Concordia Lutheran Mission Society
Partners In Missions
Annual Meeting and Mission Festival:Sunday, February 10, 2013 at 2:30 p.m.
Redeemer Lutheran Church, 20 – 12th St. NW, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba
Hosted by Pastor John Blum & the Portage Circuit
Mission Speaker: Rev. Assefa Nega Aredo, pastor, Winnipeg Oromo congregation
Pastor Schmidt with a translator and the six students of the current seminary class.
“Going” seems to be a constant theme with our partners in mission. One such partner in mission who did “go” several times is the Rev. Albert Schmidt from Edmonton. He has served God’s mission in Ukraine since 1998 when he first went to teach new Ukrainian seminarians basic courses on “Christian Doctrine” and “Homiletics” (preaching).
Our Lord first moved him to “go” in this way through an advertisement in The Canadian Lutheran seeking instructors for the fledgling seminary program. He signed up for a year, and his wife, Marlene, accompanied him for several months. Pastor Schmidt has taught six different sets of courses to three different classes of students. He found it a real joy to teach the students who were always very receptive and respectful.
The Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine has experienced slow growth. As everywhere, some congregations are struggling, while others thrive. It is remarkable however that a synod numbering just 13 congregations now has a third class of men called into ministry, some of them a second generation.
Your partnership with CLMS supported God’s plan for growing this church family.
Feeling the joy at outdoor worship
By Reg Zotzman, CLMS Board member and partner in mission
September 2012
Sunday morning was an early rise as the mission driver picked us up very early to make the 9.00 am Sunday Service in Telica. Telica is one of two missions served by Pastor Maximo, the other a mission is in Leon. After a four wheel journey down a narrow dirt road we encountered a small stream bed and decided it would be best to continue on foot.
After a 150-metre walk we found the congregation already setting up for service. The chairs were from a neighbour’s house and a power cord was attached to another house. Services are held under the trees since no building exists. The land has been purchased for a church and school and it is anticipated that the first phase of the building will be started in January 2013.
The worship time was primarily for children (approximately 70 in attendance) and the service lasted two hours. The pastor preached, the deaconesses shared a felt-board presentation, a seminary student talked about ‘The differences in God’s children’, craft bracelets were made and fellowship followed with a meal of rice and cabbage.
This is a blessed example of the Word being spread whenever God provides an opportunity. You can assist by supporting the deaconesses in project The harvest is great and the workers are few (1206).
P.S. The rain held off during this service!
A congregation near Leon gathers outside for worship and Bible study
A group of faithful followers in the community of Mount Olivet near the city of Leon join together for Bible study, worship and Sunday school. To protect them in their open air services they require an overhead tarp and fifty chairs.
To help expand worship education in liturgy and music, congregations in five communities require instruments and sound equipment. The mission outreach will be enhanced with the Lord’s music as a way to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.
The work of the deaconesses is of great importance to children’s education in the Christian faith. Through this project more than 15 deaconesses will receive a stipend to supplement the small amount of money they receive from the Children’s Education Program so they can support the needs of their families.
May 1, 2011
It is a joy to share the Good News. Teaching seminary students to share the Good News and grow the church in Ukraine, as new pastors, is even more exciting. Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS) provides the funding so the experience, knowledge and the in-depth understanding of our North American theologians can be shared at the Ukrainian seminary in Odessa.
Albert Schmidt, a spirit-filled, enthusiastic pastor from Edmonton, Alberta, recently returned from Ukraine where he had the privilege of teaching “The Life of Christ in the Synoptic Gospels” (Matthew, Mark and Luke) and “Pastoral Theology”, a practical course which directs and guides pastors in the conduct of the pastoral office. His experience of 51 years of pastoral work is cherished as real value to the students. Making the lessons as practical as possible helps the students understand and empathizes with future church members.
After discussions on “visiting the sick” Pastor Schmidt and the seminarians traveled to one of the hospitals to visit with patients. Dr. Schmidt shares “They went in with fear and trepidation, but came out filled with joy.”
Matthew Heise, a pastor from our United States sister church, traveled to Odessa in mid-March to teach two courses at the seminary. Pastor Matt is a travelling missionary who is very willing to teach in Ukraine. His fluency in the Russian language is a real asset and allows him to quickly connect with the seminarians. The first course he taught was Hermeneutics, a basic how-to in reading the Bible, and then a course on the Book of Revelation.
Pastor Matt shares, “It has been a joy to interact with the students, get used to their southern Ukrainian accents while they get accustomed to my American take on Moscow-accented Russian.”
Pastor Retana continues mission work in Cartago, Costa Rica
Pastor Edmundo Retano is continuing to focus on mission outreach in Cartago and also the capital city, San Jose. These funds will cover the cost to rent a small office space, a missionary’s residence and a place for worship.
Taxis are expensive in Costa Rica, public transportation is limited and walking is not possible to reach all the distantly located communities that need to hear the Gospel. This project would provide the funds to help assist Pastor Edmundo Retano purchase a car for use on behalf of the mission in Costa Rica.
Costa Rican school
Providing seven school-age boys and girls with basic financial assistance so they can study regularly in the public schools. The scholarship would include school supplies and assist them with transportation to school.
