Judea; Samaria, etc.

The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and The Missouri District
"Ablaze!" is the word that describes the new global outreach effort of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod with the purpose of igniting the world with Christ's love We are working to:

• create a worldwide Lutheran mission movement dedcated to sharing the Good News of Jesus with 100 million unreached or uncommitted people between now and 2017 A.D.
• commit to the task of adding 1,00 new LCMS congregations and preaching stations and work with our worldwide partners to add 3,000 in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
• add 4,000 trained Lutheran pastors and missionaries and equip 30,000 laypeople for evangelicalistic outreach and and church planting.
• Involve all of through the seven mission responses: Go, Pray, Learn, Give, Tell, Send, and Celebrate.
  

Gifts to the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and the Missouri District support church-planting activities across the United States and in Missouri. National and international human care programs through LCMS World Relief and Human Care respond to the material needs of those coping with natural disaster, war and poverty. Foreign and North American mission efforts are also coordinated through LCMS World Mission on behalf of the Synod. Support is also provided to the seminaries and universities of the Synod to assist in the provision and training of personnel for the ministry of the church.

For more information, go to: www.lcms.org; http://worldrelief.lcms.org/; www.lcmsworldmission.org; http://www.lcms.org/district.

Samaria:

International Student Ministry (ISM), Webster University
International students in undergraduate and graduate programs at Webster University in Webster Groves, Mo., come from countries all over the world’ many from areas unreached by the Gospel. In partnership with ISM St. Louis, a ministry sponsored by the LCMS Missouri District’ volunteers from the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens assist visiting students from many countries

Opportunities for service through St. Louis ISM, Inc. include:

1. Providing temporary housing for a new student
2. donate household items
3. Invite students into your home for social activities, holidays, etc.
4. Serve as English conversation partners
5. Provide financial support for the International Student Ministry
6. pray for this ministry and its director, Karen Davis (314-849-0531).

By building relationships with students through these avenues, many opportunities to be "Friends Sharing Christ" arise as students ask about American culture including Christianity. Invitations into Christian homes for social activities and the holidays provide additional opportunities to give witness to Christ through "lifestyle evangelism." Students are very curious and appreciative that someone offers them unconditional friendship and help in making their transition into an unfamiliar place and culture.

Chai V' Shalom (Life and Peace) Mission, St. Louis, Missouri

This is a Messianic mission to the Jewish community in St. Louis. Currently worship is held at 10:00 a.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood. The responsive liturgy includes verses in Hebrew from the Old Testament led by Rev. Kevin Parviz, a Jewish Christian and ordained LCMS pastor. This mission congregation courageously declares that Jesus (Y'shua) is the promised Messiah and Savior of all, including the lost sheep of Israel.

Opportunities for service through St. Louis ISM, Inc. include:

1. Praying for this mission and the family of Christ that worships together
2. Asking God to provide encouragement to reach out in this challenging mission field.
3. Join them on special Jewish holidays for meaningful activities.
4. Contribute financially to help support this ministry.
5. Come and worship with them to show interest and support.
   

For additional information go to: www.chaivshalom.org.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Louis, Missouri (Salisbury and North Florissant)

The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens partners with this sister congregation in north St. Louis to support it in its dedicated efforts to share the Gospel in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Volunteers from Webster Gardens helped to partition two classrooms for use in their summer youth day camp and in rehabbing a house on 25th Street. A separate housing corporation has been formed (Better Living Communities) with the goal of re-seeding the community. They are applying for Missouri state low income tax credits with the goal of redeveloping the entire area around the church and attracting families for Christ.

We can join Rev. John Schmidtke and the people of Bethelehem by:

1. Volunteering for a Saturday Servant Event work project
2. Contribute financially to support their many community projects
3. Ask God's blessings upon the leaders of this congregation
4. Volunteer for teaching or tutoring inner city children
5. Join them some Sunday for an energetic worship experience at 10 a.m. 2153 Salisbury and N. Florissant Avenue in the city.
   

Volunteer week long trips to reach Native Americans in Nebraska

A unique aspect of the work of missions outside of our Webster Gardens community is the spreading of the Gospel through word and deed to Native Americans who live on reservations located throughout the United States. The LCWG has established a special and ongoing relationship with the Winnebago and Omaha peoples located in northeast Nebraska. Volunteer work crews, usually consisting of 20 individuals, donate one week each summer to work in concert with missionaries Ricky Jacob and Jeff Warner. Our purpose is to assist these missionaries in the establishment of their credibility within these communities between themselves and the Native American people. The examples of Christian "Friends Sharing Christ," who return each summer to paint and repair homes, teach handicrafts, and share Bible stories and doctrinal truths to the senior citizens and those confined to a nursing home, make lasting impressions on these Native Americans still searching for Christ.

Volunteer short-term VBS ministry to indigenous people of Alaska

Alaska Ministry

Have you ever dreamed of going to Alaska or even north of the Arctic Circle? You can fulfill that dream and carry the story of God's love for all people at the same time.

For the past two years we have sent mission teams to lead Vacation Bible School ministries in the village of Ambler, Alaska. Many in the remote parts of Alaska never hear the message of Jesus. You can join us in 2003 as we share our faith In Jesus with children and families like the one below.-

Ends of the Earth:

The East Africa Mission Society (TEAMS)

The Mission!

In December 1998, three congregations (Concordia Lutheran Church in Kirkwood, St. John's Lutheran Church in Ellisville and the Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens) came together in a cooperative effort to "engage in a healthy church-planting movement among unreached peoples of East Africa in cooperation with national church bodies and LCMS World Mission."

A survey team comprised of members from each congregation identified indigenous partners in the Gospel working among the Pokot people in northwest Kenya and Uganda, among the Maasai people in southern Kenya, and among Sudanese refugees seeking to reach the Offow people in Ethiopia.

Pray for TEAMS Projects

1. Pokot (missionary Morten Egeland): Our goal for this year is to provide $25,000 for The East Africa Mission Society as they continue to plant churches, equip leaders, and bring hundreds of people to faith in Jesus Christ our Savior.

2. Maasai (missionary leader Joseph Momposhi): TEAMS helped to purchase land for a training center in Narock, Kenya. Further plans are to assist in providing quality and consistent training for Maasai evangelists.

3. Ethiopia (evangelist James Gadett): Support is given to help Sudanese refugee leaders in Ethiopia take the Gospel to an unreached people group, the Offow, and to plant a church.

4. Together In Mission with LCMS World Mission, Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asia
The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens in partnership LCMS World Mission (the global Gospel outreach of the LCMS), supports two missionary families serving in mission fields at "the ends of the earth." For more information, go to: www.lcmsworldmission.org.

Ted and Jacqueline Engelbrecht and Family-

They are serving the Lord with the Southeast Asia team and are living in Vietnam. We are acquainted with the Engelbrechts since they visited with us while Ted was completing academic work at Concordia Seminary. We receive monthly e-mail reports from Ted about the variety of community activities he is involved with. Recently he was in Bangkok, Thailand and Cambodia to train pastors and other church leaders.

He and Jackie are involved in building and upgrading kindergarten, nursery and elementary schools in Vietnam. They also workwith unwed and young mothers in a mentoring program. We are praying for the Englbrechts, keeping in contact with them, and learning about this region of the world through the eyes of this family.

Dr. Stephen and Julia Lutz, Papua New Guinea (PNG)
Dr. Stephen and Julia Lutz have served God in Papua New Guinea since 1986. Steve is a medical missionary at Immanuel Lutheran Hospital in Enga Province, serving as a general surgeon and treating a wide range of illnesses and injuries. He also conducts medical patrols to the Hewa, Nete and Penale people who live in remote areas of Papua New Guinea.

-The Lutzes request prayers for the people touched by their care
- that the healing services offered would direct them to the Great Physician. They also request prayers for their family and the rest of the mission team in PNG
- that they continue to "act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with their God." (Micah 6:8)