Texas Partners in Mission

Your mission offerings to the Texas District are at work! Over 66 missions and agencies representing over 100 missionaries share the Gospel message of hope in Jesus Christ in over 15 different languages right here in the Texas District. Many amazing stories can be told about the courageous Christians who lead our mission outreach. Pictured below are four men who lead mission agencies with multiple ministries. Together, these four agencies represent over 65 ministries. Ryan Busse chairs the Board of Directors of Rio MAC, supporting mission outreach in the valley. Rev. Karim Baidaoui leads POBLO-TX in mission outreach to the Muslim community in the DFW area. The LINC programs have united existing Lutheran congregations in outreach to many ethnic communities. Rev. Mark Junkans serves the greater Houston community and Rev. Oscar Benavides serves the greater North Texas area. Please check out each of their ministries through the Texas Partners in Mission web site.

Texas Partners in Mission is a ministry which invites direct support of mission outreach in the Texas District. Individuals, groups and congregations have provided faithful support. If you would like to become a partner in the mission outreach of the Texas District, either call the District Office at 1-800-951-3478, Michael Fuchs, Director of Development, at 1-817-368-4438 or visit the Texas Partners in Mission web site at www.txdistlcms.org/tpim. If you are interested in having your gift matched and gain a bonus 1% on a Church Extension Fund investment, be sure to inquire about the 100PLUS1 program. May God bless all of our missionaries and TPIM!

ESL at University of Texas, Austin

Dr. Keith Loomans is a name synonymous with ministry in the Texas District. Keith’s positive attitude about life and Christ’s love for mankind has been felt by children in the classroom and by adult leaders throughout the Texas District. In his retirement, he shares Christ’s love with students at the University of Texas in Austin by teaching English as a Second Language. Most ESL students are Korean, Chinese and Taiwanese. There are also students from Brazil, Spain and Japan. Most of the students are spouses of UT doctoral students and visiting scholars. Also working with the ESL students is Marcia Mittwede. In addition to the language classes, Bible studies are also offered. As a result of this ministry two Korean adults and one Korean child have been baptized. Praise the Lord for this ministry!

May God richly bless these missionaries of the Gospel!

Out of Sight...Out of Mind...NOT!!!

When Hurricane Ike was stirring its fury in the Gulf of Mexico, residents all along the Texas coastline from Port Arthur to Brownsville, were uncertain of their safety. We know that Ike struck our Texas coast with its greatest destruction from Galveston Island to Port Arthur. Do you remember? If you live in the greater Houston and southeast Texas areas you do remember...and are still recovering!

The Texas District, Lutheran Social Service of the South (LSSS) and LINC Houston began the race to restoration within hours of the storm’s passing. People were fed, water was distributed and the Gospel message of hope in Jesus Christ was shared. LINC Houston, LSSS and church members of Texas District LC-MS churches remain active participants in the restoration effort.

LINC Houston is now recognized as one of the top 10 agencies in Houston for their food bank and food distribution. Four distribution centers were set up throughout Houston and over 20,000 supplies of food and water have been given out. Vicar Lincon Guerra coordinated food distribution at the LINC office at Beautiful Savior. Robert & Betty Stephenson represent two of countless volunteers who helped distribute food.

LINC Houston has also received high praise from the city of Houston and FEMA for their work in helping people. Families have called the helpers their “LINC Angels.” Clients and employees of FEMA are including LINC in their prayers. What a testament to God’s hand at work in bringing hope through devastation.

The need for home repair has brought an entirely new system of volunteers to the ministry of LINC Houston. Gwen Franke now serves as Volunteer Director. Case Managers Michelle Gil, Noemi Guerra and Mary Behnken assist families in completing Case Applications for repair work. Frank & Pauline McKinley and Tom Behnken serve as Project Managers who plan construction projects that have been approved. Dan & Rose Laugavits (Reed City, Michigan) serve as Construction Supervisors. Edward Gil, Saul Orozco and Steven Berlanga serve as Site Foreman. Countless volunteers show up to work!

Rev. Mark Junkans, LINC Executive Director, reports that LINC staff and volunteers have done work at over 260 homes (tree removal, tarps, clean up, repair work). The list continues to grow! Pastor Junkans is amazed at how God is using His people to share Christ’s love with others.

Houston - City of Immigrants

I have started a YouTube channel with videos of the missionary work happening in the Texas District. Here's the first one of a series, more are available by clicking "TPIM Video" in the Links list to the left. Keep checking the blog, I'll be highlighting more videos as the weeks go by.

Deaf Ministry in Texas

Deaf ministry in the Texas District is a vital partner in sharing the Gospel. Deaf people are isolated from the world and isolated from the saving message of Jesus Christ. The Texas District is blessed with two dynamic ministries to deaf people. Endowments have been created to provide long term support for deaf ministry in Texas. Your prayers and direct financial support are invited.

Jesus Lutheran Church for the Deaf - Austin
Right across the street from Jesus Lutheran Church for the Deaf….the Texas School for the Deaf. This school serves around 450 students. Their church youth program serves between 150 - 200 students from over 64 towns and communities from throughout Texas. Jennifer Ceyanes, former staff member, is the Chairperson of Education and helps plan many of the programs. And, many of these students have lived without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Last year, students also came from religious backgrounds as Mormon, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish faiths. Plus, most of the families served will not become regular members and provide ongoing financial support to this ministry.

This is the challenge and opportunity faced by Rev. Mark Seeger, pastor. For the past 18 years, Pastor Seeger has used his warm smile and big heart to share the love of Jesus with deaf children and their families.

The church also has a very unique outreach mission to University of Texas students who are taking a sign language class and required to fulfill volunteer service project hours. Jesus Lutheran Church of the Deaf has become the outlet for many university students to gain an eternal message, far more than just service project hours. Jesus Lutheran Church for the Deaf also serves adult ministries with worship, Bible studies, sign language choir and several other activities.

Holy Three in One Lutheran Church - Houston
Holy Three in One serves approximately 50 deaf people from all over the Houston area. They meet in a house which is owned by a large hearing church who allowed them to convert the house into a church. The mission of Holy Three in One is to share Jesus Christ with all deaf people in the Houston area so that not even one of them will remain lost. Rev. Larry Lieder is the pastor.

Their prayer: Pray that God will continue to bless these ministries
and that people will rise in personal support for these important ministries
to deaf children and adults in Texas.

For more information about deaf ministry in Texas and how you can personally support this ministry, visit the TPIM website at www.txdistlcms.org/tpim or www.deafaustin.com/JLCD/

Lutheran School Partnership

St. Paul Lutheran School in Thorndale...

gave $334.30 in chapel offerings in support of our Texas District missions. Rev. Jim Mann and Ms. Cindy Melcher, Principal, lead the mission at St. Paul. Thanks be to God!

A Timely Gift

During an economic downtown, isn’t it normally wise to preserve cash for unexpected emergencies?

Perhaps...but for Crown of Life Lutheran Church, Colleyville, a special gift was the answer. On October 28, Texas Partners in Mission received an unexpected gift of $24,048 from Crown of Life.

The reason??? Rev. David Jung said, their congregation operates from faith and not from fear. God blesses courageous faith and this was an important example to encourage their members and others in our Texas District.

Mission outreach is a high priority for Crown of Life. They provide support for 20 church planters in India through the Mission India ministry. They also provide direct support for Rev. Gary Martin’s ministry in Acuña, Mexico in close partnership with four Lutheran churches in our Texas District: Shepherd of the Hills, San Antonio; Peace, Hurst; Hosanna, Kerrville and Grace, Del Rio. Rev. Oscar Benavides, LINC North Texas, also benefits from their direct mission support. To support the larger mission of the church, Crown of Life sends over $100,000 to the Texas District.

Crown of Life is planning to plant a new mission church in the broad region northwest of Colleyville. Working in partnership on this church plant are circuit congregations of Peace, Hurst; St. Peter, Roanoke; St. Mark’s, Mineral Wells and Good Shepherd, Azle. Reaching out with the Gospel message of hope in Jesus Christ is their central mission.

Crown of Life Lutheran Church is led in their ministry by Rev. David Jung and Rev. Tim Perkins. To God be the glory!