Called to go and serve
The LCA International Mission team has two new program officers ready, willing and called to support you and partner churches overseas in sharing the good news of Jesus. Erin Kerber, a former administration worker and intercultural studies student, will work with churches in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, as well as on school service-learning and congregation partnership programs. Former school principal and LCA Director of Lay Ministry Nevin Nitschke will look after programs with churches in PNG and Indonesia, as well as scholarship recipients and volunteers. A large part of their work will be within Australia, encouraging and enabling you to engage in God’s mission cross-culturally. Meet Erin and Nevin …
Erin Kerber, of St John’s Lutheran Church Woodside SA, says: ‘I went to Malaysia in October 2014 with some Lutheran youth from the Adelaide Hills in South Australia, to work with Lutheran youth there in ministry to local indigenous people. While I was there, I took a career survey, to determine what vocation God had designed for me.
‘I knew I was passionate about building meaningful cross-cultural relationships, but the survey highlighted that I should consider utilising this in my work life. After 10 years working predominantly in administration, I began a degree in Intercultural Studies at Tabor, Adelaide, in 2015, before applying for this role.
‘I believe God has a heart for the nations and, in spite of my imperfections, is able to work through me to bring people to know him. God has called us to demonstrate his love to those around us and I pray he will give me the strength to be a blessing to others.’
Nevin Nitschke, a member at Bethany Lutheran Church SA, says: ‘Over the years I have had the joy of seeing people in our church continue to look at ways they can join God in his mission to their communities and to the ends of the earth. I have felt called to mission so that others may know God’s forgiveness, grace and hope.
‘I look forward to the privilege of building partnerships. Partnerships with my brothers and sisters in Christ in the countries nearby. Partnerships with those who are responding to God’s call to be his people and share the gospel. Partnerships with scholarship holders as they undertake studies; and partnerships with you, the people of the LCA touched by the Spirit to give their time, gifts and lives to bring the gospel to people who don’t know the love of Jesus.’
Be a prayer partner
You are invited to partner LCA International Mission through your prayers. Please Pray for those who are working to bring the love of Jesus to people around the world.
You are invited to Give so that people from our overseas partner churches can continue to share the gospel with those who don’t yet know Jesus.
Do you or your congregation, school or small group want to Connect to the work of God in and through our overseas partnerships? You can become a partner in mission in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea or Singapore.
Have you thought about volunteering overseas? LCA International Mission can provide you a wide range of opportunities to Go to serve overseas through the Volunteers in Mission program.
Contact LCA International Mission at:
a: 197 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006
e: lcaim@staging.lca.org.au | p: 08 8267 7334
More information: LCA International Mission website
This feature story comes from The Lutheran June 2016. Visit the website to find out more about The Lutheran or to subscribe.
