Welcome to The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens Ministries Page

LCWG Missions Ministry Team

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

Four Arenas of Mission Involvement
The book of Acts records Jesus' last appearance to His disciples, including His final words before returning to heaven: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

The idea of being God's witnesses is an important theme throughout Acts (2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:30; 13:31; 22:15). In fact, Acts 1:8 can serve as an outline for the rest of the book. Acts 1:8 is also a pointer for Christ's church today. We can see Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and the ends of the earth as four general categories of people to whom we are to witness.

1. Jerusalem: reaching those near us who have a similar cultural background
2. Judea: reaching those further away who have a similar cultural background
3. Samaria: reaching near us of a different cultural background
4. The Ends of the Earth: reaching those far from us of a different cultural background

Meeting the Acts 1:8 Challenge
One word in Acts 1:8 is often overlooked, but shouldn't be. Jesus says that we will receive power to be "witnesses in Jerusalem AND in Judea AND Samaria AND to the ends of the earth." That little word "AND" indicates that God wants us to see our mission challenges in all these arenas - not just in one or two, but in all of them.

Today the Spirit of God still uses the church to carry out His mission. He works through us to share the Gospel in our own Jerusalems, Judeas, Samarias and to the ends of the earth. LCMS congregations that do this are following in the footsteps of the early Christian church. They continue to fulfill Acts 1:8 as they witness to unchurched people in their neighborhoods, plant new congregations in their district, support ethnic work in the United States, and take the Gospel to lost people around the world.

The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens Missions Team is responsible for coordinating the mission involvement of and communication to the congregation in the mission arenas of "Judea," Samaria," and "Ends of the Earth."


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 and 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).
  7. To find out more information visit their website at: http://www.isminc.org

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.

Lutheran Bilnd Mission

The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens partners in supporting the Lutheran Blind Mission. This organization provides and distributes religious education materials, resources and publications as well as supports the largest Christian library serving blind people in North America. The Lutheran Blind Mission Society (LBMS) was organized by blind Christians to encourage, train and support blind people as they share their love of Jesus. in 1999 they esablished the Christian Blind Institute to train blind leaders and missionaries. Our financial participation helps support the volunteers, missionaries and leaders of this very important outreach. For more information please contact http://www.blindmission.org

Light of Christ Chinese Mission

By supporting the Light of Christian Chinese Mission wwe also locally support the Light of Christ Lutheran Church located in Olivette, Missouri. The "Light" represents Loving each other Illuminated by Christ Giving To Hope of salvation to Chinese people. God has richly blessed this ministry! In three years, over thirty-one adults and children have been baptised. this outreach program assists in teaching English as a second Language; assists in paperwork for insurance, legal matters, finding doctors and medical services. But most importantly leads to relationships that open doors to sharing the Gospel. To receive more information about this ministry, please contact Pastor Shaw at PShaw@immanuel-lcms.com.

Humanitri

The Humanitri mission provides a variety of programs, services and ministries thru three vital outreach areas: Inmate and Prisoner Family Services, Community Outreach Programs and Partnerships and Housing & Human Services. For each of these ministries, they support full-time chaplains to conduct services in our prisons, nursing homes and hospitals; train volunteers to lead GED and other classes; provide support for prisons, nursing homes and hospitals; train volunteers to lead GED and other classes; provide support for prisoner families and families in crisis to overcome barriers and acquire self-sufficiency skills. They work to strengthen families and communities by creating partnerships with the Youth, Aged and Homeless in arranging for affordable housing, childcare and bus transportation. A Transitional Housing Program is a vital aspect of this ministry. To learn more about this outreach, please contact www.humanitri.org

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.

Ends of the Earth:

The Mission!

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)







Zach, Erika & Eli

Members of Webster Gardens, Zach, Erika and Eli (2 years old), left for the Middle East in the fall of 2008 to assist in the development of a long-term presence and to research the health care system.  By traveling the rural and urban areas and learning the culture, they hope to identify individual needs of the people and create fulfilling relationships.  God is using them to connect with people who are searching for the truth.  We are committed as a congregation to provide a minimum of $40,000 of support for their ongoing work in the Middle East.