FOUNDATION
Vol. 32, No. 2: March/April 2025
The WORD at WORK
A new Lutheran pastor’s testimony: “LHF books are a treasure!”
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LHF renews translation work in Madagascar
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Volunteer opportunity: LCMS pastors needed to teach in South Sudan
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Egg seller shares Bible stories in Cambodian market
This May, Rev. Orlando Ramirez of Iglesia Luterana Confesional Conexion in Naples, Florida (pictured above) celebrates his one-year anniversary joining The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, a journey that could not have happened if not by the Holy Spirit leading him to confessional Lutheran teachings taught in LHF’s Spanish texts. Read on to learn how his formerly neo-pentecostal Hispanic congregation has come to embrace Lutheran theology!
“Since 2024, our church has been serving the Hispanic community through the proclamation of the Gospel, although honestly, the message and focus were not very clear at the beginning. That was part of the reality I lived in, which eventually led me to begin a search that brought me to the Lutheran tradition,” Rev. Ramirez said.
Having been formed (both as a Christian and a pastor) in a charismatic environment, there came a time when Rev. Ramirez began to question many of the practices, customs and some of the teachings that were common in that context.
say it was key in starting the journey of faith that lay ahead.”
“ I remember studying at night, discovering entirely new doctrines that challenged my reason and my previous teachings, with no one to guide me through the process—only the Lord, the Bible, and the LHF books.”
“I was overwhelmed by a deep sense of frustration,” Rev. Ramirez recalled. “Providentially, I began reading some material that, while not originating from the Lutheran tradition, contained a teaching very characteristic of Lutheranism—namely, Law and Gospel. That teaching blew my mind. I can
Then after reading some of John Wesley’s sermons and writings for the first time, “I encountered another doctrine—not one Wesley is mainly known for, but one he articulated emphatically: justification by faith. This doctrine, so basic and fundamental to our Protestant heritage, was extremely novel to me, unknown in its depth and richness. However, there were obstacles [in Wesley’s teachings] that prevented me from leaving evangelicalism and embracing the Reformed world, such as the doctrine of double predestination.”
Then came Covid.
In the midst of this process came the pandemic, along with the theological debate on whether online communion is good and proper. As Rev. Ramirez searched for answers, he
Ramirez continued on p. 2
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came across Lutheran websites and social media pages – one of which mentioned free Spanish resources from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.
“To my great delight, I found that LHF had extremely valuable materials that were key in my formation!” exclaimed Rev. Ramirez. “For example, the series of Lutheran Dogmatics books was crucial. I received them and began devouring them! To this day, they are a treasure in Spanish that I frequently consult.
“The LHF books were fundamental for me,” he continued. “I remember studying at night, discovering entirely new doctrines that challenged my reason and my previous teachings, with no one to guide me through the process—only the Lord, the Bible and the LHF books.”
Shepherding his people
“As I started to study [these new teachings], I began sharing with the church what I was learning,” said Rev. Ramirez. “As my Biblical and theological understanding was being redefined by the Scriptures and the Lutheran perspective, I was conveying those teachings through Sunday sermons and Wednesday night Bible studies. These were very intense sessions with many questions” from his congregation of people from a wide variety of religious backgrounds, including Baptists, Pentecostals, Methodists, Presbyterians, Reformed, non-denominational and Roman Catholic.
LHF’s Spanish-language systematic teaching materials, such as Luther’s Small Catechism, have been instrumental to the process, which has had mixed reactions from Rev. Ramirez’ people. “It’s been very interesting,” he concluded. “At times, there is tension when old perspectives are confronted by new teaching. At other times, there is joy upon discovering the richness of a new teaching, and sometimes, sorrow when beloved members left the church, unwilling to continue along the Lutheran path. We’ve had a bit of everything. But overall, it has been very positive and spiritually enriching.”
Rev. Ramirez colloquized into the LCMS roster last May, and his congregation was incorporated into LCMS fellowship in October. “This journey of faith has been and continues to be a great challenge, but we keep trusting in the Lord to reach the intended destination,” he concluded.
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by Anna Irwin, LHF staff writer
To read more details from Rev. Ramirez about this journey, go to LHFmissions.org.
LHF work
In the 2010s, LHF translation work flourished in Madagascar, an island nation off the east coast of Africa.
Coordinating LHF’s work was Rev. Dr. David Rakotonirina, then president of the Malagasy Lutheran Church (Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy – FLM). The books were eagerly received by the FLM’s 3.5 million members, and as soon as LHF printed a book such as Luther’s Small Catechism or Why I Am a Lutheran: Jesus at the Center, the supply was drained. Then, tragedy struck.
In 2020, Rev. Rakotonirina contracted Covid and was called home to heaven. Without his leadership, LHF’s translation work floundered, then ceased.
“There are no more books to distribute,” said Rev. Dr. Dinku Bato, LHF’s coordinator for African projects. “Many
more books are
Over the past developing a team, comprised FLM’s graduate serves as a liaison the young translators.
In their conversations, stressed that to distribute church bodies, the correct teachings plained in the to all people. hear that!” he New publications
The team’s the devotion into Malagasy, now been printed.
LCMS pastors: Instructors
Are you a pastor who’s up for the adventure of a lifetime?
LHF is searching for volunteer instructors at the Concordia Lutheran Institute for the Holy Ministry (CLIHM) in South Sudan. Each teaching session is a 2-week intensive, with dates available from the end of August through early December 2025.
Instructors will teach a dozen 4th year seminary students who have recently returned from vicarage. Topics still needing to be covered are listed on the LHF website (see link below) include subjects such as homiletics, theology of mission, pastoral counseling, Genesis and Romans.
Rev. Dr. Dinku Bato recently returned from teaching a course on church administration and organization.
“The country of South Sudan is often in upheaval because tribal conflict that’s going on,” Rev. Bato said. “Because of that, people don’t have experience running an organization like a church in an orderly way. So to prepare them, we practiced like asking them to lead an elders’ meeting, with minutes, where they presented a topic for discussion. We also assigned group work where they learned to collaborate. In all these projects, men were very eager to learn more. Heretofore, it seems to have been a kind of deficit in their culture.”
past year, Rev. Bato has been new Malagasy translation comprised mainly of students at the graduate school. Their principal liaison between the FLM and translators.
conversations, Rev. Bato
LHF “works across the board materials to all Lutheran bodies, and our goal is to make teachings of the Bible, as exthe Book of Concord, available They were very happy to he exclaimed.
publications on the way team’s first project was to translate booklet “Jesus Never Fails” Malagasy, and 3,000 copies have printed. In the coming months,
Sudan renewed in Madagascar
Concordia dates 2025. students needing and pastoral course because of that, things where group projects, the have are needed!”
A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories will be available for the FLM’s many families and children (pictured with one of the Malagasy translators, at right).
Also underway is a top-priority project, translating the full Book of Concord. It’s a lot of work, but Rev. Bato believes the team is up for it.
“They are very energetic young people who are very, very happy to have this opportunity come to their attention,” he said. “Their work is very much needed, because books are very welcome and put into use in Madagascar. In the past, we saw that when we offer the good books of our faith, people will take them and will read them. For some, the books are the first seeds of the Gospel being planted; for others, the Holy Spirit will use this opportunity to water and nourish their faith.”
Instructors needed in South
Concerns about travel to South Sudan?
Though Americans are frequently advised against travel to South Sudan, LHF regularly sends instructors in and out of the country every two weeks without incident. The travel plans are well laid out and exercised.
As South Sudan is a very impoverished country, the lodgings in Yambio are much more basic than Americans are accustomed to. “But if you can embrace a couple of weeks camping, you’re prepared for South Sudan,” said Rev. Robert Rahn, LHF founder who at age 89, recently returned from the seminary.
“Be prepared for very hot and humid weather; this is a tropical region,” advised Rev. Bato. “There is fresh water for bathing and plenty of bottled water for drinking, but seminary instructors may want to bring along snacks like beef jerky or peanut butter to compliment the abundance of mangos, bananas and so on. The residents try their level best to accommodate visiting professors.”
A doctorate degree is not required for being a volunteer CLIHM instructor. “The courses are not at the level of our LCMS seminaries, but are instead more along the lines of an undergraduate Bible school,” explained Rev. Bato. “What IS necessary is someone who is gifted in teaching, who has a passion for helping form new pastors in a mission field where they are in desperate need for more pastors to serve their ever-expanding church body.”
Rev. Bato teaching in a CLIHM classroom.
Rev. Rahn cuts the ribbon to the new library on the CLIHM campus.
Retired pastors: Looking for some exciting contract work & preaching?
If you’re a retired Lutheran pastor with a heart for missions and the desire to keep your preaching skills sharp, LHF wants to talk to you!
Applications are now being taken for Independent Regional Promotional Representatives (IRPRs), a contracted position that pays for your time, per event. Interested parties should contact LHF by emailing info@LHFmissions.org or calling the office at (800)554-0723.
IRPRs go into LCMS congregations to lead LHF Sundays, where they typically preach the sermon (usually on the text of the day) and/or lead Bible study, teaching members about God’s call for His people to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to all peoples. Some IRPRs also speak in Lutheran day school chapels or at LWML zone rallies, and they frequently man LHF’s exhibit tables at LCMS and LWML district conventions.
“IRPRs have the joyous opportunity to preach Christ crucified and risen AND show ’n’ tell how LHF’s Christ-proclaiming books in the heart languages of the people travel around the world to bring forgiveness, peace and joy,” said Rev. Bob Marshall, one of LHF’s IRPRs (pictured top left).
“I really enjoy meeting well-known LCMS leaders and seeing and hearing their utmost respect for LHF,” said IRPR Rev. Tom Fischer. “LHF is truly among the most highly respected ministries in Synod and beyond! And the LHF home office in Michigan gives us a lot of support.”
As IRPRs make personal contacts with people seeking to support LHF’s work, “we’re building awareness of LHF’s worldwide mission and offering resources to help churches bring Christ’s Word to new immigrants in their communities,” Rev. Marshall added. “By the blessing of the Holy Spirit, this mission is reversing Babel!”
Heise, executive
Jennifer Bagnall, managing
LHF MATCH 2025
$37K
$150K
First-time supporters of LHF: Your gifts introduce new
believers to Jesus!
If you haven’t yet sent a mission gift to LHF, consider this example from a marketplace in Buddhist Cambodia, illustrating how the Holy Spirit can use your donations to spread the Gospel:
“A lady taking our Lutheran instruction is the egg seller inside the market. Some months ago, she had asked me about A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories because, she said, the nonbelievers’ children often asked her to tell the stories from the Bible. She had told them that she did not have any material to tell the stories, and the Bible is too big for her. Now, she is so happy that she not only can use LHF’s Bible book to teach her own kids, but also the children who are living near her egg store.”
If you’re new to supporting LHF’s translation work, you can DOUBLE your gift, dollar-for-dollar (up to $5,000) with the LHF Match. No special paperwork is necessary; simply send your gift in the enclosed envelope or give online at www.LHFmissions.org.
