tiang translation team, New Ireland Province, PNG, last June. Hanna Schulz and Catherine will begin working together as a new team this year Right: The scariest of many log bridges the team had to cross daily in each direction while they were running a literacy summer school in Koriki language, Gulf Province. It was worst when it was wet!

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SON OF GODRating: MDistributor: RialtoRelease date: May 2014

Comments on contemporary culture

by Mark Hadley

As sure to divide as Jesus himself does, Son of God does well in introducing unchurched westerners to an unknown saviour. But Christians would do well to be aware of the business behind biblical Hollywood.

Son of God is the creation of Mark Burnett, of Survivor and The Apprentice fame. He and his wife Roma Downey are also the Christians behind the television series The Bible. The film actually recycles a large amount of material shot for that show. There aren’t too many surprises in the plot, with the story following the gospels, beginning with Jesus’ humble birth and climaxing with his resurrection (not with his death, as Hollywood productions frequently do). The film aims to introduce the passionate man behind the message, with Diogo Morgado presenting a quietly intense Messiah who is well aware of his mission. Take Jesus’ catch of fish and the calling of Peter, for example:

Peter: How did this happen? Jesus: Come with me. Peter: What are we going to do? Jesus: Change the world ...

You won’t find chapter and verse for this sort of quote, though, and that’s to be expected. Some creative licence has to be employed to create the pictures that are so important for generating the film’s emotional impact. Insofar as these additions are true to the historical context and reflect the intention of the gospel author, I’m not overly worried.

However, reactions to Son of God overseas have been as varied as the positions on a compass. Google will give you access to a range of vitriolic responses from people who have a very distinct definition of Christianity. These critics, I think, are largely unaware of the benefit of having Jesus’ life displayed at all and desire either absolute accuracy or absolute silence. I will happily

acknowledge the film’s shortcomings, as well as the fact that there are some things which only the word of God can clearly convey. Yet a film like this one is not supposed to be an alternative to the Bible. It’s a conversation starter, not the final word. In a month in which Australians will be encouraged to spend their money considering leading men like Tom Cruise (Edge of Tomorrow) and Tarzan, I would be happy to introduce them to history’s greatest hero, about whom they can readily find out more in the Bible. If I have to clean up details later, so be it. At least I won’t have to explain why Jesus came, nor why people still find him so compelling.

Son of God certainly represents a financial success story for film distributors, with its opening weekend in the United States netting close to $28 million for a story that cost $23 million to tell. It has gone on to net $72 million worldwide, even before its release in Australia, demonstrating once again that Christian stories continue to have traction with cinema-goers—a fact Hollywood seems well aware of in 2014. This year will see the release of six explicitly Christian stories, ranging from Darren Aronofsky’s Noah through to Ridley Scott’s Exodus, starring Christian Bale as an unlikely Moses, and a rumoured Pontius Pilate starring Brad Pitt.

However, you don’t have to have big marketing budgets or critical acclaim to make a memorable Christian film: you just have to take Christ seriously. Burnett and Downey went on an American roadtrip, approaching pastors personally to convey their passion for their gospel story. As a result the low budget Son of God managed to earn $4 million worth of pre-sale tickets. The same story is likely to be repeated in Australia, albeit on a smaller scale, thanks to the number of events being organised around screenings by culture-minded churches.

Conversation starter

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an Indian harvestby Chris Zweck

‘I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow’ (1 Corinthians 3:6)

Deep in southern India, a warm February morning dawns over Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala. The city streets are abuzz, as millions of women take part in the city’s biggest Hindu celebration: Attukal Pongala.

Women have come together from all over the country to praise the goddess Attukal Devi. They have sat for days in sweltering heat, paying tribute to their families and the goddess by lighting small fires on stone shrines. The sky is thick with smoke; the sound of trumpets and drums rings through the air as people thank the Hindu deity. However, not far from the celebrations, in the outer regions of this city, God’s word, planted more than 50 years ago, is still growing in miraculous ways.

In the locality of Kuzhivillai, the Bethel Lutheran Church stands as a proud testimony to what God accomplishes through his followers. Led by Rev C Sundara raj, the congregation, of more than 400 people, sings praises and gives thanks to God.

Just east of Kuzhivillai, in the area of Ponvila, another Lutheran church, St Peter’s, is also thriving. With more than

300 families, this church is slightly larger than Bethel. Both churches successfully run community programs, including Sunday school, youth prayer associations and women’s leagues. These churches share a special bond: both were built during the 1970s, under the guidance of Australian missionary Rev Paul Schirmer.

Pastor Schirmer was driven by his dedication to serve God. He was sent to India in the mid-1960s, serving there until his death in 1975. After almost 40 years, both churches fondly remember his work. A senior member of the Bethel congregation says that without Pastor Schirmer their church would never have been built. ‘Our church was founded in the year 1958. For nearly 25 years we did not construct the church’, he said.

‘After the entry of Pastor Schirmer in the year 1975, we constructed the church by his financial help. Many people in the area were invited to the opening, during which he also baptised ten children. Without him we would not see the church.’

Pastor Schirmer’s wife Irma, who accompanied him throughout his time in India, recalls how God constantly used her husband’s organisational gifts.

‘We spent our first five years living in Meenangadi among local hill people’, she said. ‘The communities were very poor, with many people living in sub-standard housing and unable to send their children to school. Paul organised the building of a hostel for boys, where they could be housed and fed while attending school.’

While living in the Wynad district, Pastor Schirmer accompanied local missionaries into surrounding Hindu communities, to preach God’s word and evangelise among the people. ‘The pastors told Bible stories with the aid of a flannelgraph, and film strips were shown at night with Paul’s assistance’, Irma said.

The Schirmers spent five years in Meenangadi before returning to Australia on furlough in 1970. They returned to India in 1971 to find a radically changed political landscape. ‘The Indo-Pakistani war had broken out, causing terrible devastation in Bangladesh’, Irma said.

‘The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LC–MS) gave $80,000 to help the community, and Paul was appointed by the India Evangelical Lutheran Church

Rev Paul Schirmer baptised ten children at the opening of the Bethel Lutheran church in Kuzhivillai, India. The church continues to thrive with 400 members and multiple ministries.

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er(IELC) to direct the relief operation. He went to Bangladesh where he decided, with the church’s consent, to use the money to buy 200 tonnes of corrugated iron sheeting to provide roofing for destroyed homes in an area where Norwegian Lutherans were working’, she said. He had to travel to Singapore in order to source these materials and revisited Bangladesh several times over the next two years.

In October 1973 the Schirmers moved to Trivandrum, where Pastor Schirmer began a new role as fiscal officer of the LC–MS India Mission. His ability to get things done quickly drew people to him. In his short time as fiscal officer, he played a crucial role in the building of seven churches, among them Bethel and St Peter’s. The Ponvila church in particular was a daunting project. The church was intended to be a grand, cathedral-style building, but could not be finished due to limited funding. Pastor Schirmer found a foreign architect who specialised in cheaper western designs that used much less timber. Construction was difficult, as the design required a level of precision unfamiliar to the Indian builders.

Despite numerous setbacks, all seven churches were completed by 1975. Tragically, however, Pastor Schirmer was killed in a car accident on 5 June 1975, just one week before the Ponvila church's official opening. He was travelling home from a holiday with his family when a bus overtaking a truck collided with their car, killing him instantly. His death created much sadness in the community.

Irma remained in India for only a short time afterwards. At the request of the Ponvila church, she performed the rite of opening at St Peter’s in place of her husband, before returning to Adelaide with their children: Leanne, Darren and Peter (now the LCA's Executive Officer of the Church).

The congregations of Ponvila and Kuzhivillai have kept Pastor Schirmer’s memory alive. Every year both churches hold special memorial services, so that his work is not forgotten. In April

Above left: Bethel at Kuzhivillai was one of seven church-building projects that Pastor Paul Schirmer oversaw during his time as financial officer for LC–MS India Mission. He opened the church where the congregation remembers him at a special prayer service in April every year. Above right: St Peter’s Ponvila, on opening day in 1975. It was opened by Irma Schirmer, just one week after her husband’s death.

a service is held at Bethel, where God is thanked for sending him to their church. At Ponvila a four-day celebration in June commemorates the anniversary of the church’s opening. The Sunday is observed as ‘Rev Schirmer Day’. A detailed report of his service to the church is read to the congregation, so that young people, born many years after his death, can learn of his work. Young Indian Christians tend Pastor Schirmer’s grave every year, holding a special commemoration at the site.

Irma is happy that the locals remember her husband, but insists it is only through God that he achieved what he did. ‘I see blessings all along our road. Without God we never would have coped’, she said. ‘I want to make it clear that to God be the glory.’

Chris Zweck is a Brisbane-based writer currently working in public relations and marketing. His father’s battle with Motor Neurone Disease has encouraged him to become more active within the Lutheran Church. He hopes God's word inspires others as it has inspired him.

A MODERN CONNECTION:Pastor Paul Schirmer’s work in India was carried out in partnership with the India Evangelical Lutheran Church, a pattern which LCA Mission International follows today. For more information on the places where we are currently partnering with local churches, visit the website www.lcamission.org.au

The need to support young people seeking quality education has not diminished since Pastor Schirmer established a hostel in Meenangadi. LCA Mission International has until 30 June to raise as much money as possible to support the $500,000 purchase of land next to Phnom Penh’s Rainbow Hostel for development of a Christian pre-school and Bible-training centre. This project is also a partnership with Lutherans from across the world. Please donate by calling Chelsea on 08 8267 7317 or online at www.lcamission.org.au