Global Impact Volunteers Get Right to Work

The Global Impact Volunteer team that is currently in Nicaragua wasted no time in getting down to work, as shown by the photos here sent by the LHM director in Nicaragua, Ricardo Arguello. The team, led by led by Pastor Ray Scheer of Covington, Louisiana, will spend one more day in Nicaragua before returning home.

Equipping the Saints in Thailand

LHM —Thailand staff recently made the five hour long trip to conduct an Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshop at Samarn Samakee Church in Muang District - approximately 250 miles outside of Bangkok. In total, 72 people from eight different churches participated in the one-day workshop.

ETS evangelism workshops are designed to engage lay volunteers from church congregations and strengthen their understanding, and interest in witnessing while providing them the practical tools needed for reaching the unchurched.

Those who attended the workshop at Samarn Samakee Church expressed their appreciation, saying that they were happy to learn about LHM and the media tools, such as booklets and CDs that are available for them to reach out to family members and neighbors in their own communities.

India Youth Volunteer Group Holds Eye Clinic

The Salem District of Tamil Nadu, India is a very poor area whose residents are faced with a number of problems including joblessness, and a very high percentage of people affected by various diseases including HIV. For this reason, Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM)—India’s volunteer Youth Club found Salem to be an ideal place to share the love of Christ by caring for the elderly.

Much of the older population in the district suffers eye ailments like cataracts, but do not have the money or ability to travel to the eye clinic. So the LHM volunteers arranged for a free eye clinic with the support of local health authorities.

More than 200 people registered for the clinic in which medical checkups and treatment were given free of charge. Doctors were also on hand and, as a result, 15 people had their eyes operated on to remove their cataracts.

“Through this act of love, people who came to the clinic experienced the concern of Christians for their neighbors as we also shared the Good news of salvation through Jesus Christ along with the free treatment,” said LHM—India director, Rev. David.

Lutheran Hour Ministries—India staff have established youth clubs in several different areas over the past year. The clubs, known locally as Vaan Malar Youth Clubs, have been well received by church congregations in these communities because they engage young people and equip them to share the Word of God.

Your continued prayers and support for LHM allow outreach programs to have an impact all around the world. We ask that you prayerfully consider a gift to our International Ministries today.

To support this ministry click here or call us at 1-877-333-1963.

Global Impact Volunteers Give Resouces Time and Energy in Guatemala

A group of Global Impact volunteers from Faith Lutheran Church in Michigan visited LHM—Guatemala in July. Pastor Todd Biermann, senior pastor, led 13 members of his church as they performed service projects including painting at rural medical clinics, as well as the Holy Cross Lutheran missionary in Amatitlan, and the inside of the World's Redeemer Lutheran Church in Santiago Zamora.Vacation Bible Schools were also carried out in orphanages at REMAR and AGUA VIVA.

For more information and photos please visit the LHM—Guatemala blog.

CNH Volunteers Prepare to Return to India

Two days from now the first team of volunteers will embark on a short-term mission trip to India. They will be continuing the work begun last year, in support of LHM ministry in India by helping to refurbish the 50 year-old Christian Media Centre (as LHM is known in that country). The trip was organized as part of the Global Impact Volunteer program and the group consists of volunteers from the California-Nevada-Hawaii District.

Over the past year, funds were raised, and a team selected and trained. Now we ask for your prayers that everything goes well on this trip.

India is a country of 1.2 billion people, yet fewer than 4% of them are Christian. The world’s largest democracy, and yet just earlier this year dozens of Christians were martyred, hundreds of churches burned, and thousands of homes destroyed in violence against their faith. 86% of the population lives on less than $2.50 a day. Yet, God is at work in India – today.

We invite you to follow the journey at www.cnhindiamission.org, where you can read updates on the blog, see pictures, and watch videos as team members post about their experiences and impressions in the amazing country of India. On the left hand side of the home page, under the fundraising thermometer, is a place to sign up for email updates from the blog, if you wish. You’ll even have opportunities to make comments and ask questions of us while we’re there.

Prayers for Paco

Paco is a member of San Pablo Lutheran Church and has worked with Project JOEL and Legna since its beginning work in San Pablo. He is a leader at 17 years old serving in the music ministry and in all the activities sponsored by Project JOEL and San Pablo Lutheran Church. He is in the hospital undergoing tests and dialysis. In this photo Paco, one day before going to the hospital, was fixing up the fence in the JOEL sports field.

He is a mature youth not only disposed to serve but find way to serve without being asked. He is a reserved youth but shows with his actions that he is motivated by Christ and a willingness to share with others what he know has in his life. Please pray for him.

Professor Develops National Educational Curriculum Using JOEL Materials

Recently, MEDUCA (Ministry of Education of Panama) introduced its Work Plan for the 2009 Curriculum, particularly in the "Integral Prevention and Education in Values” area. Professor Dayra Ruiz, a JOEL team member and volunteer for LHM—Panama, was selected by MEDUCA to develop the themes of values for the primary section, especially the fifth and sixth grade. For the "glory of God" the program presented by Professor Dayra was approved and officially it will be developed in schools across the country. This program contains part of the curriculum of Project JOEL and is supported by LHM materials.

We can officially say that Panama has a program based on Christian principles and values, which had not been given previously in Panama. I am sure that only God created the conditions to make it in this way.

Michigan Team Visits Nicaragua

In March, LHM—Nicaragua received a visit from a Global Work & Witness team from Martin Luther Chapel, Michigan. The volunteers participated in the construction of a small structure where children in a rural area are learning Bible courses. People from the community of “El Pastal” expressed their gratitude for the young volunteers who took the time to help them.

But it was not all work for the visitors. They visited different high schools and elementary schools where they shared the Message of Christ during presentations to students. Some of them also made time to play soccer with students.

Missouri Team Witnesses in Guatemala

LHM—Guatemala hosted a Global Work & Witness team from the Group Missionary of Campus Lutheran Church of Columbia, in Columbia, Missouri. The group of volunteers spent time leading two Vacation Bible Schools in Los Limones and Piedras Azules – new mission fields of the Resurrection Lutheran Church at Gualán. Approximately 325 children attended.

Young people from the Church in Gualán also worked side by side with volunteer team on a construction project which consisted of the renovating the ceiling of the Church. This was a great experience for all involved.

Visit the LHM—Guatemala blog for more updates.