Far North Queensland

Our objective: To help people in the north come to know Jesus A Simple Croton Leading by example is often the way, both in the spiritual and secular realm, but how long does it take to make a difference? Eight years ago, a group of young boys between the ages of eight and ten sat on the footpath in front of our house in Hope Vale, as they often do, just for a talk. On …

What is hope in a time like this?

We live in a world where you don’t need to look far to find discouragement. The current covid-19 restrictions have devastated so many. While there have been countless acts of inspiring heroism and generosity, the crisis can seem insurmountable. And that’s just one thing. A volcano erupts in the Philippines. The US threatens war with Iran. Climate conditions worsen as political leaders continue to live in denial. The list goes on. Our hearts could break …

“God opened a way for me!”

Through ALWS, Lutheran women from Australia reach out to touch the lives of women in some of the world’s poorest countries. Angok Kongor, from South Sudan, shares how God has used your kindness in training her in cooking and business to open a way through all the challenges she has faced … “When I was a girl, I lived in South Sudan. My father died when I was small. He was a soldier and he …

“Only God knows why I do this!”

Above: Back row –Barossa Valley volunteers: Helen Semmler, Eileen Bartel, Marg Kaerbach, Rae Materne. Front – Ruby Kaur (India – a lead sewer of bags), Mai. Helen Semmler started teaching a former refugee new neighbour lady sewing in 2001. A year later, with Noreen Klein, this became the Lutheran Community Sewing Group. Now, 37 new neighbour ladies learn sewing each Friday, with five more ladies waiting for a space. The new neighbours come from Iran, Liberia, …

A Scholarship of Blessings

I was born into a non-Christian family. Through the religious classes taught during secondary school and attending youth fellowship, I heard about Jesus Christ and was baptised on Christmas day of 1981. Ten years later, the Lord called me to serve full-time in ministry, and I took up my theological training in the Malaysia Baptist Theological Seminary in Penang from 1993 – 1996 and graduated with a Bachelor of Theology degree. After completing my studies, …

Papua New Guinea (PNG) Birthing Kits

The following information has been supplied by LCA International Mission for anyone wishing to prepare Birthing kits for use in Papua New Guinea. Please cut out these instructions, or copy them, and put in a safe place so you have a reference, when required, or you can access this information any time by going to lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/birthing-kits/ Birthing kits are used by the village midwives to help them with clean and safe deliveries. They are also used …

Stories from a retired AbMinSA Pastor

Lyn and I live in Prospect SA and we have a Chinese family next door and a Muslim family from Afghanistan over the road. They are interesting people, not only because they cook delicious food but also because they have cultural differences. I have worked with Australian Aboriginal people since 2001 and there has been no lack of cultural difference. This is both a challenge and a joy. I have no idea how often I …

Bethany Home caring for special needs in the community

I was born into a Christian family and grew up in a church in the heart of Kuala Lumpur city. I am the only child of a pastor of a conservative Pentecostal church and my mother is a full-time church worker helping in the church’s evangelistic ministry. I joined the full-time ministry focusing on social work at the age of 21 when I joined a Street Evangelism organisation, that ministered among the people living on …

Feet of an Evangelist

Across the planet, some things in life don’t change. A young man marries a young lady. Dreams and future hopes shared! They have a child. He leaves her. Many young women and their parents know the heartache, the hurt and the broken dreams in this story. This is magnified when you are a young woman in a male dominated culture with little work, no welfare and one child.

Helen Lockwood leads a group of Indigenous Australian Women in Bible Study at Finke River Mission

Central Australian Women meet for learning and fellowship

At the end of June, around 30 ladies from Central Australia journeyed to Ti Tree, 200km north of Alice Springs, for our annual Women’s Aboriginal Languages Bible Study Camp. The Languages represented included Anmatyerr, Arrarnta, English, Luritja, Pitjantjatjara, and Warlpiri. Our camp is supported each year by Finke River Mission (FRM) as well as by Lutheran Women of Australia. Some people organised their own transport; others travelled on a bus kindly driven by Pastor Neville …

Children singing at Debora Orphanage, North Sumatra, Indonesia

A passion and heart for Debora

This year Rosemary Winderlich again visited Debora in North Sumatra, Indonesia. Jo Veerhuis and Chris Stott joined Rosemary on the visit to the home supported by the Lutheran women across Australia.

In spending even a few minutes with Rosemary, it becomes clear she has a passion and a heart for Debora but now readily suggests: “I’m not as indestructible as I was”.

The following extracts from her journal include Rosemary’s reflections and offer great insights into Debora and the Indonesian culture. Her travels begin with the bus trip to Debora.

Kenyan Refugee Agnes is pictured wearing a colourful dress and head scarf, and holding a piece of colourful fabric. She is in a room where others are sewing at sewing machines.

Where I am today

What Agnes Abab suffered in South Sudan is more than any person should survive. A refugee for 20 years, life started again when Agnes was welcomed into a Tailoring Group at Kakuma Refugee camp in Kenya, supported by the Lutheran family in Australia. Here you see how love comes to life for refugees like Agnes …