46,000 BOOKS PRINTED FOR MUSLIM INDONESIA Thanks to the generous support of American Lutherans - including Sunday school and day school children who adopted “Come and See Jesus!” with their mission offerings - LHF has printed 46,000 Lutheran books for the people of Muslim Indonesia! “It cannot be expressed in words what children in the United States have done for their friends and relatives in Indonesia, whom they have never once met, separated by distance and time,” said Imelda Aritonang, LHF’s coordinator in Indonesia. “It is amazing how the Holy Spirit works through these children. We are really grateful!” Titles printed in the Indonesian language include the Small Catechism and accompanying workbooks, Lutheranism 101 for Kids, A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories, The Way of the Cross and the “Jesus Never Fails” devotion booklet. Incredibly, many of these books have been freely handed out in Indonesia’s public school system, where students are allowed to take Christian Religion classes. “To be honest, people in Indonesia are very poor or lack sources of knowledge about Lutheran teachings,” Imelda said. “It is not easy to find books of Lutheran teachings with such good quality and translation you can rely on. “Indonesia has pockets of Christianity, yet sadly the faith in those areas has begun to erode, due to the rapid of expansion of Islam. Who can help our children, the future of the Church, if not us?” Imelda asked.
Hearing God’s Word over a cup of tea:
THE POWER OF A CHILDREN’S BIBLE STORYBOOK An LCMS missionary (name and country withheld for the safety of the mission) was visiting a Christian family who had just moved out to the fields for the summer to look after their crops. Their five children were thrilled to have a personal Sunday school lesson from LHF’s translation of A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories as the missionary modeled how they can have devotions together as a family. As they were finishing the children’s lesson and singing some worship songs, the children’s Muslim uncle - who shepherds his animals nearby stopped in for a cup of tea. He was intrigued by the songs, sung with a twostringed instrument called a dombira, that praised Jesus as the Savior of the world and the hope of the people. Their uncle stayed to listen to the Bible lesson from the first chapter of John—a message of Jesus, the eternal Word of God who became man to make sinful people into the holy children of God. May the seed sown bear fruit!
LUTHERAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION 51474 Romeo Plank Rd. Macomb, MI 48042 ■ 1-800-554-0723 ■ info@LHFmissions.org ■ www.LHFmissions.org ■
“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)
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