Making Jesus Known in the United States Ethnic Communities
2019-2021 Mission Grant 19 — $100,000
Bennego Kangar is an Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) student and a native of Liberia. He serves at LINC (Lutheran Intercity Network Coalition) Ministries International - Twin Cities, in St. Paul, Minn. and at theAlley Church in Cottage Grove, Minn. He came to the U.S. from Liberia in 1992, first serving in Florida and later in Alabama, Texas and New Mexico before moving to Minnesota. Also during that 26-year period, he was called to service positions in Malawi and Brazil. His service with LINC includes church planting and outreach, mostly to members of large Liberian and Ethiopian communities in the St. Paul area. "My EIIT studies and my later ordination as a pastor will help enable me to share the Word from a stronger biblical foundation," he says. "I feel that God has called me to this service, and it's a passion of mine to bring people to Christ, to help them grow in their understanding of the Lord, and to help them to walk with Jesus Christ."
Throughout the country, there are many devoted first-generation immigrants serving in full-time ministry, reaching out to their ethnic communities and sharing the Gospel. Many of these church workers are enrolled in either of two Concordia Seminary programs – the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) and the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT). Both share the mission to make Christ known in their respective ethnic communities. CHS has a four-year program taught in Spanish and includes students from many Hispanic-Latino cultures. The EIIT program already has students that have been working in Word and Sacrament ministry as part of their culture. These students often have strained financial circumstances that are making it difficult to pay for this necessary education. Most hold two and three jobs to make ends meet but are willing to go to great lengths in the service of Christ and His Gospel. It is vital that they have the Biblical foundation to go with their passion for ministry. This grant will go towards funding the education costs of these devoted students and church workers.
Resources for Grant #19
- Mission Grant Poster — color
- Mission Grant Poster — b/w
- Bulletin Bytes (Word doc)
- Bulletin Flyer (b/w half page insert, 2 per page)
- Devotion
- Prayer Guide and Story
- Prayer Guide — large print
- Story — large print
Learn more about this mission grant and view more photos here.
