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Blessings on Your New Year from LUMA
January 5, 2009
by Leah Theiss
LUMA would like to thank all of our donors and volunteers who have so generously helped us in 2008 with your time, talents, and treasures. As 2009 begins we are back in the offices finishing the acknowlegements for donations and gifts in kind for 2008, which we will have mailed to you soon. Thank you for your patience.
 
LUMA Christmas Store Helps Over 340 Families!
December 22, 2008
by Leah Theiss
Our Christmas Store 2008 has come to an end and was an overwhelming success! The final numbers are still being tallied, but at least 340 families were blessed this year with blankets, Bibles, a Christmas food basket, warm clothing, and gifts. We also had 150 volunteers - the most ever! Thank you for your generous donations of time, gifts, and money to help these families. As always, LUMA uses these physical gifts to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, to the people whom we help. May you and your family be blessed this Christmas season as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas from the LUMA staff.
 
Lutheran Urban Mission Agency
Christmas Store 2008
December 9 - 12, 2008
Jesus el Buen Pastor Lutheran Church
3007 Mercier, Kansas City, MO 64108
Mailing Address: PO Box 412594, Kansas City, MO 64141-2594
816-474-9049 (Mission)
List of Needs:
All items in our Christmas Store are new items ($20-$25 suggested retail value) as this may be the only nice gift some of our families will receive. Our goal this year is to help 330 families or about 1,400 individuals who would not have a Christmas except for the generosity of churches, businesses and individuals. WATCH FOR SALES!!!! Some suggestions include:
1. Adult men: heavy quilted flannel shirts, heavy sweaters and sweatshirt, tools. Useful items including extension cord on reel, tool sets, trouble light for cars (Check Sears [Craftsman Club] and Cummins Tools), heavy work gloves
2. Teens: sports equipment, sweatshirts, "boom box" with CD player
Boys - Hooded sweatshirts in larger sizes - zip and pullover, black, gray, blue (dark colors); age appropriate toys
Girls - take a teenage girl with you to shop: outfits (top/bottom), shoes with cute purse
3. Infants: layettes, crib toys, baby clothes, Fisher Price toys
4. Adult women: Practical household items such as crock pots, heavy duty stock pots, rice cookers, heavy duty pan sets, coffee makers, toaster ovens, irons, can openers, toasters, dishes, linens for bedroom, bedspreads (Queen and up). The household items always go first.
5. Children: Ages 3-6: creative toys, large baby dolls, educational toys, large kitchen toys; over age 6: dolls, metal trucks and cars, sports equipment, wooden blocks and games, playdoh, light up small tennis shoes (NO Barbie dolls)
6. Families: New Blankets and quilts – full and larger
7. Grab bag items for Children: crayons, markers, coloring books (small ones), miniature cars, plastic jewelry, etc.
8. Christmas ribbon to go with the wrapping paper we already have; scotch tape
9. Everyone: mittens, gloves, stocking caps, socks (stress men’s and infants’ gloves)
10. Food for the food basket each family will receive (turkey, canned veggies, fruit, etc for a special dinner)
11. Batteries (AA, AAA, C, D, and 9 volt)
12. Cash contributions and Gift Cards are especially welcome so that we are able to supplement our stock of food and gifts. If we are short of anything, the volunteers go shopping to replenish our inventory.
We are also in need of food items for the Christmas baskets. Following is a list of needed items.
Christmas Basket Contents 2008
Green Beans 2
Corn 2
Peas or other vegetable 1
Fruit 2
Gelatin 1 (Large family gets 2)
Cranberry Sauce 1
Rice 1
Dried Beans 1
Stuffing 1
Pasta 1
Oil 1
Flour 1
Sugar 1
Pumpkin or Yams 1
Powdered or Canned Milk 1
Dessert Mix - cake, cookies, brownies 1
Turkey or Hen 1
Devotion Book 1
 
Jesus, Nuestro Amigo Fiel
(Jesus, Our Faithful Friend)
September 25, 2008
by Abby Dawkins, DCO
"I have a friend who loves me...", the lyrics and melody filled the worship area as the room full of 60 children and 30 youth and adults joined in the chorus "...His name is Jesus!" Children, youth, and adults alike had the opportunity to learn more about our faithful friend, Jesus, over the course of the week through song, Bible dramas/story time, games, and one-on-one time with leaders. What a blessing it was to team up with the youth and adults of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Springfield, MO, to lead, serve, and grow together. I was proud as I watched our youth, who just a few years ago were participating in VBS, grow in their faith and leadership skills as they led the children in learning more about the love that our friend Jesus has for us. Praise God for a good week of Vacation Bible School! He is our faithful friend!
Avalanche Ranch
August 29, 2008
by Linda Verman
 
The week of July 14-17 found the Hispanic Ministry Team at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kansas City, KS where the theme was "Avalanche Ranch" and over 30 Hispanic children attended. The "campfire food" along with a transformation of the church into a western setting helped the children on their "wild ride through God's Word". Members of the Hispanic Team were assisted by DCE Beth VanHouten and four girls from Zion Lutheran Church, Macon, MO. All attending learned that God is real, always with us, strong, awesome and in charge! Summer intern, Kim Mueller, was an integral part of our Team for VBS. That's Kim, above, right.
 
Tricky Spaghetti
August 2, 2008
Abby Dawkins, DCO
"I am eating my spaghetti with what???!!!" is what ran through my mind as I picked up the ice cream scooper in front of me. "Unique Utensil Spaghetti Night" is one of the fun and long-standing traditions during the week of Camp Chi-rho. Campers and staff alike faced the meal with brave hearts and a messy face. DCO, Abby Dawkins and summer intern, Kim Mueller took a group of campers and counselors from Jesus El Buen Pastor down to Camp Chi-rho, near Springfield, MO the week of June 29th-July 4. There they united members from our sister church, Redeemer to make up 96 campers, 40 staff, and a fun week. Whether it was through campfires, making tie-dye T-shirts, bible study, or a shaving cream fight, the campers and staff learned about God's love for them through the retelling of the Christmas and Easter stories. It was a blessing to see not only the kids, but the counselors grow in their love for Jesus in leadership skills. I am thankful and proud!
See "Ministries" page for more pictures from Camp Chi-rho.
Live Out Loud!!
July 9, 2008
Abby Dawkins, DCO
 
What a fun week we had out at Hollis Renewal Center the 16th - 20th of June! DCO, Abby Dawkins and summer intern, Kim Mueller took a group of kids from Good Shepherd Missionary to the "Hollis Crossings" day camp for a week of fun and learning. Throughout the week the kids participated in skits, crafts, hikes, water games, bible studies, and leading worship. All of the week's activities had an intentional focus on following, serving, and sharing Christ as a community, "Living out Loud" in our daily lives. We are already looking forward to next year!
Look at our Ministries page for more pictures from this event.
To What End?
June 26, 2008
Tom Eckard, Executive Director
(Reprint of lead article in Spring 2005 issue of Shepherd's Staff)
I don't remember who first said it, but I really like this saying: "A life unexamined is a life not worth living." It sounds a bit like our famous Lutheran question: "What does this mean?" What is really being asked is: "Why are we doing this?" "To what end?"
Two terms come to mind: "urban ministry" and "social ministry". As an Urban Ministry, the Lutheran Mission of the Good Shepherd (LUMA) does a lot of "social ministry". Last year, for example, our food pantry, rent/utility assistance program, Christmas Store and Thrift Store provided hundreds of thousands of dollars' worth of food, clothing, and emergency aid to thousands of needy men, women and children in Kansas City. This is all part of our social ministry. We are helping people with their physical needs. In this respect, we're like many other "agencies" in Kansas City. It's a good thing, a Christian thing to do.
The important question, to me, is "To what end?". If we only help people with their physical needs, are we a "ministry" or a social service "agency"? We have to ask ourselves why we do these things. The answer is obvious. We help people with their physical needs because Christ has commanded that we do so.
But Our Lord Jesus also commands that we help them with their spiritual needs! That's why, at LUMA, everything we do is viewed as an opportunity to tell people about Jesus, and about his saving grace as expressed in God's Word. That's why, whatever we do in the future, we must continue to ask "To what end?". If the answer isn't "to spread the Gospel", then we shouldn't do it.
Perhaps we each need to ask the same question about our personal lives - about our own "ministries". May God richly bless you, as you live for him who died for every one of us.
Black Ministry Update
June 3, 2008
by Tom Eckard, Executive Director
Again this summer Quenton Shelby, a lifelong member of Good Shepherd Missionary Lutheran Church (our Black ministry group), will lead the Vacation Bible School program for this ministry. Quenton is a natural leader who loves working with children, especially when it comes to teaching them about Jesus. Quenton's oft-stated goal is to attend Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota, and to be a trained youth worker. This will be his fifth year as VBS leader.
We are working diligently to identify and call an experienced Black LCMS pastor. Much progress is being made toward this goal.
Please keep this ministry in your prayers.
Family Connections
ELL Redeemer, Olathe
May 20, 2008
by Abby Dawkins
As I sat at the table, I couldn't help but smile. There, around the oblong-shaped meeting table, we were seated as Kaidy giggled, captivating us with her beauty and joyful heart. This six-month-old child, unbeknownst to her, had naturally drawn in all who were in attendance at the confirmation class at Redeemer, Olathe that night. With a simple glance she stirred within each heart a pure, childlike joy. I was amazed at how this little girl could create such a connection between all who were present there.
I thought of another connection: five months ago this little girl became a part of God's family in Baptism and became spiritually connected with us, her brothers and sisters in Christ. On Sunday, April 27th, her grandmother, mother, uncle, and aunt became connected with the Lutheran family all across the world on their Confirmation day. They affirmed the faith God gave them in baptism and expressed their intent to remain steadfast and grow in that gift through the fellowship of the church. We praise God that, through the ministry of English Language Learning (ELL) classes, his message of life is being shared and we are privileged to be eternally connected with our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters! Now that is a family connection!
What's in a Name?
April 17, 2008
Why Are We Changing Our Name?
As you can see we are now calling ourselves "LUMA" (pronounced "loo-mah"). LUMA stands for "Lutheran Urban Mission Agency". Why, you ask, are we doing this?
First, to someone who is new to our ministry the name "Lutheran Mission of the Good Shepherd" does not tell them what we do. Of course, the Lutheran name is first and most important. We will never change that. The words "urban" and "mission" are also important. They say that we're "in the city" and that we are "mission minded". And a mission "agency" is an organization that supports a number of diverse mission efforts. That's LUMA!
Second, we need a name with an acronym (the first letter of each word) that can be pronounced and that is easy to remember.
Please note that we are underscoring our new name, LUMA, with the following phrase: "...a Good Shepherd Ministry". That's important for all of us who still identify with the name "Good Shepherd". Also be advised that our legal name "The Lutheran Mission of the Good Shepherd of Kansas City" will be retained.
The most important thing to know is that we are not changing our mission to "bring hope to the city" - to reach the lost in the city, and beyond, with the Good News of the Gospel! That always has been, and always will be, the purpose of this ministry, no matter what its name!
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Latest News
- Thank you Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Raymore, MO for holding the "Endless Grace" concert on December 14th to benefit LUMA.
- English Language Learning, ELL, teachers needed for spring semester starting in January. Please call LUMA to help.
- Food pantry needs donations!
- Barbeque fundraiser coming in late spring. Details to come!
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