Some are Called to go. Some are Called to help. But all are Called. Which are you?
Hark, the voice of Jesus calling, “Who will go and work today?” Fields are ripe and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away? Long and loud the Master calls us, Rich reward He offers free; Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I, send me, send me?”
Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do.” While the lost of earth are dying, And the Master calls for you; Take the task He gives you gladly; Let His work your pleasure be; Answer quickly when He calls you, “Here am I, send me, send me.”
Hymn: “HARK, THE VOICE OF JESUS CALLING,” stanzas 1 and 6
Pastor Scott & Deaconess Jungklaus on Call Day in St. Louis, April 26, 2023
On February 5, 2023, LifeBridge issued a Divine Call to Rebecca (“Becky”) Jungklaus to serve as a missionary-at-large Deaconess.
On April 26, 2023, at a service at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, that Call was realized and ratified through the Church.
On Sunday, November 26, 2023, at 3:00 PM, Deaconess Becky Jungklaus will Commissioned and Installed in this ministry through a Rite at LifeBridge! This will be followed by a reception!
This is a big deal and very exciting!
Becky, who many know as an ASL teacher at LifeBridge and beyond, serves many, though primarily the deaf community all around!
The deaf population is an enormous mission field, with well over 90% of deaf people either not knowing or not believing in Jesus!
Becky is working to change that; teaching and sharing the saving Gospel of Jesus!
The Rev. Dr. John Reinke (who will be Commissioning & Installing Deaconess Jungklaus); another Deaconess graduate, Deaconess Jungklaus, and The Rev. Mike Newman, President of the Texas District of the LCMS.
What is a Deaconess?
We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (a theme verse for LCMS Deaconesses.)
Deaconesses are women who serve as professional church workers. They support and assist pastors as they share the Gospel and serve God’s people through works of mercy, spiritual care and teaching the Christian faith. They serve in congregations, on the national and international mission field, and in a variety of other settings and service organizations particularly to women, children and God’s people with special needs.
They are trained to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through works of mercy, spiritual care, and teaching the faith.
“Deaconess” comes from the Greek word διάκονος (“diakonos”), meaning “servant.”
LCMS Deaconess Logo
Their motto is:
Working in faith Laboring in love Remaining steadfast in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Join us for the short service at 3:00 PM and stay for the free reception following!
Some of this information came from the LCMS website here and here.
“You Did For Me”
A summary of the message theme for the occasion.
Church work is not for the faint of heart. It’s not all joy and roses, rainbows and smiles. Ministry is tough.
There is a saying, “ministry would be a lot easier if it weren’t for all the people.” I would venture to say that 99% of church workers have been hurt deeply by the congregations and people they serve – and 1% of them have just started their ministry.
The King will reply, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. Anything you did for one of the least important of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
Matthew 25:40
The expectations are high. The no-win situations are numerous. The disappointments with your decisions are often and loud. The lies told to your face (even if they are lying to themselves first) are glaring and constant. And the challenges to keep yourself in the Word is real. You don’t get to worship like others, because you are working. You don’t get fed because you are feeding. You don’t get comforted because you’re comforting. You are encouraged to share but judged if you do. It is lonely and draining.
And in our text we have a passage meant for all Christians but often ‘delegated’ to church workers: feed, give drink, welcome, cloth, visit. Care for those who need it; even if they drain you. Even if they challenge you.
Because here is the reality: serving others is serving Christ!
That helps! Seeing people that may not always act like Jesus, look like Jesus, or live like Jesus are still loved by Jesus and deserve to be served like Jesus!
And when that’s still too difficult to get us through, here’s the kicker: we don’t serve because we want to be counted as the faithful sheep. We do it because He served us: humbly and fully.And He continues to still. Even when we are the difficult ones. When we are the ones attacking and disgracing. When we are acting unloving and uncaring.
We serve because He serves. We love because He loved. Not to gain salvation but because we have salvation and can’t help acting otherwise.
Keep the Servant’s heart. Keep the Servant’s love. Keep the Servant, Jesus – and share Him through your continued service of others!
That’s true for everyone, not just church workers!
Come alongside Angie Wolfe and Amanda Fait as they heed God’s Call and Great Commission, taking the Gospel of Jesus into the world. They need our support; spiritually and financially. We strongly encourage you to speak with them,pray for them, and contribute financially to their trip, so their focus and concern can be on sharing the Gospel with those whom the Lord will place in their midst.
More information on each mission is below, including information on how to support them in this vital Calling and endeavor.
I would like to share with you what is on my heart.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send?” And who will go for us? And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah 6:8
I plan to go to Kenya, Africa with a group called Trinity Ablaze Kenya Mission Team. The trip is May 25 – June 4, 2023. On these missions they address both the spiritual needs and physical vision of Kenyans through short term mission trips.
The mission teams conduct vision clinics while spreading the Word of God to all who attend. A single team of eight can reach hundreds of people in a single week giving each visitor a clear vision of Jesus Christ’s healing plus providing eye care through onsite services and materials. They also have a school called Kenyan Schools of Hope that help provide a safe and secure place for girls trying to escape the centuries old tradition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Forced Early Marriage (FEM). It offers a refuge to Kenyan girls and provides a residential and educational setting for girls.
Follow Mission Progress on WhatsApp.
I am very excited for this opportunity to go where the Lord is sending me. I want to be His hands and feet during this mission and do my very best to share my passion for the Lord with as many people I can while serving them. Most of all I am excited to see the work that the Holy Spirit will do in and through me and his people as we go. I have a desire to see and meet other people that are longing to see God’s face, and to meet them where they are. I feel that we need to step out of our current living to find creative ways to build the Body of Christ.
I have made you a light for the gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.
Acts 13:47
I believe that God has made me a light and that He is using me as a vessel for the Holy Spirit; a beacon of light to bring salvation in the villages that our team plan to venture out to on this mission.
I would love to have you partner with me in this mission with prayer and/or financial contributions. (As a token of my appreciation any donation over $20 will get a special gift created by me personally.)
If you have any questions, please let me know.
Thank you so much for your support!
GodSpeed, Angie
Support Angie’s Mission Trip
A personal check to: Angela Wolfe // 5860 WildFlower Rd. // Sealy, TX 77474 Venmo: @Angela-Wolfe-23 Zelle: Angela Wolfe 979-627-5817
AMANDA FAIT Antioch Training School Outreach Trip — Mediterranean
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:18-20
I am very excited to see how The Lord will move among the vast unreached people group in the place my group is going. (We cannot share the name of the country for security reasons.)
The population where we are going has less than 1% evangelical Christians, leaving 99.2% unreached by the Gospel!
We are thrilled to partner with Jesus in how He is moving there and solicit your partnership as well!
Please prayfor our team as we prepare, for the team in the country where we are joining, and for the people there who we will encounter.
Please prayfor good soil for the seeds to fall on and for the people there to have dreams and visions of Jesus.
