eNews #150: LCMS Highlights the Mission of LWML...

LCMS Highlights the Mission of LWML in January 2015

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is the official women’s auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). In January, the LCMS is highlighting its role in the international mission field, and the LWML is pleased to be part of this emphasis. For almost 75 years, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to support global missions.

On Sunday, January 25, 2015, the LCMS is encouraging all member churches to emphasize the missions and ministries of the LWML. The LWML will also be emphasized on the LCMS website and other media sources on January 25:

All churches will be sent access to a special bulletin insert and an article highlighting the resources available through the LWML.
A special prayer will be available on the LCMS website.
The LWML will be referenced on all social media, including the LCMS Facebook page and its Twitter account.
LWML will be highlighted on the LCMS scrolling graphic on the home page of their website.
All churches will be encouraged to receive a special offering to support the 2013-2015 LWML mission grant goal of $1.83 million.

Andy Bates, host of the KFUO morning program, will interview LWML President Kay Kreklau on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 from 7:30-8:00 a.m. She will share her insights on the LWML’s mission emphasis.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) offers ideal resources for anyone wishing to share the Gospel of Jesus. Hundreds of downloadable Bible studies, devotions, skits, and program helps are found at www.lwml.org. Products and resources may also be ordered from the LWML Store. Just click on the shopping cart link.

The most important resource of the LWML is the women who serve with joy and want to share Jesus with you!

President Kreklau once concluded a speech with these words, “Just like the many courageous women who founded the LWML, we must look beyond the traditional, looking to Jesus as our example. Jesus’ focus was His mission, and that is where our focus should be as well! We look forward to the future with joyful anticipation of how far we will go and what we will accomplish with the Lord’s guidance always before us. We are the women of the LWML, Serving the Lord with Gladness!”

Resources from the LCMS for highlighting the mission of LWML are also available here:

More Mission Grants Funded

In thankful response for all God has given to His children, and as a result of faithful prayer and mite* giving, the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) is pleased to announce more Mission Grants for the 2013-2015 biennium have been funded:

An installment of $10,000 for Support of Lutheran Public Radio. This grant helps assure that the radio and Internet show, “Issues, Etc.,” can continue to proclaim the Gospel and provide a better understanding of contemporary social issues in a Christian context. An additional $15,000 remains to be given to complete this grant.

The Native American Outreach Training Center in Fairbanks, Alaska has received final grant funding of $45,000. This grant will provide support to Lutheran Indian Ministries for the development of an Alaskan Mission Training Center, which will provide training for volunteers and Natives to reach out with the Gospel message to communities throughout Alaska. Paid in full!

Partial payment of $20,000 for Worship for Shut-ins. This grant will help to fund the production, marketing, and distribution of the weekly “Worship for Shut-ins” DVD program, produced by Lutheran Ministries Media. An additional $20,000 remains to be paid to complete this grant.

You may help fund the remaining mission grants of this biennium and meet our national mission goal of $1.83 million. By God’s grace, your mite offerings, along with the contributions of other LWML supporters, help meet this mission goal. In addition, each district has their own mission grant goal. You may also donate to the LWML through your local society and a portion of this donation is sent to national to support national mission grants. You may donate online at www.lwml.org and checks or money orders may be designated as missions and mailed to Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, 3558 S Jefferson Ave, St Louis, MO 63118.

*What are mites? Based on the Biblical account of the widow's mite (Luke 21:1-4), mites are monetary gifts placed in the Mite Box, sacrificially given by supporters of the LWML. These gifts are offerings above and beyond the support given to our congregations and The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. You may read more about this and order your own Mite Box at www.lwml.org.

LWML President Kreklau Witnesses to the Philippines …

And They Witness to Her!

On Saturday, November 15, 2014, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) President Kay Kreklau landed in Manila, in the Philippines, on the Island of Luzon. President Kay and Deaconess Grace Rao, director of deaconess ministries for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), then traveled north to the Lutheran Theological Seminary and Training Center in Baguio City. With an LWML Mission Grant of $80,000 from the 1959-1961 biennium and assistance from our partner church in the Philippines, the land was purchased and the seminary was built. While Deaconess Grace spent time teaching President Kay visited with seminary students. Kay shared, “There are 18 students right now in this five year program (seminary - 8 first year, 3 second year, 1 at vicarage, 5 seniors; deaconess program – 1). The students have a two year vicarage, split in two terms. One term is in a rural congregation and one is in an urban congregation.” She spent time with one of the senior students who is 22. He stated he has wanted to be a pastor all his life and he wants to serve in the rural areas. The cost of this seminary education is 10,000 Pesos (approximately $230) per year plus 2,000 Pesos (approximately $45) per month for accommodations.

Almost exactly one year before President Kreklau landed in Manila, Typhoon Haiyan hit and devastated the Philippines. Since that time The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has sent about $1 million to help the Philippines recover from the tremendous impact of the typhoon. President Kay was able to attend disaster training led by Director of LCMS Disaster Response Rev. Ross Johnson.

Less than a week after her return to the States, President Kay issued a prayer request as Typhoon Hagupit bore down on the Philippines. She was in communication with one deaconess student named Irene, who is 17 and from Leyte. Irene shared that people were scared and running, store shelves were empty and that she was losing power and did not know when she would be able to communicate again. On Monday, December 8, another communication shared relief and thankfulness to God. Irene wrote of the goodness of God and the gratefulness for all the prayers from her brothers and sisters in Christ across the ocean.

“It’s hard to explain,” President Kay said, “Those of us who have so many material possessions may consider the students of the seminary and deaconess students in the Philippines to be in want, but they have an incredible faith and trust in the Lord. Their riches abound!”

President Kreklau will speak more about this trip during an interview with Andy Bates, host of the KFUO morning program, on Wednesday, January 14, 2015 from 7:30-8:00 a.m. Tune in to http://www.kfuoam.org and click on the “On Air” icon to listen live! Share the excitement of missions witnessed firsthand!

LWML President Kreklau Visits the Czech Republic

On Sunday, December 14, 2014, Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) President Kay Kreklau joined a group from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Prague, Czech Republic for a conference with the Silesian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession (SECAC). “In 2010, the LCMS and the SECAC, who are not in altar and pulpit fellowship, signed a working agreement describing how the two churches will work in the area of human care and in the realm of theological education and conferences.”¹ The group of LCMS leaders included Deaconess Grace Rao, director of deaconess ministries for the LCMS, Deaconess Dorothy Krans, director of RSOs, Rev. Dr. Albert Collver, director of church relations and assistant to LCMS President Matthew Harrison, Rev. Peter Lange, 1st vice-president of the Kansas District and pastor at St. John's in Topeka, Kansas, Rev. Tony Booker, regional director of Eurasia, and Rev. James Krikava, missionary and associate regional director of Eurasia.

Along with their involvement in the conference, the group enjoyed visiting numerous sites including the Jesus Church, a Lutheran church located in Cieszyn, Poland. It is one of the largest Protestant churches in Poland.

President Kay values the collaboration with the Office of International Mission and the LWML looks forward to continuing its support of LCMS missionaries and the Lord’s work.

For additional information and comment on this trip, go to the Witness, Mercy, Life Together blog at http://wmltblog.org/.

¹(Quote from December 19, 2014, post: Witness, Mercy, Life Together blog entitled “Visit to the Silesian Lutherans (Bohemia)” by Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver, Director of LCMS Church Relations/Regional Operations – read more at http://wmltblog.org/category/alcollver/.)

2015 LWML Prayer Service

"God-Given Hats"

This 2015 Prayer Service, authored by Rev. Kris Whitby, is designed to give worshipers the opportunity to lift up before our Lord their confessions, their supplications and petitions, and their praises as such prayers relate to the various God-given hats we wear. Our Lord graciously has called us to various stations in life. They are the “hats we wear” in His world. We are His children, baptized into Jesus’ death and resurrection. We daily die to sin and rise as new creatures in Christ. Our Lord blesses us to take this amazing identity as His forgiven children into the vocations to which He has called us. We are members of our families, workers in the workplace, citizens, and members of our communities. Beyond our vocations, by His grace, we are members of His Church, and members of the local gathering of the body of believers, the congregation. To Christ be the glory!

The theme Scripture passage for this service is 1 Timothy 2:1-4: First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Pastor Kris Whitby has a long-standing connection to the LWML. He served as pastoral counselor in the Florida-Georgia and Northern Illinois districts before becoming the LWML Pastoral Counselor, 2009-2013. He also met his wonderful wife, Marguerita, at an LWML retreat. Pastor Kris authored a Bible study, “At Table with Jesus,” that is available from LWML, and he is a contributor to Mustard Seed Devotions. Pastor Kris currently serves as Senior Pastor at Saint Paul Lutheran Church and School, Mount Prospect, Illinois, and is the North Region Vice President of the LCMS Northern Illinois District.

The Prayer Service is designed to be used at any time, by large or small groups. It is an abbreviated worship service, and for the first time it is available in PowerPoint formats for congregations who use video projection, as well as a printable booklet format in two sizes. Download everything you need for this service at www.lwml.org.

LWML—Lutheran Women in Mission