Lutherans E NG AGE t h e W O R L D May – June 2015, Vol. 3, Issue 5
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD
May ndash June 2015 Vol 3 Issue 5
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 224
4 Teaching the Faith to
Strengthen Congregations
5 The Secret Lives of Seminarians
9 From Foster Care to Adulthood
15 Mission Friends 16 Rethinking Educational Ministries
within Congregations
888-THE LCMS (843-5267)
lcmsorg
May ndash June 2015 vol 3 no 5
inspire
Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD
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 2015 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 Holy Bible English Standard Versionreg (ESVreg) copyright copy 2001
by Crossway Bibles a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers Used by permission All rights reserved
16
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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involve
engageinform
S T A F F
David L Strand executive director communications
Pamela J Nielsen executive editor
Erica Schwan manager design services
Megan K Mertz managing editorstaff writer
Erik M Lunsford photojournaliststaff writer
Lisa Moeller designer
Chrissy A Thomas designer
2 10 Questions
10 Global Seminary Initiative
12 First Graduations Take Place at
LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
21 Tackling Godrsquos Mission lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E
314-996-1215
1333 S Kirkwood Road
St Louis MO 63122-7295
lutheransengagelcmsorg
lcmsorglutheransengage
DELIVERING THE FAITH
ldquoI found it necessary to write appealing to you to
contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to
the saintsrdquo (Jude 13)
Itrsquos who we are Itrsquos what we do best In this issue of
Lutherans Engage the World wersquore talking about how we ithe LCMS deliver the faith
Confirmation Sunday school Bible class and vacationBible school are familiar in our parishes bringing youngand old together to learn and grow in Godrsquos Word What isdelivered flows from and points back to alta r and pulpit where the one holy Christian and apostolic faith isproclaimed in Word and Sacrament Check out our storyabout how an LCMS parish has made education mdash andespecially confirmation mdash a top priority
In our two seminaries we vigorously prepare futurepastors and deaconesses to deliver the faith in the Synodrsquocongregations and institutions Almost unique among
American seminaries our seminaries place a high value studying Godrsquos Word in the original languages along withthe careful study of Godrsquos Word and Lutheran doctr ine aninstruction in applying these things to the care of souls
Worldwide the LCMS is highly regarded for our expertisein teaching the faith Te most common request from our36 partner churches is ldquoHelp us train our pastors so theyin turn ca n teach the children of Godrdquo Trough the GlobSeminary Initiative (GSI) we are meeting those requests Your prayers and gifts are making it possible for us to sendtheologians to teach in partner seminaries and for thebest students from around the world to study at LCMSseminaries
Strengthening the GSI the Chemnitz Library Projectis making it possible for Lutheran seminaries andseminarians around the globe to access and study the verbest theological commentaries textbooks and resources
Tank you for your ongoing support that enables Lutheraneverywhere to ENGAGE the world with the Word of life
ake a few moments to read about the difference you aremaking by Godrsquos grace as the Church does what she doebest delivering the faith that was delivered once for all tothe saints
In Christ
Pamela J Nielsen
Associate Executive Director
LCMS Communications
Cover image Ann Anderson
(right) director of Childrenrsquos
Ministries at Mount Calvary
Lutheran Church in Holdrege
Neb laughs with a student
during a Sunday school class
PHOTO LCMS COMMUNICATIONSERIK M LUNSFORD
12
2
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7 Whatrsquos the rationale behind your
teaching methods and the
curriculum used
First is the concept of disciples Nurturingdisciples is different than ldquotaking a classrdquo orldquolearning a teachingrdquo It involves the head-to-heart connection that shapes a personSecond is supporting parents in their biblicalrole of being the primary faith nurturers ina childrsquos life hellip Credibility increases whena student hears a consistent message athome and at church Third is our emphasison relationships We intentionally workto build relationships in every aspectof ministry
8Do you employ any special teaching or
learning concepts
In our youth program we have four masterteachers who are each training up anadditional master teacher successor ina two-year curriculum for a particularlevel hellip Students gather in small groupsof peers with an adult small-group leaderwho mentors and guides discussions todeeper relevance
9How do you compare your parish
education now to 10 years ago
Our approach to discipleship started in 1999with Pastor Al Klatt before my tenure atBLC He had a vision to develop followersof Jesus who grew in faith nurtured by theirfamily supported by their church communityand mentored by master teachers andsmall-group leaders I came on board in2004 My role was to put the process intomotion train up leaders communicate withfamilies and leaders and monitor the needsof youth to continue to focus on relevancy
10How do you compare your youth
education now to what you had
as a youth
In many ways what we have developedat BLC is not new We strive to encouragebelievers at all ages to remember we growas disciples of Jesus our entire lives Asdisciples we learn how to share our faithevery day in simple ways
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial
Services for LCMS Communications
View photos from Brookfield Lutheran
Church lcmsorgphotobrookfield2015
Children make crosses from
fronds during a hands-on act
at Brookfield Lutheran Churc
3MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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nspire
ldquoGo therefore and make disciples of allnations baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit teaching them to observeall that I have commanded you
And behold I am with you alwaysto the end of the agerdquo (Matt 2819ndash20)
Teaching the FaithtoStrengthen
CongregationsTe task of teaching in the church is given to the pastor but not
the pastor alone Each of us in our daily vocations and stations of
life has a role to play in teaching the faith to those placed into our
care Te LCMS has a long and rich history of pastors who are strong
teachers mdash pastors who are well-trained and equipped to teach the
Word of God to children and adults But there are even more We
rejoice in Lutheran educators who not only teach core academic
subjects but also the faith in our day schools We have been
blessed with directors of Christian education who are uniquely
trained to help lead and support the work of teaching the faith in
our congregations
As the entire church talks about revitalizing and strengthening
congregations letrsquos keep Christian education as a critical part of
those conversations
Our Lord always keeps two things together baptizing and
teaching One doesnrsquot go on without the other Tis is still
the pattern in the life of the church First baptize then teach
Tis issue of Lutherans Engage the World focuses on the topic
of parish education mdash the content of the faith the teaching and
sharing of the faith with the next generation Why is this done
How is this done Who does it What does it look like at home and
around the world
In recent years a few lone voices have lamented that Christian
education has taken a back seat in too many congregations All the
way back in the 1990s the LCMS concluded that if a congregation
seeks to strengthen its impact on faith and loyalty involving
members of all ages in quality Christian education is essential
A recent study conducted jointly by the Institute for Religious
Education at Concordia University Nebraska and the LCMS Office
of National Mission is giving further clarity to the relationship
between strong Christian education and healthy congregations
As we talk about the health and vitality of congregations the
importance of the role of Christian education cannot be overstated
In His name
Rev Bart Day
Executive Director LCMS Office of National Mission
Members chat during fellowship time at Living Faith
Lutheran Church in Cumming Ga
4 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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TheSecretLives
by Adriane Heins
H
983141rsquo983155 983137 C983148983137983154983147 K983141983150983156 983148983151983151983147-983137983148983145983147983141 a
millennial from Worland Wyo who likes
comics and wonrsquot turn down a cup of good
coffee His name is Jacob Benson and hersquos studyingto be a pastor at Concordia Teological Seminary
Fort Wayne Ind
Benson considered becoming a pastor while in
college where he noticed that ldquoreligious movements
especially Christianity were compartmentalized to the
point that the voices of actual adherents were muffledrdquo
He expressed his frustration to his father along
with his desire to blend true theological dialogue with
teaching and mercy work ldquoHe told me that sounded
a lot like being a pastor and I told him that was the
stupidest thing Irsquod ever heardrdquo Benson recalls ldquowo
years later Irsquom at the seminaryrdquoTe Rev Marcus Zill director of LCMS U the
Synodrsquos campus-ministry arm also was formative in
Bensonrsquos life ldquoWhen we first metrdquo Benson recalls ldquoI
had shoulder-length dreadlocks and would rather
debate whether or not Paul actually wrote the letter to
the Ephesians than hear anything he had to say about
Jesus or the Churchrdquo
But Zill ldquoslowly shepherded me back to orthodoxy
and in the process became like an older brother to
Seminarian Jacob Benson chats over coffee at
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Ind
5MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
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ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 224
4 Teaching the Faith to
Strengthen Congregations
5 The Secret Lives of Seminarians
9 From Foster Care to Adulthood
15 Mission Friends 16 Rethinking Educational Ministries
within Congregations
888-THE LCMS (843-5267)
lcmsorg
May ndash June 2015 vol 3 no 5
inspire
Lutherans ENGAGE the WORLD
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 2015 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 Holy Bible English Standard Versionreg (ESVreg) copyright copy 2001
by Crossway Bibles a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers Used by permission All rights reserved
16
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 324
involve
engageinform
S T A F F
David L Strand executive director communications
Pamela J Nielsen executive editor
Erica Schwan manager design services
Megan K Mertz managing editorstaff writer
Erik M Lunsford photojournaliststaff writer
Lisa Moeller designer
Chrissy A Thomas designer
2 10 Questions
10 Global Seminary Initiative
12 First Graduations Take Place at
LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
21 Tackling Godrsquos Mission lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E
314-996-1215
1333 S Kirkwood Road
St Louis MO 63122-7295
lutheransengagelcmsorg
lcmsorglutheransengage
DELIVERING THE FAITH
ldquoI found it necessary to write appealing to you to
contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to
the saintsrdquo (Jude 13)
Itrsquos who we are Itrsquos what we do best In this issue of
Lutherans Engage the World wersquore talking about how we ithe LCMS deliver the faith
Confirmation Sunday school Bible class and vacationBible school are familiar in our parishes bringing youngand old together to learn and grow in Godrsquos Word What isdelivered flows from and points back to alta r and pulpit where the one holy Christian and apostolic faith isproclaimed in Word and Sacrament Check out our storyabout how an LCMS parish has made education mdash andespecially confirmation mdash a top priority
In our two seminaries we vigorously prepare futurepastors and deaconesses to deliver the faith in the Synodrsquocongregations and institutions Almost unique among
American seminaries our seminaries place a high value studying Godrsquos Word in the original languages along withthe careful study of Godrsquos Word and Lutheran doctr ine aninstruction in applying these things to the care of souls
Worldwide the LCMS is highly regarded for our expertisein teaching the faith Te most common request from our36 partner churches is ldquoHelp us train our pastors so theyin turn ca n teach the children of Godrdquo Trough the GlobSeminary Initiative (GSI) we are meeting those requests Your prayers and gifts are making it possible for us to sendtheologians to teach in partner seminaries and for thebest students from around the world to study at LCMSseminaries
Strengthening the GSI the Chemnitz Library Projectis making it possible for Lutheran seminaries andseminarians around the globe to access and study the verbest theological commentaries textbooks and resources
Tank you for your ongoing support that enables Lutheraneverywhere to ENGAGE the world with the Word of life
ake a few moments to read about the difference you aremaking by Godrsquos grace as the Church does what she doebest delivering the faith that was delivered once for all tothe saints
In Christ
Pamela J Nielsen
Associate Executive Director
LCMS Communications
Cover image Ann Anderson
(right) director of Childrenrsquos
Ministries at Mount Calvary
Lutheran Church in Holdrege
Neb laughs with a student
during a Sunday school class
PHOTO LCMS COMMUNICATIONSERIK M LUNSFORD
12
2
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7 Whatrsquos the rationale behind your
teaching methods and the
curriculum used
First is the concept of disciples Nurturingdisciples is different than ldquotaking a classrdquo orldquolearning a teachingrdquo It involves the head-to-heart connection that shapes a personSecond is supporting parents in their biblicalrole of being the primary faith nurturers ina childrsquos life hellip Credibility increases whena student hears a consistent message athome and at church Third is our emphasison relationships We intentionally workto build relationships in every aspectof ministry
8Do you employ any special teaching or
learning concepts
In our youth program we have four masterteachers who are each training up anadditional master teacher successor ina two-year curriculum for a particularlevel hellip Students gather in small groupsof peers with an adult small-group leaderwho mentors and guides discussions todeeper relevance
9How do you compare your parish
education now to 10 years ago
Our approach to discipleship started in 1999with Pastor Al Klatt before my tenure atBLC He had a vision to develop followersof Jesus who grew in faith nurtured by theirfamily supported by their church communityand mentored by master teachers andsmall-group leaders I came on board in2004 My role was to put the process intomotion train up leaders communicate withfamilies and leaders and monitor the needsof youth to continue to focus on relevancy
10How do you compare your youth
education now to what you had
as a youth
In many ways what we have developedat BLC is not new We strive to encouragebelievers at all ages to remember we growas disciples of Jesus our entire lives Asdisciples we learn how to share our faithevery day in simple ways
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial
Services for LCMS Communications
View photos from Brookfield Lutheran
Church lcmsorgphotobrookfield2015
Children make crosses from
fronds during a hands-on act
at Brookfield Lutheran Churc
3MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
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nspire
ldquoGo therefore and make disciples of allnations baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit teaching them to observeall that I have commanded you
And behold I am with you alwaysto the end of the agerdquo (Matt 2819ndash20)
Teaching the FaithtoStrengthen
CongregationsTe task of teaching in the church is given to the pastor but not
the pastor alone Each of us in our daily vocations and stations of
life has a role to play in teaching the faith to those placed into our
care Te LCMS has a long and rich history of pastors who are strong
teachers mdash pastors who are well-trained and equipped to teach the
Word of God to children and adults But there are even more We
rejoice in Lutheran educators who not only teach core academic
subjects but also the faith in our day schools We have been
blessed with directors of Christian education who are uniquely
trained to help lead and support the work of teaching the faith in
our congregations
As the entire church talks about revitalizing and strengthening
congregations letrsquos keep Christian education as a critical part of
those conversations
Our Lord always keeps two things together baptizing and
teaching One doesnrsquot go on without the other Tis is still
the pattern in the life of the church First baptize then teach
Tis issue of Lutherans Engage the World focuses on the topic
of parish education mdash the content of the faith the teaching and
sharing of the faith with the next generation Why is this done
How is this done Who does it What does it look like at home and
around the world
In recent years a few lone voices have lamented that Christian
education has taken a back seat in too many congregations All the
way back in the 1990s the LCMS concluded that if a congregation
seeks to strengthen its impact on faith and loyalty involving
members of all ages in quality Christian education is essential
A recent study conducted jointly by the Institute for Religious
Education at Concordia University Nebraska and the LCMS Office
of National Mission is giving further clarity to the relationship
between strong Christian education and healthy congregations
As we talk about the health and vitality of congregations the
importance of the role of Christian education cannot be overstated
In His name
Rev Bart Day
Executive Director LCMS Office of National Mission
Members chat during fellowship time at Living Faith
Lutheran Church in Cumming Ga
4 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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TheSecretLives
by Adriane Heins
H
983141rsquo983155 983137 C983148983137983154983147 K983141983150983156 983148983151983151983147-983137983148983145983147983141 a
millennial from Worland Wyo who likes
comics and wonrsquot turn down a cup of good
coffee His name is Jacob Benson and hersquos studyingto be a pastor at Concordia Teological Seminary
Fort Wayne Ind
Benson considered becoming a pastor while in
college where he noticed that ldquoreligious movements
especially Christianity were compartmentalized to the
point that the voices of actual adherents were muffledrdquo
He expressed his frustration to his father along
with his desire to blend true theological dialogue with
teaching and mercy work ldquoHe told me that sounded
a lot like being a pastor and I told him that was the
stupidest thing Irsquod ever heardrdquo Benson recalls ldquowo
years later Irsquom at the seminaryrdquoTe Rev Marcus Zill director of LCMS U the
Synodrsquos campus-ministry arm also was formative in
Bensonrsquos life ldquoWhen we first metrdquo Benson recalls ldquoI
had shoulder-length dreadlocks and would rather
debate whether or not Paul actually wrote the letter to
the Ephesians than hear anything he had to say about
Jesus or the Churchrdquo
But Zill ldquoslowly shepherded me back to orthodoxy
and in the process became like an older brother to
Seminarian Jacob Benson chats over coffee at
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Ind
5MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
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me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 324
involve
engageinform
S T A F F
David L Strand executive director communications
Pamela J Nielsen executive editor
Erica Schwan manager design services
Megan K Mertz managing editorstaff writer
Erik M Lunsford photojournaliststaff writer
Lisa Moeller designer
Chrissy A Thomas designer
2 10 Questions
10 Global Seminary Initiative
12 First Graduations Take Place at
LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
21 Tackling Godrsquos Mission lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
E D I T O R I A L O F F I C E
314-996-1215
1333 S Kirkwood Road
St Louis MO 63122-7295
lutheransengagelcmsorg
lcmsorglutheransengage
DELIVERING THE FAITH
ldquoI found it necessary to write appealing to you to
contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to
the saintsrdquo (Jude 13)
Itrsquos who we are Itrsquos what we do best In this issue of
Lutherans Engage the World wersquore talking about how we ithe LCMS deliver the faith
Confirmation Sunday school Bible class and vacationBible school are familiar in our parishes bringing youngand old together to learn and grow in Godrsquos Word What isdelivered flows from and points back to alta r and pulpit where the one holy Christian and apostolic faith isproclaimed in Word and Sacrament Check out our storyabout how an LCMS parish has made education mdash andespecially confirmation mdash a top priority
In our two seminaries we vigorously prepare futurepastors and deaconesses to deliver the faith in the Synodrsquocongregations and institutions Almost unique among
American seminaries our seminaries place a high value studying Godrsquos Word in the original languages along withthe careful study of Godrsquos Word and Lutheran doctr ine aninstruction in applying these things to the care of souls
Worldwide the LCMS is highly regarded for our expertisein teaching the faith Te most common request from our36 partner churches is ldquoHelp us train our pastors so theyin turn ca n teach the children of Godrdquo Trough the GlobSeminary Initiative (GSI) we are meeting those requests Your prayers and gifts are making it possible for us to sendtheologians to teach in partner seminaries and for thebest students from around the world to study at LCMSseminaries
Strengthening the GSI the Chemnitz Library Projectis making it possible for Lutheran seminaries andseminarians around the globe to access and study the verbest theological commentaries textbooks and resources
Tank you for your ongoing support that enables Lutheraneverywhere to ENGAGE the world with the Word of life
ake a few moments to read about the difference you aremaking by Godrsquos grace as the Church does what she doebest delivering the faith that was delivered once for all tothe saints
In Christ
Pamela J Nielsen
Associate Executive Director
LCMS Communications
Cover image Ann Anderson
(right) director of Childrenrsquos
Ministries at Mount Calvary
Lutheran Church in Holdrege
Neb laughs with a student
during a Sunday school class
PHOTO LCMS COMMUNICATIONSERIK M LUNSFORD
12
2
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 524
7 Whatrsquos the rationale behind your
teaching methods and the
curriculum used
First is the concept of disciples Nurturingdisciples is different than ldquotaking a classrdquo orldquolearning a teachingrdquo It involves the head-to-heart connection that shapes a personSecond is supporting parents in their biblicalrole of being the primary faith nurturers ina childrsquos life hellip Credibility increases whena student hears a consistent message athome and at church Third is our emphasison relationships We intentionally workto build relationships in every aspectof ministry
8Do you employ any special teaching or
learning concepts
In our youth program we have four masterteachers who are each training up anadditional master teacher successor ina two-year curriculum for a particularlevel hellip Students gather in small groupsof peers with an adult small-group leaderwho mentors and guides discussions todeeper relevance
9How do you compare your parish
education now to 10 years ago
Our approach to discipleship started in 1999with Pastor Al Klatt before my tenure atBLC He had a vision to develop followersof Jesus who grew in faith nurtured by theirfamily supported by their church communityand mentored by master teachers andsmall-group leaders I came on board in2004 My role was to put the process intomotion train up leaders communicate withfamilies and leaders and monitor the needsof youth to continue to focus on relevancy
10How do you compare your youth
education now to what you had
as a youth
In many ways what we have developedat BLC is not new We strive to encouragebelievers at all ages to remember we growas disciples of Jesus our entire lives Asdisciples we learn how to share our faithevery day in simple ways
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial
Services for LCMS Communications
View photos from Brookfield Lutheran
Church lcmsorgphotobrookfield2015
Children make crosses from
fronds during a hands-on act
at Brookfield Lutheran Churc
3MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 624
nspire
ldquoGo therefore and make disciples of allnations baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit teaching them to observeall that I have commanded you
And behold I am with you alwaysto the end of the agerdquo (Matt 2819ndash20)
Teaching the FaithtoStrengthen
CongregationsTe task of teaching in the church is given to the pastor but not
the pastor alone Each of us in our daily vocations and stations of
life has a role to play in teaching the faith to those placed into our
care Te LCMS has a long and rich history of pastors who are strong
teachers mdash pastors who are well-trained and equipped to teach the
Word of God to children and adults But there are even more We
rejoice in Lutheran educators who not only teach core academic
subjects but also the faith in our day schools We have been
blessed with directors of Christian education who are uniquely
trained to help lead and support the work of teaching the faith in
our congregations
As the entire church talks about revitalizing and strengthening
congregations letrsquos keep Christian education as a critical part of
those conversations
Our Lord always keeps two things together baptizing and
teaching One doesnrsquot go on without the other Tis is still
the pattern in the life of the church First baptize then teach
Tis issue of Lutherans Engage the World focuses on the topic
of parish education mdash the content of the faith the teaching and
sharing of the faith with the next generation Why is this done
How is this done Who does it What does it look like at home and
around the world
In recent years a few lone voices have lamented that Christian
education has taken a back seat in too many congregations All the
way back in the 1990s the LCMS concluded that if a congregation
seeks to strengthen its impact on faith and loyalty involving
members of all ages in quality Christian education is essential
A recent study conducted jointly by the Institute for Religious
Education at Concordia University Nebraska and the LCMS Office
of National Mission is giving further clarity to the relationship
between strong Christian education and healthy congregations
As we talk about the health and vitality of congregations the
importance of the role of Christian education cannot be overstated
In His name
Rev Bart Day
Executive Director LCMS Office of National Mission
Members chat during fellowship time at Living Faith
Lutheran Church in Cumming Ga
4 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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TheSecretLives
by Adriane Heins
H
983141rsquo983155 983137 C983148983137983154983147 K983141983150983156 983148983151983151983147-983137983148983145983147983141 a
millennial from Worland Wyo who likes
comics and wonrsquot turn down a cup of good
coffee His name is Jacob Benson and hersquos studyingto be a pastor at Concordia Teological Seminary
Fort Wayne Ind
Benson considered becoming a pastor while in
college where he noticed that ldquoreligious movements
especially Christianity were compartmentalized to the
point that the voices of actual adherents were muffledrdquo
He expressed his frustration to his father along
with his desire to blend true theological dialogue with
teaching and mercy work ldquoHe told me that sounded
a lot like being a pastor and I told him that was the
stupidest thing Irsquod ever heardrdquo Benson recalls ldquowo
years later Irsquom at the seminaryrdquoTe Rev Marcus Zill director of LCMS U the
Synodrsquos campus-ministry arm also was formative in
Bensonrsquos life ldquoWhen we first metrdquo Benson recalls ldquoI
had shoulder-length dreadlocks and would rather
debate whether or not Paul actually wrote the letter to
the Ephesians than hear anything he had to say about
Jesus or the Churchrdquo
But Zill ldquoslowly shepherded me back to orthodoxy
and in the process became like an older brother to
Seminarian Jacob Benson chats over coffee at
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Ind
5MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 924
Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
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ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
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7 Whatrsquos the rationale behind your
teaching methods and the
curriculum used
First is the concept of disciples Nurturingdisciples is different than ldquotaking a classrdquo orldquolearning a teachingrdquo It involves the head-to-heart connection that shapes a personSecond is supporting parents in their biblicalrole of being the primary faith nurturers ina childrsquos life hellip Credibility increases whena student hears a consistent message athome and at church Third is our emphasison relationships We intentionally workto build relationships in every aspectof ministry
8Do you employ any special teaching or
learning concepts
In our youth program we have four masterteachers who are each training up anadditional master teacher successor ina two-year curriculum for a particularlevel hellip Students gather in small groupsof peers with an adult small-group leaderwho mentors and guides discussions todeeper relevance
9How do you compare your parish
education now to 10 years ago
Our approach to discipleship started in 1999with Pastor Al Klatt before my tenure atBLC He had a vision to develop followersof Jesus who grew in faith nurtured by theirfamily supported by their church communityand mentored by master teachers andsmall-group leaders I came on board in2004 My role was to put the process intomotion train up leaders communicate withfamilies and leaders and monitor the needsof youth to continue to focus on relevancy
10How do you compare your youth
education now to what you had
as a youth
In many ways what we have developedat BLC is not new We strive to encouragebelievers at all ages to remember we growas disciples of Jesus our entire lives Asdisciples we learn how to share our faithevery day in simple ways
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial
Services for LCMS Communications
View photos from Brookfield Lutheran
Church lcmsorgphotobrookfield2015
Children make crosses from
fronds during a hands-on act
at Brookfield Lutheran Churc
3MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
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nspire
ldquoGo therefore and make disciples of allnations baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit teaching them to observeall that I have commanded you
And behold I am with you alwaysto the end of the agerdquo (Matt 2819ndash20)
Teaching the FaithtoStrengthen
CongregationsTe task of teaching in the church is given to the pastor but not
the pastor alone Each of us in our daily vocations and stations of
life has a role to play in teaching the faith to those placed into our
care Te LCMS has a long and rich history of pastors who are strong
teachers mdash pastors who are well-trained and equipped to teach the
Word of God to children and adults But there are even more We
rejoice in Lutheran educators who not only teach core academic
subjects but also the faith in our day schools We have been
blessed with directors of Christian education who are uniquely
trained to help lead and support the work of teaching the faith in
our congregations
As the entire church talks about revitalizing and strengthening
congregations letrsquos keep Christian education as a critical part of
those conversations
Our Lord always keeps two things together baptizing and
teaching One doesnrsquot go on without the other Tis is still
the pattern in the life of the church First baptize then teach
Tis issue of Lutherans Engage the World focuses on the topic
of parish education mdash the content of the faith the teaching and
sharing of the faith with the next generation Why is this done
How is this done Who does it What does it look like at home and
around the world
In recent years a few lone voices have lamented that Christian
education has taken a back seat in too many congregations All the
way back in the 1990s the LCMS concluded that if a congregation
seeks to strengthen its impact on faith and loyalty involving
members of all ages in quality Christian education is essential
A recent study conducted jointly by the Institute for Religious
Education at Concordia University Nebraska and the LCMS Office
of National Mission is giving further clarity to the relationship
between strong Christian education and healthy congregations
As we talk about the health and vitality of congregations the
importance of the role of Christian education cannot be overstated
In His name
Rev Bart Day
Executive Director LCMS Office of National Mission
Members chat during fellowship time at Living Faith
Lutheran Church in Cumming Ga
4 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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TheSecretLives
by Adriane Heins
H
983141rsquo983155 983137 C983148983137983154983147 K983141983150983156 983148983151983151983147-983137983148983145983147983141 a
millennial from Worland Wyo who likes
comics and wonrsquot turn down a cup of good
coffee His name is Jacob Benson and hersquos studyingto be a pastor at Concordia Teological Seminary
Fort Wayne Ind
Benson considered becoming a pastor while in
college where he noticed that ldquoreligious movements
especially Christianity were compartmentalized to the
point that the voices of actual adherents were muffledrdquo
He expressed his frustration to his father along
with his desire to blend true theological dialogue with
teaching and mercy work ldquoHe told me that sounded
a lot like being a pastor and I told him that was the
stupidest thing Irsquod ever heardrdquo Benson recalls ldquowo
years later Irsquom at the seminaryrdquoTe Rev Marcus Zill director of LCMS U the
Synodrsquos campus-ministry arm also was formative in
Bensonrsquos life ldquoWhen we first metrdquo Benson recalls ldquoI
had shoulder-length dreadlocks and would rather
debate whether or not Paul actually wrote the letter to
the Ephesians than hear anything he had to say about
Jesus or the Churchrdquo
But Zill ldquoslowly shepherded me back to orthodoxy
and in the process became like an older brother to
Seminarian Jacob Benson chats over coffee at
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Ind
5MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
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me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 524
7 Whatrsquos the rationale behind your
teaching methods and the
curriculum used
First is the concept of disciples Nurturingdisciples is different than ldquotaking a classrdquo orldquolearning a teachingrdquo It involves the head-to-heart connection that shapes a personSecond is supporting parents in their biblicalrole of being the primary faith nurturers ina childrsquos life hellip Credibility increases whena student hears a consistent message athome and at church Third is our emphasison relationships We intentionally workto build relationships in every aspectof ministry
8Do you employ any special teaching or
learning concepts
In our youth program we have four masterteachers who are each training up anadditional master teacher successor ina two-year curriculum for a particularlevel hellip Students gather in small groupsof peers with an adult small-group leaderwho mentors and guides discussions todeeper relevance
9How do you compare your parish
education now to 10 years ago
Our approach to discipleship started in 1999with Pastor Al Klatt before my tenure atBLC He had a vision to develop followersof Jesus who grew in faith nurtured by theirfamily supported by their church communityand mentored by master teachers andsmall-group leaders I came on board in2004 My role was to put the process intomotion train up leaders communicate withfamilies and leaders and monitor the needsof youth to continue to focus on relevancy
10How do you compare your youth
education now to what you had
as a youth
In many ways what we have developedat BLC is not new We strive to encouragebelievers at all ages to remember we growas disciples of Jesus our entire lives Asdisciples we learn how to share our faithevery day in simple ways
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial
Services for LCMS Communications
View photos from Brookfield Lutheran
Church lcmsorgphotobrookfield2015
Children make crosses from
fronds during a hands-on act
at Brookfield Lutheran Churc
3MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 624
nspire
ldquoGo therefore and make disciples of allnations baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit teaching them to observeall that I have commanded you
And behold I am with you alwaysto the end of the agerdquo (Matt 2819ndash20)
Teaching the FaithtoStrengthen
CongregationsTe task of teaching in the church is given to the pastor but not
the pastor alone Each of us in our daily vocations and stations of
life has a role to play in teaching the faith to those placed into our
care Te LCMS has a long and rich history of pastors who are strong
teachers mdash pastors who are well-trained and equipped to teach the
Word of God to children and adults But there are even more We
rejoice in Lutheran educators who not only teach core academic
subjects but also the faith in our day schools We have been
blessed with directors of Christian education who are uniquely
trained to help lead and support the work of teaching the faith in
our congregations
As the entire church talks about revitalizing and strengthening
congregations letrsquos keep Christian education as a critical part of
those conversations
Our Lord always keeps two things together baptizing and
teaching One doesnrsquot go on without the other Tis is still
the pattern in the life of the church First baptize then teach
Tis issue of Lutherans Engage the World focuses on the topic
of parish education mdash the content of the faith the teaching and
sharing of the faith with the next generation Why is this done
How is this done Who does it What does it look like at home and
around the world
In recent years a few lone voices have lamented that Christian
education has taken a back seat in too many congregations All the
way back in the 1990s the LCMS concluded that if a congregation
seeks to strengthen its impact on faith and loyalty involving
members of all ages in quality Christian education is essential
A recent study conducted jointly by the Institute for Religious
Education at Concordia University Nebraska and the LCMS Office
of National Mission is giving further clarity to the relationship
between strong Christian education and healthy congregations
As we talk about the health and vitality of congregations the
importance of the role of Christian education cannot be overstated
In His name
Rev Bart Day
Executive Director LCMS Office of National Mission
Members chat during fellowship time at Living Faith
Lutheran Church in Cumming Ga
4 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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TheSecretLives
by Adriane Heins
H
983141rsquo983155 983137 C983148983137983154983147 K983141983150983156 983148983151983151983147-983137983148983145983147983141 a
millennial from Worland Wyo who likes
comics and wonrsquot turn down a cup of good
coffee His name is Jacob Benson and hersquos studyingto be a pastor at Concordia Teological Seminary
Fort Wayne Ind
Benson considered becoming a pastor while in
college where he noticed that ldquoreligious movements
especially Christianity were compartmentalized to the
point that the voices of actual adherents were muffledrdquo
He expressed his frustration to his father along
with his desire to blend true theological dialogue with
teaching and mercy work ldquoHe told me that sounded
a lot like being a pastor and I told him that was the
stupidest thing Irsquod ever heardrdquo Benson recalls ldquowo
years later Irsquom at the seminaryrdquoTe Rev Marcus Zill director of LCMS U the
Synodrsquos campus-ministry arm also was formative in
Bensonrsquos life ldquoWhen we first metrdquo Benson recalls ldquoI
had shoulder-length dreadlocks and would rather
debate whether or not Paul actually wrote the letter to
the Ephesians than hear anything he had to say about
Jesus or the Churchrdquo
But Zill ldquoslowly shepherded me back to orthodoxy
and in the process became like an older brother to
Seminarian Jacob Benson chats over coffee at
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Ind
5MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
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ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 624
nspire
ldquoGo therefore and make disciples of allnations baptizing them in the name ofthe Father and of the Son and of theHoly Spirit teaching them to observeall that I have commanded you
And behold I am with you alwaysto the end of the agerdquo (Matt 2819ndash20)
Teaching the FaithtoStrengthen
CongregationsTe task of teaching in the church is given to the pastor but not
the pastor alone Each of us in our daily vocations and stations of
life has a role to play in teaching the faith to those placed into our
care Te LCMS has a long and rich history of pastors who are strong
teachers mdash pastors who are well-trained and equipped to teach the
Word of God to children and adults But there are even more We
rejoice in Lutheran educators who not only teach core academic
subjects but also the faith in our day schools We have been
blessed with directors of Christian education who are uniquely
trained to help lead and support the work of teaching the faith in
our congregations
As the entire church talks about revitalizing and strengthening
congregations letrsquos keep Christian education as a critical part of
those conversations
Our Lord always keeps two things together baptizing and
teaching One doesnrsquot go on without the other Tis is still
the pattern in the life of the church First baptize then teach
Tis issue of Lutherans Engage the World focuses on the topic
of parish education mdash the content of the faith the teaching and
sharing of the faith with the next generation Why is this done
How is this done Who does it What does it look like at home and
around the world
In recent years a few lone voices have lamented that Christian
education has taken a back seat in too many congregations All the
way back in the 1990s the LCMS concluded that if a congregation
seeks to strengthen its impact on faith and loyalty involving
members of all ages in quality Christian education is essential
A recent study conducted jointly by the Institute for Religious
Education at Concordia University Nebraska and the LCMS Office
of National Mission is giving further clarity to the relationship
between strong Christian education and healthy congregations
As we talk about the health and vitality of congregations the
importance of the role of Christian education cannot be overstated
In His name
Rev Bart Day
Executive Director LCMS Office of National Mission
Members chat during fellowship time at Living Faith
Lutheran Church in Cumming Ga
4 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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TheSecretLives
by Adriane Heins
H
983141rsquo983155 983137 C983148983137983154983147 K983141983150983156 983148983151983151983147-983137983148983145983147983141 a
millennial from Worland Wyo who likes
comics and wonrsquot turn down a cup of good
coffee His name is Jacob Benson and hersquos studyingto be a pastor at Concordia Teological Seminary
Fort Wayne Ind
Benson considered becoming a pastor while in
college where he noticed that ldquoreligious movements
especially Christianity were compartmentalized to the
point that the voices of actual adherents were muffledrdquo
He expressed his frustration to his father along
with his desire to blend true theological dialogue with
teaching and mercy work ldquoHe told me that sounded
a lot like being a pastor and I told him that was the
stupidest thing Irsquod ever heardrdquo Benson recalls ldquowo
years later Irsquom at the seminaryrdquoTe Rev Marcus Zill director of LCMS U the
Synodrsquos campus-ministry arm also was formative in
Bensonrsquos life ldquoWhen we first metrdquo Benson recalls ldquoI
had shoulder-length dreadlocks and would rather
debate whether or not Paul actually wrote the letter to
the Ephesians than hear anything he had to say about
Jesus or the Churchrdquo
But Zill ldquoslowly shepherded me back to orthodoxy
and in the process became like an older brother to
Seminarian Jacob Benson chats over coffee at
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Ind
5MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 724
TheSecretLives
by Adriane Heins
H
983141rsquo983155 983137 C983148983137983154983147 K983141983150983156 983148983151983151983147-983137983148983145983147983141 a
millennial from Worland Wyo who likes
comics and wonrsquot turn down a cup of good
coffee His name is Jacob Benson and hersquos studyingto be a pastor at Concordia Teological Seminary
Fort Wayne Ind
Benson considered becoming a pastor while in
college where he noticed that ldquoreligious movements
especially Christianity were compartmentalized to the
point that the voices of actual adherents were muffledrdquo
He expressed his frustration to his father along
with his desire to blend true theological dialogue with
teaching and mercy work ldquoHe told me that sounded
a lot like being a pastor and I told him that was the
stupidest thing Irsquod ever heardrdquo Benson recalls ldquowo
years later Irsquom at the seminaryrdquoTe Rev Marcus Zill director of LCMS U the
Synodrsquos campus-ministry arm also was formative in
Bensonrsquos life ldquoWhen we first metrdquo Benson recalls ldquoI
had shoulder-length dreadlocks and would rather
debate whether or not Paul actually wrote the letter to
the Ephesians than hear anything he had to say about
Jesus or the Churchrdquo
But Zill ldquoslowly shepherded me back to orthodoxy
and in the process became like an older brother to
Seminarian Jacob Benson chats over coffee at
Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne Ind
5MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
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ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 824
me hellip Te patience he showed in dealing
with my ignorance unbelief and apathy was
the exact loving kindness that a shepherd
should show to his flockrdquo
Intense and RewardingBensonrsquos days are now ldquointense but
incredibly rewardingrdquo Structured around
the daily prayer offices his seminary life
involves eating in the cafeteria studying in
the library doing plenty of coursework and
engaging in conversation with classmates
and instructors
ldquoTerersquos no barrier between profs andstudentsrdquo he says ldquoTe professors are all
ordained and therersquos an amount of respect
that goes along with that but because
theyrsquore all pastors they truly care about the
students and the future of the Church and
want to get to know us and care for us in any
way they canrdquo
Even better than that Seminary
formation intentionally shapes his day
around time spent in prayer and the
study of Godrsquos Word ldquoPlacing worship mdash
especially receiving the Lordrsquos Supper mdash
alongside academic training for the Office
helps implant in us the idea that book
knowledge can never exist outside of the
context of a rich Christ-centered devotional
liferdquo Benson notes
Itrsquos fitting then that his future
congregation and its members are among
those for whom he prays daily ldquoI pray that
they will be patient with merdquo he says ldquoI
know that my future congregation will have
a lot to teach me especially in my first few
years out of seminaryrdquo
And he hopes theyrsquoll know one other
thing about him as a pastor and all of his
classmates too ldquoWersquore regular human
beingsrdquo he says simply ldquoWe do what we do
because wersquore motivated by the sacrificial
death of Christ Jesusrdquo
Seminarian Jacob Benson studies
at Concordia Theological Seminaryrsquos
Walther Library
Benson listens during class
6 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
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p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
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httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 924
Joshua Palmer of uscon Ariz is first and foremost husband to Krissy and father
to Juliet John Charlie James Patrick Joshie and Isaac While his wife and kids he says
ldquomake every day a sunny day for merdquo it also seems keeping tabs on seven little ones willsuit him well for shepherding a very different kind of flock one day Perhaps thatrsquos why hersquos
Every Day a
SunnyDay
Seminarian Joshua Palmer studies at
Concordia Seminary St Louis
Palmer and his family
7MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1124
E very year some 1300 young people
in foster care turn 18 and ldquoage outrdquo
of the system in exas At this time
they usually have to leave their foster home
and strike out on their own But without a
support system they struggle to become
self-sufficient and often end up homeless in
jail or sleeping on friendsrsquo couches
In the summer of 2013 Michael
became one of this number Te young
man whose last name is being withheld to
protect his privacy entered foster care atage 8 and spent the next 10 years bouncing
between nearly 15 foster homes and
residential centers
After graduating from high school mdash a
feat only 50 percent of youth in foster care
accomplish mdash he went to college But after
two difficult semesters Michael moved back
to Austin exas where he lived out of his
car and worked at a fast-food restaurant
Every evening he either moved between his
friendsrsquo houses or slept in his car
Tatrsquos when Michael heard about theBeREAL Supervised Independent Living
program which helps 18- to 22-year-olds
transition from foster care to adult life
Lutheran Social Services of the South
(LSSS) a Recognized Service Orga nization
(RSO) of the LCMS sta rted the program in
September 2014 in response to a growing
need in the community
BeREAL provides each resident with a
fully furnished apartment and a stipend for
utilities and groceries A case worker helps
residents set and work toward short- andlong-term goals Residents are required to
work attend college or do a combination
of the two
Te program currently has eight residents
including Michael although Program
Director Sarah Crocker said they plan to add
about 12 more in the next few months
Tis summer Crocker also hopes to
begin a mentorship component that will
pair volunteers from Redeemer Lutheran
Church in Austin with BeREAL residents
Mentors will meet regularly with residents
to provide support and guidance in
navigating everyday situations such as
riding public transportation getting a
driverrsquos license or opening a bank account
Crocker said she saw the great need for
transitional services like this while working
as a social worker in prisons She was
struck by the fact that nearly 90 percent of
the inmates she worked with had been in
foster care
ldquoIt makes sense to stop that cycle beforeit startsrdquo she said ldquoWe provide support
hope and guidance before young people
enter these lifelong systems Tis is the first
program of its type in Austin therersquos no one
else doing what wersquore doingrdquo
In 2014 the LCMS gave the BeREAL
program a $30000 grant Te program
currently relies on grants like this although
LSSS staff members hope to make the
program self-supporting in a few years
BeREAL also has formed an important
partnership with a company that ownsseveral apartment complexes in the area
Te company is lenient with the application
requirements for BeREAL residents and gives
the program a substantial discount on rent
Te program offers ldquoan opportunity to
truly serve the least of these and it provides
the residents with the opportunity to hear
the Gospel of Jesus Christrdquo said Dr Kurt
Senske LSSS president and chief executive
officer ldquoBy working with these students
day in and day out there are numerous
opportunities to witness through example
and by our words
ldquoWersquore not only providing the earthly
hope of a productive life but also the
eternal hope that only our Lord and Savior
can providerdquo Senske continued
For Michael the program has been life
changing He now attends a local collegeand he hopes one day to attend law school
Upon graduation he will join the 2 percent
of young people in foster care to graduate
from college
ldquoTis program is probably the biggest
blessing I couldrsquove ever receivedrdquo Michael
said ldquoMy goal for the future is to continue
in school as planned and this program
gives me the amazing opportunity to save
up some money hellip I feel like my future is
pretty brightrdquo
Megan K Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications
by Megan K Mertz
From Foster Care to AdulthoodRSO Program Eases the Transition
ldquoThis program is probably
the biggest blessingI couldve everreceived hellip I feellike my future ispretty brightrdquomdash Michael a resident of Lutheran Social
Services of the Southrsquos BeREAL
Supervised Independent Living program
in Austin Texas
99MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspireMERCY |MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1224
RECENT GSI PROJECTS
GHANA seminary building
KENYA
library expansion
ETHIOPIAtextbooks kitchendining hall visiting professors
RUSSIA financial support
RECENT CLI PROJECTS
KENYAbooks on-site assessment staff and student training
ETHIOPIA
books on-site assessment and consultation
NIGERIAbooks on-site assessment staff training
TOGObooks and on-site assessment
ARGENTINAbooks and on-site assessment
RUSSIAbuilding library collection
SOUTH AFRICAbooks staff training library reorganization LEARN MORE
lcmsorgmakeagiftgsi
TOTAL GSI BUDGET
$12 MILLION
Global SeminaryChemnitz Library InitiativesThe Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) strengthens international Lutheran churcbodies by strengthening their seminaries while Chemnitz Library Initiative (CL
focuses on enhancing their libraries
lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 201510 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1324
I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
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The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
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7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
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I N T
E R
N A T
I O N A L
S C H
O LA RSH I P S
T O L C M
S S
E M
I
N A R I E S
L C M S
S E M
P ROF E S S O R S A T
R E G
I O N A L S E M I N
A R
I E S
R E G I O N A L
S C H O L A R S H I P S
T O
R
E G I O N A
L S E M
I NA RIE S
STUDENTSTRAINED
WORLDWIDE
LCMS SEMINARY PROFESSORSAND PASTORS TRAVELED
OVERSEAS TO TEACH
25INTERNATIONALSTUDENTS RECEIVED
SCHOLARSHIPS
15127REGIONAL STUDENTSRECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS
Cameroon
Ethiopia
Ghana
Kenya
Liberia
Madagascar
Nigeria
South Africa
TanzaniaTogo
China
India
Japan
Philippines
South Korea
Taiwan
Argentina
Bolivia
Brazil
Peru
Venezuela
Germany
Moldova
Portugal
Russia
Spain
150+nform
MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage 11lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1424
p Twenty-one new pastoral candidates prepare to be ordained at a
March 15 service of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania More
than 1000 worshipers attended
12 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nform
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1524
983124 anzanian Pastor Frank Mdindi isnrsquot yet used to being called ldquopastorrdquo
On a Friday in March he jotted notes during a church history class taught
by the Rev Dr Lawrence Rast Jr president of Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne Ind (CTSFW) The following Monday by the grace of God
Mdindi was ordained
983110irst983111raduations
983124 ake 983120laceat LCMS-Supported Tanzania Center
by Erik M Lunsford
Now he said he knows ldquohow to stand in the
Lutheran church with the Confessionsrdquo
In a nearby thatched hut cows grazed outside while Deaconess Amy Rast associate director of
deaconess formation at CSFW taught a group
of anzanian deaconess students
Deaconess candidate Edna Shoo listened
intently to the lecture She said she benefited from
the deaconess training and counseling and wants
to continue learning with refresher courses Her
dream is to minister to widows and children in the
church because of her own experience as a widow
Mdindi and Shoo are both students at the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in anzania mdash
South-East of Lake Victoria Diocesersquos (ELCmdash
SELVD) Bishop Emmanuel Makala raining
Center in northern anzania At the entrance tothe center a young boy shepherds animals along
a field dotted with dazzl ing yellow sunflowers
Te Rasts along with other members of
CSFWrsquos faculty teach short-term classes in the
centerrsquos two-year trai ning program Although
the LCMS has worked with the ELCmdashSELVD
for 13 years the partnership with the tra ining
center began in 2013 when Bishop Emmanuel
Makala of the diocese requested CSFWrsquos help
in developing the program Te LCMS Mid-
South District provides financial support for
p Pastoral candidate
Frank Mdindi is ordained inthe Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Tanzania
13MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1624
the theological education of the pastors
and funding for the traini ng program is
made possible by a grant from the LCMS
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI) Te Rev
Dr imothy Quill dean of International
Studies and associate professor of Pastoral
Ministry and Mission for CSFW oversees
the anzanian project
Te GSI is a special initiative for the
LCMS that seeks to fill the need for trained
pastors and leaders who are native to the
regions and cultures in which they serve
Visiting LCMS professors and pastors help
increase the capacity of partner church
seminaries and encourage their faculties
and students It serves as a bridge to emerg-
ing or established church partners as they
build strong faculties of their own
Te initiative works in three ways (1) it
awards scholarships for the top students
from established and emerging partner
church bodies to attend Concordia Semi-
nary St Louis or CSFW for advanced
degrees (2) it provides scholarships for stu-
dents in other countries to attend regional
seminaries in their own areas and (3) it
sends LCMS professors and qualified pas-
tors to teach at regional seminaries around
the world and to hold continuing-educa-
tion classes So far professors have taught
in South Africa Siberia Argentina Chile
India Kenya Lithuania and elsewhere
Teological education is one of the six
mission priorities of the LCMS and the GSI
is a big part of that
Te day after the Rastsrsquo lectures Quill
stood in the towering Ebenezer Cathedral
in Shinyanga and spoke to the 21 pastoral
candidates and seven deaconess candi-
dates along with their family members
and other guests
ldquooday we give thanks to God as
we celebrate the graduation of the first
pastoral and deaconess classes from the
Bishop Makala raining Centerrdquo he said
ldquoBe alert study keep on readingrdquo
Lawrence Rast advised later at graduation
reciting Martin Lutherrsquos words as he spoke
to the candidates ldquoruly you cannot read
too much in the Scripture and what you
read you cannot understand too well and
what you understand you cannot teach
too well and what you teach well you
cannot live too well Believe me I know by
experience It is the devil it is the world it
is our own flesh that storm and rage against
us Terefore dear sirs and brothers pastors
and preachers pray read study be diligent
I tell you the truth there is no time for us to
lazy around to snore and sleep in these evil
wicked times So bring your talents that
have been entrusted to you and reveal the
mystery of Christ1rdquo
During the graduation ceremony
pastoral candidate Lucas Mwigulu joyfully
accepted his ldquocertificate of accomplishmentrdquo
from Rast It was next to impossible to catch
him without a beaming smile all day
ldquoWhen Jesus ascended and left the
apostles and after then apostles became
church fathers so now we are on behalf of
themrdquo Mwigulu later said reflecting on
his upcoming ordination ldquoTrough us the
mission of Jesus will be fulfil ledrdquo
Te next day more than 1000 worship-
ers gathered at the cathedral to watch as
the 21 pastoral candidates were ordained
and the seven deaconesses commissioned
Makala preached during the service on
spiritual nourishment through the body
and blood of Jesus Christ Following the
service he invited Rast Quil l LCMS Office
of International Mission Area Director for
Eastern and Southern Africa Rev Shauen
rump and a group from the LCMS Mid-
South District to offer greetings to the
congregation
Tanks to the GSI anzania is only
one of many places where the LCMS is
helping to strengthen the educational
opportunities available to future church
leaders and pastors around the world
Not only that but the LCMS is
preparing to reach out in mercy by
providing anzanian churches with tin
roofs as churches often lack the funds
necessary to build beyond four walls and
the wooden pews altar and pulpit
ldquoWe trust [the LCMS and CSFW] and
we trust their theology as truerdquo said Makala
Now they look forward together in the
journey of continuing education Makala
said the theological education from CSFW
cuts through the theological ldquoconfusion all
around the worldrdquo surrounding the Word
of God For a church that is growing by
about 2000 new people a year Makala said
the education of church workers is of the
utmost importance
Erik M Lunsford is the photojournalist and a
staff writer for LCMS Communications
View the photo gallery lcmsorgphoto
tanzania2015
Equipping
Seminary Libraries
eaconess Edna Shoo (right) is one of seven new
eaconesses commissioned in the Evangelical
utheran Church in Tanzania
The Chemnitz Library Initiative (CLI) named after
the great Lutheran Reformer Mar tin Chemnitz
is part of the Global Seminary Initiative It seeks
to ldquostrengthen confessional seminaries around
the world by providing materials expertise
and trainingrdquo said CTSFW President RevDr Lawrence Rast Jr But itrsquos also about the
relationships that help make it possible to exist
ldquoItrsquos the spirit of reaching seminary
to seminary library to library to raise up
theological educationrdquo said the Rev Robert
Roethemeyer CTSFW director of Library and
Information Services
Roethemeyer and the Rev Dr Timothy Qui
have worked since 1997 with Lutheran semin
libraries in places like Russia Argentina the
Baltics India Brazil Togo Kenya GhanaNigeria South Africa and now Ethiopia The
purpose of CLI is to strengthen Lutheran
identity around the world while providing solid
theological education to the Synodrsquos emerging
and established church partners
1 Martin Luther introduction to Spangenbergrsquos Postille of the Year 1542 Vol XIV Page 379ff (From CFW Walther ldquoTird Sermon at the Synodical Conventionrdquo trans Everette W Meier in CFW Walther
Lutherische Brosamen Predigten und Reden (St Louis Druckerei der Synode von Missouri Ohio u a Staaten 1867) Page 11
14 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1724
by Megan K Mertz
ldquoWhen I was about 7 years oldrdquosaid the Rev David Preus ldquoI
wanted to be a missionary just likethe apostle Paul in the Arch Bookrdquo Now years later Preus his wife
Jennifer and their six children ages
1 to 11 are preparing to move to the
Dominican Republic where Preus will
serve as a missionary for the LCMS His work wil l include planti ng new churches
and supporting the growing Dominican
Lutheran church
Te Rev Dr Edward Grimenstein
associate executive director of the LCMS
Office of International Mission (OIM) said
Preusrsquo story is not unique
ldquoWe have people applying to be
missionaries who are 30 40 50 years old
and they still remember when they were
10 and a missionary came to their church
and they got excited about missionsrdquoGrimenstein said ldquoTey donrsquot want to
be missionaries just because theyrsquoll get
to travel they want to be missionaries
because they want to tell people about Jesus
Tatrsquos awesomerdquo
o encourage LCMS members mdash
especially children mdash to become more
mission-minded the OIM is releasing an
updated version of Mission Friends a free
program that explores the wonders God
is doing in proclaiming His Good News of
salvation to the world
Te program which was originally
created in the 90s is geared for fourth-
graders although it can be adapted for
younger or older children Trough the updated curriculum
children will learn about the 35 countries
where LCMS missionaries currently
are working Materials for each country
include passages from the Bible and Small
Catechism a story about the mission field
a coloring page games crafts and recipes
and a devotion for families to read together
Tanks to assistance from Concordia
Publishing House Mission Friends will be
available in two formats (1) a digital version
for use on computers or other devices and
(2) a downloadable PDF version
On June 15 materials for the countries
of Latin America and the Caribbean will
be available Materials for the other four
world regions mdash Africa Eurasia Southern
Asia and Oceania and Asia Pacific mdash will
become available on a quarterly basis
Eventually Grimenstein also hopes
to add a pen-pal component to Mission
Friends so children in the United States
can connect by email or Skype with the
Preus children and with those of other
missionary families
ldquoBy this summer we will have 200
missionary kids on the fieldrdquo Grimenstein
said ldquoWe want the LCMS to beginsupporting missions again by realizing the
sacrifices missionary families make [Te
pen-pal component] is one way to care for
our missionaries and their childrenrdquo
Learn more
Visit lcmsorgmissionfriends for updates
about the June 15 release
Updated Curriculum Explores Work in 35 Countries
Join Friederich T i983147o Gina Pinga and Pablo on a journey to learn about
mission work around the world Pablo will introduce children to the work of missionaries
in Latin America such as the Rev David Preus and his family
Tiko Pinga
Pablo and the Preuses
GinaFriederich
15MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nspire WITNESS|MOMENT
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1824
Rethinking
Educational Ministrieswithin Congregationsby Roger Drinnon and Mark Blanke
16 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 1924
As we look for better ways to teach the Gospeland the Lutheran Confessions to adults and children
alike itrsquos no surprise to find the Bible helpsLuther and EducationMartin Luther also elevated the
importance of education and used many
effective educational strategies Te
Small Catechism initially was published
as posters that could be hung in a church
to help educate people visually He
recommended the use of language that
could be understood by the learners He
recommended a standard format for what
was to be taught and he planned for aneducational process that was built on
prior learning
Luther saw education as intimately
connected to the church helping the saved
to live out their vocations With t he use of
the Small and Large Catechisms Luther
sought to develop what we would now
call a ldquoscope and sequencerdquo for education
in the church mdash usi ng goals and objec-
tives to prioritize learning Regarding his
support and encouragement for education
in the church part of Lutherrsquos preface to
the Small Catechism should provide a
good understanding of the importance he
placed on it
But those who are unwilli ng to learn
the catechism should be told that they
deny Christ and are not Christ ians
Tey should not be admitted to the
Sacrament accepted as sponsors
at Baptism or practice any part of
Christian freedom Tey should simply
be turned back to the pope and his
officials indeed to the devil himself
[1 Corinthians 55] Furthermore their
parents and employers should refuse
them food and drink and notify them
that the prince will dr ive such rude
people from the country (ldquoLutherrsquos
Prefacerdquo from Lutherrsquos Small Catechism
with Explanation Pages 248-249)
Te line between pedagogy (child
teaching) and andragogy (adult teaching)
esus was HE master teacher He was
often referred to as ldquorabbirdquo which
means ldquoteacherrdquo We have more stories of
Jesus teaching than we do of Him preach-
ing He asked probing questions that were
focused on the life of the learner He used
words and stories that His learners could
relate to and understand He often didnrsquot
give answers Instead He posed questions
or told parables that often left His dis-
ciples asking more questions His process
of preparing His disciples was made up
of many ldquoservice opportunitiesrdquo and li fe
experiences He welcomed children to be
with t he crowd as He taught
Note how the focus is always on
the learner not the teacher to instill
a deeper level of understanding of the
Word Modern educational methods are
beginning to echo this ty pe of teaching
method for adults and youth
A father and son worship at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in
Holdrege Neb Nathan Birtell participates in a Bible study after
worship at Mount Calvary
17MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nsp
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2024
is now blurred as younger people havethe aptitude and appreciation for higher
learning methods previously reserved only
for grown-ups However this makes youth
education evermore challenging
Confirmation Not GraduationOne parish re-examined its youth
confirmation classes upon the real ization
that after Confirmation Day youth also
were ldquograduatingrdquo from the church mdash
clearly not the intent of confirmation
ldquoAfter many yea rs celebrating the Riteof Confirmation we found that while
we had the pictures of our youth on our
wall with their confirmat ion gowns the
vast majority had simply g raduated from
churchrdquo said the Rev Kenton Birtell
pastor at Mount Calvar y Lutheran Church
in Holdrege Neb ldquoSomething needed to
change so we started over We wanted our
youth to live out the promises they made
in their confirmationrdquo
Parental Involvement EssentialBirtell said changes were made based
on well-defined learning objectives the
need to look beyond confirmation and the
realization that parental education and
involvement were essential to success
He said relationships among the youth
also were essential to youth learning and
supporting one another
eaching methods at his parish
include repetition incremental learning
multimedia classes disc ussions and
placing some responsibility for learningon the students
ldquoEach summer our junior high youth
attend lsquoBasics Camprsquordquo said Birtell ldquoIn this
camp we teach the Six Chief Parts of the
Christian faith in a hands-on interactive
manner Each lesson has clear objectives
hellip We bring in guest speakers and youth
meet with mentors pray watch video clips
join in small discussion groups build
relationships and explore the basics using
their eyes ears and all their sensesrdquo
Birtell said parental involvement benefitsboth youth and parents in the longer term
ldquoEach year in the fall our sophomores
along with their parents go through the basics
of the Christian faith prior to Confirmation
Day Tis has been incrediblerdquo he said ldquoNot
only do our youth go through the basics of
the Christian faith again but their parents are
by their side Ten when our youth are ready
to graduate we go through the basics yet an-
other time and work to connect them with a
campus ministry or new congregation as they
prepare for lsquoCommissioning Sundayrsquo On thisSunday our seniors receive a special blessing
from their parents and are commissioned to
go and serve as the salt and light of the world
wherever they may be ledrdquo
A recent study conducted jointly by
the Institute for Religious Education at
Concordia University Nebraska and the
LCMS Office of National Mission found that
effective educational practices donrsquot just
benefit individuals they also benefit the
churches that implement them Children
Young parishioners
participate in Bible study
at Mount Calvary
The Rev Kenton Birtell pastor of Mount Calvary Lutheran
Church in Holdrege Neb preaches during worship
18 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengage MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2124
The 2013 Synod convention called
for a revised ldquoExplanationrdquo section
of Lutherrsquos Small Catechism with
Explanation from Concordia Pub-
lishing House (CPH) due to ldquomany
changes in the understanding of
morals civil law and natural law in
church and societyrdquo that have de-
veloped since the Explanation was
last revised in 1991
In keeping with Resolution
3-13A a drafting committee has
been at work on this project
for more than a year A major
proposal of this committee which
was approved by the LCMS
Commission on Theology and
Church Relations (CTCR) and the
presidentrsquos office is that the revise
Explanation would feature a four-
part ldquotemplaterdquo for each section of
the Small Catechism
An initial field-testing survey wa
made available through May 15
Next a roughly yearlong drafting
process will begin under the
oversight of the CTCR
Learn more lcmsorgconvention
catechismexplanationupdate
and youth were more likely to participatein congregations that set written goals
for educational practices More adults
participated if churches had teacher
training for adult leaders and if the church
articulated expectations for participation
Te Lutheran tradition is one that
elevates the importance of education As
congregations look for ways to enhance the
ministry that has been entrusted to them it
is worthwhile to consider the efforts being
made within congregations like Mount
Calvary as possible benchmarks What stepscould be taken to enhance the effectiveness
of your educational efforts Even small
efforts can yield benefits for a congregation
and its members
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial Services
for LCMS Communications
Dr Mark Blanke is director of the Institute for
Religious Education a professor of Education
and DCE program director at Concordia
University Nebraska Seward Neb
Updateon the lsquoExplanationrsquo of LutherrsquosSmall Catechism Revision Project
A family worships at
Mount Calvary
19MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2224
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2324
by Mark Hofman
n the fall of 1935 my grandfather and
his new bride boarded a steamship and
headed off to South America In the midst of the Great
Depression few congregations in the United States were calling
new seminary graduates to be pastors Grandfather had agreed
to proclaim Jesus and teach the faith in a foreign mission field
attending to a community composed of seven small congregations
and six preaching stations in the mountains of Espiritu Santo a
province in Brazil
He would be paid as generously as the local farmers could
afford mdash sometimes in currency and at other times with tangible
goods He was supplied with a sturdy mule Duke on which he
traversed the muddy mountain
trails Te parsonage as my
grandmother later told me
had a dirt floor Grandmother
stitched together clothing witha needle and thread Tere
was no telephone no Internet
and at the time not even a real
road leading to their home
Grandfather recorded detailed
expenditures of precious cash
and the resulting balance in his
journals alongside the notes
about his daily activities
His career began at the
intersection of pastoral formation and missions On his first
ride through the 13 stations a burial party appeared on the trailcarrying a body wrapped in a blanket Grandfatherrsquos first act of
mercy was to preach Christrsquos own death and resurrection to those
present under circumstances where advance preparation for a
funeral was impossible
In some respects mission work in that era was done ldquoon the
cheaprdquo for those back home Te Missouri Synod did not wire
money to pay his salary It funded their travel to Brazil and back
when they returned in 1946 A world war prevented any temporary
trips home for furlough yet they were comforted by other
missionaries and the few pastors of the Brazilian church Tey
lived as
their neighbors lived without
greater wealth or comforts And their
firstborn son followed graduating seminary and becoming a
church-planting pastor as well
oday the LCMS does not send its missionaries into the
field under such conditions
Congregations expect well-
formed pastors and missionaries
to carry the Gospel into the world
by combining our resources we are bold to pay the costs of
those expectations Te national
office encourages and receives
generous financial contributions
to appropriately support and care
for official LCMS missionaries
Godrsquos people invest millions
each year in the formation of our
future pastors Te national office
encourages those donations to
either seminary or to both via the LCMS Joint Seminary Fund
Some may believe there are less expensive ways to providepastors and send missionaries and they are right Like other
church bodies the LCMS could do it ldquoon the cheaprdquo But why
would we Are not faithful pastors and courageous missionaries
worthy of our greatest levels of generosity Tey carry the one true
Gospel to others on our behalf
Mark Hofman CFRE MBA is the executive director of LCMS
Mission Advancement
ldquoFear not little flock for it is your Fatherrsquos good
pleasure to give you the kingdom Sell yourpossessions and give to the needy Provide
yourselves with moneybags that do not grow
old with a treasure in the heavens that does not
fail where no thief approaches and no moth
destroys For where your treasure is there will
your heart be alsordquo (Luke 1232ndash34 emphasis added)
TACKLING GODrsquoS MISSION
lsquoOn the Cheaprsquo
21MayndashJune 2015 lcmsorgLUTHERANSengagelcmsorggivenowglobalmission
nvolve
STEWARDrsquoS|CORNER
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12
7212019 2015 - Lutherans Engage the World - May-June
httpslidepdfcomreaderfull2015-lutherans-engage-the-world-may-june 2424
ldquoWhen he saw the crowds he had compassion for
them because they were harassed and helpless
like sheep without a shepherd Ten he said to his
disciples lsquoTe harvest is plentiful but the laborers
are few therefore pray earnestly to the Lord
of the harvest to send out laborers
into his harvestrsquordquo
(Matt 936ndash38)
Two seminaries
One mission The LCMS Joint Seminary Fundrsquos purpose is to form and
equip compassionate pastors for the proclamation of
the Gospel through Word and Sacrament ministry
We thank our Lord for entrusting the LCMS with two
world-class seminaries mdash Concordia Theological
Seminary Fort Wayne and Concordia Seminary
St Louis mdash for this great task May He continue to
bless His Church with laborers to serve and lead as
shepherds among His people
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIO
US POSTAGE PAID
Burlington WI
Permit No 12