LHF - The Word at Work; Vol. 26 No. 1

Germany

Lutheran Heritage Foundation:

THE WORD AT WORK

Volume 26 Number 1 ■ January/February 2019

IRANIAN MUSLIM IMMIGRANTS EMBRACE CATECHISM from LHF, we could let them read and comprehend for themby Rev. Knud Skov, Danish Balkan Mission selves. Since that beginning, the Prayer Book in Dari from Since 2015, streams of refugees and migrants have been LHF has arrived, which has been for coming to Europe, and now hunmany a wonderful help for prayer dreds of Iranians and Syrians have because Muslims come from their found themselves in Denmark. own tradition of prayer, and they find The Iranians (former Shiite Musit extraordinary and different that they lims) sought the Christian commucan pray to our Heavenly Father. nity, and some of them came into The books have been distributed our Lutheran churches. Recently from 10 large refugee centers where Syrians and Africans (Somalis, Sueveryone can attend Lutheran instrucdanese and those from the Berber tion. In North Jutland, around 100 countries like Libya, Algeria, TuIranians have sought out the Church. nisia, and Morocco), most former Some came from other church comSunni Muslims, have been looking In addition to a recent reprint of the Farsi-language Small munities where there was no one who for churches.

Catechism, Iranian immigrants are eager for A Child’s Garwas prepared to give them catechism Not many in the Church here den of Bible Stories (pictured in header photo) and Only One instruction. The locals asked for a few can speak Farsi, so the Christian Thing Is Needed (above), a book of daily devotions. catechisms and gave them to the Iramission efforts of anyone who can help are carried out by every means available, especially literature.

As soon as we had access to the Farsi Small Catechism

Iranian immigrants cont. on page 3

INSIDE:

TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERE BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED CHRIS PAGESPUBLISHING 2-3: PAGE 4: TERED BOOKS TRANSLATING INTRODUCING TRANSLATING REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED A Wisconsin medical mercy team spreads the Thrivent members: Action Team grants CHRIST-CENTERED Good BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING REFORMATION B News in Haiti with LHF catechisms, provide seed money for mission events, BLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTING REFO Bible storybooks LHF books TION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DISTRIBUTIN REFORMATION BIBLE-BASED CHRIST-CENTERED BOOKS TRANSLATING PUBLISHING INTRODUCING DIS

HAITI:

WISCONSIN MEDICAL MERC TEAM SHARES GOOD NEW

by Mary Harrington, former president, LWML North Wisconsin District Our mission to Lozandier was planned for Nov. 7-14. We were on a medical and eyeglass mission to Haiti, where we saw and treated more than 1,000 people in our 5 days of mission work. The Lord was with us every step of the way.

Our original plan was to travel to the fishing village of Lozandier, which is on the southern edge of Haiti. Due to unrest, road closures and safety issues, our mission trip to Lozandier was redirected and we traveled north and west out of Port au Prince, and to tell the truth, I have no idea where we were. These little country churches were in the middle of nowhere; our constant city to drive through was Mirabalais and once we left there, I don’t know if we went east or west. The roads were through mountain switchbacks and what an adventure!

AND THOSE BOOKS!

We’d packed 50 French-language A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories LHF sent me and delivered them to 3 different churches. Those who received them were absolutely thrilled. I wish we could have packed in more, but with joy we shared what we had.

On the first day of mission, we arrived at the church we called the “mud hut” - little windows, so very dark inside. We brought a generator along so we were able to have some lights and fans while we worked. The children were all in their best clothes, and to receive a book was joy beyond measure. People waited outside in patches of shade as the trees provided. We left a few copies with the pastor; his smile lit up the church!

The following days, we had to walk in with our supplies, books and clothing we had brought along with us. It was about 3/4 mile (pictured at left). I don’t know who was more excited when we arrived at the church, us or the village people waiting for us! A pastor played some games with the people as they waited to be seen by us. The books were prizes. I know they are called Bible stories for children, but the adults were most thrilled when they were chosen. Two of the Haitian men who helped us each day asked for copies for their churches, and I sent six copies with each of them. They were so happy to receive them! The pastor was proud to be part of the “gifting,” I think.

Pray for the people of Haiti; there is much unrest and so much poverty.

Thank you, LHF, for sharing these books with the mission team. We were all blessed by what we shared with the people and thankful that we were in mission for physical and spiritual needs.

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Iranian immigrants cont. from page 1 nians. They began to read in groups — they learn through memorization — and as they have come to know Danish better, they’ve been able to express their faith and understanding of the Lutheran faith clearly.

But there are also refugee centers near Bording in central Jutland, where Iranians wait to be sent back to Iran (a kind of limbo, since Iran will take no compulsory returnees).

Every Wednesday evening, there is a cafe gathering where 50 men (women can remain in Denmark — they are not sent back) have more or less all read the Farsi Catechism, and some have come to faith. This has given these men hope, not only for asylum, but for the Hope that comes through faith in Christ.

One of the pastors has written to me that Luther’s Small Catechism in Farsi has become the basic book for catechism instruction. It is a pedagogical masterpiece that has transcended time and culture.

Another man, an engineer who is a volunteer with the refugees, told me of an Iranian family who was in the process of being sent back to Iran. The father couldn’t read, so he didn’t know how he should prepare for the required interviews with the government authorities. In his interview, the father was asked why he had joined the Lutheran Church.

His answer illustrated how he had learned to memorize the catechism because he replied that the Christian Church, first and foremost, is a place where love and loving people meet, not like in the mosque.

“Perhaps I can’t give my life for my own children, but I have come to realize that Jesus went to the cross and died for me, so that my sins can be forgiven,” he explained.

“The spirit of Jesus has come and changed me, so that I am one with others who believe in Him.” This man had memorized the foundations of the Christian faith ONLY because his family had read the catechism to him!

(Reprinted with permission from the Missionsblatt of the Bleckmar Mission, August-September 2018.)

LHF’s Farsi translations are also being used in North America.

At left, Rev. Derek Mathers (vice president of the LCMS English District) presents LHF’s Farsi translation of A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories to Iranian immigrant families at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Toronto, Ontario (Canada).

View more photos at LHF’s Facebook page.

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HOLDING UP THE PROPHETS’ HANDS:

USING YOUR THRIVENT BENEFITS TO SOW THE SEEDS OF THE GOSPEL At St. Paul Lutheran High School in Action Team Grant, which Thrivent ofAction Team grant and used the $250 Concordia, Missouri, international stufers to all members as seed money for seed money to purchase food for the dents are learning the Lutheran faith a one-time fundraiser, service activity event. The freewill donation collected through LHF-translated catechisms or educational event that will make a at the dinner is helping LHF to pubthanks to a Thrivent Financial Action positive impact in the community. lish Lutheran books for the people of Team grant.

Rev. Benkendorf completed the Ukraine.

“We call ourselves a global mission short application for the $250 Action “We have found that Thrivent is in the heart of Missouri,” ready and willing to support explained Clint Colwell, projects, especially those admissions director at that help to deliver the SPLHS. “We have just over Gospel through community 200 students, and 60 of outreach and missions,” them come from 17 different said event organizer Rev. countries.”

Steve Bagnall of Good The international stuShepherd Lutheran Church dents come to SPLHS from in Cass City, Mich. a variety of religious back“At our mission rally, grounds, but while at the Thrivent’s $250 gift card school, they are required made all the difference. to take a Lutheran religion With their support, we were class each semester. Many able to offer the meal free have little or no knowledge of charge, so that the entire of the Christian faith. offering could go toward Through a Thrivent Action Team grant, over 300 people learned about the “So to have the 10 delivering the Gospel of JeLHF mission and enjoyed a time of fellowship at a Michigan mission rally.

Commandments and their sus Christ to people around meanings in their own heart the world.” language makes the material a little Team gift card, which he then used MORE IDEAS more digestible for these students,” to order more than two dozen books “Thrivent seed money can provide Colwell said. “Then once they gradfrom the LHF website.

LHF books - and introduce people to uate and go back home, taking the SPECIAL EVENT SEED MONEY the Savior - in a wide variety of situabooks back to share with family memOther Thrivent members have tions: an event to reach out to immibers is a big deal.” chosen to use their Action Team seed grants in your neighborhood or school, When learning about SPLHS, “I saw money to cover the costs of a special or to provide books to take along on a a real opportunity for these students event, which in turn raises awareness short-term mission trip,” said Rev. Bento have good Lutheran literature in and support of the LHF mission. kendorf. “It’s a wonderful way to reach their own language – both for studyIn November 2018, the Thumb East out with the love of Christ!” ing and for taking home with them,” and West Circuits of the Michigan To learn how you can apply for a said Rev. Rod Benkendorf, LHF develDistrict hosted an educational mission Thrivent Action Team grant, go to www. opment associate. rally, attended by more than 300 peoThrivent. org, or call (800) 847-4836 As a Thrivent member, Rev. Benkenple. A Thrivent member applied for an and say “Thrivent Action Teams.” dorf knew he could apply for a $250

WE’RE NEARLY THERE!

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

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“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. (“Word at Work” staff: Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, executive editor; Jennifer Bagnall, managing editor and graphic design)