Smiles again at the Home of Praise

After such a long time, living life in isolation in Thailand, we are pleased that many people have now been, or are planning to get, vaccinated and that the number of COVID-19 infected people is decreasing. The evening curfew which lasted for many months, now no longer applies. The schools have started to reopen, we can attend worship in person, and we can gather again to share a meal at a restaurant. But Thai people are still worried and are afraid of being infected with COVID-19. Face masks, alcohol sprays …

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Support for scholarships helps train a new pastor in Malaysia

In Peninsula Malaysia there are eighteen officially recognised indigenous tribes. The ancestors of these indigenous (Orang Asli) tribes were the first people to populate the peninsula more than 4,000 years ago. Since then, most have continued a hunter-gatherer and small-scale agricultural lifestyle. Being an Orang Asli in Malaysia means facing many of the difficulties experienced by indigenous groups across the globe. Most of the forests that they depend on for their livelihoods are now owned by the Malaysian government. These areas have been subject to rapid development, including intensive logging …

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Existing and New Projects for Lutheran Church of Australia International Mission

Like many of you, I was eagerly anticipating our time together in Horsham for the LWA Convention where I was hoping to offer these words of thanks in person and share with you the proposed projects for the next triennium. While that is not possible, I give thanks to God that even a world-wide pandemic and constant lockdowns are not enough to stifle his mission to bring forgiveness and life to people everywhere.
Pastor Matt Anker shares with us the projects that we will be supporting through LCAIM for the next triennia.

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The Lutheran Church in Cambodia

Rev Tuch Keov Sreyleak’s life is part of the story of the Lutheran Church in Cambodia. Rev Sreyleak comes from the village of Phum Krus in Cambodia. She is one of four children and was only eight years old when tragedy struck – her father died, and her mother left the family in the village. As the eldest, Rev Sreyleak became responsible for the care of her siblings, including finding food and education, as well as caring for their grandmother, Who Met. Life became very tough for her as there …

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Reliable power for Yagaum Rural Hospital in the Madang District

Each year the Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) contribute funds for the provision of solar power to health centres across Papua New Guinea (PNG). In Australia, we take for granted that our hospitals and health centres have reliable power to function and that the flick of a switch will light up the rooms. Not so in PNG where blackouts are a common occurrence, disrupting the functioning of essential equipment and medical interventions. When the Yaguam Rural hospital received funding through the LWA, they tasked their maintenance man, Mr Benjamin, with …

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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 a million times a day. We’re left screaming “it’s all too much!” We dial it …

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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, I returned to serve in the Leila Baptist Church as a senior pastor and was …

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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 the street. I realised at a very young age that my ministry was going to …

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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.

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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.

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LCAIM Overseas Students

Scholarships – Connecting Lives to the Gospel

Pictured above: Kilber (left) and Deddy (right) We thank you, Lutheran Women! You have continued to support the scholarship ministry of International Mission. This has allowed the further training of pastors and lay people in Lutheran Theology from our overseas partner churches. Lives are changed! In the past year, the following people have been recipients of a Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) International Mission scholarship: Emmanuel Som Yalamu continued his Doctoral studies through Australian Lutheran College (ALC). Emmanuel attends ALC three times a year for one month at a time. …

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