Lutherans

ENGAGE the WORLD

July August 2015, Vol. 3, Issue 6

Lutherans

ENGAGE the WORLD

July August 2015

vol. 3, no. 6

inspire

4 
7 
15 
19 

Serving the Lord with Gladness at Any Age

A Generation Engaged,
A Community Restored

Educators Help Students Overcome Life

& Learning Hurdles
Long After the Inquisition,
Lutheranism Returns to Spain

15
4
Engaging the Church in the work of witness and mercy across the globe in our life together.
Lutherans Engage the World is published bi-monthly by The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod.
2015 The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod. Reproduction for parish use does not require permission. Such reproductions,
however, should credit Lutherans EngagE the World as a source. Print editions are sent to LCMS donors, rostered workers and
missionaries. An online version is available (lcms.org/lutheransengage). To receive the print edition, we invite you to make a financial
gift for LCMS global witness and mercy work. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are property of the LCMS.
888-THE LCMS (843-5267)
lcms.org

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright 2001
by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

inform

engage

2
3 
10 
12 

Service Youth Schools

Rejoice to Serve

10 Questions
Serve with the LCMS

One Big Song of Praise

12
21
involve

21 

In Christ,
Pamela J. Nielsen
Associate Executive Director,
LCMS Communications

Volunteering: The Most

Personal of Investments

S TA F F
David L. Strand
Pamela J. Nielsen
Erica Schwan
Megan K. Mertz
Erik M. Lunsford
Lisa Moeller
Chrissy A. Thomas

executive director, communications

executive editor
manager, design services
managing editor/staff writer
photojournalist/staff writer
designer
designer

I can trace my path in the church both as a

professional church worker and as a volunteer directly
to the influences of my parents and Lutheran teachers
and pastors. These faithful ones not only encouraged but
also modeled and actively involved me in service from
an early age, both at church and in the community.
If you are reading this issue of Lutherans Engage the
World, I know you also are engaged in service, either
vocationally as a church worker or as an active member
of a local parish.
Like me, you may remember assisting the church
secretary by folding the bulletins or helping your
mother and the other ladies prepare the altar with the
communion vessels. Maybe your dad brought you along
and gave you a job to do when the men of the church did
repairs. Perhaps you were a junior usher. Or maybe your
director of Christian education (DCE) got your youth
group involved in service projects at church and in the
community. Or was it your parish music director who
invited you to join the choir or play your instrument in
service to the Lord?
Such experiences instilled in me a sense of belonging
and a deep satisfaction that in some way I could reflect
back the love, both temporal and eternal, that God in
Christ bestowed on me.
Receiving Christs gifts from the altar and pulpit and
sharing them in service to others were simply part of
the rich and wonderful fabric of our family life. Whats
your story? Was it a teacher, pastor, parent, grandparent,
deaconess or DCE who taught you to serve and instilled a
sense of joy in that service?
As you recall your own story, may the stories in this
issue inspire you. Take a little break from your serving,
and enjoy the read!

E d i t o r i a l Off i c e
314-996-1215
1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
lutheransengage@lcms.org
lcms.org/lutheransengage

Cover image: Mark 10:14

Program student Madison
Hinskey chats with her mentor
(not pictured) during an arts
class at Faith Lutheran Middle
School and High School in
Las Vegas, Nev.
Photo: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

nform

Rejoice to

Photo: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

Serve

ife together begins in Christ. There is no life apart from the

One through whom all things were made. The life of Christ
is the life of the world, our life together. The miracle of the
Incarnation is that our Lord descended to take up our life. He
wears our fallen human flesh, so that He might bear our sin and be
our Savior. In His bloody enthronement at Calvary, He draws all
creation to Himself. Here is our salvation. Here is our life together.
In the Divine Service, our Lord lovingly invites us to eucharistic
eating and drinking. He comes and serves us. With His body and
blood, we proclaim His death and receive His life. The crucified One
gives us the gift of forgiveness and the seal of immortality. As He is
so we shall be.
The Post-Communion Collect roots our life in Christ and our life
together in the same: We give thanks to You, almighty God, that
You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You
that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in
faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another.
The living Christ creates fervent love toward one another. The
heartbeat of the Church in witness, mercy and life together flows
from and to the cross. Having been served, we rejoice to serve one
another. What joy and freedom we have in serving our Lord and His


Kindergarten students raise their hands during class at the

holy Bride, the Church. We are no longer burdened by the Laws

requirements. The Gospel Christ in us compels us to share His
Word to the ends of the earth, to share the mercy and love of Christ
with those in need, and to share in the corporate life of the Church.
Life together is the best living. Selfish ambition and pride disappear
as we pray for and support the body of Christ. We belong to one
another only through and in Jesus Christ.
In his little book Life Together: The Classic Exploration of
Christian Community, Dietrich Bonhoeffer offers several helpful
insights into our life together. For Bonhoeffer, our life together is
a concrete reality. God is not a God of the emotions but a God of
truth. That truth is revealed in the divine revelation of the Word and
the Word made flesh. The justified sinner lives in the community of
sanctification, a gift from God that no man can claim. Life together
is a gift.
This month, Lutherans Engage the World focuses on three great
strengths and opportunities in the Church: service, youth and
schools. May you be enlivened in Christ as you read about the great
things the Lord is working in and through us around the world. May
His service be lived in us as we serve one another in His name.
In Christ,
Rev. Bart Day
Executive Director, LCMS Office of National Mission

Renaissance School in Mount Pleasant, Wis.

lcms.org/lutheransengage

JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

Photo: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

Questions

10

by Megan K. Mertz

Photo: St. Peters Lutheran school

with Principal Scott Schumacher

Even as a child, Scott Schumacher felt God calling him to serve in the Lutheran school system. After
graduating from Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., Schumacher worked as a teacher
and athletic coach before completing his masters degree and participating in the School Leadership
Development (SLED) Project, a program of LCMS School Ministry that prepares future administrators
for Lutheran schools. Since 2005, Schumacher has served as principal of St. Peters Lutheran School
in Columbus, Ind., and he recently mentored another teacher going through SLED.

nform

1.

How did the SLED Project help

equip you for your work?
SLED validated where I believed God was
leading me. It also provided a scriptural
foundation for being a leader. Later, I agreed
to be a SLED mentor because I wanted
to help someone else who had that same
mission placed on their heart. It was a
sacrifice of time, but it was worth it.

2.

Why are Lutheran school administrators

important in the LCMS?
Schools rise and die with leadership.
Churches are the same way. As an
administrator in the LCMS, I have a huge
responsibility to serve faithfully. There are
a lot of people who are looking to me for
guidance, and there are a lot of people
who are looking up to me. But the reward
is awesome.

3.

What is most rewarding about your job?

Seeing growth in teachers and passion
for our school vision. Also, its very rewarding
to see our school help a child with a specific
struggle learn how to overcome that struggle
in a way that honors God.

4.

Most challenging?
Managing time. The expectations are
very high, so the balance between being
a faithful husband, father and worker in a
church is challenging. But I feel blessed,
because I have a great support team. Just
as one of my jobs as principal is to walk

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

alongside parents, there are people in our

church who walk alongside me.

5.

If you werent a principal, what

would you be?
A landscape architect. Its really important
that principals have a hobby, and my hobby
is my backyard.

6.

What skills do principals need to

be effective?
First of all, patience. There are plenty of
opportunities that test your patience. You
really have to be the consummate servant,
putting others before yourself. Also, being
able to model true joy in ministry. Being
happy is contagious within organizations,
and the principal has to model that.
Jesus didnt just come for those who are
Lutheran; He came for everybody. God uses
Lutheran schools to connect with families
and walk alongside them as they go
through life. Lutheran schools are a great
resource to be able to support families as
they raise young people.

7.

How have students and families

changed during your career?
There are so many more families coming
from broken homes and who have so
many other challenges. Maybe the needs
were there years ago, but they just
werent identified.

8.

How does St. Peters integrate

the faith into the school day?
Integrating the faith is an essential part of
everything we do. While teaching religion
is critical, there are all kinds of authentic
opportunities to integrate the faith, like
developing a prayer life and even discipline.
When students are in trouble, my job is to
help them understand its wrong, lead them to
repentance and tell them they are forgiven.

9.

Whats your favorite Bible verse?

Phil. 4:13: I can do all things through
him who strengthens me. Its hard to be a
principal, but God doesnt give us more than
we can handle. He gives us Himself through
Word and Sacrament. We get our strength
through Him.

10.

What advice do you have for others

considering this career?
The best advice is to take a close look at
Scripture and develop a solid prayer life
to really discern where God would have
you serve. God will provide all the tools
you need to be successful. Say yes to
those opportunities, whether they be the
SLED Project or getting a masters degree
in administration.
Megan K. Mertz is managing editor of
Lutherans Engage the World and a staff
writer for LCMS Communications.

JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/lutheransengage

nspire

89-year-old volunteer Ruth Martens talks with a resident

of the Lutheran Home, a skilled-nursing community in
Wauwatosa, Wis.

Serving the Lord

with Gladness
at

Any Age
by Megan K. Mertz

ere called to be servants; that is something God expects of

us, said Ruth Martens, a great-grandmother and member of
St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran Church in Milwaukee.

PhotoS: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

And serve she does. During her 19 years

as a volunteer at the Lutheran Home, a
skilled-nursing community in Wauwatosa,
Wis., the 89-year-old Martens has worked
in the gift shop and beauty shop, led bingo
games, taken residents to the doctor, helped
with the organizations mailings, visited
residents one-on-one and pushed a lot of
wheelchairs.
The Lutheran Home, a Recognized
Service Organization of the LCMS, was
founded in 1906 as a home for retired and
indigent pastors and teachers. Today, the
organization continues to provide faithbased care to its 175 residents, who come
from many different backgrounds. Some
330 people like Martens volunteer with the
organization, providing an extra level of
friendship and support.

Finding Her Fit

Although Martens doesnt live at the
Lutheran Home, she serves there every
Wednesday. Currently, she works in
Bunnys Boutique, where she transports
residents to and from their appointments,
keeps the beauty shop tidy, and assists
the beautician and manicurist by taking
out curlers and removing old nail polish.
Sometimes she even sings to residents who
seem to need a little cheering up.

I love every moment, she said. I love

talking to people and making them happy.
But years ago when Martens saw the
request for volunteers in the Sunday
bulletin, she didnt think she was qualified
to help out at the Lutheran Home. She
spent most of her adult life as a housewife
and mother of four daughters, and her only
work experiences were at several part-time
secretarial jobs.
When she mentioned this to another
member who was sitting next to her in
the pew that day, the woman called the
Lutheran Home and set up an appointment
for her to meet with the volunteer
coordinator right away.
I went with my husband, and both of us
ended up volunteering, Martens recalled.
Im sure God was working through the lady
sitting next to me. When I said I didnt have
the talents, she did something about it.
Over the years, Martens has served God
in many different ways, and she continues
to volunteer at St. Peter-Immanuels food
pantry. A few residents of the Lutheran
Home even save their paper grocery bags
which are constantly in demand at the food
pantry for her.
My problem was that I never thought
I had anything wonderful to give back,
Martens continued. Gods gifts werent
JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/lutheransengage

 Ruth Martens tends to the beauty shop at

the Lutheran Home, where she has been a
volunteer for 19 years.

being used because I thought they werent

good enough. But you dont have to have
any special gifts.

Enriching Lives
Since 1996, Ruth has volunteered a total
of 6,100 hours and has made a huge impact
on the lives of our residents, said Michelle
Mittelsteadt, director of Volunteer Services
for the Lutheran Home. Ruth brightens
our residents day with her friendly, helpful
manner, along with her radiant smile.
Even though our nursing staff is
caring and hardworking, they cannot do
everything for our residents. Thats why
volunteers like Ruth, who give so generously
of their time, are able to enrich the lives of
the residents, Mittelsteadt continued.

Martens thanks God for having given

her the opportunity to serve the Lutheran
Home all these years. She said shes gotten
so much more out of the experience than
she ever put in, including abundant joy and
the realization that she already had skills to
use in Gods service.
There is just no limit to how much joy it
brings to do something for another person,
she said.
Despite the challenges that come
with getting older, Martens is determined
to reach 20 years of service at the
Lutheran Home.
I take it one day at a time, but I am
willing to work as long as I can. There are
plenty of opportunities to serve that I can
still do, she said.

Volunteer at an RSO Near You

Would you enjoy mentoring a refugee, assisting
a food pantry or resale shop, providing office
support, tutoring English or being a friend
to a person in a retirement community?
The Synod has 176 Recognized Service
Organizations (RSOs) all around the United
States. RSOs are independent, nonprofit
organizations that foster the mission and
ministry of the church, whose program
activities are in harmony with the Synod and
who agree to respect and not act contrary
to the doctrine and practice of the Synod.
These organizations often are looking for
volunteers, and the available opportunities
are as diverse as the services they offer.
Visit lcms.org/rso/directory to find a
listing of RSOs in your area.

Gods gifts werent being used because I thought they werent good
enough. But you dont have to have any special gifts. Ruth Martens
6

lcms.org/lutheransengage

JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

nspire

A Generation Engaged,
A Community Restored

Photos: Camp Restore

by Jeni Miller

Millennials. We often hear folks lament this generation, that the 30 and
under set tends to be increasingly individualistic, entitled and (gasp!) even lazy.
Not so for LCMS youth and young adults, especially those who are actively
engaged in caring for their neighbor, both here and abroad. These young people
come together from all across the country to work hard, give of themselves and
their time, and contribute to the well-being of their church and community for
the sake of Christ.

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/lutheransengage

 One such place where these young

people converge is Camp Restore in New
Orleans, a ministry of LCMS Recognized
Service Organization (RSO) RAI Ministries.
Camp Restore recently surpassed 25,000
volunteers as the city prepares to mark
the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina
this year.
After the hurricane hit New Orleans
in 2005, people from all over including
LCMS members ventured down to
help rebuild and revitalize the battered
city. Seeing the great ongoing needs in
New Orleans and beyond, Camp Restore
was formed in the summer of 2006 on
the once-flooded campus of Prince of
Peace Lutheran Church and School with
the mission to restore faith, home and
community in the Name of Jesus.
Camp Restore grew out of our LCMS
family of faith in Christ, and weve watched
that faith get put into action, said Kathy
Wendling, director of Community Service
and Development at Camp Restore. Every
week, I see how God puts into action that
we are one in the body of Christ. Its a living,
breathing faith. Its hard to explain, but Im
proud of how the LCMS has responded, and
especially our youth, to this community in
New Orleans. We are so privileged that God
has used us this way.
The main areas in which Camp Restore
works are human care, environmental,
grassroots efforts and construction. Humancare projects are typically centered on
8

lcms.org/lutheransengage

I think we can serve others, and through

them serve Christ, in everyday situations.
Elisabeth Grimm, a Camp Restore volunteer

service to seniors and youth; environmental

work includes planting trees and marsh
grass, urban farming and landscaping;
grassroots efforts support the work of small
missions and neighborhood projects; and
construction involves gutting, painting
and helping to restore and improve homes
throughout the city. Groups who visit Camp
Restore have the option to rank these four
project areas according to interest and
ability, and exact volunteer opportunities
are finalized about a week in advance of
the trip.
Interestingly, especially in the past few
years, the majority of the 25,000-plus Camp
Restore volunteers were age 30 and under,
including an influx of college-age young
adults and Concordia University System
students who want more than just a typical
spring break experience. This is no surprise,
since young people in the LCMS who desire
to serve have no shortage of options.
Since 1981, LCMS Youth Ministry has
been providing servant opportunities for
youth, explained Jim Lohman, director
of LCMS Servant Events. Through their
service at Recognized Service Organizations
like Camp Restore; LCMS churches,

JulyAugust 2015

schools and camps; and other LCMS RSOs

and social-service agencies, people have
reached out with Christ-like care and
concern, leaving behind fingerprints
of faith.
In late July, a group of 50 LCMS young
adults will head down to Camp Restore to
show mercy and take on some hard work
yet again.
For the past several summers, LCMS
Young Adult Ministry has offered two
servant events for young adults, Lohman
said. One of these is hosted by the Orange
Nation. These are the young adult volunteers who serve the [LCMS National Youth]
Gathering every three years. This event
rotates to a variety of locations. They are
hosting it in New Orleans this summer as a
connection for young adults who will serve
at the Gathering [in 2016].
According to Brandon Heath,
coordinator of the 2015 Orange Nation
Servant Event, the work in New Orleans has
evolved over the years to meet the needs of
the community, and Camp Restore offers
an authentic opportunity for youth to be
involved in helping revitalize this culturally
diverse city.
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

 Camp Restore volunteers serve in many different

ways, such as helping with construction projects (left
and center) and working at a local food pantry (right).

Serve
at

the

2016 Gathering
Service opportunities during the 2016
LCMS National Youth Gathering in
New Orleans are still in development,
but they will likely include:

In the early years just after Hurricane

Katrina, it was a lot of mucking; removing
the sludge of dirt, oil and other debris; and
gutting houses to their frame so they could
be rebuilt, Heath said. Now it is more
focused on community building. Camp
Restore continues to tell the stories of
survival and loss as well as faith and hope.
They have also stayed the last decade to
rebuild homes, communities and lives.
Young adults who have been involved
with LCMS servant events, and specifically
with Camp Restore, find that they take
what theyve experienced back with them
to better serve in their home churches and
communities.
Elisabeth Grimm, a 29-year-old senior
accountant and San Diego resident,
volunteered at Camp Restore in 2011 at the
first servant event hosted by Orange Nation
and LCMS Young Adult Ministry. Shell be
involved in the 2015 event as well.
I attended [the 2011] event after
serving as a Young Adult Volunteer (YAV)
at the 2010 National Youth Gathering,
Grimm said. My task was to lead the
off-site volunteer groups during [the
Gathering], during which I saw the need in
the community and felt drawn to help the
people there.
There are many different ways to
serve people, including with monetary
donations, sweat equity and quality time,
Grimm added. I enjoy serving in each of
these ways, but I feel that serving through
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

Camp Restore really allows me to serve via

physical labor and a listening ear. I think
we can serve others, and through them
serve Christ, in everyday situations; its not
necessary to go halfway across the country
to a designated servant event to do so.
However, I also feel that joining together
with others to actively serve refreshes me,
and I then feel inspired to continue serving
after I return home.
While those in the LCMS youth
and adults alike continue to volunteer
at Camp Restore and in other locations
around the world, they can rest assured
that, even when the work is hard, they are
indeed bringing the love of Christ to their
neighbor in tangible, visible ways.
Even for youth, this work is sometimes
outside of their comfort zones, Wendling
said. Through it all, we dont always know
what God has in store for them, but we
reflect on the fact that God uses us in many
ways. Its our privilege at Camp Restore
to help workers be bold with their faith,
be Lutherans in action. This city loves the
Lutherans, and people are excited about
the youth.
Deaconess Jeni Miller is a freelance writer
and member of Lutheran Church of the
Ascension in Atlanta.
Learn more:
LCMS Servant Events:
lcms.org/servantevents
Camp Restore: camprestore.org

Assisting fixed-income
residents with home
cleanup and light repairs
Serving at food pantries
Visiting nursing homes
Serving children at vacation Bible
schools or day camps
Projects at or with
LCMS congregations
in New Orleans
Environmental reclamation
Replanting wetlands
Cleaning
Serving underserved
public schools
Playground maintenance
Serving underserved
neighborhoods
Upkeep at public parks
Providing school supplies
and backpacks
Providing personal-care kits for
local homeless shelters

JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/lutheransengage

LCMS Opportunities
Ministry to
the Armed
Forces
Gospel
Seeds
Disaster
Response
Witness &
Outreach
Ministry
school
Ministry

nform

OPERATION BARNABAS

Help organize events in your area to support

military members, veterans and their families.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Youth and adults
lcms.org/operationbarnabas

GOSPEL SEEDS

Mentor congregations going through the Planting Gospel Seeds

While Serving Human Needs program.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: LCMS members who have completed the
Gospel Seeds program | lcms.org/gospelseeds

LUTHERAN EARLY RESPONSE TEAMS (LERT)

Learn how to be better prepared to show Christs love to the

community when a disaster strikes.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Members of LCMS congregations
lcms.org/disaster/resources

THE 72

Assist congregations with implementing the Synods new revitalization

program, re:Vitality, as facilitators, coordinators and coaches. Training,
support and certification are provided by the LCMS Office of National Mission.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Adults and young adults
lcms.org/The72 | lcms.org/revitalizing

SCHOOL LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

(SLED) PROJECT

Mentor potential Lutheran school leaders through

training over the course of an academic year.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Lutheran school administrators
who have completed SLED | lcms.org/schools

SHORT-TERM TEAMS

international

Ministry

health
Ministry

Youth
Ministry

Organize a team (3 to 20+ people) to

serve for one to two weeks in various
locations around the world.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Youth and adults
lcms.org/service

MERCY MEDICAL TEAMS

Join a team to provide health care to underserved

people around the globe.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Medical professionals,
pastors, laypeople | lcms.org/mercyteams

NATIONAL
YOUTH GATHERING

Serve in a variety of ways

during the Gathering.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER:
Adults and young adults
lcmsgathering.com

LUTHERAN SCHOOL CONSULTING

SERVICES (LSCS)

Serve as a consultant to help strengthen and

revitalize Lutheran elementary schools that
are struggling.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Experienced Lutheran
school leaders | lcms.org/schools

SHORT-TERM VOLUNTEERS

Serve alongside LCMS missionaries and partner

churches or be attached to other short-term
teams for one week to six months.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Adults (18+)
lcms.org/service

PARISH NURSING

Use your professional nursing and spiritual

caregiving skills in service to others.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Registered nurses
lcms.org/health/parishnursing

LCMS SERVANT EVENTS

Work on construction, outreach,

human-care and other projects.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Youth
and adults (may vary by event)
lcms.org/servantevents

LCMS YOUNG
ADULT MINISTRY

Participate in servant events

throughout the year.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Young
adults (Ages 18-30)
lcmsyam.org

Serve with the LCMS

There are many opportunities to serve The Lutheran Church
Missouri Synod at both the national and local levels.

(Gal. 5:13b)

LCMS RSOs offer many service opportunities.

WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Youth and adults
lcms.org/rso

Local Volunteer Opportunities

Through love
serve one another.

RECOGNIZED SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS

LUTHERAN SCHOOLS

Lutheran schools around the country are

often in need of volunteers.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Youth and adults
locator.lcms.org
(search for a school near you)

SPECIALIZED PASTORAL MINISTRY

Chaplaincy opportunities exist at local hospitals,

prisons or in other settings.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Pastors and deaconesses
lcms.org/spm

URBAN & INNER-CITY MISSION

Urban ministries around the country have

volunteer opportunities in your area.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Youth and adults
lcms.org/citymission

LCMS U

Volunteer with your local campus ministry,

or start a new LCMS U chapter at a college
or university near you!
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Youth and adults
lcms.org/lcmsu
facebook.com/lcmsu

VOLUNTEER CONNECTION IN ST. LOUIS, MO.

Volunteers are often needed at the LCMS
International Center to help with a variety of
tasks that further the mission of the LCMS.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Adults near St. Louis
lcms.org/volunteer-connection

MISSION CENTRAL IN MAPLETON, IOWA

Spend a year engaged in domestic

service.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: High school
and college graduates
lcms.org/youthcorps

2015 LCMS

LUTHERAN YOUTH CORPS

Volunteers are often needed to help support

LCMS mission work around the world.
WHO MAY VOLUNTEER: Adults
missioncentral.us

JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/lutheransengage

11

 Lizzie Meyers (left) is executive director of Evangelii, the

youth choir at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisle, Ill.

One Big Song

Praise

by Adriane Heins

12

lcms.org/lutheransengage

JulyAugust 2015

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

PhotoS: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

of

nform

izzie Meyers and church music go

together like chorales and choirs. Or
orchestras and overtures. Or maybe even
metronomes and melodies.
The 2015 graduate of Neuqua Valley
High School, Naperville, Ill., and member
of Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Ill., not
only loves notes, interludes and song, but
she loves the distinctive way that music
can bear witness to Christ both to those
of and outside of the faith, bridging the
gaps between people, whether that be an
age gap, distance gap or otherwise, she
explains. Working together for a common
goal of glorifying God through music is such
a beautiful experience to be a part of as well
as to witness!

Starting Young
Meyers grew to love music thanks in large
part to her churchs director of worship,
Jim Marriott, who started a youth choir
named Evangelii by walking around
to confirmation classes, offering kids
chocolate in exchange for us showing up 30
minutes early each week to sing in a choir,
she recalls.
The first week, only four seventh-graders
participated. But over time, more kids
joined and our age range grew.
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

There was a lot of time when we did

not sound the best, sang very simple music
and were just an average childrens choir,
Meyers admits. Through the friendships
built in the group, however, the choir

has started a chamber choir and leads

workshops to assist smaller churches either
without a current program or lacking in
funding to begin their own choirs or at least
give kids in other communities a taste of

Lizzie sings not only with her voice, but with her heart,
soul, mind and strength. Her entire existence is one big
song of praise in response to Gods grace and love.
Jim Marriott, director of worship at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, Ill.

became a safe haven, a fun place and a

spiritual home for now 30 people, ranging
in age from fifth through 12th grade.
Those relationships, built through
practice and song, have already borne
fruit. Our older students are such models
of patience and Gods love as they engage
in relationships with the younger kids,
whether it be mentoring them musically or
simply being a friend, she explains. And the
younger students continually impress us
with their maturity and hard work as they
learn difficult music and also think about
very real ways to use their faith in this world.
Six years later, this choir of 30 students
tours annually, sings at nursing homes,

choral worship, Meyers notes. The group

even sang at the 2013 LCMS National Youth
Gathering in San Antonio.

Student (and Servant) Leader

Meyers own involvement has grown right
along with the choir. She now serves Trinity
as the executive director of Evangelii, the
choir that gave her her start. Never have
I been more in my element than when I
am leading this inspiring group of people
toward praising our God through music and
being His witness to others in the world,
she says.
She also works as the part-time worship
publications specialist for the churchs
JulyAugust 2015

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13

traditional worship site. But although

Meyers is now a leader herself, shes quick
to note that its due to the care shown to her
by those around her.
In thinking about what makes our choir
different, I think about the way that Jim
[Marriott] leads. He humbly gave up much
of his leadership to a 15-year-old girl
while also spending a lot of time to mentor
me into the position, she notes. I love this
leadership because it does not ask much of
students but really draws out natural, Godgiven abilities and puts them to use in the
church, reminding adults and youth alike
that the cycle of leadership is alive and
well because it is not based upon any one
person but on Gods plan for His use of
our choir.

Marriott wouldnt have it any other

way. In her time of ministry as the
executive director of Evangelii, Lizzie
has demonstrated a Spirit-inspired gift
for leadership, he says. She humbly
and graciously approaches leadership in
a manner that prioritizes relationships,
fosters buy-in and visions a group of
people toward a common goal.
Simply put, Lizzie gets what leadership
is all about, Marriott explains. As a
musician, Lizzie knows and demonstrates
the joy of sharing the Gospel through
music. Lizzie sings not only with her
voice but with her heart, soul, mind and
strength. Her entire existence is one
big song of praise in response to Gods
grace and love.

Growth in the Faith

Thats why, whether leading Evangelii
or helping prepare materials for Sunday
morning, Meyers continues to love the way
in which the music and those singing it point
people again and again to Jesus. Though
the numerical growth [of Evangelii] is
incredible, she says, the spiritual growth
is absolutely astounding.
Each week, we see a community of
youth praising God through music and
strengthening their faith in this way. I have
seen so many choir members take their
beliefs and ask healthy questions and desire
to know more all because of the way music
affects their relationship with Christ.
Adriane Heins is managing editor of The
Lutheran Witness and editor of Catechetical
Information for LCMS Communications.

What People Dont Know

About Church Musicians
People may not know that church
musicians, in all of my experiences
with them, have proven to be incredibly
humble people. Most musicians receive
applause and lots of credit for their
work. Church musicians, however, give
all glory to God. The other thing that
people may not know about us is how
welcoming we are. Churches are always
looking for more to join the choir, the
bell choir [or] start a childrens choir
with the song Jesus Loves Me. Our
voices and instruments are gifts from
God that we get to use to make a joyful
noise! We would love to welcome even
more people into that form of worship.
Lizzie Meyers
Lizzie Meyers (center)
gives direction to fellow
choir members.

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JulyAugust 2015

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Educators Help Students

Overcome Life &

Learning Hurdles

nspire

by Roger Drinnon

Whether its helping children

cope with the demands of urban
living or helping others rise above
challenges they face in learning,
Lutheran educators across the
nation are there to help.
Here are a few examples of Lutheran
institutions where teachers are making
a difference:

Lutheran Urban Mission Initiative,

Inc. (LUMIN)
LUMIN mission statement: To
provide safe, Christian schools focused
on educational success, leadership
development and spiritual growth.
LUMIN assists urban areas of Milwaukee
and Racine, Wis., by providing high-quality
educational services through the Wisconsin
state voucher system.
LUMIN was formed in 2002 by a group
of LCMS business people and professional
educators who were deeply concerned

Photos: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

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15

about the decline of Lutheran education

in Milwaukees urban community, said
Richard Laabs, president and CEO of
LUMIN. The founders of LUMIN planned
to open a new school and develop a
cutting-edge model for urban Christian
education that could be replicated in
other locations. Today, LUMIN operates
five LCMS schools in Milwaukee and one
Christian school in Racine that serve a
combined total of approximately 1,600
students from low-income households.
Laabs said about 10 percent of students
in LUMIN schools face unique learning
challenges resulting from myriad
personal circumstances. LUMIN has
a designated professional to evaluate
these students to determine their specific
challenges and then develop strategies for
use by classroom teachers. Other faculty
members also help students address
barriers to learning, such as those
related to health care, social services
and counseling.
Laabs said as LUMIN schools teachers
use best practices for urban education,
they also ensure students hear the
Gospel. Their efforts earned LUMIN the
2014 Fred E. Lietz Mission Project Award,
which was presented by Lutheran Church
Extension Fund last fall.
Many students have little, if any,
knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Lord
and Savior prior to enrolling in a LUMIN
school, said Laabs. In addition to
providing students with a rigorous, no
excuses academic education, teachers
focus on the faith formation and
journey of each student. LUMIN schools
recognize the value of a good education
lasts a lifetime, but a strong faith has
eternal consequences.
Learn more:
School website: luminschools.org
Photo gallery: lcms.org/photo/lumin

16

lcms.org/lutheransengage

Kindergarten
teacher Lindsay
Beckstrom works
with students at
the Renaissance
School, part of
Lutheran Urban
Mission Initiative,
Inc., in Mount
Pleasant, Wis.

Lutheran Special School and

Education Services (LSSES)
LSSES mission statement: Centered
in Christ, LSSES prepares students with
unique learning challenges to maximize
their God-given spiritual, academic,
emotional and social potential.
LSSES values Lutheran education for all
children and provides children who have
difficulty learning with the opportunity to
attend Lutheran schools.
LSSES was begun in 1958 by a
group of parents who wanted their

JulyAugust 2015

children with learning difficulties to

receive their special education within
a Lutheran school, said Judy Schultz,
school principal. LSSES was housed in
different Lutheran schools throughout the
Milwaukee area, depending on who had
space, until it ended up on the campus of
Concordia College, Milwaukee in 1972.
It remained under Concordias campus
until it became an independent school
in 1986.
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

 Positive academic statistics

greet visitors at the
Renaissance School.

Nash Siemers (left) and Josiahis Walker play together during free time
in class at Lutheran Special School and Education Services, located at
Milwaukee Lutheran High School.

Art therapist Alicia Starr works

with a student at Lutheran
Special School and Education
Services at Milwaukee Lutheran
High School.

Schultz said LSSES staff members

believe all children have been gifted by
God with individual talents and gifts for
use in His kingdom. The school takes
each child where they are at, then
helps to develop a childs potential while
recognizing unique individual attributes.
LSSES offers a spectrum of special
education services tailored for individual
learning needs. One notable program is
called MOSAICS.
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

The goal of the MOSAICS program

is to develop experiential learning
opportunities using the kinesthetic and
visual arts as the basis for learning,
Schultz said. Some of the activities
include bike riding, hiking, swimming,
Tae Kwon Do [martial arts], visits to
various art museums, book-making,
digital storytelling, etc. These unique
experiences and activities [allow] the
students to grow their spiritual, academic,

emotional and social potential in new and

creative ways.
Learn more:
School website: lsses.org
Photo gallery: lcms.org/photo/lsses milwaukee

JulyAugust 2015

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17

 Mark 10:14 Program

student Madison Hinskey
works with her mentor,
Sarah Paglini, during an
arts class at Faith Lutheran
Middle School and High
School, Las Vegas.

Mark 10:14 Program

student Alex Simbal dances
with his mentor, Lexi Lee,
at Faith Lutheran Middle
School and High School.

Faith Lutheran Middle School

and High School
Faith mission statement:
Everyone prepared! Everyone saved!
Faith Lutheran Middle School and
High School in Las Vegas established
its Mark 10:14 Program to provide an
excellent education for middle and
high school students with significant
intellectual disabilities in an inclusive
Christian setting.
Some brave Christians in Las Vegas
set out to begin a junior/senior high
school in the 70s, said Dr. Steve Buuck,
Faiths CEO. Our school began in 1979
with 43 sixth- and seventh-graders in
rented facilities at First Southern Baptist
Church, Las Vegas. In 1998, we bought
our present campus on the west side of
Las Vegas and have been here ever since.
Every year, something has been added to
our campus.
Buuck said this is the eighth year
of the Mark 10:14 Program, where the
school enrolls students with autism or

18

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Down syndrome. These students

are mainstreamed into Faiths
classes, whereas in other schools
they likely would be segregated into
special-needs classes. At Faith, these
students also participate in athletics,
fine arts, chapel, clubs and more.
All of our Mark 10:14 students are
deeply integrated into campus life,
Buuck said.
Overall, he said the schools
numbers indicate encouraging trends.
We will welcome 1,700 students this
fall. Ninety-nine percent of our seniors go
on to college. In the past three years, our
graduates have been accepted into more
than 400 universities in all 50 states,
Buuck said. In the Class of 2015, our
academic top three students are headed
to Princeton, Stanford and Duke. We
have 21 seniors who have signed letters
of intent to play sports in college next
fall. Our fine arts [theater and music]
programs are regionally and nationally

JulyAugust 2015

acclaimed. We have 165 employees who

share Jesus with our students each and
every day. We average more than 30
Baptisms a year in a January chapel
Gods amazing grace certainly is evident
here at Faith Lutheran.
Roger Drinnon is manager of Editorial
Services for LCMS Communications.
Learn more:
School website: faithlutheranlv.org
Photo gallery: lcms.org/photo/
faith-las-vegas
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

witness Moment

nspire

Long After the Inquisition,

Lutheranism Returns to Spain
by Megan K. Mertz

fter Martin Luther nailed the 95

Theses to the door of Wittenbergs
Castle Church in 1517, the ideas of the
Reformation spread across Europe during
the next few decades.
In Spain, these ideas took root among
some Spanish Christians, especially in
monasteries like San Isidoro near Seville.
But after seeing the growing religious unrest
that was occurring elsewhere in Northern
Europe, the Spanish Inquisition, which had
been in effect since 1478, moved to quell the
movement within its borders. Reformationminded Spanish Christians who chose not
to flee were arrested, and some were even
burned at the stake.
It wasnt until nearly 500 years later that
a Lutheran presence would again return to
the country.

to become pastors, and provides ongoing

Greek and Hebrew instruction to Juan Carlos.
Warner also is working to secure a
permanent worship space for the growing
congregation in Seville, as well as looking
for funding for similar sites in Madrid
and Cartagena.

many Roman Catholic family members

watched, the grandson of one of the original
members of the IELE became Gods child
through the waters of Holy Baptism.
I preached a Law-and-Gospel sermon
about the miracle of Baptism and salvation
by faith and then went out to dinner and
spoke with members of the family for a
couple of hours as the plates of food kept
coming, he said. Lord willing, the many
seeds planted will take root and grow.
Later this year, the Rev. Adam Lehman
and his family will join the Warners as LCMS
missionaries to Spain. The Lehmans are
currently raising the support necessary for
their life and work on the Iberian Peninsula.
Having learned more about the history
and development of Spain, I have realized
what a great blessing it is to be privileged to
serve as a Lutheran pastor in Spain at this
time, Lehman said, reflecting on his call to
serve as a church planter there. After being
snuffed out via the Spanish Inquisition, the
Lutheran Reformation has now returned
to Spain!

The members of the IELE are very

inspiring, Warner said. They became
members because they were convinced
that Lutheran doctrine is true and faithful.
They are committed even though they
lack facilities, worship opportunities and
pastoral care. I am humbled to begin
serving them.
On May 23, Warner performed his
first Baptism on the mission field. While

Learn more: lcms.org/spain

Photos: istockphoto/thinkstock, Adam Lehman, David Warner

In the 21st Century

In 2000, a Lutheran family in Spain
partnered with the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Argentina to lay the foundation
for a Spanish Lutheran church. Between
2000 and 2014, three Argentine missionaries
served in Spain, where they led outreach
efforts and established Lutheran missions.
With the partnership of the LCMS, the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Spain (IELE)
was planted and recognized by the Spanish
Government in 2004. In October 2010, the
Rev. Juan Carlos was installed as the first
and only Spanish pastor of the IELE.
The Rev. David Warner and his wife,
Shelee, moved to Seville in April to become
the first full-time LCMS missionaries to the
country. Warner provides pastoral care to
some 80 Lutherans scattered around Spain,
mentors four men who are currently studying

lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

T he Rev. David Warner

baptized Izan on May 23.

Lord willing, the many

seeds planted will take
root and grow.

The Rev. Adam

Lehman and
family.

JulyAugust 2015

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19

Grant Money Available for

Outreach in Your Community
Announcing Stand with Your Community Grants
The Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod is offering a special grant
opportunity as part of the synodwide celebration leading up to
the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017.
The grants fund projects that inspire and empower laity for local
outreach through witness and mercy as a reflection of Luthers
passion for all to know the Gospel.
Who may apply?
LCMS congregations LCMS circuits LCMS schools
LCMS colleges & universities LCMS districts LCMS RSOs
Learn how your congregation can participate at:
lcms.org/standgrants
A total of $1 million in grant funding is available and is being provided
by:

WORLDWIDE

The Leader in Christ

20

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JulyAugust 2015

Centered Programming
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

Stewards Corner
The effects of giving
yourself as a living sacrifice
are truly immeasurable.

by Mark Hofman

Volunteering

nvolve

The Most Personal of Investments

PHOTO: LCMS Communications/Erik M. Lunsford

he last Stewards Corner article

(Tackling Gods Mission On the
Cheap) drew attention to our
pastors and missionaries and how much
the LCMS invests in quality servants each
year. It didnt take long to hear from people
who read that piece and asked, Mark, what
about teachers and other church workers?
Why did you fail to lift them/us up? Guilty
as charged.
We have a number of categories of
professional church workers in our Synod,
and there is a good chance Ill neglect one
or more groups whenever I try to list them.
Im rostered as a teacher, as are my wife,
some relatives and a few friends. If there
is one thing Ive come to respect about
pastors, teachers, directors of Christian
education, directors of Christian outreach,
church musicians and all other workers, its
that they each could rightly call themselves
a missionary.
When my congregation called our
current pastor, a self-study revealed that
most members came into the church
and into the Christian faith through our
day school. Our son was thrilled when one
of his preschool classmates was brought
to the baptismal font, and my eyes filled
with tears at his kindergarten graduation
when his entire class shared the Gospel
with family and friends (some of whom are
unchurched) through several songs taught
to them by their teachers.
Although my wife is not currently
teaching, she continues to steward the
Gospel of Jesus Christ through volunteering.
Vacation Bible school, the schools parentteacher association, Sunday school and
various church and school events provide
an outlet to serve, lead and still teach. At the
LCMS International Center, ministry areas
are blessed by more than two dozen men
and women who regularly give of their time
and talents in our Volunteer Connection
program. Dozens of other volunteers serve
and support the funding of missionaries
lcms.org/givenow/globalmission

and their work through selfless service to

Mission Central, the Synods not normal
miracle-facilitating donor care center in
Mapleton, Iowa.
Volunteers support Gospel-centered
mission and ministry locally, regionally at
the circuit and district levels, at the national
level, and through service to Recognized
Service Organizations and auxiliaries like
the Lutheran Womens Missionary League
and Lutheran Hour Ministries. Ushers and
altar guild members, elders and property
committee members, folders and stuffers of
newsletters and mailings, kitchen helpers,
youth group leaders, board and church
council members the ways people
engage in the life of the church are truly
mind-boggling.
If we could place a monetary value
on the hours donated by volunteers, it
might shock us in a very good way. It has

even been said that volunteers arent paid

because what they contribute passion
and joy is simply priceless. Even more
importantly, taking the time to volunteer
even if one is a paid, professional church
worker gives evidence that the LCMS
is a potent force for the Gospel as we walk
alongside one another in the faith, hope
and unquenchable joy found only in
Jesus Christ.
So, for every person reading this who
volunteers as a way of stewarding the
Gospel of our Lord using the most precious
of His resources your special talents
and your time, regardless of age or life
experiences thank you. The effects of
giving yourself as a living sacrifice are
truly immeasurable.
Mark Hofman, CFRE, MBA, is the executive
director of LCMS Mission Advancement.
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21

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
Burlington, WI
Permit No. 12

he mission and ministry of Concordia

Historical Institute (CHI) is to preserve
and proclaim the history of the Lutheran
Church a church redeemed and delivered by Christ.

From the parable of the talents, Christians learn

that treasures are not to be collected only to be
buried. CHI is all about moving Lutheran history
forward. The institute trumpets historical treasures
that point to Christs redeeming work in the life of
the Lutheran Church, especially in the life of The
Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod.

CHI informs and inspires through museum exhibits;

archive and research services; online resources;
collections of documents, photographs, artifacts and
fine art; and publications, including the Concordia
Historical Institute Quarterly, the longest-running
journal dedicated exclusively to Lutheran history in
North America.

The history of the

Lutheran Church
delivered.

concordiahistoricalinstitute.org