ALWS

by Pastor Stephen Schultz

This year the Lutheran church celebrates 70 years of reaching out in love to people in need through ALWS. Pastor Stephen Schultz says he was privileged to witness the fruit of this work last year at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and the way it has helped change people’s lives.

This Sunday 18 October, our Lutheran Church comes together to give thanks to God for 70 years of service to people hurt by poverty, injustice and crisis, through Australia Lutheran World Service (ALWS).

Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) was formed 70 years ago so that our Lutheran family could walk alongside people in need. Today our church through ALWS works in 11 countries. Last year the ALWS family helped 297,498 people with the same spirit of service as 70 years ago.

Lutheran schools in Australia and Australian Lutheran World Service team up in many ways to bring love to life for people in need.

With ALWS Walk My Way community events cancelled due to COVID-19, four Year 11 students from Concordia College in suburban Adelaide thought creatively about raising funds to support the education of children in refugee camps. They raised enough to help 143 children to go to school.

COVID-19 infection risks, border restrictions and ongoing uncertainty have forced the cancellation of thanksgiving events scheduled in October to mark 70 years of service through Australian Lutheran World Service.