Vacation Bible schools reaching thousands of children

1509 NIC VBS

Children gather for VBS fun and learning.

A successful missionary method and strategy in Central America is outreach through activities with children. The population is large and the children bring the deaconesses and missionaries into their families and their relatives’ homes. Each year 23 Vacation Bible schools take place mostly during January through March each year.

This project provides teaching resources, books, crafts, crayons, Bibles, Bible story books, pencils, pens, paper, transportation, food, snacks, water, refreshment, stipends for volunteers, medical emergency kits for the VBS programs. A donation of $300 supports one VBS.

I want to help support outreach to children through vacation Bible schools.

(Project 1509) Goal: $6900

donate

Children’s Christian education program

1508 NIC C E program

A deaconess teaches in an after-school program.

Each year more than 700 children attend the Iglesia Luterana Sinodo de Nicaragua’s (ILSN) children’s education program. Children enrol in the program and deaconesses teach groups of at least 25 children in their community either daily or two or three times a week. Each of the 23 communities in which the ILSN serves has a children’s outreach program.

This project supports Christian Education Program for 70 children a year ($125 per child) in the following areas: school uniforms, shoes, school supplies, snacks/lunch, teaching resources, deaconess stipends.

I want to help support this ongoing program that reaches more than 700 children with the Gospel.

(Project 1508) Goal: $8700

donate

The “Bread of Life” and real bread for life

1507 NIC feeding

For less than $5.50 per week, children can receive a nutritious meal.

The phrase “three square meals a day” means nothing to the poorest children in Nicaragua. They consider themselves blessed if they have a single meal a day.

Lutheran congregations are reaching out to families in their communities to provide one, healthy, nutritious meal per week. It may not sound like much, but for many of these children it’s the one thing that will help them stay healthy.

The meal program gives pastors and deaconesses the opportunity to meet families who are not part of the church community and tell them about God’s love in Jesus Christ, then demonstrate that love in a very practical way with a wholesome meal—the Bread of Life and real bread for life—outreach in word and deed.

It’s not expensive to feed up to 80 children. It costs $280 per child for a year—that’s less than $5.50 a week! Your support can make all the difference in the life of a child and bring to them and their families the Good News.

I would like to feed a child for a year.

(Project 1507) Goal: $8000
donate

Reformation outreach in Central America

1506 NIC C W gathering

A 2014 Reformation gathering in Martin Luther Chapel in Chinandega, Nicaragua

When Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg in 1517, Central America was an area of new exploration for Europeans. Now, almost 500 years later, the roots of his Reformation are growing in hearts across the area. Through God’s Word people are discovering freedom from the Law-centred Christianity they grew up with, finding grace in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Reformation is important to Central American Lutherans and to celebrate the 500th anniversary the pastors and deaconesses of Iglesia Luterana Sinodo de Nicaragua (ILSN) will  spend the next three years gathering together to study in depth what it means to preach, teach and live by “Grace Alone, Faith Alone and Scripture Alone.”

A small group got together in 2014 in Costa Rica to lay the foundation for these annual convocations. Now the goal is to engage the region in commemorating this important event in the life of Christ’s Church. The ILSN is planning fellowship and community outreach activities, worship celebrations and other events over the next three years that will engage the local media and communities.

You can help spread the Reformation word of God’s grace throughout Central America by supporting this project.

I want Central America to know about God’s grace.

(Project 1506) Goal $2,280
donate

Ministry and outreach in Olanchito

Some members of the congregation gathered for a worship service.

Some members of the congregation gathered for a worship service

Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) fully supports the mission and educational work in Honduras, more specifically in the northern city of Olanchito. Missionary Douglas Aguilar has established a community of believers with members scattered throughout the city. This project will assist LCC’s mission mission outreach and ministry.

I want to help support Pastor Douglas’ proclamation of the Gospel in word and deed.

(Project 1505) Goal: $6000

donate

Facility rentals in Cartago and San Jose

1504 CR rentals

Pastor Retana leads Bible study.

By God’s grace Lutheran Church–Canada’s mission in Costa Rica is expanding into the large city of Cartago and into the capital, San Jose. Several mission and social ministry services have started in Cartago such as Bible study for women, outreach to teenagers in challenging life situations, sewing, Bible study groups, international mission teams’ work and other activities.

A new outreach has now started in the capital San Jose with the vision of making it a Lutheran national/international connection since the capital is on the north-south road in Central America.

The church cannot afford to buy property in Costa Rica so rental facilities are needed in both cities.

I want to help support outreach in Cartago and San Jose.

(Project 1504) Goal: $12,000

donate

Children’s Christian education program

Children learn the basics of the Lutheran Christian faith.

Children learn the basics of the Lutheran Christian faith.

Deaconess Betty Retana, together with her husband, Pastor Edmundo, lead this program which gathers children weekly for special Bible story time, catechesis, fellowship, snacks and refreshment. This project funds basic needs such as a stipend for the deaconess, educational resources, Bibles, Catechisms, teaching resources and tools as well as helps with the cost of food and transportation for the children. Your gift of $500 per month can help fund the program.

I want to help support the outreach to children in Costa Rica.

(Project 1503) Goal: $6000

donate

South Asian Christian radio outreach

For many new Canadians, radio programs in Canada which reflect their language and culture are important. Knowing this, Javed Ahkter, a Lutheran Church-Canada pastor-in-training, developed and hosts a radio program called Hamd-O-Sanaa – Praise and Worship – which features a 20-minute Bible study, 20-minute topical discussion and 20 minutes of Christian music. This program reaches the ears of Pakistani, Hindi and Punjabi people who are also Muslim, Sikh or Hindu by faith. It also enjoys a strong Christian following among its listeners. In addition, the program can be heard in Pakistan and Iran.

I want to help support radio outreach to new Canadians.

(Project 1502) Goal: $8000

donate

Theological education in Canada for foreign students

Pastor Navrotskyy and family.

Pastor Navrotskyy and family.

Missionary Rev. Alexey Navrotskyy from Ukraine is equipping himself for service by learning more of God’s Word and Lutheran theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton. He arrived in the fall of 2014 with his family with the goal of completing his theological education by 2016. With this type of education he can provide strong leadership in his church body in Ukraine and continue his missionary work for Lutheran Church–Canada. (This is carried forward from project #1403)

I want to help support Pastor Navrotskyy’s theological training in Canada.

(Project 1501) Goal: $20,000

donate

CLMS Board sets ambitious 2015 project goal

2015 CLMS Board Meeting

Rev. Cliff Haberstock, President of CLMS, addresses board at 2015 meeting in Guelph, Ontario

GUELPH, Ont. – At its annual face-to-face meeting February 5-7, the Board of Directors of the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS) chose to support six new projects and renew 17 existing projects which set a 2015 project support goal of $146,000. This represents an 8 percent increase over the 2014 goal of $135,000 which donors from across Canada supported with their generous gifts.

“We give thanks to God for the mission outreach support He provides CLSM through His people,” noted Rev. Cliff Haberstock, president of the society. “We are humbled that we can be part of His mission of sharing the Gospel around the world.” CLMS raises financial support to assist the mission and ministry of Lutheran Church–Canada.

The volunteer organization also welcomed two new board members, Julie Thompson of British Columbia and Lisa Jackson of Ontario.

Details for the 2015 projects will be available soon. To receive email updates scroll down to the bottom of the page and check the “Notify me of new posts” box.

CLMS Board

CLMS Board for 2015