July 2011 1 July 2011, Volume Fifteen, Number Two Being Church among the Differently Abled: People First, Baptized First By Dr. Jacob A. O. Preus Kenya Study Abroad Mission Trip Dr. Timothy C. J. Quill What Is Mercy? By Deaconess Cynthia E. Lumley, Ph.D. July 2011 3 contents Volume Fifteen, Number Two F e a T u r e s 4 Being Church among the Differently Abled: People First, Baptized First By Dr. Jacob A. O. Preus Without a doubt, charity will always be necessary (Jesus says in Matthew 26:11, “The poor you will always have with you…,”). But charity is an activity, not a relationship. It is a result, not a cause. We will always need places like Bethesda whose activities on behalf of people with intellectual disabilities are absolutely necessary. But we mustn’t define the relationship we have with people in the church and as church based upon their intelligence level (or any other ability or disability they may have). 7 Kenya Study Abroad Mission Trip By Dr. Timothy C. J. Quill CTS is committed to preparing future pastors and deaconesses who are both knowledgeable and passionate about international mission work. Study-abroad trips are an essential component in integrating practical experience with the history, theology and theory of mission taught in the classrooms. 9 What Is Mercy? By Deaconess Cynthia E. Lumley, Ph.D. The Office of Deaconess has been established by the church in love to support the Office of the Holy Ministry and to assist the faithful in their God-given vocations. But the deaconess does not wait for the people to step into the church; rather she goes out from the door of the church to extend Christ’s hands of mercy to those in need. For example, she may be involved in providing meals, visiting the sick, the lonely and the suffering, assisting the poor to find the resources they need, organizing a “Care and Compassion Committee,” teaching women and children or simply being present and offering a listening ear. also in this issue: Dean Wenthe: an appreciation . . . . . . . . . . .p . 12 What Does This mean? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p . 15 In the Field . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p . 18 Library expansion: From Concept to reality p . 20 Continuing education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p . 22 alumni News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p . 25 Profiles in Giving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p . 28 In the Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .p . 30 For the Life of the World PuBLIsher Dr . Lawrence r . rast Jr . acting President maNaGING eDITor ProDuCTIoN CoorDINaTor Jayne e . sheafer Colleen m . Bartzsch CoPY eDITor arT DIreCTor Trudy e . Behning steve J . Blakey For the Life of the World is published by Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825. No portion of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the Managing Editor of For the Life of the World by e-mail at PublicRelations@ctsfw. edu or 260-452-2250. Copyright 2011. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at Huntington, Indiana. For the Life of the World is mailed to all pastors and congregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the United States and Canada and to anyone interested in the work of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana July 2011 7 Since international flight policy allows two pieces of checked-in baggage, each seminarian was able to take a box of books. Thanks to CTS Director of Library Services, Robert Roethmeyer’s “Books for Missions” project, the students delivered 142 volumes to the Matongo Seminary library. Our seminarians also raised $636 and purchased 48 copies of the Book of Concord, which they presented as gifts to the Kenyan seminarians. The trip began in Nairobi and included a presentation on missions by Rev. Shauen Trump at The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Mission’s Center. This was followed by a day long drive through the magnificent Rift Valley to the tropical hill country east of Lake Victoria for a week of study at Matongo Lutheran Theological College. It was a great week as American and Kenyan seminarians studied together, worshiped together, ate a lot of local ugali together in the dining hall, shared dorms and concluded the week with a volleyball tournament and a grilled goat cook-out on the final night. CTS is committed to preparing future pastors and deaconesses who are both knowledgeable and passionate about international mission work. Study-abroad trips are an essential component in integrating practical experience with the history, theology and theory of mission taught in the classrooms. Kenya Study Abroad Mission Trip By Dr. Timothy C. J. Quill nine seminarians and one deaconess spent Spring Break, February 25–March 12, 2011, on a remarkable study abroad mission trip to Kenya, West Africa. This was the fifth trip organized by the CTS International Studies Department. Previous trips included Russia, South Africa, Latvia and Bavaria. Dr. Timothy Quill, Dean of International Studies, explains, “CTS is committed to preparing future pastors and deaconesses who are both knowledgeable and passionate about international mission work. Study-abroad trips are an essential component in integrating practical experience with the history, theology and theory of mission taught in the classrooms.” Seminarian Chad Schopp with local Kenyans. Seminarian Adam Lehman presents copies of The Book of Concord to seminarians in Kenya. For the Life of the World8 r t if f t rl The regular CTS mission emphasis curriculum includes a course entitled “World View, Culture and Religion.” This course was taught by Dr. Detlev Schulz, CTS Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, as the basis for the trip. This allowed students to earn three hours of credit. For the study- abroad trip, the course was enhanced by local lecturers such as: Archbishop Walter Obare, “Doctrine and Culture: Challenges to Theological Leadership in Kenya”; Dr. Joseph Ocholo Omolo, “Evangelistic Outreach to the Pastoral Communities, e.g., the Pokot People”; Rev. David Chuchu, “Diaconia and Holistic Ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya”; Rev. Tom Aadland, “Send Me: Why Foreign Mission Today?” The week also included day trips to the Lutheran Evangelist’s School in Atemo, Diaconial Center and Home for the Severely Handicapped in Kisumu, the Lutheran orphanage in Matongo and rock climbing north of Lake Victoria. Upon saying farewell to the seminary in Matongo, the group took the rigorous trip south to Masai Land, where they camped out in tents for three nights by the Mara River. Thankfully, the night watchmen made sure the crocodiles and hippos didn’t wander too close to the camp. As it turned out, rainy season literally began as the tents were being set up—the first night proved to be cold and wet. Amazingly, it produced few complaints from the students; instead it deepened their camaraderie. The next morning the sun came out as Pastor Joseph Momposhi and his evangelists took the seminarians on evangelism calls, by foot, to nearby and not so nearby villages. Seminarian Stephen Preus commented later, “It was an incredible experience; telling people about Jesus who had never even heard about Him before.” Many of the Masai accepted the invitation to visit Pastor Momposhi’s new mission congregation where the seminarians taught the Small Catechism. Since the new mission has no church building, catechesis, Bible classes and divine services are held before an altar placed under a large tree. Next stop was the spectacular Masai Mara game reserve located at the northern end of Serengeti Plain— home of Africa’s largest animal migrations. Two days were spent getting up close and personal with Africa’s wildlife. The trip ended back in Nairobi with a visit to Springs of Life Lutheran Church and School located in the Kibera slums (largest in Africa) along with a visit to the home of Danish Baroness Karen von Blixen- Finecke, who wrote the book Out of Africa (1937). Dr. Timothy C. J. Quill serves as Dean of International Studies at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you would like more information on International Studies, you may contact him at Timothy.Quill@ctsfw.edu or 260-452-2137.