Illuminations LOVE WORKS Set Free to Serve Rev. Dennis Stueve President, LBW There is a ridiculous story about a weight lifter who appeared at an agent’s office. The muscle bound performer was carrying a stone, a big hammer, and a huge suitcase. “This big stone,” he explained to the agent, “is placed on my head, then my assistant takes the hammer and swings it as hard as he can, and breaks the stone.” The agent’s head nearly ached just from the description, but he was quite enthusiastic. “Sounds wonderful!” he shouted. “But if you need only the hammer and the big stone for the performance why did you bring this big suitcase?” The weight lifter replied, “It’s full of aspirin.” There are a lot of people who function quite nicely in society, who seem like they’ve got it all together, who come across as if they have life all figured out, but somewhere they’ve got a suitcase hidden, because they’re in a lot of pain. If you look closely, you see it in their faces, you hear it in their voices, you sense it in the stoop of their shoulders, the sadness in their eyes, the weariness in their walk. Some people live hard, despairing lives. They long to be set free, so do you and I! Freedom is what Christian faith is all about. We so often forget that. There are always those who would turn faith into a new form of bondage. Faith in Christ is freedom, delirious, unrestrained freedom. Indeed, there is no freedom without Him. What is that freedom that Christ gives? 1. Jesus Gives Us Freedom From The Bondage of Sin. He does this by paying the full price for our sins. In Him we are fully, freely forgiven! 2. Jesus Can Also Set Us Free From Meaninglessness And Despair. Jesus is saying to us that when we know the truth about who we are (sons and daughters of God), then we no longer have to wallow in despair and disappointment. 3. Jesus Can Free Us From Life’s Emotional Wounds. In all adults there is still a small child whose spirit What’s Inside somehow has been “Love Works” in Texas............ 2 wounded along the Update on Costa Rica............ 3 way to maturity. Set Free to Serve Cont’d....... 3 (cont’d. on pg. 3) Ministry Needs......................... 4 PO Box 5000 Yucaipa, CA 92399 • 800-925-6092 • www.LBWinc.org 3 Fall 2016 From Nigeria “Greetings to you at LBW. I received the package you sent to me from post office on 30th June 2016. In the package are Audio CD ‘s for Old and New Testament set. Also books of Exodus, Leviticus, 1st and second Chronicles. By the grace of God I will make my own donation to support the organization, when I get to USA. Thanks and God bless you.” THOMAS Promise Makers Mary Helen Kelly Roberta Werth Marjorie Delafosse Melvin Stueve Milton & Peggy Turnipseed Ida Mall Richard & Nancy Challis Ane Ertzner Norman Loeber Tax ID: 95-6048152 “Love Works” in Klein, Texas LBW is blessed to have volunteer Work Centers across the country such as WC #93 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Klein, Texas. Their “Labor of Love,” the 10-volume Large Print New Testament, has touched the hearts and lives of hundreds upon hundreds of visually impaired recipients here and abroad. From Australia, Sarah L. writes, “A big thank you for sending the Large Print Bible, it is brilliant!!!” Sarah requested the Bible for a sight-impaired lady in her church who told Sarah she “loves it, due to the format with the verses being spaced out and the nonglare paper.” Sarah closed the letter, “Thank you for your lovely generosity.” One such grateful reader, Mary N. of Washington State wrote to the center: “Thank you for sending me the Bible in Large Print. It is of a size I can read. There is nothing like the Word of God that helps a person in this life. Blessings and thanksgiving to your giving hearts. Lovingly in Christ, Mary.” From Massachusetts, Rev. Arnold K. writes, “Your ministry has been a blessing to me and my family for sending us the Bible in large letters and the teachings. This is the first time in my lifetime that I was able to receive a free Bible and literature in Large Print. You are a great blessing to us and to others. Your Servant in the Lord, Rev. Arnold.” Center Rev Dennis Stueve, with LBW Volunteers from Trinity Lutheran Church, Klein, TX 2 Back at Trinity, Klein, the dedicated volunteers monthly prepare 75 sets of these New Testaments for shipping. Students from Trinity’s day school load them into a car and pray for those who are about to receive them. In addition, in January of this year, the school’s chapel donations were presented to the center. This money covered the production costs of 50 NT sets, all 500 volumes. From the youth to the seniors, all get involved at Trinity, Klein to reach out with Jesus’ message of hope and salvation to all who believe in Him. – Roy Fisher Sky Ervin and Ed Jaimes preparing to ship Bibles to The Costa Rica Bible Society Costa Rica, Bible Update A heartfelt “thank you” to our volunteers who increased production of the Spanish Braille Bible books to help fulfill the Costa Rica request. We appreciate the volunteers who worked through the heat of summer when normally they close the center. A special “thank you” to You the donor for financially giving to this project. Thirty complete Bibles, 1,200 volumes, have been shipped as of July 1st. Our goal is to have all 100 Bibles produced and shipped in time for Christmas. This would not be possible without your giving spirit. – Rose Jaimes Set Free to Serve (cont’d. from pg. 1) Jesus says: “I love you! You matter to me so much that I died for you!” First, would you put LBW on your daily prayer calendar? Second, would you consider making a one time or an ongoing gift to this ministry that touches so many lives with the Gospel? Finally, would you also consider putting LBW in your will or trust? Thank-you! People who are visually impaired are some of the most marginalized people in the world. Many of these people are hurting and don’t know the FREEDOM that Christ has for them. For more information about Lutheran Braille Workers and how you can become more involved with this mission, find us on the web: www.LBWinc.org or “like us” on Facebook. – Rev. Dennis Stueve The ministry of LBW reaches out with the Good News of this FREEDOM Jesus offers! If you have directed your Choice Dollars® to LBW and would like to recommend that funds go to a particular Work Center, please call or email Deanna Bowles at (800) 925-6092 or [email protected] Lutheran Braille Workers would like to thank Thrivent Financial for the Thrivent Choice® program, which we receive grant funds through monthly. From 4/01/16-06/30/16 we received $9,710 from this program which will help us to continue producing Bibles in Large Print & Braille, to be given free of charge to anyone who is in need. Board of Directors Mrs. Carol M. Zemke - Chair Mr. Ken Loeber - Vice Chair Mrs. Deborah Rutt - Secretary Mrs. Ruth Martin - Treasurer Rev. Dr. Daniel Mattson - Chaplain Mrs. Julia Neimes 3 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” - Matthew 6:21 LBW’s annual budget is $1,426,800. At the end of the second quarter we had received 29% of our budgeted amount for the year. Ministry Financial Needs $1,426,800 Through your prayers and financial support, we can reach the income needed to support this ministry of bringing God’s Word to people who are blind and visually impaired, so that they, too, may know God’s Love. $1,426,800 $915,715 Ministry 2016 Budget Actual Income 1st Quarter - $231,671 Jan - March Budgeted Income $300,625 2nd Quarter - $417,888 April - June $590,900 $590,900 $417,888 $300,625 3rd Quarter $915,715 July - Sept $231,671 4th Quarter $1,426,800 Oct - Dec Please prayerfully consider Lutheran Braille Workers in your Estate Planning. 2
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