President Patti and VP of Gospel Outreach Shelley attended chapel at the LCMS International Center and presented checks for Young Adult Corps and Renovation of JEM Seminary Buildings — Nigeria, fully funding grants #17 and #4.
… to provide safe shelter to at risk pregnant women and their babies. Our residents also received life skills classes and mental health counseling to improve their ability to care for their children.
The grant was used to cover housing expenses including mortgage costs, food, utilities, resident counseling, and supplies for mothers and babies.
Danielle came to Redeeming Life completely homeless and abandoned by her boyfriend. While here, she was able to get employment, save enough money to purchase a small car, and begin putting her life back together. Danielle was confirmed in the faith and her dear baby was baptized.
Many of our residents feel unlovable and rejected. We minister to them and help them see how very valuable they are to God. By helping us meet their physical needs, we have an opportunity to share the lifesaving Gospel, and whenever possible, witness the Holy Baptism of their children.
— Redeeming Life Outreach Ministries
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
Watch this video from Redeeming Life Maternity Home, and hear one resident's story.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
LCMS Disaster Response on the scene with volunteers in Perryville, MO, making use of a Disaster Response Trailer that was made possible through an LWML Mission Grant.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
Much has transpired at Navajo this year. There have been baptisms and growth at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo, New Mexico. Joyfully we report that Native people have been instructed and confessed their faith in Jesus Christ. Volunteer teams have served the community helping with Vacation Bible School where over 71 children attended. Many of these were new families to the church. Weekly cultural art classes for children in the community were started, and a cultural exchange week took place when Alaskan Native brothers and sisters traveled to Navajo to share food, dance, and story. Two of the individuals are trained facilitators in the “Beauty for Ashes” program, which is a faith-based conference designed to educate and train individuals on how to interact with, work with, and respond to those whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence, abuse, and neglect. This event opened the door for individuals to gather and share their stories of hurt and pain in order to begin a journey of restoration to wholeness.
As Vicar Tim Norton continues his seminary training in the Cross Cultural Ministry Program at Concordia University — Irvine, he is applying what he learns to those who come to Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo. After meeting with a father, mother, and four children, all were baptized on Christmas Day. What joy they experienced! Sadly, less than a month later, while attending the annual Lutheran Indian Ministries’ staff gathering, Vicar Tim received a text message: The cousin of the mom was killed in a car accident on the mountain roads in Arizona. How many young Native lives are cut short — in one way or another. The need to proclaim Christ is urgent! We, as Lutheran Women in Mission, are helping, with our mite offerings, to make that proclamation.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
WOW! What an awesome God we have! The Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) was provided a $100,000 grant from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) which was matched by a separate challenge grant making the total $200,000 for scholarships. With the help of the Holy Spirit that could mean twice as many pastors!
The Global Seminary Initiative was started in 2013 by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod at convention and has only begun to return graduates to their native countries. The end result of these scholarships can take many years to develop but already students are anxious to finish schooling and return home to share the Gospel. One student from Madagascar speaks of men he knows from India and Saudi Arabia who also want to become pastors. In Madagascar, the Lutheran Church has about 4.5 million members and is opening at least one new church a week. Can you imagine — one new church a week? With this kind of growth the need for pastors is tremendous. This student, with his training in our seminaries, will definitely be a candidate to train others who also want to be pastors.
Another scholarship recipient, Sergi Maschewski, trained at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2000 and returned to his native Ukraine where he has now been elected bishop of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church in Ukraine and is seeking altar and pulpit fellowship with the LCMS. It is difficult to imagine how many lives these two men will change and bring to Jesus. As women of the LWML we are blessed through their accomplishments.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
Since receiving the grant money from the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has been able to grant 26 Disaster Response Trailer Grants spread throughout 21 districts! Each participating organization provided one-third of the funding toward the purchase of a trailer stocked with disaster response equipment and supplies. The $80,000 received from the LWML has multiplied into nearly $270,000 for equipment.
Presently, trailers are being made and the tools are being shipped to the receiving organizations. These organizations have promised to maintain the equipment and use them: generally in Mercy work throughout the year and specifically for Disaster Response when the need arises. LCMS Disaster Response provides a ministry of presence before, during, and after a disaster giving the volunteers a better position to speak the comforting truths of the Gospel to the individuals and families affected. This grant is helping to build our partners’ capacity to respond with Christian care to needs within the church and throughout our communities.
Additionally, while the intent of this equipment is for use in disaster response, it can certainly be used at other times. Disaster volunteers are encouraged to maintain their training in “down times’ by putting their equipment and training to good use, aiding those in their congregation and community who need assistance with maintaining their homes. In this way, they are provided with additional opportunities to act and speak of the love of Christ which motivates them in their love for others.
It is, indeed, a blessing to support this worthwhile grant with our mite offerings and continued prayers.
For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.
