Saron Yohannes- Central Region

        My name is Saron Yohannes. I was born in Eritrea, North East Africa. I came to the U.S. in 1995 to study Theology. I got my Associate Degree of Theology in 1998 in St Paul, MN. I was in the program of the Concordia Seminary Distance Learning through Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology from January 2007-October 2011. I graduated and was consecrated at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Arlington, VA.  I’m also serving the Eritrean Synod in North America as Gospel Out Reach.  In the Chesapeake District- LWML I have served as a Heart to Heart District Leader and on the Heart to Heart Committee with the National LWML. I am appointed to serve for this coming biennium with the Christian Life Committee- National LWML. I‘m a deaconess serving at Our Savior Lutheran Church, and currently working as a teacher at St. John’s Lutheran Early Child Education Center as a Lead Teacher in the 2 year old program in Alexandria, VA.  

        Working with children, even though it’s tiring, gives much joy. My mission is to show and instruct people to know and follow Jesus. I have multiple tasks with my job that includes being a witness through teaching, equipping and encouraging people in different kinds of groups. Another piece of my work with people is  guiding, leading and praying with them.

Since we are living in a broken world, working with people has a lot of challenges. By God’s grace working in me, I am learning not to look just at my situation, but instead to see my destiny in what Jesus did on the cross. Jesus paid the price in love for me-it is finished. So my life journey is about living faithfully to run the race to the finish line. 

I‘m so blessed and live in God's favor. It’s a joy being a Christian. Even though there have been ups and downs in  my life, I don't have any regrets. I  have never seen my family since 1995 when I came to the United States of America. Do I miss my home and my family? There is no doubt. But I have learned and experienced something about God's love and I'm satisfied. First of all, “He is all in all to me.” He is my Dad (Abba), my mom, my sister, my brother, my …everything. He took over and I‘m leaning on His grace. To breathe in and breath out His grace, gives me a joyful life. God’s family is my family.

I’m learning and growing every single day through prayer and His Word. I am seeing the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in my prayer intercessions in my daily life. God moves as He brings changes in situations and in the life of the people I serve or meet. My encouragement to all readers, renew your heart altar every day and give your time, your heart, and your mind to meet Jesus. He gives all good things that you might receive His wisdom, guidance, and strength to overcome your day’s situations and to be fruitful for His Kingdom.

“This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”.

Psalm 118:24

  Saron can be reached at Saron122@yahoo.com. We give thanks for all the ways she serves in the SED and in the church beyond.

The Shift from My story to His Story

Along the way as I ask women if they might want to share

 a piece of their story for this blog-
 I often hear- "I don't really have a story,"

 or "my story isn't worth telling."

And not to shake a finger at anyone but,

 maybe we need to take a closer look at just what this means.

We have all been on different paths and piece of our journey here on this earth.

But, each and every step along the way we have been invited by Jesus

 to be a part of His-story which is about His Father's Glory.

Before time began, this Triune God had the heart's desire 

to place people here on earth who are His dwelling place on earth.
 ( Eph. 2:21-22)

We see Paul talk about this desire- God's "Eternal Purpose"
 ( Eph. 3:10-11)

God's Eternal purpose- the Church-

 are a called and gifted people created in the image of God.

This living, loving organism
moves as the people that Jesus Himself dwells in-

and is so marked
 that Paul calls them the very "Body of Christ" on earth. 

( Eph. 2:15, 1 Cor. 12:27)

These members, both the saints before us,

 and all gathered here in this time and place-

 For Such A Time as This-

are to envision how our lives exist to magnify God's Glory

 as we live in His-story.

So, maybe this new looking glass, gives you a new perspective.

You were created to bring God Glory.

Perhaps, it is time to unlock the gate and move the barriers aside,

and shine the light on--- God in my Life.

 We can move away from this significant roadblock.

We can smile with the real understanding-  it is NOT ABOUT ME.

It is about how God has used me, fallen, but GRACE-FILLED.

God has been working out His plan in your life- every day.

Now, doesn't that give you something to talk about?

Judy Brown- Southern Region

When I was a child, I heard an elderly lady tell stories about being born in Africa to Missionary parents in the early 1900’s and the incredible protection from Angels that preserved them while they were there.  From that day on, I dreamed of being a Missionary!  At that time my dad had owned his own business, a sheet metal shop in Odessa, Texas.  In 1959, there was a steel strike and he was forced to sell out and we left Odessa.  We then moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1961, the middle of my junior year in high school in another state!  After graduation, I enrolled in the local Community College and worked full time also.  Then one night I met a charismatic young sailor. We had a whirlwind relationship and were married after three months, on May 9, 1965.

           After giving birth to two daughters and being married about six years, I decided to separate from him.   After a time, he asked me to try again.  I said—ok, but only if we leave Phoenix!  I had never accepted the relocation from Texas!  So we did!  We went to Michigan, where his dad and his family and his mother and her husband were.  We remarried on the anniversary of our first wedding, had our third daughter, and moved several times.  The last move placed us within walking distance of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Holt, Michigan.

A neighbor invited my children to VBS.  I was quite impressed with the people I met there and the loving way they treated my children and was invited to attend a service—then an Adult Instruction class.  For the first time, at age 30, I understood the Gospel and knew that God actually loved me!  I also one day remembered the dream I had of being a Missionary. Oh no, I thought, I have really blown it!

In 1979, my husband Keith was baptized on Palm Sunday at age 35.  He had come to faith as a result of a 3½ year series of visits by Evangelism teams from St. Matthew!  At the time of his conversion, he stated: “I suppose this means I have to go to Africa and become a missionary!”  Four years later he actually asked to go to Africa on a six week Evangelistic mission!  As a result of that experience, he realized that God’s plan WAS for HIM to become a full time missionary!  He had been rescued and he was called to be a rescuer!  His dream was to return to Africa.

Instead, we went to British Columbia for a year and then arrived in the Republic of the Philippines on New Year’s Eve, 1984. God had taken that dream of that little girl and made it come true!!!  He loves to fulfill the dreams of our hearts!  He then prepared a series of chutes that ultimately led to those days as Missionaries.  In 1989, after five years in the mission field, Keith felt called to go back to school and get the theological education he felt he lacked to be truly effective.  We returned to the U. S. and lived in Milwaukee for two years as he obtained his first degree—as a Certified Lay Minister.  After serving in Lyons, Texas, in 1995, we transferred to St. Louis and the Seminary.  Keith graduated and was ordained at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in 2000.   We moved to Rock Hill, SC in 2004 and started a mission church—Emmanuel Lutheran.  On September 8, 2013, we are celebrating Five Years in our new building!  Come help us celebrate!


Judy can be contacted at judy1333@aol.com. Judy and her husband, Keith, continue to support the ministry at Emmanuel, Rock, Hill, SC.

Joan Loesch- Central Region

Blessed to be a blessing. 

Those words have been my guide from the time I was a young woman and I realized the sacrifices my parents, both Lutheran teachers, made to give me and my three siblings a loving Christian home life, a parochial school education and their continual support and prayers in all that I did.  Nearly forty-six years ago another blessing came into my life when my father introduced me to one of his Sem students.  Nine months after we first met, Keith and I were married.  Wherever God chose to send us during Keith's years of full time ministry blessings followed. 

There was always at least one woman in every congregation who became a mentor and advisor and prayer partner and a special blessing to me. Thank you Elisabeth, Virginia, Louise and Bev. When working as a geriatric nurse there were multiple opportunities to witness to my faith; often towards the end of a resident's life I had the privilege to sit with them, hold their hand and pray with them and their family.

Now I am able to do volunteer work with Fellowship Square Foundation who operates four apartment buildings for the low income elderly. It is I who am blessed with their smiles, and hugs and words of thanks when I visit or assist with transportation or arrange for food and other staples to be donated. 

Daily I thank the Lord for all He has done for me and to try to reflect His love and blessings to my family, friends and all whom I meet.  Yes, I am blessed.  And I pray to be a blessing to others.

Joan lives in Woodbridge, Va and her husband, Keith, is the Emeritus Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Woodbridge. She can be contacted at  kandjloesch@comcast.net.