Live joyfully as salt and light. You are the salt of the earth ... you are the light of the world ... let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:13a, 14a, 16b). This was the theme for the 31st biennial LWML convention in Tampa, Florida, where salt and light is plentiful in nature.

Convention delegates chose new mission grant recipients. The Lutheran Women's Missionary League supports these mission projects both at home and abroad with mite offerings and through volunteerism.

During the past two years, the LWML supported People of God Seminary in Kazakhstan. The mites assisted in funding the translation and printing of materials, lunch and transportation costs for men and women to attend the seminary and also supplemented administration costs.

The seminary is not an imposing structure, just one small classroom on the second floor of the building where Christ the Savior congregation meets. At the time of this writing there were four professors and six students. The program of study is two years, with plans to expand in the future.

Volunteers in the program, Reverend David and Darlene Schneider, quickly realized upon their arrival in Kazakhstan that there was a desperate need for Bible study. The dominant Christian group within the area had offered very little in the way of Bible study so the idea was foreign to students attending the seminary. Not only was there a need to teach Bible study, there was also an urgent need for the students attending the seminary to become confident teachers of the Bible. The "Pastor as Educator" course now allows seminary students the opportunity to lead Bible study in class and through this to gain confidence in their leadership.

Students graduating from People of God Seminary have come to understand the power of God's Word to change lives, and they are eager to present the Gospel to others. They continue to thank God for the volunteers who brought the saving Word of God to them and served as their mentors.

Volunteers who served in this project felt the Lord guiding them to make a difference in the spiritual lives of those they served. They brought with them the Good News of the joy of salvation to all people.

They make a difference, living and serving joyfully for Christ, letting their light shine.