 Dear Friends,
What better way to celebrate Easter than with the launch of a new site for the worship and praise of our Risen Lord. Rey de Gloria is a brand new multi-site of San Pablo, Aurora, being located at Jehovah Lutheran Church in Chicago. Please see your invitation to attend the worship launch on Easter Sunday, below. Then read the story of a new believer at Salam Church and a brief update on St. Matthew, Chicago.
Jackie Bussert for People Ablaze!
in the Northern Illinois District LCMS |
Rey de Gloria to Launch in Chicago
There will be music, preaching and a whole lot of celebrating this Easter at the launch of Rey de Gloria Church in Chicago. This new start comes out of the vision of Pastor Alex Merlo, at San Pablo in Aurora, who imagined that a School for Missionaries would result in the multiplication of Gospel-centered mission work among Spanish-speaking people across Northern Illinois. Rey de Gloria is their first mission launch within the city of Chicago. (A Spanish-language Bible study group has already been meeting in Yorkville, Illinois, led by one of the missionary school students.)
Rey de Gloria will be led by a missionary school graduate who has been doing mission work for some months in the South Wisconsin District, waiting for an opportunity to open up here. That opportunity came through a partnership of San Pablo with Jehovah Lutheran Church and the Northern Illinois District's New Starts...New Believers strategy. More are expected in the near future. Each church launch will start as a multi-site of San Pablo under the supervision of the congregation and Pastor Merlo.
You can read about that special day in the next issue of The Northern Light newspaper mailed free to your home. In the meantime, your invitation to attend the mission launch on Easter Sunday is below. Click here for an enlarged view or to print this
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Hussein Came to Salam Church Last Summer - Here's His Story
From Missionary Hicham Chehab
Missionary Hicham Chehab, right, at Hussein's baptism with Pastor Charles Mueller officiating.
 | Hussein, 39, a refugee from Iraq, arrived in Chicago in early summer. Although friends and co-workers had been killed in Iraq, Hussein himself had survived three terrorist car bombs while serving as a translator for American troops.
Hussein says, "God spared me for a purpose."
Born in a Muslim community in Baghdad, Hussein studied the Quran, Orthodox Islam, and Islamic mysticism. But he became troubled by what seemed to be contradictions and "loopholes" in the Quran and Islamic doctrine. So, he decided to seek other ways to quench his spiritual thirst.
After the invasion of Iraq, Hussein quickly learned English and soon was hired as an interpreter and guide for American troops in Baghdad. Some of those GIs were Christians who shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with him. However, his new job put him on the hit list of terrorists and militia, who now branded him a traitor. Three times they tried to kill Hussein with car bombs. Eventually, all his friends and co-workers were killed and Hussein lost his home and all his possessions - but he found Jesus Christ.
Just 10 days after Hussein arrived in Chicago, he met another Iraqi refugee who attends Salam Church. I believe the Holy Spirit used this opportunity to bring Hussein to Salam Church where his spiritual thirst is being satisfied.
With the washing of rebirth and regeneration through Holy Baptism, Hussein now has begun a new spiritual life in the Kingdom of God. Please pray for Hussein's new life in America, that he will continue to grow strong in Christ and bear much fruit for the Kingdom through many new opportunities God will give him here in "the land of the free and brave." Welcome, Hussein!
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St. Matthew Faces New Challenge
St. Matthew Lutheran Church, which operates El Comedor Popular soup kitchen in the Pilsen neighborhood, on Chicago's south side, is coping with extensive city citations against its historic church building.
The burden for the congregation of making these repairs and the city's position on it have generated much local media attention. Volunteers are beginning to step up to help, including an engineer and architects. St. Matthew still faces the daunting task of raising funds for materials. You can follow the progress in their newsletters, posted at www.peopleablaze.org (link is on right side of the home page).
Meanwhile, their mission goes on. Pastor Julio Loza shares that "because of the stagnant economy, St. Matthew's soup kitchen has become more crucial for the survival of the men and women who are hungry and are helped with the hot meals served to them. It is very comforting to have several Lutheran pastors such as Rev. Luther Albrecht and other volunteers who come to help us in this very special ministry to those who suffer of hunger and despair in their lonely lives."
St. Matthew is located at 2108 W. 21st Street, Chicago, IL 60608. Why not stop in and lend a hand.
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About Us
Thank you for being counted among People Ablaze! in Northern Illinois. Together, we are reaching into communities through a vision for New Starts...New Believers to share the love of Jesus Christ. Our prayer is that the Holy Spirit might use these efforts to multiply believers.
Northern Illinois District LCMS
2301 South Wolf Road
Hillside, Illinois 60162
888-708-5267 x 3114
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