God has wonderful ways of turning simple gifts into great blessings. The Lutheran Church of Australia’s Stamps for Mission project has raised nearly $540,000! All proceeds are donated to LCA International Mission programs and projects. This is possible due to the dedication of volunteers who collect, clean, package and sell the stamps.
Stamps for Mission was established in 1938 through the efforts of Pastor Ted Koch and Mr Ern Unger. Ern became the first stamp receiver and did this for the next 65 years, encouraging many others along the way. 2018 marks ten years since LCA International Mission (formally Board for Mission) took over the Stamps for Mission project from the Lutheran Youth of Australia. It is overwhelming to think how much money has been raised from those seemingly worthless used stamps. We thank God for His blessing through this project.
Preparing stamps
If you would like to join in God’s mission in this way, please post your used stamps to one of our wonderful volunteer stamp receivers (listed opposite). To make life easier for them, we’ve prepared some guidelines for you, as you prepare your stamps for them. Download the guidelines.
To print a poster which you can display at your stamp collection point download the poster here.
2025 Programs and Projects supported by Stamps for Mission
National Youth Conference, Myanmar
The Federation of Lutheran Churches in Myanmar (FLCM) National Youth Conference is organised by the FLCM member church leaders. As participants of the conference, youth are involved in sharing a daily devotion, Bible teaching on various topics, fellowship fun games, and they reflect together on the importance of deep and non-judgemental listening for personal evangelism sharing. Through your support, youth are given a platform to build trusting relationships, and are being inspired by hearing one another’s life experiences.
Cultivate Program
Cultivate is a discipleship and evangelism program. Your support will enable young adults to delight in the certainty of the Heavenly Father’s love and rest in his graciousness, be introduced to different spiritual disciplines and church practices and are encouraged to participate for their own spiritual formation, form relationships with young adults from other contexts who also share a faith in Jesus, have a space in their local faith communities where they are embraced and able to encounter the alive and almighty God in a real and personal way, and gain confidence in sharing the gospel with those who are not yet followers of Jesus.
Sekolah Tinggi Diakones HKBP, Indonesia
In Scripture, deacons are not ‘called’ (as pastors are) but are qualified by God and chosen by the church. The deacon’s office is the office of a servant. For many young women studying at Sekolah Tinggi Diakones HKBP in Indonesia, their role models have been deaconesses from their home churches, noticed because of their servant hearts. The daily schedule is full for the 123 students who live on campus. The day begins at 5am with personal Bible reflection and concludes at 10.30pm after worship. Your support enables the training of women who will feed the physically hungry with food, as well as bringing the Holy Spirit’s joy into the lives of the suffering, poor, weak, sick, marginalised and oppressed.
Ogelbeng seminary in Papua New Guinea
Ogelbeng Seminary is running a five-year Certificate in Theology program, which includes three years of theory, 8 months of vicarage, and then one final year of study back at the seminary. After graduation, the students return to their church districts to serve as vicar pastors for one to two years. They are ordained by the Head Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua New Guinea upon the request of the church district presidents. After ordination, they are posted to different congregations as full-time pastors. Through your support, this pastoral formation helps to shape and develop mature ministers of the gospel.
Saturday Club, Thailand
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Thailand’s Saturday Club focuses on improving the quality of life of children and youth through the strengthening of the cooperation between churches and local communities. The Saturday Clubs are held in local church buildings and are run by volunteers from the churches. Through your support of the Saturday Club the children are: provided a safe space where they can learn about local traditions from the tribes to which they belong, reminded of their rights as valued members of Thai society, given a healthy meal, given knowledge of how to take care of the environment, learning how to speak and write their heart language, and engaged with Bible studies through song and craft.
Tang Krang Community Centre, Cambodia
The Tang Krang Community Centre (TKCC) is located in Kampong Cham Province, about 1.5 hours from Phnom Penh. It was established in July 2016 by the Lutheran Church in Cambodia’s youth evangelism team. Your support enables TKCC to conduct various community outreach programs, including family ministry, agricultural projects, sports ministry, home visitations, Khmer and English language teaching, preschool education, the Alpha program for youth, outreach in the Bek Peang area, parent-teacher meetings to encourage parents to send their children to school, monthly Bible studies, and family support services. There is also a Sunday worship service on Sunday afternoons.
Download the programs/projects flyer or contact the LCA International Mission office to request hard copies.
Need more inspiration?
Read these stories about our stamp receivers and the difference Stamps for Mission is making in God’s mission.