September 13, 2009 will mark the one-year anniversary of Hurricane IKE. The storm hit our coastline and blew through Houston, leaving behind destruction and devastation of many homes. Many of these were in older neighborhoods where low income families and the elderly live.

LINC Houston is committed to staying involved in the long term restoration process and beyond, hopefully not only making homes safe, secure, and sanitary but also bringing hope by sharing the love of Jesus with the families who live in them. This will be done by staying connected to the families, helping them meet basic needs, introducing them to other community resources, showing them someone really cares about them. Sometimes it means just listening.

You too can participate in this opportunity God is giving us to impact lives.

Interested?

Email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call her at 281-598-3224.

Raising Money For Missions

LINC Houston held its first annual fundraising gala on October 3, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Downtown. Among the 200+ in attendance were local pastors, non-profit leaders, local church members and LINC Missionary leaders. Thanks to them, this event raised funds through ticket and auction sales, and a raffle that will help LINC continue to make a difference in the lives of so many people in our community.

Next year’s event is scheduled for October 2, 2010.  Mark your calendars!

Disaster Case Management
Helping Individuals Fully Recover

The first time Pauline came to LINC she asked for help with her electric bill. Her husband had been picked up in an immigration sweep and was being held for deportation. Pauline has five children, the youngest only 7 months old. We couldn’t pay her electric bill, but we could give her food and diapers. A week or so later, several bags of clothing were donated to LINC. The case manager who who had met with Pauline called her to come get clothes for the children. In addition she suggested she hold a yard sale to help generate income, which she did. Periodically the case manager continues to check up on her. She learned that Pauline makes popsicles in her home and sells them to families as they leave school. With that income and a occasional yard sale, she is managing to minimally provide for her family.

Francesca came to Houston from San Antonio with the assistance of her only friend in the United States to escape an abusive husband. The friend had promised her a place to stay until she found work. However, the friend’s landlord made her leave. She slept behind a grocery store a couple of nights and then was allowed to stay in the back room of a tire shop. After a couple of nights, the owner told her she would have to leave there, and he dropped her off at the LINC office. She was given something to eat and assured that she would be safe.  Then the phone calls to shelters began. None had room for her and all had a waiting list.

But God had a partnership plan for Pauline, Francesca, and LINC.  In a last frantic attempt to find a place for Francesca, the case manager called Pauline. She said, “I have a huge favor to ask.” Then she told her Francesca’s story. Without a moment’s hesitation Pauline’s response was, “I’ll be right there. She can come home with me and stay as long as she needs.” In less than 15 minutes, Pauline arrived to pick her up. The ladies were reminded to come to the food pantry that was distributing food the next day. On Sunday, Francesco attended church where she met a lady who offered her a job as a housekeeper so she was able to move into her own place.

Pauline was blessed by being able to serve instead of being served. Francesca was blessed with the knowledge that someone cared. And LINC staff was blessed once again with the assurance of God.

Through our case management program, individuals can be empowered to improve their quality of life and build a brighter future for themselves and their families. And sometimes they have a chance to move from being served to being the servant - and that’s what really makes a difference.

God Speaks Korean Too!

LINC’s newest ministry, Hilltop Church, is the second LINC congregation to become chartered by the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod.  Members are mostly Korean and services are held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church.  In late summer St. Andrew and Hilltop held a combined worship service in both English and Korean. Now the two congregations plan to continue the practice of a combined worship every 5th Sunday of the month, followed by a fellowship lunch.

In September Hilltop celebrated their congregation’s 1st anniversary.

Bringing Comfort in Jesus' Name

Since 2006, through the Lutheran Chaplaincy Ministry, Rev. Walt Dube has served out of town Lutherans who are away from their home church family. In this capacity, he not only is able to bring hope and comfort to patients, but to their family members as well.  And he has the opportunity to share God’s Good News faithfully with other folks who observe his ministry and who ask for his prayers for their loved ones and for themselves.

Since November 2007, Nuevo Oasis has been the LINC Mission Center in the Spring Branch community near west Houston. Ana Maria Jimenez is manager of the Hispanic bookstore. Nuevo Oasis serves as a resource for Christian literature, gift items, and religious books.  But the bookstore is much more.  Four nights a week volunteers serve as mentors to men and women who want to learn English through the English as a Second Language (ESL) program.  The facility has also become a place where food is distributed to those in need.  Ana’s husband, Dimas, who leads a Hispanic church in Katy, is on site during ESL classes for those who desire spiritual support. 

Campus Ministry In the 21st Century
University of Houston

Rev. Vijay Gurrala  has about 20 students involved in weekly Bible study. He has two sessions, on studying the Old Testament and the other the New Testament. Student assistant Ritesh is very creative in finding ways to invite people to the LCMS office. Rahul, our student volunteer is a regular for Bible study as well as Abudul Khader, an Islamic and also former student assistant, Shashank.  Monday lunches in the Religion Center are a great way to meet new students. “What is exciting to me,” says Pastor Vijay, “is the number of non Christian students who come to my office with questions about Jesus.”

Rev. Gurrala also serves as pastor to Our Redeemer Evangelical Church whose membership is mostly Telugu Indians. They worship at 6:30 PM Sundays in the U of H Chapel. The congregation is very active in outreach to the U of H student community.

Seminary Level Training
New Workers for New Churches

The path to ordination for men and commissioning for women is through distance learning programs offered by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Today 5 men are involved in evaluation for the colloquy program. Two men are preparing for the pastoral ministry through the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT). Seven men are enrolled in the Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) and five women are enrolled in the Deaconess program also through the Center for Hispanic Studies. Four of the seven men will be eligible for ordination at the end of August 2010.

Summer VBS
Teaching God's Love to Children

Amanda Finke, Senior at Concordia College, River Forest, planned and facilitated a Vacation Bible School at three different mission sites, Comunidad de Gracia in east Houston, Voice of Evangelism International, southwest, and Centro Familiar Cristiano, northside.  Members of the mission churches distributed flyers  in their neighborhoods with information about the event.  With the help of volunteers, Amanda shared the Good News of Jesus through art, song, and stories. 

Training Leaders For Ministry

All together, LINC currently has more than 40 students engaged in some level of theological training. There are two venues for pre-seminary level students and those interested in learning a step above a Sunday morning Bible study. LINC BIble Institute (LBI) is taught in English and Instituto Biblico LINC (IBL) is in Spanish. Both curricula are set up for a 3 year course of study which includes 4 courses per year plus two intensive all-day workshops. The courses are taught by LINC pastoral staff and local LCMS pastors and are approved by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The pre-seminary training is like a "farm system" for identifying and raising up future pastors and deaconesses.  

Rev. David Kim - Mission Director

Pastor Kim has served as Mission Director of LINC Houston since 2007.  Before coming to Houston, he was a church planter in Ecuador for 13 years.  As Mission Director, he is responsible for the theological and practical training of LINC  missionaries.  He interviews potential candidates for missionary training and mentors the students who are in seminary level classes.