June 7 Roger & Betty Werk

June 14 Paul & Janice Blakesley

June 21 Mark & Jayne Oachs

June 28 Kerry & Julie Zimmerman

June 7 John & Kathy Qualley

June 14 Andy Jensen & Dustin Steenblock

June 21 Linda & Wayne Kutzer

June 28 Ray & Joyce Hensch

June/July:

Robin Christians and Linda Volker

Bethlehem Elder-of-the-Month:

Mark Oachs

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REJOICE with the Evangelical

Lutheran Church in Ghana

as they now have Vicar Peter Kelm and his wife Angie, serving with them for 18 months, and also a new career missionary, Sandra Groleau, doing leadership training among Ghanaian women. Ask the Lord to help them learn the tribal language and culture. Also remember Delano and Linda Meyer in your prayers as they continue to work in Ghana.

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New schools for church

growth in Ghana --

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana (ELCG) plans to open new schools across the country over the next five years. These schools are a vital part of its strategy for teaching the Ghanaian people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Schools are an excellent way to share the Gospel in Ghana because teachers are among the most respected members of African communities. ELCG teachers share the Gospel and work to plant a church in every community.

In order to begin these new schools, the ELCG recently asked LCMS World Mission for a loan to help build and staff schools. LCMS World Mission does not make loans, but in this special case it was able to work with the Lutheran Church Extension Fund to help arrange one.

Junior secondary classes will begin this year in the academy at Medina. Over the next five years, the church plans to establish 13 new elementary schools and 14 new secondary schools. Besides their role in evangelism, these schools eventually may provide the income necessary to make the ELCG self-supporting.