What Others Say About LHF
What Others Say About LHF
“As a Lutheran pastor in Hong Kong, I experience the limited resources in the Chinese language of the Lutheran community, particularly in the areas of the Systematic Theology and Liturgical Tools (banner design and modern worshipping liturgy). The books printed by the LHF will be distributed through various Lutheran Churches within Hong Kong and individually distributed to Christians in the Mainland China. They are used in personal evangelism, Sunday school and other nurturing classes.”
Rev. Kelvin Li
Pastor, Lutheran Church - Hong Kong Synod
“Lutheran books keep our members from false teachings and help them to understand their faith and doctrines better. They appreciate the translated Lutheran books like the Book of Concord, Church and Ministry and Dying to Live in Amharic. The Holy Spirit is using these books to keep our Lutheran church members from wrong doctrines and help them to stand firm in their faith.”
Dereje Tilahum
Scripture Engagement Coordinator - SIL Ethiopia
“One of the greatest needs for Hispanic churches has been the lack of Lutheran materials in Spanish. Materials are needed for pastors, lay people, and especially for Christian education.The work of LHF has been very important for our churches. We will always continue to need your support.”
Rev. Christian Dieter Jagnow
Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile
“We are praising God for the Lutheran Heritage Foundation! During the Soviet Communist era, Bibles and spiritual literature were forbidden, and the result was an uneducated and ungodly society. LHF is a blessings not only for the Lutheran Church, but for the whole nation, because it gives great opportunity to increase the amount of spiritual literature in our country.”
Bato Tsintsadze
Republic of Georgia
“During the last few years, over a hundred Somalis who read LHF-translated books have contacted us from every corner of the world, seeking answers for their faith related questions, requesting books, asking us to connect them to a church in their area, or enquiring as to where and when could they possibly be baptized in private. To understand their new faith, Somali converts need good books on Bible-based fundamental Christian doctrines in their own language, for which LHF is currently the main provider.”
Rev. Mohamed Gurhan
Lutheran Evangelist in Somalia
“We use LHF books and Bible stories as gifts or prizes for memory work when kids are learning their catechism and Bible verses each week. We also give away gifts like that for Christmas and different things. Sometimes for our kids, these are the only gifts they receive for Christmas, or the only gift they get for their birthday. So these things become so important in brightening their life and showing them God’s love.”
Deaconess Caitlin Worden de Ramirez
LCMS Missionary to Peru
“With the Lutheran Heritage Foundation we have now a very good and solid base for the publishing activities which no one else does. Like Paul says, ‘How will they know if they don’t hear?’ How will they remember if they don’t read? We are grateful to all our friends in America who help us spread the printed Word of God."
Rev. Slavik Horpynchuk
Bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church
“The Kazakh church is very young. Because almost all the Kazakh Christians our churches have come to faith and been baptized within the last 4-5 years, catechesis and basic Christian formation is fundamental. What a wonderful blessing to have Luther’s Small Catechism to use in the faith formation of this growing young church!”
Name withheld for safety reasons
Kazakhstan
“Because no church in the Kusaal area has books in the Kusaal language, they are attracted to reading the Small Catechism. I have spotted market women reading the Small Catechism while selling their wares. People who read the Small Catechism have become more active in attending church services and especially Bible studies. School children have developed interest in reading the Small Catechism at their break periods.”
Rev. Nicholas Salifu
Pastor, Ev. Lutheran Church of Ghana
“Having solid Lutheran books translated into Spanish provides our people with a confirmation and expansion of the eternal truth we learn from our pastors in church. It serves pastors, people, deaconesses, and seminarians as a text for mutual reflection and further education.”
Rev. David Preus
LCMS Missionary to the Dominican Republic
“Our people need to hear and read the pure Word of God, taught in the Law and Gospel for their salvation in Christ Jesus. Our people need simply to be taught the gospel in their own mother tongue, which Dr. Martin Luther stated in number 62 of the 95 theses to be the true treasure of the Church. “The true treasure of the Church is the most holy Gospel and the grace of God.” Therefore, our goal is to translate the Book of Concord into Yala language, but taking it bit by bit, God helping us and providing the means through Lutheran Heritage Foundation for this purpose.”
Rev. Dr. Michael Adoga
Rector, JEM Lutheran Seminary, Nigeria
“[LHF’s Spanish-language Bible storybooks] would be a great tool for us to use both in our Christian education classes as well as in our Bible schools and Sunday schools and vacation Bible schools that we have here. It would be such a great help for us, because Uruguay is very secularized. Kids just don’t grow up in Sunday school; they don’t grow up in church. All that they are learning [about Jesus], these kids are learning here at the school.”
Rev. James Sharp
LCMS Missionary to Uruguay
“As German pastors work with Iranian immigrants, the pastor will have German copy of the catechism and the refugee a Farsi copy. The LHF catechism project is an aid in this teaching. It is a Farsi language Small Catechism with about 176 questions/answers of core Christian beliefs. These questions are translated in German at the end of catechism so the pastor can read in German. The person being taught has the questions in Farsi, along with the Biblical references. This is where the new catechism will be a big help, by assisting people who don’t have a translator so the books can still teach people.”
Rev. Hugo Gevers
Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church in Germany
“The catechism helps new believers realize that what they learn isn’t some man-made story, but it is the real truth which comes from the Bible. What I also find interesting in my ministry is that, after each candidate receives sufficient instruction, LHF’s catechism translation equips them with resources to teach others. So new believers not only know what they believe, but they are also able to guide others to God’s love in Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Samuel Thompson
Pastor, India Evangelical Lutheran Church
NIGERIA
“We started working with LHF in 2004. Since then, we can affirm that LHF has been continuing to do what Dr. Martin Luther started at the dawn of the Reformation.”
Rev. Dr. Nelson Unwene
Former Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria
“Our people need to hear and read the pure Word of God, taught in the Law and Gospel for their salvation in Christ Jesus. Our people need simply to be taught the gospel in their own mother tongue, which Dr. Martin Luther stated in number 62 of the 95 theses to be the true treasure of the Church. “The true treasure of the Church is the most holy Gospel and the grace of God.” Therefore, our goal is to translate the Book of Concord into Yala language, but taking it bit by bit, God helping us and providing the means through Lutheran Heritage Foundation for this purpose.”
Rev. Dr. Michael Adoga
Rector, JEM Lutheran Seminary, Nigeria
ETHIOPIA
“Lutheran books keep our members from false teachings and help them to understand their faith and doctrines better. They appreciate the translated Lutheran books like the Book of Concord, Church and Ministry and Dying to Live in Amharic. The Holy Spirit is using these books to keep our Lutheran church members from wrong doctrines and help them to stand firm in their faith.”
Dereje Tilahum
Scripture Engagement Coordinator at SIL Ethiopia
GHANA
“Because no church in the Kusaal area has books in the Kusaal language, they are attracted to reading the Small Catechism. I have spotted market women reading the Small Catechism while selling their wares. People who read the Small Catechism have become more active in attending church services and especially Bible studies. School children have developed interest in reading the Small Catechism at their break periods.”
Rev. Nicholas Salifu
Pastor, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
SOMALIA
“During the last few years, over a hundred Somalis who read LHF-translated books have contacted us from every corner of the world, seeking answers for their faith related questions, requesting books, asking us to connect them to a church in their area, or enquiring as to where and when could they possibly be baptized in private. To understand their new faith, Somali converts need good books on Bible-based fundamental Christian doctrines in their own language, for which LHF is currently the main provider.”
Rev. Mohamed Gurhan
Lutheran Evangelist in Somalia
BELIZE
“[LHF] books bridge the gap and help us not only to instruct, but place the books into the homes of Hispanics who need to hear the Word.”
Rev. Herb Burch
LCMS Missionary to Belize
BRAZIL
“The books that have been published with the support of LHF are useful particularly to theology students. We believe this investment is very precious to the spiritual future of our Church. The Lutheran members of the IELB are heartfully thankful.”
Rev. Dieter Jagnow
Lutheran University of Brazil
CHILE
“One of the greatest needs for Hispanic churches has been the lack of Lutheran materials in Spanish. Materials are needed for pastors, lay people, and especially for Christian education.The work of LHF has been very important for our churches. We will always continue to need your support.”
Rev. Christian Dieter Jagnow
Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
“Having solid Lutheran books translated into Spanish provides our people with a confirmation and expansion of the eternal truth we learn from our pastors in church. It serves pastors, people, deaconesses, and seminarians as a text for mutual reflection and further education.”
Rev. David Preus
LCMS Missionary to the Dominican Republic
PERU
“We use LHF books and Bible stories as gifts or prizes for memory work when kids are learning their catechism and Bible verses each week. We also give away gifts like that for Christmas and different things. Sometimes for our kids, these are the only gifts they receive for Christmas, or the only gift they get for their birthday. So these things become so important in brightening their life and showing them God’s love.”
Deaconess Caitlin Worden de Ramirez
LCMS Missionary to Peru
URUGUAY
“[LHF’s Spanish-language Bible storybooks] would be a great tool for us to use both in our Christian education classes as well as in our Bible schools and Sunday schools and vacation Bible schools that we have here. It would be such a great help for us, because Uruguay is very secularized. Kids just don’t grow up in Sunday school; they don’t grow up in church. All that they are learning [about Jesus], these kids are learning here at the school.”
Rev. James Sharp
LCMS Missionary to Uruguay
MONGOLIA
“As a Lutheran church, we would like to have more Lutheran classic materials to root our church in the Word and also in the historical Lutheran heritage. Having good Lutheran materials would help us grow stronger in the faith, which will result in growth in numbers.”
Rev. Puje Medee
Mongolian Evangelical Lutheran Church
GEORGIA
“We are praising God for the Lutheran Heritage Foundation! During the Soviet Communist era, Bibles and spiritual literature were forbidden, and the result was an uneducated and ungodly society. LHF is a blessings not only for the Lutheran Church, but for the whole nation, because it gives great opportunity to increase the amount of spiritual literature in our country.”
Bato Tsintsadze
Republic of Georgia
KAZAKHSTAN
“The Kazakh church is very young. Because almost all the Kazakh Christians our churches have come to faith and been baptized within the last 4-5 years, catechesis and basic Christian formation is fundamental. What a wonderful blessing to have Luther’s Small Catechism to use in the faith formation of this growing young church!”
Name withheld for safety reasons
Kazakhstan
TURKEY
“Turkish is a language spoken by 70 million people in the world, but not even 1 percent of them know Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. In the Turkish speaking world there is a lot of disinformation about Christianity, which means there is a call for the right and clear information about Christians and Christianity.
LHF books are a great help for the small church proclaiming the good news and trying to teach the young Christians within our congregations.
One man explained his story: “I used to spend time with Christians for many years and yet I couldn’t be part of them. I read Christian books, but they were incoherent and I couldn’t find answers to my questions. I continued seeking for the answers until I received a book published by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation and Istanbul Lutheran Church. As a journalist I find it important that the books are completed with accuracy and both the content and the outfit are clear. I wanted to explore more about this Lutheran Church and finally I found a congregation I felt I can join in. I went to the church, studied the Catechism and after a few months I was baptized.”
Name Withheld to Protect the Mission
Istanbul Lutheran Church
RUSSIA
“We use the Russian language materials in our evangelism efforts to help make disciples of those previously held captive in the darkness of atheistic communist ideology to the light of the Gospel, and then to teach them and others in our various training programs (pastors, deacons, teachers, youth workers, etc.) including confirmation classes and other continuing education opportunities for laity. Such books are a great help in answering the various and diverse questions that arise among those believers, who are confused by the various denominations and sects that have arisen in the post-communist era.”
Rev. Leif Camp
Missionary, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria (Russia)
INDIA
“The catechism helps new believers realize that what they learn isn’t some man-made story, but it is the real truth which comes from the Bible. What I also find interesting in my ministry is that, after each candidate receives sufficient instruction, LHF’s catechism translation equips them with resources to teach others. So new believers not only know what they believe, but they are also able to guide others to God’s love in Jesus Christ.”
Rev. Samuel Thompson
Pastor, India Evangelical Lutheran Church
CHINA
“As a Lutheran pastor in Hong Kong, I experience the limited resources in the Chinese language of the Lutheran community, particularly in the areas of the Systematic Theology and Liturgical Tools (banner design and modern worshipping liturgy). The books printed by the LHF will be distributed through various Lutheran Churches within Hong Kong and individually distributed to Christians in the Mainland China. They are used in personal evangelism, Sunday school and other nurturing classes.”
Rev. Kelvin Li
Pastor, Lutheran Church-Hong Kong Synod
VIETNAM
“To me, LHF’s book A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories is very useful, effective, and influential not only on children, but also on their parents and Sunday school teachers.”
Dinh Hai Au
Director, Lutheran Hour Ministries in Vietnam
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
“Nothing can reach a person better than the Word of God in a language they can truly understand. I am happy for a book in the Tok Pisin language that is from a Lutheran understanding of God’s Word.”
Rev. Larry Matro
LCMS missionary to Papua New Guinea
FINLAND
“It has been a joy to see how new believers value God’s Word and the Lutheran teaching of the Sacraments… We are happy that with the help of LHF, we are able to provide our brothers and sisters with this type of teaching, which is so important.”
Rev. Risto Soramies
Bishop, Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland
UKRAINE
“With the Lutheran Heritage Foundation we have now a very good and solid base for the publishing activities which no one else does. Like Paul says, ‘How will they know if they don’t hear?’ How will they remember if they don’t read? We are grateful to all our friends in America who help us spread the printed Word of God.
“Good Lutheran books are essentials for the good life of any confessional Lutheran Church body. Without the Book of Concord or service books and hymnals, the Church would only suffer. But she also needs devotions, commentaries, children’s Bibles, all kinds of books. These books are like weapons for the army. You need the whole complex of them to keep the Bride of Christ safe and in peace.”
Rev. Slavik Horpynchuk
Bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church
GERMANY
“As German pastors work with Iranian immigrants, the pastor will have German copy of the catechism and the refugee a Farsi copy. The LHF catechism project is an aid in this teaching. It is a Farsi language Small Catechism with about 176 questions/answers of core Christian beliefs. These questions are translated in German at the end of catechism so the pastor can read in German. The person being taught has the questions in Farsi, along with the Biblical references. This is where the new catechism will be a big help, by assisting people who don’t have a translator so the books can still teach people.”
Rev. Hugo Gevers
Pastor, Trinity Lutheran Church in Leipzig, Germany