Celebrate God s Love on St. Valentine s Day

Transcription

1 / FEBRUARY 2019 INDIANA Celebrate God s Love on St. Valentine s Day Rev. Dr. Daniel Brege President ll Christians are truly saints made holy in Christ, sanctified by the Spirit through the Word. However, some Christians through the centuries have been uniquely labelled saints, which identifies them as individuals who have been given a heroic faith in Christ. Such saints were often empowered by Christ to lay down their lives for the sake of His Gospel. Enter St. Valentine. Executed for Christ s Gospel Sometime around the year 269, there was a bishop (perhaps just a pastor) named Valentine, who was beheaded on Feb. 14 for the sake of the Gospel. Being so remote in the past, the facts are a bit fuzzy. To add to this, there have been more than a dozen noteworthy Christians through the centuries with the name Valentine (from valens, meaning worthy or strong). According to several traditions, Valentine actively shared the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. Ancient sources indicate that even some Other traditions relate that Valentine secretly Roman leaders were brought to faith in Jesus performed marriages for Christian couples, and baptized because of Valentine. He was enabling them to be joined together in line then given audience to Emperor Claudius II. with God s will, and additionally enabling Claudius initially took a liking to Valentine, husbands to avoid going into battle. This but when Valentine approached him with angered the emperor, and Valentine was the Gospel, Claudius so vehemently opposed executed. it that ultimately it cost Valentine his head. Continued on page 7 INDIANA FEBRUARY 2019 / 1

2 OUTREACH Building partnerships NINE reaches out to the underserved Northeast Indiana Neighborhood Engagement (NINE) is a new organization whose goal is to impact neighborhoods with community development, grassroots leadership and the engagement of churches through Christ s love. NINE s mission NINE is led is to bring transformational life by Rev. Lewis A. King, who change to individuals living in established King s Barber Shop underserved neighborhoods in north- and Community Outreach, a east Indiana. By ministry designed bringing together to spread the churches and community leaders for Gospel through Bible studies and strategic ministry Rev. King community engagement in Fort opportunities, the focus is to connect residents Wayne. King, who was formerly a barber before attending to LCMS Indiana District congregations. They want to seminary, has extensive experience working with the least of help them grow in their relationship with Christ so they these in. can do the work of the Gospel. As we connect people to people and people to Christ, we want to see transformational life change both for the individuals in these neighborhoods and the volunteers who join our grass roots leadership team, Rev. King said. The organization will partner with nine anchor churches in the area and work to invest in people by developing long-lasting relationships and providing financial resources for low-income neighborhoods. They ll do to this by encouraging congregations to be involved in service and leadership. Churches will work with their neighbors to develop partnerships that facilitate spiritual growth so that each person can reach their full potential in Christ. Rev. King adds: We want to work together to build effective partnerships knowing that we will accomplish more together than working alone. To find out more about NINE and how you can be involved, visit ninefort wayne.org. IN PHOTO: Rev. Douglas Punke, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church,, leads a prayer before a prayer walk in the southeast side of in October. Rev. Lewis King is at left. 2 / INDIANA

3 OUTREACH Mercy for inmates Learn how you can get involved with prison ministry By Deaconess Carole Terkula St. John s, Columbia City Tears rolled down the cheeks of Beth* as for the first time she heard the Gospel during a Bible study at the Whitley County Jail. We had just read: But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom. 5:8 She said between sobs: It just seems too good to be true! My colleagues and I had the privilege of assuring her that God s message is true and is for her personally. Truly there is no greater joy than seeing God work through His mighty Word! In addition to holding weekly Bible studies in the cell blocks, St. John s, Columbia City, twice a month provides a chapel service at the jail. Law and Gospel is preached, hymns are sung and prayers are lifted up on behalf of the inmates specific requests. There Jail ministry volunteers pray before Bible study at the Whitley County Jail. have been a handful of Baptisms at the jail this past year as a result of God s Word at work through these Bible studies and worship services all glory to God! This past year, St. John s has also provided aftercare to inmates once they are released from jail, including: Holding weekly Bible studies for female residents of the Whitely County Work Release Center. Providing transportation to church and various appointments. Providing food and clothing. Mentoring residents at the local homeless shelter where some inmates may go if they do not have a home in which to return. All of these efforts are done in order to provide Christian care as these LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford inmates transition back into society. A survey conducted a year ago by the Indiana District Prison Ministry Task Force indicated there are about five other district congregations that are actively involved in a prison or jail ministry in their area. Imagine the impact in our communities if more congregations would get involved with prison/jail ministry. Did you know that the Prison Ministry Task Force can help your congregation with starting a prison/jail ministry in your area? The task force would be happy to send a member to be a guest speaker at your congregation. The task force has also created a Bible study book along with a leader s guide for specific use in jail ministry. The Continued on page 5 District Calendar of Events February 8-10 February 12 February February 17 March 1 March 12 March March 20 April 9 April 28 April 29 Katie Retreat Inn at DePauw, Greencastle Seminary Guild, CTS, Christ Academy Confirmation Retreat, CTS, Choral Vespers, CTS, Deadline for Vicarage and Call Documents to District President for Spring Placement Seminary Guild, CTS, Prayerfully Consider Campus Visit, CTS, Lecture/Recital Convocation, CTS, Seminary Guild Spring Luncheon, CTS, Easter Evening Prayer, CTS, Vicarage Assignments CTS, April 30 May 1 May 6-8 May May 17 June June June June July July Call Service, CTS, Vicarage and Call Services, Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Southern Pastors Conference, Camp Lakeview Northern Pastors Conference, Oakwood Resort Graduation Day, CTS, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Christ Academy: Timothy School, CTS, Christ Academy: Phoebe School, CTS, Organist Workshop (Primer Level), CTS, Organist Workshop (Intermediate Level), CTS, LCMS Youth Gathering, Minneapolis LCMS Convention, Tampa FEBRUARY 2019 / 3

4 OUTREACH A bridge to the community The Shepherd s Hand celebrates grand opening On Oct. 21, Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church,, opened The Shepherd s Hand, a community center outreach initiative providing health, education and wellness services to families in East Central. Opening the community center was a seven-year process that was completed this fall. In 2011, Shepherd of the City purchased the former Elite Ballroom, located across the street, with the goal of opening a community outreach center. With the help of a grant from The Lutheran Foundation, as well as funding from the Indiana District, the LCMS Office of National Mission and many individual donors and volunteers, the building was gutted and renovated, including an updated commercial kitchen and meeting space. In 2017, Deaconess Rachel Jaseph was called as director of The Shepherd s Hand. She oversees programming for the center and works to develop community partnerships. Our focus is on health education and life wellness, and we want to develop more programs that fit in those categories, Jaseph says. A large portion of my work is developing partnership opportunities and making inroads with community development organizations. The Shepherd s Hand has launched two programs this fall to kick off their inaugural year. Homework Club is a weekly after-school program to help children with reading skills, math and other homework. The Shepherd s Hand is located at the public school bus stop, an ideal location for connecting with students. Jaseph is reaching out to area public schools to learn how to best support children s educational needs. She says one mother who has been sending her child to Homework Club is thankful for the opportunity for free reading help in a Christian environment. Our HEALing Kitchen is another new weekly program at The Shepherd s Hand. The HEAL curriculum (Healthy Eating Active Living) is a local initiative of the St. Joseph Community Health Foundation and Parkview Health in. Offered for eight weeks at a time, participants are given supplies and food for the healthy cooking classes. Rev. Jeffrey Pulse, associate professor of Exegetical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary, and Jaseph saw the need for cooking classes since the church is located in a food desert an area where no grocery stores exist within walking distance. But Rev. Pulse, who helps teach the class, says the problem isn t just finding healthy accessible foods. The biggest challenge isn t money or food the biggest challenge is poverty. Poverty is its own thing because it creates other challenges. Those involved in Our HEALing Kitchen hope to promote healthier cooking as a way to combat some of the health challenges faced by families in the community. Shepherd of the City has had a longstanding tradition of serving Thanksgiving dinner to area residents. This year s feast was held at the newly renovated building on Nov. 18. The congregation and friends from other LCMS congregations and organizations served more than 150 area residents, while introducing them to The Shepherd s Hand and inviting them to church services and future events. But in order for the ministry to reach more people through new programming, they are going to need prayers, financial donations and volunteers. is considered the city of churches, but so many are disconnected from church, says Jaseph. Our vision for The Shepherd s Hand is to be a bridge into the community. We want them to know that the church cares and is here for their needs on a consistent basis. The love of Jesus is compelling us to do this whole project. To find out how you can help The Shepherd s Hand, contact Deaconess Rachel Jaseph at shepherdshandfw@ gmail.com or visit shepherd of the citylutheran.org and find the link at the top of the page. 4 / INDIANA

5 STEWARDSHIP From Pearl Harbor to salvation The true story that launched two young seamen on a path of love, forgiveness and salvation fter World War II ended, Gen. Douglas MacArthur ordered Japanese naval captain Mitsuo Fuchida to testify during war trials in Tokyo. Fuchida took a cynical view toward the trials because he believed that Americans had committed atrocities against their captives. But his former flight engineer, who had been a prisoner of war, told Fuchida that the Americans had treated him humanely. Even more, he learned of a woman who had ministered lovingly to Japanese prisoners, Peggy Covell. Ken Schilf Council of Resources Jacob DeShazer and Mitsuo Fuchida Covell s parents had been missionaries to Japan and were captured and killed by Japanese soldiers in Before they were beheaded, the Covells asked for 30 minutes in which to pray in part, Peggy believed, for God to forgive those who were about to execute them. Fuchida was astonished at the idea that anyone would forgive their enemies or worship a God who would not, or could not, save their lives. Why, he wondered, would the Covells daughter then return to Japan to help POWs? Fuchida found his answer in At a Tokyo train station, an American missionary was handing out pamphlets titled, I was a Prisoner of Japan. It was written by Jacob DeShazer, who took part in the Dolittle Raid (commanded by Gen. James Doolittle), an American retaliatory air raid on the Japanese mainlands four months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. As James Nathanial Miller writes in The Liberty Beacon, DeShazer had been extremely vocal about his hatred of the Japanese, declaring that if he could only get his hands on the guy who had led the raid on Pearl Harbor, he would slit his throat. As it turned out, it was the Japanese who got their hands on DeShazer when his B-25 crashed in China after the raid. For the next 40 months, DeShazer was starved, tortured, beaten and kept in solitary confinement all of which increased his hatred for the Japanese. But then a guard gave him an English Bible. As DeShazer read, he joyfully surrendered his heart to Christ and began treating his captors with respect, love and forgiveness instead of belligerence. After the war, DeShazer returned to the United States, received missionary training and returned to Japan to share the love of Christ with his former enemies. It s estimated that some 30,000 Japanese citizens became Christians because of his ministry including Mitsuo Fuchida the leader of the attack on Pearl Harbor. In 1950, Fuchida sought out DeShazer. The two former enemies embraced each other as brothers and spent the rest of their lives witnessing together to the power of Christ and the need to forgive. After reading this story, several passages come to mind and are appropriate for a Christian steward. Ps. 118:2: His steadfast love endures forever. Eph. 6:24: Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. Copyright 2018 by the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Reprinted from BreakPoint.org with permission. PRISON MINISTRY (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3) LCMS also offers a grant of up to $1,000 to congregations which begin a prison/jail ministry (send an to prisonministry@lcms.org for more information on this grant opportunity and an application). For information on reserving a guest speaker or receiving a copy of the study book, or for more information for how to begin or expand prison/jail ministry in your area, contact me at deaconessintern.stjohns@gmail.com or *Real names of inmates have been changed to protect privacy. FEBRUARY 2019 / 5

6 NEWS District responds to hurricane devastation in the Carolinas Hurricane Florence may be a distant memory for those who don t live in the Carolinas, but the remnants of its impact still exist. Heaps of debris litter yards, including old carpets, ruined furniture and downed trees. According to Rev. Jim Daub, pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Havelock, N. C.: The trees are a big mess right now. In response to this need, the Indiana District Board of Directors is giving a matching grant to Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) for hurricane relief efforts. In addition, Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) are assessing what is needed so they can start collecting essential items and assembling volunteers. Pastor Daub, who has seen the devastation firsthand, notes that gift cards are a practical way to help residents impacted by Hurricane Florence. Canned goods are fine, but the best thing to send right now are Walmart gift cards. LERT s mission is to provide teams of trained volunteers who serve our congregations and communities as part of a disaster outreach ministry. Teams are assembled for emergencies caused by hurricanes, fires, flooding and other natural disasters. Rev. Dr. Alan Scott, associate pastor of St. Paul s, Indianapolis, has seen the difference LERT teams make in flood-stricken areas. LERT volunteers make a real difference in the lives of those affected by disasters, large or small, Rev. Scott says. Last summer, the town of Franklin had some flooding. One house sustained significant flood damage. Volunteers helped clean out all the water and mud from the basement, salvage personal belongings that could be cleaned up, and hauled a lot of unsalvageable items away. They also received an LCMS grant to replace a widow s water heater and furnace, and have all the mold removed from the basement. It made a profound difference in her life. I expect there will be thousands of stories like that coming out of the Carolinas now, thanks to LERT volunteers. LERT teams have certifications to go into disaster areas and provide not only short-term relief, but long-term as well. But at this point, LERT teams can t enter hurricane-devastated areas until insurance claims have been completed. Once insurance companies have finished assessing the damage, LERT teams can assemble volunteers for relief efforts. Rev. Geoffrey Robinson, Indiana District outreach executive, noted that one of the differences between LERT and other disaster response groups is the commitment to long-term recovery as people rebuild their communities. These kinds of disasters are long-term recovery efforts, Robinson said. We stay in for the long haul. Rev. James Rodriguez, pastor of Immanuel, Seymour, is assembling a LERT work team to travel to North Carolina and deliver buckets and supplies. Details are still pending, but those who are interested in helping should call Rodriguez at Share Your News! Do you have exciting news you d like to see published in the Indiana District Lutheran Witness? We d love to share your news and see photos of what s happening in our district! Be sure to send in your submissions. Your stories and photos are welcomed and most appreciated. Please send all submissions to Jan Koenig at: jan.koenig@in.lcms.org or Lutheran Witness Editor Indiana District LCMS 1145 South Barr St., IN The deadline for the April issue of The Lutheran Witness is Feb / INDIANA

7 Celebrate God s love on St. Valentine s Day (Continued Page 1) February Prayer List Your Valentine Another legend, from more than one source, states that Valentine prayed for a blind girl, and the Lord restored her sight. The girl was the child of a Roman leader (or jailor, depending on the tradition). As Valentine was being taken to his execution, he supposedly wrote a note to the girl and signed it: Your Valentine. The greatest love In the 14th century, Geoffrey Chaucer and his friends popularized the association of St. Valentine with romantic love. In line with this thinking, Valentine PRAYER was indeed associated with holy matrimony. Unfortunately, however, we have come to associate romantic love with the day of Valentine s execution Feb. 14. How sad that on Valentine s Day, the less noble love (romantic love), though valuable and important, has trumped the greatest love that love which offers one s life on behalf of another. Jesus had this greatest love to, laying down His life for His bride, the Church. The martyr St. Valentine also demonstrated this love as he laid down his life for Jesus and for the sake of those with whom he had shared the Gospel. Week of Feb. 4 Southeastern District Circuit 11 Lafayette Trinity, Goodland Grace, Lafayette St. James, Lafayette St. James, Logansport Our Saviour, Monticello St. John, Rensselaer St. Luke Rensselaer St. James, Reynolds St. John, Rochester Redeemer, West Lafayette University, West Lafayette Mission: Immigrant Outreach, Concordia, RSO: Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Week of Feb. 11 Southern District Circuit 19 Brownstown Calvary, Bedford St. Paul, Brownstown St. Peter, Brownstown Emmanuel, Leesville Good Shepherd, Medora Faith, Salem St. John, Seymour Trinity, Vallonia Mission: Inner City Ministry, Concordia, RSO: Camp Lakeview, Seymour Week of Feb. 18 Southern Illinois District Circuit 4 LaPorte Immanuel, Hamlet St. Matthew, Hamlet First, Hanna Our Redeemer, Knox St. John, LaCrosse St. John, LaPorte St. Mark, Medaryville St. Peter, North Judson St. John, Wanatah St. Luke, Winamac Emmanuel, Wheatfield St. Paul, Winamac Mission: Gypsies Ministry, Holy Cross, RSO: Camp Lutherhaven, Albion Week of Feb. 25 Texas District Circuit 8 South Aboite, Bethlehem, Emmaus, Mount Calvary, New Life, Peace, Shepherd of the City, Southwest, Trinity (Decatur Road), Zion, Mission: Japanese Outreach, Trinity, Indianapolis RSO: Cedar Lake Lodge, LaGrange, KY FEBRUARY 2019 / 7

8 CELEBRATIONS February Birthdays Feb. 1 Lois Kaufman, 94 Emmanuel, Feb. 2 Jean Ollman, 96 St. Matthew s, Delphi Irma Bell, 94 St. John, Lanesville Feb. 3 Bernard Emkes, 97 Zion, Seymour Dee Belden, 91 Grace, New Albany Orpha Harris, 90 Our Shepherd, Avon Feb. 5 Winifred Fritz, 97 Emmaus, Mid Grolich, 93 Calvary, Plymouth Feb. 7 Lowima Schneider, 98 Immanuel, Seymour Feb. 8 Jean Arndt, 93 St. Peter, North Judson Feb. 10 Rosemarie Marsh, 90 Our Shepherd, Avon Feb. 12 Margaret Herdman, 91 Holy Cross, Feb. 13 Mel Stamberger, 93 Calvary, Plymouth Don Hartig, 90 Our Redeemer, Evansville Feb. 14 Genevieve Gray, 96 Calvary, Indianapolis Marcile Keck, 92 Zion, Feb. 15 Murray Bair, 93 Holy Cross, Gary Heckman, 93 Zion (Friedheim), Decatur Maxine Haury, 92 Our Redeemer, Evansville Catherine Woempner, 90 Calvary, Indianapolis Feb. 16 Mariagnes Meyer, 90 St. John s, White Creek Feb. 17 Elaine Schlie, 92 Bethlehem, Oma Smith, 92 Immanuel, Seymour Feb. 18 Gertrude Gierke, 93 Our Shepherd, Avon Feb. 19 Kenneth Kehlbeck, 91 Calvary, Indianapolis Feb. 20 Thomas Bomba, 91 St. James, Lafayette Feb. 21 LuRayne Roehm, 90 Emmanuel, Feb. 22 Kenneth Bobb, 91 Immanuel, Seymour Feb. 23 Virginia Hart, 96 St. James, Lafayette Wilma Voelker, 92 St. John s, White Creek Feb. 24 Anna Sharer, 90 Immanuel, Seymour Feb. 25 Leona Kleaving, 94 Emmanuel, Tell City Feb. 27 Patricia Israel, 92 St. James, Lafayette Feb. 28 Madalene Eggold, 94 Bethlehem, Vera Kalberer, 92 Trinity, Hobart Feb. 29 Harriett Meyer, 91 St. John s, White Creek Belated Jan. 9 Dick Etzler, 93 Bethlehem, Jan. 19 Harry Burkhart, 90 St. James, Logansport Jan. 22 Gene Dettmer, 94 Bethlehem, February Anniversaries Feb. 1 Mr. and Mrs. Norbert Bleeke 66, Zion, Decatur Mr. and Mrs. C. Kent Kanning 61, Emmaus, Mr. and Mrs. David Osterman 50, Immanuel, Seymour Feb. 2 Mr. and Mrs. Carl Diehm 62, Holy Cross, Feb. 3 Mr. and Mrs. Ken Dettmer 51, St. John s, White Creek Feb. 5 Mr. and Mrs. Don Herald 58, Calvary, Indianapolis Rev. and Mrs. Jerry Koch 53, Holy Cross, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Rorig 52, St. Peter s, Brownstown Feb. 8 Mr. and Mrs. Dale DeWitt 60, St. James, Logansport Feb. 10 Mr. and Mrs. Richard Meyers 51, Holy Cross, Feb. 11 Mr. and Mrs. Tim Yeadon 52, St. Peter, North Judson Feb. 12 Mr. and Mrs. Larry Miller 53, St. John, Monroeville Feb. 13 Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Strietelmeier 59, St. John s, White Creek Mr. and Mrs. Paul Birch 54, Zion, Seymour Mr. and Mrs. Jim Bultemeyer 54, Zion (Friedheim), Decatur Feb. 14 Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Imler 71, Holy Cross, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Hormann 65, St. John, Monroeville Feb. 15 Mr. and Mrs. Jim Spiller 55, Cornerstone, Carmel Mr. and Mrs. Phil Hagen 50, Cornerstone, Carmel Mr. and Mrs. Larry Lunz 50, Emmaus, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Ramsey 50, Immanuel, Seymour Mr. and Mrs. Leon Walker 50, Cornerstone, Carmel Feb. 17 Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Arnold 51, St. John, Lanesville Feb. 18 Mr. and Mrs. Jim Buckhorn 63, Cornerstone, Carmel Mr. and Mrs. Cal Dorward 63, Heritage, Valparaiso Mr. and Mrs. Jack Oak 63, Trinity, Dillsboro Feb. 19 Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Higginbotham 64, St. John, Lanesville Feb. 20 Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Clark 59, St. James, Lafayette Feb. 22 Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Maschino 50, Immanuel, Seymour Feb. 23 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Bell 55, Immanuel, Seymour Mr. and Mrs. Don Hawes 51, Cornerstone, Carmel Mr. and Mrs. Donald Williamson 65, St. James, Logansport Feb. 26 Mr. and Mrs. Charles Willen 64, Emmanuel, Feb. 27 Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Allen 56, St. James, Lafayette Feb. 28 Mr. and Mrs. Donald Keck 65, Trinity, Darmstadt Belated Jan. 1 Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Ehler Sr. 52, St. James, Logansport Jan. 8 Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Melcher 53, Bethlehem, Jan. 31 Mr. and Mrs. Russell Griswold Sr. 61, St. James, Lafayette 8 / INDIANA