Support from the Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) for God’s mission, is an outstanding example and encouragement to many people. At the recent Convention held in Toowoomba in October 2006, the LWA committed to continue support for the PNG Scholarships and Debora Orphanage. In addition to these projects LWA also committed to supporting 3 new […]

Support from the Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) for God’s mission, is an outstanding example and encouragement to many people.

At the recent Convention held in Toowoomba in October 2006, the LWA committed to continue support for the PNG Scholarships and Debora Orphanage. In addition to these projects LWA also committed to supporting 3 new projects…mission on Mentawi island in Indonesia, mission to prisoners by the students of Abdi Sabda seminary in Indonesia and the work carried out by the LCA’s partner church, the Lutheran Church in Singapore, and the International Lutheran Seafarers’ Mission based in Singapore Harbour.

The port of Singapore is one of the largest and busiest ports in the world. Through the work of missionary Werner Strauss, a Chinese speaking evangelist, and a small team of people from the Lutheran Church of Singapore last year alone, over 408 ships were visited and 2,048 seafarers from Myanmar, Lithuania, Germany, Russia, Kiribati, Philippines, Croatia, China, Poland, England, Sri Lanka, Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Netherlands, Indonesia, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Hungary, South Africa, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Sweden and Australia, were met and talked to.

International Lutheran Seafarers Mission’s goal is: ‘To minister to the spiritual and practical (social) needs of seafarers and to be careful how we live our lives and do our ministry, because we might be the only bible the seafarers ever read.’

Last year alone the activities of the mission included; handing out Bibles, copies of Our Daily Bread in each person’s own language, Bible correspondence courses, the Christmas message on cassette and among others, copies of the Jesus video; counselling 45 seafarers; talking to ministering seafarers; hospital visiting sick and injured seafarers; and providing internet connections for over 700 seafarers who visited the seafarers’ centre at Finger Pier in Singapore Harbour.

The opportunity to share the love of Jesus Christ with so many people from so many countries through actions and the printed and spoken Word of God is such an awesome and amazing privilege. We can never underestimate the power of God at work – who says in the Bible in Isaiah 55:11 ‘So is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’

Many of our partner churches are working in new territory for the kingdom of God; therefore, spiritual attack is their everyday reality. As a member of a congregation, school, or family, or a couple or individual, you are invited to commit to praying for our partners in mission. For regular prayer point updates, go to www.lca.org.au/international-mission/act-now/pray

Read more stories about our partner church in Singapore at http://www.lcamission.org.au/category/stories/international-partners/singapore/