Lutheran Church of Australia

Staying in touch with her 15 grandchildren has always been very important for Judith Smyth. ‘They are always in my thoughts and prayers’, she says. ‘During the recent time of isolation … as I couldn’t see them in person, I decided to write a letter to each of them.’

Singalongs at the remote Amunturrngu community and neighbouring outstations in the Northern Territory have become cultural celebrations observing anti-viral protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the president of the Lutheran Church in the Philippines, Rev Antonio Reyes, and his wife Arlene were unable to return home due to travel bans, they believed their exile was an act of God.

A bewildering social media and internet-connected revolution is reshaping the world and relationships, even how we think and act. This Information Revolution has gathered a socially transformative pace. How should we 21st-century Christians engage with social media and the internet?

Like many others during COVID-19 church closures, St Johns Hope Vale in Far North Queensland has had to seek creative and technological ways to reach people. With shaky internet and very basic equipment, it was a huge challenge. But a new generation of people has stepped up.

Imagine how you’d feel if you were stranded in another country with all the current health concerns – and you couldn’t speak the language. Many of our LCA/NZ congregations engaged in Cross-Cultural Ministry are responding to these needs, and being innovative in how they minister to people.