Friday, June 10, 2011

LINC Houston - Mission Festival 2010


The setting: St. Mark Lutheran Church. Attendance: Full house! 23 different nationalities were represented in LINC Houston’s Mission Festival on Pentecost Sunday, May 23. God has richly blessed these ministries with leaders who devote their lives to sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. May God bless all LINC missionaries and member congregations as they work together in this critical mission venture!

Bible Studies Expand Through Del Rio Mission


Rev. Gary Martin, pastor of Cristo El Salvador Lutheran Church in Del Rio has been serving the Latino communities in Texas and across the border in Acuña, Mexico. Pastor Martin’s servant heart has gained the trust and respect of people throughout the area. His goal is to train leaders who will plant missions. This is happening through people like Worker Verónica Gaytán, Worker Sandra Patricia Perez and Worker Daniel Hernandez. Verónica and Sandra have started a number of small Bible study groups, a new children’s class and ladies Bible study group. Both Verónica and Sandra are taking classes through the Hispanic Lutheran Institute on line from El Paso. Worker Daniel Hernandez leads the adult Bible class and preaches once a month at Iglesia Luterana Rios de Agua Viva in Acuña and is planning to become a pastor and is also enrolled in the Hispanic Lutheran Institute. Praise God for the lives that are being touched through these missions.

Two Language Groups - One Ministry

Our Redeemer in Irving is blessed with a mindset that Hispanics and English speakers can work side by side in God’s kingdom doing outreach ministry. There are approximately 204 students in their ESL program with 28 volunteers helping out with teaching, child care, snacks, youth activities, etc. All this in an effort to fulfill the Great Commission of “Making Disciples of all Nations.” To God be the glory for their faithful witness.

Our Redeemer’s ESL (English as a Second Language) is a tremendous outreach in Irving. There are 96 adults enrolled in the basic class, 25 in the intermediate, 9 in the advanced. ORLC also serves the children of the ESL students: 23 are youth and 51 are small children. A “Service of Blessing” is held to launch their fall ESL program. At the end of this service, all children and youth can come for a personal blessing from Pastor Gonzalez and Juan Zamora, a new seminary student. This personal blessing took over an hour because of all the children. After the service, over 250 bags of school supplies were distributed. Quoting Pastor Gonzalez, “God the Holy Spirit was present. It was absolutely beautiful to see and touch the faces of the children as Juan and I were blessing them.”

Another program that reaches out to the community is their annual Pan American Fair. This fair provides valuable information to families about city, state and federal agencies as well as food, fellowship and a witness of their Christian faith. The last fair had 26 vendors sharing information about banking, taxes, health care screenings, job opportunities and the ministries of Our Redeemer. This program is a huge blessings to God’s kingdom through Our Redeemer!

Partners in Mission - Lutheran Congregations

Congregations made special gifts to Texas Partners in Mission in 2009. Three of the churches were Trinity in Weatherford with a gift of $3,356, Rev. Ken Watson, Pastor; Trinity in Woodway with a gift of $467, Rev. James Menke, Pastor; and Lord of Life in Plano, Rev. John Lindner, Pastor. Lord of Life presented a $1,000 gift in 2009 to Michael Fuchs, Director of Development for the Texas District and pledged to give $1,000 per quarter in 2010 to Texas Partners in Mission. Lord of Life gives a tithe of all offerings to the mission and ministry of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and the Texas District and designated another 7.5% to other mission agencies. To God be praised for these faithful congregations!

Reaching the Lost in Buda, Texas

For the past 4 years, two men have served as “missionaries-at-large to a bedroom community south of Austin. A Lutheran presence did not exist in Buda, Texas so Rev. Ryan Neuhaus and Rev. Paul Goeke sought permission and support for starting a mission outpost of the Gospel. Pastor Goeke began working at Home Depot and Pastor Neuhaus secured a teaching position in the local public schools. To launch their mission called The Well, Pastors Neuhaus and Goeke met people on the street and in the stores, and began developing trusting relationships. Missional Community Groups were formed that sought to share the love of Christ with people in geographical areas. Today, 30 individuals refer to themselves as Covenant Members. Pastor Goeke is now employed by the Texas District, but Pastor Neuhaus is still a full time teacher. Both men receive financial support from the Texas District and Texas Partners in Mission. To God be praised for the courageous faith of these two men!

Dallas Lutheran School - Partner in Mission

Dallas Lutheran School became our newest Lutheran school mission partner by collecting offerings in support of the mission outreach of our Texas District and Texas Partners in Mission. The grades 7 - 12 ministry at Dallas Lutheran School is led by David Bangert, Executive Director, Todd Nitz, High School Pincipal, Brad Krause, Middle School Principal and Steve Allmon, Director of College Guidance & Chapel Coordinator. We praise God for their partnership!

Hilltop Church - Reaching the Lost


Hilltop Church of Houston is one of our newest congregation in the Lutheran Missouri-Synod of our Texas District. This a congregation made of Korean Christians who are very thankful to be a member of the Lutheran Church. They are also a church motivated by the mission of reaching the lost for Christ. To support the mission outreach of our Texas District, they presented Texas Partners in Mission with a special gift of $1,735. Their pastor, Seungwoong Ok is currently enrolled in the colloquy program to become ordained in the LC-MS. We praise God for their courageous and generous faith!