Home > Meet the Missionaries > Long-Term Volunteer Missionaries
Karen Rubel serves the Lord as a long-term missionary and deaconess intern in the United Kingdom. She works primarily with Luther-Tyndale Memorial Lutheran Church, which is part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England (ELCE), the partner church of the LCMS in the United Kingdom. She assesses the needs of the community around Luther-Tyndale in order to plan and implement programs for outreach to assist development. As a deaconess intern, Karen provides mercy ministry, spiritual care, and teaching of the faith. She also supports the spiritual life of the international student house where she is living.
Karen was born in Stevens Point, Wis., and her home congregation is St. Paul Lutheran Church, Stevens Point. She is currently studying to become a deaconess at Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. From 2005 to 2006, she did fieldwork at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Brookfield, Ill. Her artistic pursuits include crocheting and beading. Karen also enjoys reading, writing, and volunteering when she has time.
Please pray for Karen as she completes her internship. She asks for prayers for courage and strength as she transitions into a new home, role, and culture as she ministers to the people of England. "The United Kingdom is post-Christian, so the people are in need of the Gospel, of understanding of the Christian faith." She asks that seeds be planted, and that God will make them grow. Prayer Card. (top)
Rachel Easterday serves the Lord as an LCMS volunteer missionary in Aszód, Hungary, where she teaches English at a Lutheran high school. She also has the opportunity for a relationship-building ministry outside the classroom by being involved with sports, dorm ministry, and the devotional life of the school. Rachel is also a witness of Christ's love to the people of the community.
Born in Colon, Mich., Rachel is a 2005 graduate of Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich. Her degree is in elementary education, with a social studies major and a Spanish minor. St. John's Lutheran Church, Burr Oak, Mich., is her home congregation. In her free time, Rachel enjoys reading, trivia games, and spending time with family and friends.
Please pray for Rachel as she adjusts to living and serving the Lord in Hungary. May she have success in learning the language and be able to use it effectively to communicate with as many people as possible. She asks for prayers that, "I use my teaching skills and education degree as best I can, and that I be a positive witness of Christ." Pray that the Lord would bless Rachel's relationships with students, faculty, and people in the community, and that she would be a blessing to them. Prayer Card. (top)
Anna Mauritz serves the Lord as a long-term missionary in Hungary, where she teaches English as a Foreign Language in a Lutheran high school in the city of Gyor. She also has opportunities to lead English Bible studies and after-school activities for students.
Born and raised in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Anna's home congregation is Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, Menomonee Falls. After attending Milwaukee Lutheran High School, Anna entered Marquette University in Milwaukee. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Writing-Intensive English and German. Anna studied abroad in Germany as a university student and was involved in numerous service projects in the United States. In March 2004, Anna went to Montgomery, Ala., to help teach kids in low income areas and visit with disabled and retired people. In 2006, she took part in two week-long service trips to the Gulf Coast, one through Grace Lutheran and the other through a service group at Marquette University. In her free time, Anna enjoys traveling, dancing, reading, and spending time outside.
Please pray for Anna throughout the time of her service in Hungary. She asks, "Please pray for me as I have never been a teacher before; pray that God would give me the organization, knowledge, strength, and courage to teach. Please pray that I would be a shining light to the people of Hungary, but always considerate of their situation. I pray that God would help me to show them how He is alive and working in their lives constantly. Also, please pray that I may be able to communicate with the school staff and other people in Hungary, and that God will lead me in the path He wants me to go." Prayer Card. (top)
Joanna Henderson serves the Lord as the first LCMS missionary to Kaunas, Lithuania. She is coordinating efforts with the local Lutheran church to set up English classes in a local artist community. She also works with a prominent leader in the artist community to share the Gospel through relationships formed in the English classes. She is responsible for finding a suitable location for the classes, as well as the curriculum that will be used.
Joanna was born in Arizona, where she currently resides. She studied at Concordia University, Irvine, Calif., where she received her education in Christian education leadership. She also attended a two-week missionary orientation through LCMS World Mission, where there was a focus of cross-cultural communication, living on the field, and evangelism outreach. Joanna’s hobbies include painting, reading, and music.
Please pray for Joanna as she pioneers this type of mission outreach in Lithuania. Pray that she makes a smooth transition into Lithuanian language and culture, as well as beginning the ministry there. She gives thanks for the North American Lutheran churches that are willing to support her through prayer, and she asks that God opens the hearts of the Lithuanian people, that they would be willing to receive the Good News of Jesus. Prayer Card. (top)
The Bennings: Jonathan and Jordan
Jonathan and Jordan Benning are serving as volunteer missionaries in Poland, where they teach English as a Second Language and minister to young people at Liceum Ogólnokształcące Towarzystwa Ewangelickiego (LOTE), which includes elementary, middle, and high school. To prepare for their service in Poland, Jonathan and Jordan participated in two weeks of missionary training in St. Paul, Minn., through LCMS World Mission. They also spent time learning Polish.
Jonathan was born in Chicago, Ill. He graduated from Grinnell College, located in Grinnell, Iowa, with a bachelor's degree in math and art and also earned a master's of architecture from Washington University in St. Louis. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys drawing, photography, reading, and traveling.
Born in Kansas, Jordan received her bachelor of arts degree in psychology from Grinnell College and a master's of education in school counseling from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Jordan enjoys traveling, reading, and sewing. Jonathan and Jordan's home congregation is St. Johns Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Mo.
Please pray that Jonathan and Jordan serve the Lord and the people of Poland to the best of their God-given abilities. Pray God would bless the relationships that they develop with the young people they teach in order that they may learn about the love of Jesus. Also pray that God would keep them safe and free from illness so they can concentrate on serving God and the people of Poland. Prayer Card. (top)
Harriet Newman serves the Lord as a volunteer missionary in Poland, where she teaches English as a Second Language to junior and senior high school students at a Lutheran school. To prepare for her service in Poland, Harriet participated in two weeks of missionary training in St. Paul, Minn., through LCMS World Mission. Her ministry is to share God's love with the students she teaches and their parents through relationships she develops.
Harriet was born in Columbus, Ohio. She holds a credential to teach German and English at the secondary school level and a credential to teach learning handicapped children and adults. In her free time, she enjoys photography. First Lutheran Church in El Cajon, Calif., is her home congregation.
Please pray for Harriet, that she would adjust well to the new language, culture, and climate. Pray that God would hold her in the palm of His hand and keep her safe from all harm and danger. May God guide her in her work and use her to spread His Word to the people in Poland. Pray also that she would receive financial and prayer support during her time of service in Poland. Prayer Card. (top)
Jodi Rolf serves the Lord as a long-term missionary in Poland. She teaches English-as-a-Foreign-Language (EFL) classes and ministers to young people at a local Lutheran school. Through these classes, along with the local church, she builds relationships that pave the way for her to share the Gospel and witness to the people of Poland. She also serves at a local orphanage.
Jodi was born in Saginaw, Mich. She later moved to Colorado, where her home congregation is Trinity Lutheran Church in Franktown. She attended Concordia University, Seward, Neb., studying elementary education with a concentration in art. Jodi enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, and art.
Jodi asks for daily prayer support and written encouragement from congregations in the United States. Pray that God will open the hearts of the Polish people, that they will be receptive to His Word. Keep Jodi firm in the faith and effective in the mission field. Finally, ask that God protect Jodi and all other missionaries in her region in their personal and public mission in everyday life. Prayer Card. (top)
Laurie Lenz serves the Lord as a long-term missionary in Slovakia, where she teaches English as a Foreign Language (EFL) at a Lutheran high school of 280 students in Tisovec. Students are not only Lutheran, but many still feel the weight and affects of communism and its relationship with religion. Prior to her service in Slovakia, Laurie participated in a two-week LCMS World Mission training program in St. Paul, Minn.
Laurie was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa. Her home congregation is Trinity Lutheran Church, Algona. She received her education from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, where she studied secondary education, history, and missions. While a university student, Laurie participated and led three spring break mission trips to Juarez, Mexico. She also attended two Beautiful Feet Mission Conferences for LCMS college students. In January 2005, Laurie visited the Panama mission field and helped with vacation Bible school.
Please pray for Laurie as she embarks on this new journey. Aside from this being her first experience as a teacher, Laurie will also have to show patience and understanding, as well as adjust to a new culture and language. Pray also that she builds strong relationships with other missionaries, teachers, and her students. Finally, Laurie asks that her supporters pray that she is able to "teach and witness the Gospel as Christ taught it." Prayer Card. (top)
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