India continues to be a challenging but much blessed mission field. With a population of more than 1,100,000,000 people and estimated to surpass the number of residents in China by 2025, Hinduism and Islam are the primary religions with only 2.6% proclaiming to be Christian. It is sometimes difficult for national pastors and gospel workers to proclaim Christ when Christianity is often looked upon as a “foreign” religion. Church workers of the national church sometimes face opposition when they try to spread the name of Christ.

The national church, Christ Evangelical Lutheran Ministries (CELM), has about 118 congregations, 36 preaching stations and serves more than 8,500 souls. The CELM Seminary in Guntur, India, remains the central focus of the mission work with 22 national pastors having graduated thus far and more than 60 men presently enrolled. In India, speaking English is a sign of a learned person. Therefore instruction at the seminary is done in English, with the help of interpreters for the first few years for those still speaking Hindi and Telugu, two of the common languages still spoken. Knowing English also allows the use of other resources like Internet and theology textbooks to be introduced for further training.

Money from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) given to the Christian Aid and Relief Committee, helps the friendly counselors working in India develop good relationships by supporting local humanitarian efforts. Currently funds are available for digging fresh water wells, building toilets, and assisting with medical supplies and equipment for hospitals and rural health clinics. Money also goes to fund 10 orphanages supporting roughly 350 children and a Christian elementary school reaching about 280 students with a Christ-centered education.

Kingdom Workers has been supporting the mission work in India by sending visitors to the mission field. Once there the visitors interact with the men from the seminary helping them hone their English skills. They also spend time at the orphanages interacting with the children and playing games.

Friendship evangelism is the best means for sharing God’s Word in India, but it does take a long time to develop relationships and trust. The joys are witnessed daily though the sharing of lives between friendly counselors, visitors, and the Seminary students. Seeing faith grow through difficult times is a testament to God’s great goodness.

Imagine, your $25 monthly gift is matched and becomes a $50 gift. It’s easy! Simply Contribute Now.

Recurring gifts will be matched $1 for $1 through October 2012, under the following circumstances:

1. gifts must be made monthly (not quarterly)
2. gifts must be made by EFT from a checking or savings account OR by credit card
3. a $10 minimum gift is required
4. gifts mailed monthly are not eligible
5. recurring gifts sent to Kingdom Workers chapters are not eligible.

If you need assistance or have questions on this process, please contact Tim Probst, Mission Advancement Director, 414-771-6848.

Dear Kingdom Worker,

How excited do you think Mary was when she found out she would be the mother of Jesus, our Savior? I’m sure she was overjoyed; in fact, Luke 1:46-55 detail’s her song of joy.

I’m really excited to share some news with you, too. Recently the pastor in York, Nebraska, shared how families in York will have the best Christmas ever. No longer will they simply decorate their homes for the holiday. Instead, they will prepare their hearts with the joy of the birth of their newfound Savior.

Let me start at the beginning so you can witness the awesome power of the Holy Spirit!

In July a team of Kingdom Worker volunteers; Ashley, Stephanie, Katherine, and Kristin, spent a week in York, as members of a Travel Canvass Witness project. These four young women stopped at 800 homes, which represents about two-thirds of the town, shared Jesus, and invited them to church.

About 50 families were identified as church prospects, and several sent their children to the vacation Bible school. Andrew was one of these kids who attended every day. He was very excited to learn about Jesus. In fact, Andrew brought his entire family to church.

The seeds of the gospel have been planted. When the pastor visited Andrew’s family a few weeks ago, Andrew was very excited to see the pastor. Pastor again had the opportunity to reconnect Andrew and his family to Jesus and the message of the gospel!

Andrew and his family will celebrate Christmas in a whole new light this year. Andrew’s family knows Jesus because of generous supporters like you. Your gifts to Kingdom Workers allow me to send out hundreds of volunteers every year. These volunteers touch thousands upon thousands of families who may not know Jesus.

Would you help me to plant more seeds of the gospel with a gift?

It costs Kingdom Workers about $500 to send a volunteer for a week of gospel-sharing work. Your gift of $36 covers half a day, $72 covers one day, $144 covers two days, $288 covers four days, and $500 will send a volunteer for a week.

Thank you for considering a gift to help me send MORE VOLUNTEERS in 2012.

May God bless you and your family as you prepare your home and hearts for the birth of Jesus again this year!

In Advent joy with you,

Bill Meier
Executive Director

Click here to view the embedded video.

Contribute to support the ministry of WKW.
See the list of volunteer opportunities.
Sign up to Volunteer with Kingdom Workers.

Pastor Steven Soukup and the members of Grace need your help with the following:

Filemaker Pro 11

Training in FileMaker Pro is needed to assist in setting up our school records.  Specifically:

• invoicing/receipts of school fees
• creating assessment records for each grade level
• overall records of families
• individual records of children’s academic progress and health records
• attendance
• scheduling of space in school/office
• basic storage of information and creating a system within Filemaker that works for Grace
• accounting needs
• marketing

Quickbooks

Guidance needed on where Quickbooks is more appropriate and where Filemaker Pro would be better suited for certain tasks.

General computer training

• computer basics (pull down menus, cut and paste, general trouble shooting)
• internet basics (how to use the internet to research, how to navigate information)
• digital pictures (scanning, sizing, downloading)
• how to organize files and store information
• how to back up work
• managing email accounts (setting up address books, organizing and sorting emails by category)

Microsoft Training

• Word/newletters or general word processing
• Excel
• Powerpoint
• Calendars (scheduling events for others)
• Flyers, tables, formatting

Other

• general receptionist skills (answering phones, taking messages, general office organization)

Contact John Wiederhold to volunteer today!

See the list of national projects for 2011.
Contribute to support the ministry of WKW.
Update your information.
Volunteer with Kingdom Workers.

An interview with the Mathiaks

Dave and Dee Mathiak are humble people whose only desire is to serve their Lord. Dave worked for the electric company and Dee was a certified life coach. They were seven years away from retirement when Dee heard about the opportunity to serve in Africa. Their chief responsibilities are working with the Seminary students and overseeing maintenance of the mission properties. They even find time for special outreach to the children of the area. We recently had opportunity to talk with the Mathiaks about their experience in Africa since they first arrived in 2008.

Why are you serving in Africa?

Dee: I attended a WELS Kingdom Workers (WKW) training session. The opportunity to serve in Africa interested me. When I returned home, I watched a WKW informational DVD with Dave. As soon as it ended, Dave said let’s go to Africa.

Dave: I was able to take a lump sum on my pension. And with the housing provided by the mission, it worked well. We were both in good health and felt that in seven years, we may not be so lucky. Both our adult children were also supportive.

What type of work are you involved in?

Dee: We manage the missionary guest house and assist with the needs of all who visit. I also teach the Seminary students basic computer and keyboarding classes, and teach their wives English, basic health, and nutrition in cooking classes. The ladies learn skills which will help augment the family income once they are serving a congregation.

Dave: I do a little bit of everything. Often my day begins at 6 a.m., making sure the bills get paid and managing the security dogs. I get involved in small construction projects and general maintenance. Seminary students assist three afternoons a week as part of their work program, expanding their education to learn life skills. I end the day at 6 p.m. There is something different every day.
I’ve also enjoyed coaching kickball for children of the Seminary students. They love a game that is organized and structured. It is not unusual to begin a practice with 43 children, and end the day with 110 children on the field—the additional children coming from the community. This is a great opportunity to invite the children to come to church, and to have them invite their friends.

What would you say to someone interested in volunteering?

Dave & Dee: People seem to be intimidated, thinking they need to have a certain skill, but they don’t, they just need to go with the talents they have. It’s very satisfying doing the Lord’s work. How wonderful to witness the large amount of Bible knowledge the African people are gaining. We know the Holy Spirit is working in their hearts.

You are invited to meet Dave & Dee Mathiak!

It’s a virtual mission festival.
Join in as we talk to the Mathiaks. Have your questions ready.

Where: Online, go to www.kingdomworkers.com
When: October 9, 2011 at 2 p.m. CDT

WELS Kingdom Workers is providing $36,375 to the Zambia Mission Assitants project in 2011.

See the list of national projects for 2011.
Contribute to support the ministry of WKW.
Update your information.
Volunteer with Kingdom Workers.

Juan came every Monday and Wednesday night to the English classes that our Lutheran mission in León offers. Always full of energy and new phrases, he learned from the latest American movie he had watched. He would bounce into the room with, “Hello, Saving Private Ryan” on his lips. Juan loved coming to class, but as he was always busy, he was never able to stay around to chat.With a quick “Good bye, Private Ryan!” he would hop on his bike and make the three-mile trek back to his house.

One night after class in August, Juan invited Tim, the other English teacher, and me to eat brunch with him and his wife, Marina. We went that following Sunday morning to the Mexican version of Old Country Buffet to enjoy a succulent array of Mexican fruits, omelets, meats, beans, and tortillas. After a few hours of sharing our favorite movie quotes, laughing about the differences between our two cultures, and stuffing our faces with as much as a few pesos could buy, the couple offered to give us a ride to the mission, where our worship service would soon begin.

On the way there, I silently sat in the backseat of Juan’s tiny, red car, trying to think of a way to invite him and his wife to worship. Minutes passed, and when we were only blocks from the church, I clumsily blurted out, “Hey, so, well, you know, if you aren’t doing anything right now, I invite you to come to our service.” Juan looked at Marina, Marina at Juan. “Well, I guess it’s all right to learn about other religions,” Juan shrugged to Marina. And they hesitantly accepted the invitation.

That next week, Juan informed me that he wouldn’t be able to continue coming to the classes.  “I’m going to be really busy these next few months with work,” he told me. Throughout the next several weeks he invited Tim and me to go to a couple soccer games to root on León’s team. He would always mention that he wanted to get back to a church service, and at the time I would nod to him in an encouraging fashion. I never expected him to show up.

Then, a number of Sundays later, Juan and Marina did attend another service. The next week, they came again. Then again and again, sometimes missing a few weeks at a time, but always coming back. Recently Juan brought his sister and her two children to church, joining our congregation for our Valentine’s Day service with 38 other visitors and regular attenders. They joined in worship with students from the English classes, people searching out a church that teaches the Bible as the true Word of God, and people simply looking for something in which to put their hope. That Sunday, like every Sunday in our mission, people heard the law and gospel taught in a simple way—a message that many had never heard before. The message that Jesus came to the world, died on the cross, and rose to save us out of pure love, pure grace, pure concern for his lambs.

And this is how God collects his sheep, even through a clumsy invitation from the backseat of a tiny, red car.

Ryan Kolander and Tim Pakota just recently returned from serving in Mexico. Joel Hering and Lucas Fricke now continue the ministry.

WELS Kingdom Workers is providing $35,000 to the English as a Foreign Language Teacher-Leon mission project in 2011.

See the list of national projects for 2011.
Contribute to support the ministry of WKW.

Our lay workers in Thailand, Liz Meister and Katie Lehmann, assist the mission team by, supporting national church members in outreach (teaching English, soccer ministry, music outreach, children’s outreach), encouraging and helping to develop small businesses (coffee shop, crafts), and supporting the mission’s administration (reporting, communications). The following is recent update from Katie.

We develop relationships with many local people in Thailand. Evangelism opportunities often present themselves from ongoing relationships. Daily life presents opportunities like this with Thai people in our neighborhood, with people who run local businesses, and with people we meet throughout the day.

My role as a WKW mission assistant is to support and be a friend to the national Christians, and encourage them to be lights where they live and in the natural relationships that they develop with people in their communities. For some Thai people, these opportunities to be a light occur in the fields where their families work, for some it’s in the city where they work in the coffee shop and coach soccer. Recently, I’ve gotten to see one of the girls who sews for Thai Village Handicrafts grow in her desire to be a light.

Pring is from a village outside of Chiang Mai and a member of Promise Lutheran Church. She left home and first came to the city as a teenager to study at a local high school, as many young people do in Thailand. After finishing a vocational school program in sewing, Pring began looking for work. Most of the available jobs in the city are in factories that require long hours with little time for much else. Pring had a few jobs and continued to talk with the church leaders about her future.

After hearing of her dream to open her own clothing shop some day and her desire to study further, the church encouraged her to find a vocational program in clothing design. At the same time, Thai Village Handicrafts was looking for a more full time seamstress to help with sewing projects. Now Pring comes to work five days a week to sew at the mission center for Thai Village, she has time to study at a vocational school part time in the evenings, and is a part of the Christian community based around the church.

As Pring spends more time working with us we’ve been able to develop a closer relationship with her and to encourage her in her faith daily. Throughout the past year, as she has been working at the mission center, we’ve seen God give her an increased desire to learn the Bible, to follow his ways, and to share Christ with others. Although Pring comes from a Christian village, many people there don’t know Christ. She has expressed how she sees much pain in the lives of many people, including members of her own family. Pring wants her family to be different; to be an example to the families around her, and to have a warm, loving home that honors God.

Praise God that he is working in Pring’s heart to strengthen her faith, for allowing us to be a part of her life, and for allowing us to see the change in her. Please pray that Pring has opportunities to share Christ through the relationships she has with her family and with the people in her village, and that she would be bold to take them.

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name, make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him, tell of all his wonderful acts.” Psalm 105:1-2

WELS Kingdom Workers is providing $47,400 to the Thailand Leadership Training mission project in 2011.
See the list of national projects for 2011.
Contribute to support the ministry of WKW.

Stephanie’s story begins in her home country of France, where she was a teacher for the French Education Ministry. Stephanie wanted a life change and headed to America, but first she needed to learn English. The fastest way to learn English was to take classes in Canada.

The school she attended was just a few blocks away from Cross of Life, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. She soon began attending worship regularly, and even attended Bible information classes (BIC). Without a job, she would soon have to return to France without completing BIC. A couple days before her visa expired Stephanie accepted a teaching position at the French consulate in Chicago. She could now remain in North America.

While teaching in Chicago, Stephanie attended Crossroads Lutheran Church. She also completed her BIC and became a confirmed member.

As a teacher in France, I receive two months of vacation every year. It’s a great time to relax, but much more fulfilling to serve God and others.

I looked up online for a vacation Bible school and found Faith In Action. I didn’t know if I was qualified to be a useful volunteer, but I contacted the KW office and expressed my interest. I was thrilled when they said yes.

I flew to Escanaba, Mich. in August 2010 and had a wonderful time there. I felt like part of a family. Every morning we prepared Bible lessons for the afternoon. We served these kids who needed to know more about our awesome God. The children were very involved. I was proud of them during the Sunday service. They sang with all their hearts. On that last day, we had so much fun that nobody, children and adults alike, wanted to leave. I learned a lot from the kids, and would love to do it again. I was refreshed, renewed, and full of joy.

Since I was not fluent in English, I was a little scared that I would be limited in what I could do. But even if you think you are not qualified to serve, God can use you and get you over your obstacles.

Stephanie

The rest of the story:
Two unchurched families came to VBS every day. Both attended worship for the closing service and the family picnic. One mom said of her daughter, “Susie just had to come to sing today. Stephanie was depending on her to help them sing praises to God.”

Rev. Paul Doletzky in Escanaba tells us little Susie and her family are now worshipping with their congregation and he is hopeful Mom and Dad will soon begin Bible information classes.

How exciting for us to know that new Christians, like Stephanie, are willing to put their faith in action! God works in wonderful ways to bring souls to himself.

All travel and meals will be covered by WELS Christian Aid and Relief. Volunteers will be housed with members of Faith Lutheran, Carthage, Mo.

Volunteers will be involved in the following:

• debris clean-up,
• light construction and roof repair,
• painting,
• distribution of relief supplies, and
• overseeing volunteer centers and meal preparation facilities.

Equipment needed include:

• close-toed shoes or work boots,
• work gloves,
• a Christian, servant attitude,
• a work belt of tools is optional.

Volunteers with no insurance will be covered by Wisconsin Synod (WELS) accidental medical insurance. WELS insurance will be considered secondary for those who are already insured.

If you can help the people of Joplin, Mo., please contact Mark Vance, director of operations for WELS Christian Aid and Relief for further information. Or complete an Interest in Mission Service form.

Please see what other volunteer opportunities are available through WKW.