Sunday morning, January 31, 2011, I had the opportunity to visit one of the LWML grant recipients for the 2009-2011 biennium. PR Director Edie Norris and I came to St. Louis a day early for our meetings so that we could worship with Light of Christ Chinese Lutheran Mission in St. Louis. We arrived in time for the Bible class and Sunday school hour. Classes in ESL (English as a Second Language) are offered and many take advantage of this opportunity. The members of the classes we visited were professionals; doctors, surgeons, researchers, who were invited by friends to attend. There is also a class for Chinese seeking citizenship status in America, as well as a regular Bible study.

Participating in the worship service was quite an experience; songs were sung in Chinese and English at the same time, and a woman translated the entire service for the benefit of those who did not know the language. We witnessed two baptisms, one a newborn baby boy; the other a young man who was already a member of the choir that sings at the services. He is the first member of his family to be baptized; his wife and son were in attendance at the service. After the service, Pastor Shaw was approached by two more people who want to be baptized! Nineteen baptisms took place in 2009. The attendance at today’s service was over 125 people. Since the mission was established 10 years ago there have been over 100 baptized in the name of the Triune God.

Many of the people who attend the services and participate in the ministry are only in the United States for a short time as they get advanced degrees. Often when they return to China they share what they have learned about Jesus, becoming lay missionaries to their own people. God is doing amazing things.

Giving us the grand tour and hosting was the pastor’s wife, Becky Shaw. Becky is a former YWR (Young Woman Representative) from 1975 (the first class of YWRs?) from the Minnesota South District LWML when Doris Durkee was president there. What a delight to get to know her and hear her story of mission work in Taiwan, and then to see her in action with the Chinese of greater St. Louis. She is truly a partner in mission with her husband; their three children are also active members and participate in the music support.

At the end of the service I was able to share a little about the grant process. I also showed them items available from the LWML Web site in the missions section. The focus for February 2010 is this very mission; go to that section of our Web site, download and print the prayer guide for February 2010, learn more about this particular grant, and use the special devotion these that highlights this grant. Pray for Light of Christ Chinese Lutheran Mission; I told the group that the LWML does not just give money to support the 19 grants for this biennium, but our members and advocates also pray for each of the grants.

Thank you for praying for this grant, and for all the grants chosen on the national level, as well as the ones from your district. Be on the lookout for a news release about our visit today.