LWML Convention Part 3: Sharing Jesus Across Cultures

Breakout sessions are a key part of LWML Conventions, equipping members for leadership, service projects, outreach, and discipleship while connecting them with those we support in the mission field.

Where is the mission field? Wherever Christ is not yet recognized as Lord.

One example is Lutheran Heritage Foundation’s work to reach Hindu communities. We see how LWML Mites fulfill last April’s convention goal: sharing Jesus as our Passport—the Way, the Truth, and the Life—who brings us from this world’s darkness into His Kingdom.

The country of India was the very first mission field for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, sending missionaries beginning in 1895. Now, Indians are coming to America’s shores in ever-increasing numbers, with more than 2.9 million immigrants from India making the United States their home. About 20 percent of those immigrants have settled in California, Nevada and Hawaii, drawn especially to job opportunities in the tech industry.

As more Indian immigrants settle in California, Nevada, and Hawaii, LCMS congregations are building relationships with Hindu neighbors, but they need Lutheran materials in Indian languages.

While these Indian immigrants are starting lives in a completely new country and culture, many still cling to the Hindu religion and ways—particularly the caste system that they grew up with—and they carry those practices with them into their new communities. In Hinduism, there are literally thousands of gods a family may choose to worship, and karma and reincarnation are at the center of their beliefs.

One deeply ingrained belief in Hinduism is that there’s no such thing as sin, and so Indians ask, “Why do I need a Savior?” Lutheran Heritage Foundation translates and publishes books and tracts such as Jesus Never Fails, written in their heart language, and easy for them to understand. It presents the Gospel and all of humankind’s need for a Savior in a gentle and digestible way. These books will also be converted to ebook (digital) format. LHF is giving them free to churches and missionaries.

Lutheran Heritage Foundation also offers a free LWML Program, entitled “Jesus Saved Me”, which tells how LWML mission mites are being used by LHF to spread the Gospel to all four corners of the world.

The Lutheran Heritage Foundation has translated materials into more than 185 languages worldwide. To date, they have shared over six million books in 100+ countries.