New Potential Missionary

Nate Jore's have announced the birth of their son, Judah Benjamin Jore. He was born November 26th.

Judah means "praised one" or "praise". Nate, Rhoda and Elijah say that they are praising and thanking the Lord for this second son Judah.

Christmas Greetings from India

“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned”

“………… I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles”

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Light of the world. And the people of our country are now witnessing this great Light.

How great it is to share this Light among these heathen nation by our AFLC(I)! This is our joy that we AFLC(I) have this opportunity to bring the GOOD NEWS to the gentiles in this country.

Through out those past years you, brothers and sisters, AFLC US did a wonderful work in this country. Your prayers are great and supported us miraculously in this great work. For all these great things that you did for our country we praise our Lord and give you thanks.

Now again the Christmas has come. We wish you a happy Christmas. And May the spirit of Christmas abide with you and bring you great joy.

Have a blessed Christmas.

Rev.Dasari.Luther Sastry
President
AFLC of India

World Relief - Thanksgiving

"O Praise the Lord, for it is a good thing to sing praises unto our God; yea, a joyful and pleasant thing it is to be thankful."

One act that all Christians share, regardless of status, nationality, income level, or surroundings, is the opportunity to give thanks and praise to God, our Father.

What a blessing it is this holiday season to reflect on all that God has done in our lives. As an act of Thanksgiving, we reach out to help those who are suffering and reflect the love that God has shown us. Families and communities hurt by poverty, disease, war, natural disaster, separation and persecution face daunting obstacles. But by sharing resources, we can help provide comfort, build community, and facilitate forgiveness.

We are not to do this alone. Christians are called to come together as a body - it is the Church that brings life and hope to those surrounded by darkness. In communities around the world, local congregations and leaders receive training, funding and support - thanks to the generous giving from churches and supporters partnered with World Relief. Because of this collaborative effort, some of the poorest people on earth are experiencing transformation in their own lives, in their families, in their churches, and in their communities. Many people are singing praises and thanksgiving - because they have experienced His love and understand that His mercy endures forever.

This year the world has seen tremendous hurt caused by natural disasters and continued violence, but we have also witnessed acts of caring and peace and reconciliation.

I thank the Lord that we serve a God who can accomplish much through imperfect vessels such as us.

Have a blessed holiday.

Sammy Mah
World Relief
President/CEO

Darwin Jacksons - Missionaries on Loan

We had a great week with our fellow workers from Elim Free Lutheran church. It was exiting to involve some of the Mexican brethren from campo Ceuta the first night as we visited each of the buildings inviting the people to come see the JESUS film. Pastor Ismael even shared afterward, inviting all to come the church on Sunday.





The second night we were in Tayoltita where a man afterward shared a testimony that we had given him a tract last year that God used to save him, and now he has been free eleven months from a bad drinking problem. He is now ministering to another man, helping him in the same way.


The third night we didn’t end up getting into campo san Juan, but instead went up to campo Caymanes. Not finding anyone there, we went to campo la Bomba, and there found the people very open, many inviting the folks from Elim to sit down and chat a while. Many of them confessed faith in Jesus after a time of prayer afterward. We experienced the “white fields” of Campo Bella Vista (beautiful view) very open to us and the Gospel as well.

Campo Largo Chruch

Paul and Becky Abel inform us that this year's Primavera Church in Campo Largo is off to a good start. They now have a church council and a full church schedule which keeps us busy with programs on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday each week.

The members are excited to have their first experience with a choir and preparing for a Christmas program. We also had a clothing sale which was a big success and helped us raise some money for the building project.

Paul has been very busy with the building project. The pre-fab stucture for the church should be up next week and then the roof will go on. Our original plan changed considerably when we contemplated the long-range goals for our building. We might have to be satisfied with things being rough for awhile but we will continue to proceed as God leads and provides.

Infant Home Receives Gifts

The Miriam Infant Home in Brazil recently received a gift of outdoor pre-school toys. Children are placed in the infant home by the courts. While in the home they are cared for and taught about Jesus.

Pray that the children will experience the love of the care givers and accept the love of Christ as a result.

Primavera Church in Iguacu Falls

Recent pictures of last year's Primavera Church show the beautiful structure that has been built in Iguacu Falls.

The Primavera Church Project raises $10,000. for a church building in Brazil. The church is built on land purchased by the national church in Brazil. This type of cooperation provides help to build the church and ownership by the local congregation.

Individuals and churches have given funds to build three churches in the last three years.

The Primavera Project has been so successful we are starting a similar program in Mexico.

Empowered to Witness

“‘Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness...’ After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” -Acts 4:29, 31

Where does the boldness to proclaim Christ come from? The believers in the book of Acts recognized that they did not have the power in themselves to be witnesses of the risen Jesus Christ, but that the power to witness came from the Holy Spirit. Before He ascended, Jesus had told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about” (Acts 1:4). Why were they to wait? They needed to be empowered by the Holy Spirit in order to be Jesus’ witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Boldness in witnessing comes when we learn to be confident in the almighty power of God to use us, His servants, mere earthen vessels.

At Bethel Free Lutheran, where I am serving my Seminary Internship, we have embarked as a congregation on a study of the book of Acts. Pastor Lloyd Quanbeck and I are preaching through the book, and the mid-week Bible studies also focus on Acts. I have been continually amazed at the boldness of the apostles to proclaim Jesus even in the face of suffering and death. They were convinced that this Jesus was truly the Savior of the world and that every human in all the world needed to hear about Him. Being a witness is not a matter of trying harder or setting your mind to it. Witnessing happens naturally when the Holy Spirit of God produces the fruit of love in your heart that overflows to those around you. Missions is rooted in a love for people and a concern for their souls.

Rhoda, Elijah, and I are very much enjoying this year of Internship in Minot, ND. We feel very loved by the folks at Bethel and are enjoying Minot. No one told us though that winter starts in early October up here... Elijah is looking forward to being a big brother in early December! We thank God for blessing us with another child. We will be completing our time in Minot and returning to Minneapolis at the end of May for the AFLTS Graduation. Lord willing, I will be ordained in June and we pray and hope to be in Uganda by this time next year. We do thank you so much for you prayers as we prepare to go. We have been encouraged so much by so many of you who are excited with us at this new step in AFLC World Missions. May the Gospel of Jesus Christ go forward with great power in your community and around the world.

Nate Jore

Seminary Intern, Bethel Free Lutheran, Minot, ND

STEER Convention

The annual STEER Convention was held last weekend, October 7 & 8. STEER is a program designed to help farmers and ranchers provide funds for missions. STEER provides a Cow/Calf for a rancher. The rancher then raises the calf. When the calf is sold the funds from the sale of the calf go to the missions organization of the ranchers choice. AFLC World Missions has received $141,440. from STEER since becoming a member.

Activities at the STEER Convention included:

• Meet the missionaries, where missionaries and missions organizations representatives dressed in clothing from the nations in which they minister. They were then given an opportunity to describe their ministry.

• Booths and displays where people could come and receive more information about a missions organization.

• Informative speakers on missions subjects and inspirational services. One of these was Dr. Billy Kim, President of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Seoul, South Korea. Dr. Kim brought a children’s choir of approximately 60.

AFLC World Missions has 24 Cow/Calf units that have been purchased and are idle for ranchers to use supporting mission work for our Church. Would you open the gate and let one more calf into your pasture to win a soul for Christ? For more information call AFLC World Missions at 763-545-5631.

Volunteer Workers for Hurrican Relief

Many people from AFLC Churches have been interested in helping with rebuilding efforts, especially in the upcoming winter months. Builders Fellowship is attempting to identify and coordinate teams of volunteers from AFLC Congregations who desire to help.

Volunteers will be responsible for traveling to and from the site, food and lodging will be provided on the site. Partners in Missions (PIMO) has talked about making their bus available for this trips.

For more information contact Lavon Bohling at the AFLC, 763-545-5631.

Connely Dyrud - Missionary at Large

A number of people have asked how Carolyn Dyrud’s passing will affect Connely’s missionary plans. God knew His plans for Carolyn all along, and now we’re beginning to see how perfectly He coordinates the events of our lives.

When the Dyruds came home last year for furlough they requested to spend less time on the mission field and more time promoting and preparing others for missions. Their retirement would come up before they could complete their next tour of duty on the field. Therefore, the Dyrud’s were planning to spend less time on the mission field. This would enable the national church to ease into Connely’s responsibilities.

The Dyruds planned to divide their time between Minnesota and Brazil. While in the United States Connely was assigned to:

• Promote missions in the United States
• Prepare future missionaries by teaching at The Ministry Training Institute
• Mentor future missionaries
• Train pastors in India
• Update the AFLC World Missions Policy Handbook.
  

We are now beginning to see a number of individuals who are called to serve in Missions. This schedule of duties will enable Connely to build a foundation of well trained missions workers for years to come.

All of this has worked out perfectly. God’s timing is now much clearer, even though we didn’t know about His plan to call Carolyn to heaven so quickly.

Fruitfulness in Missions - Tim Hinrichs

John 12:24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.

Our family was driving through northwestern Wyoming on our way to or from a church we were to visit when we made a brief visit to Yellowstone National Park. There were many fascinating things we saw there: geysers, hot springs, brilliantly colored streams. But one of the most striking sights was the acres and acres of destroyed forest.

Fifteen years ago a fire ripped through the park and with the help of great winds destroyed huge forests so that as you drive through some places all you see are hills of charred stumps of evergreens. At first glance it’s so depressing but wait! Looking closely I noticed small evergreen trees all about 1 ½ meters high. It looked like what they typically do in Poland when the lumberjacks replant trees after they have harvested a section of woods. But this wasn’t the case at Yellowstone. Later I discovered that not one of those trees was planted by man but by God.

You see, God designed these trees whose cones will open up and plant their seeds only under a high temperature such as a forest fire. Therefore, when a fire breaks out, every dying tree is releasing and planting many new trees all around it resulting in new life.

It seems that when the fire rips through our lives we complain. It’s such a tragedy! Such a waste! How could this happen to me? To my family? Most often we see the fire lick up someone else’s life and other times we feel the flames hot on ourselves. Is it possible that God wants to take each fire to produce new life? I wonder if you have ever seen that yourself? Have you seen the testimony of those who shine like the stars amidst pain and suffering? And the result: seeds planted all around – new life!

Isn’t it awesome to know that God turns defeat into victory? After all, that’s the story of his Son

Carolyn Dyrud at Home with the Lord

Carolyn Dyrud went home to be with the Lord this morning around 4:00 am. Carolyn, along with her husband Connely, had been a long time missionary with the AFLC in Brazil.

Visitation will be on Monday at the Gill Brothers Mortuary on 42nd Avenue North in Crystal, from 4 to 8 p.m.

The funeral service will be Tuesday, September 27 at 1:00 pm. The service will be held in the chapel at the Association of Free Lutheran Bible School. Internment will follow at Lakewood Cemetery in Minneapolis.

Please continue to be in prayer for Connely and the family.

Carolyn Dyrud

Continue to pray for the Dyruds. Carolyn will soon be passing through heaven’s gates. The time will probably be measured in hours rather than days.

The Benediction

Most Sundays we hear God's blessing pronouced to us at the end of the service in the benediction. This morning I ran across the Psalmist praying for much the same. God prompted him to write,

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us:"


The verse that follows explains the reason for desiring the blessing of God. The Psalmist continued by saying,

"May your ways be know on earth, you salvation among all nations."

It is our prayer that God would bless us so that we might share salvation and His ways to all nations.

Carolyn Dyrud in Final Stages of Cancer

Our long time missionary Carolyn Dyrud is now in the final stages of terminal cancer. Please be in prayer for her and her family. Connely, Carolyn's husband has taken time off from the Ministry Training Institute (AFLBS) to be at her side.

Connely and Carolyn have been living in the Minneapolis area as they completed this year of furlough. Carolyn is at Methodist Hospital in Minneapolis (St. Louis Park).

People Discipled in India - Martin Luther Dasari

Young people are being discipled in the villages where we have church work. Ramesh Madasu from Vengalaraonagar village is an example. When I met him he was in the 12th grade. I encouraged him to attend gospel meetings with me and as he heard the Word of God he confessed his sins and accepted Jesus as his personal Savior and decided to serve Him.

I've been teaching him from the Bible. After he married he came to serve the church at Gandahinagar. Ramesh still needs more training, but it is wonderful to see how he is serving the Lord with his life.

Pray for Ramesh and many like him who are serving Jesus here in India.

Lives Are Being Changed - Paul Abel

Someone once said that a pastor’s real work is dealing with the “interruptions.” We sure have plenty of those. About a month ago I got an interruption when a lady and two small boys appeared at my house, saying she had heard that I help people. She was leaving her third husband (live-in) and needed help to move to her brother’s house. After talking with her, sharing Jesus and praying with her, I agreed to help with the move. I invited her to church in Campo Largo. She has been coming ever since and is heeding my advice on how to raise her boys. She attended our weekend seminar last week and gave a radiant testimony, honoring Jesus and asking us to be her spiritual parents, protecting her from further mistakes in her love life. Over 200 people were in church that night (Aug. 28) giving their testimonies. The service was 2 ½ hours long and consisted of testimonies and praise songs to the Lord. People’s lives are being changed.

Protection from the Storms of Life in India

When the tsunami hit India this year the island village of Elachetladibba, where we have a church, was flooded. We thank God that there was little loss of life, but the need for a shelter in the storms became evident.

The AFLC of India has submitted plans and work has begun on a new church/storm shelter for the village. The church will be built in such a way that refuge can be sought in times of flooding and cyclones. The church will also provide refuge as people will be taught about Jesus who has promised to meet our needs in the storms of this life and secure our place in eternal life as well.

Pictured is of the blueprint of the new church.

Carolyn Dyrud Remains in the Hospital

We would ask your continued prayers for Carolyn Dyrud who remains hospitalized with cancer. Her situation is very serious. Please pray for Connely and their children as well.

Connely has started teaching at the Ministry Training Institute as the school year is now in session.

Paul Abel's are Grandparents

Becky Reports:

"Joanna's baby was born September 2 at 3:00 p.m. She had a very easy normal delivery. Deborah Luiza is perfect and precious! We're so thankful to be close by to share in the joy of receiving our first grandchild into our family. "

25 Years of Proclaiming God's Word in Mexico

Our sister church, The Central Mexican Lutheran Church, will be celebrating their 25 Anniversary October 28-30. The Commemorative Committee has invited a number of AFLC pastors who have been involved with this missions outreach to celebrate with them.

Please pray that the Lord would continue to bless the ministry in Mexico and expand the preaching of His Word in the days and years to come.

India Pastoral Training Team

This year's India Pastoral Training Team has been selected. The team consists of Rev. Connely Dyrud, Rev. Al Pinno and Dr. Steve Snipstead.

The purpose of the team is to train pastors and leaders in India so that they can then train others. The team will travel to India in February.

Please be in prayer for the teachers and the students in the days ahead.

World Relief - Hurricane Katrina Forum

World Relief has established a web-forum to link churches in the Gulf Coast region devastated by Hurricane Katrina, who are requesting both volunteers and gifts in-kind. This is to connect churches outside ground zero to those who are able to give of their time and gifts.

IN BRIEF:
World Relief's web-based forum www.wr.org/forum/ to network needs to resources in the following areas:

1. Prayer requests
2. Churches needing volunteers
3. Needed supplies
4. General discussion
   

NOTE: the web forum is in the early stages of development and information collection, but it will expand quickly in coming days

Priemavera Church Started

The property for this year's Priemavera Church in Brazil was purchased this week. The Priemavera Church plan calls for the national church in Brazil to purchase the property and the AFLC in the United States to provide $10,000. to put up a simple church building. This year's Priemavera Church will be in Campo Largo near Curitiba. The $10,000. was provided in full by the church in Janesville, WI. Thanks you friends!

The church in Glyndon, MN has also provided full funding for a Priemavera Church this year. The location of that Priemavera Church has not been announced.

Pictured is the church in Londrina a former Priemavera Church plant.

World Relief - Helping Hurricane Victims

We have all seen and heard how Katrina has devastated the Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama Gulf Coast. News of entire communities being flooded, flattened schools, gutted offices, collapsed apartment complexes and destroyed church buildings have already saddened our hearts and brought all those suffering to mind.

World Relief has once again committed to helping those in greatest need around the world be Christ in their community. World Relief is equipping churches with both the financial resources and the much needed supplies to both clean-up what Katrina has left behind and when necessary, rebuild.

Like most of our communities, World Relief understands that churches already make up a grassroots volunteer network that can be mobilized immediately to be the hands and feet of Christ. This follows the disaster response model used in Indonesia after the tsunami, as well as other relief efforts World Relief has led during our 60 years of operation. World Relief will work with participating churches to provide assistance solely on the basis of need encouraging them to reach out to their entire community.

With the massive amount of clean up that will be undertaken in the coming weeks, volunteers will need chainsaws, containers to haul away debris, hoses, cleaning supplies, tools, and other items that will require an influx of cash. I am asking you to consider making a gift today to help with these items.

If you would like to make a gift that will help those effected by Hurricane Katrina please send your gift to World Relief, PO Box 868, Baltimore, MD 21202. Please put in the memo,"Hurricane Relief Fund." You may also go online to make your gift at www.worldrelief.com or call us toll free at 1-800-535-LIFE (5433). Gifts to World Relief can be sent to AFLC World Missions marked "World Relief, Hurricane Fund."

Please pray that God's grace, mercy and peace be among those who have lost their homes, vehicles, family photo albums, church, furniture, pets, entire businesses and most devastatingly - their family and friends.

The work in Maringa, Brazil - Jonathan Abel

We praise the Lord for bringing us here to start a new church last October. There were 2 families here that had moved here from other cities but wanted to continue participating in AFLC churches. God worked it out and we were able to come help with that. Now we have 8 families and other visitors that are attending our meetings in our home on Sunday afternoons. During the week we have two Bible studies in different homes. We hope to find a decent property to buy and build a church.

Prayer requests:

• That God would strengthen the group/work here and that it would become solid, with good spiritual growth.
• That in His time, with His wisdom and provision, we could find the right property to buy and build.
• For health: Jonathan experiences bad back pains, and Tamba has a persistent cough that doesn't let up.

Schierkolk's Waiting Title

The Todd Schierkolk's have been prevented from returning to Mexico until the title for their vehicle comes. They purchased an updated vehicle in July when they were in the US. Until they receive the title for this car they can't take it back into Mexico. Please pray that the title will come soon.

Prayer and News Website Begins

Today the AFLC World Missions news and prayer site begins.

Please remember in prayer our long time missionary to Brazil Carolyn Dyrud who has had a reoccurrence of cancer.