Archive for category: Features

by Nevin Nitschke

In the cool morning air in northern Thailand, a young woman looks at green rice fields across a flowing stream, all still partly in the shadow of the forested mountains. The lush vegetation that seems intent on blanketing her Lua community village is filled with the sounds of life. So much so, that it is almost possible to hear the growth in the plants that were once home to tigers and elephants.

Khun Daw reflects on her past and the fear her family felt from the tight hold spirit doctors had on their lives. These fears were enhanced by the closeness of life in a small community, being enclosed by nature and surviving as ‘foreigners’ whose forebears came from nearby Laos less than a hundred years ago. She remembers when each day was ruled by what the spirit doctor allowed and demanded.

As Khun Daw rides her motorbike through the valley, she recalls when she first found hope – the moment that led to her freedom from fear. Even at 13 years old she knew her family was falling apart. Her father escaped the harsh reality of his life through heavy drinking, which led to constant fighting between her parents at that time.

Khun Daw’s head and stomach often ached with pain, needing regular hospital visits. The control of daily life by the village spirit doctor felt like a vice.

As she turns her bike off the main road and begins the climb up a dirt track, she remembers the moment she asked for help, not from her mother or the spirit doctor, but from an evangelist who visited their home. ‘Who is Jesus and what is the Bible?’, she had asked.

On her climb up the mountain road, she passes a marked field. It is marked to show that the spirit doctor had once forbidden crops to be planted there. It is another reminder of the fear that once controlled them. At the top of the rutted track, she stops next to a simple building that has become the heart of this community. Only three local families now don’t have a relationship with Jesus, but even they will attend the church service she is about to lead.

Life has changed. Khun Daw first believed 10 years ago. A month later, her mother became a Christian. Later, her father learned to trust Jesus and stopped drinking. Khun Daw’s health improved. Even the local spirit doctors were coming to know the love of Jesus, through the love shown to them by his followers.

As Khun Daw begins to lead the worship service, she does so as part of a team of 11 evangelists. All of them know what it is to be freed from fear. Each one serves with a desire to share with their communities that there is only one God and that he gave his life for them. Fear is fading and God’s love has produced joy, trust and hope.

Nevin Nitschke is an LCA International Mission Program Officer.

For more inspiring articles about how God is changing lives of people throughout PNG and South-East Asia, go to www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories

Living in the physical darkness of the Indonesian rainforest and the spiritual darkness of the religion of their ancestors, the Suku Anak Dalam are a nomadic people from Sumatra who survive by hunting, foraging and trading.

Otherwise known as the Sanak people, their name roughly translates as ‘people of the forest’. With no access to education, health care or any form of support, these people are especially vulnerable as much of the Indonesian forest has been overtaken by rubber and palm oil plantations.

Some years ago, Pastor Hutagalung, a pastor of the Geraja Kristen Luther Indonesia (GKLI or Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church), heard about the needs of these people still living under tarpaulins in the bush and reached out in mercy. offering physical and spiritual care. The sick were given medical attention, the hungry fed and the good news of God’s forgiving love and the hope we have in Christ was shared with these people who had never heard the name of Jesus before. They received the good news with joy and thanksgiving.

Kristian Yanto and Naomi Isa Puri are two members of this tribe who are now also part of the Christian ‘tribe’ to which we have all been called.

Kristian serves as an elder in the mission congregation and says, ‘Before knowing the Lord Jesus, I lived in darkness. I only believed in ancestral spirits, about evil spirits and shamans. I lived in anxiety. But after I became a Christian, I knew and believed Jesus Christ as my Saviour. My heart is peaceful and there is joy’.

Naomi similarly speaks about her conversion to Christianity being a journey from darkness to light. She says, ‘After believing in Jesus Christ and being baptised, I went to the church.

I believe Jesus Christ is my Saviour. Currently, I continue learning the word of God and try to [live a] better life under the guidance of the pastor of Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church’.

With these few words, Naomi and Kristian point to a reality that we often miss in the West. The mission of God is a spiritual battle against ‘the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places’ (Eph 6:12). And the good news is that this battle is already won in the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and this victory over sin and death and the devil is available to all who call on the name of the Lord.

Pastor Hutagalung now serves among the Sanak people full-time and lives in what is becoming a Lutheran village surrounding the church. The light of the gospel shines brightly in this little community as Kristian, Naomi and their fellow villagers now share not only their ethnic heritage in this life but the sure and certain hope of life together in God’s eternal kingdom.

– Bishop Esra Sinaga (GKLI) and Pastor Matt Anker

LCA International Mission’s partner churches express gratitude

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burundi

Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church of Burundi feels greatly honoured to have LCA International Mission as our partner. We thank God for having brought us together. Our partnership has not been a long one, but we note three key achievements. First, the LCA has supported capacity-building events including pastoral training. Second, we have our own church building and funds available to purchase our own church plot. Third, when Burundians were faced with the COVID-19 pandemic, the LCA provided relief food and sanitary facilities. From these supports, the church is increasing in number, faith and commitment. Every three months we baptise at least more than 30 new church members. We celebrate the steady progress we have seen, thanks to our partner and mother church, the LCA.

 – Rev Emile Nkurunza

Lutheran Church in Cambodia

It has been about 10 years since the Lutheran Church in Cambodia (LCC) and the LCA became partners. The LCA is really a good motivator for LCC in God’s service. It has helped us in terms of budget, solidarity, ideas and sharing experiences. This plays a big part in spreading the gospel around our church. Helping locals is a great activity to make the community see that everyone cares. Last year students from Tatachilla College [South Australia] came to help repair a road and, after the repair, the traffic was easier, and there was praise from people, [who said], ‘Jesus is very good’. I give thanks to God for bringing us a good partner to exist in God’s mission together. I pray that this relationship will keep moving forward.

 – Rev Touch KeovSreyLiak

Lutheran Church in Singapore

We are thankful to the LCA for the partnership in our local ministry at Thai Good News Centre. Our mission is to outreach to Thais in Singapore. We thank God that 480 people have been baptised and returned to their homelands. Some go on to Bible college in Bangkok and 15 are serving as pastors or evangelists in Thailand and Taiwan. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, many members and contacts have lost their jobs. During this time, we have received many who came for counselling, prayers and help. With the help of some members and friends, we provided financial assistance and distributed food to those in need. Do pray for this ministry and we look forward to LCA’s continuing partnership in prayer and support.

 – Rt Rev Lu Guan Hoe, Bishop

Lutheran Church in Malaysia

It is a truly blessed opportunity to be in partnership with the LCA. We are thankful for the support of the LCA in one of the most marginalised communities in Malaysia, the Orang Asli (OA) indigenous people. Especially in the last few years, we have had the opportunity to train our own OA pastors locally in STS (Seminary Theology Sabah) … and have our OA pastors serving in their own communities. That our OA pastors could lead, teach, preach, equip, train and make disciples for Jesus Christ among their own people is truly encouraging. They are now actively pursuing opportunities to reach out to their people, sharing the gospel, praying, teaching others, and setting up new outreach points, with a strong Christian identity among them.

– Bishop Aaron Yap

Lutheran Church of Myanmar

The Lutheran Church of Myanmar (LCM) is privileged to have been partnered with LCA International Mission for more than a decade. A church can only grow when believers around the world work together for his kingdom. [Our] partnership helps the growth and development of the LCM in capacity-building and mobilisation of our resources for mission work. More than 90 per cent of the population in Myanmar are yet to hear the good news of Jesus Christ. The strong collaboration and partnership between the LCA and the LCM for church development, Christian literature ministry and education help many people in Myanmar know more about Jesus. We treasure the fellowship and prayers from the LCA and are looking forward to working together more closely.

– Rev Martin Lalthangliana, President

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea

Our partnership has developed over many years. It was started by selfless and hardworking missionaries from early mission days, some of whom lost their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ and his people here in PNG, and continually supported by many former and current missionaries. We will continue to walk and work side-by-side, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ and administering sacraments and teaching his ways. The gospel of Jesus Christ edifies and builds the church spiritually. No-one is an island because as partners in the gospel we also learn from one another and keep ourselves up to date with the happenings in our respective churches and around the world. We will continue to stand together in partnership to profess one faith, one Lord, one baptism.

– Rev Kinim Siloi, Inter-Church Relations and Ecumenism

Lutheran Study Centre Malaysia

I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to LCA International Mission for its support of the Lutheran Study Centre (LSC) in Malaysia. The LSC was established in 2012 by the Federation of the Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Malaysia and Singapore (FELCMS) with the LCA, to enhance Lutheran confessional identity among pastors and members. The lack of confessional identity and influence of charismatic theology had impacted the preaching of the true gospel. The partnership with LCA International Mission has been a blessing in providing human resources, advisory support, technical assistance and financial aid. This timely, visionary and proactive support has made it possible for FELCMS churches to strengthen their Lutheran identity through initiatives including training and the publication and distribution of Lutheran resources in indigenous languages.

– Rev Dr Wilfred J Samuel, Director

Lutheran Church in the Philippines

The Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) is truly blessed and thankful to God for giving us the LCA as a partner church. One blessing in this partnership is Rev Dr Michael Lockwood [being called] to teach at the Lutheran Theological Seminary and Training Center. [In 2020] when church gatherings were prohibited and the church offerings were not collected, LCP pastors and evangelists were affected financially. But God touched the hearts of our fellow pastors in Australia [and] for several months, we received assistance. Because of this, our pastors were encouraged and continued their work. As we pray for the strengthening of our partnership, we ask the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and empower us to work together for the expansion of God’s kingdom.

– Rev Antonio Del Rio Reyes, President

KN-LWF Indonesia

The pandemic has proven that the internet is the most valuable piece of technology the world has ever needed. The LCA granted funds to build three internet towers for communities that needed it most. This allowed 300 students to study online and pastors to lead morning devotions for children. For a long time, the cross has symbolised Christian identity in Indonesia. However, lately, it seems young adults are impartial to the cross. To remind them of its significance, [Komite Nasional Lutheran Church] KN-LWF put together a cross movement, whereby 1000 crosses were nailed to doors around different communities. This will act as a reminder of Jesus’ sacrifice. Young adults are proud to be Christians. The LCA always reminds us to be closer to God.

– Rev Rumanja Purba, former chairman

by Pastor Matt Anker

‘Every Lutheran church in Asia should have at least one senior pastor who has trained at Australian Lutheran College [ALC] … Then you will have someone who knows confessional Lutheran theology!’ This was the heart-felt expression of an Asian bishop during a gathering of regional church leaders in 2019.

ALC is recognised by our partner churches as a great gift for its faithfulness to Lutheran, biblical theology and its place in the Asia-Pacific, and the understanding this brings of contextual issues. After a lifetime of mission, the bishop quoted above knows that understanding the gospel as articulated in the Lutheran Confessions is vital in order to bring forgiveness and hope to people trapped in darkness and sin. And he knows that’s exactly what you get at ALC.

For many years, LCA International Mission has worked with ALC to provide theological education to support our partner churches. Many LCANZ pastoral students have benefitted by studying alongside scholarship holders from PNG and Asia, who bring a passion for the gospel and an urgency to mission.

In recent years, ALC has sent lecturers throughout the region to provide short-term intensive courses and provided support to Malaysia’s Lutheran Study Centre. During COVID, ALC has engaged in new ways by delivering online webinars to overseas students.

Our mission partners are blessed with a hunger for Lutheran theology which brings the light of the gospel to their communities. It’s little wonder the bishop said every Asian church needed pastors trained at ALC! With your help, LCA International Mission and ALC can continue to support God’s mission in this way.

Pastor Matt Anker is Assistant to the Bishop – International Mission.

Want to know more about supporting ALC to equip leaders in our partner churches to proclaim the gospel? Please call 08 8267 7300 or email lcaim@lca.org.au