LWML National Heart to Heart Sisters - Portland
By Susan Vang
I was delighted to see many women of diverse cultures and backgrounds attended the National LWML Convention in Portland, Oregon this year. These women were Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Indian, Mexican, Hmong, Native American, African, Pakistanian, and others. Every woman has a great story to share about their conversion into the Christian faith and about their challenges and obstacles of assimilating into the American society and culture. However, everyone was happy to be living in this country. Some of the women indicated that their families came to America to look for better education and life opportunities for themselves and their children, while other families came to America because of persecution of their Christian faith and still others came to America because of wars. Everyone has different reasons for coming to America, and yet the Lord loves everyone equally and He wants everyone to serve Him and to be His witnesses to the end of the age. I enjoyed listening to the different languages as they sang songs and praises to the Lord.
Their stories were encouraging and strengthening to my faith. Some of these women were brought up in non-Christian homes and going to Churches were not easy at first. Some said that they learned about the Gospel from their Christian friends who also invited them to Bible classes.
Some of the women are pastors’ wives. Their husbands serve their indigenous people. They are usually active in the ministry by helping with the women of the congregation in areas of singing, fellowshipping and teaching the women or children. The women said they were blessed by the Lord to be part of the Heart to Heart Program and they appreciated the opportunity to attend the LWML National Convention this year.
Many ethnic women did not know about the Heart to Heart Program and had not attended the convention before. This year these women have heard many wonderful things about the mission work of the LWML to bring home to help with their congregations. Everyone spoke highly of the LWML. Hopefully, these women will encourage and involve more women in their congregations to form LWML societies to support the mission work of their congregation, District and around the world. It is very important for women to share their faith with other women so that they can come to faith in Christ. I want to thank the LWML for the Heart to Heart Program and for promoting women of diverse cultures in the LCMS to involve with the mission of LWML. May God’s love continue to be made known through the LWML.