Hispanic Ministry in Houston

LINKE

D IN

KEN CHITWOOD’SNEWSLETTER

TO PARTNERSIN MINISTRY

Many Languages, Many People - One SpiritIt’s always a humbling and nerve-

racking experience to stand up in front of a gathering of believers and preach the Word of God. It is humbling because I know that I am attempting to handle the Word of Truth rightly (2 Timothy 2:15). It is nerve racking because I care so much about the correct proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is life to all those who hear it (John 5:25)! Despite the nerves, I am also blessed to be able to preach the Word to so many people from so many different backgrounds speaking many languages.

In the last three months I had the opportunity to preach twelve different times in California and Texas to people of various ethno-linguistic groups (English, Spanish, Telugu, Hindi and Nepali). Each time I was humbled by the power of the Spirit to work through me, a broken vessel, and each

time I shared the Word I learned a little more about Christ and his people.

No matter the background of the congrega t ion each and ever y opportunity was a time for Christ to be glorified and for his name to be known. Whether it was in Simi Valley, CA where Christ helped change a church’s perspective as they head towards a time of transition or the response of a Nepali kid in Houston who was introduced to Christ for the first time, it was the LORD who worked all in all (Romans 8:28). Whether it was a “good but short sermon” for Te lugu peop le worsh ipp ing in Southwest Houston or a “tough word” for downtown H-town hipsters, it was the Spirit who spoke clearly to the hearts of God’s people. No matter the audience, it was not my might, power, prose or eloquence that made Christ known, but the power of the Spirit (Zechariah 4:6-10).

Thank God for that! If it was up to me the work would not be done. Although I am making the attempt to learn Spanish and know a few words in Zulu, French, Ebo, Korean, Amharic and Hindi I am certainly not fluent. In Houston alone our ministries connect with people from 19 different ethno-linguistic groups stemming from the Americas, Africa, Europe and Asia. In Lutheran churches across Texas we preach in over 20 different languages each and every Sunday!

Certainly it is an immense task to proclaim Christ to the nations, in so many different languages and in various contexts. However, the work is done - not by our might, our power, but by the Spirit of the Lord. Praise the

LORD! Alabanzo Senor! भगवान की

(त*+त! 주를 찬양하라! Sifa Mungu!

Praise the Lord!

In the Houston metro area there are some 3 million people of Hispanic-Latino origin (44% of the population). Thus, to do ministry in Houston means to engage with Hispanic-Latino culture. Here at LINC we have over 10 different Hispanic-Latino mission churches and many of our mission and program staff is fluent in Spanish. This year we are focusing on Hispanic-Latino ministry by offering Spanish as Second Language courses, offering a seminar in Hispanic-Latino ministry and hosting a Spanish Mission Congress in our city. Recently, I also reported on Hispanic-Latino religion in the Houston Chronicle at http://blog.chron.com/sacredduty (“Hispanic Religion on the Decline” & “Death and Design”).

Preaching on Zechariah 4:6-10at a local Telugu-English magazine launch

Highlights & News:1. Start of the 2011 Fall Semester On August 23 the new LBI semester started with twelve students with nine different ethnic backgrounds learning about the New Testament from Rev. John Davis, a pastor in the Houston area who is passionate about Christ and his Kingdom. Since the Spring semester our student enrollment has doubled. Thank you for your prayers and support!

2. Music and Missions Camp In July my wife Elizabeth put on a fantastic Music and Missions VBS at Memorial Lutheran Church in Katy. Featuring a different country and its music and missions each day over 80 kids “travelled around the world” in a week, learning and growing along the way. Helping in the background and being part of the first day I thought it was a great idea and fun camp. It is featured on the LCMS World Mission blog at blog.lcmsworldmission.org.

3. Krause Mission Camp w/ ElizabethAfter Elizabeth (my wife) captained the very successful Music and Missions camp, her and I went to the Krause Center, a residential treatment facility for at-risk youth, to lead a three-day camp with them. We sang songs, played games, did crafts and wrote some music together as we learned about the rhythm of God’s word and how he uses music to proclaim Christ! Our Summer Funding Scenario

At the end of September I will complete my first year of service with LINC Houston. I will also come to the end of my first year of fundraising. The goal for this year was $12,000. As of the end of August we fundraised $8,303! This is a long way from the $5,000 that we had in July and I am so thankful for a few very generous donations from some Katy locals. As you can see I am still almost $4,000 away from the goal of $12,000. If you are moved to support my LINC Houston ministry this next month, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for your time, your prayers, your gifts and your consideration. Whatever the Spirit puts on your hearts, please pray for us:

+Thanksgiving for recent generous donations from folks here in Katy, TX. +Thanksgiving for the beginning of the new LBI fall semester with over 30

students participating in New Testament Survey and Spanish classes and studying to be engaged in mission for Christ.

+For continued guidance as we plan for upcoming missions training and partnerships with church planters in the Houston area.

+That financial support would come as we serve Christ in this place

PLEASE SEND YOUR SUPPORT TO LINC HOUSTON, MEMO: Ken Chitwood (161 West Rd., Houston, TX 77037) or

Visit http://www.razoo.com/story/Ken-Chitwood-Missional-Training www.razoo.com/story/Ken-Chitwood-Missional-Training

Spanish as a Second Language

In mid-August Elizabeth and I got to visit the

Lutheran Camp Lone Star in La Grange,

Texas for the TX-District LC-MS New Church

Workers Conference. It was a great time

meeting other folks from around the district

and learning more about the mission ministry of Texas

Lutherans.

Houston’s population is over 44% H i span i c - La t i no . Wh i le t he m a j o r i t y o f t h e s e L a t i n o immigrants and Hispanic natives speak English, the need to read, write and communicate in Spanish is great here in Houston for business, friendship, mission and ministry. With that in mind the LINC Bible Institute is partnering with two local churches to offer Spanish as Second Language courses in the fall. So far we have over 20 people signed up to learn Spanish, many of them so that they may engage with native Spanish speakers in mission ministry. Alabanza Cristo!

Ladies Bunco Night and Other Creative FundraisersIt does not matter what form the gift comes in, but I am always humbled by the

generosity of supporters like yourself. Every once and a while I am also encouraged by supporters’ creativity.

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League chapter of Trinity Lutheran Simi Valley, CA is holding a bunco night this September to support a couple different ministries, including my mission work here in Houston! Not only is this a wonderful idea, but it is also a creative fundraiser that guarantees fun for participants!

Another creative fundraising idea comes from a young woman that is part of our congregation in Katy, TX. Only 8 years old, this girl is making crosses and other crafts and selling them to make money for missions at our church, Memorial Lutheran in Katy. Her hope is to donate $100 this year!

So do you have any creative ideas? Rather than just asking for money for your next fundraiser come up with a wacky game, a crazy idea or a creative opportunity for people to support your ministry or mission. It could go a long way for the Kingdom of Christ!