by Dinnie Kysar, Zone 11 Secretary
“Continuing God’s Mission in Unusual Times” was the theme for the Zone 11 zoom event held on November 6 and 13. There was time for small groups, for singing, and for listening to two speakers. Thirty-four people attended.
Pastor Bob Smith, serving as interim pastor at Messiah Lutheran, ‘Ewa Beach, spoke on prayer. Prayer is not a technique. There are no rules. Prayer is centered around a relationship with Jesus. Stop, rest, relax – Jesus is listening. He has written two books: Keep Me from Evil, Harm and Fear (2004) and Keep Me and Keep All (2011).
Pastor Uchel Naito from Good Shepherd, Honolulu spoke on the history of the Palauan congregation in Honolulu and its relationship with Good Shepherd. It all started with one lady from Good Shepherd who met a lady from the Palauan community. A relationship formed and resulted in Bible studies for Palauans. By 2004 a missionary arrived in Hawaii from Palau and he became a Lutheran pastor for the Palauan congregation.
Following the zoom events, participants’ comments were enthusiastic about seeing so many beloved ones in Christ all at once. Carol’s prayer (she joined from Hong Kong) was “may God continue to bless all the LWML work you do for it assists to proclaim the Gospel all over the world”. Sharon Self remembered how Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pacifica, CA supported a man training to be a pastor at the seminary – that man was Pastor Les Self, who is currently serving as interim pastor at Good Shepherd, Honolulu. Avis commented that the participants’ experiences noted during the small group Ice Break session expanded her thinking about God’s mission for each of us. Pastor Bob Smith’s presentation offered lots of room for us to grow.
“Continuing God’s Mission in Unusual Times” was the theme for the Zone 11 zoom event held on November 6 and 13. There was time for small groups, for singing, and for listening to two speakers. Thirty-four people attended.
Pastor Bob Smith, serving as interim pastor at Messiah Lutheran, ‘Ewa Beach, spoke on prayer. Prayer is not a technique. There are no rules. Prayer is centered around a relationship with Jesus. Stop, rest, relax – Jesus is listening. He has written two books: Keep Me from Evil, Harm and Fear (2004) and Keep Me and Keep All (2011).
Pastor Uchel Naito from Good Shepherd, Honolulu spoke on the history of the Palauan congregation in Honolulu and its relationship with Good Shepherd. It all started with one lady from Good Shepherd who met a lady from the Palauan community. A relationship formed and resulted in Bible studies for Palauans. By 2004 a missionary arrived in Hawaii from Palau and he became a Lutheran pastor for the Palauan congregation.
Following the zoom events, participants’ comments were enthusiastic about seeing so many beloved ones in Christ all at once. Carol’s prayer (she joined from Hong Kong) was “may God continue to bless all the LWML work you do for it assists to proclaim the Gospel all over the world”. Sharon Self remembered how Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pacifica, CA supported a man training to be a pastor at the seminary – that man was Pastor Les Self, who is currently serving as interim pastor at Good Shepherd, Honolulu. Avis commented that the participants’ experiences noted during the small group Ice Break session expanded her thinking about God’s mission for each of us. Pastor Bob Smith’s presentation offered lots of room for us to grow.