Concordia Lutheran Mission Society
Partners In Missions
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.
Pastor Douglas Aguilar
Pastor Douglas Aguilar must take public transportation or walk to visit communities that need to hear the Good News of our Lord Jesus. This project would provide the funds to purchase a motorcycle for Pastor Aguilar.
Pastor Hector Morales and his wife Cristina, a deaconess, travel to their mission stations by motorcycle.
Pastor Hector Morales is establishing a new mission in Sebaco starting with home Bible studies. There are now 25 to 30 people in his Bible studies regularly. These funds will cover rental costs for a space for this growing Christian family to meet, for materials and mission out-reach.
Missionary Rufino leads a worship service in Rivas
Pastor Rufino continues to reach out in the communities of Rivas and Jinotepe. He is organizing his community for a Children’s Education program . These funds will cover the costs to rent places to worship in both communities and for the missionary’s residence.
