Our regular writers will come mainly from our Partner ministries.
Burney, Phil
Phil Burney Has been a part of the Mission Team at Christ the King Lutheran Church, Dodge City, KS, since it formed in 1999, and the chairman of the team much of that time. He is a retired postal worker, and previously served on the Board of ALWM.
1 Post
Chim, Pich "Sam"
Pich Chim (Pastor Sam) is the leader of LCMC Cambodia. Born in a Buddhist family, he became a Christian in 1987. In 1992 (age 16), he began to preach and plant churches with his father. He splits his time between Cambodia and Canada, where his wife and two sons reside.
1 Post
Derricks, Elliot and Serena
Elliot and Serena Derricks have served since 2018 in Cameroon in Bible translation and literacy. They work alongside a local language group, revising their New Testament, translating the Old and increasing literacy rates community wide. They have 3 children, Lydia, Josephine and Chikodi.
1 Post
Dorfmeyer Karen
Karen Dorfmeyer has served at her church for many years as a leader and a teacher. She has a passion for children’s ministry and missions. Karen has participated in seven short-term mission trips to Hong Kong and to the countries of Haiti, Russia, Latvia and Viet Nam.
1 Post
Gassman, Philip
Dr. Philip Gassman is an Environmental Scientist at Iowa State University and a 20-year member of Ascension Lutheran Church (ALC). He has been involved with the ALC Evangelism and Missions team for the past decade, which has included 10 visits to locations of supported missionaries in six countries.
1 Post
Groethe, Kent
Kent Groethe has pastored for 35 years and presently serves Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD. Kent is director of Bible Alive Ministries and was the founder/ executive editor of Connections magazine for 10 years. He has authored 10 books & numerous study guides. He and wife Kay have 3 children and 4 grandchildren.
1 Post
Grulke, Carl and Kelsey
Rev. Carl and Kelsey Grulke have been missionaries with LBT since 2016. They share a love for the Word of God and for helping it come alive in the hearts of those who hear the Good News. Carl and Kelsey have served in Botswana since 2018. Carl is currently working as Exegete and Project Coordinator and Kelsey as Scripture Engagement Coordinator among the people of Botswana.
1 Post
Isaacson, David
Dr. David Isaacson (PhD), Melbourne, Australia, is an educational professional and consultant in business analysis and technology. He works for educational organizations and corporations, specializing in learning design, systems training, strategic educational planning, and implementation of learning management systems. He is also the chief research and grant writer for FOMM.
2 Posts
Johnson, Jackie
Jackie (Corlett) Johnson designs artisanal textiles and crafts in Bangladesh since 1989 and runs her Business as Mission venture, Motifhandmade.com, since '98. Through WMPL friends she met Jay Johnson in 2001, and they wed in '03. Jackie's now grafted into the WMPL family and happily serves as secretary on the board.
1 Post
Kinser, Lucas
Pastor Lucas Kinser has been in ministry for 14 years, serving as a youth pastor, outreach pastor and associate pastor. He has served at Faith Community Lutheran Church in Longmont, Colorado, for the past 10 years. He and his wife have a 3-year-old daughter, Lilly.
1 Post
Kuentz, Jennifer
An 11-year member of St. John Lutheran Church, Boerne, TX, Jennifer desires to serve to the glory of God. An active member of many committees, she enjoyed serving on the Mission Committee under Janet Blackburn’s leadership and became Chairman in January 2023.
1 Post
Lerseth, David
Pastor David Lerseth served parishes in Rosholt, SD; Bartonville (Peoria), IL; and Aberdeen, SD. He also served as an assistant to the Bishop in the former Iowa District of the ALC and as Executive Director of the ELCA Office for Global Mission Support. He is the founder and current Executive Director of Friends of Madagascar Mission (FOMM).
5 Posts
Lindquist, Chuck
Chuck and his family served with the World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) since 1976, both in Ecuador and in the Prayer League's home office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He most recently served WMPL as its General Director. Chuck and Cindy retired in 2017 and live in Minneapolis.
1 Post
Madsen, Kristopher
Rev. Kristopher Madsen (NALC & LCMC), a pastor for 13 years, currently serves as senior pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Ridgecrest, CA. He and his wife, Jenn, have three children. He enjoys watching baseball, trying to golf, and off-roading with the family in their jeep on the trails of the upper Mojave Desert.
1 Post
Moberly, Bill
Rev. Bill Moberly, director of Awakening Lives to World Missions (ALWM), helps churches with global mission outreach. He authored Igniting a Passion for Missions: A Guide for Church Leaders. He and wife Sally have 7 children, 21 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and have traveled to 23 countries to share the Gospel and equip leaders.
13 Posts
Phan, Van
Van Phan has served as part-time project manager for ALWM for their Vital Links ministry in Vietnam since 2005. He is also a teacher and translator. He and his wife, Thuy, and their children, Peter and Anna, live in Ho Chi Minh City.
1 Post
Raun, Don
Don Raun served as a Lutheran Brethren missionary in Chad for 40 years. After retiring from the mission field, he wrote a number of books and taught study groups. After the homegoing of Orpha, his wife of 62 years, he remarried and currently lives in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.
1 Post
Rodewald, Mike
Dr. Mike Rodewald, Executive Director of Lutheran Bible Translators, was a missionary in Liberia (1981-87) before pursuing graduate studies in the U.S., where he met his wife, Cindy (who was also preparing to serve in Bible translation). They served in Liberia, then later served for 15 years with the Kalanga Bible translation project in Botswana. Mike has a Ph.D. in missiology from Concordia Theological Seminary.
1 Post
Rudowske, Richard
Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske serves as Executive Director for Lutheran Bible Translators since January 2023. In 2013, he served as Regional Director for Southern Africa before returning to the U.S. in 2014 as Director of Program Ministries and Chief Operating Officer at LBT’s international office.
3 Posts
Shields, Matt
Pastor Matt Shields is an ordained LCMC pastor currently serving a congregation in central IL. He and his wife served in South Africa in 2008-09 and 2014. In 2014, with their first child, they lived in northern South Africa helping to plant a church that is still thriving today. Pastor Shields is also in the Augustana District of the LCMC and serves as part of their Board of World Missions. He loves spending time with his wife and three daughters, camping, woodworking, and traveling the world.
1 Post
Smude, Julie
Julie taught English for nearly 20 years in Chiang Rai, Thailand, and trained English teachers from all over the world. She is founder/president of Deeper Still Ministries International, a foundation focused on discipling young people. Now retired, she enjoys spending time with her grandchildren as much as distance allows.
1 Post
Thorstad, Thomas
Rev. Thomas Thorstad is a Lutheran pastor serving in Northern Illinois. He is connected with the Lutheran organizations of LCMC, NALC, and LOC. He is the director of Heart for Mission Laos/Thailand. He is a missionary and a theologian. He and his wife, Deuane, have three children.
1 Post
Urie, Leslie
Leslie Urie leads the Prayer Mobilization team at the World Mission Prayer League (WMPL), seeking to help grow an understanding of the mission of God in the church by inspiring educated and thoughtful prayer. She serves with the Home Office, often being astounded at the ways “God provides.”
6 Posts
Warne-McGraw, Ryan
Ryan Warne-McGraw has been a Pastor of Outreach and Global Missions at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church since 2006. He started doing mission work as a teenager in Oregon, and now enjoys helping others to participate in short-term missions. Ryan’s wife, Nicole, and three daughters have all been in the mission field together.
1 Post
Wilson, Emily
Emily Wilson serves as the Public Relations Coordinator for Lutheran Bible Translators. She is enthusiastic about sharing with churches, individuals, and organizations about the impact of Bible translation.
1 Post
