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Engaging the Church in the work of witness and mercy across the globe in our life together.
LUTHERANS ENGAGE THE WORLD is published bi-monthly by The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod.
2015 The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod. Reproduction for parish use does not require permission. Such reproductions,
however, should credit LUTHERANS ENGAGE THE WORLD as a source. Print editions are sent to LCMS donors, rostered workers and
missionaries. An online version is available (lcms.org/lutheransengage). To receive the print edition, we invite you to make a financial
gift for LCMS global witness and mercy work. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are property of the LCMS.
888-THE LCMS (843-5267)
lcms.org
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright
2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
engage
MERCY FOREVER
Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36)
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10 Questions
Seven Sisters
involve
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S TA F F
David L. Strand
Pamela J. Nielsen
Erica Schwan
Megan K. Mertz
Erik M. Lunsford
Lisa Moeller
Annie Monette
Chrissy A. Thomas
EDITORIAL OFFICE
314-996-1215
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
lutheransengage@lcms.org
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And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we
will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity,
let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of
the household of faith. (Gal. 6:910)
nform
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PHOTO: ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK
nform
Questions
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SHARON THOMAS
by Megan K. Mertz
1.
2.
3.
Most rewarding?
Whats encouraging, even just in
the years Ive been doing it, is to see the
improvements in health care. We started
going to areas that never had medical care
at all, and now to see clinics available in the
countries offering free care for some things is
very encouraging. The world is changing for
people in [developing] countries.
4.
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5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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nspire
Grows
by Roger Drinnon
LCMS Life Ministrys free ultrasound curriculum, titled What is This? Looking at
Life in the Womb, is being sought after not only within the LCMS but also among
non-LCMS faith communities across the country. The curriculum is unique in that it
brings ultrasound technology into middle- and high-school classrooms to highlight
the sanctity of human life.
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"Designing a
curriculum to look
at one of Gods most
wonderful creations,
human beings,
was a privilege, an
intellectual endeavor
and spiritually
inspiring."
Dr. Kathleen Kremer
A
student cradles a fetal model during a Lutherans For Life presentation at Trinity Lutheran School in Bloomington, Ill.
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weeks
T
he Rev. Dr. James Lamb, retiring executive director of Lutherans For Life, holds a fetal model as he leads an Owens Mission presentation at Trinity
Lutheran School in Bloomington, Ill.
Additional Resources
Every LCMS school that orders the
curriculum also will be eligible for a
Lutherans For Life (LFL) presentation
featuring a set of fetal models that show
life-size unborn babies at four gestational
ages: 12 weeks, 20 weeks, 26 weeks and
30 weeks. Schools may keep the models,
which are provided by LFL through its
Owens Mission project and a grant from
LCMS Life Ministry. As a tangible visual
representation, the fetal models help
A
rticle on Dr. Maggie Karner:
blogs.lcms.org/2015/maggie-karner-dies
A
rticle on Stephanie Neugebauer: blogs.lcms.
org/2015/neugebauer-to-succeed-karner
P
hoto gallery: lcms.org/photo/trinity-owensmission
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nspire
by Erik M. Lunsford
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THREE YEARS OF
LCMS GRANTS
Thanks to the many donations received each year, The Lutheran ChurchMissouri
Synod is able to provide millions of dollars in grants to support domestic and international work. Development grants are awarded for new initiatives or for ongoing
work that will build the capacity of the LCMS and its partners, while disaster grants
are made in response to a natural or man-made disaster. On this page, youll find
information about just a few of the many grants given during the last three years.
NATIONAL GRANTS
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS
D I SAST ER
DEVELOP MEN T
345 GRANTS
D OM E S T IC
TO TA L
$9,069,321
$9,069, 32 1
DECATUR, GA
2012-2013
$ 2 ,738, 84 8
2013 -2014
$ 4 , 380,735
2014- 2015
$ 1 ,9 49,73 8
$15,600
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
For a program to teach entrepreneurship and
life skills to young people in the Atlanta area.
$3,275
MOBILE, AL
$3,113,186
NORTHEAST
10
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nvolve
INTERNATIONAL GRANTS
ALLO CATION OF FUNDS
D I SAST ER
DEVELOP MEN T
302 GRANTS
I NTE R NATIONA L
TO TA L
$6,451,566
$6,45 1 ,5 66
KENYA
2012-2013
$ 990,7 1 6
2013 -2014
2014 -2015
$ 2 ,760, 582
$ 2 ,70 0,2 6 8
$531,947
CHRISTS CARE FOR CHILDREN: KENYA
For children in boarding school facilities in Kenya. The facilities provide
education, lodging and meals, medical care and spiritual care for
children who otherwise might not be able to finish elementary school.
In coordination with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya.
$97,473
ST. PETERSBURG,
RUSSIA
$528,400
PHILIPPINES
YOU C AN HEL P !
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2015 LCMS
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WALKING TOGETHER
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nspire
In South Dakota
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The Rev. C. Brian Bucklew, pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, prays with Lori Bueber in Delmont, S.D.,
following a May 10 tornado that swept through the area.
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In Illinois
Although Stephen Born has never lived
through a natural disaster, he has become
something of an expert on responding to
Learn more:
LCMS Disaster Response: lcms.org/disaster
P
hoto galleries: lcms.org/photo/zionsouth-dakota-tornado and lcms.org/photo/
midwest-tornadoes-2013
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MERCY MOMENT
nspire
Extending Christs
Mercy to Refugees
PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES/ISTOCKPHOTO
by Roger Drinnon
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Opportunities in Germany
Hundreds of thousands of refugees are
streaming into Europe, and many of these
asylum-seekers are looking for sanctuary
in Germany.
The Selbstndige EvangelischLutherische Kirche (SELK), the Synods
partner church in Germany, has been caring
for refugees for some time now, and one of its
congregations recently garnered international
media attention for its ministry of mercy and
spiritual care through the Gospel.
We have about 860 members; more
than 600 of them are former Muslims who
have become Christians during the last [few]
years, said the Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens,
pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in
Berlin-Steglitz. About 100 more people from
Iran and Afghanistan are in the process of
preparation in order to receive Holy Baptism
during the next couple of months.
Martens said as the ministry grows,
it also brings some logistical challenges,
especially in providing for the physical
needs of the refugees.
We have to provide food and everything
which is needed for living for asylum-seekers
whose asylum process has not started yet and
for those who live here in our church hall, so
that they cannot be deported, he said.
R
ead about the SELKs ministry to
Muslims: blogs.lcms.org/2014/formermuslims-baptized
Make a gift: lcms.org/givenow/ccpd
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Seven
Sisters
nform
by Adriane Heins
A Historic Shift
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p
Deaconesses Christel Neuendorf (left) and Rachel Powell
p
Gail Ludvigson is installed as deaconess to the
Dominican Republic.
given talents.
Its a fact the seven women remind each
other of regularly. I know that although
we serve the Lords people in a variety of
capacities and in distinct cultural contexts,
we have been called and equipped by the
same Holy Spirit, Powell says. There is a
sense of support in serving with sisters who
experience similar joys and struggles on the
foreign mission field.
Lets Go to Them
The deaconess does not pick up the slack
of the pastor but of the parish, Adle says.
Through word and deed, she says to all
who are fed, Come on, everyone. We have
so much! Lets notice those who lack, and
lets go to them. We can give food to the
hungry. We can visit the lonely. We can pray
for those who suffer. Lets share Christs
great love with all, as He is ever filling us.
Krey watches the seven deaconesses
in Latin America do just that and on a
routine basis. The deaconesses are quick
to bring [hurting people] to the pastors,
who give them the saving Word of Jesus,
forgive sins, administer the Lords Supper,
he observes. It is essential that we have
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p
Deaconess Katie Ziegler in Las Americas/
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
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WITNESS MOMENT
nspire
by Roger Drinnon
You gotta go out and knock on doors, says the Rev. Dr. Carlos Hernandez,
whose many responsibilities include leading the Synods Hispanic Ministry and serving as
director of Church and Community Engagement for the LCMS Office of National Mission
(ONM). Door-knocking by those he helped train for outreach has an increasing number
of folks asking, Que creen los Luteranos? or What do Lutherans believe?
have one copy two? OK, three!
One notable effort in Hispanic
Ministry involves the ONMs Mission
Field: USA initiative for church planting,
as the Synod looks to establish a church in
Brownsville, Texas.
This Hispanic church plant will have
one of several domestic Network-Supported
Missionaries (NSMs), Hernandez says.
The goal is to plant a bilingual congregation
in North Brownsville and a campus ministry
at the University of Texas at Brownsville,
while also continuing Spanish services
at historic El Calvario Lutheran Church
in downtown Brownsville, on the U.S.Mexico border.
Hernandez says NSM candidates are
currently being considered in consultation
with the Texas District.
Launching two new ministries out
of El Calvario Lutheran Church will be a
great blessing to the wonderful people
of El Calvario, its neighborhood and the
PHOTOS: ISTOCK/THINKSTOCK
19
COMING SOON!
YOUR
FIRST
SOURCE
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NovemberDecember 2015
Considering home
schooling? Want to
know why, what &
how to do it?
For parents and
teachers, no greater
task awaits than to
give children sound
Christian teaching
for this life and the
life to come.
Look for this new
Lutheran homeschool resource on
Amazon.com.
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission
STEWARD'S CORNER
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
nvolve
Overwhelming Response
by Mark Hofman
Pardon the quality of this photo, but I wanted you to see it. I took it
on the spur of the moment using my mobile phone, and it inspired
me to write this article.
Late this summer, we mailed a survey
to individuals and families all over the
country, asking for help in getting to
know them better. It was a fairly simple
survey that had just three questions and a
request to confirm the information we have
regarding names, mailing addresses, phone
numbers, preferred email addresses and
congregational membership.
Perhaps you received one. Perhaps
youve filled out and returned similar
surveys. Have you, like me, ever wondered
if anything is really done with those?
In the photo, you see Brianne Gerzevske,
Jill Eggemeyer and Leah Sieveking, three
wonderful young ladies from LCMS Mission
Advancement who came to me with the idea
for this project. They are going through every
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Burlington, WI
Permit No. 12
when we plant
churches
in our schools
upholding life
on college campuses
as we revitalize
churches
with the
armed forces
as we worship