Balob founder honoured with King's medal

On 12 October 2026 Frederick Stolz OL OAM was awarded the King‘s Papua New Guinea 50th Anniversary Independence medal by His Excellency Sir Bob Dadae, Governor-General of Papua New Guinea, for his significant service to education; including as founding Principal of Balob Teachers’ College, as a Church worker through the Lutheran Mission in Papua New Guinea.

Mr Stolz, aged 91 years, attended the investiture at Government Haus in Port Moresby accompanied by his wife Mrs Lois Stolz and his grandson Mr Brenton Kanowski - who is also Consul-General of Australia to Papua New Guinea, based in Lae. Other attendees included St Peters Indooroopilly congregation members Ms Theresa Stolz (daughter) and husband Mr Anthony Kanowski (son-in-law), Mrs Jenny and Mr David Danslow, Ms Lorelei Baum, and Mr David and Mrs Naomi Radke (both of whom were also PNG 'mission kids').

Mr Stolz‘s contribution to education 'was significant' according to the Governor-General, with 'over 15,000 graduated primary school teachers [who] have served every corner of Papua New Guinea since the College’s founding in 1965.' Balob continues to this day as a strong educational institution in Morobe Province thanks to the visionary work of Mr Stolz and his pioneering staff.

Fred and Lois Stolz are members of Grace Lutheran Church, Redcliffe. 

Images: Mr Stolz with the King's medal; with PNG Governor General Grand Chief Sir Bob Dadae who performed the investiture; with wife Lois.

'Just breathe' – a reflection on Replenish

by Carolyn Ehrlich

Calm, reflective, space, time, fellowship, family, nature, creative, humbling, listening, hearing, worshipping, standing beside, being with, quiet, chatter, being cared for and about. These are all words that reflect and describe some of the experiences I had on my first-ever retreat at Luther Heights. Experiences that reflect being with God, and God being with me in His creation. There was also God’s awesome creation for me to marvel at. Black cockatoos – 10 of them, circling, squawking; whales – breaching, playing; dolphins; sand, beach, water, trees, nature. All while I ‘just breathe’.

My name is Carolyn Ehrlich. I am retired and have never been on a Lutheran camp of any type before. I was not even sure that I wanted to go – right up until the time came to pack and drive from my home in Ipswich to Coolum, I wasn’t sure. I was tempted to just not go. But I had arranged to do this ages ago. I registered early. What did I expect? I didn’t know. But I decided to go anyway...

Cairns parish celebrates togetherness and new beginnings

In Cairns parish there has been much to celebrate recently as members of the community came together at a parish picnic, and then at the installation of Juanita Eime as the new Principal of Peace Lutheran College Kamerunga. LCAQD Bishop Dr Mark Vainikka travelled to Cairns to attend the picnic and perform the installation service for Ms Eime.

‘The group of faithful and fully committed members at Our Saviours in Atherton showed once again that a small group can also manage a larger event,’ Rev David Spanagel said, expressing gratitude for their hard work in organising the picnic. Pastor David led the picnic service, while Bishop Mark preached the gospel.

‘The atmosphere created was relaxed, welcoming and radiated a warmth of fellowship that truly reflected our church logo “where love comes to life”. A comment overheard was, “This is what I call church!” Having Bishop Mark in our presence was also a special blessing for us all.’

Peace Lutheran College inducts a new Principal

Immediately on the following Monday community members connected with Peace Lutheran College gathered to share in the installation of Juanita Eime as College Principal. Bishop Mark led the morning's service, joined by special guests from Lutheran Education Queensland and Lutheran Education Australia, as well as Principals from Lutheran schools across Queensland and past Peace Lutheran College Principals, Shane Jurecky and Elizabeth Fenske; who joined the College to pray for Juanita and impart personal messages of faith and encouragement.

‘Our community is extremely blessed to have Juanita in the role of Principal, and we are excited to continue moving forward under her leadership,’ the college shared. Ms Eime responded on the College’s Facebook page, ‘I am grateful to everyone who came to the service and those who sent special messages and prayers. It is a privilege and an honour to lead the Peace Lutheran College community in this way. I am excited to see how the College will grow and develop over the coming years. I pray that God will grant me wisdom to lead well.’

United in Hope continues

The LCAQD is continuing its United in Hope project, supporting and enabling an ongoing Lutheran ministry presence in Hope Vale, Cairns and Wujal Wujal. With around $7,000 left of this year’s goal, can you help us get over the line? Make your donation or find fundraising resources at https://qld.lca.org.au/news-events/united-in-hope/

Help tell the Gympie Origin Stories

Lutheran Services is inviting people connected with Zion Gympie Retirement Living and Cooinda Aged Care to share their memories as part of the Origin Stories project.

Together with the congregations and communities that helped shape us, Lutheran Services has served the people and communities of Queensland since 1935.

To celebrate and commemorate these beginnings, Lutheran Services is conducting an Origin Stories project. In collaboration with the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District, we are exploring, documenting and sharing the histories and stories behind our services and sites.

The story of Zion Gympie Retirement Village began through the vision, faith and hard work of the Zion Gympie congregation, who saw a need and worked together to create a place of care and community.

Cooinda Aged Care also has deep roots in Gympie. Opened in December 1965, Cooinda grew from local care, fundraising and community spirit, and has now marked 60 years of caring for older people in Gympie.

Join the conversation

We are especially hoping to hear from people connected to the early days of Zion Gympie Retirement Living and Cooinda Aged Care, including founding members, congregation members, committee members, residents, families, volunteers, community supporters and long-serving team members.

We welcome the whole story, the hopeful moments, the hard work, the challenges, the setbacks, the funny memories and everything in between.

Thank you for supporting the 2026 Lenten Appeal

A heartfelt thank you to Lutheran congregations across Queensland who generously gave more than $17,000 to the 2026 Lenten Appeal.

These donations continue a long tradition of Lutheran communities coming together to care for people when they need support most.

This year, funds raised will help support Lutheran hospital chaplaincy and chaplaincy at Mary and Martha’s Refuge, where pastoral care provides comfort, connection and support in very different circumstances.

Our hospital chaplaincy program receives no government funding. Volunteer Lutheran chaplains provide pastoral care across 10 hospitals in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Hervey Bay, Mackay and Mount Isa, supporting patients and families through some of life’s most difficult moments.

At Mary and Martha’s Refuge, Chaplain Wendy has a different but equally important role—supporting the team members who walk alongside women and families experiencing domestic and family violence.

Stamps for Mission

Is your congregation involved in the Stamps for Mission initiative?

Stamps for Mission are deeply thankful for the many LCANZ congregations who have faithfully supported God’s mission by collecting and passing on their used stamps. Since 2008, through your generosity, the Stamps for Mission program has now raised over $500,000 to support ministry and mission projects funded by LCA International Mission. We praise God for his abundant provision—and for your servant-hearted efforts in turning something as ordinary as a used stamp into an extraordinary gift for God’s global mission.

Stamps for Mission gathers and sells all types of stamps to support our international mission program. New and used stamps, modern or older, Australian and overseas, loose or in albums are all accepted. If you are a serious collector and have a valuable collection, please consider bequeathing it to the Stamps for Mission program.

Seeking board members, Queensland Lutheran Giving

by Trevor Ruthenberg, District Executive Officer at Lutheran Church of Australia, Queensland District

Dear Saints,

I bring to your attention a need in our church, and I seek your commitment to pray into this need please.

Queensland Lutheran Giving (QLG) needs up to five more board members. QLG provides support to vulnerable people in times of need, but it also has other opportunities that need to be developed. 

QLG is a Public Ancillary Fund and is a registered Charity (Not-For-Profit (NFP)), Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR), and registered with the ACNC, with the LCAQD as the sole member (making it wholly owned by the LCAQD).  We have several trusts set up under QLG with the option of adding more as the need arises.

The current directors have a plan to assist every congregation of the LCAQD to be able to help people in need in their own community, speaking directly into the LCAQD new Strategic Charter. The current QLG board needs support to develop QLG’s capacity to achieve this goal.

To this end we are asking you, the members of the LCAQD, to:

1. Pray for the Directors of QLG and
2. Consider joining the QLG Board and/or tapping someone on the shoulder who you think fits the profile of person we are looking for, to become a Director.