January Word at Work Newsletter for Issuu

FOUNDATION

Vol. 33, No. 1: January/February 2026

The WORD at WORK

PAGE 2: Grandmother Nid comes to faith in Thailand

PAGES 2-3:

LHF & LCMS Disaster Response partner to share Gospel in Taiwan

PAGE 4:

With your help, LHF published more than 400,000 books in 2025!

LHF founder celebrates 90 years

Few 90-year-olds still clock in at the office every day, never mind take trans-national and even international trips to connect with mission supporters and church leaders. But God has blessed Rev. Robert Rahn, LHF founder, with the energy and health to continue vigorous service. Reflecting on his 9 decades of life, Rev. Rahn (pictured above with wife, Donna) writes:

It’s been 90 years of God’s grace, especially 33 years of unbelievable blessings showered upon the Lutheran Heritage Foundation since its founding in 1992. I well remember those early beginnings in the basement and den of my home, working with a fax machine mostly in the middle of the night because Russia, LHF’s first country of work, was in a time zone eight hours ahead of us.

All the time, we (my wife, Donna and I, as well as our founding LHF Board members) wondered how this new venture would work out. Through many trials and errors, I was often reminded of a Bible passage that I noticed when reading through the Bible every year: “Be ye strong therefore, and let not your

hands be weak: for your work will be rewarded” (2 Chronicles 15:7). We took heart from the words of Solomon as he built the Lord’s temple. He referred to his work as “building a house for the Lord that His name might be there.” And always we kept before us the words of Psalm 115:1, “Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth’s sake.”

Special Project to Honor Rev. Rahn’s 90th

Please join LHF in taking on a special project to honor Rev. Rahn’s 90th birthday: a reprint of the Study Bible with Commentary in the Russian language! LHF plans to print 3,000 copies for Lutherans in Russia at an anticipated cost of $17 per copy (approximately $50,000 total).

Our work began in Russia, where our goal was to help restore Lutheranism in a country where Lutheranism had been decimated by 70 years of atheistic, communistic government rule. Because of people’s interest in learning English as a second language, LHF distributed a side-by-side English/Russian edition of the New Testament, one of the first books published by Lutherans in Russia in over 70 years. This seminal work marks the only time LHF has started work without an invitation.

Although Rev. Rahn’s birthday is in January, donations will be taken for this project throughout 2026. You can send in your gift in the enclosed envelope (perhaps with a birthday note for Rev. Rahn) or give online at www.LHFmissions.org. Rahn 90th

To my amazement, LHF is now at work in more than 100 countries on the basis of Macedonian calls. New

continued on p. 4

A Christmas baptism: The Holy Spirit calls Grandmother Nid to faith

Grandmother Nid is a 75-year-old widow in Thailand, where less than 2 percent of the population is Christian. In the midst of this Buddhist culture, a fledgling Lutheran church body has taken root: Thailand Concordia Lutheran Church (TCLC).

Grandmother Nid, as her church family calls her, is the newest member of the TCLC, which numbers about 600 people in 10 congregations and 4 preaching stations. Rev. Niran Temakun shared this inspiring story of Grandmother Nid’s journey to faith in Christ:

“Earlier in her life, Grandmother Nid was married to a Muslim man, but her husband has passed away,” Rev. Temakun said. “Since then, she has lived as a widow, carrying the responsibilities of family life on her own for many years. Now in her old age, she no longer has a profession or regular work. Like many elderly widows, she depends on the care and support of her children for her daily needs.

“Grandmother Nid began coming to our preaching station from the very beginning, when the station first opened. At that time, she was not yet a Christian, but she had a sincere love for gathering with the community. Week after week, she joined the worship services faithfully. Even before she believed, she showed a servant’s heart by helping prepare food for the members after worship. After each service, we would often share meals that she lovingly cooked for everyone.

“Through her regular presence in worship and her continual hearing of the Gospel, God was quietly at work in her heart. Over the course of about one year—the same length of time since the preaching station was established—she listened, learned and reflected deeply on what she heard. We thank God that, in His time, He opened her heart to receive His love and to place her faith in Jesus Christ.

“During this journey, we regularly used Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, which she heard and studied with us before worship each week. We also shared the ‘Jesus Never Fails,’ which helped clearly present the message of Jesus’ saving love. These materials played an important role in teaching her who Jesus is and what He has done for her.

“Now that she has come to faith, Grandmother Nid continues to study Luther’s Catechism as she prepares for confirmation. She also keeps a children’s Bible story book for her personal reading. These books are especially helpful for her because the language is simple and the print is easy to read, making them suitable and encouraging for an elderly believer. Through these resources, she continues to grow in faith, grounded in God’s Word and promises.”

Typhoon hits

On July 6, 2025, Typhoon Dulas hit the eastern wan with 75 mph winds, dumping 18 inches of rain landslides, washed out bridges and ruined fields. The storm also caused significant damage at Concordia School, a Christian private school founded by LCMS in 1967.

Calls for help went out to Rev. Dr. Ross Johnson, of LCMS Disaster Response, who immediately began together plans to assist not only in rebuilding the broken campus, but also in sharing the Gospel with Concordia’s Chinese-speaking students. LHF immediately came

“What makes LCMS Disaster Response different nization is that we like to connect the Word of God and the peace of God in the wake of a disaster, in some capacity bringing God’s Word,” explained Rev. Johnson. “The greatest disaster is to die outside of the one true Christian faith. If we can use this disaster to proclaim Christ, we want to do that.”

While $30,000 in grants helped to start repairing torn-off roofs and removing uprooted trees, Rev. Johnson turned his attention to finding ways to share the Good News with the school’s largely Buddhist population.

“Only a small amount of the students are Christian,” Rev. Johnson said. “We know that this is an opportunity to use this very significant, very storm to tell the students and their families that there God who cares about them. When I asked our teachers half-dozen LCMS missionaries) how we could bring of peace and comfort, they said that they need resources. personally don’t have a lot of Mandarin resources or of getting English resources to the middle of Taiwan when I had the idea of contacting LHF and seeing what available.”

LHF was happy to help.

Rev. Johnson and the Concordia teachers decided ed Bible books for the youngest children, but also materials teaching the English language. Catechetical helps in and some in English would also be helpful.

In all, LHF ended up shipping more than 4,000 Concordia Middle School, including Luther’s Small A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories, Lutheranism 101, for You and the “Jesus Never Fails” devotion booklet.

“It’s been a perfect partnership!” enthused Rev. “We’re sending not only Christian materials, but resources

Working together to share Gospel in wake of disaster

hits Taiwanese Lutheran school

coast of Tairain that triggered The massive Concordia Middle LCMS missionaries Johnson, director began putting broken areas of Concordia’s 2,500+ came to mind. different as an orgavery shocking there is a loving teachers (about a bring God’s Word resources. Now, I or even ways Taiwan but that’s what they have decided they needmaterials for in Mandarin

deliver a proper distinction of Law and Gospel that will lead the kids to the cross distinctively Lutheran teachings. I have great confidence knowing that the materials LHF has translated are already going to be confessional in their theological presentation, well-balanced. When we put books like that in their hands, the Holy Spirit changes people lives. It seems like a small thing, but it can make an impact on global Christianity.”

Why Luther’s Small Catechism?

While some churches are drifting away from teaching Luther’s Small Catechism, LCMS missionaries around the world including Taiwan are finding that this nearly 500-year-old booklet is a powerful tool for teaching the Lutheran faith.

The greatest disaster is to die outside of the one true Christian faith.

Rev. Ross Johnson Director

LCMS Disaster Response

“I find that the catechism is extremely valuable because it’s the clearest articulation of the Christian faith,” reflected Rev. Johnson. “It teaches the Six Chief Parts concisely and in a memorable, balanced way. Not only do we want the students to know Scripture, but how do we summarize what we believe? How do we summarize the 66 books of the Bible in a concise way? The Apostles’ Creed helps us to do that. Then how do we explain the Creed? That’s where the catechism comes in.”

Importantly for the Christian minority in a country like Taiwan, the catechism “connects us to 500 years of Lutheran ancestry. It connects the Church in the U.S., Taiwan, Germany, Brazil, anywhere we go: we’re speaking and articulating the same language of faith.”

Connecting to something solid

In a world with all kinds of bad theology that confuses people and leads them astray, it can be hard to know what is the will of God.

4,000 books to Small Catechism, 101, God’s Word booklet. Johnson. resources that

“Especially after storms and tragedies, there are all kinds of crazy doctrines,” Rev. Johnson shared. “People ask: Is there a God? Why did this happen? We see a huge rise of Pentecostal teachings and theology of glory. The Small Catechism fights off false teachings and helps us stay central to the faith that here is a God who does love us and cares about us, even when we don’t understand what’s going on. He’s our God who died on the cross for us and comes to us every single Sunday to give us His body and blood in the Sacrament, washing our sins away.

“When we memorize those words, the Word becomes a part of who we are,” he concluded. “So when the trials of life come, we’re not just drifting. We’re connected to something solid God’s Word.”

2025 LHF Publications: 414,000 books published!

From A (Akan) to Z (Zayse), LHF translated and printed more than 400,000 books in 2025! Thanks to your generous support, the good books of our Lutheran faith are flowing into Africa, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, Europe and even our own United States, introducing new believers to our Savior, Jesus Christ. In 2025, LHF printed 111 titles in 48 languages (3 of which were new).

TITLES PRINTED

requests have continued to be accepted, and willing people have blessed us with their partnership with new and bold leadership.

One of the totally unexpected and appreciated results has been the God-blessed response to the publishing of the little Gospel booklet I wrote, “Jesus Never Fails,” now in more than 120 languages.

As I celebrate 90 years, I am especially thankful to the Lord for the privilege of serving with such a loyal and capable staff that surrounds me every day. I see this as the key to the future years ahead. Yes, the work has been rewarded and blessed by our grace-giving God. To Him be the glory and praise and to you the thankfulness and gratitude. Glory to God, the Giver of every good and perfect gift!

Heise, executive editor; Jennifer Bagnall,

Includes such books as the Book of Concord, hymnals, devotions, and portions of the Book of Concord (Large Catechism, Augsburg Confession, etc.) In 6 new languages!

In 11 new languages!

Rahn 90th continued

work in Africa.