Entries for February 2010

Two Society Activity Ideas.  Are you looking for an activity that your zone or society could do as a field trip or servant event? Here are two ideas that are happening in the Milwaukee area. Both are happening in the former Pilgrim Lutheran School building, now known as our Ministry Center. 

Good News - a pick-up stop has been added in Platteville. 

Bus Trip to Mission Central! Thirty-two people have signed up for the bus trip to Mission Central in Iowa; however there is still room for you!  We will travel on Thursday, April 29 to Denison, Iowa, where we will stay at the Super 8 Motel.  An extended breakfast including cereal, waffles, juice, etc. each morning will be included.

On Friday, April 30, we will spend most of the day at Mission Central.  Missionary Gary will give us the grand tour.  He indicates that they will have a special day for us and they will have some real surprises for us!  He will do his best to schedule a Missionary Family to visit with us and says we will be so surprised at what they will have for us.  They will also provide us with a big "farm meal" at noon at no charge to us. It will be a day everyone will long, long, long remember.

On Saturday, May 1, we will visit the Orphan Grain Train headquarters in Norfolk, Nebraska. They will have a special servant event planned for us. 

Pick-ups are scheduled for Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Madison and Platteville.

Sunday, May 2, will begin with an 8:30 a.m. worship service in the barn at Mission Central after which we will head for home. 

Dress is CASUAL for all events. We will schedule some fun things for the bus intermingled with rest stops and lunch breaks.

Registration forms are available through the Mission Trips page, left. Seating is limited and registrations are due APRIL 1.

You may not be accustomed to visiting You Tube, but try following this link.  LCMS WM has compiled videos of first-hand accounts of how our church and others are reaching out in Haiti.

LCMS World Mission Videos

LWML GRANT GIVEN TO LIGHT OF CHRIST CHINESE LUTHERAN MISSION.  The Missouri District of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod began the Light of Christ Chinese Lutheran mission program in 2000. Because of the large Asian population living in Olivette (St. Louis County), Missouri, and adjoining communities, the Light of Christ Chinese Mission has been established in the facilities of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Olivette. The primary focus of the mission is to reach, teach, and baptize those who do not know Jesus as their Savior.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) voted at the Portland LWML Convention in June 2009 to grant $75,000 to help support the work of Rev. Dr. Paul Shaw and the Light of Christ Chinese Lutheran Mission as they reach out to Asian community. The LWML rejoices that the full amount of this grant has been paid.

LWML President Janice Wendorf and LWML Public Relations Director Edie Norris, were privileged to worship at the Light of Christ Mission on Sunday, January 31, 2010. During the visit to the mission, there was the opportunity to tour the facility and observe many of the classes offered. After worship and a time of fellowship, President Wendorf shared, “Rev. Paul and Becky Shaw have worked tirelessly in sharing the gospel with the Asian community in the greater St. Louis area. The LWML is pleased to partner with them as they continue this essential work. The importance of the funding of this LWML grant is reaffirmed by the knowledge that many who come to the mission for only a short time while in the United States, will return to China and tell others about their Savior. Many will stay and carry on the work of spreading the Good News in their community.”

Light of Christ serves over 140 people on a typical Sunday. Dozens more are served through parenting and citizenship classes, health fairs, and other bridges to the Chinese community. Sunday church services are conducted in the Mandarin Chinese language with an English translator for young children and for English-speaking people who attend.

The Winter 2010 Issue of Christian Life Newsletter is available for download in Publications.  Included is information and registration form for District Convention, an article on motivating and encouraging others, and more!

Linda Christensen, VP of Human Care and Grants, reports that she has been in contact with a representative of Trinity/Hope Church in Haiti.  The schools will be back running again as of Monday, February 1st.  Praise God. The school we are supporting with Grant #9  is First Lutheran in Les Cayes (le Ki) . It was not damaged and the government is allowing the children back to school on February 1. Our help cannot come at a better time. God certainly knows what He is doing.

Three Mission Grants Funded.  As the 2008-2010 biennium nears the end, we report that Mission Grants 7, 8, and 9 have been fully funded. It is awesome how the Lord uses these mites of our South Wisconsin District to work in so many ways to share the Good News.

Grant #7 – Bibles for Inner City Milwaukee Outreach - $5,000. This grant will enable the members of Mission of Christ Lutheran Church to purchase Bibles and Christian literature to distribute to 1000 children and families in this diverse ethnic population located in the inner city of Milwaukee.

Grant #8 – Cistern for Lutheran Church, Chiquimula, Guatemala - $1,098. This grant will be used to construct a cistern to provide clean fresh water for the church, under construction, and the parsonage. The water supply is not stable, often only available during the night. About 70 children are being served in pre-school and after school programs in this small rural church. Rev. Tiburcio Giron and his wife Carmelina have been ministering to the people of Chiquimula for about 8 years, working with the poorest of the poor, holding services mainly in their rented home. The congregation has been saving for many years to build the church now under construction.

Grant #9 – Trinity/Hope Hot Lunch for Haitian Schools - $5,000. The goal of this grant is to more adequately meet the physical needs of the hungry children in our Hatian Lutheran Schools. It is hoped that they will be healthier, have more energy and be more receptive to the Word of the Lord, by receiving a daily hot lunch in the school setting. By demonstrating this physical, caring concern for these children, it is hoped that this will be one way of witnessing and sharing the love of Christ. We pray that this is a way for the Holy Spirit to work on the hearts of the people to discredit the Voodoo teaching that God is unapproachable and non-responsive to Haitans. In the wake of the recent trauma with earthquakes, this is quite timely.