Let Your Light Shine

“Let Your Light Shine” – By Jennifer Wolfgramm

It was the last Thursday in November 2011, and the long Siberian winter had begun. The phone rang, and the woman asked for Pastor Luke (Missionary Wolfgramm, my husband). Since he was away in Tomsk, she spoke with me:

“I work with a young widow named Masha. She works very hard at our institute, and she tutors long hours on the side to support her three children and herself. A couple months ago she became sick and was unable to work. She has just been released from the hospital, but she has used up her savings. Her rent is due at the end of the month, and she cannot pay it. Our colleagues at work have helped as much as we can, but it isn’t enough. Can you please help her?”

Over the years the American missionaries in Russia have struggled to handle these kinds of requests. Obviously we want to help needy individuals. But is the person who comes for help truly needy or simply vocal? If the missionary helps one person, ten more will come along and show why they are more deserving of help. (And they might be right!)In the past feelings have been hurt and the true, spiritual work of the church has suffered. Perhaps the “rich American” is the least qualified person to decide whom to help and in what way.

Acts 6:1-7 tells how the early Christian church chose seven men “full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom” to distribute material help so that the apostles could focus on spiritual work. This is exactly what we are doing in Russia. Our mission is tremendously blessed to have Deaconess Marina as our humanitarian aid manager. Marina is trained in psychology and social work. She is a kind, caring, discerning woman. She can distinguish “needy” from “greedy”. She has also taken Bible Institute classes part-time for four years in order to better share the Gospel with those who come to her for help.

The project “Let Your Light Shine” is a blessing for the Russian church as a whole and for the WELS missionaries in particular. Through this project the church is able to help needy individuals in an organized, appropriate manner as well as share God’s Word with them. “Let Your Light Shine” also allows the American missionaries to focus their attention on spiritual matters without abandoning those who need physical help as well.

Per my request, Masha came to church on Sunday. After church Luke listened to her story and asked her to speak with Deaconess Marina about her physical needs. Luke shared with her what the Bible says about our spiritual needs. “The doctors say you shouldn’t be working seven days a week, that the stress and demands of working every day are taking their toll on your health. Maybe this is God’s way of giving you a day to learn more about Him! Wouldn’t you like to learn more about God’s Son who saved you from your spiritual needs and gives you rest for your soul?”

Then Masha spoke with Deaconess Marina for a long time. Although we couldn’t help Masha with all her requests, we did give her warm winter clothing and groceries for her family. Masha also had some troubles with various legal documents, and Marina was able to help her sort through some of those problems. Masha said, “The Lutheran church was the first place to listen to me and help me. Everyone else just said ‘No!’ and turned me away.”

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Masha is praising our Father in heaven! She now recognizes her spiritual needs. She also sees the love and concern of our church. Now Masha is taking adult instruction classes and growing in her faith. May God continue to bless Masha with her physical and spiritual needs. God grant that others like Masha would see our light shining and learn to praise our Father in heaven!