View Printable Version

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday, November 27, you can DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT when you donate to the LWML mite goal, thanks to two anonymous donors who will match up to $20,000!
www.lwml.org/givingtuesday

2017–2019 LWML MISSION GRANT #4 - $25,000
Tanzanian Sewing Center — Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT)

The following report was sent to LWML President Patti Ross from Bishop Emmanuel Makala —
GIRLS TAILORING AND LIFE SKILLS COURSE AT BISHOP MAKALA TRAINING CENTRE:

Bishop Makala trying to run the machine after the opening service for training.

South East of Lake Victoria Diocese has 10 districts including Cathedral and 62 Parishes. The diocese operates in two regions. It is a great opportunity and blessing for the diocese to serve people around Shinyanga and Simiyu regions spiritually, mentally, and socially. South East of Lake Victoria Diocese through Lutheran Women’s Missionary League has established a socio-economic program which aims to empower girls in the Diocese through Tailoring and Life Skills Course. This is done under Women, Children and Diakonia Directory. The course takes six months of training both in theory and practical. The program started in October 2018. The expected number to start with was 50 trainees. Unfortunately, 60 participants have shown up to date. These girls are from different districts within Shinyanga and Simiyu regions respectively. The course takes girls from multi-dimensional social groups. It is non-denominational and religious free. Some of these girls are young mothers and have babies being a result of early marriages or early pregnancies. They attend classes with their babies. Meanwhile, the hostels to accommodate the future trainees are under construction. Hope to get more trainees in the future since the hostel rooms will be enough. However, the girls have been learning for couple of days and doing well in their training. The expectation at the end of the program is to see every trainee is able to sew different types of clothes and have good life skills. The life skills will help them to change and sustain their lives back to the society. Trainees of this program together with South East of Lake Victoria Diocese appreciate and pray for the LWML to continue helping girls all over the world through this program.

To learn more about this LWML mission grant and all 22 mission grants, visit lwml.org/mission-grants.

DECEMBER MITE BOX CALENDAR — AVAILABLE

To view, print, and share the calendar, click uniteproduction.s3.amazonaws.com/tenants/lwml/attachments/174651/MiteChallenge-December2018Calendar.pdf

MITE OFFERINGS REPORT
(As of October 31, 2018)

Mission Goal for 2017–2019 Biennium: $2,075,000.00
Amount Received: $1,397,306.08
Total Mites Still Needed: $677,693.92

Praise to the Lord for the nearly $1,400,000 received so far, and we pray for His blessing upon the grant recipients still waiting for funding in order to complete their planned Gospel outreach. Please continue to fill your Mite Boxes and/or donate your gifts online at lwml.org/donate-online to fully fund all our 22 LWML mission grants by the end of the 2017–2019 biennium’s fiscal year of March 31, 2019.

LWML OFFICE DEDICATION

November 6, 2018 1:30 p.m.
801 Seminary Place, Ste. L010 St. Louis, Mo.

LWML Jr. Pastoral Counselor Mitch Schuessler led those gathered outside the main entrance for the dedication of the LWML Office at its new location in this prayer:

Almighty Lord, heavenly Father, we give thanks to You for the many blessings You have given to the LWML and to Concordia Seminary. We thank You for the partnership that these two organizations have formed in creating this workspace for the LWML here on the campus of the Seminary. May Your blessings be upon the Lutheran Women's Missionary League as it uses this office complex to accomplish the work and the mission which You have given to them. We lift up all those who will work in these offices and ask that You would guide them in all that they do. May they seek Your will and guidance in their daily work. We pray that these offices may be a blessing to the women of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod and that all the materials that are produced and disseminated from this place may further the work in Your kingdom. We pray all these things in the name of Your risen and living Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Following the ribbon cutting by LWML President Patti Ross, she and Rev. Schuessler welcomed guests into the new office space for tours, refreshments, and fellowship with the LWML Office staff and the LWML Executive Committee who were meeting in St. Louis at this time.

REWARDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY —
LWML GIFT PLANNING COUNSELOR 

Do you want to have an impact on the future ministry of the LWML? Join the LCMS Foundation’s Gift Planning team. You’ll meet with individuals and families to create the very best gifts to LWML now and in the future through estate gift planning. Applications are currently being reviewed, apply online now.

ASSEMBLY OF LEADERS TRAINING

The LWML has, does, and will continue to “Follow the Leader,” our Savior!
On November 7-10, 2018, 184 LWML leaders and counselors gathered in St. Louis, Missouri, at the Assembly of Leaders training under the theme, “Follow the Leader,” based on the scripture verse, What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me — practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9).

This organization has historically viewed effective leadership training and communication as part of fulfilling the LWML mission statement. Participants will now take these training resources back to their districts and equip current and future leaders to continue to share Jesus within their communities and throughout the world.

Linda Reiser, Past LWML President, inspired participants to share the mission of LWML and also led an informative, and occasionally comical, session on podium protocol. John Reeb, from the Colorado Leadership Institute, took participants through activities that allowed them to embrace change and communicate and understand different generations. LWML President Patti Ross noted how a common thread of “Why me and why now?” seemed to carry throughout the event. The Bible study leaders, Counselors Rev. Robert Mundahl and Rev. Mitchel Schuessler, reiterated we don't know the path God will lead us on, but we do know the Leader and we will follow Him.

Rev. Rod Benkendorf, of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, stopped by to thank LWML for funding Mission Grant #6 — Lutheran Children’s Books for Families Worldwide, and brought several books which have been printed in different languages. Rev. Robert and Kristi Roegner and Rev. Steve and Nancy Cohen, from Apple of His Eye Mission Society came to share how Mission Grant #14 from the 2015–2017 biennium is being implemented as, by the grace of God, the Gospel is shared with the lost sheep of Israel. Participants brought Gifts from the Heart of over $2,000 in cash and gift cards, blankets, diapers, and more to be donated to Christian Friends of New Americans and Rev. Stanish Stanley accepted these gifts, thanking the LWML. He shared how these gifts would be given to immigrants and refugees in the greater St. Louis area.

Mite Box offerings were encouraged during the event with a plea to “Feed the Sheep” — a decorated large Mite Box. (See picture.) Several attendees helped lead a light-hearted interactive song with motions for sheep ears and sounds. Over $5,465 was gathered so that others may know about Jesus as the Good Shepherd.

This was an intense two and a half days filled with sessions that provided important resources and information for training up leaders to share the Gospel. It is the hope of the LWML Executive Committee that this material will be shared within the districts to the glory of God.

Watch for information on training events in your district in the coming months and get ready to “Follow the Leader” with confidence and joy!

ASSEMBLY OF LEADERS 2018 — PHOTO GALLERY COLLAGE

LWML PRESIDENT PATTI ROSS VISITED THE PHILIPPINES

LWML President, Patti Ross, recently represented LWML on a trip to the Philippines with LCMS Deaconess Director, Grace Rao, October 22–29, 2018. The trip included visiting the Lutheran Church of the Philippines (LCP) Seminary in Baguio and joining the Philippine deaconess students on their mission trip to Manila. During the trip to Baguio, President Ross met with the president and students at the seminary, presented greetings from the LWML to the seminary students and gifts to the deaconess students. The Seminary and Deaconess program have been recipients of LWML grants in the past.

The mission trip is part of the curriculum for deaconess students who are from many Philippine regions. The  deaconess students had pre-designed programs to present at two sites, and President Ross accompanied them and took part along with them. The first site visit was to Concordia Children’s Center on the campus of the headquarters of the LCP in Manila. This center cares for 25 orphans, and has a before-school & after-school program for local grade school children. Crafts and Bible lessons were presented with the school children, and time was spent playing with the babies and smaller children. President Ross said, “This is a terrific organization. They give so much love and care for abandoned or surrendered babies and neighborhood children on a shoestring budget!”

On another day, a state-run home for elderly was visited. The students were welcomed and conducted small group Bible devotions and activities, including “musical chairs” with the seniors. President Ross observed the care that was given to these seniors, many of whom had been found wandering the streets of Manila.

Reformation Sunday was particularly wonderful as the combined Reformation Sunday service brought members of several Manila Lutheran churches together for worship and, of course, a potluck luncheon! The choir was beautiful! It was here that President Ross was able to meet with the President of the Lutheran Church of the Philippines Women’s League president, Miriam Palomique Valeriano. It was also an honor to meet Antonio del Rio Reyes, LCP President and spend some time with his wife, Arlene Zerna-Reyes.

President Ross observed, “Being together with fellow Lutherans on Reformation Day in a foreign country made me think of the church at Pentecost! Being with these dedicated deaconess students and sharing Bible study and travel with them — they made me feel so welcome and so much a part of their world.”

Watch for more to come about this trip! Please pray for our Lutheran brothers and sisters in the Philippines.

Philippine Seminary with students

Leading Bible studies 
 

Presenting LWML's Overflowing Abundance

Patti and LCP President Antonio del Rio Reyes
 

Miriam Palomique Valeriano and Patti

Reformation Sunday in Manila

MISSION SERVICE 
LWML participated in three recent conferences —

Best Practices for Ministry Heartland Conference- Oct. 10–12 at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Columbus, Indiana

LWML Convention Programming Committee member Vivian Ernst gladly represented LWML at this conference. Vivian reported, “The winners of the Today’s Light Bibles [from a drawing at the exhibit booth] were so pleased to receive them. Of course, the bears are always a treat. I gave some left-over bears to the care ministry pastor at our church. He will have them to give to children who are part of family situations he deals with. There were also opportunities to share information with attendees and exhibitors about the mites we collect and the funding of mission grants, both national and district.”

Beautiful Feet Conference- November 1–4 at Concordia University, Austin, Texas

Attending and representing LWML at the LWML exhibit booth were LWML Committee on Young Women Chairman Carrie Brumbaugh, LWML Texas District YWR and Concordia Texas LWML group leader Grace Gunther (Concordia Texas student), and LWML Texas District YWR Brittney Roberts. These Lutheran Women in Mission spoke to the students from several Concordia Universities across the United States who came by the booth while attending this mission event; answered questions and provided information; encouraged them to sign up to receive LWML electronic news; and handed out Mite Boxes as well as the prized LWML beanie baby bears which were a hit.

Rural and Small Town Mission Conference- November 8–10 in Kansas City, Missouri

LWML was represented by LWML Kansas District Archivist-Historian Judy Carlson at this conference, attended by 155 pastors, youth leaders, and church leaders. Judy and assistant Cindy Mead were so pleased to share Mite Boxes, LWML brochures, pens, and App cards, Mustard Seed Devotion packets, mission grant bookmarks, and summer 2018 Quarterlies. The LWML bears were popular on their display table and were all given away. One woman took several – for a friend who is a new widow, to give to three ladies in cancer treatment along with a card of encouragement, and one for herself. A young pastor from Boulder City, Nev., took one to display in his office – a conversation starter with youngsters. Others took them for a variety of ministry purposes. Several people took multiple Mustard Seed Devotion packets. One woman said her ladies put them in the bags of groceries given out at their food bank. Retired chaplain Rev. Ernie Savage from Kingston, Wash., thanked them for all that LWML does, especially for producing Mustard Seed Devotions. He said that he always had them with him and gave them out to soldiers, especially before they were sent out on duty.

Read More News