Harvest News. Read more inside... Celebrate Concordia Hanoi s grand opening Discover global service opportunities Meet LCMS retirees in mission

Transcription

1 Harvest News A quarterly mission newsletter to inform and involve LCMS Christians in God s mission LCMS WORLD MISSION VOL.11, NO.4 WINTER 2011 Read more inside... Celebrate Concordia Hanoi s grand opening Discover global service opportunities Meet LCMS retirees in mission Students arrive at Concordia International School Hanoi on Aug. 24 the school s inaugural day of classes.

2 LCMS WORLD MISSION The Global Gospel Outreach of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Letters should be signed and addressed to Harvest News Editor, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO Send to: Individual free subscriptions may be ordered by calling , or by registering at Copyright 2011 LCMS World Mission. Permission granted to reprint Harvest News articles. Please notify Rev. Dr. David C. Birner Interim Co-Executive Director Office of International Mission Harvest News Staff: Stacey Grapengater, Carolyn Niehoff, Elizabeth Truong Pam Nielsen Editor Contributors: Carl Hanson, Sandra Lingard, Karin Moore, Mike Raha, Bill Roth In Christ, for the Church and the World! Director s L E T T E R My Dear Partners in the Gospel Some people grew up wanting to be a missionary, but not me. I remember listening in awe, and occasionally fear, to missionary stories. I never imagined that God s plan for my life included serving as a missionary! Regardless of personal intentions, people do not become missionaries on their own accord. People cannot send themselves. Sending is a function of the body of Christ. Missionaries are sent out into the world by the Church to bear witness to the marvelous News that Jesus defeated sin and death, offering eternal life to those who believe and are baptized. For me, it took a very long time and a great many members of the body of Christ to shape, nurture and encourage me to take up the vocation that God had prepared in advance for me to do (See Eph. 2:10). Today, I see clearly how God choreographed a wonderful mix of His people to lead me to a life of missionary service. The cast included my parents, a Sunday school teacher, foreign house guests, a Bible translator, a helicopter pilot, a close friend, my construction company employer, a volunteer services placement director, a mission executive and a pastor. It also included a church body half a world away and 10 congregations on Long Island, N.Y., that invested the spiritual and financial support enabling me and my family to serve as missionaries in Papua New Guinea for nearly 15 years. Whew! The world needs missionaries more than ever. But they do not simply appear. Missionaries are identified, nurtured, shaped, prepared and sent by the Church. It takes all of us in our life together to send missionaries to places where the name of Jesus is yet to be known. Each one in the body of Christ is a special part of God s global mission. What is your role? Could God be preparing you to be sent by His Church, as a missionary? Are you a parent? A Sunday school teacher? An employer? A friend? A pastor? Rev. Dr. David Birner Who has God placed in your life that just may be a missionary in the making? In this issue of Harvest News, you will recognize that God is working powerfully in the world today. He is working through those the church sends around the world as missionaries. And, He is working through those of us responsible for sending them. Read between the lines; look for your name. Where do you fit in the cast of His workers? How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? (Rom. 10:14-15). In Christ, Rev. Dr. David C. Birner Interim Co-Executive Director Office of International Mission Your VBS kids can help give the gift of life in places like... Cambodia, Haiti and China! 2 CPH s Amazing Desert Journey includes the LCMS Project: Clean Water

3 LCMS missionaries and projects blessed by generous support Thank you Michigan District, LWML and Thrivent members! Without the generous support of many individuals, families, congregations, schools and other groups, the LCMS could not continue to carry out mission and mercy work in more than 90 countries around the world. The LCMS Office of International Mission (which includes the former LCMS World Mission) is especially thankful for the recent support provided by three special partners. Michigan District We give thanks for the generous support of the Michigan District, through its The Future Is Now campaign in partnership with the Fan into Flame campaign. The district has pledged to support missionaries, serving through the LCMS Office of International Mission, who are identified as sons and daughters of the Michigan District. Because of the support of the district s families and congregations through its The Future Is Now campaign, eight different gifts of $50,000 have been provided toward the support of eight missionary families, for a total of more than $400,000 in the last two years. The missionaries whose ministry is supported by these gifts include: George and Shary Frahm, Cambodia; Rev. Tim and Beth Heiney, Guinea; Rev. David and Joyce Erber, Nigeria; Rev. Greg Sawyer, Hong Kong; James and Christel Neuendorf, Dominican Republic; Rev. Dr. Carl and Deaconess Deborah Rockrohr, South Africa; and others. Thank you, Michigan District! LCMS Michigan District President David Maier (left) greets missionaries George and Shary Frahm who will serve in Cambodia through gifts of support provided by the people of the district. Lutheran Women s Missionary League We also give thanks for the ongoing partnership with another faithful supporter the Lutheran Women s Missionary League. In late June, 5,000 members of the LWML gathered at their national convention in Peoria, Ill., and committed $1.825 million in the next biennium to support mission efforts here in the U.S. and around the world. Rev. Dr. David Birner, interim co-executive director of the Office of International Mission, said, These ladies have been doing this since 1942 they ve been tireless in their support of the missionary efforts of the LCMS. That s what we saw in Peoria a continuation of that same missionary spirit. The LWML s grant commitments included six LCMS international mission and mercy projects, pledging a total of $558,225 of support toward new and ongoing projects, which will be awarded through its grants. The projects chosen by the LWML general assembly include: Support for Lutheran Orphanages in Haiti ($70,000); Pregnancy Center: Newborn Protection Malaysia ($54,500); Children s Developmental Disabilities Group Home and Rehabilitation Center Dominican Republic ($100,000); The Lutheran Malaria Initiative Kenya, East Africa ($100,000); Missionary Family Care and Education ($100,000); and Children s Nutrition and Care Vietnam ($72,255). Thank you, LWML! Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Our partnership with Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its Thrivent Choice program, through the generous designation of its members, has provided $446,437 for the LCMS Office of International Mission (LCMS World Mission and LCMS World Relief and Human Care). Of this total amount, $304,437 was given through a specific online voting event in The remaining $142,000 a number expected to grow has come as a result of the Choice Dollars program. Through the Choice Dollars program, Thrivent members recommend how a portion of its charitable outreach funds are allocated. Members choose from a list of LCMS ministries, along with other Christian organizations. Dollars can be designated to the Office of International Mission through the following channels: LCMS Fan into Flame LCMS Ministry to the Armed Forces LCMS World Mission LCMS World Relief and Human Care Lutheran Malaria Initiative Mission Central (LCMS World Mission) Rural Small Town Mission Please note: Choice Dollars earned during a calendar year can be directed to the ministry of a Thrivent member s choice until March 31 of the following year. So, members have until March 31, 2012, to direct 2011 funds to the ministries of their choice. Learn more at Thank you, Thrivent members! Army Capt. Michael N. Frese preaches on a base in eastern Afghanistan of the comfort that Christ gives in Word and Sacrament. Of his work he says, I am God s mouthpiece to share with them the life that Christ has won for them on the cross. 3

4 Retirees in mission Chemical engineers, seamstresses, teachers, social workers Witness through acts of mercy and care. At the end of 2003, two and a half years after my husband died, I got restless and enrolled in the lay ministry program after reading an article in the LCMS Southern District newsletter. My pastor had me visit shut-ins and I went to Stephen Ministry training. Then I talked with pastor about international missionary service. He encouraged me, and so did our church s director of Christian education, Zeal Beale. Today, as I prepare for a year of service in Central Europe in January 2012, I see how it s all been coming together. You can t always see at the time how God is preparing you, but in hindsight it s all clear, writes Karin Moore, Grace Lutheran Church, Pensacola, Fla. Is Karin s story unique? No, there are many others who have long dreamed of serving their church internationally. Mike Raha of Hope Lutheran Church, Rochester, N.Y., retired from a career serving people with disabilities. He has served for four years as a team leader for Spoken-English workshops with the India Evangelical Lutheran Church. Mike says, The Lord called through [my wife] Linda s encouragement. It is humbling for me to learn so much from those I think I go to teach. Short-term missionary Mike Raha stands with students he taught in India. Sandra Lingard, from Van Horne, Iowa, spent two weeks this summer using her skills as a seamstress. She traveled to Cambodia to instruct women in the local church on making household items for sale. A retired chemical engineer from Sandra Lindgard, left, displays a quilt with a fellow short-term team member in Cambodia. Eureka, Mo., Bill Roth says, I had been searching where I could be of service to the Kingdom after I retired. Then in a church service, a retired lady was called forward and they prayed for her upcoming one-year missionary assignment. A light went on and I applied to the LCMS and here I am. Bill will use the gifts and experience God has given him through the years to build relationships while teaching English as a Foreign Language in Macau. How is their impact felt? Rev. Carl Hanson, LCMS career missionary and area facilitator for East Asia, says, Not surprisingly, God is doing amazing things through people who come to the mission field after retirement. In fact, many of our positions are ideally suitable for a retired teacher or pastor to serve and help share the love of Christ. God uses people of many and various skills and backgrounds to connect people to Jesus in today s mission field. In Asia, aging is the mark of wisdom and often highly sought after and respected. We have had young people in some of our English center outreach ministries literally adopt mature missionaries as their parents or grandparents, asking them for advice and confiding in them. It is a wonderful opportunity for retirees not only to share their years of life experience and wisdom, but also the eternal wisdom that comes through faith in Christ alone. For the young person full of questions, it is a surprising thing to hear someone admit they don t know the answer; but then immediately connect that with the need to go to our Heavenly Father and His Word with such questions and soul searching. It is a powerful witness to see people of a different generation sharing their faith as well as their failings. In what way can your life experience be used on the international mission field? For we are God s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10 NIV). This year the LCMS has more than 186 mission service opportunities. Each of these opportunities supports the LCMS goal of building and planting sustainable Lutheran communities of faith. Short-term missionaries, mercy workers and career missionaries all work together, often alongside local and partner churches, to make known the message of God s love for us through His Son, Jesus Christ. Review the list of opportunities and prayerfully consider if you, like Karin, Mike, Sandra or Bill, and are being called to share Christ through your life experiences overseas. Bill Roth stands outside the entrance of the Concordia English Center in Macau, where he is serving as a short-term missionary. 4

5 Office of International Mission Global Service Opportunities NEW! NEW! NEW! Country/Region Position Openings Length of Service Cambodia Evangelist 3 2 years Cambodia Short-term Mission Team days Cambodia Service Coordinator 1 1 year China - CWEF EFL Teacher University 3 10 months China - CWEF Service Coordinator 1 18 months Czech Republic Relationship Builder through EFL 1 1 year Eurasian country Short-term Service Team days Eurasian country EFL Teacher 3 2 years Guinea Relationship Builder through EFL 2 1 year Haiti Mercy Medical Team days Hong Kong Relationship Builder through EFL 4 1 year Hong Kong Service Coordinator 1 2 years Hong Kong - CWEF Website Designer weeks Hong Kong - CWEF Database Developer weeks Hong Kong Short-term Mission Team days Hungary EFL Teacher 1 1 year Hungary Service Coordinator 1 1 year Hungary Short-term Mission Team days India Mercy Medical Team days Kenya Mercy Medical Team days Kyrgyzstan Home School Teacher 1 1 year Kyrgyzstan Medical Van Volunteer weeks Kyrgyzstan Short-term Service Team days Macau Service Coordinator 1 2 years Macau Relationship Builder through EFL 8 1 year Macau Relationship Builder through EFL 10 5 weeks Macau Short-term Mission Team days Madagascar Mercy Medical Team days Poland Short-term Mission Team days Slovakia EFL Teacher Elementary 1 1 year Slovakia EFL Teacher High School 2 1 year Slovakia Short-term Mission Team days South Korea Relationship Builder through EFL 2 1 year South Korea Short-term EFL Teacher 2 3 weeks Taiwan EFL Teacher Elementary 6 10 months Taiwan EFL Teacher High School 8 10 months Taiwan Short-term EFL Teacher weeks Vietnam Relationship Builder through EFL 6 10 months Vietnam Short-term Service Team days Did you know that there are currently 103 career missionaries and 110 GEO missionaries serving around the world through the LCMS? Did you also know that more than 444 individuals served on short-term mission teams in 2011? We give thanks to God for these servants of God who He is using in His mission. For the most up-to-date listing of service opportunities, visit To find out more information about available service opportunities or if you have other questions, please send an to or call 888-THE-LCMS ( ). * EFL is English as a Foreign Language ** Learn about LCMS Youth Servant Events at Career? International Education? Learn more about career service opportunities and international educator opportunities and start your journey today in becoming a missionary of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod by applying online at 5

6 Concordia International School Hanoi opens in Vietnam The LCMS is blessed to be a blessing in Vietnam As the campus of Concordia International School Hanoi, Vietnam, stood quiet at 7:45 a.m. on Aug. 24, 2011, teachers waited with eager anticipation for the first signs of children entering the school. The first few students trickled in with their parents about 8 a.m. and were directed into the multipurpose room to wait for their teachers. Buses began arriving at the back entrance at about 8:20 a.m., greeted by a whole group of staff and teachers waving at the approaching vehicles. The new Concordia Hanoi family had come together at last! After years of relationship building and tackling legalities, Concordia Hanoi received approval from the national Vietnam and local Hanoi governments and opened with about 50 students in pre-kindergarten through grade seven. Led by LCMS educator and Head of School Steven Winkelman, Concordia Hanoi is modeled after two elite sister institutions in Asia, Hong Kong International School and Concordia International School Shanghai, China. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS) selected Vietnam as its third international school site, building on human care work that began in 1995 through LCMS World Mission as a registered nongovernmental organization in Vietnam. Over the years, LCMS projects to help poor families Ambassador Shear, middle, joins Head of School Steve Winkelman, standing to his right, and the Rev. Dr. David Birner, interim co-executive director of the LCMS Office of International Mission, standing to his far left, in the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 9. earned recognition from Vietnam s National Institute of Nutrition, including programs to teach mothers about prenatal nutrition and farmers about crop diversification. Concordia Hanoi addresses another great need: improved education in the world s 13th most populous country. Families connected to the U.S. embassy and Hanoi s huge multinational business community have consistently expressed a desire for more international educational opportunities for foreign and American children, as well as local students. At present, only students holding foreign passports may be enrolled at Concordia Hanoi, according to guidelines set by the Vietnamese government. In Hanoi, the expatriate population consists of more than 20 different nationalities, with the largest foreign populations coming from Japan and South Korea. What a blessing this school will be to many people from many nations! Get Involved! Pray with thanks to God for making this school opening possible in Vietnam through the faithful work of staff, partners and donors. May it be a blessing for many years! Support the ongoing expansion of the school and the number of families touched by LCMS education. Make checks payable to LCMS World Mission and designate Concordia Hanoi, Acct Learn more about Concordia Hanoi by visiting LCMS educator Karen Markin smiles with some of her first-grade students on the first day of school. 6

7 The following prayer requests were submitted to LCMS World Mission by your coworkers in the Lord s mission around the world. Congregations and individuals are invited to copy these pages for newsletters or other distribution. LCMS World Mission Prayer Resources L January, February & March Missionary & Personnel Birthday List Jan. 3 Alissa Asmus, Macau Feb. 9 Danelle Putnam, Dominican Republic Jan. 5 David Erber, Nigeria Feb. 10 Eric Semler, Asia; Marla Steenbock, Germany Jan. 8 Jack Carlos, Guinea; Monta Denow, Thailand; Tom Going, Southeast Asia; Michael Parris, Macau Feb. 11 Feb. 15 Tim Heiney, Guinea Michael Weider, Southeast Asia The Rev. Ted Engelbrecht, right, wearing the Peace and Friendship Award medal on his lapel, receives the award certificate from Don Tuan Phong, director general of the People s Aid Coordinating Committee, Sept. 8 in Hanoi. He was honored for his 15 years of humanitarian service there through LCMS World Mission. Rev. Engelbrecht, LCMS World Mission honored in Vietnam The Rev. Ted Engelbrecht received the Peace and Friendship Award from the Vietnamese government on Sept. 8. The award honors those who have made positive contributions toward relationships between foreign non-governmental organizations and the Vietnamese government. The award was presented to Engelbrecht by the director general of the People s Aid Coordinating Committee, who praised the LCMS worker s 15 years of humanitarian service to Vietnam. While there as the first staff member of LCMS World Mission, Engelbrecht helped set up and administer rural development and nutrition projects in partnership with the National Institute of Nutrition, and worked with LCMS volunteers who taught English. Engelbrecht accepted the award on behalf of all of the Vietnamese and American teams and donors that helped do the work. In November 2011, LCMS World Mission in Vietnam was recognized with an award for its significant contributions toward poverty reductions and development in Vietnam in On behalf of LCMS World Mission, LCMS staff member in Vietnam Rev. J.P. Cima accepted the award presented by the president of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. To learn more, visit Jan. 12 Jan. 20 Jan. 21 Jan. 26 Jan. 27 Jan. 28 Jan. 29 Feb. 4 Feb. 6 Feb. 8 q Dennis Denow, Thailand; David Lyon, Asia Shirley Piepenbrink, Hong Kong Robin McCoy, Thailand Michelle Gillard, Uganda; Emily Goddard, South Africa Mary Garetson, Hong Kong Jennifer Leese, Hong Kong Joan Koerschen, Asia; Krista Trump, Kenya Shara Cunningham, South Africa Susan Fluegge, South Africa; Matt Wasmund, South Korea Radka Fiala, Slovakia; Hanna Hartman, Southeast Asia; Christel Neuendorf, Dominican Republic Military chaplains with birthdays in January: Chaplain Curt Cizek, Lackland AFB, Texas; Chaplain Jason Dart, Japan; Chaplain Richard Malmstrom, Cherry Point, S.C.; Chaplain Harry Matelski, Long Beach, Calif.; Chaplain Peter Mueller, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Chaplain Paul Sherouse, Germany; Chaplain John Thomson, Guam; Chaplain Lynn Wilson, Camp Rapid, S.D. Military chaplains with birthdays in February: Chaplain Lynn Christensen, Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory; Chaplain Matthew Christensen, Fort Riley, Kan.; Chaplain Dann Ettner, Moffett Army Air Base, Calif.; Chaplain Michael Feb. 16 Feb. 22 Feb. 27 Feb. 28 Feb. 29 Mar. 1 Mar. 5 Mar. 13 Mar. 16 Mar. 29 Mar. 31 Cindy Rodewald, South Africa Tim Norton, Guinea Zeal Beale, South Africa Stephanie Magee, Czech Republic Bob Flohrs, Germany Bruce Wall, Peru Joel Klammer, Asia Kay Lindsay, Asia John Mehl, Asia; Shauna Strohschein, Asia Anna Hu, Asia Amanda Groshek, Taiwan; Anton Lutz, Papua New Guinea Pray For Us Monthly Calendar Download a copy in Word or PDF format at or call to request a copy at 888-THE-LCMS ( ). O C T O B E R 2011 Pray For Us Calendar N O V E M B E R 2011 D E C E M B E R 2011 Pray For Us Calendar The following prayer requests were submitted to LCMS World Mission by your coworkers in the Lord s mission around the world. Congregations and individuals are invited to copy these pages for newsletters or other distribution. Frese, Fort Knox, Ky.; Chaplain Charles Mallie, Greece; Chaplain Wayne Olson, Northport, N.Y.; Chaplain Christopher Otten, Fort Hood, Texas Military chaplains with birthdays in March: Chaplain Pon Chanthaphon, Lemoore, Calif.; Chaplain Robert Crossan, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Chaplain Eric Ebb, Camp Atterbury, Ind.; Chaplain John Elser, Amarillo, Texas; Chaplain Steven Hokana, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Chaplain Craig Muehler, Washington, D.C.; Chaplain David Schiling, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Chaplain Michael Sneath, Norfolk, Va.; Chaplain Mark Steiner, Washington, D.C. Pray For Us Calendar The following prayer requests were submitted to LCMS World Mission by your coworkers in the Lord s mission around the world. Congregations and individuals are invited to copy these pages for newsletters or other distribution. NEW MISSIONARY RECRUITMENT NOVEMBER 1-15 Each year, the LCMS sends out short-term missionaries, short-term Involvement Ideas DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DECEMBER 1-15 The LCMS-supported mission team in the Dominican Republic includes servants from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Join in praying for the planting of more Lutheran congregations there and ongoing outreach efforts. Remember the Lord s work in the Dominican Republic as you pray: Learn more about and pray for missionaries who are involved in theological INTERNATIONAL THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION OCTOBER 1-31 Theological education forms an integral part of LCMS mission education at prayercards. Learn more about LCMS ministry in 90 countries around the globe at 1. for the seminary of the Evangelical 7. for the ministry of Concordia organized theological education might Lutheran Church of Ghana, located Seminary in Hong Kong, operated by The continue to train leaders. outside of its capital, Accra. Give thanks Lutheran Church Hong Kong Synod. for the Fan into Flame funds that are Pray for this Cantonese-language 12. for theological education ministry in Pray for the ministry of Rev. Dr. providing resources for this seminary s seminary that trains leaders for ministry the Philippines, which takes place through Timothy Quill, international theological physical expansion, so that more in Hong Kong and beyond. Lutheran Theological Seminary, Baguio education director. Learn more and residential students might be able to City, which trains leaders for ministry in support his ministry at study there. 8. for Concordia Theological Seminary in the Lutheran Church in the Philippines, Nagercoil, India, which trains pastors and for the ongoing theological seminars 2. for Matongo Lutheran Seminary in and deaconesses for ministry in India provided for pastors of the Tagakaulo Kenya. This seminary trains men from Evangelical Lutheran Church Lutheran Church of Christ in the Read the latest news from LCMS work the Evangelical Lutheran Church of congregations and for planting new Philippines, which is based on the around the at Kenya and other church bodies for congregations. In fact, all seminarians southern Phililppine island of Mindanao, and pastoral ministry. complete a two-year vicarage during as they lead their church body, grow in which they are tasked with planting a their leadership skills and mature in their 3. for Jonathan Ekong Memorial congregation in an area where a understanding of God s Word. Seminary, which trains leaders of The Lutheran church is not present. Pray too Lutheran Church of Nigeria through both for the informal seminary operated by 13. with thanks for the ministry of China a traditional residential program and the Lankan Lutheran Church of Sri Lutheran Seminary on Taiwan, which theological education by extension. Lanka, whose students plant new trains leaders from Taiwan and other congregations on mountainous tea countries in Asia. The seminary offers 4. for the Lutheran Theological Seminary plantations. many degrees, including training in (LTS) in Tshwane (Pretoria), South Africa, counseling, pastoral ministry, deaconess which trains students from South Africa, 9. for theological education in Japan, work and more. Pray for the seminary s Tanzania, Uganda and other locations for which occurs through Japan Lutheran ministry to continue to be a blessing and pastoral ministry. LTS professors include College, Tokyo, and Japan Lutheran for more Taiwanese theological educators LCMS missionaries, South African Theological Seminary, Kobe. Give thanks to serve as professors and staff. pastors and visiting short-term for the Japanese pastors trained by theological educators from the U.S. these institutions. 14. for theological education by extension efforts across Asia including locations 5. for the Lutheran Center for 10. for the students, staff and professors of Luther University in Seoul, South pastors-in-training to meet publically, due where it is challenging for pastors or Theological Studies (CLET), Dapaong, Togo, which provides theological training Korea, which trains pastors and to government regulations. for men and women from French-speaking countries in West and Central Africa, Church in Korea. Some of its degrees 15. for theological education in Europe s laypeople for service in the Lutheran including the Republic of Congo, offered include a Bachelor of Theology, a Baltics region, which includes church Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, counseling degree and a Master of bodies in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia. Togo and more. Divinity. Pray too for the Luther Study Ask the Lord to bless the training of men Institute, which offers lectures on who are studying to become pastors, as 6. for the ministry of Mission Training Lutheran theology and history. well as the ongoing theological education Centers in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania and and ministry equipping that is provided for other locations that take advantage of 11. for the theological education in those already serving as congregational this education model concentrating Papua New Guinea, which includes the pastors. classes into one weekend per month, so ministry of Martin Luther Seminary that evangelists and potential pastors (English language) and Timothy Lutheran 16. for ministry carried out through the can travel greater distances for classes Seminary (Pidgin language). Pray for the Westfield House of Theological Studies in and still serve in their local Lord to bring healing and unity to the Cambridge, England, which is the congregations while working full-time Guitnus Lutheran Church, the church theological college of the Evangelical jobs. body in Papua New Guinea, so that well- Lutheran Church of England (ELCE). This mission teams, individual GEO missionaries and career missionaries. (GEO missionaries serve one- to two-year terms.) Please pray for the recruitment of these workers in the Lord s harvest fields. Remember the recruitment of new missionaries as you pray: work around the world. It takes various forms in different contexts, so that it can most effectively meet people s specific needs. These prayer requests include many of the LCMS-supported theological education efforts around the globe. Remember God s work through theological education efforts around the world as you pray: 1. with thanks for those who have served as short-term missionaries. Pray that the Lord would call more LCMS members to serve overseas for three- to six-month terms as relationship builders through English as a Foreign Language, vacation Bible school teachers, agricultural specialists and more. 2. with thanksgiving for the many shortterm mission teams that have served through the LCMS, working alongside GEO and career missionaries for one to two weeks. Pray that the congregations of the LCMS would continue to send teams to serve in the Lord s harvest fields. 3. for God to provide additional long-term GEO missionaries to serve in the five international regions where the LCMS carries out work. At any given time there are at least 50 openings for people to serve in such positions. 4. for the Lord to call more individuals and families into career missionary service, and thanks for those who currently serve. Career missionary service involves a commitment of fiveplus years in a foreign mission field. 5. for theological educators, and for additional pastors, deaconesses and other leaders to serve in this way. These are short-term missionaries who serve at partner/sister church seminaries, in theological education by extension programs, at Mission Training Centers or in other settings. 6. for the Lord to provide more LCMS teachers to serve as international educators, serving at LCMS international schools in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Hanoi. 7. for the recruitment staff that serves through the LCMS Office of International 1. for the Lutheran congregation in Santo Domingo, its pastor, Willy Gaspar, and his wife, Santa. Give thanks that Willy has been ordained as the first Dominican Lutheran pastor. The church building at Santo Domingo was built in October. 2. for mercy work being carried out as a part of the integrated mission. Each week, Pastor Gaspar spends Monday through Friday in neighboring Haiti as the project coordinator for three clinics and the building of a seminary. 3. for the ministry of Good Shepherd Lutheran Home. This Christian home provides care and housing for children with developmental disabilities. Its continued development will be a blessing to the children and their families, who are often isolated. 4. for Danelle Putnam, missionary, who specializes in ministry to children with developmental disabilities. She also directs Sunday schools and works towards establishing Amigos de Jesus support groups for families who have children with challenging disabilities and situations. 5. for missionaries Rev. Walter and Ana Ries. Walter serves as a church planter in various locations through the country. Walter and Ana are from Brazil. 6. with thanksgiving for the service of Vicar Adrian Solis, who joined the team from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina. He is returning to Argentina to finish his pastoral studies at Concordia Seminary, Buenos Aires. 7. for Rev. Ted and Rebecca Krey and family. Ted serves as the regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as sharing churchplanting and theological education responsibilities in the Dominican Republic. 8. for God to provide another missionary pastor to join the team in the Dominican Republic. Another church planter is needed in the city of Santo Domingo. 9. for Kissayris Gebhard, the director of the new Lutheran school, which is providing a Christ-centered education for 120 students. 10. with thanksgiving for St. Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Fla., which has faithfully supported LCMS work in the Dominican Republic for more than seven years. Other partners in this ministry include Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Inc., the South Wisconsin District, LCMS World Relief and Human Care, LCMS World Mission, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil and the Central American Lutheran Mission Society. 11. for missionaries James and Christel Neuendorf, who recently relocated from Panama and who serve in the Dominican Republic and the Latin American region as a whole. James is the communications specialist and Christel is the regional business manager. 12. for the five Dominican men studying to become pastors through an online program with Concordia Seminary, Buenos Aires, Argentina. These men are: Pedro, Jon, Ibon, Army and Armando. 13. for newly baptized and/or confirmed members of the Dominican Lutheran congregations that they might be strengthened by the preaching of Word and the Sacraments, as well as their fellowship with believers, so that they would not be susceptible to Satan s attacks. 14. for the people of Haiti, including members of The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti and residents of the homes in the Lutheran villages being built through the Building Hope in Haiti program. May they have hope in Christ, despite the poverty, hunger, violence and hopelessness that surrounds them. 15. for continued good relations between the emerging national church and the Dominican government, and for continued safety for missionaries and church members as they travel to carry out the Lord s ministry. Mission on the Ministry Mobilization invitation to be a part of His mission by Team. Ask the Lord to guide them and telling others. grant them wisdom as they use limited resources to connect with people of the 12. that God would remove obstacles LCMS who are seeking to serve the Lord standing in the way of those who are and His mission. considering missionary service. 8. that the Holy Spirit would open the 13. that God would provide the financial eyes of partner/sister church bodies and means necessary for missionary their leaders to see the possibilities for recruitment efforts to continue and for inviting LCMS missionaries to serve new missionaries to be deployed to the alongside them in mission. mission field so that more people might hear the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. 9. that God would bless the LCMS missionaries currently serving around 14. that through His Word and the world with patience and persistence, Sacraments, and the witness of so that His Word might be clearly believers, the Lord would encourage those communicated and His love might be who are grappling with fears of displayed through missionaries words inadequacies, the unknown, cross-cultural and actions. adaptation and more, as they step out in faith to serve as missionaries. Pray that 10. for God to grant LCMS Office of He would provide the peace that passes International Mission staff clarity and all understanding. wisdom when they consider which candidates are the best fits for open 15. for those who are considering positions. international mission service or those who are preparing to deploy to the 11. that the Lord would use LCMS international mission field as they members to joyfully spread the word prepare to serve cross-culturally and about mission needs and opportunities invest in language learning that will help for mission service responding to His them serve well in their new place of ministry. Involvement Ideas Explore the current mission service opportunities around the world. Visit or call to speak with a mission placement counselor. Learn more about LCMS missionaries and ministry in Thailand. Visit Give a gift towards ministry in Thailand. Visit and click on Make a Gift. To receive the latest news about mission service opportunities, log on to with your mylcms account and subscribe to the Overseas Service Opportunities e-newsletter list. Photo: Graduation at the Lutheran Center for Theological Studies in Dapaong, Togo, in June Four students completed their vicarages and received their recommendations for ordination. Thirteen students received their certificates and approval to begin their vicarages. Involvement Ideas Stay connected with the latest mission news and resources. Set up a mylcms account on and use your account to subscribe to Mission and Outreach e-newsletters. Learn more about LCMS work in the Dominican Republic and Papua New Guinea at dominicanrepublic and Pray for LCMS missionaries in the Dominican Republic and Papua New Guinea. Go to prayercards to search for missionaries by region or last name. To receive the latest news about mission service opportunities, log on to with your mylcms account and subscribe to the Overseas Service Opportunities e-newsletter list. Photo: The most-recently recruited group of GEO and career missionaries will serve in 16 countries around the world. Photo: Rev. Ted Krey and pastors visiting from the United States, Brazil and Argentina bless Rev. Willy Gaspar during his ordination service. 7

8 LCMS WORLD MISSION Harvest News n WINTER nvol.11, NO.4 n South Kirkwood Road St. Louis, Missouri Two Concordia Hanoi students wait for the newest LCMS international school s opening ceremony to begin. LCMS WORLD MISSION The Global Gospel Outreach of The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod You can help end malaria deaths in Africa by Join the Lutheran Malaria Initiative today! Contact Information n n n AS blog.lcmsworldmission.org facebook.com/lcmsworldmission twitter.com/worldmission AS SY EA 888-THE-LCMS fax infocenter@lcms.org ONE O N E CHILD CH I L D DIES DIE S FROM F R O M MALARIA MA L A RI A EVERY E V E RY 45 SECONDS SE C ON D S How-to-Guide for Ministry Leaders Congregations Youth Groups Small Groups School Starter Kit Organizations To get started, order the free LMI BUT YOU CAN HELP congregation starter kit or LMI school starter kit online at lutheranmalaria.org, call or send an to outreach@lutheranmalaria.org