S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r

l u t h e r a n w o m e n ’ S m i S S i o n a r y S o c i e t y p a g e 1

Growing up as a WELS Lutheran and living in the United States all my life, these statements make no sense to me. I’ve always known and believed in Jesus as my Savior. I have also always had the freedom to talk about Jesus with whomever I wanted. Sadly, I have not always seized those opportunities.

Meet Miriam and Jennifer. Both of them are from China. Both knew nothing about God while growing up there. Jennifer told me, “In China, most everyone was taught that believing in God is against science; which means believing in God is not a good thing. Only a stupid person would give their heart to God, and let Him plan their lives.” The women started

learning about God in China. Since moving to New York a year and a half ago, they have studied with the pastors at Sure Foundation and are both members.

Once the Holy Spirit worked faith in the hearts of Miriam and Jennifer, they have not stopped sharing this good news. Miriam told me, “It is not difficult to share my Savior. It is much easier to share in the U.S. because of the free environment. I am so happy to tell my friends what I know about God, and I am always glad to bring them to church.” These women continue to bring friends to worship and Bible study and share their Savior with friends and family at home.

Here at Sure Foundation, we are so thankful to have met these wonderful women. They have given us a new appreciation of the freedom we have to share the Gospel.

Freedom to share

L W M SPresident’s Corner

President Jackie Hieb talks about sharing LWMS with MLC & WLS graduates.

Page 2

Mission Projects

Support the new 2012 Mission Projects.

Page 3

Central Office News

New faces and location at Central Office.

Pages 4

Board Candidates

LWMS women are praying and voting

women.

Page 7

By Katie Olson

Miriam (left) Kristy (middle) Jennifer (right) at Sure Foundation. Kristy taught English in China.

Jennifer (back row, 3rd from right) at a Bible study in China.

1. There is no God2. You are not allowed to speak about God

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r

p a g e 2 l u t h e r a n w o m e n ’ S m i S S i o n a r y S o c i e t y

What do the following have in common: an air-conditioned classroom, a back bedroom, and a mosquito-filled car? Well, they actually have two things in common. One, each has served as a classroom setting for seminary training in Latin America. And two, our God reigns in each of these settings. It has been my joy and privilege to serve as a traveling professor, taking seminary training across borders in North and South America and the Caribbean since 2003. Sometimes we travel literally and deal with flight schedules, packing, visas, and immigration. Sometimes we travel on the information

superhighway, conducting our courses over the Internet. The goal, however, always remains the same: Entrust God’s truth, law, and gospel to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. There are certainly ups and downs along the way, but it is an exciting ministry to help prepare the next generation of pastors for our sister churches in countries like Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. Come to this summer’s LWMS convention and discover how God reigns in the personal lives and ministries of seminary students throughout Latin America. Learn what life is like for the missionaries you support.

President’s Corner

What’s in a Classroom?By Nathan Wagenknecht

The winter meeting of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) Board of Directors was held at Martin Luther College (MLC) in New Ulm, Minnesota. Some may wonder why a warmer place isn’t chosen? It’s one of the few times all of the students are on campus between student teaching schedules, so it’s also the perfect time to host a dinner for the graduating seniors. This enables LWMS to share with the students the tools it has available as they begin their teaching ministries.

This year, LWMS was asked to present a workshop at Evangelism Day. Four board members spoke to the small groups, played LWMS Jeopardy, and awarded some great prizes!

In early February, Mission and Ministry was held on the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) campus. An LWMS representative was available at the display table to talk with the students and answer questions. I was happy to learn that many students knew something about LWMS. Several remembered the MLC dinner and told me they still had their informational folder on a shelf ready for the day they’ll be in their own parish.

Later in the spring, LWMS hosts a dinner for the WLS graduates and their wives, fiancés, or special friends. Each student receives a folder with information about kids c.a.r.e., Home & World Missions Projects booklet--which contains non-budgeted items to support, a LWMS mission calendar, and promotional fliers.

We are thankful for the opportunity to share LWMS with future called workers of our synod. If you are interested in financially supporting this wish list item, please send a check to: LWMS Central Office, 11200 W. Greenfield Avenue, West Allis, WI 53214-2240.

President Jackie Hieb

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r

l u t h e r a n w o m e n ’ S m i S S i o n a r y S o c i e t y p a g e 3

Mrs. Eileen Skoglund Clara City, Minnesota Individual MemberGarden Homes Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee Metro NorthBloomington Living Hope Bloomington, Minnesota St. CrioxShepherd of the Lakes Land O’Lakes, Florida Tampa Bay

As of March 6, 2012, the total membership is:880 congregations 3 individuals

2012 mission oFFering ProjeCts

neW memBers

Below are the Home and World projects chosen at the 49th Annual LWMS Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Your votes select the missions LWMS will fund in 2012. The projects not selected will each receive one-half of the convention’s worship offerings. Below are summaries of each project. Full descriptions of each project can be found in the 2010-2011 Home and World Missions Projects booklet.

Home Missions Projects

Project #HM-2010-05: First Public Service Assistance After months of preparation, it is time to begin public services. Many printed items need to be created, mailings need to be completed, and facilities need to be obtained. As we pray that the Lord will give opportunities to again open new missions, we will need the additional funding to make these first services welcomed in their communities.

Project #HM-2010-11: Summer Student Assistance This was one of the projects for the 2009 convention. The funds were used in the summer of 2010 and allowed us to place nine students in mission fields this past summer. However, all of the funds were used up. The only funding used for this program is through special gifts. We would like to provide this type of opportunity again for the seminary students.

World Missions Projects

Project #WM-2010-08: Zambia Project Improving the facilities and methods used for training national pastors is a priority for Zambia. New funding is needed to assist with the seminary training conducted at the seminary in Lusaka. We pray that the Lord would provide additional pastors for Zambia and Malawi.

Project #WM-2010-22: Thailand Projects NOTE: The 2010-2011 Missions Projects booklet refers only to the work that was being done in Chiang Mai. Ministry work in Thailand is now being treated as one united WELS outreach. Any funding received through the Thailand Projects will also include the gospel outreach work and training being done in Chiang Rai and Nong Khai.

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r

p a g e 4 l u t h e r a n w o m e n ’ S m i S S i o n a r y S o c i e t y

Just A Reminder!Forms can be found in your handbook or on the LWMS

Web site.CIRCUIT OFFICERS

■ Rally Report Form, Officers 60 ~ E-mail to President-elect@lwms.org or mail, in care of Central Office, within 30 days of Spring Rally

■ Mission Offering Transmittal Form, Officers 58 ~ Send to Central Office by 5/25

■ Circuit Officer List Form, Officers 56 ~ E-mail/mail to the Central Office within 30 days of Spring Rally.

■ Circuit Member Congregation List Form, Officers 55 ~ E-mail/mail to Central Office by 6/1.

CIRCUIT REPORTERS/NON-CIRCUIT REPORTERS

■ Membership Form R-7/RNC-7 ~ Send to Central Office postmarked by 4/1.

■ Sealed Mail-in Ballot ~ Return to Secretary Jill Doering postmarked by 5/25.

■ Change of Name/Address for Reporter/Pastor Form R-9/RNC-9 ~ E-mail/mail to Central Office as changes occur.

■ Mission Offerings ~ Reporters Send to Circuit Treasurer before Spring Rally.

■ Mission Offering Transmittal Form RNC-16 ~ Send to Central Office by 5/25.

CONVENTION ATTENDEES■ Registration Form and Fees ~ Send to Central

Office postmarked by 5/1.

Relax, retreat, and recharge with friends from June 21-24 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This

picturesque locale beckons with nearby ocean beaches, the Great Smoky Mountains, and much more. Come early and stay late, but do not miss a moment of this year’s convention. Mission worker presentations will give you insights that go beyond reading their blogs.

You will meet them at their display tables, share a meal together, study God’s Word in workshops, and sing praises to our awesome God who reigns in our lives. We have a special Thursday night post-worship treat

for student registrants. Register now at www.lwms2012convention.com.

Childcare will be available during convention workshops. Please contact Edie Hintz at edhintz@verizon.net

for more information.

neW FaCes and a neW PlaCeLWMS Central Office is changing! We have two new staff members and a new home!

Lois Miller joined LWMS CO in July. She is currently filling orders, taking phone calls, working on membership renewals and convention registrations as well as a host of other duties.

Vicki Behringer joined the staff in September to help with additional duties as needed. She’ll be working closely with the board, Lois, and Central Office Administrator Beth Taticek.

With three staff members, we are able to expand office hours! Check the website for posted hours.

In January, the Central Office relocated to a wonderful temporary office space, while renovations are being completed on our permanent location next door. Our address is 11200 W. Greenfield Avenue, West Allis, WI 53214.

Come to the Convention!

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r

l u t h e r a n w o m e n ’ S m i S S i o n a r y S o c i e t y p a g e 5

The graduating seminary class of 2010, currently in their vicar year, has two members I want to bring to your attention. What sets these men apart from their eight fellow graduates is really just an accident of birth, but none-the-less ground-breaking in the annals of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA). They are the first, third-generation LCCA Christians I’ve had the pleasure to teach. Ian Tonga is the grandson of one of the first evangelists, Timothy Tonga, who graduated from the LCCA worker training program in 1966. Mecious Lubaba is the grandson of Pastor Lot Lubaba, a graduate of the first LCCA seminary class of 1972.

Former African missionaries often ask us, “Whatever happened to my Zambian friend and co-worker, so and so?” Often they are talking of men in whom the Holy Spirit worked and who now have their eternal rewards. That’s all you can say with any

certainty. On the other hand, the graduates—Ian and Mecious—are wonderful evidence of work blessed by the Holy Spirit begun by the first missionaries in Central Africa. As a 21st century missionary, I am privileged to stand on the shoulders of those men and to benefit from the work they began decades ago.

kids c.a.r.e. reminderThe kids c.a.r.e. project this year focuses on the Apache reservations in Arizona through the Partners in Apache

Learning (PAL) program. Contributions to PAL help needy families provide a Christian education for their children. Poverty is a reality on the reservations, and our children can make a big difference in the lives of the Apache children with their offerings.

Please note: Send project donations to Central Office by May 25th.

idk s. . . .. . . .ca re. . . .

care about reaching everyone with the gospel

Risen Savior, Ruler of all, we earnestly pray for the spread of the gospel. Satan is working hard against mission work, both in America and around the world. Give our

missionaries wisdom to recognize his attempts to turn them from their focus by placing dangers, challenges, loneliness, temptations, and disappointments in their lives. Remind them that you are all-powerful,

that you are with them in all situations, and that your word will accomplish your desired purpose. Remind us to pray daily for them, write words of encouragement, and cheerfully and generously bring

offerings to supply what they need. In your name. Amen.

mission Prayer

Let us do good, especially to those who belong to the family of faith. Galations 6:10

UPdates From ZamBiaby Phil Birner

Eight of the ten members of the graduating seminary class of 2010. Left to right: Mecious Lubaba, Christopher Chisankulo, Milton Nyirenda,

Ian Tonga, Jonathan Kangongo, Enock Mkowasenga, Tofara Moyo, and Enock Nkoma. Missing are Stenson Msamba and Eliya Petro.

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r

p a g e 6 l u t h e r a n w o m e n ’ S m i S S i o n a r y S o c i e t y

reCeive e-mail UPdates

god reigns–even When the World

Changes

Want to stay current with LWMS? The easiest way to do so is to sign up for our e-mail updates on the LWMS home page! When you sign up, you will receive news about once a month in a colorful, quick, and easy-to-read format with links to more information. If you would like to share these e-mails, you can do so with a simple click of a button to forward to friends or your fellow congregation

members. So join with more than 4,000 interested people already receiving these e-mails by looking for the “Sign up today to receive

e-mail updates!” link at www.lwms.org. LWMS will not share your e-mail addresses with other organizations.

What can you change as your congregation prepares to reach out to your community? Throughout the years, the members of Resurrection have struggled with this important question. Can we change the city where we worship? Are we able to change the look and feel of the sanctuary? Is it possible to let go of precious traditions and replace them with new ways of doing things? Indeed, many things that are held dear can indeed change. Yet the members of Resurrection never forget that there is something they cannot change. God’s Word remains the same. This has become Resurrection’s greatest treasure, and her single greatest outreach tool. A few years ago, I asked one couple what drew them to Resurrection. They replied, “You teach God’s Word here. That is what we are looking for. That is what we want to hear.”

This comment resurfaced this past Christmas with another couple wanting to join. As they went through membership classes, they had one request, “We would like to take communion with you on Christmas.” Each time we met, they asked, “Will we make it?” When asked why, they replied, “You teach what the Bible says. You don’t hide it, or change it, or refuse to say it. You tell us what God says.” This couple did receive communion on Christmas Day.

Over the past decade, many things have changed at Resurrection. Yet the unchanging Word of God remains our greatest treasure as we reach out to our community.

by Jonathan Fischer

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r

l u t h e r a n w o m e n ’ S m i S S i o n a r y S o c i e t y p a g e 7

Candidates For Board oF direCtorsPlease pray for guidance as you select the future leaders of LWMS.

VICE PRESIDENT

Hali Dessecker, Northwest Wisconsin Circuit, Redeemer Lutheran Church, Rice Lake, Wisconsin LWMS: Current circuit secretary, past circuit spiritual growth woman, reporter, LWMS Outreach Committee member Church: Sunday school teacher, building and education committees, Girl Pioneers leader, CAMM contact, youth leader, newsletter, past ladies circle president Other: Farm Loan Program Technician for USDA, Master Gardener volunteer

Gail O’Keefe, Wolf River Circuit, Immanuel Lutheran Church, Waupaca, Wisconsin LWMS: Annual convention display chair, past circuit vice president, president-elect, president, reporter, new circuit formation Church: Women’s group president, acting secretary, altar guild, VBS teacher Other: Riverside Medical Center assistant, employee recognition committee, secretary for Infectious Control Committee

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATORKaren Goetzinger, Freedom Circuit, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada LWMS: LWMS Communications Committee specializing in graphic design, reporter, convention attendee Church: Altar guild chair, Advent by Candlelight facilitator, newsletter editor and layout, women’s Bible study leader, choir, Girl Pioneers president, VBS teacher Other: Self-employed studio artist, freelance marketing and design, past visual merchandising manager

Joyce Schultz, Mid-Michigan Circuit, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Michigan LWMS: Rally and convention attendee and delegate, reporter Church: Sunday school teacher, choir, past elementary school teacher Other: Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft FrontPage, Kompozer, create and maintain Web sites and social media, produce booklets and brochures, Saginaw Valley Lutheran Chorale, records specialist for MLS Foundation

SECRETARY

Janet Meyer, Paperland Circuit, St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Appleton, Wisconsin LWMS: Current circuit president, convention attendee, past circuit secretary, reporter Church: Prospect Nurture coordinator, church website, past Outreach and Mission deaconess Other: Retired from Social Security Administration, Medicare assistant

Melinda Sims, Heartland Circuit, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ohio LWMS: Past circuit secretary, current reporter, convention attendee Church: Sunday school teacher, women’s guild member, VBS teacher, past president of women’s group Other: University teacher of English composition for ESL students

PASTORAL ADVISOR

Brady Coleman, Grand Canyon Circuit, Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona LWMS: Board of Directors pastoral advisor, current circuit spiritual growth pastor Church: Leader of church’s LWMS group Other: Vice Chairman/Program Committee of the Black Canyon Delegate Conference

Paul Lindhorst, Crow River Circuit, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Litchfield, Minnesota LWMS: Current circuit pastoral advisor, past pastoral advisor, spiritual growth pastor Church: Adult Discipleship Committee, District Help Team, conference secretary, circuit pastor Other: President of Litchfield Community Theatre Board, enjoys vocal music

S p r i n g 2 0 1 2 – n e w S l e t t e r lutheran women’S miSSionary Society

11200 W. Greenfield AvenueWest Allis, WI 53214-2240414.321.6212 Fax: 414.321.6258E-mail: centraloffice@lwms.orgwebsite: www.lwms.org

meet Us meet yoUr neighBor

by Lorna SatoriusHot dogs cooking on the grill. Children jumping in the moon bounce. Music blasting over the speakers. Face painting, Mariachi bands, Bolivian folk dancers, clowns, traffic control, rock climbing walls...does all this sound like a county fair? It’s not. This is what you will find if you come to Grace Lutheran Church in Falls Church, Virginia on the first Saturday of May. Our community festival dubbed “Meet Us Meet Your Neighbor,” is a long-standing tradition to increase awareness of the services we offer at Grace. Volunteers from the congregation plan the activities, order and cook the food, man all the stations, and clean up afterwards. We see more than 1,000 of our neighbors at the festival. Here our guests have the opportunity to register their children for VBS or request information about our school, Bible classes, or other special needs they may have. It is also a chance for our pastors to reach out to these people about the wonderful news of the Gospel and God’s unconditional love for all the world.

It is heartwarming to see such a mix of people roaming our facilities and becoming familiar with our mission. What an amazing God we have that he has blessed Grace with the ability to reach out to such a diverse community!