LWML > Resources > Heart to Heart Sisters

Heart to Heart Sisters

The purpose of the Gospel Outreach Committee is to motivate, equip, and ensure the participation of women from diverse groups for service and witness to the church and the world.

The LWML has chosen partnering for diversity as one of its critical targets, recognizing that our oneness in Christ is strengthened through intentionally teaming with our LCMS sisters of varied ethnic, cultural, generation and organizational backgrounds.

The LWML recognizes that there are gifted ethnic women serving with joy and passion in many ethnic-specific ministries throughout the LCMS.  However, because of the nature of ethnic-specific ministry, and the fact  that many of these women  leaders are converts to Christianity themselves, they are unfamiliar with the culture of the LCMS and LWML. They often feel isolated from the church at large.

One of the programs that has been organized by the Gospel Outreach Committee is the Heart to Heart Sisters Program, an intentional effort to include ethnic women into the life and work of the LWML.  Our first Heart to Heart Sisters participated in the LWML National Convention in 2003 in Oklahoma City.  Since that time, 77 women from a variety of ethnic groups have participated in the Heart to Heart program at a national convention.

Through the work of the Gospel Outreach Committee, LWML commits to valuing the ministry of ethnic women throughout the LCMS.   One of the first steps is to identify women leaders in these ethnic-specific ministries.  Through the Heart to Heart Program, we let them know that as women of the LCMS, they are already members of the LWML, the official women’s ministry of the LCMS.  This is largely unknown to ethnic women of our Synod.

We discover ways for ethnic women to connect with other LCMS women and to participate in the leadership of the LWML.  Their participation will enhance and enrich the ministry of the entire LWML, as well as model the character of the Body of Christ and the heavenly assembly where we will be a people “from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9b)

We are committed to assist the LWML Districts in establishing a Heart to Heart Sisters program so that women from all ministries of the District may mutually encourage, support each other and work together, living out the beautiful diversity that is the Body of Christ.

We are committed to producing materials and resources that will support the deep learning that will ensure that we build positive relationships in a multicultural world and  effectively carry out the mission the Lord has given us on earth.

We stand ready to partner with you and assist in generating ideas for your unique region.  Together we can explore the world of possibilities that exist to build your LWML ministry so that it not only reaches the mission of the world, but also reflects the rich diversity that is who we are as the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod.  To God be all glory.

Melissa Salomón
Chairman, Gospel Outreach Committee
Mgsalomon@gmail.com

Cynthia Khan
Helen Price
Abeba Tzeggai

2007-2009

Click here for a listing of Multicultural Resources Available from LWML.