Desks for new children’s Christian education programs in five communities

1420The Children’s Christian Education Program has grown to more than 700 children. Each of the 23 ILSN congregations has a Christian education or feeding program for children.In some communities the children’s school desks are used for classes, in the worship services, and as tables for lunch. Five new communities need 25 desks each for the 2014 Children’s Christian Education Program—a total 125 desks. Each desk costs approximately $25.50.

I want to help provide desks for the new children’s Christian education programs.

(Project 1420) Goal: $3150

Musical instruments and musicians for church communities

1419Many Nicaraguan congregations have members who are being trained to play keyboard for worship. Nicaraguans love music and love to sing. Music is also an important and culturally relevant outreach tool. This project will allow Iglesia Luterana Sinodo de Nicaragua to purchase instruments and train local church musicians to accompany worship services and undertake mission outreach.

I want to help support buying instruments and training musicians for worship and outreach.

(Project 1419) Goal: $5000

Support for Thai missionary Rev. Suchat Chujit

1422Missionaries Suchat Chujit and Suchat Srikakan continue their missionary work in the southern province of Thailand in the region of Takuapa and Phang-nga province. As Pastor Chujit provides ministry for his local congregations he continues reaching out to individuals and families in the area, building contacts for the Gospel of Jesus Christ and starting home Bible studies and worship services. This project helps provide the stipends, utilities, transportation, telephone and worship materials for the congregations and preaching stations under missionary Chujit’s care.

I want to help support the ongoing ministry and outreach of Pastor Chujit.

(Project 1422) Goal: $8700

Seminary program in Odessa

1423Currently, four students are enrolled for the next series of seminary course scheduled to start in September 2014. At its recent convention, the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) opened the door for other churches in Eastern Europe to send their students to the seminary in Odessa. This is seen as a great opportunity for SELCU to expand its connection with other Lutheran churches and become a regional centre for theological education. This project contributes towards food, travel, utilities, translators, and a cook at the seminary.

I want to help support pastoral preparation in Ukraine.

(Project 1423) Goal: $10,000

Vacation Bible school and seasonal Bible camps

1425This project supports vacation children’s camps (VBS) where up to 250 children take part, a summer camping program where nearly 110 young people participate, and a winter youth conference which gathers groups from SELCU congregations for worship, fellowship and study at the Odessa Theological Seminary. This work with children and youth is very important to the church in Ukraine.

I want to help support outreach to and ministry with young people.

(Project 1425) Goal: $6000

Outreach to athletes in Dnepropetrovsk

1427Under the supervision of LCC missionary Rev. Alexey Navrotsky and in conjunction with theAlpha and Omega Student Society, a group of Christian sportsmen works with non-Christian sportsmen. For several years their Christian professional trainer, Igor Solodenko, has worked with a team of soccer players. This ministry reaches approximately 80 young sportsmen. The project provides support for equipment, transportation and facility/field rental.

I want to help share the Gospel with athletes.

(Project 1427) Goal: $1260

Outreach to college and university students in Odessa

1426For more than three years the pastor of the church in Odessa, Rev. Oleg Shevchenko, and a team of volunteers has conducted an evangelism ministry with college and university students in Odessa. Each week they hold Bible studies and organize various special projects: thematic evenings, discussion clubs, hikes, conferences and competitions. This project supports the purchase of Christian literature, printed materials for meetings and the rental of facilities.

I want to help reach out with the Gospel to students.

(Project 1426) Goal: $1260

A Missionary Heart in Sebaco

Jesus had a heart for people.  We read that he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  (Mark 6:34)  Our missionaries in Sebaco, Nicaragua have such a heart as well.HectorCristina1306

Missionary Hector Morales and his wife, Deaconess Cristina Lopez, have a passion for reaching the people of their community.  Now in their second year at Sebaco, they regularly gather 30-35 people for Bible study and 40-50 children in educational programs.

Operating out of a rented storefront facility, they are excited about the possibilities for reaching out with the Gospel.  Located practically across the street from the mayor’s office (city hall) and down the block from the hospital, many people pass by and know of their presence.  Cristina is an excellent educator and Pastor Hector an engaging conversationalist.

They are exploring ways to reach out with loving care.  One possibility is a feeding program for children.  They are also praying about some way to provide employment for women and mothers who are limited to only 3-4 months of work each year in the local coffee industry.

Though their mission in Sebaco is still getting off the ground, they are already dreaming of the next community they can go to start another mission.  They indeed have compassionate missionary hearts for the people who are helpless and lost like sheep without a shepherd.

You can support Hector and Cristina through project 1306.

Vacation Bible Schools in Nicaragua

Children love vacation Bible schools in Nicaragua

Children love vacation Bible schools in Nicaragua

We look forward to our vacation Bible school week each year. I’m coming and I am bringing a friend. They help us bring Christ into our homes through the Bible lessons from the deaconesses and missionaries.

The Nicaraguan Lutheran church holds vacation Bible schools from January through March and in some areas at other times of the year. This event involves 23 congregations plus mission stations, drawing around 150 to 250 children in each; totaling 3,500 to 5,700 children becoming little missionaries and some who become leaders of the church in Nicaragua.

Help children learn about Jesus and share their faith with their families and friends.

I want to help support vacation Bible schools in Nicaragua (#1301) $6000 ($2 per child)

Deaconess Support – Nicaragua

1302Our focus is assisting pastors in providing Christian education for children. We touch the lives of at least 25 children every day or in some places two or three times a week.

Since school in Nicaragua is only a half day, the Lutheran churches provide a program for the other half. Trained deaconesses help children with homework, teach reading, mathematics, and God’s Word through Bible stories and Luther’s Small Catechism. They also serve a snack for the children. The deaconesses also help with general church work and outreach to the children’s families.
Your support of the work of deaconesses helps them provide a brighter future for Nicaraguan children and their families both now and forever!

I want to help support the important work of the deaconesses (#1302) $4,500 ($25 a month per deaconess)