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Foundation:

THE WORD AT WORK

UGANDA: IN CATECHISM, HOLY SPIRIT PLANTS FAITH

Near the center of the African continent, nestled below South Sudan sits Uganda, a country just a bit smaller than the state of Oregon.

Within Uganda’s borders, more than 5,000 children attend Lutheran schools each day.

Through the faithful mission gifts of countless LHF supporters, these students - who come from Lutheran, Catholic, Anglican and even Muslim homes - are learning who the one true God is by studying Luther’s Small Catechism, sent to them by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation in partnership with Concordia Publishing House.

“When students study the Small Catechism, they don’t remain the same,” said Rev. Raymond Kaija, dean of the Midwestern Deanery of the Lutheran Church of Uganda (LCU). “Their faith is strengthened. They become God-fearing

children who are able to treat their fellow students with love and respect.”

On average, the LCU has about 250 students at each of its 34 primary schools and one high school. Because Uganda has over 50 different languages, the school teaches in English.

While the schools function to teach young Ugandans the basics of reading, math and science, there can be no doubt that LCU’s Lutheran schools function as a mission outreach as well.

Rev. Kaija said that the catechisms have become a textbook for religion class, and they also use the books every day during chapel.

“Muslim parents send their children to Lutheran schools because of the lack of Muslim schools in the area and because of the quality of education our Lutheran schools offer. In the meantime, all our students, including Muslims, have learned Luther’s Morning and Evening Prayers,” said Rev. Kaija. “I see the Holy Spirit planting faith in the lives of Muslim children and Muslim workers at our schools.”

NATIONAL LWML AWARDS

LHF $100K GRANT FOR AFRICA

The rolling hills of Kentucky provided a stunning backdrop for the journey to the 2021 National LWML Convention. Our LHF staff were in a state of perpetual activity. One must have his batteries charged to keep up with the relentless energy of the LWML ladies!

When we asked if they knew of LHF, I was pleasantly surprised that most attendees answered in the affirmative. Still, no one could possibly know all that LHF does in 90 countries and approximately 128 languages around the world, so the ladies listened attentively, asking good questions as we shared books and stories of the work of the Holy Spirit around the globe.

I was personally approached by several ladies working with Burmese immigrants to America. It is always a joy to hear this as I remember the plethora of Buddhist idols that I encountered upon a journey to Burma a few years ago! God’s Word is being proclaimed by His missionaries in the Church and LHF is blessed to provide such resources!

As the convention came to an end, we were overjoyed to learn that LHF was the recipient of a $100,000.00 grant from the National LWML, placing third in the balloting. Praise be to God! The project — Thirst to Learn: Bible Books for Africa’s Children — will provide us with the support we will need to translate, publish, distribute and introduce these books to children in Africa. We are so thankful to the ladies of the LWML for their partnership in the Gospel! Soli Deo Gloria! by Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, LHF executive director

Hundreds of enthusiastic LWML members stopped by the LHF booth, including Carla Russell from Ohio, pictured here with LHF Executive Director Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise .

LHF BEGINS

For where two or three gather in My name, there am I with them. – Matthew 18:20

In most parts of the United States, finding a Lutheran church to join can be taken for granted. But imagine living where the only places to worship are high Roman Catholic cathedrals and the Kingdom Halls of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. Suddenly, a Sunday morning begins to feel much more isolating.

When Americans Michael Morizio and his wife Nancy Jane moved to Italy to open a touring business 25 years ago, they faced exactly this situation. Located 100 miles from Rome, their region of Abruzzo consists mostly of Catholics and Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“After six years in Italy, we began to feel pain in our hearts that so many of the people with whom we had made contact and become close friends with in Italy had never heard the Gospel – not really,” said Michael, who is now studying for the ministry. “They might have grown up in the Roman Catholic Church, but they were stuck trying to work out their own salvation.”

The Morizios joined the LCMS’ Office of International Mission (OIM) Eurasia team to better share the Gospel with their friends and neighbors, as well as to help build the first confessional Lutheran church in Italy. Now, they have connected to LHF to translate the books they need to share the Gospel in Italian.

Luther returns to Rome

It was a perfect fit for LHF.

Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise, LHF’s executive director, said, “If we see a project where we can get confessional literature into the hands of present and future believers, LHF will do it. Luther, of course, came to Rome while he was living, and now he’s coming back with his teaching!”

Before the Morizios began working in Italy, Rev. Sorin Trifa from Romania would fly there once per month, bringing the Divine Service to one, single Lu-

“Since has seen Lutherans,” men in Rome confessional tending others from from Trino other woman confessional

“Right the Word Saturday vices (either Preaching)

Having Michael needs to faith.

“Law

theran believer.

Left: Michael Morizio, Right: Luiz Lange and an Church of Italy. Michael pastors!

Luther returns to Rome... BEGINS WORK IN ITALY

believer.

“Since our arrival on the mission field, the Lord seen fit to bless us with several new confessional Lutherans,” said Michael. “We encountered two young Rome who wanted desperately to be a part of confessional Lutheran church. We regularly have atour services another man from south of Rome; from Sicily, Calabria in the south; and others Trino and the Veneto in the north, including anwoman from Padua welcomed in by the very first confessional Lutheran living there.

boldly and correctly, result in saving faith to those who hear it,” he explained. “If you ask an Italian person ‘Do you know if you are saved and going to heaven?’ the vast majority will respond, ‘I don’t know. I can only hope so, and that I’ve been good enough.’

This is the uncertain quagmire into which the Roman Catholic church baptizes its members.”

The trap of Jehovah’s Witnesses

Another large group of people desperately needing to hear the Good News are the 260,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses in Italy.

“One town, a 10-minute drive from us, boasts a Jehovah’s Witness population of 90% of its residents,” said Michael.

“The reason for this is that they go door to door and actually offer ‘hope’ to the average Italian. But as we know, it is a trap – and a seductive lure into this most dangerous cult which denies the divinity of Christ and the Holy Trinity,” he explained. “The Jehovah’s Witnesses are truly a bankrupt cult devised by the Evil One to steal souls for Hell. But my wife and I will not give up, certainly!”

That’s why Michael translated LHF founder Rev. Robert Rahn’s devotional booklet “Jesus Never Fails.”

“I see the huge need for translations of confessional Lutheran theological writings into Italian,” said Michael.

“Right now, we have a Zoom service (Service of Word and Preaching) online for everyone each Saturday at 3:30 p.m., then periodic ‘in-person’ ser(either Divine Service or Service of the Word and Preaching) in Rome or in Padua,” he said.

Having been raised Roman Catholic himself, is in the perfect position to understand what to be said and heard when sharing the Lutheran and Gospel – the words of Christ preached

Rev. Heise agrees. “We started off with the ‘Jesus Never Fails’ booklet, and we hope that the Small Catechism and perhaps a children’s Bible storybook will follow,” he said.

The Italian edition of “Jesus Never Fails” will be available from LHF in the late summer or early fall.

by Anna Bagnall LHF staff writer

Morizio, followed by Lorenzo Murrone and Nancy Jane Morizio. and Joshua Salas, members of the Confessional LutherMichael and Luiz are both studying to become Lutheran

TEACHER SHAVES HEAD TO RAISE MONEY FOR MISSIONS

When Trinity-St. John Lutheran School in Nashville, IL chose to adopt LHF’s “Come and See Jesus: Bible Books for Indonesia” mission project with their chapel of ferings, teacher Dawn Mueller knew she had an offer the students wouldn’t be able to resist: If they could raise $2,000 to provide 400 Bible storybooks for children in Indonesia, she would get a buzzed haircut.

Excitement spread through the school like wildfire! Soon, not only had that $2,000 challenge been met, but they had exceeded their goal by over $1,000 - meaning that now LHF could print more than 600 books for Indonesian-speaking families!

Facing the clippers, Dawn didn’t flinch.

“I am very excited when A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories is published in a language that is unfamiliar to me,” she said. “I have seen the joy of children receiving their very own Bible storybook, written in the language they speak in their homes. Sometimes it is the first book of their very own. Being able to read God’s Word in the very language they speak helps children understand that God’s love and promises are for them.”

LHF’s Indonesian translation of A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories is also dear to Dawn’s heart because a decade ago, she assisted LHF in expanding the original publisher’s edition to include important lessons on the

LCMS school teacher Dawn Mueller, sporting her fresh haircut, stands in front of a chart the students kept to track how many Bible storybooks they were funding for Indonesian kids.

Sacraments (such as Jesus’ baptism and the first Holy Supper), the text of the 10 Commandments and the Lord’s Prayer, and others. Her son, Jacob, assisted by creating maps for the book’s appendix, which illustrate the sites of Biblical events.

Dawn’s students also connected to the project by learning more about the Indonesian people, their culture and lives through the activities provided in LHF’s “Come and See Jesus” classroom resource kit.

“The more the students learned about Indonesia, the more excited they were about giving money so the kids

there could learn about Jesus,” Dawn said.

For instance, “the first and second graders practiced saying ‘Good morning’ in Indonesian. The fourth graders put on the Mouse Deer skits for the younger children. The sixth graders made batik banners, which will be entered in our county fair,” she shared. “All of the resource materials provided were great and could be implemented in a moment’s notice!”

MICHIGAN DISTRICT STUDENTS SHARE THEIR HEARTS FOR JESUS

In a different part of the Midwest, thousands of Michigan Lutheran school students also enjoyed those same activities while collecting their mission offerings for “Come and See Jesus.”

Each year, the LCMS Michigan District suggests a “Hearts for Jesus” project so that district-wide, all their schools can come together to support a single mission project. This year, they chose the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

Despite the challenges of Covid, together the Michigan District students raised more than $35,000 to share good Lutheran books in Indonesia’s schools and churches. Soli Deo Gloria!

LOOKING FOR A KIDS’ PROJECT?

Whether you’re leading a single classroom or an entire district, LHF can provide the free resources you need to engage your students in missions!