The NALC is committed to the renewal of all our congregations, working to develop and deliver resources that challenge and open the NALC to the work of the Holy Spirit in our ministry and mission. During Lutheran Week in Indianapolis, the Mission Festival is designed to inspire and serve as a resource to congregations. This includes specific “break out” sessions on a variety of topics. “Shining in the Darkness: The Word of God at Work Around the World” is hosted by the Rev. Dr. Paul Gossman and NALC Global Workers.
“For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” —2 Corinthians 4:6
God spoke the world into being at the beginning of time. By the same creative mechanism, God speaks faith into our hearts, light into our communities, and hope into human cultures around the world up to the present day. He creates these things by the power of his Word!
In Acts 1:9, we also read: “You shall be my witnesses…to the ends of the earth.” The ministry of the NALC engages in and supports global missions. Particular emphasis is placed on working with and through existing partners and our Global Workers. Join the Rev. Dr. Paul Gossman from the World Mission Prayer League as he hosts NALC Global Workers. This breakout will share stories about the Word of God at work in some of these remote corners, provide an opportunity to ask questions and receive updates from our Global Workers, and give opportunities for personal involvement.
Presenters:
Paul and Pris Gossman have long understood themselves to be called to mission. After Paul’s graduation from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, they served as missionaries in the tribal highlands of the Philippines, training leaders and planting churches. Along with their daughter Sarah, they later served with WMPL in Peru, doing similar work among the poor in the city of Chiclayo. Since their return to the U.S. in 2000, the Gossmans have served in bilingual and multiethnic parish and parachurch ministries in Illinois, Washington and Oregon. Paul also holds a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He headed that department at Trinity Lutheran College from 2005-2008 and has been an independent instructor and consultant in a wide variety of countries and settings, currently serving as the Director for the World Mission Prayer League.
Jeff and Mim Nellermoe serve with China Service Ventures’ “Bo Ai” summer youth camps in Henan, China, where they work primarily to mentor CSV’s Chinese leaders and equip them for lives of service. Pr. Jeff is a called in the NALC.Jeff graduated with a B.A., summa cum laude, from Texas Lutheran College (Seguin, TX), and a M.Div., with honors, from Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN). He completed his Ph.D. in Integrated Marketing Communication at the University of Utah (Salt Lake City, UT). His recreational pursuits include motorcycles, horses, skiing, archery, golf, and biking. Aside from sports, he loves to play guitar and sing, watch movies, and read good fiction novels. Mim graduated with a B.A., summa cum laude, from Texas Lutheran College, and a M.A. in Education from Augustana Lutheran College (Sioux Falls, SD). Most recently she coached and taught at Another Way School in Park City, Utah. Mim loves all sports and animals. She grew up in Salt Lake City.
Stephen and Rachel Katterhenrich grew up at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grove City, Ohio. They were blessed to learn the value of knowing and serving God, as well as serving others. The Katterhenrichs have been serving with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Tanzania since 2011, working in the city of Mbeya where 13 different language groups are working together on Bible translation. They work primarily with the Bungu language, doing analysis of the language and developing a writing system for Bungu. Stephen enjoys working as a translation advisor, assisting in the translation of God’s Word into the Bungu language.
The Ekka Family serves in North Central India, where they are joined in mission by their four children. The Ekkas have lived in this part of India most of their lives and feel blessed to return to minister there. Together, they serve in the North Western Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church, primarily at Navin Doman Theological College.
For more information about schedules, hotel information, or to register today for Lutheran Week – please visit: 2019 Lutheran Week. For additional information about other breakouts and presenters, please visit: 2019 Mission Festival.