The Lutheran October-November 2025 Digital Edition

LUTHERAN CHURCH

EDITORIAL

Editor Lisa McIntosh

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LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

The Lutheran informs the members of the LCANZ about the church’s teaching, life, mission and people, helping them to grow in faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. The Lutheran also provides a forum for a range of opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the policies of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.

Well worth Peru-sing!

Jenny and David Kraft know that even when you are enjoying the spectacle of a UNESCO World Heritage site in the Andes Mountains, it’s wise to have a little something to read when you stop for a breather from the breathtaking views. And so, the Krafts, who are members at St John’s Lutheran Church Tea Tree Gully in suburban Adelaide, kept a copy of the June-July edition of The Lutheran handy during a recent visit to the 15th-century Inca citadel Machu Picchu.

Send us a photograph featuring a recent copy of The Lutheran and it may appear on page 2 of a future issue and on our website at www.thelutheran.com.au

People like YOU bring love to life

As this edition gives thanks for 80 years of sharing the gospel through Lutheran Media and its forebears, we are featuring people who have worked or volunteered for this ministry.

Jacob Rathjen

Our Saviour Lutheran Church Aberfoyle Park SA

Lutheran Media Digital Media & Marketing Assistant

Most treasured Bible text: Psalm 62:8

‘Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.’

Rosalee Kilmier

St Paul Lutheran Church Blair Athol SA

Longtime Lutheran Media volunteer

Most treasured Bible text: John 8:12

‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’

Andy Voigt

St Petri Lutheran Church Nuriootpa, SA

Former Lutheran Media Content Producer for more than 20 years

Most treasured Bible text: Romans 12:1,2

‘ … present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God … Do not conform to … this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.’

Let the light of someone you know shine through their photo being featured in The Lutheran and LCA Facebook. With their permission, send us a good quality photo, their name and details (congregation, occupation and most treasured text) and your contact details.

Twenty-six years ago, kicking and screaming like a toddler throwing a tantrum, I was hauled into the job as editor of The Lutheran by a God who didn’t seem to know he’d called the wrong person.

It’s not that I didn’t want the job. I did. Sort of. But I was terrified. Terrified that 25,000 readers (including 600 pastors) would be reading my editorials and stories, which equated to 25,000 people telling me off for getting it wrong. Terrified that I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, and it was only a matter of time before I was found out.

I had no choice, though. This was a powerfully supernatural call, leaving no room for even a smidgeon of doubt. So, I said yes, with a caveat. ‘All right then,’ I pouted at God, ‘I’ll do this, but only for one year, okay?’ God had a different idea about the timeline.

When you read this, I’ll be retired. I’ll have completed 26 years in that job I was woefully unequipped for (first as editor of The Lutheran and then LCANZ Communications Manager). That job I didn’t want has woven together my life experiences, personality, gifts and passions into what I am convinced has been a divine calling.

As I step into the great unknown of this next life adventure, I’m tempted to say to God, ‘I want to do retirement for 26 years, okay? I want to do nothing but read books, prune roses and make gooseberry jam until I die, okay?’ But I have a sneaking suspicion (based on prior experience) he’ll smile knowingly and say, ‘I have a better idea.’

I thank God for his faithfulness and for each twist in the road that shaped me.

As I close one chapter and open another, I pray that you, too, will know his presence and hear his voice – in every good and bad day, at every door that closes and every one that opens. And when he calls, even as you tremble, may your answer always be ‘yes’. Yes to the new role, the untried opportunity, the courageous step of faith, the invitation to start over. Every yes to God will change your life, and probably someone else’s, too. All our yeses will build Christ’s church, bless our families and communities, and write stories far greater than any of us can imagine. With deep gratitude to each of you who has walked beside me, and in joyful anticipation for what God will do next – in me and you.

Still spreading the same gospel message*

Service to others is the rent you pay

A legacy of media and mission*

Hope in every format

‘Congratulations on 80 years of communicating Christ’

Celebrating eight decades of sharing God’s love

‘A privilege to share your stories’

The power of his presence on show Regulars

Because we bear your name: Bishop Paul’s letter

Footnote: I am so grateful to Linda for her extraordinary service to our church, and so thankful to God for her gifts and his call on her life. She has been a wonderful mentor, and our LCANZ Communications team wishes her every blessing in retirement. Appropriately, she is signing off in an edition focused on sharing the gospel through media, as we mark Lutheran Media’s 80th anniversary.

May God bless your reading,

* Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following pages contain images of people who have died. Our cover: iStock.com

Because we bear your name

Have you noticed that our word ‘gospel’ includes the word ‘spell’? We still use this old English idea of ‘spell’ for ‘story’ when we ask someone, ‘Do I have to spell it out for you?’

The word gospel means ‘good telling’. The story of the life, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus for our salvation is ‘good’, and it is to be ‘told’. The risen Lord sent us to the ends of the earth to be his witnesses, telling this good news.

We have a long history in the tradition of the Lutheran church – particularly from the time of Martin Luther – of using all kinds of media for this telling.

The Reformation era saw the flourishing of the printing press for the production of Christian books. No longer did people need to write out the pages of the Bible by hand, but the presses could print whole Bibles accurately in just days. Today, the United Bible Societies estimates that around the world, we print 219,000 Bibles every day.

The Reformation era also saw the printing of Christian art for instruction. Luther’s Small Catechism was published with posters that could be displayed on the walls of a family home to help teach the Christian faith.

BISHOP

PAUL’S LETTER

REV PAUL SMITH Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand

‘Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you – unless you have come to believe in vain.’

OUR MEDIA MINISTRY

MAINTAIN(S) ... WHAT IS OF ‘FIRST IMPORTANCE’. IT IS THIS TELLING OF THE GOOD NEWS …

Finally, the Reformation era saw an explosion of Christian hymn-writing and church musicianship so that people could learn the faith and could share the gospel through song.

These three elements of media for communicating the gospel have continued to the modern era, and our church has various ministries with ‘media’ in their charter. This includes Lutheran Media, which this year celebrates 80 years of wonderful witness and service in the mission of the church. And there are many ministries in our church that could be rightly called ‘media ministries' through the print, visual and audio productions across the communities of the LCANZ. They all have the core purpose of telling’ the good news: the gospel!

When the Apostle Paul was writing his first letter to Christians in the early Church community in the city of Corinth, he worked through a variety of conflicts and concerns in the congregation. Then his letter to the Corinthians builds to a high point in chapter 15 where he tells the people:

In 1 Corinthians 15:3–10, the apostle goes on to summarise the core elements of this ‘gospel’: ‘For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them – though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.’

‘According to the Scriptures’, not ‘according to the Apostle Paul’, ‘Christ died, Christ is risen, Christ has appeared, even to me!’ Paul explains that this telling is of ‘first importance’. We are first and foremost, people of the gospel!

We have established our media ministry to maintain the tradition of what is of ‘first importance’. It is this telling of the good news, so that we might by any means save some, all for the sake of the gospel, so that we may share in its blessings (1 Corinthians 9:22,23).

I thank God for the founders, servants and supporters of Lutheran Radio and TV, the Lutheran Hour and Lutheran Media, ‘bringing Christ to the nations’.

In Christ,

When people filled Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adelaide to listen to the launch of The Lutheran Hour radio program in Australia on 2 September 1945, they could not have known what that event would set in motion.

That broadcast effectively was the birth of an enduring and life-changing outreach ministry, which today, 80 years on, we know (and love) as Lutheran Media.

Of course, it was a very different time. World War II had barely ended in the Pacific, with considerable rationing still in place. A fair percentage of households owned a ‘wireless’ for news and entertainment, but television was still more than a decade away in this part of the world.

– could have known what forms gospel outreach through media would take in 2025.

Lutheran Media is now far more than a radio ministry. While radio spots (played across more than 1200 frequencies) still have a vital role in sharing messages of life and hope in Christ, there are also videos, podcasts and social media posts, as well as booklets and other resources, both for children and adults.

WHILE THE MEDIA AND MINISTRY NAMES MAY HAVE CHANGED ... THE LIFE-GIVING MESSAGE THEY SHARE HAS NOT.’

None of the people listening to Dr Walter Maier’s message from those stately wooden pews – nor anyone tuning into 36 stations in capital cities and rural centres around the nation

Today, Lutheran Media reaches millions of people through its flagship Messages of hope ministry across this wide array of platforms.

We thank God for his gift of 80 years of Lutheran Media and mark this anniversary in the pages of this edition. Truly, the greatest blessing of this gospel outreach is that while the media and ministry names may have changed over eight decades, the life-giving message they share has not.

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Service to others is an important aspect of a Christian’s life of faith. Jesus emphasised serving others when he said, ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in … Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25:35,40). Jesus’ message speaks of love in action. Muhammad Ali – a boxer who once declared himself ‘the greatest’ – described service to others as ‘the rent you pay for your room here on Earth’, reminding us of how temporary our time on Earth is.

God is the owner of this world, and we’re simply renting space. And what do we do in gratitude for the space our gracious landlord has given us? We serve others.

Throughout its 80-year history of sharing the gospel via media, Lutheran Media has been blessed by many who’ve walked through its doors to serve. With hearts of love, these dedicated volunteers served the hungry – those needing a word of encouragement. They served the thirsty – those longing for the life-giving news of Jesus’ love. They welcomed strangers –those invited into the loving embrace of the Father through the saving work of the Son.

Marlene Janusitis and Margie Stewart.

Below: Barry Marschall volunteered for the LCA’s media ministry for 18 years, while his daughter, Robyn Oatey, currently donates her time and talents to serve with Lutheran Media.

BY TANIA NELSON

Others lent their voices for recordings so that all could hear of Jesus’ love. Volunteers packed newsletters, sent booklets and Scripture calendars and distributed audio files to radio stations. Volunteering is life-giving – not only for the recipient but for the server. Volunteer Robyn Oatey says she always knew that when she retired, she would spend time volunteering.

‘My mum and dad have both been volunteers at various times,’ she says. ‘Dad (Barry Marschall) volunteered at Lutheran Media for 18 years before moving to SA's south coast, where he now volunteers with OzHarvest. My only question was: Where would I volunteer? I knew I wanted it to be in the church somewhere.

GOD IS THE OWNER OF THIS WORLD, AND WE’RE SIMPLY RENTING SPACE.

‘God’s timing is always spot on! I had worked with Tania Nelson on the churchwide Council for Local Mission, and she knew how I worked and what skills I could offer. Her invitation sounded like just what I was looking for. And the link back to Dad’s volunteering with Lutheran Media seemed more than a coincidence!’

Robyn is an organiser and, like her father before her, ensures the Lutheran Media office runs smoothly. She is helping with our website upgrade and preparing Lutheran Media to go as paperless as possible.

Volunteers took phone calls from listeners requesting booklet offers or small giveaway items. Des Kalisch, the chair of Lutheran Media Ministry from 1996 to 2006, recalls managing the phones on Christmas Day to ensure listeners were responded to quickly and efficiently.

Many other people served as scriptwriters, using their expertise to craft gospel messages for a hungry audience.

Lutheran Media gives thanks to God for volunteers who have assisted in many ways. In 2024, more than 800 volunteer hours were generously given to this outreach mission of the LCA.

Dr Tania Nelson is Manager of Lutheran

Left: Lutheran Media Communication Coordinator Jo Chamberlain (left) and Lutheran Media Manager Dr Tania Nelson prepare for a recording session in late 2024. Below: Director Pastor Lance Steicke (right) and Production Manager Kevin Clarke work on reel-to-reel equipment in the 1980s.

There are many ways we use media to communicate a message, but when it comes to the gospel message, how can we authentically share the hope we have in Jesus through media?

In biblical times, we see tablets (made of stone, not digital!), scrolls and preaching in public places. Today, the world seems much more complex, and the range of ways in which people receive information is enormous.

Also, with the phrase ‘fake news’ being bandied around these days, how do we authentically and effectively share the truth of the gospel with people?

The one piece of news we can rely on as the ultimate truth is the word of God – the good news – written in God’s own words through the Bible. Throughout history, people have tried to interpret, rewrite and scrutinise what the Bible really is; however, as Christians, we know with absolute certainty that it is the word of God.

BY JOANNE CHAMBERLAIN

Even in Jesus’ time, people relied heavily on the word of God being spread by mouth: ‘As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:20). Messages were also passed from generation to generation:

‘These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up’ (Deuteronomy 6:6,7).

THE NEWS WE CAN RELY ON AS THE ULTIMATE TRUTH IS THE WORD OF GOD ... WRITTEN IN GOD’S OWN WORDS THROUGH THE BIBLE.

So, how can we authentically share the word of God with the people around us? The simple answer would be to give them a Bible; however, how many people in the world today use print media as their primary source of information?

If we want to reach people with the message of God’s salvation, forgiveness, peace and restoration, we must consider how we communicate it using more than just words on a page.

How powerful the gospel can be when we take the time to share it with people, taking Philip’s example as the Lord showed him the way to meet with a eunuch who was struggling to understand Scripture in Acts 8:30a,31:

‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ Philip asked. ‘How can I,’ he said, ‘unless someone explains it to me?’ So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

Lutheran Media seeks to reach millions of people and bring them hope, just as the early church did. For the past 80 years, Lutheran Media (and its previous incarnations) has sought to reach everyday people with the gospel through media.

From its humble beginnings as The Lutheran Hour, the very first radio broadcast on 2 September 1945 was heard across 36 stations in all capital cities and large rural centres in Australia. Dr Walter A Maier’s powerful sermons reached

people in places far and wide, inspiring 106 mail responses and a total of 46 pounds in donations.

Today, the ministry has evolved into one that reaches millions worldwide through podcasts, video, audio and printed resources and social media. How did Lutheran Media become what it is in 2025?

From the very first airing of The Lutheran Hour, there was a thirst for people to respond to the gospel message. Keen listeners would write in, sharing how the message had impacted them and asking for help on challenges they were facing.

In 1978, the decision was made to establish Face to Face – Australian content that delved deeper into the lives of everyday Australians. Many changes were made throughout the decades that each brought new meaning to the identity of Lutheran Media.

Clockwise from left: Pastor Richard Fox was director of Lutheran Media from 2012 to 2023; Dr Walter A Maier presented The Lutheran Hour, which was first heard in Australia in September 1945; Pastor Richard Mau led the LCA’s media outreach between 1996 and 2012.

A former Lutheran Media director, Pastor Richard Mau, reflects on this in the history book, Lutheran media ministry – 80 years of blessings:

We developed and launched a logo. The words ‘Sharing Jesus’ appeared over a sloping cross placed over and beyond a map of Australia. It suggested that Jesus would be at the heart of everything we would do to share God’s plan of salvation and eternal life in Christ with Australians and many beyond our shores. The logo was very wellreceived. It helped us all to produce and distribute programs and resources that focused on ‘connecting people to Christ through radio, television and the internet’ (pp 16,17).

In partnership with Lutheran Hour Ministries, booklets were introduced as a great source of comfort for people facing crises. Topics such as relationships, parenting, addiction, depression, chronic pain, grief and ageing have brought new hope to people experiencing real-life challenges.

When Pastor Richard Fox became the new director of the rebranded ‘Lutheran Media’, there was even more consideration of the branding:

I had the pleasure of rebranding Lutheran Media – with the tagline ‘Communicating Christ’ – and moving from Face to Face to Messages of hope to reach more people online. The content of Messages of hope moved to a conversation, discussion and interview style.

Today, Messages of hope shares real stories of people who have encountered Jesus’ love, peace, forgiveness, restoration and hope through the most challenging times. Globally, people can listen to Messages of hope through the website www.messagesofhope.org.au or on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

The reach of media goes beyond radio programs, booklets and videos. Through social media, a new audience of younger generations is engaging in faith conversations, being inspired by Messages of hope through Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

LUTHERAN MEDIA SIGNIFICANT DATES

The first radio broadcast of a church service takes place from Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adelaide.

On 2 September, The Lutheran Hour airs for the first time on Australian radio.

The Lutheran Hour starts broadcasting in Australia on shortwave radio from Manila at Christmas.

US soldiers bring The Lutheran

to Australia at the beginning of World War II.

On 18 September, the first Face to Face program airs.

The Australian Lutheran Hour builds its own recording studio at 70 Pirie Street, Adelaide, ending its partnership with 5DN after 25 years.

The Face to Face website is launched: www.facetoface.org.au

The LCA approves a name change from Australian Lutheran Hour to Lutheran Media Ministry.

The vision of Lutheran Media today is to create a world in which each person finds hope, comfort and purpose through the power of uplifting and transformative content. It is important to multiply our reach and engagement through media with messages of hope in Jesus.

The Lutheran Media website at www.lutheranmedia.org.au shares helpful resources for Christians and church communities. You can visit our social media page to access current content for lectionary readings or explore the many resources available to download and use for your context. Messages of hope (www.messagesofhope.org.au) is the outreach arm of Lutheran Media. It seeks to reach people with a message of hope in everyday life and its challenges. You can visit this site to encounter God or grow your understanding of God at work through the stories of people who have found hope in Christ. Through this website, families and children can access Hope for kids – a new pathway in discovering engaging ways to share faith with children.

You can find out more about the ministry of Lutheran Media and Messages of hope by visiting these websites.

May God continue to bless this ministry as we seek to be Christ’s ambassadors, sharing hope in the world today.

DVDs of LCA worship services begin to be distributed through Lutheran Media.

A Lutheran Media website for families and children is launched: www.happyland.com.au

Left: Board of Lutheran Radio and Television 1980. Back: Pastors JTE Renner, FW Proeve, SM Simpfendorfer and RJ Winderlich, Mrs P Vosgerau (minute secretary). Front: HL Semmler, IA Traeger (secretary), RH Lohmeyer (chairman), Pastors LG Steicke (director) and EW Koch. Below: Board for Lutheran Media 2024. Back: Ben Hentschke, Bryan Elliott, Julian Schubert. Front: Maya Kraj-Krajewski, Ray Meharg, Sarah Wiltshire, Tania Nelson. Absent David Fechner, Jarrod Graetz, Tim Stringer

LUTHERAN MEDIA SEEKS TO REACH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE AND BRING THEM HOPE, JUST AS THE EARLY CHURCH DID.

Joanne

New branding for Face to Face ( Messages of hope) and Lutheran Media (Communicating Christ) is introduced with taglines in brackets. YouTube videos are launched.

Social media outreach begins. In October, livestreamed worship launches from St Michael’s Lutheran Church, Hahndorf SA.

Face to Face becomes Messages of hope with the launch of websites: www.messagesofhope.org.au www.messagesofhope.org.nz

The Lutheran Media calendar competition is launched.

Happyland becomes Hope for kids, with resources available at www.messagesofhope.org.au/ hope-for-kids

BY JOANNE CHAMBERLAIN

We can trace the tradition of the Lutheran church’s use of media as a means of sharing the gospel all the way back to Martin Luther himself.

Believing that being able to access Scripture in one’s own language was critical to growing God’s kingdom on Earth, Luther took advantage of Johannes Gutenberg's 15th-century invention of the movable-type printing press, which created a mechanised system for mass-producing books. This was instrumental in bringing the printed word of the Bible into a German translation and making it available to anyone who could read or hear others read it.

As Lutheran Media celebrates its 80th anniversary in Australia, we have explored the way in which ‘media’ has changed in just a few decades. In 1945, the first radio program of The Lutheran Hour was broadcast across Australia in every capital city and some large rural areas. For the first

time, households could listen to Dr Walter A Maier preach his sermons in their very own homes.

From listening to sermons and inspiring hymns on the radio as they were broadcast, media outreach has evolved into what we have today, with podcasts and modern Christian music able to be ‘streamed’ on our smartphones or computers on demand.

The content shared by the LCA’s media ministry has changed over the years, as we have responded to listeners seeking to share their story of hope. The gospel message remains, but now we can hear and share more about the impact the good news of Jesus has on real-life challenges.

THE REALITY IS THAT FOR MANY PEOPLE, [TEXTING AND SOCIAL MEDIA] IS THEIR PRIMARY FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

Lutheran Media shares these stories in 2025 through Messages of hope, and you can listen to them on any of more than 1,200 radio frequencies across Australia and New Zealand, online or through the Spotify digital audio service or Apple Podcasts.

Just as Luther was inspired to print the Bible in a language his community could understand, many today seek to inspire others with the gospel message through print media. Where everyday Australians have sought to read about current events and news through newspapers, newsletters and bulletin notices, we can find the good news printed in booklets, devotional books and other publications.

Lutheran Media produces booklets on various topics with the gospel message as their core. People can access these as downloadable PDFs or printed booklets to take into aged-care homes or while visiting the sick or those in need. Bringing the gospel through printed media is a vital link for people who are seeking to understand God at work in their situations of depression, loneliness, grief and life challenges.

MEDIA HAS EVOLVED, AND SO HAS THE CHURCH.

However, printed media is not the chosen format for everyone. Many people, including members of younger generations, communicate and receive their information differently. We might baulk at the idea of having genuine conversations through texting and social media; however, the reality is that for many people, this is their primary form of communication. Many of us do it ourselves, too, sending an email or text message instead of picking up the phone for a ‘real’ chat. Perhaps our recent past of COVID-19 restrictions has limited our ability to communicate, forcing us to rely primarily on the internet and online chats.

Yet, even before the 2020s, younger generations were seeking out social media as a means of finding information. Did you know you can learn to make wine by googling it? Or that you can learn how to do just about any dance move on YouTube?

According to a 2022 report by McCrindle Research, ‘A snapshot of the changing faith landscape’, ‘TikTok is the number one platform for Gen Zs, with almost half (46 per cent) engaging with it at least weekly to help them in their spiritual life.’ The question is: What are they watching? And is it helpful for their spiritual life as Christians? We also know that the first encounter many people have with Christianity is not in churches but online. Many will seek to learn about a church through its website before ever stepping through its doors.

Lutheran Media understands the importance of reaching people where they are and brings messages of hope to the places where they are seen, known, heard and responded to.

While booklets and radio programs have been a vital link in sharing the gospel with people for many years, we know that the impact of digital technology today means we now have an even broader reach. People worldwide can access Lutheran Media content via our websites at www.lutheranmedia.org.au and www.messagesofhope.org.au

Before people walk into a church, they can watch a sermon online. When people are searching for hope, they can encounter the gospel message through our podcasts and social media pages.

Media has evolved, and so has the church. While church communities are the vital link in fellowship, relationship and discipleship, the online church community of organisations such as Lutheran Media means people can encounter Christ through multiple media platforms.

Today, our ministries continue to provide radio programs and podcasts. People can also access a variety of resources and videos to help them through everyday challenges.

The vision of Lutheran Media is to reach millions of people and bring them hope.

Lutheran Media board chair Pastor Ben Hentschke says that over the years, he has seen ‘how these messages have lifted people up, giving them hope in difficult times’.

‘That’s why I’m passionate about this ministry … It’s a way to help more people hear about the life-changing love of Jesus,’ he says.

Just as we are in the world but not of the world, we need to understand how to be effective in an ever-evolving world; otherwise, the hope we wish to share will not be heard or experienced, just like a dusty book left on a bookshelf. We must go into the world with this message, spreading the gospel far and wide in as many ways as we know how, while remaining true to the word of God.

Even as I write this article, I’m attending a Christian Media and Arts Australia conference, at which technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) are being used to share the gospel.

Lutheran Media remains faithful to the gospel message – that will never change. However, new technologies are a gift worth exploring if we are to authentically reach new generations, as we seek to pursue the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20), and take the real message of hope to those who have not yet encountered Christ’s love.

LUTHERAN MEDIA PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS SHARE MESSAGES OF THANKS

It has been a delight to read messages of support and congratulations from across Australia, New Zealand and beyond for the work of Lutheran Media and its Messages of hope. Radio stations, media partners and listeners have joined in the excitement of celebrating 80 years of sharing Jesus via media. Here are snippets of just some of the encouraging comments received.

Tania Nelson, Lutheran Media Manager

At Vision Christian Media, we’ve been honoured to partner with Lutheran Media for many years, broadcasting Messages of hope multiple times each weekend across our national radio network. As Content Director, I see firsthand the power of hope-filled messages, like the ones Lutheran Media produces. They meet people right where they are: in cars, at home and even in the midst of a crisis. Vision shares a deep commitment to proclaiming the gospel in everyday language, reaching Australians with the comfort and clarity of Christ’s love. Like Lutheran Media, our ministry is made possible by the generosity of everyday believers who support our mission to help people look to God daily. We thank God for 80 years of faithful service from Lutheran Media, and we’re proud to stand alongside you in sharing the message of hope.

Andrew 'Robbo' Robinson, Content Director, Vision Christian Media

On behalf of all of us at PositiveMedia, I want to extend our warmest congratulations to Lutheran Media on 80 remarkable years of [sharing] messages of hope. I’ve had the personal privilege of journeying alongside Messages of hope over the years, ensuring that each message not only reaches our audience but truly strikes the right chord. The blend of honesty, encouragement and Christ-centred hope has deeply resonated with our listeners, and it's been an honour to play a part in sharing those stories through our platform. At PositiveMedia, we’re dedicated to providing positive, safe and family-friendly content across multiple platforms. From fun and uplifting moments to soul-stirring reflections, our mission is simple yet powerful: to see every life alight with the love of Jesus. Messages of hope has played a significant role in that mission, gently guiding people through life’s challenges with grace, faith and authenticity. We celebrate this milestone with you and look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership.

Jobby Mathew, Business Development Executive, PositiveMedia

Life FM plays Messages of hope spots in both long and short form. This has been a blessing to our listeners, as the Messages of hope team covers a range of different topics with a spiritual perspective, offering hope and shining light into areas that are, at times, not well covered by Christian media. Our live fundraising appeals give those who donate an opportunity to comment on why they are supporting Life FM. It is not unusual for them to comment on the Messages of hope content as one of the reasons. Thank you for all you do.

Lorrene McClymont, Operations Manager, Life FM (107.9) Adelaide

Resonate Regional Radio has been proudly partnering with Lutheran Media for around 17 years to share Messages of hope through our radio network. I have personally been communicating with Lutheran Media for many years. These engaging spots reflect Christian values, offering comfort, inspiration and faith-based encouragement to listeners across regional Queensland communities. I would like to congratulate Lutheran Media on eight decades of outreach, connecting with Australians wherever they are – whether at work, play or home. This partnership continues Lutheran Media’s mission of sharing messages of hope through Resonate Regional Radio, reaching hearts and homes throughout Australia with timeless gospel truth.

Deb Gillespie, Resonate Regional Radio, including 4SB (1071AM) Kingaroy Qld

Thank you for all the good work you do on the radio. I get great strength from the Messages of hope programs. The number of times God speaks to me through your resources … it’s incredible!

Lynette, listener

I hope you all realise the incredibly important work that you do and what it means to all of us who listen to Messages of hope and the difference it makes in people’s lives.

Simon, listener

We’re a community radio station and were looking for Christian content to be played on Sundays. We found Lutheran Media’s content to be commonsense and very topical. That was about 20 years ago, and the content was known as Face to Face. Fast forward to today, and we’re still finding the content to be topical, with good stories that share experiences of everyday life. Messages of hope is … filled with reassurance that there is hope. Feedback from listeners says that the messages contain very good stories. Now and then, a listener reports that the topic was just what they needed to hear. Messages of hope has a loyal following, and that’s why we consistently play the 15-minute message after the 10am news bulletin. We’re here for the local community. Thank you to Lutheran Media for providing good stories for our community.

Robert Dean, Warrumbungle Regional Radio, (2WCR 99.5) Coonabarabran NSW

the Footsteps of Apostle Paul in Greece and Western Turkey

Tour date: 15-25 May 2026 (10 nights)

Stand at the foot of the Acropolis where Apostle Paul preached, challenging the ‘Unknown God’ of Greek philosophy (Acts 17:16-34). Here was the beginning of Christianity in Europe. Follow in the evangelist Paul’s footsteps, as we journey from the majesty of the Acropolis to Thessalonica, Corinth and more Take time to enjoy the beauty of picture -per fect islands of Mykonos, Santorini and Patmos as we sail across seas that Paul traversed.

When The Lutheran Hour first aired in 1930, members of the organisation we now call Lutheran Hour Ministries shared a vision of spreading the gospel message far and wide through the innovative technology of radio.

Their bold vision to broadcast beyond the United States was achieved in 1940 when a radio station in Ecuador aired the program in both English and Spanish, reaching audiences not only in Latin America but also in faraway places like England, the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.

The program celebrated another significant milestone on 2 September 1945, when dozens of Australian radio stations began beaming Dr Walter A Maier’s inspiring messages into cities, rural areas and coaches of passenger trains. That broadcast served as the catalyst for forming Lutheran Media, reaching people throughout Australia and New Zealand with messages of hope in Jesus.

BY KURT BUCHHOLZ

music in 1948 with local choirs, offering short Christ-centred messages that address everyday concerns, and renaming the broadcast multiple times before landing on Messages of hope Expanding beyond radio to include television, online platforms, booklets and more has allowed millions of people to learn about the transformative love of our Saviour.

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS OUR WORK, AS TOGETHER WE

MAKE HIS NAME MORE WIDELY KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD.

Since that initial airing, Lutheran Media has implemented new ways for its radio programming to better connect with Australians, such as replacing American

These customised approaches for outreach exemplify the unique ministry model that Lutheran Hour Ministries continues to deploy today. By identifying and equipping local laypeople to build their presence and impact using strategies and tactics contextual to the culture in which they serve, people experience the gospel in ways they can best understand. Today, working through local staff, volunteers and partners like Lutheran Media, Lutheran Hour Ministries shares Christ’s message of hope in more than 60 countries.

One way that we continue to work with Lutheran Media is by sharing materials from our successful Project Connect booklet ministry. These booklets are written from a Christian perspective. They provide down-to-earth insights on relevant life topics that people face every day, such as grief, stress, prayer, relationships and more.

Some popular booklets among Australians include Where’s God in All of This?, Why Do Bad Things Happen?, Your Place in God’s Plan, Take Heart in Your Grief, Stressed but Connected, Journey Through Addiction, and Talking Openly with Kids.

As Lutheran Media celebrates 80 years of media outreach, we at Lutheran Hour Ministries are extremely grateful for this ongoing partnership. May God continue to bless our work, as together we make his name more widely known.

has served as CEO of Lutheran Hour Ministries, a global mission organisation based in St Louis, Missouri, since 2013.

Today, people around the world experience the gospel through Lutheran Hour Ministries programs, services or materials nearly 275 million times each week. The Lutheran Hour remains the world’s longest-running Christ-centred radio program, reaching hearts and sharing the life-saving message of salvation every week on around 1,700 stations in North America, through streaming platforms, on the ‘Connected by LHM’ mobile app, and online at www.lhm.org and www.lutheranhour.org

BY TIM STRINGER

PRAYER

POINTS

5–11 OCTOBER

People who listen to or watch Messages of hope radio spots and videos

12–18 OCTOBER

Delegates and attendees at the LCANZ’s online Special Convention of the 21st General Synod (18 Oct)

19–25 OCTOBER

Staff, students and visitors at the Australian Lutheran College’s new library

26 OCTOBER–1 NOVEMBER

Lutherans in NZ, on the anniversary of the signing of He Whakaputanga, the nation’s Declaration of Independence in 1835 (28 Oct)

2–8 NOVEMBER

Lutheran Media’s 80th anniversary celebrations, including worship at Hahndorf, SA (2 Nov)

9–15 NOVEMBER

Technicians, musicians and worship leaders who enable the church to worship through online services

16–22 NOVEMBER

Effective, gospel-hearted outreach across social media platforms

23–29 NOVEMBER

Families and children to deepen their relationship with Jesus through Lutheran Media’s Hope for kids ministry

30 NOVEMBER–6 DECEMBER

People who read Lutheran Media’s Messages of hope booklets and those yet to receive these messages

Throughout the ages, people have used the latest technology to keep in touch, share good news and encourage one another. Why should today be any different?

Over the centuries, humans have developed various means of communication; some better than others, but all designed to communicate a message.

Most would agree that oral communication came first, and then progressed to written forms – on stone, papyrus, paper, handwritten, then by the printing press. People have used semaphore, telegraph, Morse code, telephone, radio and, eventually, the internet.

These methods have been used to share good news and bad, the arrival of friends and enemies, and both warnings and encouragement.

Read 1 Peter 1:1–12.

This is an encyclical letter sent to various groups of Christians spread throughout various provinces, with a common message to a network of dispersed believers.

What message does it bring? Was it good news? Who shared this with them initially? Would this letter provide encouragement to you if you had been an original recipient? Does it today?

When I lived in Roxby Downs in the 1990s, I would sometimes travel to Adelaide. When we were in range, I would tune the radio in the car to Life FM. It was great to hear positive messaging and Christian songs while driving around the city, and it included (if my memory serves me correctly) messages from Lutheran Hour Ministries and Lutheran Media. What a joy it was in a less-than-positive radio market to hear the good news of Jesus. As a Christian, I found this uplifting and encouraging.

Read James 1:1–5.

Here is a letter written to the 12 tribes, scattered among the nations. The writer sends greetings and encouragement to a dispersed group whose members are facing some trials in life.

Have you ever received encouragement from others? Was this from near or afar? Are either of these more or less valid/ effective? Would those receiving this have been grateful or uplifted?

When I became a pastor and was assigned to a parish in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, one of the first tasks I had was to deliver a tract that a radio listener had requested after hearing about it on the Christian radio station in Melbourne.

It was a chance to deliver the tract in person and put a human face to the connection made via the radio. This person had no connection to a faith community, but the message had reached them through the technology available to bring them some hope at a difficult time in their life.

Read Acts 17:16–43. What community is discussed in this reading? What method did Paul use to connect with those who were listening? Were they all receptive to its message?

Is the world we live in today so different to the time and place Paul found himself in at Athens all those years ago? People don’t know who God is or have never heard of Jesus! How can this be possible? It’s surprising but true. How can we, like Paul, find a touchstone to connect with where these people are?

Most people these days are connected to some form of social media. Platforms come and go, and so do the people, but for now, social spaces online are where people are sourcing their information and connections.

Read Romans 10:14,15. How can those who have not heard of Jesus call on his name? How will they hear?

We who have heard the good news are the ones who can share that same news with others. Lutheran Media is one vital source in those spaces, helping those who have not heard or seen to have access to this news and hope.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for those who have shared the good news of Jesus with us. Help us by the power of your Holy Spirit to speak, act and show your love to those in our network. Equip us and others to use the means you have given us to share your love and hope far and wide. Amen.

Rev Dr Tim Stringer is Australian Lutheran College Principal.

o ngregat i onal l i f e

CELEBRATING THE SEASON OF PRAYER

BY BETHANY FIEDLER

Each year, the LCANZ facilitates a Season of Prayer, inviting and calling on congregations to pray. The season is scheduled for 5 to 19 October this year, and, as in previous years, the theme is ‘Lord, renew your church’. Three service orders, for the three weeks of the Season of Prayer, are available on the Worship Planning Page. These include PowerPoints, readings, sermons, and other resources.

Congregations are invited to spend three weeks of intentional prayer for spiritual revival, hope, and joy in your church; the mission of your local congregation and that people will come to know Jesus through our congregations’ mission and ministry. We hope and pray that this Season of Prayer will be a catalyst for ongoing, deepening prayer in our churches. For more information, email the Commission on Worship at: cow.commissiononworship@lca.org.au.

MISSIONAL PRAYER SUGGESTIONS FOR CONGREGATIONS AND COMMUNITIES

• Use the sermons on prayer and worship resources from the Worship Planning Page (www.lca.org.au/season-of-prayer) in your public worship.

• Pray for God to send out harvest workers.

• Regularly incorporate prayer for church plants and mission situations in the Prayer of the Church.

• Organise a ‘call to prayer’ for your congregation – pick a particular time during or after the Season of Prayer, such as a Saturday morning or Sunday afternoon, and gather with others for several hours of prayer.

• Facilitate a congregational prayer group, for example, before Sunday service or over breakfast.

• Members of the LCANZ run a regular prayer meeting on Zoom to pray for renewal and mission across Australia and New Zealand. For information about when it is on and how to join, email darren.kupke@lca.org.au.

• Organise a call to prayer in a regional way in your locality. Publicise and invite other congregations to take part on a particular day.

IDEAS FOR INDIVIDUALS AND SMALL GROUPS

• Engage in personal prayer and fasting during the Season of Prayer.

• Pray for the persecuted church. Prayer suggestions can be found at www.opendoors.org.au

• Run a three-week Bible study on prayer using one of the study outlines provided (www.lca.org.au/season-of-prayer).

• Start a small prayer group within your church – some groups meet before worship on a Sunday, and others meet over breakfast or coffee on another morning of the week.

• Organise a prayer walk around your neighbourhood. As you walk, ask, ‘Holy Spirit, what are you up to here? Heavenly Father, how do you want to bless this neighbourhood? How might we be part of that?’

• Pray the Blessing Prayer with others for your town, suburb or region (www.lca.org.au/prayer-of-blessingfor-a-town-suburb-or-region).

NAVIGATING SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media can be a great outreach tool. However, navigating this space can be tricky. Most people know that you never, ever, put anything on social media (even on your private or closed-group page) that you wouldn't want the world to see. Harm to the name of the Lutheran Church (and worse, the name of Jesus) can be done if you post inappropriate material on social media. There are also other things to consider:

• Does your congregation really need a social media presence?

• If so, who will be responsible for the content?

• How do you keep your people, especially children, safe on social media?

• How can you guard against inappropriate content being posted?

SETTING ‘HOUSE

RULES’ IS

IMPORTANT

Currently, in the social media space, the LCANZ Churchwide Office uses only Facebook. While there are plenty of other options out there, Facebook is the platform many people in our church are using, so that's where we're putting our energy. Your social media audience might mean you use something else, or a variety of social media platforms.

But no matter what social media you use in your congregation or community, you need to consider how you will manage your site, so that it stays true to your aims and is a faithful witness to Christ in our world. At the Churchwide Office, we have adopted some house rules for LCANZ Facebook. You are welcome to use them as they are or adapt them for your own social media as appropriate. You can find them on the LCANZ’s Social Media webpage at www.lca.org.au/social-media

INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE

On the LCANZ’s Social Media webpage (www.lca.org.au/ social-media), you can find an array of helpful documents. In addition to the LCA Facebook House Rules, these include the church’s social media policy, Churchwide Office Social Media Procedures, Safe Online Ministry with Young People, The Ten Commandments for Social Media, and even a Bible study on the topic.

MORE HANDY FREE RESOURCES

If you are looking for things to post on your congregation or agency’s social media platforms that are helpful to members and visitors, there are free, pre-prepared promotional and inspirational images that you can simply copy and drop into your pages.

As part of the LCANZ's Bulletins and Announcements suites promoting Churchwide Office, agency and partner services, there are Facebook and Instagram posts available on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/bulletinsand-announcements.

Meanwhile, Lutheran Media offers Bible verse inspiration with ready-to-use social media posts available on its website at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/social-media

1:1–4; 2:1–4

–

2:1–5,13–17

1:11–20

19:11–27

Tract

GET READY FOR GOD’S LIGHT

BY ANNE HANSEN

As you read this, Christmas may still seem a way off. But, before long, Christmas lights will appear in homes, yards and shopping centres. These lights can serve as a reminder that, as Christians, we look to the coming of the ‘Light of the World’. That’s why Lutheran Tract Mission’s new Advent devotional this year is entitled ‘Shine the Light’. In each day’s devotion – from the beginning of Advent on 30 November until Epiphany on 6 January – the focus will be on a different passage of the Bible relating to God’s light, in his story and plan for the world. Each devotion contains a short reflection, Bible reading and prayer.

EASY TO USE IN MANY CONTEXTS

Produced as a free downloadable and printable booklet, Lutheran Tract Mission’s (LTM) Advent devotional is also available as a flipbook to read on your digital device. Individuals, congregations, schools and aged-care facilities may wish to print and give them out to share God’s grace. The back page is also editable, so add your church’s Christmas service times before printing it out to keep and give away.

Find the link to the devotional on the LTM website homepage (www.ltm.org.au).

NEW WAYS TO REACH OTHERS

Lutheran Tract Mission (LTM) has also just had a print run with lots of new tracts – leaflets, postcards, text cards and bookmarks for all occasions. These can be found under New Resources on the LTM website at www.ltm.org.au

If

The LTM website has more than 1000 resources in 47 categories, which can be read, ordered and sent electronically as free eTracts. This is a wonderful way to send a birthday greeting, congratulations, sympathy message or just to let someone know you are thinking of them.

Anne Hansen is Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer.

OWN A PIECE OF HISTORY

Now you can own a piece of Lutheran Media history with the book that details eight decades of outreach, which began with the radio broadcast of The Lutheran Hour in September 1945.

Lutheran Media Ministry in Australia and New Zealand: 80 years of blessings is a celebration of Lutheran Media’s 80th anniversary and includes stories from former directors and presenters, with reflections on the highs and lows of financial constraints on its ministries and the impact of media on everyday lives.

You can buy this new special edition collection of stories and images for AU$15.00 via the Lutheran Media website at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/ store/80-years-of-blessings or by phoning 1800 353 350 during SA business hours.

Self-contained

Continuing the practice of Kay Hoffmann

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• Wills - new and updated

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After-hours appointments available

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A member of St Stephen's congregation Adelaide

LCANZ Church House move nears

The refurbishment of the new LCANZ Church House in Adelaide’s CBD is progressing steadily, with the project now in the final stages of building services replacement and interior fit-out. Staff are expected to move into the new premises at 139 Frome Street by no later than next month (November).

The five-storey building will also include space available for use by other Lutheran entities, which the LCA’s Executive Director of Church Operations, Brett Hausler, said ‘reinforces Church House’s role as a shared resource for the wider church community’. He also welcomed the progress in relocating the Churchwide Office and Australian Lutheran College (ALC) after the sale of the ALC campus and LCANZ Churchwide Office (CWO) buildings last year.

‘This milestone marks a significant step forward in delivering a modern and purposebuilt facility for the LCA,’ he said.

Church House’s key operational areas –levels 2 and 3 – are designated for staff from the CWO, ALC, Lutheran Media, LCA International Mission, Australian Lutheran World Service, Lutheran Education Australia and Finke River Mission, and will include workspace for visitors.

Designed for collaboration and flexibility, level 3 will feature versatile spaces including a boardroom, workshop areas and multiple meeting rooms. At the heart of this level is the staff hub, a multipurpose area designed to support both day-to-day operations and informal staff engagement.

‘A standout feature of this level is the use of operable walls, allowing the space to be

reconfigured for a variety of events and functions,’ Brett said. ‘This flexibility enables multiple room combinations, making it ideal for workshops, training sessions and collaborative gatherings. Importantly, this space will also be available for use by other Lutheran entities on a booking basis.’

The ground floor will house the CWO reception and a new events and exhibition space, which will serve as a flexible venue for educational displays showcasing Lutheran heritage and future directions.

‘Designed to support both the wider church and community outreach initiatives, this exciting addition will foster engagement, learning and connection,’ Brett said. ‘This area is designed to welcome both internal and external visitors, supporting community engagement and outreach.’

Online Synod to consider doctrinal statement

A Special Convention of General Synod is being held online on Saturday, 18 October 2025. This is in accordance with a resolution of the 21st Regular Convention of General Synod in October 2024, that a Doctrinal Statement on Ordination be prepared by the Commission on

Theology and Inter-Church Relations for submission to an online Synod in 2025.

In addition, unfinished business from the regular convention is on the agenda. This relates to complaints handling, appeals and discipline; alternate Synod delegates; the Hidden Hurts Healing

Hearts campaign; and full participation of Specific Ministry Pastors. Agenda papers are available online at www.lca.org.au/ synod2025

The convention will also be livestreamed, with access available through the same page on the LCA website.

New Lutheran schools leader announced

Lutheran school principal Ms Jodie Hoff will be the next Executive Director of Lutheran Education Australia (LEA).

The appointment was announced on 9 September by Board of Lutheran Education Australia (BLEA) Chair Jill Lange-Mohr OAM, who described Jodie as ‘a deeply committed Lutheran educator, and a strategic and relational leader, with more than 25 years of executive leadership experience in Lutheran schools’.

‘She is passionate about Christ-centred learning communities that are visionary and grounded in gospel and grace,’ Jill said of Jodie, on behalf of the board.

Also, on behalf of BLEA, she thanked outgoing Executive Director Associate Professor Lisa Schmidt, who has served in the role since 2019 and finished her tenure last month.

Jodie Hoff is the founding principal of Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School (LORDS), at Pimpama in South-East Queensland, having served in that position

Lutheran school principal Ms Jodie Hoff will be the next Executive Director of Lutheran Education Australia from January 2026.

since 2011. She earlier taught at Trinity Lutheran College, Ashmore and St Andrews Lutheran College, Tallebudgera, both on the Gold Coast. At St Andrews, she also served as deputy principal. Her qualifications include a Master of Educational Leadership degree, a Graduate Diploma in Theology and a Bachelor of Education.

Jodie will relocate to Adelaide and begin the LEA role in January 2026. LEA’s Director of Leadership Suzanne Jessen will be Acting Executive Director in the interim.

Jodie views the role as ‘a call’ rather than ‘just a position’. ‘Over time, I’ve seen how God has led me into roles that bring together faith, education and service,’ she said. She is most looking forward to ‘being alongside school leaders, regions and communities, encouraging them to be confident in their identity and to share the hope we have in Christ’. ‘I’m excited about strengthening relationships between schools and congregations and about helping form new leaders who will take Lutheran education into the future,’ Jodie said.

‘My hope is that our schools are places where young people encounter Jesus; where faith and learning go hand in hand. I hope our schools are known for both their excellence and their grace, and that together we keep offering a vibrant, faithful witness to the wider community.’

A member of Alberton Lutheran Parish in Queensland, Jodie also serves voluntarily as chair of the Australian Lutheran World Service Board since 2020.

ALC library dedicated

Members of the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) community and LCANZ leadership were among those who gathered to celebrate the dedication of the new ALC library in the Adelaide CBD recently.

The college is keen to welcome church members at the 22 Pulteney Street site to explore the specialist theological collection, which serves the learning and research needs of the LCANZ and its regional and global partners.

ALC Principal Dr Tim Stringer led the dedication service, in front of current and former ALC staff, board members, members of the LCANZ’s College of Bishops and General Church Board, and representatives of Lutheran Archives and from the University of Divinity, of which the college is a part. LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith conducted the rite of dedication for the collection’s new home, a move necessitated by the sale of ALC’s North Adelaide campus.

Dr Stringer acknowledged the importance of the library as a hub for theological scholarship and a place for fostering informed faith and encouraging spiritual growth.

‘May this library serve as a house of learning, a well of wisdom, and a workshop of grace for all who enter its doors or receive books loaned from these shelves,’ he said.

on the day of the new ALC library dedication. The college is keen to welcome people from across the church to visit the 22 Pulteney Street site in Adelaide’s CBD.

Photo: Amy Dahlenburg

Library facilities include study areas, wireless access, printing, copying and scanning, and membership is free for pastors, lay workers, church office staff and Lutheran school teachers.

Opening hours for the library are 8.30am to 4.00pm, Tuesday to Friday (closed public holidays). For more information, including how to get to the library, visit the ALC website at www.alc.edu.au

Women’s ministry advocate appointed

As part of the implementation program of the ordination proposals from the 2024 Convention of General Synod, Dr Pauline Simonsen (pictured) has been appointed as the LCANZ’s Advocate for Women in Pastoral Ministry.

ALC enrolments boost continues

At ALC, the 2025 academic year has seen an influx of new students enrolling in study, with many of those embarking on a pathway leading to pastoral ministry.

Factors behind this growth include the change in the way ALC delivers its courses – no longer a requirement to move to Adelaide, the flexible approach it takes towards planning individualised pathways for its students and the LCANZ’s significant change in teaching around the issue of ordination.

pathway and 15 are on a Specific Ministry Pastor pathway.

This is a voluntary role to provide a primary contact for women of our church who are considering training for the office of the public ministry, and women serving as pastors among us. Pauline is serving in this work in 2025, after which time the General Church Board (GCB) and the College of Bishops (CoB) will review the role.

This is a key role, providing advice and support to LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith and the wider church, including GCB and CoB, as we journey together as the people of God with pastors who are women.

In this role, Pauline will attend to matters such as developing support networks for women who are candidates and pastors, helping to ensure that concerns of women who are candidates or pastors are identified and addressed in a timely way, and ensuring that there is a repository maintained of matters relevant to the support of and guidance for women.

A spiritual director and an experienced Christian retreat leader, Pauline serves as the dean of Emmaus, a Christian training provider in Palmerston North, New Zealand. She has served on various committees of the church in New Zealand and Australia, including more than 20 years on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations. Pauline and her husband Roger belong to the Manawatu Lutheran Parish.

Women who are considering ordination to pastoral ministry in the LCANZ are invited to connect with Pauline at advocateWPM@lca.org.au

In Semester 2, ALC has 45 students enrolled in theology and ministry courses – 16 females and 29 males. Of those enrolled in ministry studies, 11 students have embarked on a General Ministry Pastor

‘Student numbers would suggest that there has been a considerable increase in confidence in the training programs ALC is delivering,’ said ALC Principal Dr Tim Stringer. ‘The increase in enrolments and the level of participation in ALC’s recent intensives held in Melbourne speaks to this success. ALC looks forward to partnering with congregations as, inspired by the Spirit, members continue to encourage potential pastors and lay workers to embark on formal training for ministry.’

ALC welcomes inquiries from potential students year-round. For more information, email enquiries@alc.edu.au

Giving thanks for 80 years

Lutheran Media continues to celebrate its 80 years of sharing Christ through media.

More than 60 people attended a high tea in Queensland recently to give thanks to God for his blessings on Lutheran Media and its previous iterations, including Lutheran Media Ministry, Lutheran Radio & TV and the Australian Lutheran Hour

Guests gathered at Concordia Lutheran College in Toowoomba to hear Pastor Ben Hentschke, chair of the Board for Lutheran Media, share stories from the ministry’s history and about the importance of outreach. Funds raised at the event will support Lutheran Media’s ongoing work, which is funded through donations and sponsorship.

Meanwhile, in June, a thank you lunch in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, at

Kies Family Wines, was attended by almost 100 people. Guests included former directors, past interviewees from media programs, donors and supporters. Former Lutheran Media directors Richard Mau and Richard Fox shared their insights, speaking about how the ministry had relied on God’s provision and the commitment of supporters. Lutheran Media Manager Tania Nelson said a highlight of the event was hearing from people who had contributed to or been impacted by the organisation’s work.

The final anniversary celebration will be a thanksgiving worship service at 9.30am on Sunday, 2 November at St Michael’s Lutheran Church, Hahndorf, South Australia. More details are at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/events

After 26 years of serving the LCA, including 14 years as editor of The Lutheran, Linda Macqueen has retired. The church’s communications manager for the past dozen years, she has, across a quarter of a century, transformed the way the LCA communicates with members and how our national magazine interacts with thousands of loyal readers. She interviewed many hundreds of people in producing a magazine worthy of the prestigious Gutenberg Award of the Australasian Religious Press Association (pictured), so now we’ve flipped the script and asked her the questions.

What have been the most fulfilling elements of your roles?

Linda: The most satisfying years were those I spent as editor of The Lutheran, and the best part was listening to people as they shared their stories – often coming from places of deep pain and unresolved faith conflicts. It was always an incredible privilege that people would tell me their stories, and so it was important that the way I wrote their story honoured them and the trust they’d put in me. I hope those people know how much their vulnerability helped many brothers and sisters in Christ.

How has the way the church communicates with its members changed?

When I started, The Lutheran was the only communication tool the LCA used. Over time, we’ve added websites, direct targeted emails (eNews), videos, podcasts, and of course, social media – which I sometimes love and sometimes loathe. It’s a real challenge keeping up with ever-changing media technology, especially when the church has limited resources. And of course, the next big thing is AI. That’s up there with the internet in terms of its impact on the information and communications landscape.

What were your goals for The Lutheran when you began as editor?

The Lutheran was (and still is) the ‘national magazine of the church’. In my view, the church is the people, not just those who sit on boards and committees. So, I wanted to move it away from the official or sanitised stories of the church and make it ‘real’, more personal and relatable. I wanted people to see themselves in the stories and see that it’s normal to be wobbly in your faith, or wrestling with an addiction, or struggling with some doubt or grief. And if you’re like that, you have a place here with us other broken and wounded people. I wanted people to see that God does his best work through our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

How has the role of the church’s magazine changed?

When I took over as editor, The Lutheran was the place to publish official statements and opinions of the LCA; it wasn’t a place to offer alternative or nuanced views. One of the first things I did was open up a conversation about the ordination of women. To my mind, it was bizarre that we weren’t talking about things like this in the magazine of the church. So, the conversation got going – and there was a bit of fur flying because this was new and different – but people got used to it, and now it’s normal to talk about the issues before the church and society in The Lutheran and other church communications.

What are your hopes for the church’s communications ministry?

It’s anybody’s guess what church communications will look like in 10 years. But one thing will hold firm. God will continue to communicate with his people. He will never stop searching for the lost sheep and will use whatever methods are available. I hope the church will embrace the best communications tools we can, but more importantly, hold fast to the reason we’re communicating in the first place – that Jesus Christ came to save us and everyone else in the world, too. Any Christian can point to Jesus through their words and actions, and in that sense, everyone is involved in communications ministry. So, my hope and prayer as I leave my formal job as a communicator in the LCANZ is that every person in our church will recognise their role in communicating the greatest story ever told.

Read more of this story at www.lca.org.au/linda-reflections

NEW RESOURCE REMINDS US OF GOD’S PROMISES

BY JODI BROOK

Have you ever wondered how to respond to questions such as ‘What is life all about?’, ‘Why do bad things happen?’, ‘Is there a God and does he actually do anything?’ and ‘Does God care about me?’

When people ask such direct questions about God and his world, we may find answering them daunting, even though we have the gift of faith in God and in Jesus Christ as our saviour. But is there an uncomplicated way to explain what we believe?

To help with just this situation –and many others – the Lutheran Church has developed, produced and now expanded a free set of resources.

that introduce people to what Lutherans believe. A project of the LCANZ Churchwide Office, this versatile and free faith-life resource unpacks key Lutheran teachings using the short films as conversation starters.

GOD LOVES US AND IS CLOSE TO US, SURROUNDING US WITH HIS PRESENCE – EVEN WHEN WE EXPERIENCE DOUBTS AND FACE LIFE’S TOUGHEST CHALLENGES.

One of the most basic tenets of our Lutheran faith is that we believe that God is always with us, always present. God loves us and is close to us, surrounding us with his presence – even when we experience doubts and face life’s toughest challenges.

That is why the name ‘Presence’ has been chosen for a ninepart video series with newly added companion study guides

The videos have been available for a number of years, while the study guides were released recently. They are designed to help new and old Christians alike explore questions about life, faith and God.

The Presence videos and study guides are adaptable to many settings within congregations, schools and aged-care and community care centres.

Pastor Dan Mueller, from Immanuel Lutheran Church Buderim in Queensland, says his congregation has used Presence in ‘a variety of ways: as a small group resource to dig deeper into the Lutheran faith, as an introductory course for newcomers, and even as a way to gather us at the start of worship’.

Presence has also been used in Lutheran school settings, with Pastor Matt Wilksch from St Peters Lutheran College at Springfield in Queensland, explaining that it has been used

during staff devotion time to help staff without a Lutheran background to ‘understand the purpose of the Lutheran Church, and to reflect on the deep questions of life and faith’.

‘The video series presents topics in such an engaging and thought-provoking way,’ he says.

‘I am receiving very positive feedback, which suggests the videos are resonating deeply. I’m so delighted to see our church produce such a fantastic resource.’

Presence is also an ideal resource for people who are new to the Lutheran Church or curious to learn more, as well as for people who have begun work in a Lutheran school, aged-care or community organisation.

LCA Churchwide Office Finance Manager Saliya Hatangala described the videos as ‘a standout feature’ of the LCA’s staff induction. ‘It sets the tone for service, not merely as a job, but as a vocation rooted in shared faith and community,’ he says.

‘Focusing on the themes of God’s presence, communal belonging, personal attentiveness, and the use of God-given gifts, the series lays a solid foundation for meaningful and compassionate work.

‘I left the induction not just with information, but with inspiration, a renewed sense of calling, and a desire to be present, in every sense of the word, as I embark on my journey within the LCA.’

Part

Part

Part 3:

Part 4:

Part 5:

Part 6:

Part 7:

Part 8:

Part 9:

‘THE PRESENCE VIDEO SERIES IS A FANTASTIC RESOURCE – VISUALLY STUNNING, THEOLOGICALLY RICH, AND INCREDIBLY VERSATILE.’

One of the Presence videos was also used during a devotional time for the youth group at St Petri Lutheran Church, Nuriootpa, South Australia. St Petri Child, Youth and Family Ministry Director Sharon Green says the short video message ‘opened a fantastic discussion among our teens and leaders’. ‘[It is] a great conversation starter about life, faith and God’s truth for us from the word,’ she says.

At Warradale Lutheran Church in suburban Adelaide, the Presence videos were shown during a Sunday evening service for those unable to attend the Sunday morning worship.

Congregation member Priscilla Rathjen says the videos were ‘suitable for new and well-established Christians, and they could also be an outreach opportunity’. ‘I really enjoyed this affirmation of my own faith,’ she says. ‘I am never too old to learn more about Jesus and his great love for us.’

‘The Presence video series is a fantastic resource – visually stunning, theologically rich, and incredibly versatile,’ Pastor Mueller says.

‘We are so grateful that the LCA Churchwide Office has made this high-quality series available to everyone for free.’

1 PETER 4:10

In Going GREYT! we feature stories of some of our ‘more experienced’ people within the LCANZ, who have been called to make a positive contribution in their retirement. We pray their examples of service will be an inspiration and encouragement to us all as we look to be Christ’s hands and feet wherever we are.

Learning to see God’s messages in the simple, everyday things of life has enabled 81-year-old Bernie Dewar to share God’s love on the airwaves.

Through a weekly radio program produced by her local St Peter’s Elizabeth Lutheran congregation and broadcast on a northern Adelaide community radio station, Bernie writes, presents and shares short devotional messages that connect everyday life matters with God’s word.

Bernie honed her skill of devotion-writing during her 23 years as a school assistant at St Paul Lutheran School at Blair Athol in suburban Adelaide, where staff took turns to write devotions for a weekly newsletter.

‘God enabled me to see messages from him in the simple everyday things of life,’ Bernie says.

A contributor to St Peter’s past monthly newsletters, Bernie was approached by Geoff Burls – a veteran of the congregation’s 40-year community radio program and Lutheran Media supporter – about using her devotional material on the church’s radio show. Bernie countered with a much more generous offer of writing and presenting several new three-to-six-minute devotional segments per year as time permitted. Her first segments were first broadcast in November 2009, and they’re still going in 2025!

This has been the latest of many activities Bernie has put her hand to throughout her adventurous life. It’s an approach to living forged from a lifelong love of learning and teaching.

‘MY CONFIRMATION TEXT WAS PAUL’S WORDS ON THE ROAD TO DAMASCUS: “LORD, WHAT WILL YOU HAVE ME TO DO?” AND IT WAS OBVIOUSLY TEACHING.’

BY HELEN BRINKMAN

‘My confirmation text was Paul’s words on the road to Damascus: “Lord, what will you have me to do?” And it was obviously teaching,’ Bernie says.

At 16, she passed her Leaving Certificate at Clare High School in SA’s Mid North. She had planned to attend Adelaide Teachers College, but first spent a year as a classroom assistant at Hermannsburg (Ntaria) Lutheran mission, approximately 120 kilometres southwest of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.

‘I loved it! I loved and was loved in return by the Aboriginal people,’ she says. ‘I got to play the old pedal organ for church, supervised the School of the Air kids, worked in the store and, of course, at the school. The next year I did come back to Adelaide, went to teachers' college, and then my life really began!’

Bernie began her teaching career schooling children of English migrants at Smithfield, in Adelaide’s north, followed by roles at a school at Quorn in the Flinders Ranges, and at the Koonibba Mission near Ceduna in South Australia’s west in 1964.

From there, she went to Papua New Guinea (PNG) to teach at Menyamya, a school accessible only by plane from the eastern port city of Lae. Local people mostly still wore grass skirts and capes of beaten bark to ward off the cold.

Bernie’s first class in PNG consisted of 46 students, including little ones, teenagers and young men and four girls, and by the second week she was asked to take chapel in Pidgin English.

‘It’s amazing what God and the help of a good Pidgin dictionary could do,’ she says.

Bernie recalls a Christmas party the six teachers planned for the Menyamya School, at which they cooked up a treat of barbecued sausages flown in from Lae, accompanied by rice.

A 5-kilogram bag of rice being cooked over an open fire soon expanded beyond its initial large preserving pan, requiring more and more pans to be found and more fires lit, until six or

Right: Bernie Dewar believes God called her to be a teacher, and that call included serving in Papua New Guinea in a remote school in Menyamya, where she is pictured with students in 1965 and where she met her husband-to-be, Tony.

Middle right: Now in her 80s, Bernie still enjoys pursuing her lifelong love of gardening.

Bottom right: Bernie writes, presents and shares short devotional messages on a weekly radio program produced by her local congregation and broadcast on a northern Adelaide community radio station.

seven pans of rice were finally cooked and shared among 50 to 60 children, who couldn’t have been happier! They ate it all.

‘It was at Menyamya that I met my husband-to-be Tony,’ recalls Bernie. ‘On my second day there, a red Suzuki twin motorbike roared up the hill to the mission, off hopped a skinny little bloke – who’d been ill with some unknown tropical disease and weighed 6 stone 12 oz when I met him – and his first words were, “You’re the girl I’m going to marry!”. Says I, arms folded in typical teacher pose, “Well, I don’t think so!!”.’

Her attitude changed several months later after Tony, who ran an outstation hospital with indigenous staff, nursed Bernie back to health after she suffered pneumonia. ‘That was when I discovered he was a truly loving, caring, funny Christian man,’ says Bernie of her late husband.

The pair were married in Clare two years later in February 1967, before returning to PNG for working stints in the capital Port Moresby, Kainantu in the Eastern Highlands, and Madang on the north coast, where they survived experiencing an 8.3-magnitude earthquake.

Their son Steven was born in 1971, and as he approached school age, they were advised to leave. The family departed for Adelaide just after PNG celebrated its independence in September 1975, settling back in Adelaide’s north and joining St Peter’s Lutheran Church.

It was there Bernie regained her piano skills – ‘having a go’ – playing for Sunday evening services. She’s now the congregation’s only pianist, but stresses, ‘I’m not gifted, but an ordinary pianist totally guided by God.’

It’s that guidance from God, affirmed in her confirmation text, that she reflects in her busy life, which is filled with her love of hospitality, a lifelong love of gardening, and her leadership of weekly Bible studies.

And it’s God’s messages of love, revealed in our everyday lives, that Bernie continues to share with the community across Adelaide’s northern suburbs.

Helen Brinkman is a Brisbane-based writer who is inspired by the many GREYT people who serve tirelessly and humbly in our community. By sharing stories of how God shines his light through his people, she hopes others are encouraged to explore how they can use their gifts to share his light in the world. Know of any other GREYT stories in your local community? Email the editor lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au

CALLS

Extended

• Rev Mark C Altmann

Emeriti Pastor to St Stephens Adelaide SA

• Rev Adam W Eime

Peace Lutheran College Cairns Qld to Darwin Top End NT

• Rev Dale T Gosden

Concordia College Highgate SA to Blair Athol SA

• Rev Nigel J Rosenzweig Victor Harbor SA to Indooroopilly Qld

• Rev David J Seligmann Eight Mile Plains Qld to Emerald Qld

• Rev Mark W Worthing

Port Macquarie NSW to Port Macquarie NSW and seconded to the NSW-ACT District

Accepted

• Rev Simon W Cooper

Immanuel College Novar Gardens SA to Onkaparinga SA

• Rev Peter D Heintze Mallee SA to St Pauls Hahndorf SA

• Rev Mark W Worthing

Port Macquarie NSW to Port Macquarie NSW and seconded to the NSW-ACT District

Declined

• Rev Mark C Altmann

Emeriti Pastor to St Stephens Adelaide SA

• Rev Simon W Cooper

Immanuel College Novar Gardens SA to Immanuel Lutheran Church Novar Gardens SA

• Rev Adam W Eime

Peace Lutheran College Cairns Qld to Darwin Top End NT

• Rev Dale T Gosden

Concordia College Highgate SA to Blair Athol SA

• Rev Steven L Hibbard Maitland SA to Cleve SA

• Rev Nigel J Rosenzweig Victor Harbor SA to Indooroopilly Qld

• Rev David J Seligmann Eight Mile Plains Qld to Emerald Qld

• Rev Kees C Sturm Townsville Qld to Redlands Qld

INSTALLATIONS

• Rev Damien J A Martin – Installed to Barossa North SA on 3 August 2025 by SA-NT District Bishop Andrew Brook

• Rev Paul A Hage – Installed to St Johns Wodonga Vic on 10 August 2025 by Vic-Tas District Bishop Lester Priebbenow

• Rev Mark W Worthing – Installed to St Peters Port Macquarie and Frontier School of Mission NSW on 10 August 2025 by NSW-ACT District Bishop Richard Schwedes

• Rev Tanya L Wittwer – Installed to Adelaide St Stephens SA on 24 August 2025 by SA-NT District Bishop Andrew Brook

• Rev Mark S Simpfendorfer – Installed as Specific Ministry Pastor for St Paul’s St Marys and Our Saviour Springwood NSW on 31 August 2025 by NSW-ACT District Bishop Richard Schwedes

• Rev Mark T Welke – Installed to Pilgrim Magill SA on 31 August 2025 by SA-NT District Assistant Bishop for Mission Stephen Schultz

UPCOMING ORDINATION

• Bruce Flanagan – to be ordained and installed as Specific Ministry Pastor for Good Shepherd Sutherland and Living Waters Liverpool NSW on 9 November 2025

ROLL OF PASTORS

• Rev Sam P Davis – Resigned and granted a peaceful dismissal from the LCANZ Roll of Pastors, effective 3 July 2025

• Rev Joyce Graue – Admitted to the LCANZ Roll of Pastors as an Honorary Pastor, effective 14 August 2025

• Rev Greg J Lockwood (Emeritus) –Resigned and granted a peaceful dismissal from the LCANZ Roll of Pastors, effective 14 August 2025

• Rev Paul G Calnan – Resigned and granted a peaceful dismissal from the LCANZ Roll of Pastors, effective 1 September 2025

• Rev Mark S Simpfendorfer – Change in status of call from Interim Specific Ministry Pastor to Specific Ministry Pastor for St Paul’s St Marys and Our Saviour Springwood NSW. See also Installations.

• Rev Mark T Welke – Assigned by the College of Bishops to Pilgrim Lutheran Church Magill SA. See also Installations.

IN MEMORIAM

• Mrs Gina Reu, widow of Pastor Trevor Reu, died on 11 July 2025. Her funeral was held on 21 July 2025 at St Petri Lutheran Church Nuriootpa SA, followed by committal at St Johns Cemetery, Tanunda SA.

• Mrs Anne Bartsch, wife of Pastor Malcolm Bartsch, died on 17 August 2025. Her funeral was held on 28 August 2025 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hope Valley SA.

• Mrs Ivy Edna Roennfeldt, widow of Pastor Victor Roennfeldt, died on 28 August 2025, age 102. Her funeral was held on 5 September 2025 at Christ Church Lutheran Murray Bridge SA, followed by burial at Bordertown Cemetery SA.

LUTHERAN CHURCH

In Memoriam

Marcus Wheeler

Rev Marcus Wheeler born 16 Oct 1947; married Betty Namatjira Wheeler (date unrecorded); ordained 25 Nov 2007; served the Ntaria Hermannsburg Community NT (2007–2024), retired 24 Mar 2024; died 22 Aug 2025 (Hermannsburg NT); funeral details yet to come; mourned by wife Betty, their children and families, and the Hermannsburg community

WANTED! PICTURES, SLIDES, LETTERS … Do you have photos or other information relating to the people and life of Hermannsburg and Finke River mission (FRM)?

For years, I have been scanning photos and slides provided by former mission staff to be preserved in the Old Lutheran Church Alice Springs Living History Space. This is to ensure the history of FRM is not lost, not only to preserve Aboriginal history, but to get this back to the Aboriginal people. This is part of their story, which they are keen to have preserved.

If you or someone you know has visited or worked for FRM or has inherited material and has pictures and information of historical interest, I am keen to see and scan it. I worked at Hermannsburg from 1960 to 1982 and will know many of the people and events in your material.

– Colin Jericho

Ph: 08 8264 9736 • Email: colinjer32@gmail.com

All past pastors, members and families are invited to celebrate the years of this faith community. Lunch will be provided in the church hall after the service. RSVP to Greg Schmaal for catering purposes, 0427 485 217 ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH SADDLEWORTH SA

Sunday 19 October 2025

10.30am: worship

Congregation formally established 14 February 1923 – Pastor HWE Harms Foundation stone laid by Dr CF Graebner 24 May 1925 Church dedication 4 October 1925

Your Voice

‘Please pray for our church leaders’

The Lutheran Church of Australia began with a number of boats bringing immigrants from Prussia. There were no doubt times when the sea was rough, and the boats rocked. Currently, the LCA is rocking. Our bishops have been charged with a synodical resolution to be a church where two teachings on women’s ordination may be held. This is perhaps a world first and could provide an example for other world churches to follow.

May I encourage us all to pray for our bishops and other leaders? They face many and constant challenges on our behalf and are doing an excellent job. Apart from our prayers, we could help by speaking respectfully about those with different viewpoints, cooperating with our bishops’ directives, and doing all we can to keep our ship steady.

May I encourage our church members with the words of Hebrews 13:17? ‘Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch over your souls as those who must give an account. To this end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that would be of no advantage to you.’

Rev Dr John Thiel – Windsor Gardens SA

‘Congratulations and thank you, ALWS!’

Congratulations to ALWS on its 75th anniversary.

ALWS has done some wonderful work for Jesus, our loving Heavenly Father, helping all those people who are distressed and living in downcast areas.

We praise God and thank ALWS for all it has done and will continue to do.

I will continue to pray for you all.

Dawn Herbig – Mount Barker SA

Opinions expressed in letters are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. Shorter letters will be given preference over longer letters. Subscribers’ letters will be given preference over those from non-subscribers. Letters longer than 300 words and those containing personal attack will not be published. No more than two letters from the same author will be published in a calendar year. Some letters may be edited for clarity.

FAITH-CULTURE COMMUNITY

Saturday Evening Concert, November 1 st - Tanunda Show Hall

You’ll find most – if not all – of the answers to these questions in the pages of The Lutheran (as well as below the Sudoku).

1. In what year did a Lutheran media ministry officially begin in Australia?

2. What was the name of the program first broadcast in Australia on 2 September that year?

3. What are the two Lutheran Media children’s ministry names of the past 17 years?

4. To what role has Lutheran school principal Jodie Hoff been appointed?

5. Which former editor of The Lutheran has recently retired, and for how long did he or she serve in that role?

6. What’s the address of the new Australian Lutheran College Library?

7. On what date each year is Reformation Day observed?

8. Which other festival of the church year immediately follows it?

9. Name four different media or platforms through which Lutheran Media shares Messages of hope

10. Who is the LCANZ’s Advocate for Women in Pastoral Ministry?

www.eckermanns.com.au 08 8366 7988

LCANZ COMPLAINTS

Many complaints can be resolved before lasting hurt is caused, by addressing them quickly in a non-threatening manner and by raising the issue directly with the relevant person or organisation in a thoughtful and courteous manner. If this is not applicable or possible in your situation, you may lodge a complaint with the Professional Standards Department in any of the following ways: Phone the free-call number (Aust 1800 644 628 NZ 0800 356 887), email complaints@lca.org.au or write to Confidential, PO Box 519, Marden SA 5070.

IN A FEW WORDS

…

‘Great communication begins with connection.’

– TV PRODUCER AND HOST, AUTHOR AND PHILANTHROPIST OPRAH WINFREY

‘This world needs more than good works. It needs good news. Good works come out of the good news.’

– PASTOR AND AUTHOR MARK DRISCOLL

SUDOKU

Every number from one to nine must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal columns and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. No number can occur more than once in any row, column or box. The solution will be printed in the next edition.

QUIZ ANSWERS

Having an accurate and up-to-date will is one of the most important things you can do for your loved ones. Also, a gift to Lutheran Media in your will can make a huge difference to the lives of others. After your loved ones are looked after, we ask that you consider a legacy that brings hope to many.

If you would like information about leaving Lutheran Media a gift in your will, email us at office@lutheranmedia.org.au

Further details are available on our website at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/gift-in-wills

Sharing hope for 80 years

Phone FREECALL 1800 353 350

office@lutheranmedia.org.au

youtube.com/messagesofhope @luthmedia

‘You don’t forget about us. When we see people coming and visiting us, it gives us courage to continue.

In our co-op, we have more members and are getting more production. This means more storage space is needed. We do not want to have to sell our products at lower prices because we do not have enough storage. This is important for us.

Now, members of our co-op and our neighbours can stock their harvest, keep it secure and we can monitor it for them.

Then, when a buyer comes, we can readily sell. We know we can easily sell the products at a price that is good for everyone.

We are grateful that you have done a lot for us.’

Pascal, Burundi

You can bless others like Pascal by dedicating a gift in your Will to keep on helping people through ALWS. As you do, those you love will see the values precious to you live on. See also the back page story.

1300 763 407 * alws.org.au

alws@alws.org.au

Thank you!

‘Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.’ Hebrews 13:2

Burundi is one of the five poorest countries in the world.

Yet, when their neighbour, Democratic Republic of the Congo, collapsed into conflict, the Burundian people opened their arms to people like Pascal who were fleeing for their lives:

‘One Sunday, the enemy summoned the men of a nearby village, claiming they were needed for work. When the men arrived, about a hundred were killed. The same thing happened in other communities.

‘These so-called “invitations” were executions. We had to flee.

‘The Burundian people welcomed us warmly.

‘Even though food is scarce, and healthcare is limited, we felt safe and treated with kindness.’

Through ALWS, a Lutheran-supported team provided refugees like Pascal with survival basics:

• blankets to keep warm

• sleeping mats

• mosquito nets

• cooking utensils

Four hundred and forty-five girls and women received hygiene kits that included a bucket, a cloth, three pairs of briefs, a hand towel, five reusable sanitary towels, four shower soaps and four laundry soaps.

One mother, Triphonie, shared her heartfelt thanks:

‘I thank you for this kit, because I had nothing.’

The photo shows the joy your kindness and hospitality bring. People praise God when they see they have not been forgotten. Through ALWS and partner LWF, you are part of a Lutheran family bringing love to life. Thank you!