Gospel rappers in the hood! - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

“Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you
teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (I Tim. 4:12 NLT).
Read More:
• Ethnic and Black Ministry leads the way
in house church planting
• Hmong Ministry expands
• A Father’s story
LCMS Black and Ethnic Ministry
Summer • 2012
celebrating diversity in god’s design in witness, mercy and multiplying missions for christ.
Gospel rappers
By Rev. Quentin G. Poulson
Director, LCMS Black and Ethnic
Ministry
T
he North American
inner city offers
Poulson
a myriad of
opportunities for bad and for
good. People either live there by choice for
the proximity to commerce, community
and the cultural arts, or, in the case of lower
wage earners — mostly people of color and
ethnic immigrants — the inner city is the
only option for survival. In the latter case,
the residents grasp the realities and dedicate
themselves to navigating the difficulties and
dangers faced daily. More often than not,
inner city dwellers forge a quality of life
rich in metaphors of folk wisdom, humor,
faith and triumph. Strength and hope is
what parents strive to teach their children.
Chris Ramos and Emeric Martin met
as youth through a basketball ministry
at their home congregation, Bethlehem
Lutheran Church in Salisbury Park, St.
Louis, Mo. The Rev. John Schmidtke
serves as pastor at Bethlehem, which is also
known affectionately as “BLC.” Chris and
Emeric honed their basketball game and
in the hood!
sportsmanship under the guiding hand
of Coach Luscius. Coach Lucius became
a father figure and mentor to the boys,
conducting Bible study on Wednesday
nights at BLC before practice with ‘real
talk,’ a serious life application of God’s
Word. The boys bonded as they studied
God’s Word together and grew in their
faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as their
Savior, a faith expressed through a love for
rap music, writing and performing. It is a
common thread that continues today.
Emeric, 19, is African-American. Emeric’s
mom, Lynnette, married a man whom he
says “did not know God.” Before joining
BLC, they attended a church that
taught a faith composed of a
mix between religion and
culture. Emeric grew up
seeking approval, easily
influenced by an older
brother Eric who
took to the streets.
As a younger teen,
Emeric almost got
shot at a house
party because
he was wearing
Chris Ramos (left) and Emeric Martin are Gospel rappers and
friends for life.
colors that mistakenly associated him with
a gang. He believes God delivered him
from danger. “God showed Himself to
me,” he says.
Chris, 21, is Mexican-American and
has been a rapper for five years. Emeric
introduced him to Gospel rap and they
formed a duo. Born in Los Angeles, Chris’
family moved to Peoria, Ill., when he was
five years old. Being reared by a single
mom, the third of seven sons, times were
often tough. Chris had to step up to help
his mother at home with the younger ones.
This is a widespread
scenario. The
working poor
Continued on
Page 13
Working for my Lord
By Rev. Robert C. Malone
Urban Missionary Pastor,
Peace Lutheran Church, Raytown, Mo.
In the confirmation rite, a promise is made
by the confirmand that he/she will remain
faithful and true to the Lord Jesus the
Christ, even unto death. That promise is
echoed by the worshipper who sings:
I am on the battlefield for my Lord
(working for my Lord)
I’m on the battlefield for my Lord
(working for my Lord)
And I promised Him that I would
serve Him till I die.
I’m on the battlefield for my Lord
(working for my Lord)
Those who gathered on the afternoon of
Jan. 8, 2012, in the sanctuary of Peace
Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Mo., for
the decommissioning service of Lutheran
Mission of the Good Shepherd’s Good
Shepherd Missionary Church, sang those
words to the glory of God.
The decommissioning of a Christian
congregation is at best a bittersweet affair
and such was the case with the service that
day. Among those who gathered for worship
and to remember the great things that God
has done in the four-plus decades of history
of the Lutheran Mission of the Good
Shepherd were people for whom the song
“battlefield” has a great deal of meaning.
From one of the locally-produced song
books that the congregation used are these
words:
I was alone and idle,
I was a sinner too,
I heard a voice from heaven,
Say there is work to do,
I took the Master’s hand,
And I joined the Christian band,
And I’m on the battlefield for my Lord.
“The Mission,” as it was affectionately
known to many, was founded in 1969 to
minister with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
those living in Kansas City’s inner city, with
direct emphasis on what was known as “the
west side,” an area bordered by the I-35
corridor to the east and the state line with
Kansas to the west. From 1969 to 1984, the
Mission congregation was predominantly
black. Around 1984, Hispanics began
attending the Mission and by 1989, formed
the predominant group living in the
neighborhood. Changes in migratory and
settlement patterns necessitated changes in
the ministry’s structure. On Sept. 2, 1989, a
Kansas City Star article reported:
“Lutheran Mission of the Good Shepherd,
a black congregation at 2247 E. Gregory
Blvd., is doing well. Lutheran Mission
of the Good Shepherd, a Hispanic
congregation at 1742 Jefferson St., is doing
well. Actually, Lutheran Mission of the
Good Shepherd is a dual congregation,
ministering to both ethnic groups.
Until about three months ago, the two
congregations met separately at the
Jefferson Street location. On May 28, Good
Shepherd Lutheran Church a small white
congregation in a black neighborhood,
turned over its property on East Gregory to
the black congregation. Visitors and clergy
from throughout the area participated in the
historic event.”
The Rev. Robert D. Frerking, pastor
of Lutheran Mission of the Good
Shepherd at the time, said, “Both
congregations have a sense of
ownership and responsibility. They are
faithful to a much greater degree than I ever
imagined.”
A broad cross-section of lay person
volunteers, churches, youth groups, ladies
aid societies, Lutheran Women’s Missionary
League groups, mission societies and
professional church workers helped people
from various inner-city neighborhoods to
“hear God’s voice from heaven say there is
work to do, take the Master’s hand and join
the Christian band.”
I left my friends and kindred,
Bound for the Promised Land,
The grace of God upon me,
the Bible in my hand,
In distant lands I trod,
Crying sinner come to God,
I’m on the battlefield for my Lord.
In many instances, African-Americans
who joined Lutheran Mission of the Good
Shepherd, wherever it met, left friends and
kinfolk to join this unique church. In this
Lutheran church, they encountered the
Lutheran emphases of sola fide (by faith
alone), sola gratia (by grace alone) and sola
scriptura (by Scripture alone). Some of the
remnant Good Shepherd soldiers share
accounts and stories of having traveled to
distant churches, slept on church floors and
sung to listening audiences of rural church
members who were in turn supportive of
the Mission’s evangelistic ministry of calling
sinners to turn from their wicked ways, to
come to God and to trust in Jesus for their
salvation.
Now when I met my Savior,
I met Him with a smile,
He healed my wounded spirit,
and owned me as His child,
Around the throne of grace,
He appoints my soul a place,
Rev. Malone, left, stands with children who attended
Lutheran Mission of the Good Shepherd.
2 • TimeLine
Continued on Page 3
Witness reports
African Immigrant Ministry welcomes
new members in Staten Island, N.Y.
In partnership with LCMS Black and
Ethnic Ministry, Christ Assembly Lutheran
Church began a community outreach
project with the goal to add 72 new
members to its congregation. Toward
this goal, they have welcomed 28 new
members thus far. They will continue their
community outreach efforts until their goal
is reached.
Rev. Philip S. Saywrayne, pastor of Christ Assembly Lutheran Church, Staten Island, N.Y.,
conducts a Baptism. Since 2010, 22 individuals, including infants, have been baptized at Christ
Assembly.
Working for my Lord (continued from page 2)
I’m on the battlefield for my Lord.
(Working for my Lord)
The former members of Lutheran Mission
of the Good Shepherd have a tremendous
love for their Savior and Lord Jesus the
Christ. They also have love and lasting
memories of those who labored among
them as professional called church workers:
Pastors Frerking, Mueller, Loza (and their
spouses) and Staples; the Directors of
Christian Education Kathy and Martin
Eckert and many others. Through the wide
range of the Mission’s ministry activities,
including six-week summer vacation Bible
schools, Christmas stores, food and clothing
pantries, Sunday worship and Sunday
School, active participation in the Lutheran
Women’s Missionary League and more,
a broad band of people were introduced
to a Savior who heals the wounded spirit
welcomes His children. Their souls were
blessed, embraced and nourished by the
means of grace and their names were
written in the Lamb’s book of life. With
the Apostle Thomas, they confess the risen
Jesus, saying, with their mouths and works
of service, “My Lord and my God.”
Throughout its 40-plus years of ministry,
the context of the ministry of Lutheran
Mission of the Good Shepherd was that
of being on the battlefield for the Lord.
Ministry occurred in tough and difficult
places, and like its Savior, the Mission
bore many burdens. Although the burden
bearing led to an ultimate demise of Good
Shepherd’s formal congregational life, it
did not end with defeat. The Mission lives
on in the hearts, minds and souls of those
who were the recipients of Christ’s grace
and mercy through its ministries. Those
sons and daughters of the King who were
baptismally introduced to their Savior and
confirmed in their faith (took the Master’s
Hand) and nourished by the Holy body
and blood of Christ (the grace of God upon
me) and strengthened by the Word of God
(the Bible in hand) at Lutheran Mission
of the Good Shepherd continue in faithful
worship and service at sister parishes that
have picked up the mantle of ministry
passed on to them.
And I promised Him that I,
would serve Him till I die.
Yes, I’m on the battlefield for my Lord.
(Working for my Lord)
Trump update
The planted word of the Lord continues to
grow in East Africa, under the nurturing
hand of LCMS Missionary Shauen
Trump. Prayerfully, the Lutheran missions
begun will bloom into thriving Lutheran
congregations.
“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as
holy always being prepared to make a defense
to anyone who asks you for a reason for the
hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness
and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)”
During the summer of 2011, a MidSouth District short-term mission team
served alongside Trump and his family in
Tanzania, where he conducted worship
services in churches and open-air settings.
On one occasion, he proclaimed the
Gospel message to the family of a local
witch doctor. In total, he baptized
approximately 1,000 Sukuma people,
including a woman who claimed that she
was 4,000 years old.
“But you shall fear the Lord, who brought
you out of the land of Egypt with great
power and)with an outstretched arm. You
shall bow yourselves to him, and to him you
shall sacrifice” (2 Kings 17:36).
Rev. Trump baptizes a Sukuma woman in
Tanzania.
TimeLine •
3
Leadership conference at St. Paul, Dallas, encourages
attendees to ‘take it to the streets’
By Rev. Byron R. Williams, Sr.
Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas
St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas,
celebrated its Fourth Annual Leadership
Conference Jan. 20-22. Its theme of ‘Taking
It to the Streets,’ was taken from Matthew
28:19-20 — the Great Commission. The
guest speakers were the Rev. Quentin
Poulson, director of LCMS Black and
Ethnic Ministry, St. Louis, Mo.; the Rev.
Michael Johnson, Faith Lutheran, Mobile,
Ala.; the Rev. Rodney Emilien, Calvary
Lutheran, Houston, Texas; and the Rev.
Frank Maxie, New Life in Christ, Houston,
Texas.
Johnson opened the conference with a
powerful message on the ‘Lo — Go of
Jesus.’ He said there is “no go” without a
“lo,” and that God is with us every step
of the way as we share the Good News of
salvation. The Lord has called us to awake
from our slumber. As the Apostle Paul wrote
to young Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:6, “For
this reason I remind you to fan into flame
the gift of God, which is in you through the
laying on of my hands.”
Emilien took us through several exercises
and group discussions on ‘Learning to
Fish for Souls like Jesus.’ He said the
congregation must go through a) a self
examination; b) define their purpose;
c) build a plan to evangelize to their
community; and d) implement their plan
with boldness and confidence as they
“Take It to the Streets.” He closed with
saying, “A great commitment to the great
4 • TimeLine
commandment and the Great Commission
will grow a great church.”
Poulson focused on “Net Casting in
Different Waters” and “How to Share Our
Faith Cross-Culturally.” He stated the
importance of cross-cultural outreach was
to display God’s unconditional love through
the Church, to show God’s wisdom and
glory to rulers and authorities in this world
and to glorify God in the heavenly places.
Poulson also preached the closing worship
service on Sunday.
Maxie provided some nuggets of truth on
how we can fulfill the Great Commission.
He stated we must a) get right before we
go out. The saints must be spiritually fit
— “in shape” — to answer the call of Jesus
to evangelize; b) make a difference in our
soul winning and
we will make a
difference for the
kingdom of heaven;
and c) have a holy
boldness as we
present Jesus Christ
to the lost and
backsliders.
As a result of St.
Paul taking the
Great Commission
to the streets, six new families became a part
of God’s kingdom. At the closing worship
service on Sunday, 21 young people entered
God’s family through the waters of Holy
Baptism.
There were 102 participants in attendance
from Mobile, Ala.; Little Rock, Ark.; St.
Louis, Mo.; Dallas, Texas; Grand Prairie,
Texas and Houston, Texas. The feedback
from the participants was very positive
and many are looking forward to the 2013
leadership conference.
We truly extend our heartfelt thanks and
praise to Poulson and the LCMS Office
of National Mission’s Black and Ethnic
Ministry for partnering with us again as we
“Take It to the Streets.”
Harvest waiting in
Washington, D.C.
By Yvette Moy
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
Springfield, Va.
The people walking in darkness have seen a
great light; on those living in the land of deep
darkness a light has dawned. (Is. 9:2)
An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 Muslims
from East Asia, the Middle East and
North Africa live in the Metro D.C. area,
according to the Rev. James Cha, a presenter
at the “A Light Has Dawned Conference” in
Fairfax, Va.
In Northern Virginia, there are dozens of
Islamic centers and academies, the Fairfax
Institute and the Qurtuba Institute. Further,
there are Islamic scholars at Georgetown
University, George Mason University
and American University, according to
medical missionary Dr. Berty Abdelmasih.
“International students come to study
but go back without knowing Jesus,” said
Abdelmasih.
This is why Abdelmasih began the Outreach
Training Center in Springfield, Va. The
Center is a multi-church effort to reach
out to Muslims in neighborhoods, offices,
universities, supermarkets and malls.
Abdelmasih previously served in Cairo and
London, where he met Brother Jay Smith
before joining an organization that ministers
to persecuted Christians.
Smith, born in India, spent a decade in
Senegal and two decades in England.
On Sundays, you will find this Christian
apologist at Speakers Corner in Hyde Park,
London, where he confronts challenges to
the Gospel by debating top scholars of Islam
— much like St. Paul did in Ephesus 2,000
years ago.
“Arabs make up only 15 percent of Muslims;
85 percent do not speak Arabic,” says Smith.
“450 million of the world’s Muslims reside
in Pakistan, India and Bangladesh — three
countries that were colonized by England
— and segments of these populations
are also among the most radical of the
global Muslim population. So, the Indian
subcontinent is using English to take Islam
to the world. One of every 10 Londoners is
a Muslim.”
There are 53 Muslim countries in the world
and many countries spend 10, 15 or 20
percent of their annual budget on the state
religion — Saudi Arabia spends up to 40
percent supporting Islam, said the Rev.
Falak Robson.
“Apologetics is a defense for what you
believe,” explains Smith. “Muslims ask
questions about our two favorite subjects:
the Holy Scriptures and Jesus.”
But, so many times, “Christians in the West
fear Muslims,” said Father Zakaria Botrous,
of Hope of All Nations, Buffalo Grove, Ill.
In 1947, Botrous’ older brother was killed
by Muslims, but God still put a burden on
his heart to preach the Gospel to those who
live in darkness.
“One must have the proper attitude,”
Botrous suggested. “First, our motive must
be love towards God and love towards
Muslims. Second, our ultimate intention
is to glorify God and save souls. Finally,
our style is to do this with respect, longsuffering and wisdom.”
“You are the tree leaves for the healing of
the nations,” Dr. Abdelmasih said to the
mutli-ethnic audience who listened quietly
after singing with an Arabic and English
praise band. He referred to Ezekiel 47 and
Revelation 22:2 and the river of grace,
which first flows beneath the temple and
then before the throne of God by the blood
of the Lamb.
Botrous cited several examples where God
is working such as the emerging Iranian
congregation at McLean Bible Church in
McLean, Va., and “Algerians are hearing
of Christ in supernatural ways — 10,000
converts a year.”
The Spirit was also moving in the first five
years Cha and his family served in Central
Asia. About 100 people came to faith in
Christ and 60 were baptized. Instead of
living in fear of Muslims, he urged the
170 participants to trust in God’s promises
(Is. 9:7, Matt. 16:18, Rom. 1:16 and Acts
16:31) and to live with joy and expectancy.
Cha immigrated to the United States at the
age of eight from South Korea and spent
most of his childhood and young adult
years growing up in Northern Virginia. He
worked for 10 years as an electrical engineer
before receiving mission/biblical training
at Columbia Biblical Seminary in South
Carolina. “My dad always told me, ‘Prayer
is the battle and ministry is the prize,’” said
Cha. “When we pray, God works.”
A native Egyptian, Botrous was jailed
from 1981 to 1982 and exiled to Australia
from 1989 to 1992 before moving to
London, where he reaches thousands via
the Redeemer television channel. He has
also mentored many others, including
Abdelmasih, who is training others.
TimeLine •
5
Ethnic and Black Ministry leads the way
in house church planting
By Rev. James Buckman
Mission Strategist, New Jersey District
Anyone can complain — it is easy to
criticize — but leaders, well, they lead. Our
LCMS Office of National Mission’s Ethnic
and Black Ministry is providing leadership
not only for their respective area of
responsibility — they are also stepping out
as an early adaptor in our church body and
implementing the tools of Congregational
Prayer Ministry and House Church
planting.
These tools for Congregational Prayer
Ministry and House Church planting are
not being provided by an agency outside of
our church body, which would require us to
“reverse engineer” the doctrine and practice.
By God’s grace, I have learned and
developed an LCMS approach to
implementing Congregational Prayer
Ministry and House Church planting. My
experience goes back 16 years, to my first
call, Alive in Christ Lutheran Church, a
young church meeting in rented space on
the campus of the University of Missouri in
Columbia, Mo.
I am privileged to serve now as a networksupported urban mission strategist for the
New Jersey District of the LCMS. My goal
is two-fold: enroll 500 house church planter
candidates by 2017 and share Level One of
Congregational Prayer Ministry with at least
500 of our churches by 2017.
Initially, I offered this training working with
one church at a time and, by God’s grace,
this effort was blessed. We have already seen
many ethnic and African immigrant house
churches get started and with more churchplanting candidates are in training. We
praise God for this.
The Rev. Bob Kuppler serves at Somerset
Hills Lutheran Church in Basking Ridge,
6 • TimeLine
N.J. Kuppler is a very enjoyable person to
talk with; he literally makes friends wherever
he goes. He often eats at a particular
restaurant in his area where many Peruvian
immigrants work. One day, a Peruvian
waitress asked Kuppler if he would officiate
a wedding for the family — a wedding they
would like to have in their home.
Kuppler said, “Yes” and mentioned that his
church was hoping to start new worshipping
communities that met in people’s homes
and asked if it would be ok for him to
bring a mission strategist — me — to come
and explain the concept and answer any
questions. His offer was accepted.
In this way, I met the Figuero family
and after praying with them; opened up
the Bible and took them to Acts 2:42ff.
Through this passage and others, I showed
the biblical example of believers meeting in
homes for Word and Sacrament ministry
under the supervision of the local pastor.
We had a very good conversation and
during the course of this, I mentioned that
Kuppler had an elder in his congregation
who was himself a Peruvian immigrant.
I shared with the family that our model
for developing pastors was built on them
demonstrating their ability for the pastoral
office, in part by gathering and serving
house churches under the oversight of his
pastor. I shared with them that by forming
a house church, they would be helping a
fellow Peruvian in his aspiration to become
a Lutheran pastor. The next topic of
conversation was simply when they would
like to meet each week.
Today, by God’s grace, Jose Daniel Fenco
is an LCMS vicar. He has gathered people
into two Spanish-language house churches
that he serves. Most of the members of
these house churches are lapsed Catholics
from South America. Almost none of the
members had any prior participation in an
LCMS congregation.
The total attendance of these two house
churches is more than 60; they have now
begun meeting for worship in the sanctuary
of Somerset Hills Lutheran Church once
a week. The rest of the time, they meet
in their homes under the supervision of a
called and ordained pastor, who utilizes his
vicar and house church planter to help with
the work.
This model of ministry has produced
the largest LCMS Spanish-language
worshipping group in New Jersey and it has
done so, by God’s grace, in a fairly short
amount of time.
Vicar Fenco and Pastor Kuppler have firm
plans for the next house churches that by
God’s grace, `they will be planting by God’s
grace. A clear vision is an essential element
in the success of the house church planting
process.
This was done at no cost for buildings, since
they meet in homes; no cost for staff, since
Vicar Fenco was originally an elder; no cost
for advertising, since it is all word of mouth;
and no cost for the fellowship activities,
since the house church feeds itself.
The average weekly worship attendance
at Somerset Hills Lutheran Church was
approximately 150 people prior to planting
these two house churches. You don’t have
to be a “large” congregation to plant house
churches.
Some things for your congregation to think
about when considering this avenue of
ministry:
Do we have any members with an interest in
gathering people they know and/or residents
of the community for Word and Sacrament
ministry in their homes?
Would our pastor be interested in serving as
Sharing Christ in Kenya through
Short-term Mission Service
LCMS churches send teams to Kenya to
help with medical care and to share the
Gospel. This year, St. Andrew’s Lutheran
Church in Cape Girardeau, Mo., sent its
pastor and lay volunteers to connect with
the local people of Kenya through prayer,
teaching and preaching, and mercy care. It
was St. Andrew’s second trip to Kenya and,
this time, they brought medical missionaries
in response to the feedback they got from
the people during a prior trip last August.
LCMS Missionaries Rev. Shauen and Krista
Trump partner with the local hospital
to provide medical follow-up with those
who need emergency or ongoing care. The
Trumps are establishing spiritual mentor
relationships too, signing up those who can
read and write with Bible correspondence
courses through Lutheran Hour Ministries.
Two doctors — one Kenyan and one North
American — consult together during the St.
Andrew’s short-term team visit to Kenya.
Short-term missions are one way that
congregations can share in the blessings
of God’s work overseas. Lives are being
touched, bodies are healed and souls are led
to Christ in the hearing of the Gospel. God
gets the praise.
New addition joins
the LCMS East Africa
mission family
Shauen and Krista Trump, LCMS
missionaries based in Nairobi, Kenya,
were blessed with a new baby on Dec. 22
at 3:35 a.m. Elijah was given the gift of
faith and salvation in Holy Baptism three
days later on Christmas Day. Baby Elijah
is the couple’s second child. Older brother
Josiah (now two years old) is wonderfully
gentle and sweet with his little brother.
The Trumps write, “Praise the Lord with
us for His abundant blessings and gifts!”
Contact the Trumps:
• http://theTrumps.org
• [email protected]
House church planting (continued from page 6)
an overseer of these house church planters
and be a modern day “circuit rider” to
encourage and guide them?
Visit our website, www.HouseChurchPlanter.
com. Read the doctrinal statement that
guides us (it was prepared by LCMS First
Vice President Rev. Herb Mueller). Take
some time to look at the curriculum. Watch
the videos that answer the Frequently Asked
Questions. Watch the “Get Started Video.”
Look at the enrollment costs of a school
(some LCMS districts are partnering with
their congregations and picking up one
third of the tuition — in these situations,
typically the congregation will then pick up
one third and the member will pick up one
third). Note the special rates we have for
immigrant students.
Our next course begins June 1, so there
is still time to be part of our next group
of house church planter candidates and
supervising pastors.
In the past, I was the quite a skeptic of
smart phones. I used to be proud of the fact
that I had a cell phone that only cost $15.
One day, my $15 phone broke, so I went
down to the cell phone shack and took a
look at these smart phones. The more I
learned about them, the more I began to
appreciate their capacity.
As I have worked with immigrants, I have
learned several things — one is that they
love Jesus and want others to know Him.
There is a high interest in receiving a
quality education and being given a chance
to be mentored by a motivated LCMS
pastor. The other thing I have learned
is that immigrants have incredibly busy
schedules. Many of our immigrants hold
multiple full- and part-time jobs. This
makes a “traditional” educational system
very challenging for pastoral candidates. It
is virtually impossible to train any sizeable
number of immigrant church planters for
the pastoral ministry through our normal
paradigm.
This is why I have worked so hard to get our
website up and running. Most immigrants
love technology, and when they are on the
subway for an hour, they can log in and be
equipped for their ministry.
There is so much more that I could
share with you, so I invite anyone who is
interested in learning more to contact me
at [email protected]. I also want to lift
up our LCMS Office of National Mission’s
Ethnic and Black Ministry and recognize
The Rev. Quentin Poulson, LCMS director
of Black and Ethnic Ministry, who has been
a kindred spirit in the fight for souls in New
Jersey and beyond. I also praise God for
both Poulson and Susan Green, Black and
Ethnic Ministry staff, for their partnership
in the Gospel.
TimeLine •
7
Hmong Ministry continues to expand
in the U.S. and beyond
By Rev. Lang Yang
Pastor, St. Michael Lutheran Church,
Richville, Mich.
It has been another wonderful year to serve
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Seeing
new people coming to faith, members
returning to worship the Lord, confirmation
and the Baptism of many of the children
at St. Michael and Our Savior Lutheran
Churches.
LCMS North America Hmong Ministry
continues to grow. We have 13 ordained
pastors, five vicars, four deacons, one
seminary student at Concordia Seminary,
St. Louis, two pre-seminary students at
Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., and
one pre-seminary student at Concordia
University, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Hmong International Mission also
continues to grow in Southeast Asia.
Currently, 14 students from Thailand,
Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are studying
to be pastors so they could go out and plant
churches and expand Hmong ministry in
those countries.
Currently, the Hmong Hymnal Project is
undergoing doctrinal review. As soon as
it can be approved, then it will be sent to
print. St. Michael and Our Savior Lutheran
Churches’ Hmong Ministry continue to
meet the need of the Hmong members by
providing worship services every second
and forth Saturday at St. Michael and
every Sunday at Our Savior. We send
our sincerest thanks to everyone who has
supported Hmong ministry. Your support is
most appreciated and allows us to continue
carrying out the mission of bringing the
Gospel to the Hmong people by proclaiming
the saving grace of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ in their native language.
Community Service
On Aug. 1, 2011, I was appointed as
chaplain for the Denmark Township Police
Department in Richville, Mich. This is
the first time in the history of Denmark
Township that it has had a chaplain. The
chaplain’s role is a volunteer position
and exists to serve and assist the chief of
police in helping to meet the spiritual
needs of the Denmark Township Police
Department office personnel, families and
community. The chaplain supports the
Police Department and citizens of Denmark
Township by building and maintaining
an attitude of cooperation and mutual
respect between the police department and
the township’s citizens. The chaplain can
also be available for service to people in
crisis situations, such as domestic disputes,
assisting in times of loss, depression or grief.
Denmark Township Chief of Police Fred Hecht and Chaplain Lang Yang
8 • TimeLine
On Aug. 31, 2011, I was also appointed as a
volunteer chaplain for the Civil Air Patrol –
United States Air Force Auxiliary. I am the
first LCMS Hmong pastor and graduate of
the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology
(EIIT) in The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod to serve as chaplain for the Civil Air
Patrol. In order for the LCMS Ministry
to the Armed Forces (MAF) to endorse
an ordained pastor of the LCMS, he
must meet certain qualifications and the
Civil Air Patrol must approve and issue
the appointment from its National Head
Quarters at Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala.
It is a joy to serve both our Hmong and
Caucasian members and the community at
large as we work together to expand Christ’s
kingdom.
LCMS Hmong Ministry
pastor named
chaplain of the year
Congratulations to Chaplain Lang Yang. He
recently received the Chaplain of the Year
Award on March 9, 2012, for his service in
the Civil Air Patrol of the Michigan Wing.
Chaplain Yang serves as the deputy wing
chaplain for the Michigan Wing Civil Air
Patrol and he also serves at the Bay City
Cadet Squadron as chaplain, character
development instructor, information
technology officer and finance officer.
Chaplain Yang is the associate pastor –
director of Hmong Ministry at St. Michael’s
Lutheran Church in Richville, Mich., and
Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lansing,
Mich. He also volunteers his time as the
chaplain for the Denmark Township
Police Department and he also serves on
the Tuscola County Sheriff Department
Chaplain Corps. To Chaplain Yang, we
say: thank you for your service in the
community and to the nations!
‘The Neighborhood has changed’
workshop in Tulsa, Okla.
By Rev. Leonard Busch
Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church,
Tulsa, Okla.
The Rev. John Loum, director of the
Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology
at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,
led a workshop on multiethnic and
immigrant outreach ministry entitled “The
Neighborhood Has Changed” at Good
Shepherd in February.
Photos, from top:
Participants at the “The Neighborhood Has Changed” workshop
included members from District Anglo, Hispanic, Hmong, Arabic
Outreach, and Liberian ministries, as well representatives of
Oklahoma’s LWML, Tulsa’s African American community, Tulsa
Public Schools, and YWCA.
TCC Hispanic college student volunteers at “The Neighborhood
Has Changed” workshop.
Loum is pictured here (far right) with Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett
(center), the Rev. Leonard Busch, pastor of Good Shepherd
Lutheran Church, Tulsa, Okla. (right of Mayor Bartlett), and
members of Tulsa-area Hmong and Liberian congregations.
Vicar Keith Kinslow: Specialized Ministry Pastor
By Vicar Keith Kinslow
Specialized Ministry Pastor Program
Chatham Fields Lutheran Church,
Chicago, Ill.
Kinslow
First, I would like to thank
LCMS Black Ministry and
donors once again for the scholarship funds
I’ve received through the “adopt a student
program.” May the Lord’s blessings be
with you! Some background information
about me: I am the father of three children:
Ebony, social worker; Naomi, dancer with
the Muntu Dance Company and student at
Northeastern University; and Miles, student
at Harold Washington Junior College. I
also have one grandchild, Brooklyn, who
is six. I have been blessed with my wife,
Monica, who works as a forensic scientist,
for 36 years. We reside on the south side
of Chicago and attend Chatham Fields
Lutheran Church.
My first year in the Specialized Ministry
Pastor (SMP) program was very stressful, as
I was balancing an eight-hour job, family
responsibilities and ministry. With the help
of my mentor, the Rev. Kenety Gee, pastor
of Chatham Fields, and God’s blessing,
I was able to maintain a B average and
end the academic year on a good note. I
found the professors to be encouraging and
supportive.
I have been given the task of starting a
youth program at our congregation. This
ministry was birthed as a response to the
youth violence within our community
during the summer of 2010. The program
is targeted to reach young men between 13
and 18 years of age. We at Chatham Fields
have chosen to get involved in these men’s
lives and pray that we will become a part of
improving their lives. No longer will we sit
back and see their lives destroyed without
showing the love of Christ.
God has blessed us with a partner, Mr.
Williams, who has given us much insight
in how to reach these young men. We now
have a strategy that involves using video
games, discussions about the issues they
face, group devotions and discussions about
how the biblical text addresses those issues.
We meet on Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. We
are using the video games in the form of
a tournament, which helps get them off
the streets, along with food and devotional
conversation about the topics in which
they are interested. Through this program,
it is our mission to allow Christ to use us
to bring these young men to faith in Him,
transform their lives and make disciples.
TimeLine •
9
Ethnic Immigrants see Mercy
Offering encouragement for a ministry
of mercy
By Yvette Moy
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church,
Springfield, Va.
We know Satan has
many spirits. Today we
ask for the Spirit you have; for
the Holy Spirit, for He is stronger
than Satan’s many.
-A Haitian prayer
from God Is No Stranger
On the eve of Presidents’ Day 2012, it
was snowing in Northern Virginia, but
the mission team from St. John’s Lutheran
Church, Alexandria, Va., arrived in Haiti
to the beat of Carnival music at Toussaint
Louverture International Airport. The
sun warmed the group on a bumpy truck
ride down National Route 1 toward Hope
House.
Bert and Roberta Anderson had cool drinks
ready before some sorted through luggage
including 16 suitcases of school supplies,
diapers, vitamins, duct tape, sandpaper and
paintbrushes.
The schools were closed in celebration of
Fat Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, but the
mission team was hard at work in the new
health center – sanding, sweeping and
mopping before painting rooms, cabinets,
railing, walls and latrines. It was especially
important that the lab could now receive
medical equipment.
When the facility opens in just a few weeks,
a Haitian doctor and several Haitian nurses
will focus on the 640 students at the nearby
Village of Hope School, creating medical
records for each of them and their families.
Roberta explained that typically, there are
cases of diabetes, high blood pressure, acid
reflux and parasites. Women’s health is an
area of concern with a high infant mortality
rate of 54 deaths/1,000 live births. “About
17 percent die the first year after birth,” Bert
said.
Ideally, 30 to 40 patients could be seen
daily on a first come, first served basis.
“Eventually, mobile
medical units with
dentists and eye
doctors will serve
within a 10-mile
radius of the clinic,”
Bert said. Doctors
volunteering for
a week in Haiti
could see between
600 to 700
patients. Extended
care for chronic
conditions will be
provided through a
benevolence fund, he
A St. John’s short-term team member enjoys time with local Hatian girls.
said.
10 • TimeLine
“The hope is to provide the initial visit, tests
and medicine for $5 to $6,” Bert explained.
Some overnight care will be provided, but
creative partnerships with Double Harvest
for surgery and Healing Hands for Haiti for
stroke rehabilitation will be pursued.
Early on Thursday, kindergarten students
at the Village of Hope serenaded the group
and raised the Haitian flag. Several team
members visited with sponsored children.
At noon, older students joined the group for
a lunch of rice and beans with fish sauce in
the cafeteria.
Only three major hardware stores serve
Croix-des-Bouquets, a suburb that lies eight
miles north of the capital. By the end of the
week, they no longer had anymore white
paint.
In just four days, the team of 11 volunteers
(Sarah Finger, Jim Lofgren, Tom and Liz
DeMik, Mark Guilfoil, Tish Nordvall,
Christine Payne, Marilyn Newstrom, Paul
Swicord, Yvette Moy and Greer Putnam)
used up 80 gallons of the white and green
paint — about 28,000 square feet of paint.
In addition, 20 screens were made for the
windows at the health center
Such amazing things can happen only
through the power of prayer! Five Virginia
congregations as well as family and friends
across the country kept the mission team
in their thoughts during the week. Each
evening time was spent by the mission team
reflecting on and praying for this ministry
of mercy.
One late afternoon, Marie Majors received
the mission team at her home, where she
cares for 20 orphans. “Parents don’t come to
see their children,” Majors said. Gifts from
Help Orphan Grain
Train Provide Relief
for Human Need
around the World
By Elfie Eberle
Chairperson, Saverna Park, Md.
Orphan Grain Train (OGT) is a Christian
volunteer network that shares personal and
material resources with needy people in
the United States and around the world.
Orphan Grain Train volunteers gather
Boys at a crisis center in Russia display new
boots delivered by Orphan Grain Train.
Ministry of mercy
donations of clothing, medical supplies,
food, Christian literature and other aid to
meet real needs. Orphan Grain Train is a
loving response to Jesus Christ’s example as
a servant and His love for us.
Suggested projects for youth groups:
• Mercy kit
• Film canisters filled with quarters buy
a pair of warm boots for a child in
Kyrgyzstan.
• Collect sneakers after a big race from a
runners club, replace laces as needed and
then tie together.
• Solicit donations from their schools at
the end of the year: school supplies,
sports equipment and uniforms.
• Collect men’s, women’s and children’s
clothing and shoes, sort it for quality,
box it, label it and seal it.
• For $90, sponsor a fundraiser to send a
child to a Lutheran school in Nicaragua
for a year (send funds to Orphan Grain
Train’s Maryland branch).
• Plan a fundraiser can at a local restaurant
that could give up to 20 percent of the
night’s income.
Suggested projects for LWML groups or
women who sew:
• Pillowcase dresses
• Plastic mats
Visit Orphan Grain Train online at www.
ogt.org. Click on “Ways You Can Help”
for more information on how you can get
involved.
(continued from page 10)
the adoptive parents of Journaldo Nice were
brought for the orphans to share.
The girls were just delighted to comb and
braid some of the ladies’ hair. Frisbees,
bubbles and singing gave everyone the
giggles. When the girls age out of the
orphanage, the hope is that they will
continue in state schools, Majors said.
Several tent cities and rubble remain.
However, a lot more farm animals (goat,
cattle, chickens) were seen nearby as men
and women planted corn and sugar cane in
the parched earth.
Moving on to the Little Children of Jesus,
the team danced to the music provided by
a staff member, who also is a DJ. Gladys
Hugette and her staff care for more than
100 physically-challenged children and
they were happy to receive diapers. The
mission team reconnected with several little
ones from years ago and cuddled some new
arrivals. Animal-shaped balloons tickled the
fancy of many.
The team also visited
the Apparent Project,
a new artisans’ guild
using discarded
materials to create
jewelry, journals and
home décor. Employing
Haitian women brings
new hope to families,
earning the means to
pay for food, shelter
and education.
“This means less crime, less stress and
a whole lot more beauty,” said Director
Shelley Clay. “We are trying to help mothers
and fathers in poverty to be a parent to their
children.”
St. John’s short-term team members visit Little Children of Jesus.
TimeLine •
11
Deaconess Saron Woldehaimanot:
She has come this far by faith
Saron was born and raised in Asmara,
Eritrea, East Africa. Her mother, father and
four of her siblings still live there and her
youngest sister lives in Sweden. Her father
and her mother graduated from Beleza
Theology School and served as missionaries
and teachers in different areas of Eritrea.
Saron is the second-oldest child in the
family.
Saron’s parents were teachers and instilled in
her the love of learning from an early age.
She participated in a Christmas pageant at
the Evangelical Lutheran School when she
was only three years old. Since then, Saron
has been involved in various activities and
positions such as choir, leading Bible study,
youth leader, trustee and treasurer in the
church. Saron started her formal ministry
as a teacher in Lutheran school in 1987;
she also worked part time in the Evangelical
Lutheran Voice of Beserat Gospel
Broadcasting service. She used to travel as
keynote speaker to zone rallies throughout
the country.
In 1995, Saron moved to the United States
and enrolled at the Apostolic Bible Institute
in Minnesota. She completed her studies
in 1998 and graduated with an associate’s
degree in theology.
from the EIIT program.
While in Minnesota, she taught home Bible
study for older women once a month and
started a Bible study at home for young
adults, which is now called the Eritrean
Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Paul,
Minnesota.
For the past five years of her study, Pastor
Wayne Fredericksen has been Saron’s
preceptor and mentor — her “spiritual
father,” as Saron calls him. Saron has also
received help and encouragement from
Pastors John Meehan and Braun Campbell
at St. John Lutheran Church, Alexandria
Va., where Saron is on the preschool staff.
Pastor Andy Jagow of Bethany Lutheran
Church, Alexandria, Va., has also been an
encourager and fellow traveler to Saron as
he mentored Joseph Davis through the EIIT
program.
Three years later, Saron moved to Rochester,
N.Y. She led worship, Bible study and
visited homebound members. She also
shared the Gospel through the Ethiopian
Evangelical Broadcasting Service. In 1999,
Saron moved to Virginia and attended an
Eritrean non-denominational church. Then
in 2004, she joined Our Savior Lutheran
Church in Arlington, Va., and began serving
in the Eritrean ministry.
In November 2006, encouraged by her
professor, the Rev. Dr. Yohannes Mengsteab,
the founder of the Ethnic Immigrant
Institute of Theology (EIIT) at Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis Mo., and with the
sponsorship of Our Savior Lutheran Church
and the Southeastern District of the LCMS,
Saron enrolled in the EIIT program. Saron
graduated from the deaconess program on
Oct. 20, 2011, as the first female graduate
Currently, Saron is serving in the Lutheran
Women’s Missionary League on the national
and district level on the Heart to Heart
Sisters Committee and a district leader of
Heart to Heart Sisters program. She is a
board member of the Women’s Association
of the Eritrean Evangelical Mission Society
in North America and contributes Bible
study articles to their quarterly newsletter,
“Kal Tsega,” which means word of grace.
Saron remains in contact with associates in
many countries, and continues sharing the
Word of God at various Eritrean gatherings.
Rosa Young Movie Project DVD
The story of Dr. Rosa Young is unique. It
is a multi-textured tapestry beginning with
the threads of poverty, racial segregation,
bitter human suffering and longing, added
with the soothing sweet mercy of Jesus,
interwoven into the history of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod.
Friends and family of Dr. Young have
established The Rosa Young Movie Project,
in an attempt to put into film her life’s
work as an educator and lay missionary
of the Lord Jesus Christ, in whose power
12 • TimeLine
to forgive, heal and unite believing souls
built Lutheran churches and schools in
rural Alabama. LCMS Black and Ethnic
Ministry is a co-sponsor of the project under
the direction of Susan Hill. If you have a
personal Rosa Young story you would like
to share with the movie project’s core team,
you may contact Ms. Hill by email at:
[email protected] The Rosa Young Movie Project has produced
a movie trailer describing the movie vision
and objectives, in order to achieve the
project’s momentum and financial support
toward completion of the film. They need
your prayers and financial support too.
Copies of the Rosa Young DVD trailer are
available, in limited supply, upon request
at the LCMS Ethnic and Black Ministry
Office. To request your
free copy, please call
the office at 800-2481930, ext. 1751 or
send an email to susan.
[email protected].
Gospel rappers
(continued from page 1)
tend less to hide their mistakes and sins.
Energy is not wasted on covering up, but
standing up. Transparency is one of the
most honorable virtues and is needed to
survive. It’s called “keeping it real!” In the
hood, they strive to keep it real. Chris’
mom, Cindy, is a role model of strength
and hope. Chris says, “God turned her life
around; she speaks about God’s plan in her
life. My music is about the beat [of life] and
the lyrics are about emotions and feelings.”
After the Ramos family moved to St. Louis,
Chris’ mother made him play basketball
by sending him to BLC. There, Chris
met Emeric and they forged a friendship
centered on music. Emeric convinced him:
“Why not do this music thing for God?
He was slain on the cross for us to live. The
more we grew in faith in God, the closer we
came together.” Emeric said, “It was God’s
timing, where He showed Himself and what
He wanted for us … how to live the faith
[in our environment]. God opened doors
and opened minds.”
Not many inner city African-Americans
or Latinos belong to a Lutheran church.
Bethlehem Lutheran Church is 117 years
old. What’s it like there? Chris answered,
“Most Lutheran congregations are not like
us at Bethlehem.” Bethlehem is noted for
its ministry to various generations, lively
worship and preaching. Chris adds, “God
wants freedom of expression.” Typically,
more than 100 youth are present at
Wednesday night BBO (Bethlehem Bible
Outreach), from which youth and their
families are drawn into Sunday worship,
Baptism and confirmation classes. BLC
“keeps it real” with a welcoming message
that says, “Come just as you are.” Bethlehem
won the LCEF 2010 Fred Lietz Mission
Project Award, and, recently won a “What’s
Right about the Region” award in St. Louis.
Both awards recognize the church for
effective community transformation. BLC
considers itself a ministry that “brings Jesus
to the streets,” which includes explosive
evangelistic fun, a housing revitalization
corporation known as Better Living
Communities and, last August, establishing
a charter school called Better Living
Communities Academy.
Emeric reminisces, “I was baptized at age
seven [under] the cleansing water and I
discovered the Lutheran faith has one main
focus: Christ died for [my] sins, He gives
forgiveness that we may have life, bringing
us back into safety. We live by it.” The need
for safety and belonging in the inner city is
profoundly expressed by youth and young
adults. Many young people must, on a daily
basis, resist being drafted into gang violence.
Within the gang culture, one will go to
extremes to “be there” for one another, even
if it leads to prison or death. Hence, for
the young believer, God must also be there,
otherwise, God is not God. Take note of the
immediate urgency for God to be available
and real.
Gospel rapping for Chris and Emeric
became a safe haven — a way to belong and
a way of protection of sort for the brave,
ironically, who openly promote their faith.
Safety in the arms of Jesus is all about a
prayer in the vernacular: “Lord, do what you
do!” It is amazing the courage they muster
up to witness for Christ in a threatening
environment, yet it yields through a raw
faith the fruit that carries divine protection
and respect. Even the demons fear and
tremble.
What do they like about Gospel rapping?
Chris loves the beats and the instrumentals.
For Emeric, it is the lyrics; the God-given
sustained ability for rhyming saying, “I
was inspired to write songs. We record on
webcam software. It is a good investment
[of time and energy]. God took care of
us and brought us opportunities to rap
in churches.” Chris admits that his music
taste drifts toward the secular occasionally.
There are creative dry spells too, but, that it
was Emeric who has kept him grounded in
Gospel rap. “I thank God for it. We build
each other up,” says Chris. Emeric adds,
“Ain’t nothing out there [in the world].
I wanted to do it for God, past exposure
to materialistic values and temporary
[rewards].”
What is their message? “God is always there
to be with you, to take you [along the faith
journey]. Just come as you are,” said Emeric.
“Our fathers weren’t really in our lives as we
grew up, but when the time [of maturity]
arrived, God became the [fatherly] example.
He lived; he died, rose and is coming again.
Chris Ramos, left, and Emeric Martin share the Gospel through rap music.
Continued on Page 21
TimeLine •
13
Early eye examinations
can prevent future
concerns
By Susan Green
Black and Ethnic Ministry, LCMS Office of
National Mission
I have a very rambunctious four-year-old
little boy, Lucas, who runs around all the
time. This often ends in tears because he
trips, falls down or runs into something.
Lucas started preschool this last year and
was fitting in well, but did not seem very
interested in learning. During our parentteacher conference, his teacher said he is not
focused — he just wants to take off and play
when it is time to learn. I thought, “Isn’t
this all just typical behavior for little boys
with so much energy?” Well, that’s true for
the most part, but for Lucas, there was a
little more to it.
In the fall, the preschool that Lucas
attended sent home permissions slips for a
comprehensive eye exam. The local Lions
Club was sponsoring free eye exams for all
students, regardless of income or insurance.
So, I signed the permission slip, thinking he
did not really need it, but that it wouldn’t
hurt anything. I am so glad that I did.
Following the exam, the school sent a note
home saying that Lucas did seem to have
some sort of vision problem and referred us
to an optometrist for a more thorough eye
exam. Upon doing so, we learned that Lucas
had astigmatism. Astigmatism is a refractive
error in which the eye is not completely
round — usually, it is instead shaped like a
football or the back of a spoon. When light
enters the eye, it is refracted more in one
direction than the other, allowing only part
of the object to be in focus at one time.
Eye examinations are crucial in ensuring
normal eye development. Early diagnosis
is critical, since children’s eyes are more
responsive to treatments when the problem
is caught early on. Vision correction is not
14 • TimeLine
the only symptom that can
be corrected as a result of
early diagnosis. Some vision
problems can affect a child’s
physical and neurological
development as well. The
American Osteopathic
Association (AOA) reports
that 60 percent of learning
disabilities are associated
with vision problems. Vision
problems in children can also Susan and Lucas Green
affect their depth perception,
common and only requires eyeglasses for
which causes tripping, clumsiness or poor
correction. However, I never thought that a
hand-eye coordination. More serious effects
four-year-old could have a vision problem
could include glaucoma, retinal disease or
at such a young age. Lucas is much happier
even cancerous tumors.
with his glasses. Now he runs around
accident-free, for the most part. He asks
A pediatrician will most likely be the
to be read to, he is much more engaged in
first to examine a child’s eyes during a
school and we can just see the difference
comprehensive eye exam. They would refer
in his reaction to things. I took him to the
parents to a specialized eye care provider if
they believe there could be a problem. Once movies the other day and I let him choose
your child is school aged, they should have a where we sit. For the first time he ran
almost to the top, jumped into his seat, and
regular eye exam done by an optometrist or
with so much excitement giggled and said,
ophthalmologist. Potential problems can be
“Mommy I can see the movie.”
detected and corrected early on if eye exams
are done on a regular basis.
According to the AOA, infants should
have their first comprehensive eye exam at
six months. The next exam should be at
age three, then between age five and six.
School-aged children should have their
eyes examined at least every two years. The
AOA has established that approximately
one in every four children has vision-related
problems.
His astigmatism was one of the reasons
that Lucas was so clumsy and why he did
not want to focus on what his teacher
was showing him at school. We are very
fortunate that there were no serious eye
problems for Lucas. Astigmatism is fairly
There are many vision resources available
to low-income or uninsured individuals.
Many schools offer free eye exams through
their local Lions Clubs. Check with your
local school or clinic to see what services
that they offer. There are also several
organizations that are available to help both
children and adults with eye examinations
and eyeglasses. The following list includes
some organizations that you can contact for
more information.
• InfantSEE – Provides a one-time, free eye
exam for infants six to 12 months of age,
regardless of family income or insurance
coverage. For more information, visit
www.infantsee.org or call 888-396-EYES.
• Vision USA – Provides free eye exams to
uninsured, low-income workers and their
families. For more information, call 800766-4466.
• Lions Clubs International – Provides
financial assistance to individuals for eye
care through its local clubs. Contact your
Local Lions Club for more information
on this service. To locate a Lions Club,
visit their website at www.lionsclubs.org
and use the “club locator” feature.
• Eyecare America – Provides eye exams
and up to one year of care to U.S. citizens
at no out-of-pocket cost. For more
information, visit www.eyecareamerica.org
also recycle eyeglasses to distribute to
indigent people in developing nations
worldwide. For more information, visit
www.neweyesfortheneedy.org or call 973376-4903
• CHIP – Federal and state partnership
that provides low-cost health insurance
for children and families who earn too
much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot
afford private health insurance. Children
enrolled in the program may be eligible
for free eye exams.
• Medicaid – This is a jointly-funded,
federal-state public health program
providing health coverage to certain
low-income people and families in the
United States. Medicaid will provide an
eye examination and eyeglasses to covered
individuals with little or no out-of-pocket
cost.
• Peace Center for New Americans, St.
Louis, Mo. – Holds free health and
wellness screenings several times each year
for refugees and immigrants. For more
information, call 314-517-8513.
• Sight for Students – A Vision Service
Program that provides free eye exams
and glasses to low-income, uninsured
children under the age of 18. For more
information, visit www.sightforstudents.org
or call 888-290-4964.
• New Eyes for the Needy – Purchases
new eyeglasses for low-income children
and adults in the United States. They
Former missionary Carol Buckman is teaching
Pow, a 15-year old refugee from Thailand who
recently arrived in the U.S, how to help with
vision screenings at the Peace Center for New
Americans.
Enjoy a blessed summer!
from your friends at LCMS Black and Ethnic Ministry
TimeLine •
15
Life Together
Palm Sunday and “Friends and Family Day”
in Indianapolis, Ind.
Source: Our Savior Lutheran Church newsletter
April 1 marked both Palm Sunday “Friends
& Family Day” at Our Savior Evangelical
Lutheran Church, Indianapolis, Ind. More
than 100 people attended — and what a
wonderful day it was, seeing all our family
and friends together for worship. Thanks to
Pastor Armao, Mark and Mery Kendall for
the operation of the screen, Drew Worthen
for the music, everyone who participated
and the ladies who provided the wonderful
meal. Check out the pictures of the joyous
occasion!
Ministry Milestones
• Good Shepherd Missionary Church, Raytown,
Mo., ended its life of service on Jan. 8, 2012.
• Deacon Reginald Fields was commissioned
at Faith Lutheran Church, Inglewood, Calif.,
Dec. 18, 2011.
• John Thomas Fowlkes, Sr., of Denver, Colo.,
turned 90 years old.
• The Rev. Dennis Harmon was ordained as
the pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Evangelical
Lutheran Church, Germantown, Wis.,
Nov. 6, 2011.
• The Rev. Matt Wietfeldt, a graduate of
Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne,
accepted a call to serve as associate pastor of
Trinity Lutheran Church, Nashville, Ill.
• Deaconess Saron Woldehaimanot was
commissioned at Our Savior Lutheran Church
and School, Arlington, Va., Jan. 28, 2012.
16 • TimeLine
St. Paul, Dallas, is praising
God for His increase!
Source: St. Paul Lutheran Church,
Dallas, Texas
Pastor Byron R. Williams Sr. and the family
of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Dallas, Texas,
celebrated God’s Hand moving in a mighty
way on Jan. 22, 2012. Williams shared,
“We were blessed to take 21 young people
through the waters of Holy Baptism.”
“Adding to the kingdom is our mandate at
St. Paul,” said Williams.
“Jesus reminds us,
‘Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the
name of the Father
and of the Son and of
the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you. And surely I am with you
always, to the very end of the age’ (Matt.
28:19-20).”
For a glimpse of all 22 youth who were
baptized at St. Paul, with their names listed,
visit http://thelc.ms/Hvf6TL.
2011 Kingdom
Worship Conference
By Shikina Bodley
Worship Leader, Living Water Community
Lutheran Church, Sanford, Fla.
The Kingdom 2011 Worship Conference
took place Oct. 27-29, 2011 in Sanford,
Fla. The Conference featured applied
information for congregations and
worship teams on a variety of strategies for
effective music ministry. This year’s theme,
“Kingdom 2011,” was selected to encourage
congregational conversations on how to
prepare and minister to the God’s people
and advance the kingdom of God. The 2011
conference was aimed at providing current
and practical information that informs
participants, stretches their current worship
paradigms and encourages innovative
ideas and development opportunities that
challenged participants.
The program consisted of a total of seven
sessions: four celebration/demonstration
sessions and one plenary session, as well
as keynote speakers utilizing a panel
discussion to delineate: how to become a
worship leader and leading God’s people
in worship. The sessions were: Heart of
Worship: Keeping the Leaders heart in
God’s Presence; Contemporary Worship;
Moving in the Spirit: Liturgical Dance;
Getting Out of the Box: Expanding your
Biblical Focus of Ministry; Heart Song:
Songwriter session; Vocal Techniques:
Singers, Vocalists
and Training; and
The Right Sound:
Vocal Blending and
Dynamics.
This year, the
conference introduced
a Technology and
Media Series.
These topics were presented for small
group discussion during the extended
lunch periods. The topics were “How to
Understand and Use Sound Amplification
for Worship Teams” and “The Use of Social
Media to Expand the Kingdom.”
Surveys were gathered from presenters,
participants and even those who were
unable to attend this year’s conference,
in an effort to provide a 360-degree
evaluation process. Overall, the sessions
were very well received and were pertinent
to respondents’ work. The results indicated
that the presenters demonstrated mastery
of their topics and that they did a good job
presenting. Participants also indicated that
the conference exceeded their expectations.
Many responders indicated the need for
additional advertisement, incentives and
public relations to increase the community
and LCMS church participation at large.
Responders who could not attend noted the
start date, personal finance and scheduling
conflicts as reasons that prohibited them
from attending.
enjoyed networking and the focus on
innovation and the future. They would
like to further reach out to congregations
who are struggling to incorporate both the
traditional and new in worship. Areas of
focus for the 2012 Kingdom Conference
include continuing the inclusion of
innovative methods and techniques,
improving the online registration system,
finding resources to increase participant
list, providing for video documentation and
ensuring that there are practical and local
congregation-led sessions that focus on
empowerment.
Special thanks to the Rev. Quentin Poulson
and the Multiplying Christ’s Missions
through Partnerships grant from the The
Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Ethnic
and Black Ministry Department. We will go
and serve the Lord! Thanks be to God!
Most respondents rated the conference as
either “Very Good” or “Excellent.” Many
participants included very encouraging
comments, such as, “This was an excellent
trial run, because next year we will be
full to capacity.” According to the survey
of participants and presenters, the New
Technology and Social Media sessions
were well received, and will therefore
be continued next year. Respondents
TimeLine •
17
Women of Christ and influence
By Myrtle Duval and Timeline staff
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church, Denver, Colo.
God works through leaders, and that
includes women! Women are a vital resource
in God’s Church, and sometimes that
includes supporting the pastor and his work
during tough times. Maxine Parks, Elinora
Reynolds and Betty Funderburke are such
examples — these three women not only
make things happen on the local scene, but
they influence others in making Jesus Christ
their Lord in the private and professional
worlds. This picture at left was taken to
commemorate these ladies.
Maxine Parks, lower left, was
recognized for “A Century
of Service to Church and
Community.” Next, standing
alongside the Rev. Roger
Schlechte, pastor of Mt. Calvary
Lutheran Church, Denver,
Colo., are Elinora Reynolds,
left, and Betty A. Funderburke,
right, contributing authors in a
collection of motivating public
speeches compiled and published
under the title, “Lift As You Climb: Public
Speakers Inspire and Communicate Straight
from the Heart” by Regal Innovations.
The messages in the book share a noble
challenge: however one serves society, one
uses words to inform, influence and make
people feel cared about and worthwhile.
2012 Black Ministry Family Convocation
The Coalition of Lutherans in Black
Ministry in the Southeastern District of the
LCMS is is hosting the 2012 Black Minstry
Convocation, July 11-15 at North Carolina
A&T State University in Greensboro, N.C.
This year’s theme is “Sing to the Lord a New
Song!”
Registration is $140 for adults and $100 for
youth. Registration covers two receptions, a
picnic and a dinner theater. The registration
deadline is June 16, 2012 or until we
reach capacity. There will be no onsite
registration.
Registration forms can be obtained at
http://singtothelordanewsong.weebly.com or
by contacting Rev. James McDaniels at
336-402-4150 or [email protected].
Christian Friends of New Americans Recipes
8 -10 medium garlic cloves (crushed)
2-3 teaspoon black pepper corn (grounded)
1 teaspoon red pepper (ground or flakes)
3-4 tablespoon mustard
½ cup apple cider vinegar
Fresh lemon (squeezed)
1 cup olive oil
Salt to taste (desired)
To make the marinade:
Gambian Chicken Yassa
By Hannah Loum, Missouri
Ingredients:
4-6 whole chicken
2 red onions
4 bell peppers (multi-color)
2 bay leaves
18 • TimeLine
Mix the garlic, black pepper, mustard, apple
cider vinegar and lemon juice together into
a paste.
Preparation:
1. Rinse and cut chicken into four and place
in a glass baking dish.
2. Pour ½ of the marinade over the chicken,
cover with clear plastic wrap and let
it stand for four to six hours in the
refrigerator.
3. Save the rest of the marinade to use when
cooking.
4. Slice onions and bell peppers thin.
Cooking Directions:
1. Grill or broil the chicken.
2. Sauté chicken in a skillet.
3. Add all other ingredients and the rest of
the marinade to the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on medium heat until
tender.
5. Serve with rice couscous or potatoes.
“Then God said, “I give you every seedbearing plant on the face of the whole
earth and every tree that has fruit with
seed in it. They will be yours for food”
(Gen. 1:29).
Koinonia in candor:
connecting with our communities
Deaconess Janine M. Bolling
New Orleans, La.
One of the phrases in our
newly proclaimed emphases
for the church is “Life
Bolling
Together.” When grouped
with the other two phrases, Witness and
Mercy, they illustrate how the church lives
and works together in communication
and proclamation of the Gospel in our
congregations, in our communities, in our
world and the other myriad contexts we
find ourselves in.
What is most gripping about the phrases
“Witness, Mercy, Life Together” is the
pertinence they each have to faithful
ministry. Their cyclical and interconnected
nature defines how to “be” church as we
press onward and outward with Christ as
our leader and sustainer.
As we seek to share God’s gifts in the
communities in which we live and worship,
we learn from others and from our Lord
how to make tangible the authenticity
we strive to animate and announce. We
learn this especially in the context of Life
Together.
Working as a deaconess here in New
Orleans is a unique opportunity to express
Life Together, as the task of restoring
Trinity Lutheran Church in the Lower
Ninth Ward is underway. The work of
dedicated volunteers along with Camp
Restore are largely the force behind the
physical restoration of the building and
former congregation ravaged by Hurricane
Katrina. One of the goals for the future of
Trinity is to have a commitment to serving
the community for Christ’s sake. In these
young years, as our future church forms,
Life Together is a definite focus in our
development stage.
Life Together calls for listening. In Dietrich
Bonhoeffer’s book, “Life Together:
The Classic Exploration of Faith in
Community,” he notes that, “Just as love
to God begins with listening to His Word,
so the beginning of love for the brethren
is learning to listen to them.” Fellowship
with the people of our neighborhoods
is necessary for service to and with the
community. It is a part of my ministry
to discover what makes people feel alive
and why. I must listen to the individual
community members’ disappointments,
difficulties, delights and dreams in order to
get closer to understanding what currently
defines them. As members and partakers
of the body of Christ, we rejoice in the
reality that our identity is not limited to the
tragedies we have lived through, the effects
of our environments or the way we feel at
a given moment. Our identity is in Christ
alone, the hope of glory, our claimer and
re-namer (Col. 1:27).
In Life Together, side by side with our
community members, we get authentic
opportunities to share the gift of the
knowledge and experience of God’s Word
with others. Abiding in Life Together may
take the form of a block party, an afterschool tutoring session, sharing a meal or
hosting a book club. Lending one’s self as
a listener in the conversations at or similar
to the contexts listed above opens doors.
Inevitably, the neighbors we interact with
will come into times of crises. It is there
where we must be ready to continue being
Christ’s ambassadors (1 Cor. 5:20) and
speak the Word of God to the individual in
need of hearing it. It is here that we share
Christ’s mercy and attest as witnesses to the
living God. Authentic listening, together
with knowledge and respect for God’s Word
breeds the responses of application for
which our communities are starving. In our
purposed passion for Life Together, we are
led to practical placements of Witness and
Mercy. May we experience encouragement
from God our Father as our cycles of
“Witness, Mercy, Life Together” are present
in our communities again and again.
Editor’s Note: Deaconess Bolling was formerly
serving at Trinity Lutheran Church, Claiborne
and has since relocated to the New York City
area, where she is available for a call.
From the Indiana District: ‘going to the chapel of love’
Source: Our Savior Lutheran Church newsletter
Steven and Ebone McGee, the happy couple
pictured here, dropped in, announced, at
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Indianapolis,
Ind., on Feb. 12 before worship time,
seeking to be married. The McGees also
asked for their two children, toddler Isaiah
and infant Angel, to be baptized on the
same day. Vacany Pastor Bob Armao gladly
obliged, welcoming this family into God’s
holy family and into their hearts. Our
Savior is a historically African-American
congregation, but now sees its mission
as broader in scope, making disciples of
whosoever God will bring to their doors in a
season of change and new opportunities.
TimeLine •
19
“I love the Lord!”
by Deacon Reggie Fields
Faith Lutheran Church, Englewood, Calif.
In thinking back, I can’t even remember
a time that I have not loved the Lord. My
grandmother raised me from the age of
two and a half, when my mother went into
the hospital and never returned home. My
grandmother made sure I stayed in the
church. As a baby in the swing, she told me
I would sing spirituals. She thought I would
be a preacher like her father.
Music has always been a part of my
life. I graduated from the University of
California—Los Angeles (UCLA) with
a business degree and a music minor. I
have directed many church choirs; I was
the assistant director of the Seventh Army
Soldiers Chorus and the Gleemen of
Honolulu. God gave me a voice to sing His
praises, but I had other ideas. I wanted to
be the first African-American tenor to sing
at the Metropolitan Opera. I was a recipient
of many scholarships and awards, I was even
fortunate to receive a scholarship to Europe.
My opera dream ended when I was told I
would never be accepted on an opera stage
because I am African-American.
I have been a paid soloist at different
churches and religious organizations
throughout the Southern California area,
yet I was confused about my theology. It was
not until my wife and I enrolled our sons
in the school at Faith Lutheran Church,
Morningside, Calif., that what I had always
believed was validated. We enrolled in the
class for membership and it was then that
I began an intentional and deliberate study
of God’s Word. After reading and studying
Luther’s Small Catechism, I could say,
“Yes, this is what I believe and this is most
certainly true.” I became a Lutheran and
joined Faith Lutheran Church, Morningside
in 1968 and have been an active Lutheran
ever since.
We moved to Hawaii in 1972 to open a
20 • TimeLine
business. My family
and I joined an
LCMS church in
Kaneohe. I left that
church after five years,
because I didn’t feel
I was growing in
Christ. After praying
about the situation
for two years and
going from one
Pastor Dietrich Schleef installed Deacon Reggie Fields at Faith
church to another,
Lutheran Church, Inglewood, Calif., on Dec. 18, 2011.
God answered my
prayers. He led me to
Inglewood, Calif. Please pray that God will
a wonderful LCMS
use me for His kingdom.
church in the Liliha area, and I transferred
my membership. Among other activities,
Editor’s note: Deacon Fields was installed at
that church practiced regular Bible study
Faith Lutheran Church, Inglewood, Calif., on
and many of the members attended Bible
Dec. 18, 2011 to serve under Pastor Dietrich
study every week.
Schleef. The congregation reports, “We are very
It was there that I was introduced to church excited, fortunate, and blessed to have such a
passionate member of the body of Christ on
missions and unreached people groups of
the world. After taking several classes, I was Faith’s ministry team. Congratulations Reggie.
To God be the glory!”
asked to go on a mission trip to Asia. This
was especially fitting because I had always
wanted to go to there since I was a boy.
On that mission trip, through the many
miracles I experienced, that I truly found
God and made Him the center of my life.
The lost, the ones who have never heard the
Word of God, the ones who do not know
Christ, who have not heard the Gospel,
people who do not know of God’s grace,
who do not know their sins are forgiven
because of Christ’s death on the cross —
these people became the focus of my heart.
Since then, I have been on short mission
trips to Russia, Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan,
Alaska and Brazil, to introduce the love of
Christ and His word. I still plan on going
to more mission trips.
I have learned much [in theological
training] and would like to share the
blessings I have received. I know if we
continue to show and demonstrate God’s
agape love, we will be able to do the work
He has planned for Faith Lutheran Church,
God’s Word reigns
supreme in men
The Rev. John Schmidtke (center) of
Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St Louis, Mo.,
meets weekly with his men’s home Bible
study. At a recent session, the participants
studied sexual purity as taught by the Sixth
Commandment. “It was one of the best
growing sessions that I have ever been in,”
said Schmidtke. “It was so real and God’s
Word spoke powerfully,” he said.
Gospel rappers
(continued from page 13)
God is LOVE. The Holy God humbled
Himself for us.”
Their audience is “a new generation…who
listens to rap music with open ears to the
Gospel. For most [young people], God
is no longer a priority,” says Emeric. Rap
music as an available art form is “damaged”
by worldliness and the poor moral choices
people make. Some see rap — and its
association with male swagger, drug money,
prison time, lust and the abuse of females
— as incompatible with the expression
of Christian faith, but Chris and Emeric
dispute that claim. Gospel rap, for them, is a
restoration of truth telling, an urban valuesdriven medium that could be used for good.
Emeric is quick to point out the wonderful
ministry opportunities that lay before them.
“God will take what was damaged to [repair
lives],” Emeric says, just as, “Saul a Pharisee
became the Apostle Paul to bear the truth
of Jesus Christ to a sinful society.” A Gospel
rapper is an instrument, a change agent for
the glory of Christ’s kingdom.
Chris completed a semester at Wartburg
Lutheran College as an accounting major
before transferring to another college to be
nearer family in Illinois. He wrote a college
paper on how God uses rap to speak to a
new generation in need of hope and healing.
Both young men belong to a raw breed in
the urban culture, like Christian rapper
Lecrae, who insist upon an ‘in your face’
representation of Jesus, by a bold public
witness and lifestyle. They take to heart
and action Paul’s words to the Church in
Rome, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel,
because it is the power of God that brings
salvation to everyone who believes, first to
the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Rom. 1:16).
It is not easy to do, because the “hood life”
is enticing. But, “We share Christ,” Emeric
says, because “Pastor John Schmidtke always
emphasizes that Jesus Christ is the only
thing that connects us — the pastor, church,
community and families.”
Chris willingly engages faith talk, but he
prefers intimate conversations — one-onone for him is more comfortable. Chris
quickly admits that, “Emeric is courageous,
walking and talking his faith within the
neighborhood. He initiates conversation,
confronts people’s lifestyles — even
strangers on the street at night!” Chiming
in, Emeric insists: “God changed me … the
old man was totally opposite from who I am
today. Jesus has got to get out, and make a
life-changing difference in a person.”
Emeric regularly engages people of other
beliefs. He converses with atheists, Jehovah’s
Witnesses, Muslims and Mormons, because
God leads His children to connect with
different people. Emeric shows a sensitivity
that matches his boldness in asserting “We
can learn from their background and spread
the truth [of Christ]. Truth will always stand
on its own. Begin with respect to connect
with someone whom you do not know.”
Are there any obstacles to witnessing for
Jesus Christ? Emeric explains that “We are
not fighting people to believe. We’re fighting
[against] Satan and unbelief. It’s not our
battle … people see God taking care of
those who stand in truth and knowledge.”
How can we reach out to more young
people with the Gospel? What’s missing
in the church today? People’s dedication
is missing, say both Chris and Emeric, as
well as a willingness to get rid of fear in
their hearts. Many place things in a place of
importance higher than serving God. We
need more Christian role models. We need
to come together as congregations without
being judgmental, critical or hypocritical.
They want “to get people to see … sin is
sin.”
Chris and Emeric admit their weaknesses
and faults, and the temptations living as
men with real life struggles in the flesh.
They know that God accepts them for who
they are, loving them without reservation
and not demanding that they earn His favor.
Emeric just obtained his G.E.D. after
Chris Ramos, left, and Emeric Martin.
several trials, thanks to much prayer and
the support of his friends and family. He is
awaiting admission into a state college, and
attempting to be realistic about the tough
academic road ahead for him. But, above
all, he identifies his purpose and lifestyle as
that of a faith story-teller. “I am a misfit.
We are all misfits [because of God and His
Word]. We are different, set apart and set
aside to remain in Christ. We are not living
on our own. God, every day, is making me
new … I’m becoming more like Him. We
lose ourselves and give ourselves away.” His
pastor would be proud to hear these claims.
What’s in the future? Chris wants to build
a music studio “here in the neighborhood,
free for kids interested in music, like
Annette Betts [the minister of music at
Bethlehem]. I want [to nurture music]
talents given by God to use in outreach.”
Emeric, the younger of the duo, is still
discovering his life goals, but he “wants …
to be God’s tool, and possibly enter the
ministry … to use my mouth and music,
preaching the Good News. We’ve got to use
the gifts God has given us.”
Is there a closing message to the Lutheran
church about Chris and Emeric’s passionate
belief? Chris admonishes all ages to “hear
the Word in your heart and get the message
out.” Emeric remains ever the poet: “We
can’t rely on the hourglass without sand,
or a clock without its [moving] hands.”
Even today, on the mean city streets where
decent folk fear to tread, the words of Jesus,
“Teaching them to obey everything I have
commanded you” (Matt. 28:20) point to
the glory of God’s kingdom.
TimeLine •
21
Education
A father’s story: The journey from
Immanuel to St. John’s Lutheran School
By Frederick H. Rich
Christian Educator
This journey, which has turned out to one
of a legacy for me, began in the fall of 1964,
when my parents had become disappointed
and disillusioned with the New York City
Public School system. A colleague of my
father’s told our family about Immanuel
Lutheran School in Whitestone, N.Y.,
where his children attended. Immanuel
eventually became the new educational
home for my siblings and me. After eighth
grade, I went on to Martin Luther High
School in Maspeth, N.Y., where I was once
again under the instruction of Concordia
University System-trained teachers. During
that time, I was confirmed at Redeemer
Lutheran Church in Bayside, Queens, N.Y.
My friend and pastor at Redeemer was the
Rev. Ernst Pflug, and we remain in touch
even today. I would greatly benefit from
the sacrifice that my parents had made
when they invested in Christian Lutheran
education at Missouri Synod schools.
After college, I moved to California and
was hired by Redeemer Lutheran Church
and School, Redwood City, Calif. I was
recommended for the position by the pastor
of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, which
I attended in Hayward, Calif. Upon the
recommendation of the Rev. Neil Ostruske
and the invitation of the Rev. Martin
Schabacker, I served Redeemer as a teacher
and assistant to the pastor. It wasn’t until
the late 1980s that I met Jeff Lemke. He
and I ended up serving on the faculty of
King’s Valley Christian School in Concord,
Calif., for a few years together. Jeff was a
member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in
Napa, Calif., and his children attended the
Lutheran day school there. Over the years,
my two older children, Kristen and Freddie,
and I attended Lenten services at Jeff’s
invitation. St. John’s Lutheran Church was
a friendly, Bible-believing church that we
enjoyed visiting.
All of my life’s academic story was leading
up to the legacy that I have wanted to
create for my four children. Kristen and
Freddie were able to have a Christian
education from preschool through high
school. Most of that time was tuition-free,
based on the fact that I was on the faculty
of the Christian schools they attended.
The same would be true for my younger
children, Saige and Salena, but only to a
degree. They were with me for two years of
preschool and early elementary at King’s
Valley Christian School. Unfortunately, we
had to leave King’s Valley when they no
longer wanted a teacher of color on staff.
The kids and I went on to Trinity Christian
School of Oakley, Calif., where I taught
fifth grade, Saige attended second grade
and Salena attended kindergarten. When
tragedy suddenly took the life of the
senior pastor and chancellor of
Trinity in May of 2011,
the school closed. We
certainly had our
backs against
the wall when
The Rich children: Kristen, middle, is 25 and lives in Manhattan.
She works for the USA TV network (Part of Comcast NBC). She
and her brother Freddie, far right, attended Christian school
from preschool through high school. Kristen graduated from
Villanova University in 2009. Freddie is 22 and attending
college. He lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. Saige, far left,
and Salena, to Sage’s right, are the younger two of the Rich
children.
22 • TimeLine
it came to having a Christian school for the
children. However, God is faithful. In His
usual Jehovah-Jirah fashion, He made a way.
Thoughts of St. John’s in Napa flooded my
mind. We worked with the principal, Joel
Wahlers, and the Rev. Quentin Poulson of
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s
Black and Ethnic Ministries. We were
able to get some much-needed financial
assistance from the school and Synod.
Although Saige and Salena brought the
number of African-American students up
to three out of 287 students, we have been
made very much at home in the body of
Christ at St. John’s. Saige is now in third
grade and Salena is in first. They have been
involved with a Handel’s “Messiah” program
at Christmas, each appearing in the local
newspaper for activities at school, and are
part of the school’s late March presentation
of “The King and I.” The kids also look
forward to singing at the Sunday morning
worship services at St. John’s. They do this
several times during the school year with
their entire class. The children have many
friends, received several invitations for
social affairs, and are doing well as they are
challenged with academic excellence. This
Ascension Lutheran School touches the
community with excellence
By Donna Lucas
Principal, Ascension Lutheran School,
Landover Hills, Md.
Ascension Lutheran School has provided
academic excellence in the greater
Washington, D.C., metropolitan area
for 60 years. Ascension ministers to the
community by providing need-based
scholarships to more than 50 of its 134
students. Maintaining a strong academic
foundation with emphasis on the fine arts
through its excellent music program has
made Ascension known as a preparatory
and fine arts academy. Students at
Ascension are offered numerous field trips
that offer cultural and historical educational
opportunities. Students in Kindergarden
through eighth grade go on a yearly trip to
the Kennedy Center.
Our middle school students are offered
a journalism class that allows them to
completely publish the yearbook and write
weekly articles for the school newsletter.
Our second graders participate in the
A father’s story
(continued from page 22)
has to fall under the scriptural declaration
that Jesus is going to build His church and
the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
We are thankful that the Lord has made a
way for my wife, Edna and me to raise up
our children in the nurture and admonition
of the Lord. As they remember their Creator
in the days of their youth, when they are
old they will not depart from it. God
allows fruitful history to repeat itself when
it honors Him. What started at Immanuel
Lutheran School in 1964 has come full
circle at St. John’s Lutheran School in
2011. It is by His grace that their Christian
education moves forward and the legacy
that I want for them has been established.
National Tulip Project, which tracks
the start of spring across the country by
comparing the times that their tulips bloom
in relation to others across the country.
In a time when so much negative publicity
surrounds our urban schools, Ascension
is a beacon of light in the community. It
offers students who otherwise could not
afford an excellent Christian education the
opportunity to learn and grow in a safe,
nurturing and challenging environment.
Ascension Lutheran Church shows its
commitment to the school’s ministry by
raising the more than $200,000 needed
a year to offer the scholarships. Circle of
Partners/Adopt a Child campaign is the
mechanism used to raise the money needed.
To learn more about this amazing ministry,
contact Donna Lucas at principal@
ascensionschool.org or 301-577-0500.
Photos, from top: An Ascension student
participates in the National Tulip Project.
Below: Ascension students take advantage of
the school’s technological provisions.
Seminary student
studies to ‘show
himself approved’
Johnny Greer, a student at Concordia
Seminary, St. Louis, was recently featured
in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He was
pictured leading a Bible study at St. Peter
Lutheran Church, Spanish Lake, Mo.
Greer is one of 100 students participating
in Concordia Seminary’s Specific Ministry
Pastor Program. Upon graduation from
seminary, Vicar Greer will serve as the
pastor at St. Peter. Scripture teaches that
we all ought to, “Study to show yourself
approved to God, a workman that needs
not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).”
Vicar Greer leads a bible study at St. Peter
Lutheran Church.
TimeLine •
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