"Haircut" by MIssionary Alumni Christie Nelson

Haircut Provides Ablaze! Opportunity for Missionary Alumni

“Today I got my hair cut. What a common thing to do, right? It was a very special haircut, however. During the course of the general conversation (chit-chat) that one does when meeting a new hair dresser, the woman asked me what I did for a living. I told her I had just come home from Thailand after serving the Lord as a missionary there for 15 years. She said, "Well, honey, bless your soul!" She proceeded to ask me a myriad of questions regarding my former ministry and my current but temporary one of caring of my mother. One topic led to another and before my haircut was completed, the woman had verbally repented of her sins, asked God for forgiveness, and said she was going to be back into church each Sunday as well as personal time with the Lord on a daily basis. It was a good haircut for sure.
Praise the Lord!”

Christie Nelson,
Missionary Alumnae Thailand (1990-2006) & Guatemala (1982-1987)

Currently in New Palestine, Indiana
Posted May 3, 2006

Indonesia School Seeks High School Humanities Teacher

Sekolah Pelita Harapan (SPH) Cikarang campus, a Christian school located in Indonesia, in partnership with LCMS World Mission, seeks Christian teachers for the 2006-2007 school year.

A qualified high school teacher in the humanities field is needed. Teachers are required to have a bachelor’s degree and two years of teaching experience. The position is salaried with benefits, and the initial commitment is two years.

SPH is a “national plus” school, offering an international curriculum in the English language to Indonesian and expatriate children pre-K through grade 12. Expatriate teachers work with national Indonesian teachers. Students are from Muslim, Christian, and Buddhist backgrounds. The Cikarang campus, located east of Jakarta, has a student body that is 60 percent Indonesian, 35 percent South Korean, and 5 percent other nationalities.

The Pelita Harapan Foundation (Light and Hope) was started by two Indonesian Christian businessmen. The foundation’s goal is to establish Christian schools throughout the nation and across the broad economic sphere. SPH provides a Christian education to children from the middle and upper classes, many of whom are expected to be future leaders of Indonesia.

Rostered LCMS educators may be extended a Call and receive Concordia Plans benefits through LCMS World Mission. Lutheran educators who do not have a Lutheran teaching certificate are also eligible to teach at SPH.

Visit www.sph.edu for additional information and photos of SPH Cikarang.

Interested parties should contact Eric Semler at ericjsemler@yahoo.com for more information.

____________________________________________
LCMS WORLD MISSION
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295, USA
Telephone: 1-800-433-3954
Fax: (314) 965-0959
E-mail: mission.info@lcms.org
Web site: http://www.lcmsworldmission.org

Lutheran Hour Ministries - Job Announcement

Europe Area Counselor
The Europe Area Counselor leads and serves LHM ministry centers in Canada, Europe, and Australia, in reaching out to the unchurched and connecting them to local congregations. This is accomplished through planning, supervision, coaching, and evaluating with local boards and directors of international ministry centers.

Responsibilities include:

• Developing, expanding, and promoting high-impact programming and focusing distribution to elicit maximum responses and connections.
  
• Working with international ministry centers to assure effective leadership and organizational connectivity, including Advocacy Groups (boards) with membership composed of influential leaders who want to share Jesus with the unchurched.
  
• Leading directors via example, planning, and training.
  
• Participating, as needed, in the program planning, budget planning, directors’ staff training, ministry interpretation, and development activities.
  
• Conducting and facilitating research, planning, training, accountability, and evaluation.
  
• Communicating regularly and effectively with ministry center staff personnel, and conducting field visitations with the Europe / Other area leadership to foster, encourage, and sustain high morale, motivation, and progress.
  
• Various other responsibilities associated with insuring the overall success of ministry centers in reaching the lost with the Gospel of Christ (as listed in full job description).
  

Qualifications:
Must have at least a Bachelor's Degree in a related field, plus professional experience in electronic media, and / or strong organizational and management experience. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills are required, with a demonstrated capability to coordinate teams from a distance.

Should have thorough knowledge of the Christian faith and be an active member of a Lutheran congregation. He / she must be willing to work in the St. Louis, Missouri, area, with appropriate travel time spent in the region of about two and one-half (2-1/2) months per year. Overseas work experience is preferred, but at minimum, extensive experience in cross-cultural communication is required.

Send resume to:
Julie Atwood-WiseAttn: EACLutheran Hour Ministries660 Mason Ridge Center DriveSt. Louis, MO 63141-8557Phone: 314-317-4116FAX: 314-317-4291e-mail: lhmjobs@lhm.org
Web: www.lhm.org

Urgent - MOST Ministries Medical Trips

URGENT NEED - MOST MINISTRIES MEDICAL TRIPS SUMMER OF 2006

MOST Ministries need a medical doctor for the following dates:
BOLIVIA JULY 19-28, 2006. If a doctor is not found, the entire trip will need to be cancelled.
HONDURAS JULY 28-AUGUST 5, 2006
Please call at once if this is possible for you to do! If you know of anyone that would be interested, please send them this information, contact MOST Ministries or LIMM.

Debby Suchyta
MOST Ministries
734-994-7909
debby.most@juno.com

Urgent - MOST Ministries Medical Trips

URGENT NEED - MOST MINISTRIES MEDICAL TRIPS SUMMER OF 2006

MOST Ministries need a medical doctor for the following dates:
BOLIVIA JULY 19-28, 2006. If a doctor is not found, the entire trip will need to be cancelled.
HONDURAS JULY 28-AUGUST 5, 2006
Please call at once if this is possible for you to do! If you know of anyone that would be interested, please send them this information, contact MOST Ministries or LIMM.

Debby Suchyta
MOST Ministries
734-994-7909
debby.most@juno.com

Wanted: International Team Members

Wanted: International Team members

Lutheran Youth Encounter sponsors International Teams to churches in several countries. Their relational ministry utilizes music and other arts in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. These teams serve for twelve months beginning each August, visiting congregations in the states before and after their overseas ministry. Each Team is comprised of five to eight members; most members are 21 years old and many are college graduates. Persons who have grown up in an overseas culture are highly effective in this ministry. Seventy percent of Team alumni go on to serve as full time church professionals. This coming August, team members are needed for the following teams: Kindred (Bolivia, Peru), New Dawn (Papua New Guinea), CrossFire (Nigeria, Ghana), Watermark (Denmark), and New Vision (Australia). For more information, see www.youthencounter.org, email recruitment@youthencounter.org, or call 1-800-659-6884, ext 8474. Please notify us of persons who might be interested in serving on an International Team.

Lutheran Friends & New Americans

New Americans are faced with many challenges that a Lutheran friend can help them master. Included in these challenges is obtaining a driver's license.

Currently, there are 5 to 8 individuals (with a high potential for many more) in the St. Louis area who have asked for assistance to accomplish this goal. Most people in the United States need access to personal transportation for jobs and shopping, and they should use it safely and in compliance with traffic rules.

These are people with typically 6 or more months in the U.S. who have permits and a vehicle, but limited English speaking abilities and little to no driving experience. Their desire is to have an American who understands the rules of the road and how to control a vehicle get them past the driver's exam.

These are generally warm hearted and very appreciative newcomers that will benefit greatly from the witness of a Lutheran friend’s faith. Such friendships can grow in many ways to God’s glory.

If you are interested in being a friend for a new neighbor and help them learn to drive, you may contact Dr. Allan Buckman at the International Center or Stuart Oberheu at 314-849-0227.

By: Stuart Oberheu

Team Administrator - MOST MINISTRIES

Team Administrator Opportunity With MOST Ministries____________________________________________ MOST Ministries, a sending agency for short-term mission teams, is looking for a Team Administrator. This person will be a committed Christian and have experience with foreign missions. Skills in administration and communication are needed, as the primary responsibilities are setting up projects with international hosts, recruiting and training teams, and overseeing all logistics of mission trips. Excellent written, oral, and computer skills are necessary. A college degree is required, and a Spanish-speaker is preferred. Position: Team Administrator (full-time)Location: Ann Arbor, MichiganRequirements:
Strong witness for Jesus Christ with passion for responding to the Great Commission
Visionary with ability to follow through on detail
Ability to work in a small office environment
Flexibility to work both independently and as a ministry team
Ability to multi-task with prioritization
Good computer skills
Ability to relate well with people
Clear and concise communication skills, both oral and written Primary Responsibilities:
Administrate short-term mission teams for ministry around the world.
Work with foreign field "staff" in selecting appropriate mission projects.
Assist in recruiting team members.
Administrate all team logistics (air and ground transportation, housing, meals, project planning, etc.).
Prepare team members for foreign mission experience.
Develop new fields/projects/specialty teams as appropriate.
Develop team-training materials as needed.
Be available to lead/participate on mission teams two or three times per year.
Promote MOST Ministries through a variety of formats.
Be responsible for various ministry projects as needed. For more information or to apply, please contact:MOST MinistriesCarly StevensPO Box 130678Ann Arbor, MI 48113Phone: 734-994-7909Email: carly.most@juno.com www.mostministries.org *******************************Sent on behalf of MOST (Mission Opportunities Short Term) Ministries, a Recognized Service Organization of LCMS World Mission as approved by the Board for Mission Services.

Rev. Glenn Merritt

Rev. Glenn Merritt, who together with his wife and family, served as pioneer evangelistic missionaries in Sierra Leone during the 1980's, has been hired by LCMS World Relief to serve as Director of Disaster Response. As such, Glenn will be responsible for establishing a disaster relief network; a first for the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod.

We wish Glenn the very best!!

Dr. Otto and Jill Hintze Where Are They Now?

Dr Otto and Jill Hintze, toegher with colleagues Dr. Willard and Eleanor Burce were the first LCMS missionaries to serve in Papua New Guinea, arriving in November, 1948. On May 2, Otto and Jill will again depart for PNG, where they will spend almost four weeks reconnecting with and encouraging Pastors, church leaders and membrs who were very young believers wihen the Hintzes left the field in the early 1960's.

Otto states, "We will be speaking to individuals and groups of Engas primarily in the eastern part of the Enga Province." The Hintzes also plan to spend a few days conferring with faculty members at Lutheran seminaries in Birip as well as Port Moresby.

On their way back, Otto and Jill will spend a few days in Australia visiting with daughter Kathryn and son-in-law Peter Prange, who serves as a Pastor of the Australia Lutheran Church. If all goes as planned, they will return to St. Louis on June 7.

Their trip is made possible by the support and generosity of the members of the Papua New Guinea Lutheran Mission Society. Quite possibly the largest of the alumni mission societies, it counts as its members, those Lutheran missionaries who formertly served in PNG.

The Gutnius Lutheran Church, which numbers approximately 138,000 baptized members, will no doubt warmly receive this pioneer missionary couple.

We wish for Jill and Otto, our Lord's travelling mercies.

Speakers for Mission Events

LCMS World Mission is continusously in need of guests willing to serve as speakers for mission events in congregations, schools, LWML functions and more. Interested??? Contact Julie Wahlig at julie.wahlig@lcms.org Phone: 314-996-1316.

Mystery Question

"Which of the following missionary couples opened new work in the Paiela area among the Ipili speaking people in Papua New Guinea during the mid 1960's?"

1. Dave & Lois Birner
2. Harvey & Norita Kath
3. Ron & Mary Anne Rall

The answer: HARVEY & NORITA KATH

In a recent letter, they share the following:

"When we moved to the Paiela, it took 14 helicopter trips from the government station near where bob and Lynn Holst lived. After that we had a two-day walk into and out of the Paiela, over a 9,800 foot mountain range."

Here is more from Alumni reporter, Bobbie Lautenschlager.

Harvey and Norita Kath served in the Paiela River Valley in Papua New Guinea from 1965-1969. They joined a group that traveled to Papua New Guinea in August 1998 on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of LCMS work there. This visit prepared the Kaths to accept a volunteer assignment in January of this year. "We had been interested in returning to Papua New Guinea when we retired, but did not know if that would be possible. When we were asked by the Papua New Guinea Mission Society, now an active mission group for the support of PNG Mission Field, to go, we accepted. We have returned to the USA only this last May," states Rev. Kath.

Rev Kath taught Term 1 at Martin Luther Seminary, in Lae, PNG. "I taught Isaiah and Matthew, both with emphasis on the assigned lectionary readings, I was a presenter in two workshops for Gutnius Lutheran Church pastors and evangelists in Kopiago and Marimari District, and at Timothy Lutheran Seminary in Birip", Rev. Kath reports.

Norita filled her time working in the library of the two Seminaries. " We both enjoyed being able to bring our experiences as a pastor and as head librarian in the USA to the culture of PNG which we knew well. Our visit in 1998 had alerted us to changes in the country and culture from our time in the 60's. Crime was more prevalent now, and we were less carefree than we remember when we were much younger," says Norita.

The Kaths are grateful to the Papua New Guinea Mission Society that supported their volunteer ministry, and were glad that they had the opportunity to return to PNG. "We think our many years of ministry and experience in the USA made it possible to make a valuable contribution to the people we taught and worked with at the Seminaries," Rev. Kath concluded.

To the Kaths we say, "Well done" and "Welcome back!"

Service Opportunities

This from the LCMS World Mission Personnel Unit. More information or questions?? See the contact information included below.

LCMS World Mission continues to have an urgent need for a COMPUTER SPECIALIST and an ELECTRICIAN to serve our partner church in Nigeria. These positions are vital to the ministry being done in Nigeria. The primary responsibility for these short-term missionary positions is training national people to carry on the work in the future. The term of service is flexible, preferably for one to three months. These positions have been waiting for qualified candidates for more than a year. If you or someone you know is interested in one of these opportunities, please contact LCMS World Mission at 1-800-433-3954 and ask to speak with a placement counselor, or send an e-mail message to mission.recruitment@lcms.org.

LCMS World Mission has opportunities for skilled MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS to serve in Kyrgyzstan. These doctors, nurses and dentists are an important part of the field strategy for ministering and reaching out to the Kyrgyz women and children. The health care provided opens the way for these people to hear about the love Christ has for them. The term of service is typically 1-2 weeks. If you or someone you know is interested in this opportunity, please contact LCMS World Mission at 1-800-433-3954 and ask to speak with a placement counselor, or send an e-mail message to mission.recruitment@lcms.org.

A Great Devotion Book

DAVID AND DARLENE SCHNEIDER served as LCMS missionaries in the Philippines, Mexico, South Africa, Kazakhstan and Gulfport, MS. David recently put together experience from all those places in a book of devotions entitled, "Arrows of Light: Devotions for Worldwide Christians". It costs $10 each, plus $3 postage and handling and may be ordered from: David Schneider; 5355 Silo Ridge; Colorado Springs, CO 80917. Phone: 719/596-6703. E-Mail:
DJSchnitz@Juno.com.

In Our Thoughts and Prayers

Anyone who served with LCMS World Mission during the 60's, 70's and 80's remembers EDGAR FRITZ, who served as the primary staff listener and logistics person, and was a blessing to all of us. The Lord called him home last Saturday. His funeral was at 10:00 a.m. today at Messiah Lutheran Church, Alton, IL. We keep in our thoughts and prayers, the members of the family, including Don and Bev, (children Jessica, Adam, Johanna and Julie), who served as missionaries in Nigeria from 1964-1980. Condolences to Don and Bev at: bevfritz@chilitech.com.

ED AND WILMA RUPPRECHT recently returned to Nigeria for service with LBT, having previously served in that country during the 60's and 70's. Shortly after their arrival they were involved in a horrendous car accident in which three people were killed. In addition to cuts and bruises, Ed suffered a few broken ribs and Wilma has her right foot in a cast. With them we praise God that the injuries were not more severe, and wish them the best as they continue with their ministry.