Watch this video from Redeeming Life Maternity Home, and hear one resident's story.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
LCMS Disaster Response on the scene with volunteers in Perryville, MO, making use of a Disaster Response Trailer that was made possible through an LWML Mission Grant.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
Much has transpired at Navajo this year. There have been baptisms and growth at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo, New Mexico. Joyfully we report that Native people have been instructed and confessed their faith in Jesus Christ. Volunteer teams have served the community helping with Vacation Bible School where over 71 children attended. Many of these were new families to the church. Weekly cultural art classes for children in the community were started, and a cultural exchange week took place when Alaskan Native brothers and sisters traveled to Navajo to share food, dance, and story. Two of the individuals are trained facilitators in the “Beauty for Ashes” program, which is a faith-based conference designed to educate and train individuals on how to interact with, work with, and respond to those whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. This event opened the door for individuals to gather and share their stories of hurt and pain in order to begin a journey of restoration to wholeness.
As Vicar Tim Norton continues his seminary training in the Cross Cultural Ministry Program at Concordia University — Irvine, he is applying what he learns to those who come to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo. After meeting with a father, mother, and four children, all were baptized on Christmas Day. What joy they experienced! Sadly, less than a month later, while attending the annual Lutheran Indian Ministries’ staff gathering, Vicar Tim received a text message: The cousin of the mom was killed in a car accident on the mountain roads in Arizona. How many young Native lives are cut short — in one way or another. The need to proclaim Christ is urgent! We, as Lutheran Women in Mission, are helping, with our mite offerings, to make that proclamation.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
WOW! What an awesome God we have! The Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) was provided a $100,000 grant from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) which was matched by a separate challenge grant making the total $200,000 for scholarships. With the help of the Holy Spirit that could mean twice as many pastors!
The Global Seminary Initiative was started in 2013 by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at convention and has only begun to return graduates to their native countries. The end result of these scholarships can take many years to develop but already students are anxious to finish schooling and return home to share the Gospel. One student from Madagascar speaks of men he knows from India and Saudi Arabia who also want to become pastors. In Madagascar, the Lutheran Church has about 4.5 million members and is opening at least one new church a week. Can you imagine — one new church a week? With this kind of growth the need for pastors is tremendous. This student, with his training in our seminaries, will definitely be a candidate to train others who also want to be pastors.
Another scholarship recipient, Sergi Maschewski, trained at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2000 and returned to his native Ukraine where he has now been elected bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine and is seeking altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS. It is difficult to imagine how many lives these two men will change and bring to Jesus. As women of the LWML we are blessed through their accomplishments.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
Since receiving the grant money from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has been able to grant 26 Disaster Response Trailer Grants spread throughout 21 districts! Each participating organization provided one-third of the funding toward the purchase of a trailer stocked with disaster response equipment and supplies. The $80,000 received from the LWML has multiplied into nearly $270,000 for equipment.
Presently, trailers are being made and the tools are being shipped to the receiving organizations. These organizations have promised to maintain the equipment and use them: generally in Mercy work throughout the year and specifically for Disaster Response when the need arises. LCMS Disaster Response provides a ministry of presence before, during, and after a disaster giving the volunteers a better position to speak the comforting truths of the Gospel to the individuals and families affected. This grant is helping to build our partners’ capacity to respond with Christian care to needs within the church and throughout our communities.
Additionally, while the intent of this equipment is for use in disaster response, it can certainly be used at other times. Disaster volunteers are encouraged to maintain their training in “down times’ by putting their equipment and training to good use, aiding those in their congregation and community who need assistance with maintaining their homes. In this way, they are provided with additional opportunities to act and speak of the love of Christ which motivates them in their love for others.
It is, indeed, a blessing to support this worthwhile grant with our mite offerings and continued prayers.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
This past summer, the Lutheran Young Adult Corps conducted a pilot short term mission trip in the St. Louis area in preparation of sending out their first group of young adults. They are currently accepting applications for the initial 2017–2018 program. Plans are to place 20 young adults in both the short term program and long term program. These participants will be placed in four cities: St. Louis, New Orleans, Boston, and Philadelphia, partnering with churches, campus ministry, and other Recognized Service Organizations. The Lutheran Young Adult Corps continues to promote the program through conferences, written materials, and social media. Continue to pray for the Lutheran Young Adult Corps as they reach out to today’s young adults and provide opportunities for them to serve the Lord with their hearts and hands. How exciting it is to see the plans come together. All praise and glory to our gracious Father.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
Lorraine Evans grew up in the Landsdowne neighborhood of East St. Louis just down the street from Unity Lutheran Church. She was walking by one of the houses under repair and asked about the project. After learning the story of Helping Hand Initiative working with the Lutheran church just down the street she said, “What a great idea!”
Unity Lutheran Church pastored by Dr. Willie Stallworth is leading the Landsdowne Community Initiative (LCI) to revitalize the Landsdowne neighborhood where their church is
located. With the help of the Helping Hand Initiative and the LCMS National Housing Support Corporation, a large portion of this $100,000 grant is at work here. The Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) and Laborers for Christ (LFC) both pitched in to help this older congregation. The leadership of Unity Lutheran directed the complete repair of eight homes with two additional homes almost finished. These are homes of the elderly and low-income in the neighborhood of their church. Pastor Stallworth worked with the recipients to coordinate the projects but more importantly to forge relationships with the residents to meet their spiritual needs as well as their physical ones.
In Fremont, Nebraska, a homeowner had suffered a stroke and was unable to return home. Fifty years ago, Lorraine’s father had purchased the house for the young couple and she promised to keep the house for as long as she could. Through the work of Helping Hand Initiative, a wheelchair ramp and other numerous repairs were completed, allowing Bob to return home to his wife Lorraine. Now, as Lorraine said, thanks to Helping Hand Initiative, “I’m keeping my promise.”
Pastor David Coe at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont led the Helping Hand Initiative in this neighborhood. He led the congregation working with a community-based non-profit, Rebuilding Together Platte Valley East (RTPVE) and leveraging their resources to increase the impact of the grant and repair more houses than anticipated of low-income and elderly residents in their neighborhood. He enlisted the help of many volunteers including members of the congregation. Through these projects both congregations bear witness to the love and mercy of Christ in their desire to serve others.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
