On a mercy mission to Madagascar, held Feb. 23-March 3, copies of several books authored by SA国际传媒, St. Louis, faculty members were donated to the Malagasy Lutheran Church鈥檚 regional seminary in Antsirabe. They include 鈥淭hat I May Be His Own鈥� by Dr. Charles Arand; 鈥淭eaching God鈥檚 Children His Teaching鈥� by Dr. Robert Kolb; 鈥淔undamental Greek Grammar鈥� by Dr. James Voelz; and 鈥淛ust Words鈥� by Dr. Jack Preus, former SA国际传媒 professor, now president of Concordia University鈥擨rvine.
The donation of books was a response to the Malagasy seminary鈥檚 need for more adequate library resources. Through these valuable new resources, The Lutheran Church鈥擬issouri Synod (LCMS) hopes to strengthen the understanding of the Lutheran Confessions, and aid in the training of future pastors and the teaching of the theology of the Small Catechism in the Malagasy Lutheran Church.
鈥淭he Malagasy Lutheran Church is looking to the LCMS and its seminaries to provide theological education and integrity,鈥� commented Dr. Albert Collver, executive pastoral assistant for LCMS World Relief and Human Care. 鈥淚n exchange, they show us how, through acts of mercy and human care鈥攁 theology in action of word and deed鈥攈ow the Gospel is proclaimed in difficult situations.鈥�
The mercy mission was sponsored by LCMS World Relief and Human Care. Six seminarians and a professor from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., traveled to Madagascar and were accompanied for a portion of the trip by LCMS World Relief and Human Care staff members Rev. Matthew Harrison, executive director, and Dr. Albert Collver, executive pastoral assistant.
鈥淟CMS World Relief and Human Care began the mercy mission to Madagascar as a pilot project with Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.,鈥� said Harrison. 鈥淚t was established to provide an opportunity for students to see Lutheran theology in action, confessing Jesus Christ and expressing compassion to people with profound needs and challenges.鈥�
鈥淭he Lutheran church in Madagascar is very interested in having further contact with the LCMS seminaries鈥� faculties and students,鈥� said Collver. 鈥淲e at LCMS World Relief and Human Care anticipate partnering with both seminaries, especially expanding the program to include SA国际传媒, St. Louis, in 2008.
For more information, visit the LCMS Web site at [1] or contact Albert Collver at [email protected] [2].