Sep2022
Using what we have to bless strangers
by Craig Heidenreich
The folk at Paringa Holy Cross (in the South Australia Riverland) have a pretty good facility. When Pastor Stephen Trautwein noticed the hundreds of itinerant Pacific Islander workers coming into the area, he reached out to offer them a place to meet and worship.
Aug2022
A ministry partnership is birthed
by Craig Heidenreich
On the last weekend of July, we witnessed something special in the South Australian country town Freeling as the Light Parish hosted some new friends from Shepparton. The weekend will be long remembered by all who were there and was filled with colour and singing.
Jul2022
Cultural jubilee brings joy
We may think of cross-cultural ministry as a relatively recent focus of the LCANZ. But that’s far from the case, as a joyful anniversary celebration held last month shows. It marked 150 years since Queensland’s first Scandinavian-language worship service.
Jul2022
Glynde congregation open almost every day of the week
The team at Glynde Lutheran Church in the inner northeast of Adelaide have found the recipe to get people together. They are now open for business almost every day of the week, demonstrating what a truly multicultural group can look like.
Jun2022
Sharing Jesus’ love for the stranger
by Craig Heidenreich
Have you been to a Middle Eastern supermarket with aisles full of exotic spices, nuts and sweets? LCANZ Cross-Cultural Ministry’s Craig Heidenreich shares a story from a visit to one such shop – it’s a story of Jesus’ love for newcomers.
Jun2022
The Ark Salisbury Lutheran Church joins local community fun day
What started as a simple idea of having a small stall at a community fun day in May 2022 has been a catalyst to enthuse church members from The Ark Salisbury Lutheran Church to engage in more community outreach.
May2022
A new Cross-Cultural Ministry course is now available
After months of collaboration, Australian Lutheran College and Cross-Cultural Ministry are delighted to launch a new online training course to serve those in the LCANZ who want to engage with ethnic newcomers.
Feb2022
Where should our allegiance lie?
by Craig Heidenreich
In some countries, it is common for Christians to blend a sense of national identity with their life of faith. In extreme versions, the flag is flown in the worship space and the congregation pledges allegiance to the country as part of the meeting.
Feb2022
Something is happening with Afghans
by Craig Heidenreich
Please pray for the Afghans who have settled in Australia and New Zealand and particularly for the new wave of fugitives who have come in the last few months. Those of us who are in contact with them are seeing unusual ‘openness’, which might be the result of increased prayer of late.
Jan2022
Ethnic focus: Tonga
by Craig Heidenreich
Our thoughts and prayers are with the Tongan people after the recent volcanic eruption, so it seems a good time to highlight our Pacific neighbour as the ethnic focus of this edition.
