I want you to come to my house,” said Shadrick when I was in Liberia. It was the third time he had asked me. A little apprehensive to leave the meetings on the previous occasions he asked – this time seemed to fit the schedule better. Shadrick, about 12 years old, had been

given permission from his teacher to skip school in order to attend the pastors training seminars. He was very eager to learn, but had to look over my shoulder at the Bible I was using because he didn’t have his own, and all three of the loaner Bibles at the church were in use.

Because of his eagerness to learn and my connection with him, it seemed right to give him one of the Bibles I had brought with me. I had just finished writing his name and an inscription on the inside cover when he made his request again, “I want you to come see my house.”

Shadrick’s father doesn’t have a job. He hunts and sells bush meat in order to support his family. Their house is a small structure made of sticks and mud, with a dirt floor. It’s nighttime and the family has one small battery powered LED light and a radio. Two of the children who I thought were Shadrick’s close friends, turned out to be his siblings; he has five all together. His father was impressed with the Bible I gave him. He told Shadrick to be careful with it or someone might run off with it.

I couldn’t understand if stealing Bibles was so common, why would anyone buy a used Bible? Wouldn’t it be obvious, with Bibles being in such scarcity, that no one would sell their old Bible but give it to a Christian sister or brother in

their church? Christians should not buy goods that they reasonably suspect are stolen. But that is not the main thing on my mind. I realized this family only had one Bible, the one that I just gave to their middle son. I did not have enough Bibles to give them more. Had I realized how big the family was I might have given the Bible to their father for the family to share. All I can hope is that it doesn’t get stolen and that Shadrick shares it with his family so they can all be blessed by the hearing of God’s Word.

The need for Bibles is great all over Liberia, especially in the more rural areas like where Shadrick lives in Grand Gedeh County. Bibles are one thing for which the Foreign Mission is always in need. The Bible fund is constantly depleted because the need is so great! This story from Liberia is just a snapshot of that need.

BY RYAN KANDOLL

“FOREIGN MISSION OF THE APOSTOLIC LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AMERICA

WHERE HE LEADS•••

The Most Important Book

Vol. 16, No. 3 JULY–SEPTEMBER 2014

1WHERE HE LEADS

The Foreign Mission of the ALCAJohn Ruotsala, Administrator63 Poor Farm RoadNew Ipswich, NH 03071Email: foreignmission@comcast.netPhone: 603-878-9878Website: www.themissionsite.com

From the Foreign MissionAdministrator Desk

This page shares with all of our friends the ways in which you can join with us. Our prayer and desire is that we would be ready to be used in the Lord’s Vineyard. Also, see the sidebar on page 7 for other ways in which you can help your Foreign Mission.

• Website: www.themissionsite.com (Some of the following items can be found here, plus more.)• Facebook Email: foreignmission@comcast.net• Newsblog for latest trip information: www.foreignmissionnewsblog.blogspot.com• Weekly Diner: foreignmission.blogspot.com• To get the Weekly Diner in your email: foreignmission@comcast.net• To review year 2013: themissionsite.com/~missions/docs/2013yearinreview.pdf• Foreign Mission Store (for gifts, etc.): foreignmissionstore.blogspot.com• You Tube channel: www.youtube.com/user/FMadmin08

THEDoor OF

BY PASTOR BOB MAKI

While in Ghana waiting for Dennis Hilman to join us and for the pastor’s seminar to

begin, Marilyn Hilman, my wife Verna, and I, took a side trip to Cape Coast Castle in central Ghana. It was a former British military fort located on the Atlantic Ocean. From the 1700’s to 1843, kidnapped Africans were brought here to await transportation to the slave markets in the Americas, especially the Caribbean. Forcefully taken from their homes and loved ones, they were chained and shipped under very inhumane conditions to unfriendly and very strange lands to work as slaves in mines and plantations for the remainder of their natural lives. There was no hope for them to ever return to see their families. In the fort, they were chained together in dark, dungeon-like rooms. With no sanitary facilities,

they were forced to use the floor, were jammed together in the rooms, and had to endure extreme heat and filth. Most would spend several months at the castle.

When the ships came, the slaves were marched in chains through a door which has come to be become known as “The Door of No Return” (first used in a similar prison in Senegal). They were loaded as cargo into the holds of ships for the long journey to the new world. Once through that last door, there was no chance for them to ever return to a life of joy and fulfillment with their loved ones – only loneliness and hopeless thoughts of an unknown future awaited them.

We can draw somewhat of a spiritual parallel with those condemned slaves even though we have not experienced their physical and mental

abuse. In the spiritual realm, consider that if Jesus had never come from the glories of heaven to this sin-cursed earth to purchase our redemption, we would remain shackled to our sins and be spiritually lost and condemned. We would also be awaiting an unknown future. But we can rejoice because God so loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to purchase us with the dearest price that could ever be paid – His blood – and we have a future with Him in heaven.

However, we should remember to pray for the many Christian brethren in foreign countries that are presently experiencing physical and mental abuse because of their faith and perhaps do not have any future. Here in the Western world, Christians have not as yet had to experience this type of suffering.

WAYS TO DONATE Mail: Apostolic Lutheran Church

Foreign Mission, 1601 NW 4th Ave, Battle Ground, WA 98604

PayPal: Available at www.themissionsite.com under the

click here to donate button.

PaySimple: Best way to do recurring monthly donations. You can receive email notices before and after payment if desired. Contact foreignmission@comcast.net to set up.

VOLUNTEERS

In the past, volunteers have assisted with:

1. Typing and proof reading2. Leading the youth 3. Posting to various sites4. Concession stands/presentations5. Donating equipment (laptops,

office, etc.)6. Collecting funds for purchasing

items such as bedding, mosquito nets, clothing, etc.

7. Collecting small items to send with mission teams

GROUPS

Groups that have helped your Foreign Mission in the past:

1. Congregations 2. Businesses3. Home school children 4. Christian schools 5. Ladies’ groups6. Sunday Schools & National Sunday

School

Once through that last door, there was

no chance for them to ever return to a life of joy and fulfillment with

their loved ones.

NO RETURN

3WHERE HE LEADS2 WHERE HE LEADS

In late February, Pastor Raymond Hilman, Randy Kinnunen and I made a trip to Mindanao Island in the Philippines to bring the Word and love of Christ to the people there. As was our past

practice, we were met by Pastor Bert Senonis and his family, who look after us and arrange our itinerary while in-country. During the next several days, we visited a number of small churches where there were as few as 12 people in attendance or as many as 200. We spoke of the love of God and the Gospel of Jesus. Since we had our musician, Randy, with us, we sang songs as well.

Our Sunday in Cagayan de Oro was a busy one. Pastor Bert and Pastor Benjamin Alud had arranged morning and afternoon services with six local churches. It was held in a special place by the sea. Later in the afternoon we were brought to a recently planted little church in a village called Kasinglot. It had no road access except through a fenced, cocoanut plantation with manned security gates. In order to drive to the village, we had to get permission to pass through the plantation. This is because it’s a ‘squatter’ village made up of poor people that just put up dwellings because they needed somewhere to live. The congregation pastored by Bernie Senonis and his wife, Daisy, is in Ingpit, which is also a squatter village. They may have to move because the owner of the land wants to take back the land. These are realities in some of the poor areas of the Philippines.

Among the churches we visited was a small children’s ministry church in Ganitoan, led by Pastor Virs Sehob and his wife. Several months ago we had sent some money to fix the roof on his home church, and I could see that he had part of the repair complete, but he needed some cocoanut lumber to finish it. I gave him 1500 pesos (about $34.00), which was more than he asked for. I became acquainted with Pastor Virs last year when he served as an excellent translator for many of our services. He is a sincere Christian man of faith who I got to know much better this trip because we bunked together during our time in Kitcharao and served together for the entire duration of our visit. Virs has two needs in his church. First, a little 5 year-old boy, who was born without an anus, needs corrective surgery. Second, Pastor Virs needs help buying 50 Bibles (50 pesos, or $1.13 each). These pastors have very little in the way of money but are strong in faith. As God’s instrument, I want to provide help for these genuine needs.

Last year, Randy Kinnunen and Fratt Aho got to know three girls at a bakery in Kitcharao where they frequently went for coffee. Randy kept in touch with them on Facebook and found a sponsor to help one named Jamel get through school, and he is helping another named Joy in the same

manner. Randy invited Jamel and her mother, Joyce, to join us in Cagayan de Oro for the services, and then in Kitcharao he brought two other girls, Joy and May, to the two days of arranged services.

Randy has been instrumental in our mission to help people with cleft palates and other physical problems. In many cases it has been very successful such as with the cleft palate surgeries, but in other cases when there is no easy fix, he has tried to find other help and support. Such is the case of a little girl he named Princess Bea, who has a neurological issue. He arranged to get her a stroller and a sponsor to help with her support since her mother left her with her poor, widowed grandmother. When I was in Kitcharao I met several of the children that received cleft palate surgery – what a joy to see. I know that our primary mission is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but when it is accompanied by these “helps,” the words that we preach are more readily received. We have Christ for our example in that He had compassion on the hungry and sick,

The Least of TheseBY BRIAN NIEMITALO

even as He taught the Word. Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done (it) unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matt 25:40)

After our time in the Kitcharao area, we returned to Cagayan de Oro and flew from there to General Santos City, which is on the southern side of Mindanao. We were met by Pastor Hermie Alzote and his son Ephraim as well as an eight member group from Cagayan de Oro who made the ten-hour drive across the island in the back of a truck. Hermie is an elected board director over the Sarangani Province and is the pastor of a mountain village church called Pa-it. He has helped to plant at least 60 small churches, most of which are tribal churches in remote and inaccessible mountain areas. Because of his political position, he is able to get materials (corrugated tin, nails, etc.) for community projects including churches

and has agreed to provide these roofing materials if a village pastor can get the structure built. These churches are usually a simple pole building made of local cocoanut lumber (20’ x 30-40’) with dirt floors and wood, plank benches, sometimes without walls.

We drove up the mountain to Pa-it for Sunday services where there were around 300 people present and shared the Word. The next day we attended a church in Poblacion where almost all of the people were pastors. I was very glad Pastor Raymond was able to preach twice despite not feeling well. One pastor came to me after the services with a request that I help him with some of the expense of building his church. He needed 4000 pesos to hire a man with a chain saw to cut his lumber into planks for his church. I gave him the money with a promise that I would be invited to attend his church if I come

again. It may be a challenge though, because his village is located about 18 kilometers from where the road ends; it will be either on a motorcycle or a long horse ride.

We attended a reunion of the Alud family on our last full day in Mindanao. Pastor Benjamin Alud is from the General Santos City area and was the organizer of our visit to the area. Randy played guitar and we sang songs and taught from the Word. It was held on the beach under a huge, shade tree. They roasted a whole pig for lunch. Often on these trips things can be tedious and hot, but mixed in there are occasions like this family reunion where it was beautiful and warm, with a pleasant breeze and wonderful fellowship. It was a blessed conclusion to our visit to Mindanao. May God our Father bless the work being done in the Philippines.

Opposite: PASTOR RAYMOND WITH SHEKINAH.Above: PASTOR BERT SENONIS WITH BOY THAT NEEDS SURGERY.Right: RANDY WITH PRINCESS BEA.

54 WHERE HE LEADS WHERE HE LEADS

Editor:Kris Matson14009 NE 239th StreetBattle Ground, WA 98604Tel: 360-666-0154krismatson2@gmail.com

Co-editor:Alvar Helmes1717 SW 25th AvenueBattle Ground, WA 98604Tel: 360-687-7088ironbelt@integrity.com

Where He Leads... is published quarterly by the Foreign Mission Board of the Apostolic Lutheran Church of America, 13519 NE 181st Circle, Battle Ground, WA 98604, under authorization num-ber (USPS 02 1-043), and is dis-tributed free-of-charge to congre-gations in America, Canada and foreign countries.

WAYS TO HELP THEFOREIGN MISSION

• 12-month pledge program (min. $10 per month)

• Foreign Mission general fund support• Pastor support program ($30 per

month)• Supply a Bible ($3 each, min. ten

Bibles)• Support an orphan ($30 per month)• Buy a bicycle for a pastor ($80)• Memorial donations• Endowment funds• Full time Missionary support

($200 per quarter – Dennis Hil-man)

• Wells in India ($500 per well)• Mission Hospital in India

THE FOREIGN MISSIONBOARD MEMBERS

Bob Maki, ChaimanDan Olin, Asst. ChairmanScott Niemitalo, SecretaryGreg Greve, Asst. SecretaryBrian Niemitalo, TreasurerTom Lappi, Asst. TreasurerChad Kuivanen, TrusteeShane Juuti, TrusteeAl Traffie, Trustee

DONATIONS

Donations in support of the Foreign Mission efforts should be sent to:

Apostolic Lutheran Churchof America1601 NW 4th AvenueBattle Ground, WA 98604

On check, write: Apostolic Lutheran Church Foreign Mission. Donations can be earmarked to support any of the areas identified.

Welcome to the 2014c o n v e n t i o n

Your Foreign Mission looks forward to seeing you at the 2014 ALCA Convention to be held in Vancou-ver, WA, on July 9-13. Our concession and informa-tion booth will be set up near the cafeteria area.

For delegates to the Foreign Mission general meet-ing: The FM delegates meeting is Thursday after-noon directly after the Federation’s general meeting.Please join us for these special Foreign Mission events:

Saturday, July 12 at 2:00 pmForeign Mission presentation: Sermons and greetings by foreign pastors and young missionaries.Monday, July 14th & Tuesday, July 15Special meetings with foreign pastors for the purpose of learning about cultural differences.

What Does it Profit?BY PASTOR RAYMOND HILMAN

From Sri Lanka

I recently made my sixth trip to Mindanao Island in the Philippines, this time with Brian Niemitalo and Randy Kinnunen. On each visit I look forward to seeing many of the people I have come to know and count as special

friends. I also look forward to meeting new people to see and hear how the Lord has been working in their individual lives.

We visited three main areas: Cagayan de Oro, Kitcharao, and General Santos City. We kept busy visiting churches as well as holding teaching and training seminars for pastors and church workers. It is always encouraging to see so many young people attend these sessions. An added blessing on this trip was the special music provided by Randy. He always had the right song for the situation, whether with children or adults. What a blessing it was to see the concern and financial help that Randy and others have given in order to repair cleft palates and other physical disabilities of so many. It reminds me of the scripture where James talks about ignoring the physical needs when we say, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and be filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? (James 2:16) We see that it not only puts real smiles on faces, but also provides more receptive ears to the hearing of God’s Word.

Here is a short report of our house churches and evangelistic work being done in remote parts of Sri Lanka. It is with great joy that we can say the house churches are growing steadily, both spiritually and in numbers, in spite of various difficulties we face from time to time. We are also involved in humanitarian work being done in various places throughout the Eastern Province.Be assured of our humble prayers for the ALCA congregations.

God’s Peace...with much Christian love, Pastor Lynton & Iona Silva

One of our Bible study groups for our young, dedicated evangelists. Humanitarian aid food distribution.

Top: Poor orphan children. Not enough to eat or clothes to wear. However, smiles still come easy! Your individual help has been very instrumental in helping these children.

Middle: Congregations needing church buildings are everywhere we go in the world it seems.

Bottom: This is a Kenyan funeral. Most of the village comes, and they come looking for a meal. The custom dictates that the family must feed the people. Since they sel-dom, if ever, have money to feed thousands, the church must help. Even churches do not have money for such large groups, so many hardships are felt at the worst of times.

Mission Pictures

more on page 8

76 WHERE HE LEADS WHERE HE LEADS

Apostolic Lutheran Church of America 13519 NE 181st CircleBattle Ground, WA 98604

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

When we get returned newsletters, the Foreign Mission has to pay for the return postage. Help us avoid this unnecessary cost by notifying us if your mailing address has changed. Please send email to Kris Matson at krismatson2@gmail.com.

HAVE YOU MOVEDRECENTLY?

Above: A pastor from India who suffers with elephantiasis. There are many diseases and abnormalities in the third world that are almost nonexistent in western countries.

Right: This Pastor and his wife lost their home and church to a typhoon. Three years ago they lost their two daughters in a terrible drowning tragedy. Please excuse the poor quality of the picture, as it was taken of a picture!

Mission Pictures

8 WHERE HE LEADS