LCA International Mission No images? Click here On April 12, Bishop Paul Smith led the churchwide office team in giving thanks to God for Nevin Nitschke’s faithful service to the church for more than 40 years. Tomorrow, Nevin will finish with LCA International Mission after almost 7 years of dedicated and passionate service. Nevin has had particular responsibility for LCA International Mission’s work in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia, and has been the welcoming face of the church for many scholarship holders over the years. In addition, he has mentored and supported volunteers who have impacted our partners in many and varied ways, and through his love of people and infectious story telling, he has inspired countless members of the LCANZ as he has shared the work of LCA International Mission. We thank God for Nevin and his service to the church; for his love of people and desire for everyone to know Jesus; for his faithfulness, joy and constant support to all he has worked with. We commend him and his wife Lynette to the Lord as he enters a new phase in his life as a follower of Jesus. Mother's Day gift - Soul Food recipe book Soul Food is a book with 23 recipes from Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar. Soul Food is the perfect gift for Mother's Day to give a mother who loves to cook! You may also like to use the recipes to provide hospitality to those in your community. By purchasing your copy (or copies), you will be supporting ministry done through hospitality among LCA International Mission partner churches. To view some of the dishes and information about hospitality included in Soul Food, please click this link: https://vimeo.com/617489062 You can order Soul Food for a donation of $20 per copy, plus postage. For more information or to order Soul Food, please contact Erin Kerber at erin.kerber@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7317. The month of March was filled with visitors from our partner churches, beginning with a visit from Rev Dedi Pardosi, the Director of the National Committee of LWF member churches in Indonesia (KN-LWF), and closely followed by church leaders from Malaysia and Singapore together with some of their wives. Rev Pardosi spent time at Australian Lutheran College where he met with leaders and sat in on a Pastoral Ministry class, recognising the great gift the LCANZ has to offer churches in the region. Coming from a context where seminary education has become a largely academic pursuit, Rev Pardosi noted that one of the key strengths the LCANZ can share is the practical application of Lutheran theology in daily ministry encounters. Rev Pardosi also met with a number of Lutheran schools in SA who have partnerships with Indonesian schools and sought to strengthen these important relationships. It was also a time when he was able to officially acknowledge the significant work of Ruth Butler who has finished her term as a volunteer educational consultant to the KN-LWF. The delegation from Malaysia and Singapore had a very full schedule including meetings with LCA leaders, briefing on LCA ministries, time at ALC, visits to congregations and a wonderful two days in the Barossa where they heard presentations on Lutheran history in Australia and inspired locals through their reports on the challenges and joys of mission and ministry in Asia. A particular highlight was the reception of the delegation at a function catered by the Pasadena Indonesia community who filled us with delicious food and entertained us with traditional music. Most of these church leaders are newly elected and so it was also an opportunity for them to strengthen their friendships and discuss ways they can work together. Bishop Thomas Low from the Lutheran Church in Malaysia commented, “Thanks so much for your outstanding hospitality, great sharing and getting to know the ministries of LCANZ, especially the challenges of your congregations on the ground. I've learnt much and [been] encouraged.” Thank you to the many people who supported these visits and blessed our guests with wonderful hospitality. Our Missionaries Timeline acknowledges the Australian Lutherans who have served overseas, particularly in Papua New Guinea, and shares their inspiring stories and photos. We would love more information about the following people. If you know how we can contact any of the below, please email lcaim@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7317: Leslie Baar (1970) After serving many years as a missionary in PNG, Rev Peter Hage wasn’t in Australia for long before he began to serve on the Board for Mission. Peter then became one of the foundation members of the International Mission Committee. In February he was elected as the Bishop of the WA District and has had to tender his resignation from the Committee. Peter’s passion for our mission partnerships with our near neighbours and his ‘on the ground experience’ have brought energy, enthusiasm and wisdom. We thank God for the blessing Peter’s service has brought and for his selfless dedication to the mission of the gospel. While we will miss Peter’s insightful contributions, we rejoice that the Peter will now fly the International Mission banner at the College of Bishops! To view the LCA International Mission April prayer calendar and pray with us during April, please click here ‘To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world.’ – Karl Barth 197 Archer Street North Adelaide SA 5006 |