LCSS Seeks Translated Copies of Luther's Small Catechisms
I ask that you focus your attention on the immediate short term appeal from Pastor Jordon Long, President of the Lutheran Church of South Sudan (LCSS).The LCSS is a new church with no walls. Most of its members worship in tents, huts, or open spaces. and they have no educational materials written in their indigenous languages.
On March 14, Pastor Jordon was able to communicate with Eric Swensson and update the current situation for the LCSS. Around the area where Pastor Jordon lived, about 2000 people were killed. It became necessary for him to leave that area. The Christian College where Matthew Riak was at when the violence started had one security guard killed before it was taken over and still remains a military post. Generally, the people of the LCSS have scattered, and are in hiding in the bush or have fled across the border to refugee camps.
Pastor Jordon will be staying in a refugee camp just across the border from South Sudan in Ethiopia. In the midst of all this chaos and despair, Pastor Jordon sees great opportunity to minister to the many desperate people around him in these refugee camps. He says the one thing that would be most helpful to him would be Luther's Small Catechisms translated in their native languages. He knows this would be the most useful tool he could have to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to so many people in need of Him.
Think about that!!! Pastor Jordan did not ask for money, food, water, shelter, or safety from harm, but for Luther's Small Catechisms to help him minister to the people around him in the refugee camps.
Currently, the LCSS website lists only four American friends and partners. They are: LCMC, the Augustana District of the LCMC, the Institute for Lutheran Theology (ILT), and the Disciple Ship.
The ILT has been in discussion with the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), and they currently have the catechisms translated into the proper native language. They are willing to work with us to get them to these refugee camps for Pastor Jordon to use. The books cost only a few dollars each. The LHF has a group going to Ethiopia at the end of April, and can help arrange for these catechisms to get to Pastor Jordon.
So, the timing of this appeal is immediate.
Please consider individually, or as a congregation, donating a few dollars to:
LCSS Catechisms
910 4th Street
Brookings, SD 57006
The North American headquarters of LCSS is at the Institute of Lutheran Theology, so please send any checks to LCSS in care of ILT. 100% of your donation will go to the catechisms.
If you have any questions, please contact Eric Swensson at (914) 712-5440, or ejswensson@gmail.com. He is also a member of the LCMC Missions Forum and will see any post that appears there.
Thank you, and count your blessings, and at least consider praying for all of God's people in South Sudan. Log in to add a comment
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