Moments with Missionaries – Erik Landwehr
Missionary Erik Landwehr shares and update from Peridot Lutheran School on the San Carlos Reservation. Rev. Landwehr shares some goals the Native American mission team has for the mission field and the work being done to train Native American leaders through the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS) program. Hear more from Missionary Landwehr and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis.
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Missionaries Rev. Dr. Matthew Doebler and Rev. Peter Janke, both members of the Asia-Oceania Team, are leading this effort. While they continue to work with contacts throughout Asia, their physical presence in Australia allows them to establish a firm foundation for ministry within local communities. They are collaborating with two existing churches in Australia: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brisbane and Fountain of Life in Maryborough. These congregations, members of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, provide vital connections and a foundation for expanding ministry efforts. This partnership strengthens the mission by providing existing worship spaces, local insights, and a community of believers eager to spread the gospel.
With the generosity of faithful donors, we built a sturdy buildingācomplete with classrooms, sleeping quarters, and a kitchenāmeant to house 60 students at a time and train pastors for Christās service. Almost two years ago at the dedication, it stood ready, a beacon of hope. But government regulations have kept us from using it for now. The paperwork continues, and the delay has a story of its own. A local church body that once supported us began demanding practices contrary to Scriptureāinsisting we stop baptizing babies and allow non-Lutheran teachers to train our pastors. In a Martin Luther-esque stand, our partner church broke away, choosing faithfulness over compromise. Since then, theyāve lost government recognition, which has slowed the process for gaining occupancy of the theological education center. Yet we trust that access could come any day, because Godās timing is not ours.
Some might see this as a delay, a plan stalled. But God has provided paths we never expected. Since we began, our sister church has grown to over 160,000 souls, hungry for the Word. 
