33 years ago I watched the verdant mountains of the Markham Valley recede into the distance and, in my heart, I said goodbye to my home. I was fourteen years old. New Guinea had been my life; a life full of adventure and freedom and family and fun. Since then, in the intervening years, I […]
Shining God’s light into the world can happen wherever you may be, whatever your skills, and whenever you least expect it. It may take years to see where God is calling you, where God wants you to shine his light. In the case of Sunshine Coast retiree Arthur Hall, it was a 62-year long journey […]
The end of their scholarship time in Australia was fast coming to a close and Jon Saragih and Jonriahman Sipayung had been requesting the visit more frequently each time we met and were eager to have the opportunity to spend some time with someone they admired and respected. I knew that Clem was unwell, but […]
It’s 7am as I wake to the sound of children down below. I’m at “Rumah Agape Kundasang” school, located on one of the many mountain slopes here at Kundasang in Sabah, Malaysia. Through my bedroom window is a stunning view of Mt Kinabalu (when it is not completely covered in cloud). School doesn’t start until […]
In October I was given the great privilege of attending the Gereja Kristen Protestan Simalungun (GPKS) Festival of Choirs as their guest speaker. This is a two-day festival. Delmi, my minder and interpreter, and I arrived on the Saturday morning well before proceedings began. I was amazed at the colour of their outfits; some were […]
Nam is thirty years old and about six months pregnant when she comes to us; she is not quite sure and has not yet been to a doctor. For the last few nights, she has been sleeping in a park. A woman she met felt sorry for her and contacted Home of Grace to ask if […]
Many of you may have read of the recent floods that have struck Nepal. Reverend Joseph Soren, a leader in the Nepal Evangelical Lutheran Church and a scholarship holder in Australia last year, has emailed regarding the sad news that Nepal has been facing a severe natural disaster due to continued heavy rains last week […]
The Grow Leadership team came together for their first intensive at Nunyara Conference Centre in Belair, South Australia. Grow Ministries was supported by other departments of the LCA to provide an opportunity for participants to delve deeper into what leadership is, Lutheran theology and spiritual reflection. Emma Graetz (Grassroots Training) began the journey with two […]
Sitting on our balcony we hum the tune to ‘Give me a home among the gum trees’ with irony, as we now live in a concrete apartment block with a balcony that overlooks another elegant concrete wall. But our new addition of fake grass is bringing some Aussie flavour to our surroundings! Apartment living is […]
In 2015 LCA International Mission sought a significant way to recognise the 50th birthday of the LCA and the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The general brief was to focus on intercultural youth leadership development, with the involvement of young adults from the LCA and our overseas partner churches. Partnering with Grow Ministries, LCA International […]