LHF The Word at Work; Vol. 25 No. 5

Papua New Guinea

Lutheran Heritage Foundation:

THE WORD AT WORK

Volume 25 Number 5 ■ September/October 2018

GOD’S WORD: THE BEST WEAPON TO COMBAT WITCHCRAFT

by LCMS missionary Michael Ritzman

tions] to everyone who came to the event!

Third—and this was probably the most important—we misYou may have heard about the Day of Repentance worship sionaries in PNG wrote our own “theses” service we had in Papua New Guinea about the false beliefs surrounding what (PNG) on Aug. 27. If not, then briefly, the the PNG people call “Sanguma,” or what day is a government holiday, but we miswe would call witchcraft. It is not true, of sionaries decided to use this opportunity course, but many people here believe it to gather bishops, pastors, evangelists is (even some Christians!). and anyone else who wanted to come, Usually it happens that when someone and make a statement. Three statements, dies unexpectedly (or not), the family will actually. go consult a “witch-finder” and pay to First, we gave out a newly-translated have them locate the person they think version of Luther’s “95 Theses.” Why? Beis the culprit. The accused person (usucause they are mainly about repentance ally a woman) will be tortured until he and God’s forgiveness, won for us by His or she confesses to being a witch. They Son Jesus Christ. may also accuse others of helping, which Second, we distributed copies of Bishop Nick Aiyene nails the 95 Theses to his leads to others being tortured as well.

Luther’s Large Catechism translated by church door while missionary Michael Ritzman Often times the victims are killed, LHF into the Tok Pisin language (almost looks on. (Photos courtesy of M. Ritzman) nobody had a copy, including pastors).

We also gave out English-language copies of Bible Stories in Pictures [provided by LHF and WELS Multi-Language Publica-

PNG Day of Repentence cont. on page 3

INSIDE:

TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST TERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING TRANSLATING REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING PAGES 2-3: PAGES 2-3: INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING PAGE 4: REFORMATION BIRev. Rod Benkendorf accepts callBOOKS LHF’s “River of Life” PUBLISHING VBS makes a You’re invited toDISTRIBUTING LHF’s 25th BLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED TRANSLATING INTRODUCING REFORM to serve at LHF splash with kids in Poland anniversary celebration!

TION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DIST

REV. ROD BENKENDORF ACCEPTS CALL TO LHF DE The Rev. Rod Benkendorf has accepted a call to serve in development and church relations at the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

In his new position, Rev. Benkendorf will be responsible for Rev. Rod Benkendorf developing strong connections with churches and individual members, so that they may play a part in the LHF mission.

“What I love the most about the LHF mission is the simplicity of it,” Rev. Benkendorf said. “There’s a simple need: people need God’s Word in the Small Catechism,

POLAND:

LHF’S “RIVER OF LIFE” VBS MAKE

This summer, a Lutheran school teacher, a military supply chain manager and a 12-year-old girl and her father shared the Gospel with children in Poland using LHF’s “River of Life” VBS curriculum.

For the past 10 years, the LCMS Office of International Ministry (OIM) has coordinated short-term mission volunteers to run summertime English as a Second Language (ESL) vacation Bible school camps in Poland. This year, OIM organized 9 camps in Poland and one in the Czech Republic, each attended by 20-50 kids.

“While Americans plan and run the camp—teaching lessons, leading music and crafts—they definitely don’t do it alone,” explained Anna Gonzalez, DCE and manager of OIM’s Short-term Mission Training and Engagement. “The local pastor might be involved in opening and closings, and church volunteers serve as translators, provide the snacks and are extra hands in the craft area.”

Parents are eager to enroll their children in the VBS camps 2

in the Book of Concord, in children’s Bible books, translated into their own languages. [LHF Founder] Rev. Robert Rahn saw that need, and then decided to establish this organization to get God’s Word out there from our Lutheran perspective.”

Rev. Benkendorf will be based out of Missouri, where he will be available as a guest preacher and Bible study leader at LCMS congregations.

“We are really looking forward to Rev. Benkendorf being part of the LHF mission,” said LHF Executive Director Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise. “He has such enthusiasm for spreading the Gospel and for LHF’s work in particular, which will undoubtedly be passed on to the congregations

At left, one of the churches emphasized the River that flows from Jesus death on the cross to the ba font. At right, volunteers from Community Lut Church in Escondido, Calif. teach Polish child English hymn.

to improve their English conversation skills, and along the way, the children hear the Gospel time and again.

With LHF’s “River of Life” program, the students learned how God uses simple water to save His people. Through the stories of creation, Noah, Moses crossing the Red Sea, Jonah and the baptism of Jesus, the children were reminded of their own baptisms and their Heavenly Father’s love for them.

“I really liked the theme of water, and some of the

EVELOPMENT TEAM he visits.”

Prior to joining LHF, Rev. Benkendorf received his Master of Sacred Theology (STM) from Concordia Seminary in 2007. He accepted a call to Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, Missouri in 2008, where he has been sole pastor for the past decade. Rev. Benkendorf also served on the LHF Board of Directors since early 2017.

Rev. Benkendorf is married to Sarah. They have two children, Katie and Megan.

To schedule Rev. Benkendorf or another LHF mission speaker at your church, LWML zone rally or conference, contact LHF at info@LHFmissions.org, or call the office at (800)554-0723.

ES A BIG SPLASH

churches we were at did a lot of creative things with it,” said Alyssa Anders, an LCMS missionary who adapted “River of Life” to work in the ESL setting. “One experience that really stood out to me was that I had them all memorize a Bible verse in English, Mark 16:16, ‘Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.’

“We’d practice the verse together as a group during morning openings, and I started asking for volunteers to say the verse alone,” Alyssa recalled.

“The first volunteer was a little girl, maybe seven years old, and she had no fear! She came up by herself, said the verse in English boldly, loud and clear. After that, everyone wanted to come to the r of Life aptismal front and say the verse in English. theran “How much of what we taught sank in? I can’t ren an know,” she concluded. “But I do know that all the kids can say that Bible verse from memory, and we know that God’s Word does not return void!

Everything we did planted seeds in those kids’ hearts.”

To order LHF’s “River of Life” preview kit for your congregation, go to www.LHFmissions.org/RiverOfLife or call (800)554-0723. Cost for the full program is $125.

If you’re interested in serving as a VBS volunteer to Poland next summer, go to www.servenow.lcms.org. Travel dates for 2019 are July 16-29 and July 31-Aug. 12.

PNG Day of Repentence continued from page 1 either as a result of the torture or just outright.

So we used the Word of God, our best weapon to combat spiritual darkness, and created statements against these false beliefs and the horrible practices that accompany them. We gave them to pastors from all over PNG so now they can go be voices in their communities, speaking out and training others to combat these un-Godly beliefs and practices.

Sometimes we missionaries are criticized for what we are doing. Some say we are spoiling other cultures by spreading our beliefs. In response to this, I once heard a missionary say something like, “Yes, we are ‘spoiling’ their cultures — because they are worshiping rocks and stones and going to hell! They need to know Jesus, God’s Son who rescued them from their sins.”

When I see what is happening in PNG with women, men, and children being tortured and killed because of false (satanic) beliefs, I think of what that missionary said. Now when someone accuses us of ‘spoiling’ other cultures I want to say, “Yes, we are. Because today in places like PNG they are burning and torturing witches! They need the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

And that is what we are bringing.

Michael Ritzman (right) delivers LHF books to region Bishop John Timothy. “Books — it’s easy for us to take them for granted, but in PNG we are constantly being asked for more materials,” Ritzman reflected.

Special thanks to WELS Multi-Language Publications for their free copyright release to LHF for the English Bible Stories in Pictures, and to the PNG Mission Society for their generous funding of these projects.

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C

A R TING B E L E

25

YEARS IN MISSION Come join us for an evening of celebrating God working through the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, sharing His good gifts with His children all around the world!

WHEN: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 — SOCIAL HOUR BEGINS AT 4 p.m.

DINNER IS SERVED AT 5:30 p.m.

WHERE: MIRAGE BANQUET HALL IN CLINTON TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN There is no cost to attend this special event; we look forward to the honor and pleasure of your company.

We hope you will be able to join the LHF staff and our many international guests for this evening of fellowship!

SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS: Rev. Dr. V’yacheslav Horpynchuk Bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church Rev. Dr. Nicholas Salifu Pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana

Seating is limited: RSVP by October 26: (800)554-0723 or info@LHFmissions.org More information at www.LHFmissions.org/25anniversary

LUTHERAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION 51474 Romeo Plank Rd. ■ Macomb, MI 48042 1-800-554-0723 ■ info@LHFmissions.org www.LHFmissions.org

LHF “WORD AT WORK” STAFF:

EDITOR: Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise MANAGING EDITOR: Jennifer Bagnall GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jennifer Bagnall “The Word at Work” is the official publication of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Permission is hereby granted to excerpt from this publication for not-for-profit purposes.

The Lutheran Heritage Foundation is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces confessional Lutheran materials throughout the world so that people can be brought to Christ. LHF is not subsidized by the LCMS or any other church body. It is entirely supported by individual donations and grants.

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$175K

WE’RE NEARLY THERE! If you’re a new LHF supporter, or if you haven’t given a gift to the mission in the past 12 months, you can DOUBLE your new gift! Simply mail in your gift or donate online (no extra paperwork required) and your donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $5,000 per gift. Your $25 (five Bible storybooks) becomes $50 (10 catechisms) for sharing the Gospel with new Christians around the world.

Remember, churches, Sunday schools and Lutheran day schools are also eligible for this program. If you’re already a faithful LHF supporter, share this opportunity with your congregation!