Overseas Workers from Michigan

Rev. David & Joyce Erber - Ghana

Position: Area Facilitator for English-speaking West Africa
Home Congregation: Trinity, Jackson
Prayer Requests: We thank God for 25 years of ministry in West Africa. Pray that God would raise up more missionaries as well as more pastors to faithfully proclaim the gospel in Africa and around the world!

Read the Erber's latest update letter and newsletter and see their bio.

George and Shary Frahm - Asia

Position: GEO Missionaries
Home Congregation: St. Lorenz, Frankenmuth
Prayer Requests: Pray for travel mercies as we relocate to Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Pray for even more partners to join us, investing in the Angels Dormitory to change the country of Cambodia. Pray that we can quickly form good working relationships with our co-workers and the Cambodian Christian churches. Pray that we can identify those that are giving to our ministry so that we can properly and personally say thank you to each and every one.

Read the Frahm's latest newsletter here and read their bio here.

Rev. Matthew Heise - Eurasia

Position: Theological Educator
Home Congregation: Guardian, Dearborn
Prayer Requests: Please pray for the Lutherische Kirchenmission (LKM) in Germany and their work. Please pray for the Lord’s presence, blessings, and comfort in the lives of our mutual Iranian friends. Remember also Pastor Nadarkhani and pray for his family and his release from prison. Please pray for safe travels and God’s blessings upon my course at the Theological Institute of the Church of Ingria. Finally, thank the Lord for blessing my cousin Shawn Nunnink and pray for His continued healing of her cancer. The reports of her healing continue to be positive, for which we praise our God!

Read Matthew's latest newsletter and see his bio.

Dr. James and Joan Koerschen - China

Position: Head of School, Concordia International School, Shanghai
Home Congregation: Shepherd of the Lakes, Brighton
Prayer Requests: Please pray for continued good health as we serve in China and for God to continue to bless the school.

Nora Léon - Haiti

Position: President of Caribbean Children's Foundation
Home Congregation: Holy Cross, Jenison
Prayer Requests: Pray for increased sponsorship for orphaned children, tuition assistance for school students, and financial assistance for critically ill children. With approximately 300 children orphaned every day in Haiti, and the average family income only about $1 a day, the struggle to properly care for children is great. Also pray for those still trapped in the grips of Satan. His chains are tight but we pray that they will be broken apart by the saving grace of God.

Visit the Caribbean Children's Foundation website or Nora's blog.

David Lyon - Asia

Position: International Educator
Home Congregation: St. Thomas, Eastpointe

James and Christel Neuendorf - Dominican Republic

Position: Communication Specialist (James) / Business Manager (Christel)
Home Congregation: St. Paul, Ann Arbor
Prayer Requests: Please pray for James and Christel as they serve the Lord in the Dominican Republic and throughout Latin America. Ask the Lord to protect them as they travel throughout the region. Pray that the Holy Spirit would use them to tell the story of what He is doing across Latin America through missionaries, partner church bodies, and all believers. Finally, give thanks that James and Christel have answered God’s call to serve Him in Latin America!

Visit the Neuendorf’s website or see their bio.

Rev. Carl and Deborah Rockrohr - South Africa

Position: Theological Educators
Home Congregation: St. Paul's, Farmington Hills
Prayer Requests: Praise God with oldest son, Paul, as he is engaged to me married to Stacy in December. Pray for their wedding planning in the coming months. Pray for safe travels for family who will be coming to visit in May and June. Also, please pray for increased financial support. As of March 31 we are about $14,000 in the red, and we continue in that direction. This is a critical test for our work. The future viability of our work at the seminary and for Lutheran deaconesses in Africa is not certain unless we have many more individual and congregational donors come on board. Pray for us in your personal and congregational prayers. Daily there are new challenges and things to learn. Daily we need His grace in our lives. Pray that we always continue to rely upon Him.

Visit the Rockrohr's website or see their bio.

Rev. Richard and Maya Rudowske - Botswana

Position: Bible Translation Advisor with Lutheran Bible Translators
Home Congregation: Trinity, St. Joseph
Prayer Requests: We praise God for the chance to come home [to the U.S.] for a bit; for all that He has accomplished during our first term; for John Strasen's arrival; and for finding a good school for our children. We ask God for an increase in financial partnership; to guide John Strasen's residency paperwork; to grant us rest and peace; and for wisdom in all matters.

Read the Rudowske’s latest blog entry or newsletter.

Rev. Chuck and Karen Tessaro - Nigeria

Position: Translation Consultant with Lutheran Bible Translators
Home Congregation: Redeemer, Fremont
Prayer Requests: We thank God for faithful partners who work together in the spreading of God's Word in this part of the world; that the Ikwerre New Testament is now in the hands of the Ikwerre people; and for progress in the various projects in Cross River State. Pray for God's continued blessings on the 6 language groups preparing an audio-visual version of the Gospel of Luke in Cross River State; that God will continue to bless the Ikwerre Language Committee as they work on teaching the Ikwerre writing system while forging ahead on the Old Testament; and for safe travel and other preparations for the Luke Partnership series of workshops in Cross River State. 

Read the Tessaro’s latest newsletter or see their bio.

Thank you for praying for those who are abroad that God would provide for them as they are living and working in unfamiliar areas and that He would encourage them as they are away from family and friends in the United States.