Missionary in China |
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 President Thomas Yu was appointed for 3 more years as
president of China Lutheran Seminary in the March 11
Board of Directors meeting. When this news was
reported at the seminary chapel service, it was very
warmly and loudly applauded (my wife said in a Chinese
idiom that this decision expresses "the hope of
everyone": Zhong Wang Suo Gui). In the same Board
meeting, a search committee was established to find
the next president.
Pray for President Yu's health, wellbeing, teaching,
and leadership in every way; and pray for the search
committee's diligent work.
Photo: PRESIDENT THOMAS YU
Dr. Thomas Yu, who received his ThD from Boston
University, an honorary Doctor of Divinity from
Concordia Seminary, and has lead China Lutheran
Seminary through very fruitful development and
faithfulness to Christ and the Gospel as president for
the last 15 years, was appointed for three more years
on March 11. We give Praise to Our God of Grace who
provides so very Faithfully!!
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On Aug 30, the library books were moved from the old
basement library to China Lutheran Seminary's new
library, which has a capacity for 60-100 thousand
books. President Thomas Yu's 3,000 personal books and
the late professor George Robbert's 3,000 personal
books are the most recent contributions to the new
library. Rich in pastoral theology, Chinese culture,
Reformation history and theology in general, these two
personal libraries will be valuable additions.
Pray that our new library will be a tool in God's hand
for the growing and spreading of His Word.
Photos: MOVING THE LIBRARY
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We are about to start the new school year with
eighteen new students. They have recently been
participating in new student orientation. The new
students are accepted into a number of different
programs including ThM in Luther Studies, MDiv, MA in
Counseling, and a Bachelor level curriculum in
preparation for enrollment in a masters degree
program. We praise God for each one!
Pray for our new students.
Photo: LUTHER ROSE PLACED
The Luther Rose (with seminary moto: NO LONGER I BUT
CHRIST) is being placed on China Lutheran Seminary's
new building, making it visible from a wide range.
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We got our first email "from" Isaac Oliver. Enjoy.
Hi, I'm a missionary kid (MK) with at least three
kinds of Chinese ancestors (Hakka, Siquan, Zhejiang)
and six kinds of European (German, English, Danish,
Scottish, Hungarian, and French). My Chinese name is
Ching (which means "Lift Up" - lift up God in worship,
and lift up others with edification in Christ). Even
though I was born a month early, it sure don't seem
like I'm a premie now since I'm a healthy and lively
little 12 pound, 2 foot long happy baby (daddy even
has to pay special attention to washing in between all
the fat folds when he bathes me every night). I'm just
so thankful to everyone of you who has given and
prayed for us so that I can be such a safe and healthy
baby and help mommy and daddy spread the Gospel!!
Love,
Isaac Oliver
P.S. Pray for me.
Photo: CHING
nanny, nanny, nanny . . . I'm a 2 and a half month old
missionary kid (MK), and if you like my picture, you
can put in on a church bulletin board, website or
newsletter to remind people to pray for me and
spreading the Gospel in Asia!
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China Lutheran Seminary graduates totaled 44 this June
16! Sixteen were degree graduates and twenty-eight
were certificate graduates of our Grass Roots
Evangelism program. Most significant was our first
Th.M. in Luther Studies graduate, Chen Guan-hsien, who
has also become Systematic Theology
Teacher-in-Preparation at CLS.
Praise God and pray for our graduates fruitful future
service.
Photo: CLS GRADUATES
China Lutheran Seminary degree graduates pose with
teachers in front of the seminary, with the new
multi-function building in the background.
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Missionary Stephen and his wife welcome thier new baby.
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I've attached a photo of the Rowolds (from Concordia
Seminary in St. Louis) with my inlaws in Jhubei,
Taiwan. We thank the Lord for Phyllis Rowold's
remarkable recovery from her almost fatal stroke over
a year ago so that they could come to Taiwan to serve
at China Lutheran Seminary in our time of need.
Pray for the Rowolds and my parents in law, the Hsiehs
(especially for the Hsiehs to have faith in Christ).
Photo: ROWOLDS & HSIEHS
Dr. Hank & Phyllis Rowold with Maggie and her parents.
Maggie's mother made a wonderful Chinese dinner and
her father was a great host to the Rowolds (who are at
China Lutheran Seminary to teach for six weeks).
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The second semester has begun at China Lutheran
Seminary. Dr. Henry and Phyllis Rowold have arrived to
teach for six weeks. Once again, I'm excited about
teaching my Greek and New Testament Theology students.
Pray for our teaching and studies (Ephesians 1:17).
Photo: GREEK BIBLES
China Lutheran Seminary Greek students with new Greek
Bibles, the blessing of a giving congregation.
Editor's note:
Isn't it wonderful hows the Lord is using Pastor Stephen Oliver? In addition to praying for this missionary and his work with the Chinese, if you want to send him an email of encouragement please do so at
ouqiren@yahoo.com
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 Here is the link to view all the wedding photos of Pastor Stephen and his bride. You can enjoy the whole ceremony as if you were there!
http://stephenpauloliver.spaces.live.com/photos/
Latest news! They are expecting their first baby! We thank the Lord for the blessing they are to the church and to each other and now as a family!
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Ablaze! offerings support China Lutheran Seminary's
building project, which has rapidly advanced to the
8th and final floor (of the skeletal structure). This
new building is God's instrument in which to prepare
His future servants to spread the Gospel throughout
the whole Chinese world. We are making use of this
opportune time to ambitiously spread the Gospel, but
the need is very great for people to sacrificially
give over and above the normal giving to move forward
spreading the Gospel Ablaze! Praise and Thank God for
the many who have given!
Pray for the moving forward of the vision, Ablaze!
Photo: CLS FLOOR 8
The China Lutheran Seminary new building (for
preparing people to spread the Gospel in Asia) has
advanced rapidly to floor 8, being partially supported
by offerings from Ablaze!
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Bob Roegner emphasizes the urgency of spreading the
Good News to Asian leaders in recent Asian ILC &
Ablaze Conference. Thousands are dying each day
without knowing their Savior. The ILC partner
presidents from India, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan,
Japan, the Philippines and Papua New Guinea heard the
message and want to communicate it to their
congregations and schools.
Pray for the spreading of the Gospel through Asians.
Photo: ASIAN ILC & ABLAZE CONFERENCE
Bob Roegner spreads the Ablaze vision to Asian ILC
presidents.
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China Lutheran Seminary classes have started with a
new aire of joy and excitement, even in the midst of
our deep need for teachers and building project
financial support. The cement for the sixth floor of
our new building has been poured and we are moving
forward in faith. Our wedding was blessed and the day
we returned from our honeymoon I began teaching new
Greek students (when we organize our wedding photos,
we'll put them on a website for everyone to see).
Pray for our building budget and need for teachers.
Photo: GREEK EXAM
New Greek student take their first New Testament Greek
exam. The original language of the New Testament is
Greek, so studying Greek helps to give us a much
deeper understanding of God's communication to us.
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Stephen and Maggie will be married on September 2nd.
Maggie Hsieh and I are planning to get married at
3:00pm on September 2 at Victory Lutheran Church in
Hsinchu, Taiwan. Thanks for all your prayers!
Please continue to pray for us, especially for our big
day that our wedding and our relationship will serve,
worship and glorify God. |
My recent trip to Burma gave me a picture of the
diversity of partnerships we have through Hong Kong¡¦s
Lutheran Theological Seminary, which is able to invite
and provide scholarships for teachers from schools in
S.E. Asia. The next trip is planned for Indonesia
(7/23-8/12).
Pray for us and local believers¡¦ safety and blessing.
Rev. Stephen Oliver
Photo: Teaching Romans in Rangoon.
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In two months, the auditorium floor was built (see
photos below). Although an underground parking lot
floor supports it, the auditorium floor is
nevertheless an important foundational floor for the
whole nine-level seminary building. It¡¦s exciting
for us to be involved in an effort that is increasing
China Lutheran Seminary¡¦s capacity both to spread the
Gospel and to prepare many more to go out and spread
the Gospel throughout the world (especially in Asia).
Pray for continued progress and increased support.
Photos: FIRST FLOOR PROGRESS
Construction Project Director Lu stands with Pastor
Oliver to record the beginning of the auditorium floor
(March) and its completion (June). Besides the 500
seat chapel/auditorium, it will house China Lutheran
Seminary¡¦s cafeteria, and directly on top of it will
be the library.
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May 2006 News from Rev. Stephen Oliver in China
Rev. Liu is a graduate from the Taiwan Lutheran Seminary and has now come to ministry to Chinese in Diamond Bar California! Stephen is pictures here with Rev. Liu and his family. Include the ministry of Pastor Liu in your prayers.
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Rev. Stephen Oliver, missionary and theology professor in China has recently become engaged to a young Chinese Christian woman named Maggie. Please pray that they may magnify the Lord together.
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