Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD
January ndash February 2016 Vol 4 Issue 3
888-THE LCMS (843-5267)lcmsorg
January ndash February 2016 vol 4 no 3
Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD
7 An Out-of-the-Box Missionary
12 Puya The Story of a Middle Eastern Refugee in Germany
15 Bread for Body and Soul 16 Convivencia Multiethnic Ministry in Arkansas
inspire
12
7
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 ChurchmdashMissouri Synod
copy 2016 The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri 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 (lcmsorglutheransengage) 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
Unless otherwise indicated all Scripture quotations are from the ESVreg Bible (The Holy Bible English Standard Versionreg) copyright copy 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers Used by permission All rights reserved
LIFE TOGETHER mdash AT HOME WITH GODrsquoS GIFTS
The stories gathered in this issue of Lutherans Engage the World are focused on mission work and they are remarkable Like an intricate weaving rich with colors and textures each one is a unique account of lives changed by the Gospel now and eternally Yet there is a common thread running through the entire issue At Cristo Para Todos in Arkansas they call it ldquoconvivenciardquo In Peru the Rev Joshua Gale speaks about it as people being ldquoat home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo I witnessed it in Philadelphia where the Rev Adam DeGroot walks the streets visiting parishioners in their homes sharing their food listening to their joys and sorrows and serving them with Godrsquos gifts In Berlin and Leipzig itrsquos evident in the parishes of our German partner church where God is sending hundreds of former Muslims With joy and determination mdash and often with threat of persecution mdash these newborn children of God eagerly gather around His gifts and care for each other in body and soul The same golden thread runs through the church in Peru where a trained chef helps the church feed hungry children and in an African boarding-school facility where Matins and Vespers begin and end each day The thread Itrsquos a unique three-ply fiber mdash Witness Mercy Life Together mdash and it glistens with Godrsquos good gifts ldquoin Christ for the Church and the worldrdquo God continues to creatively weave the golden thread of His Gospel across the globe and as He does He weaves in your financial support and prayers with those of so many others to further His kingdom It is truly a thing of beauty a work of rare art Thank you for your part in it May God continue to bless you and grant you a rich life together filled with His good gifts In ChristPamela J NielsenAssociate Executive Director LCMS Communications
engage
inform 2 Rejoice
3 10 Questions
10 Mission Field USA
19 Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools
4
involve 4 Christrsquos Care for Childrenrsquos Bodies
and Souls in Kenya
21 Checking the Oil
S TA F FDavid L Strand executive director communicationsPamela J Nielsen executive editorErica Schwan director design services Megan K Mertz managing editorstaff writerErik M Lunsford manager photojournalismLisa Moeller designerAnnie Monette designerChrissy Thomas designer
E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E314-996-1215 1333 S Kirkwood Road St Louis MO 63122-7295lutheransengagelcmsorglcmsorglutheransengage
Cover image The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church in Philadelphia waits for students to engage him at Temple UniversityPHOTO LCMS COMMUNICATIONSERIK M LUNSFORD
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
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Rejoice Your Name Is Written in Heaven
ldquoBehold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt you Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that your names are written in heavenrdquo (Luke 1019ndash20)
liferdquo (At Home in the House of My Fathers Pages 718ndash719)During our limited time on this earth what could be better
than that Together as the Body of Christ we engage the world in His Word and work The living and active Gospel makes wonderful things happen The Spirit alone turns unbelief into saving faith Human lives are changed mdash now and for eternity Divine mercy and forgiveness are freely distributed Godrsquos truth sets people free from sin and death Heaven and its unending treasures are opened up intended for all to share
The rejoicing that emerges from these blessings is a symptom of the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus among us in Word and Sacraments It represents a cheerful encouragement that drives away our fears and anxieties even when we become distracted or dejected by an utterly fallen world that is openly hostile to Christ and His Gospel
Rejoice dear reader as you encounter much witness and labor under the Lordrsquos will mdash your work your prayers and contributions as well as those of your fellow redeemed mdash in the following pages Here are just a few examples of the countless individuals who are experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus
T HE SON OF GOD GAVE THESE GLORIOUS AFFIRMATIONS TO 72 SOULS WHO WERE RETURNING AFTER HAVING BEEN SENT OUT ldquoAS LAMBS IN THE MIDST OF WOLVESrdquo
(Luke 103) They had been called to proclaim peace heal the sick and declare that Godrsquos kingdom had come near in the Word of God made flesh What marvelous assurance for these faithful witnesses of Christ mdash a confident trust shared by all Christian missionaries and their fellow baptized who so generously provide crucial prayer and enabling resources mdash that such witnesses are continually sent into the harvest field even today
Reflecting on the experience of the 72 in an 1898 address to the Synodrsquos Minnesota and Dakota District mdash and ably projecting the biblical narrative into the ldquonowrdquo mdash Friedrich Pfotenhauer observed
The joy [Luke 1020] will give us the right mind and the right inspiration for our mission work the right tenacity of purpose and energy For our person then we have obtained the good portion We cannot be richer and happier and better situated on the earth than we already are Happily and willingly we will work where our dear God has put us for wherever we go we take heaven and the joy of eternal treasures with usPfotenhauer who would later serve as the Synodrsquos president
(1911ndash35) continued ldquoA true missionary however is not merely joyous in his work because his name is written in heaven but also because through his ministry his fellowmen shall be won for eternal
In ChristRev Kevin D RobsonChief Mission Officer The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod
2 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
PHOT
O L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
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ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
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WITH THE REV DR ALLAN BUCKMAN10 Q
uestions
1 How did CFNA beginIt started in a modest way with a
computer class in the basement of Messiah Lutheran Church led by my wife Carol and a friend of hers Karen Vaughn Itrsquos grown to where we are engaged in 10 to 12 ministry initiatives
2 How is this work doneWe have a very simple model draw
bridge home We draw the refugees into the CFNA network through our ministries Then we intensify those links and move them along to nearby LCMS congregations
3 How many people do you work with at any given time
We have a goal of linking with 200 new refugees each year Wersquove been coming pretty close or even exceeding that Last year about 60 found their way into churches
4 How do you connect with refugeesWe have three ldquoquick linkrdquo ministries [to
connect] with refugees within a week or two of their arrival monthly health and wellness screenings delivery of home furnishings and welcome packages These are ways we can link quickly with new Americans and offer them our other ministries
5 Which programs are most successfulThe highest volume is the after-school
tutoring program on Tuesday and Thursday evenings We get between 30 and 50 kids Another one is the scholarship-assistance
program Every year we give scholarships to 25 to 30 refugee kids to attend LCMS schools
6 What are the refugees likeThe largest stream recently has been
from Nepal There were seven or eight large refugee camps over there with maybe 20000 to 30000 each St Louis is one of the primary destinations in the Midwest although certainly itrsquos not the only one These people have been uprooted from their country of origin and shifted from one two or maybe even three countries before they get here When they come here they need everything One of the things they need most is a friend
7 What are the opportunities to witnessThese people have been moved from
one place to another They get here and wonder ldquoWho am I anymorerdquo Itrsquos precisely at that point that they are open to other possibilities What greater chance do you have than to say ldquoHow about an identity in Christrdquo In our model the ldquohomerdquo part is the congregation This is where CFNA is different We have a destination for these people and itrsquos the church Wersquore very open about that
8 Whatrsquos most rewardingIn the last three to four years there
have been about 150 Baptisms andor confirmations Many of those are Nepali who have stepped out of Buddhism or Hinduism to become members of the LCMS
Some were Christians or closet Christians in Nepal where you have freedom of religion on the books but every social norm and every aspect of government bureaucracy militates against it When they come here those constraints are gone If they feel welcome they will probably take the step as wersquove seen This speaks to the power of the Spirit
9 Could you tell me about the recent grant you received from the LCMS
Yes it was for a little under $12000 to help fund facilitators We have three one for West Africa one for East Africa and one for Nepal These facilitators are key because they are the ones who can reach into these ethnic communities This is the cutting edge of world missions today full stop There are people from countries where Synod could never have sent mission teams Now they are right at the doorstep of the church
10 What advice do you have for a congregation that wants to reach out to refugees
Start something really easy like an English-as-a-Second-Language class The Missouri Synod has a large teacher base so thatrsquos something that certainly would suggest itself If you want to take another step get a couple of congregations together to sponsor a dinner event for new Americans Have a registration table to get contact info and ask about their greatest needs Inventory that and see which of those you can start with To really make this work yoursquove got to have the district involved and the [Synodrsquos Office of National Mission] But all the pieces of the puzzle are there They just need to be fitted together
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of Lutherans Engage the World and a staff writer for LCMS Communications
Learn more cfna-stlorg
by Megan K Mertz
Eleven years ago the Rev Dr Allan Buckman got involved with Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) an LCMS Recognized Service Organization that seeks to serve and connect incoming refugees in the St Louis area with local Lutheran churches To his position as CFNA chairman Buckman brings many years of experience working in international missions including 12 years as an LCMS missionary to Nigeria Here he discusses CFNA and how to start this type of ministry in other places
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
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3JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Young ladies listen to a lecture at the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility in Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20164 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
These are the boys of the Othoro boarding-school facility one of four primary school boarding facilities in Kenya operated with assistance from The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod Now the Synodrsquos new initiative ldquoChristrsquos Care for Children Kenyardquo provides the opportunity to sponsor children like the boys from the Othoro school
ldquoThe project has as its primary focus the clear proclamation of the Gospel into the ears of our children such that they can become the ambassadors of the Gospel to their families clans and communitiesrdquo said the Rev Shauen Trump LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa
The boarding-school sites were built as part of Project 24 a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) the LCMS Office of International Mission and various LCMS individuals and organizations The schools provide a Christ-centered loving caring and safe environment for vulnerable children who might otherwise not be able to attend school or who might be at risk for dropping out of school Children also receive free tuition medical care and meals
Each day children are immersed in Scripture through catechism study Matins and Vespers
It ldquosteeps young people in the faith while providing a home away from home where they can access primary school education that would otherwise be out of reachrdquo Trump said
John Kissinger Nyangrsquoau an energetic and sharp man with a fiercely warm smile serves as the projectrsquos director Hersquos the proverbial ldquoright man for the jobrdquo On a recent car ride to the Othoro site about an hour from Lake Victoria he talked leadership management accountability transparency collaboration and teamwork Kissinger said the projectrsquos ultimate goals are to ldquobring children to Christ promote healthy care and nurture talentsrdquo and to do these things in ways that are accountable to the donors of the project
Off a muddy road within the city of Kisumu and through a soccer field stands the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility Young ladies cook chunked moist cornmeal ugali mdash a Kenyan staple notoriously good at defeating hunger mdash in a large pot over a crackling wood fire Others launder clothes in buckets twirl their mosquito nets back into knots above their bunk beds and laugh together over a game of jump rope They
Under the shadow of a chiseled cross built in a chUrch on a quiet compound near Kisumu Kenya boys in matching navy-blUe tracKsUits stand in line bow their heads clasp their hands and sing their liturgical-soUnding voices defying their lanky bodies
Kenya
by Erik M Lunsford
PHOT
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ERI
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In addition to receiving nourishment and an education children living at these boarding-school facilities are immersed in Scripture every day
5JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
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In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
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16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
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21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
888-THE LCMS (843-5267)lcmsorg
January ndash February 2016 vol 4 no 3
Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD
7 An Out-of-the-Box Missionary
12 Puya The Story of a Middle Eastern Refugee in Germany
15 Bread for Body and Soul 16 Convivencia Multiethnic Ministry in Arkansas
inspire
12
7
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 ChurchmdashMissouri Synod
copy 2016 The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri 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 (lcmsorglutheransengage) 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
Unless otherwise indicated all Scripture quotations are from the ESVreg Bible (The Holy Bible English Standard Versionreg) copyright copy 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers Used by permission All rights reserved
LIFE TOGETHER mdash AT HOME WITH GODrsquoS GIFTS
The stories gathered in this issue of Lutherans Engage the World are focused on mission work and they are remarkable Like an intricate weaving rich with colors and textures each one is a unique account of lives changed by the Gospel now and eternally Yet there is a common thread running through the entire issue At Cristo Para Todos in Arkansas they call it ldquoconvivenciardquo In Peru the Rev Joshua Gale speaks about it as people being ldquoat home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo I witnessed it in Philadelphia where the Rev Adam DeGroot walks the streets visiting parishioners in their homes sharing their food listening to their joys and sorrows and serving them with Godrsquos gifts In Berlin and Leipzig itrsquos evident in the parishes of our German partner church where God is sending hundreds of former Muslims With joy and determination mdash and often with threat of persecution mdash these newborn children of God eagerly gather around His gifts and care for each other in body and soul The same golden thread runs through the church in Peru where a trained chef helps the church feed hungry children and in an African boarding-school facility where Matins and Vespers begin and end each day The thread Itrsquos a unique three-ply fiber mdash Witness Mercy Life Together mdash and it glistens with Godrsquos good gifts ldquoin Christ for the Church and the worldrdquo God continues to creatively weave the golden thread of His Gospel across the globe and as He does He weaves in your financial support and prayers with those of so many others to further His kingdom It is truly a thing of beauty a work of rare art Thank you for your part in it May God continue to bless you and grant you a rich life together filled with His good gifts In ChristPamela J NielsenAssociate Executive Director LCMS Communications
engage
inform 2 Rejoice
3 10 Questions
10 Mission Field USA
19 Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools
4
involve 4 Christrsquos Care for Childrenrsquos Bodies
and Souls in Kenya
21 Checking the Oil
S TA F FDavid L Strand executive director communicationsPamela J Nielsen executive editorErica Schwan director design services Megan K Mertz managing editorstaff writerErik M Lunsford manager photojournalismLisa Moeller designerAnnie Monette designerChrissy Thomas designer
E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E314-996-1215 1333 S Kirkwood Road St Louis MO 63122-7295lutheransengagelcmsorglcmsorglutheransengage
Cover image The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church in Philadelphia waits for students to engage him at Temple UniversityPHOTO LCMS COMMUNICATIONSERIK M LUNSFORD
PHOT
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Rejoice Your Name Is Written in Heaven
ldquoBehold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt you Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that your names are written in heavenrdquo (Luke 1019ndash20)
liferdquo (At Home in the House of My Fathers Pages 718ndash719)During our limited time on this earth what could be better
than that Together as the Body of Christ we engage the world in His Word and work The living and active Gospel makes wonderful things happen The Spirit alone turns unbelief into saving faith Human lives are changed mdash now and for eternity Divine mercy and forgiveness are freely distributed Godrsquos truth sets people free from sin and death Heaven and its unending treasures are opened up intended for all to share
The rejoicing that emerges from these blessings is a symptom of the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus among us in Word and Sacraments It represents a cheerful encouragement that drives away our fears and anxieties even when we become distracted or dejected by an utterly fallen world that is openly hostile to Christ and His Gospel
Rejoice dear reader as you encounter much witness and labor under the Lordrsquos will mdash your work your prayers and contributions as well as those of your fellow redeemed mdash in the following pages Here are just a few examples of the countless individuals who are experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus
T HE SON OF GOD GAVE THESE GLORIOUS AFFIRMATIONS TO 72 SOULS WHO WERE RETURNING AFTER HAVING BEEN SENT OUT ldquoAS LAMBS IN THE MIDST OF WOLVESrdquo
(Luke 103) They had been called to proclaim peace heal the sick and declare that Godrsquos kingdom had come near in the Word of God made flesh What marvelous assurance for these faithful witnesses of Christ mdash a confident trust shared by all Christian missionaries and their fellow baptized who so generously provide crucial prayer and enabling resources mdash that such witnesses are continually sent into the harvest field even today
Reflecting on the experience of the 72 in an 1898 address to the Synodrsquos Minnesota and Dakota District mdash and ably projecting the biblical narrative into the ldquonowrdquo mdash Friedrich Pfotenhauer observed
The joy [Luke 1020] will give us the right mind and the right inspiration for our mission work the right tenacity of purpose and energy For our person then we have obtained the good portion We cannot be richer and happier and better situated on the earth than we already are Happily and willingly we will work where our dear God has put us for wherever we go we take heaven and the joy of eternal treasures with usPfotenhauer who would later serve as the Synodrsquos president
(1911ndash35) continued ldquoA true missionary however is not merely joyous in his work because his name is written in heaven but also because through his ministry his fellowmen shall be won for eternal
In ChristRev Kevin D RobsonChief Mission Officer The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod
2 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
PHOT
O L
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WITH THE REV DR ALLAN BUCKMAN10 Q
uestions
1 How did CFNA beginIt started in a modest way with a
computer class in the basement of Messiah Lutheran Church led by my wife Carol and a friend of hers Karen Vaughn Itrsquos grown to where we are engaged in 10 to 12 ministry initiatives
2 How is this work doneWe have a very simple model draw
bridge home We draw the refugees into the CFNA network through our ministries Then we intensify those links and move them along to nearby LCMS congregations
3 How many people do you work with at any given time
We have a goal of linking with 200 new refugees each year Wersquove been coming pretty close or even exceeding that Last year about 60 found their way into churches
4 How do you connect with refugeesWe have three ldquoquick linkrdquo ministries [to
connect] with refugees within a week or two of their arrival monthly health and wellness screenings delivery of home furnishings and welcome packages These are ways we can link quickly with new Americans and offer them our other ministries
5 Which programs are most successfulThe highest volume is the after-school
tutoring program on Tuesday and Thursday evenings We get between 30 and 50 kids Another one is the scholarship-assistance
program Every year we give scholarships to 25 to 30 refugee kids to attend LCMS schools
6 What are the refugees likeThe largest stream recently has been
from Nepal There were seven or eight large refugee camps over there with maybe 20000 to 30000 each St Louis is one of the primary destinations in the Midwest although certainly itrsquos not the only one These people have been uprooted from their country of origin and shifted from one two or maybe even three countries before they get here When they come here they need everything One of the things they need most is a friend
7 What are the opportunities to witnessThese people have been moved from
one place to another They get here and wonder ldquoWho am I anymorerdquo Itrsquos precisely at that point that they are open to other possibilities What greater chance do you have than to say ldquoHow about an identity in Christrdquo In our model the ldquohomerdquo part is the congregation This is where CFNA is different We have a destination for these people and itrsquos the church Wersquore very open about that
8 Whatrsquos most rewardingIn the last three to four years there
have been about 150 Baptisms andor confirmations Many of those are Nepali who have stepped out of Buddhism or Hinduism to become members of the LCMS
Some were Christians or closet Christians in Nepal where you have freedom of religion on the books but every social norm and every aspect of government bureaucracy militates against it When they come here those constraints are gone If they feel welcome they will probably take the step as wersquove seen This speaks to the power of the Spirit
9 Could you tell me about the recent grant you received from the LCMS
Yes it was for a little under $12000 to help fund facilitators We have three one for West Africa one for East Africa and one for Nepal These facilitators are key because they are the ones who can reach into these ethnic communities This is the cutting edge of world missions today full stop There are people from countries where Synod could never have sent mission teams Now they are right at the doorstep of the church
10 What advice do you have for a congregation that wants to reach out to refugees
Start something really easy like an English-as-a-Second-Language class The Missouri Synod has a large teacher base so thatrsquos something that certainly would suggest itself If you want to take another step get a couple of congregations together to sponsor a dinner event for new Americans Have a registration table to get contact info and ask about their greatest needs Inventory that and see which of those you can start with To really make this work yoursquove got to have the district involved and the [Synodrsquos Office of National Mission] But all the pieces of the puzzle are there They just need to be fitted together
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of Lutherans Engage the World and a staff writer for LCMS Communications
Learn more cfna-stlorg
by Megan K Mertz
Eleven years ago the Rev Dr Allan Buckman got involved with Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) an LCMS Recognized Service Organization that seeks to serve and connect incoming refugees in the St Louis area with local Lutheran churches To his position as CFNA chairman Buckman brings many years of experience working in international missions including 12 years as an LCMS missionary to Nigeria Here he discusses CFNA and how to start this type of ministry in other places
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
3JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Young ladies listen to a lecture at the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility in Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20164 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
These are the boys of the Othoro boarding-school facility one of four primary school boarding facilities in Kenya operated with assistance from The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod Now the Synodrsquos new initiative ldquoChristrsquos Care for Children Kenyardquo provides the opportunity to sponsor children like the boys from the Othoro school
ldquoThe project has as its primary focus the clear proclamation of the Gospel into the ears of our children such that they can become the ambassadors of the Gospel to their families clans and communitiesrdquo said the Rev Shauen Trump LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa
The boarding-school sites were built as part of Project 24 a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) the LCMS Office of International Mission and various LCMS individuals and organizations The schools provide a Christ-centered loving caring and safe environment for vulnerable children who might otherwise not be able to attend school or who might be at risk for dropping out of school Children also receive free tuition medical care and meals
Each day children are immersed in Scripture through catechism study Matins and Vespers
It ldquosteeps young people in the faith while providing a home away from home where they can access primary school education that would otherwise be out of reachrdquo Trump said
John Kissinger Nyangrsquoau an energetic and sharp man with a fiercely warm smile serves as the projectrsquos director Hersquos the proverbial ldquoright man for the jobrdquo On a recent car ride to the Othoro site about an hour from Lake Victoria he talked leadership management accountability transparency collaboration and teamwork Kissinger said the projectrsquos ultimate goals are to ldquobring children to Christ promote healthy care and nurture talentsrdquo and to do these things in ways that are accountable to the donors of the project
Off a muddy road within the city of Kisumu and through a soccer field stands the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility Young ladies cook chunked moist cornmeal ugali mdash a Kenyan staple notoriously good at defeating hunger mdash in a large pot over a crackling wood fire Others launder clothes in buckets twirl their mosquito nets back into knots above their bunk beds and laugh together over a game of jump rope They
Under the shadow of a chiseled cross built in a chUrch on a quiet compound near Kisumu Kenya boys in matching navy-blUe tracKsUits stand in line bow their heads clasp their hands and sing their liturgical-soUnding voices defying their lanky bodies
Kenya
by Erik M Lunsford
PHOT
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COM
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In addition to receiving nourishment and an education children living at these boarding-school facilities are immersed in Scripture every day
5JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
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ERI
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
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EZ Z
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LOS
AND
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ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
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21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
LIFE TOGETHER mdash AT HOME WITH GODrsquoS GIFTS
The stories gathered in this issue of Lutherans Engage the World are focused on mission work and they are remarkable Like an intricate weaving rich with colors and textures each one is a unique account of lives changed by the Gospel now and eternally Yet there is a common thread running through the entire issue At Cristo Para Todos in Arkansas they call it ldquoconvivenciardquo In Peru the Rev Joshua Gale speaks about it as people being ldquoat home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo I witnessed it in Philadelphia where the Rev Adam DeGroot walks the streets visiting parishioners in their homes sharing their food listening to their joys and sorrows and serving them with Godrsquos gifts In Berlin and Leipzig itrsquos evident in the parishes of our German partner church where God is sending hundreds of former Muslims With joy and determination mdash and often with threat of persecution mdash these newborn children of God eagerly gather around His gifts and care for each other in body and soul The same golden thread runs through the church in Peru where a trained chef helps the church feed hungry children and in an African boarding-school facility where Matins and Vespers begin and end each day The thread Itrsquos a unique three-ply fiber mdash Witness Mercy Life Together mdash and it glistens with Godrsquos good gifts ldquoin Christ for the Church and the worldrdquo God continues to creatively weave the golden thread of His Gospel across the globe and as He does He weaves in your financial support and prayers with those of so many others to further His kingdom It is truly a thing of beauty a work of rare art Thank you for your part in it May God continue to bless you and grant you a rich life together filled with His good gifts In ChristPamela J NielsenAssociate Executive Director LCMS Communications
engage
inform 2 Rejoice
3 10 Questions
10 Mission Field USA
19 Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools
4
involve 4 Christrsquos Care for Childrenrsquos Bodies
and Souls in Kenya
21 Checking the Oil
S TA F FDavid L Strand executive director communicationsPamela J Nielsen executive editorErica Schwan director design services Megan K Mertz managing editorstaff writerErik M Lunsford manager photojournalismLisa Moeller designerAnnie Monette designerChrissy Thomas designer
E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E314-996-1215 1333 S Kirkwood Road St Louis MO 63122-7295lutheransengagelcmsorglcmsorglutheransengage
Cover image The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church in Philadelphia waits for students to engage him at Temple UniversityPHOTO LCMS COMMUNICATIONSERIK M LUNSFORD
PHOT
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Rejoice Your Name Is Written in Heaven
ldquoBehold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt you Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that your names are written in heavenrdquo (Luke 1019ndash20)
liferdquo (At Home in the House of My Fathers Pages 718ndash719)During our limited time on this earth what could be better
than that Together as the Body of Christ we engage the world in His Word and work The living and active Gospel makes wonderful things happen The Spirit alone turns unbelief into saving faith Human lives are changed mdash now and for eternity Divine mercy and forgiveness are freely distributed Godrsquos truth sets people free from sin and death Heaven and its unending treasures are opened up intended for all to share
The rejoicing that emerges from these blessings is a symptom of the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus among us in Word and Sacraments It represents a cheerful encouragement that drives away our fears and anxieties even when we become distracted or dejected by an utterly fallen world that is openly hostile to Christ and His Gospel
Rejoice dear reader as you encounter much witness and labor under the Lordrsquos will mdash your work your prayers and contributions as well as those of your fellow redeemed mdash in the following pages Here are just a few examples of the countless individuals who are experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus
T HE SON OF GOD GAVE THESE GLORIOUS AFFIRMATIONS TO 72 SOULS WHO WERE RETURNING AFTER HAVING BEEN SENT OUT ldquoAS LAMBS IN THE MIDST OF WOLVESrdquo
(Luke 103) They had been called to proclaim peace heal the sick and declare that Godrsquos kingdom had come near in the Word of God made flesh What marvelous assurance for these faithful witnesses of Christ mdash a confident trust shared by all Christian missionaries and their fellow baptized who so generously provide crucial prayer and enabling resources mdash that such witnesses are continually sent into the harvest field even today
Reflecting on the experience of the 72 in an 1898 address to the Synodrsquos Minnesota and Dakota District mdash and ably projecting the biblical narrative into the ldquonowrdquo mdash Friedrich Pfotenhauer observed
The joy [Luke 1020] will give us the right mind and the right inspiration for our mission work the right tenacity of purpose and energy For our person then we have obtained the good portion We cannot be richer and happier and better situated on the earth than we already are Happily and willingly we will work where our dear God has put us for wherever we go we take heaven and the joy of eternal treasures with usPfotenhauer who would later serve as the Synodrsquos president
(1911ndash35) continued ldquoA true missionary however is not merely joyous in his work because his name is written in heaven but also because through his ministry his fellowmen shall be won for eternal
In ChristRev Kevin D RobsonChief Mission Officer The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod
2 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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WITH THE REV DR ALLAN BUCKMAN10 Q
uestions
1 How did CFNA beginIt started in a modest way with a
computer class in the basement of Messiah Lutheran Church led by my wife Carol and a friend of hers Karen Vaughn Itrsquos grown to where we are engaged in 10 to 12 ministry initiatives
2 How is this work doneWe have a very simple model draw
bridge home We draw the refugees into the CFNA network through our ministries Then we intensify those links and move them along to nearby LCMS congregations
3 How many people do you work with at any given time
We have a goal of linking with 200 new refugees each year Wersquove been coming pretty close or even exceeding that Last year about 60 found their way into churches
4 How do you connect with refugeesWe have three ldquoquick linkrdquo ministries [to
connect] with refugees within a week or two of their arrival monthly health and wellness screenings delivery of home furnishings and welcome packages These are ways we can link quickly with new Americans and offer them our other ministries
5 Which programs are most successfulThe highest volume is the after-school
tutoring program on Tuesday and Thursday evenings We get between 30 and 50 kids Another one is the scholarship-assistance
program Every year we give scholarships to 25 to 30 refugee kids to attend LCMS schools
6 What are the refugees likeThe largest stream recently has been
from Nepal There were seven or eight large refugee camps over there with maybe 20000 to 30000 each St Louis is one of the primary destinations in the Midwest although certainly itrsquos not the only one These people have been uprooted from their country of origin and shifted from one two or maybe even three countries before they get here When they come here they need everything One of the things they need most is a friend
7 What are the opportunities to witnessThese people have been moved from
one place to another They get here and wonder ldquoWho am I anymorerdquo Itrsquos precisely at that point that they are open to other possibilities What greater chance do you have than to say ldquoHow about an identity in Christrdquo In our model the ldquohomerdquo part is the congregation This is where CFNA is different We have a destination for these people and itrsquos the church Wersquore very open about that
8 Whatrsquos most rewardingIn the last three to four years there
have been about 150 Baptisms andor confirmations Many of those are Nepali who have stepped out of Buddhism or Hinduism to become members of the LCMS
Some were Christians or closet Christians in Nepal where you have freedom of religion on the books but every social norm and every aspect of government bureaucracy militates against it When they come here those constraints are gone If they feel welcome they will probably take the step as wersquove seen This speaks to the power of the Spirit
9 Could you tell me about the recent grant you received from the LCMS
Yes it was for a little under $12000 to help fund facilitators We have three one for West Africa one for East Africa and one for Nepal These facilitators are key because they are the ones who can reach into these ethnic communities This is the cutting edge of world missions today full stop There are people from countries where Synod could never have sent mission teams Now they are right at the doorstep of the church
10 What advice do you have for a congregation that wants to reach out to refugees
Start something really easy like an English-as-a-Second-Language class The Missouri Synod has a large teacher base so thatrsquos something that certainly would suggest itself If you want to take another step get a couple of congregations together to sponsor a dinner event for new Americans Have a registration table to get contact info and ask about their greatest needs Inventory that and see which of those you can start with To really make this work yoursquove got to have the district involved and the [Synodrsquos Office of National Mission] But all the pieces of the puzzle are there They just need to be fitted together
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of Lutherans Engage the World and a staff writer for LCMS Communications
Learn more cfna-stlorg
by Megan K Mertz
Eleven years ago the Rev Dr Allan Buckman got involved with Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) an LCMS Recognized Service Organization that seeks to serve and connect incoming refugees in the St Louis area with local Lutheran churches To his position as CFNA chairman Buckman brings many years of experience working in international missions including 12 years as an LCMS missionary to Nigeria Here he discusses CFNA and how to start this type of ministry in other places
PHOT
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3JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Young ladies listen to a lecture at the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility in Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20164 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
These are the boys of the Othoro boarding-school facility one of four primary school boarding facilities in Kenya operated with assistance from The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod Now the Synodrsquos new initiative ldquoChristrsquos Care for Children Kenyardquo provides the opportunity to sponsor children like the boys from the Othoro school
ldquoThe project has as its primary focus the clear proclamation of the Gospel into the ears of our children such that they can become the ambassadors of the Gospel to their families clans and communitiesrdquo said the Rev Shauen Trump LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa
The boarding-school sites were built as part of Project 24 a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) the LCMS Office of International Mission and various LCMS individuals and organizations The schools provide a Christ-centered loving caring and safe environment for vulnerable children who might otherwise not be able to attend school or who might be at risk for dropping out of school Children also receive free tuition medical care and meals
Each day children are immersed in Scripture through catechism study Matins and Vespers
It ldquosteeps young people in the faith while providing a home away from home where they can access primary school education that would otherwise be out of reachrdquo Trump said
John Kissinger Nyangrsquoau an energetic and sharp man with a fiercely warm smile serves as the projectrsquos director Hersquos the proverbial ldquoright man for the jobrdquo On a recent car ride to the Othoro site about an hour from Lake Victoria he talked leadership management accountability transparency collaboration and teamwork Kissinger said the projectrsquos ultimate goals are to ldquobring children to Christ promote healthy care and nurture talentsrdquo and to do these things in ways that are accountable to the donors of the project
Off a muddy road within the city of Kisumu and through a soccer field stands the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility Young ladies cook chunked moist cornmeal ugali mdash a Kenyan staple notoriously good at defeating hunger mdash in a large pot over a crackling wood fire Others launder clothes in buckets twirl their mosquito nets back into knots above their bunk beds and laugh together over a game of jump rope They
Under the shadow of a chiseled cross built in a chUrch on a quiet compound near Kisumu Kenya boys in matching navy-blUe tracKsUits stand in line bow their heads clasp their hands and sing their liturgical-soUnding voices defying their lanky bodies
Kenya
by Erik M Lunsford
PHOT
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In addition to receiving nourishment and an education children living at these boarding-school facilities are immersed in Scripture every day
5JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
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COM
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ERI
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
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21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
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Rejoice Your Name Is Written in Heaven
ldquoBehold I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing shall hurt you Nevertheless do not rejoice in this that the spirits are subject to you but rejoice that your names are written in heavenrdquo (Luke 1019ndash20)
liferdquo (At Home in the House of My Fathers Pages 718ndash719)During our limited time on this earth what could be better
than that Together as the Body of Christ we engage the world in His Word and work The living and active Gospel makes wonderful things happen The Spirit alone turns unbelief into saving faith Human lives are changed mdash now and for eternity Divine mercy and forgiveness are freely distributed Godrsquos truth sets people free from sin and death Heaven and its unending treasures are opened up intended for all to share
The rejoicing that emerges from these blessings is a symptom of the abiding presence of the Lord Jesus among us in Word and Sacraments It represents a cheerful encouragement that drives away our fears and anxieties even when we become distracted or dejected by an utterly fallen world that is openly hostile to Christ and His Gospel
Rejoice dear reader as you encounter much witness and labor under the Lordrsquos will mdash your work your prayers and contributions as well as those of your fellow redeemed mdash in the following pages Here are just a few examples of the countless individuals who are experiencing the joy of knowing Jesus
T HE SON OF GOD GAVE THESE GLORIOUS AFFIRMATIONS TO 72 SOULS WHO WERE RETURNING AFTER HAVING BEEN SENT OUT ldquoAS LAMBS IN THE MIDST OF WOLVESrdquo
(Luke 103) They had been called to proclaim peace heal the sick and declare that Godrsquos kingdom had come near in the Word of God made flesh What marvelous assurance for these faithful witnesses of Christ mdash a confident trust shared by all Christian missionaries and their fellow baptized who so generously provide crucial prayer and enabling resources mdash that such witnesses are continually sent into the harvest field even today
Reflecting on the experience of the 72 in an 1898 address to the Synodrsquos Minnesota and Dakota District mdash and ably projecting the biblical narrative into the ldquonowrdquo mdash Friedrich Pfotenhauer observed
The joy [Luke 1020] will give us the right mind and the right inspiration for our mission work the right tenacity of purpose and energy For our person then we have obtained the good portion We cannot be richer and happier and better situated on the earth than we already are Happily and willingly we will work where our dear God has put us for wherever we go we take heaven and the joy of eternal treasures with usPfotenhauer who would later serve as the Synodrsquos president
(1911ndash35) continued ldquoA true missionary however is not merely joyous in his work because his name is written in heaven but also because through his ministry his fellowmen shall be won for eternal
In ChristRev Kevin D RobsonChief Mission Officer The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod
2 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
PHOT
O L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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WITH THE REV DR ALLAN BUCKMAN10 Q
uestions
1 How did CFNA beginIt started in a modest way with a
computer class in the basement of Messiah Lutheran Church led by my wife Carol and a friend of hers Karen Vaughn Itrsquos grown to where we are engaged in 10 to 12 ministry initiatives
2 How is this work doneWe have a very simple model draw
bridge home We draw the refugees into the CFNA network through our ministries Then we intensify those links and move them along to nearby LCMS congregations
3 How many people do you work with at any given time
We have a goal of linking with 200 new refugees each year Wersquove been coming pretty close or even exceeding that Last year about 60 found their way into churches
4 How do you connect with refugeesWe have three ldquoquick linkrdquo ministries [to
connect] with refugees within a week or two of their arrival monthly health and wellness screenings delivery of home furnishings and welcome packages These are ways we can link quickly with new Americans and offer them our other ministries
5 Which programs are most successfulThe highest volume is the after-school
tutoring program on Tuesday and Thursday evenings We get between 30 and 50 kids Another one is the scholarship-assistance
program Every year we give scholarships to 25 to 30 refugee kids to attend LCMS schools
6 What are the refugees likeThe largest stream recently has been
from Nepal There were seven or eight large refugee camps over there with maybe 20000 to 30000 each St Louis is one of the primary destinations in the Midwest although certainly itrsquos not the only one These people have been uprooted from their country of origin and shifted from one two or maybe even three countries before they get here When they come here they need everything One of the things they need most is a friend
7 What are the opportunities to witnessThese people have been moved from
one place to another They get here and wonder ldquoWho am I anymorerdquo Itrsquos precisely at that point that they are open to other possibilities What greater chance do you have than to say ldquoHow about an identity in Christrdquo In our model the ldquohomerdquo part is the congregation This is where CFNA is different We have a destination for these people and itrsquos the church Wersquore very open about that
8 Whatrsquos most rewardingIn the last three to four years there
have been about 150 Baptisms andor confirmations Many of those are Nepali who have stepped out of Buddhism or Hinduism to become members of the LCMS
Some were Christians or closet Christians in Nepal where you have freedom of religion on the books but every social norm and every aspect of government bureaucracy militates against it When they come here those constraints are gone If they feel welcome they will probably take the step as wersquove seen This speaks to the power of the Spirit
9 Could you tell me about the recent grant you received from the LCMS
Yes it was for a little under $12000 to help fund facilitators We have three one for West Africa one for East Africa and one for Nepal These facilitators are key because they are the ones who can reach into these ethnic communities This is the cutting edge of world missions today full stop There are people from countries where Synod could never have sent mission teams Now they are right at the doorstep of the church
10 What advice do you have for a congregation that wants to reach out to refugees
Start something really easy like an English-as-a-Second-Language class The Missouri Synod has a large teacher base so thatrsquos something that certainly would suggest itself If you want to take another step get a couple of congregations together to sponsor a dinner event for new Americans Have a registration table to get contact info and ask about their greatest needs Inventory that and see which of those you can start with To really make this work yoursquove got to have the district involved and the [Synodrsquos Office of National Mission] But all the pieces of the puzzle are there They just need to be fitted together
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of Lutherans Engage the World and a staff writer for LCMS Communications
Learn more cfna-stlorg
by Megan K Mertz
Eleven years ago the Rev Dr Allan Buckman got involved with Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) an LCMS Recognized Service Organization that seeks to serve and connect incoming refugees in the St Louis area with local Lutheran churches To his position as CFNA chairman Buckman brings many years of experience working in international missions including 12 years as an LCMS missionary to Nigeria Here he discusses CFNA and how to start this type of ministry in other places
PHOT
O IS
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3JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Young ladies listen to a lecture at the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility in Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20164 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
These are the boys of the Othoro boarding-school facility one of four primary school boarding facilities in Kenya operated with assistance from The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod Now the Synodrsquos new initiative ldquoChristrsquos Care for Children Kenyardquo provides the opportunity to sponsor children like the boys from the Othoro school
ldquoThe project has as its primary focus the clear proclamation of the Gospel into the ears of our children such that they can become the ambassadors of the Gospel to their families clans and communitiesrdquo said the Rev Shauen Trump LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa
The boarding-school sites were built as part of Project 24 a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) the LCMS Office of International Mission and various LCMS individuals and organizations The schools provide a Christ-centered loving caring and safe environment for vulnerable children who might otherwise not be able to attend school or who might be at risk for dropping out of school Children also receive free tuition medical care and meals
Each day children are immersed in Scripture through catechism study Matins and Vespers
It ldquosteeps young people in the faith while providing a home away from home where they can access primary school education that would otherwise be out of reachrdquo Trump said
John Kissinger Nyangrsquoau an energetic and sharp man with a fiercely warm smile serves as the projectrsquos director Hersquos the proverbial ldquoright man for the jobrdquo On a recent car ride to the Othoro site about an hour from Lake Victoria he talked leadership management accountability transparency collaboration and teamwork Kissinger said the projectrsquos ultimate goals are to ldquobring children to Christ promote healthy care and nurture talentsrdquo and to do these things in ways that are accountable to the donors of the project
Off a muddy road within the city of Kisumu and through a soccer field stands the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility Young ladies cook chunked moist cornmeal ugali mdash a Kenyan staple notoriously good at defeating hunger mdash in a large pot over a crackling wood fire Others launder clothes in buckets twirl their mosquito nets back into knots above their bunk beds and laugh together over a game of jump rope They
Under the shadow of a chiseled cross built in a chUrch on a quiet compound near Kisumu Kenya boys in matching navy-blUe tracKsUits stand in line bow their heads clasp their hands and sing their liturgical-soUnding voices defying their lanky bodies
Kenya
by Erik M Lunsford
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
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ERI
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LUN
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In addition to receiving nourishment and an education children living at these boarding-school facilities are immersed in Scripture every day
5JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
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16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
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21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
PHOT
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WITH THE REV DR ALLAN BUCKMAN10 Q
uestions
1 How did CFNA beginIt started in a modest way with a
computer class in the basement of Messiah Lutheran Church led by my wife Carol and a friend of hers Karen Vaughn Itrsquos grown to where we are engaged in 10 to 12 ministry initiatives
2 How is this work doneWe have a very simple model draw
bridge home We draw the refugees into the CFNA network through our ministries Then we intensify those links and move them along to nearby LCMS congregations
3 How many people do you work with at any given time
We have a goal of linking with 200 new refugees each year Wersquove been coming pretty close or even exceeding that Last year about 60 found their way into churches
4 How do you connect with refugeesWe have three ldquoquick linkrdquo ministries [to
connect] with refugees within a week or two of their arrival monthly health and wellness screenings delivery of home furnishings and welcome packages These are ways we can link quickly with new Americans and offer them our other ministries
5 Which programs are most successfulThe highest volume is the after-school
tutoring program on Tuesday and Thursday evenings We get between 30 and 50 kids Another one is the scholarship-assistance
program Every year we give scholarships to 25 to 30 refugee kids to attend LCMS schools
6 What are the refugees likeThe largest stream recently has been
from Nepal There were seven or eight large refugee camps over there with maybe 20000 to 30000 each St Louis is one of the primary destinations in the Midwest although certainly itrsquos not the only one These people have been uprooted from their country of origin and shifted from one two or maybe even three countries before they get here When they come here they need everything One of the things they need most is a friend
7 What are the opportunities to witnessThese people have been moved from
one place to another They get here and wonder ldquoWho am I anymorerdquo Itrsquos precisely at that point that they are open to other possibilities What greater chance do you have than to say ldquoHow about an identity in Christrdquo In our model the ldquohomerdquo part is the congregation This is where CFNA is different We have a destination for these people and itrsquos the church Wersquore very open about that
8 Whatrsquos most rewardingIn the last three to four years there
have been about 150 Baptisms andor confirmations Many of those are Nepali who have stepped out of Buddhism or Hinduism to become members of the LCMS
Some were Christians or closet Christians in Nepal where you have freedom of religion on the books but every social norm and every aspect of government bureaucracy militates against it When they come here those constraints are gone If they feel welcome they will probably take the step as wersquove seen This speaks to the power of the Spirit
9 Could you tell me about the recent grant you received from the LCMS
Yes it was for a little under $12000 to help fund facilitators We have three one for West Africa one for East Africa and one for Nepal These facilitators are key because they are the ones who can reach into these ethnic communities This is the cutting edge of world missions today full stop There are people from countries where Synod could never have sent mission teams Now they are right at the doorstep of the church
10 What advice do you have for a congregation that wants to reach out to refugees
Start something really easy like an English-as-a-Second-Language class The Missouri Synod has a large teacher base so thatrsquos something that certainly would suggest itself If you want to take another step get a couple of congregations together to sponsor a dinner event for new Americans Have a registration table to get contact info and ask about their greatest needs Inventory that and see which of those you can start with To really make this work yoursquove got to have the district involved and the [Synodrsquos Office of National Mission] But all the pieces of the puzzle are there They just need to be fitted together
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of Lutherans Engage the World and a staff writer for LCMS Communications
Learn more cfna-stlorg
by Megan K Mertz
Eleven years ago the Rev Dr Allan Buckman got involved with Christian Friends of New Americans (CFNA) an LCMS Recognized Service Organization that seeks to serve and connect incoming refugees in the St Louis area with local Lutheran churches To his position as CFNA chairman Buckman brings many years of experience working in international missions including 12 years as an LCMS missionary to Nigeria Here he discusses CFNA and how to start this type of ministry in other places
PHOT
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Young ladies listen to a lecture at the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility in Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20164 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
These are the boys of the Othoro boarding-school facility one of four primary school boarding facilities in Kenya operated with assistance from The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod Now the Synodrsquos new initiative ldquoChristrsquos Care for Children Kenyardquo provides the opportunity to sponsor children like the boys from the Othoro school
ldquoThe project has as its primary focus the clear proclamation of the Gospel into the ears of our children such that they can become the ambassadors of the Gospel to their families clans and communitiesrdquo said the Rev Shauen Trump LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa
The boarding-school sites were built as part of Project 24 a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) the LCMS Office of International Mission and various LCMS individuals and organizations The schools provide a Christ-centered loving caring and safe environment for vulnerable children who might otherwise not be able to attend school or who might be at risk for dropping out of school Children also receive free tuition medical care and meals
Each day children are immersed in Scripture through catechism study Matins and Vespers
It ldquosteeps young people in the faith while providing a home away from home where they can access primary school education that would otherwise be out of reachrdquo Trump said
John Kissinger Nyangrsquoau an energetic and sharp man with a fiercely warm smile serves as the projectrsquos director Hersquos the proverbial ldquoright man for the jobrdquo On a recent car ride to the Othoro site about an hour from Lake Victoria he talked leadership management accountability transparency collaboration and teamwork Kissinger said the projectrsquos ultimate goals are to ldquobring children to Christ promote healthy care and nurture talentsrdquo and to do these things in ways that are accountable to the donors of the project
Off a muddy road within the city of Kisumu and through a soccer field stands the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility Young ladies cook chunked moist cornmeal ugali mdash a Kenyan staple notoriously good at defeating hunger mdash in a large pot over a crackling wood fire Others launder clothes in buckets twirl their mosquito nets back into knots above their bunk beds and laugh together over a game of jump rope They
Under the shadow of a chiseled cross built in a chUrch on a quiet compound near Kisumu Kenya boys in matching navy-blUe tracKsUits stand in line bow their heads clasp their hands and sing their liturgical-soUnding voices defying their lanky bodies
Kenya
by Erik M Lunsford
PHOT
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In addition to receiving nourishment and an education children living at these boarding-school facilities are immersed in Scripture every day
5JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
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ERI
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SFOR
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
Young ladies listen to a lecture at the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility in Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20164 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
These are the boys of the Othoro boarding-school facility one of four primary school boarding facilities in Kenya operated with assistance from The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod Now the Synodrsquos new initiative ldquoChristrsquos Care for Children Kenyardquo provides the opportunity to sponsor children like the boys from the Othoro school
ldquoThe project has as its primary focus the clear proclamation of the Gospel into the ears of our children such that they can become the ambassadors of the Gospel to their families clans and communitiesrdquo said the Rev Shauen Trump LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa
The boarding-school sites were built as part of Project 24 a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) the LCMS Office of International Mission and various LCMS individuals and organizations The schools provide a Christ-centered loving caring and safe environment for vulnerable children who might otherwise not be able to attend school or who might be at risk for dropping out of school Children also receive free tuition medical care and meals
Each day children are immersed in Scripture through catechism study Matins and Vespers
It ldquosteeps young people in the faith while providing a home away from home where they can access primary school education that would otherwise be out of reachrdquo Trump said
John Kissinger Nyangrsquoau an energetic and sharp man with a fiercely warm smile serves as the projectrsquos director Hersquos the proverbial ldquoright man for the jobrdquo On a recent car ride to the Othoro site about an hour from Lake Victoria he talked leadership management accountability transparency collaboration and teamwork Kissinger said the projectrsquos ultimate goals are to ldquobring children to Christ promote healthy care and nurture talentsrdquo and to do these things in ways that are accountable to the donors of the project
Off a muddy road within the city of Kisumu and through a soccer field stands the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility Young ladies cook chunked moist cornmeal ugali mdash a Kenyan staple notoriously good at defeating hunger mdash in a large pot over a crackling wood fire Others launder clothes in buckets twirl their mosquito nets back into knots above their bunk beds and laugh together over a game of jump rope They
Under the shadow of a chiseled cross built in a chUrch on a quiet compound near Kisumu Kenya boys in matching navy-blUe tracKsUits stand in line bow their heads clasp their hands and sing their liturgical-soUnding voices defying their lanky bodies
Kenya
by Erik M Lunsford
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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In addition to receiving nourishment and an education children living at these boarding-school facilities are immersed in Scripture every day
5JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
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EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
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COM
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
These are the boys of the Othoro boarding-school facility one of four primary school boarding facilities in Kenya operated with assistance from The Lutheran ChurchmdashMissouri Synod Now the Synodrsquos new initiative ldquoChristrsquos Care for Children Kenyardquo provides the opportunity to sponsor children like the boys from the Othoro school
ldquoThe project has as its primary focus the clear proclamation of the Gospel into the ears of our children such that they can become the ambassadors of the Gospel to their families clans and communitiesrdquo said the Rev Shauen Trump LCMS area director for Eastern and Southern Africa
The boarding-school sites were built as part of Project 24 a partnership between the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) the LCMS Office of International Mission and various LCMS individuals and organizations The schools provide a Christ-centered loving caring and safe environment for vulnerable children who might otherwise not be able to attend school or who might be at risk for dropping out of school Children also receive free tuition medical care and meals
Each day children are immersed in Scripture through catechism study Matins and Vespers
It ldquosteeps young people in the faith while providing a home away from home where they can access primary school education that would otherwise be out of reachrdquo Trump said
John Kissinger Nyangrsquoau an energetic and sharp man with a fiercely warm smile serves as the projectrsquos director Hersquos the proverbial ldquoright man for the jobrdquo On a recent car ride to the Othoro site about an hour from Lake Victoria he talked leadership management accountability transparency collaboration and teamwork Kissinger said the projectrsquos ultimate goals are to ldquobring children to Christ promote healthy care and nurture talentsrdquo and to do these things in ways that are accountable to the donors of the project
Off a muddy road within the city of Kisumu and through a soccer field stands the Tumaini girlsrsquo boarding-school facility Young ladies cook chunked moist cornmeal ugali mdash a Kenyan staple notoriously good at defeating hunger mdash in a large pot over a crackling wood fire Others launder clothes in buckets twirl their mosquito nets back into knots above their bunk beds and laugh together over a game of jump rope They
Under the shadow of a chiseled cross built in a chUrch on a quiet compound near Kisumu Kenya boys in matching navy-blUe tracKsUits stand in line bow their heads clasp their hands and sing their liturgical-soUnding voices defying their lanky bodies
Kenya
by Erik M Lunsford
PHOT
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In addition to receiving nourishment and an education children living at these boarding-school facilities are immersed in Scripture every day
5JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
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IONS
ERI
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LUN
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
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ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
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ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
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ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
memorize Scripture verses and join in singing activities There is a sense of familial camaraderie among the girls whether eating together or studying Lutherrsquos Small Catechism under the tutelage of a pastor from a neighboring ELCK parish
The thought of boarding schools may conjure vivid thoughts of far-off facilities where children leave home and return only after graduation Yet this unique project sends students home to their families or clans during school holidays and organizes friendly ldquoCatechism Clubrdquo competitions between sites The students bring home what they have learned and many share it with their families or communities
ldquoIn designing the Christrsquos Care for Children project we modeled their daily
life at the school boarding facility on that of a seminary campus with
constant immersion in the Word strong confessional
Lutheran mentors and
a daily schedule built around the rites of Matins and Vespersrdquo Trump said
Back at the Othoro site the boys meander home past the resident cow munching grass on the soccer field Two boys walk together with their arms over each otherrsquos shoulders a sign of friendship By noon they had been nourished in both body and soul
ldquoWe want to ensurerdquo Trump said ldquothat Godrsquos littlest ones grow up with full bellies a dry roof over their head every chance at academic success and most importantly Godrsquos grace-filled Word resounding in their earsrdquo
Erik M Lunsford is manager of Photojournalism for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotochrists-care-kenya
Sponsor a child Visit lcmsorggivenowchrists-care-for-children-kenya or contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or by emailing missionadvancementlcmsorg
Young men walk into their dormitory at the Othoro boarding-school facility near Kisumu Kenya
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 20166 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
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7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
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COM
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
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ERI
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SFOR
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
AN
Out-of-the-Box MISSIONARY by Pamela J Nielsen
Off the train the Rev Adam DeGroot national missionary to Philadelphia grabs a hearty brisket and provolone sandwich and wanders out into the bustling center of the nationrsquos sixth-largest metro area He declares ldquoI love this cityrdquo
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
7JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
The young pastor from South Dakota hops a bus to Temple University one of eight universities nestled among
the historic buildings and towering office structures On the campus he hunts for the perfect bench Settling in he pulls a flattened stained and well-worn cardboard box from his backpack Its four sides display the words ldquoReligion is for the weakrdquo As an evangelism technique itrsquos rather out-of-the-box He opens his Pastoral Care Companion sips coffee and waits Itrsquos the perfect lure for this fisher of men Soon schools of students stream past with sideways glances and double takes as they spot the box and step around it A student stops to ask about the box An hour later about a dozen have come and gone The first student is still there talking to the missionary DeGrootrsquos warm smile and genuine interest in the students put them at ease They eagerly challenge him and he asks them to defend their beliefs The exchanges are lively and honest And then the sidewalk is suddenly empty Itrsquos time to head home
The missionary will be back another day with his box and the Gospel
Philadelphiarsquos Sole LCMS PastorUrban ministry in Philadelphia began about 15 years ago when area Lutherans and suburban congregations formed Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM) to ldquoenliven the city through proclamation of liberty in Christrdquo At the time not a single LCMS parish existed within the city limits Today DeGroot is the sole full-time LCMS pastor serving the city of Philadelphia The magnitude of his call weighs heavily on him Assisting DeGroot is the Rev Rob Kieslowsky part-time executive director of PLM whose parish is located just outside the city limits The two who together with their wives carry out the core work of PLM are optimistic about the opportunities in this urban mission field sober about its challenges and realistic about the sparse resources at their disposal What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is for
the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo At breakfast DeGroot plans his day and downs his coffee before packing the supplies hersquoll need He hopes to make two home visitations before heading downtown As he zips up his coat therersquos a knock at the door from a weary Iraqi woman Shersquos heard about the pastor and is desperate for his help in finding her son whorsquos been imprisoned in Baghdad for nine years DeGroot listens to her and tells her about a God who loves her and her son so much that He sent His Son to save them He speaks of Christ who knows her suffering because He suffered on the cross for her He comforts her with Godrsquos Word and offers a prayer for her and her son promising to help in whatever way he can When DeGroot has to leave his wife Melissa a trained deaconess collects more information about the womanrsquos missing son DeGroot walks briskly to the home of parishioners suffering from family strife The two women are delighted to see their pastor who comes to listen pray share
The Rev Adam DeGroot new national missionary and pastor of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church talks with Kayla ldquoKekerdquo Hiemenz (left) and Mildred Williams during a home visitationSince the visit the Lord has called Williams to her eternal home
8 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
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ERI
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
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COM
MUN
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
Godrsquos Word and sing a hymn of comfort With the sign of the cross he blesses them and heads to the bus stop to make his way downtown DeGroot and his family live in the parsonage of Shepherd of the City Lutheran Church on the cityrsquos northeast side The ethnically diverse neighborhood has seen better days it is rife with crime drug abuse prostitution and gang activity mdash all within walking distance The fledgling parish struggles to exist The church building badly in need of repair houses a slowly growing congregation that will likely never be able to financially support its pastor Yet inside her walls the Good News of Jesus Christ is preached and His Sacraments provide a weekly feast for souls impoverished by sin Bible class a meal and food distribution to the poor follow the Sunday service
Mission Field USAPhiladelphia is like so many urban centers across the country that have been long abandoned by the church But as
immigrants and professional workers have come to the city looking for a new life it has become a ripe mission field ready for the harvest The LCMS through the Office of National Missionrsquos (ONM) ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative is actively partnering with districts congregations and Recognized Service Organizations to place missionaries like DeGroot ldquoWe are responding because there is a needrdquo says the Rev Bart Day ONM executive director ldquoDistricts want to remain engaged in ministry on the fringe in hard places where the reward is great but where the funding models are a challenge We believe that through partnerships that support the worker (salary and benefits) we can keep ministry happening in the most needful placesrdquo DeGroot joins a growing number of LCMS missionaries He is one of the first national missionaries whose salary and benefits are covered by a network of support from across the Synod ldquoWe are sending network-supported
missionaries just like we do internationally These missionaries will tell their stories visiting congregations and schools And as they do they will build a network of people who love them pray for them and financially support themrdquo Day says ldquoWe believe that the Synod will respond to domestic missionaries People see the tremendous opportunities we have in our own backyard for mission work The United States is the third-largest mission field in the worldrdquo
Deaconess Pamela J Nielsen is associate executive director for LCMS Communications
Learn more View the photo gallery
lcmsorgphotodegroot
Read more about DeGroot and other national and international missionaries lcmsorgmissionaries
Contact the Rev Steven Schave at StevenSchavelcmsorg to learn more about the ldquoMission Field USArdquo initiative
What does the city need DeGroot confidently answers ldquoThe need is
for the Gospel and the pronunciation of the forgiveness of sinsrdquo
The Rev Adam DeGroot comforts a woman in his familyrsquos parsonage in Philadelphia The woman was asking for information regarding her missing son
DeGroot talks to students at Temple University in Philadelphia
9JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
copy 2
016
LCM
S
10 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
Percent
50 or more 20 to 49 10 to 19 05 to 09 Less than 05
ldquoLk I te y lift up yr eyes and s at e fields are white for harvestrdquo (John 435)
WHOrsquoS IN YOUR BACKYARD WHERE FOREIGN-BORN RESIDENTS LIVE
BELIEVE SCRIPTURE IS WORD OF GOD
BELIEVE IN GOD WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY
LIVE IN URBAN AREAS
US BORN
LIVE IN RURALAREAS
OF USPOPULATION
IS AFRICAN-AMERICAN2534 PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE
SPREAD ACROSS 72 OF US LAND AREA
I N T E R N AT I O N A LSTUDENTS STUDIES IN
ndash MISSION IMMIGRANTS ndash
ndash MISSION CAMPUS ndash
ndash MISSION GENERAL POPULATION ndash
64
ASIAN MEXICAN
immigrants outpace
IMMIGRANTS TO US
52HISPANIC
OTHER
EUROPEAN amp CANADIAN
ORIGINS OF THE US IMMIGRANT POPULATION
258
1 3OU
TO
F
142
AS
IAN
8Statistical portrait of the foreign-born population in
the United States 1960ndash2013
SPANISH 44
CHINESE 6
KOREAN 2FRENCH 3
VIETNAMESE 3
HINDI 5
FILIPINOTAGALOG 4
ENGLISH 16
ALL OTHER 19
LANGUAGE
S S
PO
KEN
AM
ON
G US
IMMIGRANTS
CA
LIFOR
NIA NEW YORK
TEXAS
52
807
64
FOR
EIGN 36
136
50MILLENNIALS (COLLEGE AND YOUNG ADULTS)
INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE STUDENTS
20300000 TOTAL UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE STUDENTS
974926
RAPID GROWTH IN NUMBER OF
2007 2014Adults in US 2272M 2448M
Adults who are 366M 558Mreligiously unaffiliated
Religiously unaffiliated 210M 361Madults saying religion is not important in their lives
2010JEWS 18
BUDDHISTS 12
MUSLIMS 09
OTHER 06
HINDUS 06
2050JEWS 14
BUDDHISTS 14
MUSLIMS 21
OTHER 15
HINDUS 12
FOLK RELIGIONS 05
89652335
RELIGIOUS COMPOSITION
OF THE US 2010-2050
ADULTS WHOBELIEVE IN GOD
SAY RELIGIONIS NOTIMPORTANTIN THEIR LIVES
ADULTS THAT ARE RELIGIOUSLYUNAFFILIATED
MILLENNIALSUNAFFILIATEDRELIGIOUSLY
CHRISTIANS
UNAFFILIATED
MUSLIMS 73
35
34
16
CHRISTIANS
HINDUS
JEWS
ISLAM GROWING FASTEST
Muslims are the only major religious
group projected to increase faster
than the worldrsquos population as a whole by 2050
ESTIMATED CHANGE IN POPULATION SIZE 2010-2050
lt 35 growth in overall global population
Data
Sou
rces
Pew
Res
earc
h Ce
nter
(pew
researchorg) a
nd U
nite
d St
ates
Cen
sus B
urea
u (censusg
ov)
783 | 664
164 | 256
BLACK MINISTRY lcmsorgblackministry
HISPANIC MINISTRY lcmsorghispanicministry
RURAL amp SMALL TOWN MISSION lcmsorgrstm
URBAN amp INNER-CITY MISSION lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS amp OUTREACH MINISTRY lcmsorgwitness-outreach
YOUTH MINISTRY lcmsorgyouth
CAMPUS MINISTRY lcmsorglcmsu
GOSPEL SEEDS lcmsorggospelseeds
RELIGIOUS ldquoNONESrdquo
THE HISPANIC
POPULATION REACHED A HIGH OF 554 MILLION IN 2014
Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding Figures may not add to 100 due to rounding
RELIGIONS 02
FOLK
15
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
PHOT
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In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
PUYA by Roger Drinnon
THE STORY OF A MIDDLE EASTERN REFUGEE IN GERMANY
As France and Mali have fallen victim to recent terror attacks launched by the Islamic State (also called ISIS) and Al Qaeda-linked groups these acts of terror further complicate an already difficult question regarding the churchrsquos role of mercy toward Middle Eastern refugees Many of these refugees also have suffered at the hands of Islamist extremists
Yet in the shadow of these events the bright light of the Gospel shines in the darkness as the LCMSrsquo partner church body in Germany the Selbstaumlndige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche (SELK) cares for the stranger in its midst Here is one story among many of how this ministry is making a difference
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201612
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
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OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
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ERI
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LUN
SFOR
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
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LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
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16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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OS L
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in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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ING
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Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
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THI
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OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
PUYA ldquoI had all these questions about Islam
that the Koran and the [local] imam could not answerrdquo Puya says ldquoI knew something was not rightrdquo
He says the more he learned about Christ the more things made sense to him The Gospel helped him cope with his parentsrsquo deaths and the anxiety stemming from that trauma
ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo Puya says
However when he began to share what he was learning about Jesus with others Puya says one of his friends reported him to the local imam who instructed the orphanage to deny Puya any food Some people had falsely accused him of being paid by outsiders to evangelize When the imam and others observed Puya was no longer praying at the local mosque Puya says he was driven from the Iraqi orphanage due to death threats originating from the imam
So he fled for his life to German y
Today Puya is a refugee in Berlin where he attends Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde (Trinity Lutheran Church) in Berlin-Steglitz a congregation of the SELK
The Rev Dr Gottfried Martens pastor of Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde has been
receiving refugees and catechizing them for decades In the early 1990s following the fall of the Berlin Wall he ministered to East Germans who previously lived under atheist communist rule with no pastoral care while also caring for refugees coming to Germany from Russia
In 2011 he baptized his first former Muslim a refugee from Iran That same year Martens would go on to baptize a second Since then he has baptized hundreds of refugees the majority of whom come from Iran and some from Afghanistan Now as more than a million Middle Eastern asylum-seekers are flooding into Europe many are knocking on Martensrsquo door He said so many are coming to his church that he averages only four hours of sleep a night
In a Nov 15 service at the church Martens baptized 10 more refugees who had completed rigorous catechesis and an examination of their faith and who also demonstrated consistent church attendance As they renounced Satan in the baptismal rite each catechumen also openly renounced Islam
More than 300 fellow refugees attended the service With the pews and balcony so full extra chairs were brought out into the aisles to seat more while others stood in the stairwells Puya whom Martens had catechized and baptized sometime ago was one of the communion assistants during the service
As his eyes well up with tears a young man who goes by the name Puya recalls how mujahedeen militants in Afghanistan murdered his parents when he was a child forcing him to flee to Iraq where he was placed in an orphanage He says while in the orphanage he met someone who discreetly introduced him to Christianity
Far left refugees read through a translated copy of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism Center an Iranian Christian refugee talks with the Rev Markus Fischer pastor of St Trinitatisgemeinde a SELK congregation in Leipzig Germany during a Bible study for Iranian and other refugees Right the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens hugs a refugee following Bible study
Refugees gather for communion and blessings as the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens leads worship at the Dreieinigkeits-Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Berlin-Steglitz Germany Above inset Puya (left) is a convert to Christianity ldquoI saw the Bible as truth by learning about Jesusrsquo love and His death on the crossrdquo he says
13JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage
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nspire
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
In light of the already strained capacity and infrastructure of Germany to handle the influx of Middle Eastern refugees the LCMS is coming alongside its German partner church and her congregations as they bear mercy to the refugees literally knocking at their doors
At the recommendation of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia the Office of International Mission authorized a $100000 grant from donated mercy funds to support SELK congregations in providing food shelter transportation language instruction and the proclamation of the Gospel to people once considered impossible to
reach The Synod also has established a new fund mdash ldquoChristrsquos Care for the Persecuted and Displaced Mercy for Body and Soulrdquo mdash to help provide assistance to refugees
For good reason the Church continues to confess that ldquonothing will be impossible with Godrdquo (Luke 137)
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services for LCMS Communications
Learn more Read a related Reporter article blogslcms
org2015synod-walks-with-german-partner
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotorefugee-care-germany
Make a gift lcmsorggivenowccpd
Far left Baptism candles bear the Christian names of Muslim converts Left translated Bibles lie on the table next to photographs of refugees helped by the Rev Thomas Seifert pastor of Paul-Gerhardt Gemeinde a SELK congregation in Braunschweig Germany Below the Rev Dr Gottfried Martens baptizes new Christians after they renounced Islam
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 201614 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
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CMS
COM
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IONS
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D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
Bread for Body amp Soul
A
mdash Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
Ramirez brought the idea of adding a soup kitchen to the Rev Joshua Gale LCMS missionary and pastor of the Lima congregation and Deaconess Caitlin Worden LCMS missionary and director of Castillo Fuerte In March the new afternoon meal was served for the first time For a symbolic price of only 1 sol (about 30 cents) 25 to 30 kids now enjoy favorite Peruvian dishes before attending educational lessons and chapel services at Castillo Fuerte every weekday afternoon
As Ramirezrsquos involvement in the mercy house increased mdash transitioning from a volunteer to an employee mdash so did his involvement in the church located just one floor below the mercy house
Ramirez asked Gale numerous questions about the faith As Gale responded Ramirezrsquos interest in the Lutheran church grew until eventually he attended his first service at Castillo Fuertersquos church Right away Ramirez noticed a difference He no longer felt judged or like he needed to work for his salvation
ldquoI remember the first time that I attended a Divine Service here in La Victoriardquo Ramirez said ldquoIt had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
t Castillo Fuerte a mercy house operated by LCMS missionaries
in Lima Peru dozens of kids are being fed through the addition of a soup kitchen while the kitchenrsquos chef also is being fed with the bread of life
In May 2014 Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos attended Coffee and Conversation an English outreach program organized by the Rev Mark Eisold LCMS career missionary to Peru There he learned about how Castillo Fuerte mdash which means ldquoMighty Fortressrdquo in Spanish mdash was providing mentoring tutoring Lutheran instruction and a Christian refuge for children of the impoverished La Victoria district of Lima
Ramirez began volunteering at Castillo Fuerte and he met with a representative of La Victoria to discuss the needs of the local children With many parents working in the local market all day for low wages he learned that many of the children went without lunch after school ended at 1 pm
He saw an opportunity to use his culinary skills mdash honed during four years of culinary school and eight years of working in restaurants mdash to help Castillo Fuerte increase its service to the community
by Daniel Fickenscher
In August he became the first confirmed member of the congregation
Thanks to the soup kitchen Gale said attendance has increased and more families have become connected to the church During a recent activity children even referred to Castillo Fuerte as their ldquosecond homerdquo
ldquoThe [soup kitchen] has allowed us to be involved with them and their families to where they feel at home here a place built around our altar and pulpit meaning they feel at home where Godrsquos gifts are givenrdquo Gale said
With two new Castillo Fuerte locations set to open in Lima in early 2016 even more children volunteers and staff will be able to find this sense of Christian community and refuge in the Lutheran church
Daniel Fickenscher is the Synodrsquos communications specialist for Latin America and the Caribbean
Learn more lcmsorgperu
ldquo It had a big impact hellip it changed the way that I was thinking of the Divine Servicerdquo
Jeancarlos Ramirez Zevallos
JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 15lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY|MOMENT
PHOT
OS J
EANC
ARLO
S RA
MIR
EZ Z
EVAL
LOS
AND
ERIK
M L
UNSF
ORD
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
The men he discovered were new in town factory workers struggling to assimilate into Arkansas after leaving Puerto Rico
Orlando and Martin spent time in Bible study with the men and ldquothe very next day Orlando picked them all up and brought them to church where three found a homerdquo Martin explains ldquoEven as they wait to bring their own families here from Puerto Rico these three men have been embraced by our family of faith and incorporated into our ministryrdquo
Their need is not uncommonldquoMany Hispanic families are hurtingrdquo
Martin says ldquoSome in ways that are evident physical or relational needs Others in ways that are hidden so focused on the American dream that they donrsquot recognize their spiritual emptiness They need guidance they need
real community but above all they need the forgiveness and the freedom of the Gospelrdquo
Enter Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark where Martin serves as associate pastor and leads the churchrsquos Hispanic congregation mdash Iglesia Luterana Cristo Para Todos or Christ for All Lutheran Church On any given Sunday at Salem visitors and members will observe two languages 10 nations and three Divine Services Yet itrsquos still one church That Martin says is true convivencia (life together)
ldquoIn most other settings and even in the church these differences often cause divisionrdquo he says ldquoWe have our challenges yet there is a genuine love and warmth in this congregation that flows from our faith in Jesus Christrdquo
Bridging BackgroundsStarted in 2002 Cristo Para Todos grew under the pastoral care of Brazilian church planter Rev Tardeli Voss Later the congregation ldquocame to Salem Lutheran Church hellip seeking primarily a space to worship and reach out to the communityrdquo Before long the two were ldquojoined together into one multiethnic churchrdquo Martin explains Since then ldquoour gracious God has developed a multiethnic Gospel partnership that bridges cultures backgrounds and languagesrdquo
ldquoWe are blessed with an ever-increasing population of Hispanics in the United Statesrdquo agrees the Rev Bart Day executive director of the LCMS Office of National Mission ldquoThe opportunities abound to connect these people to the Body of Christ Key in making these connections will be reaching outside our usual boundaries and outside our typical boxesrdquo
Godrsquos service to His people through His gifts of Word and Sacrament is the first line of defense in breaking down those barriers Three Divine Services are held each week at Salem one in Spanish at Cristo Para Todos and two in English
ldquoOur Spanish worship service is uniquely Lutheran and uniquely Hispanicrdquo Martin explains ldquoIt is a Christ-centered celebration of Word and Sacrament where broken people gather to be made whole in the Gospel There is both great reverence and deep emotionrdquo
One such emotion is joy observed weekly during the sharing of the peace
ldquoMost Anglo congregations shake a few hands with the people around them and quickly move onrdquo he notes But Cristo Para Todos members ldquotake the time to greet every person mdash often with a hug It takes a while but itrsquos our way of saying lsquoWelcome home You belong herersquordquo
A regularly held bilingual service for both congregations also helps members ldquorecognize and celebrate our common bond
by Adriane Heins
17JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
OS L
CMS
COM
MUN
ICAT
IONS
ERI
K M
LUN
SFOR
D
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
in Christrdquo Martin explains ldquoThere are always moments of humor tension and delight as we determine when to begin mdash American time or Latino time mdash and how to share the peace mdash do I hug those peoplerdquo
But as with any family those situations give way to discussion and growth ldquoWe are learning and growingrdquo he notices ldquoas a family of faithrdquo Convivencia
Blessings and ChallengesLike any LCMS congregation Cristo Para Todos still has its own unique set of challenges
ldquoHow do we continue to actively develop cross-cultural understanding and appreciation so that we can serve together and share facilities without divisionsrdquo Martin wonders ldquoHow do we incorporate into the church second-generation Hispanics who live between two worlds and languages often preferring English while identifying themselves as Latinordquo
Other challenges present more practical needs ldquoHow do we equip parents to be spiritual leaders in their homes when they cannot read or write the same language as their childrenrdquo he questions ldquoHow do we develop disciples among families in transition And how do we use our family connections throughout Latin America to share Godrsquos Word beyond our bordersrdquo
But fed by Christrsquos Word and Sacraments the members of Cristo Para Todos are strengthened not only to face those challenges but they also are emboldened for the work of caring for their own community with Christ-centered compassion
ldquoUsing the Spanish version of Gospel Seeds [a program of the LCMS that assists congregations in meeting their communityrsquos underserved needs] we train congregations intent on reaching out to Hispanics to walk alongside them in their physical mercy needs as Pastor Martinrsquos congregation is doing so wellrdquo explains the Rev Dr Carlos Hernandez director of both LCMS Hispanic Ministry and the Gospel Seeds program ldquoWhen we care for peoplersquos human physical needs like Jesus did in healing the sick and
feeding the hungry the Holy Spirit touches hearts and opens opportunities to share a verbal Gospel witnessrdquo
The congregation takes part in ldquoProject Compassion which serves the critical needs of our communityrdquo Martin says and also offers an English-as-a-Second-Language program and the use of its Family Life Center for youth sports and other activities ldquoOur English classes serve one of the greatest needs of our Hispanic neighbors while also providing a loving community that shares the Good News of Jesusrdquo
The cherry on top ldquoEvery fall we host the Festival of Nations a celebration of the cultures within our churchrdquo Martin explains Thanksgiving celebrations recently included ldquoa bilingual service and an international meal In addition to turkey and the works we also savored pupusas pozole and arroz con pollo hellip Lutheran potluck at its best
ldquoI am convincedrdquo he says ldquothat convivencia is much richer when Hispanics are involvedrdquo
God-Given OpportunitiesAs cultures languages and Lutherans continue to convene at Cristo Para Todos Martin sees continual opportunities for prayer ldquothat the Lord of the harvest hellip will raise up bilingual laborers in Northwest Arkansas and throughout the United Statesrdquo and that ldquoGod would open our eyes and hearts to the millions of immigrants and their children in our midstrdquo
And as for convivencia Martin gives thanks for it hellip and that ldquoGod has brought the nations here including millions from Latin America and given us the opportunity to show mercy give witness and enjoy life togetherrdquo
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical Information for LCMS Communications
Learn more About LCMS Hispanic Ministry
lcmsorghispanicministry
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphotocristo-para-todos
Top church members and guests line up for a fellowship meal following a bilingual service at Salem Lutheran Church in Springdale Ark Center children learn Spanish Christmas songs at Salem Bottom the Rev Brandon Martin (right) Salemrsquos associate pastor greets members before a bilingual service
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
PHOT
O C
ONCO
RDIA
PUB
LISH
ING
HOUS
E
Grants Support Gospel Proclamation at 45 Urban Lutheran Schools by Megan K Mertz
The grants were made possible by children in 38 states who brought in their nickels dimes and dollars for ldquoBig City Mission Tools for Schoolrdquo mdash the mission project included in Concordia Publishing Housersquos 2015 ldquoCamp Discoveryrdquo vacation Bible school program
More than $92000 was received from 260 churches and groups and the LCMS added extra funding to bring the total up to $100000 The grants will support Gospel proclamation efforts at urban Lutheran schools by helping them provide tangible care to students through things like lunches school supplies playground equipment and tuition assistance
One of the schools to receive a grant was Christ the King Lutheran School in downtown Chicago which has 35 students in preschool through eighth grade
Geraldine Brazeal Christ the Kingrsquos principal said she was ldquoelatedrdquo to hear the news
ldquoWe have a lot of children in the school who come at 6 am and usually
stay until 6 pm but not all the parents qualify for child-care initiatives If they werenrsquot here with us they would be home alonerdquo she said ldquoRather than turn people away that need our after-school program we plan to use part of the funding to assist those families that would not be able to attendrdquo
She said the remainder of the grant will be used for the violin program which prepares future church musicians to attend better high schools and qualify for college scholarships
ldquoOur mission is to reach out to those who donrsquot know Jesus Christrdquo she continued noting how the school makes it a priority to accept unchurched students and then involves those families in worship at Christ the King Lutheran Church at least once a month
The school has a Baptism rate of about 25 percent Brazeal said because ldquothe Lord provides hellip and God works through all that the staff are doingrdquo
ldquoI cannot thank our donors enough for their overwhelming response in supporting urban missions through Big City Missionrdquo said the Rev Steven Schave director of UICM and LCMS Church Planting who was responsible for distributing the funding
ldquoLutheran education through our urban schools is one of the greatest ways for us to reach out to the families in our inner-city neighborhoods and to show we carerdquo Schave continued ldquoPeople in these communities are very interested to see how you care for their children and elderly residents and offering a good education speaks volumes And of course the ultimate goal is to bring these families into the life of the church and to teach the faith to the students An education is life-changing and when it is centered in the Gospel it is truly transformationalrdquo
Learn more lcmsorgcitymission
WITNESS|MOMENT
Forty-five LCMS schools in urban areas all over the country recently got some surprising news They were nominated by their district education executive to receive a grant of approximately $2200 from LCMS Urban amp Inner-City Mission (UICM)
19JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
Straight from the PresidentThe latest news and highlights mdash delivered to your inbox
Visit lcmsorglifetogetherdigest to sign up
A new digital digest packed with features selected from Synod publications and multimedia outlets is available from the Office of the President Pastors church workers and laity will all find useful information to aid the whole church as we live and work together to proclaim the Gospel and bear Christrsquos mercy to one another in our congregations communities and the world
WORLDWIDE
The Leader in Christ-Centered Programming
lcmsorgprojectcatalog
Find a special national or international mission project YOU can champion
Have questions Contact LCMS Mission Advancement at 888-930-4438 or missionadvancementlcmsorg
20 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
We are beginning to overtly encourage Godrsquos people to consider giving an annual unrestricted
(undesignated) donation to the LCMS Irsquove been told that Irsquom off my rocker for even thinking about doing this So why do it
Itrsquos a stewardship issue Itrsquos not the most exciting one but it is immensely important to the mission of the church Yet we donrsquot quite know how to articulate just why this kind of donation is so vital Bear with me as I attempt to share some of what Irsquove been thinking Irsquod be interested to hear your thoughts as well
Routine MaintenanceA few years ago I took our car to one of those quick oil-change places As I was driving home I checked the rearview mirror and saw a trail of fluid on the road behind me The oil was draining out of the engine at an alarming rate I quickly turned around and headed back to the service shop where the mechanic found the culprit The ring seal on the new oil filter had slipped out of place He made the repair and an expensive disaster was averted
The engine in your car without enough oil flowing through it will eventually fail Without oil parts canrsquot move together as quickly or smoothly as designed They will get hot bind or break and the engine will seize up
The same is true with a congregation a parochial school and even our Synodrsquos national office
Follow the TrailWhen people express frustration about what the Synod is or isnrsquot doing we sometimes discover that the root of the frustration is found in a steady decades-long decline in unrestricted gifts which come mostly from the offering plate Like oil unrestricted funds donrsquot restrict motion mdash they lubricate it Our ldquooilrdquo as a Synod is spilling out of the engine Frustrated that the Synod doesnrsquot support seminaries at more significant levels Look at what is happening to the unrestricted funds because thatrsquos where seminary subsidies come from The Synod not paying the full freight of international mission work including missionaries Look at the unrestricted funds
Some pieces of the Synod Inc machine can only be funded using unrestricted dollars paying down debt like the historic loans of our treasured university system elected officers and boards various constitutionally mandated commissions the independent audit of the Synodrsquos finances legal services compliance with state and federal laws and the list goes on These things are all parts of the engine and many are rightly the responsibility
of the whole LCMS mdash all of us who claim affiliation Most have an important role to play in our Synodrsquos mission some we have no choice about Take one or more of those parts out and the machine begins to sputter clank and grind And we get frustrated angry or anxious
For decades our oil level has been falling The joy of designating a donation for something specific has overwhelmed the simple act of taking care of what God has already provided I for one donrsquot want to look in the rearview mirror and see signs that our capability to do important work in Jesusrsquo name is being compromised because I failed to lift up this vitally essential element mdash the value of the unrestricted gift
In the new year how can we ldquowalk togetherrdquo so that we continue vigorously to make known the love of Jesus in word and deed at home and abroad I believe there is value in checking the condition of our oil every so often mdash and topping it off with good oil mdash so that the various parts perform as we all want and expect Wersquore beginning to encourage unrestricted gifts to ensure this can happen
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS Mission Advancement
by Mark Hofman
CHECKING THE OILThe Case for the Unrestricted Gift
PHOT
O IS
TOCK
THI
NKST
OCK
21JanuaryndashFebruary 2016 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
STEWARDS|CORNERnvolve
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
This magazine was developed for you as one who has supported the Witness Mercy Life Together work of the LCMS with your time andor financial gifts Whether your efforts and gifts were for disaster relief a specific ministry or an individual missionary you are a vital part of the Synodrsquos work around the world The stories found in these pages are about how YOU are making a difference and changing lives with the Gospel and Christrsquos mercy Lutherans Engage the World is our effort to keep you informed about the difference you are making in the world and to say THANK YOU for all you do
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONUS POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WIPermit No 12
OUR PRESENCE AS LUTHERANS IN WITTENBERG
The dedication of the renovated Old Latin School as the International Lutheran Center in Wittenberg Germany opens new doors to proclaiming Christrsquos salvation and deepening the understanding of the Reformation begun in 1517 You can be a part of itBy Godrsquos grace our Synod is close to completely funding this exciting renovation work through specially designated offerings You can help make that dream a reality with a special Wittenberg Project gift or by giving another gift
Follow our progress at thewittenbergprojectorg or call LCMS Mission Advancement at 800-248-1930 Ext 1661 Let us share ways you can stand with Luther to proclaim
ldquoFor by grace you have been saved through faith And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boastrdquo (Eph 28ndash9)
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