The Gbeanquois family needs your support!

The Gbeanquois family is urgently seeking to raise $3,500 before mid-June to fund Dixon’s upcoming travels to Tanzania and Liberia. 

In their latest newsletter, the family expresses gratitude to those who have already contributed to Dixon’s Africa trip over the past three weeks. 

However, additional funding is still needed for this significant international journey from the United States.

“We can raise the remaining money needed to make this trip successful. In the previous two weeks and some days since we mentioned this trip, we have received a donation of $2,135 toward the $5,635 needed for the journey. We are still in need of $3,500. We have three more weeks before Dixon embarks on this trip, and we firmly believe that God is touching the hearts of many of you to donate to get Dixon to his target of raising the rest of the $3,500 that is remaining,” they explain.

Trip details and financial breakdown

The total budget for Dixon’s six-week African journey is $8,135. To date, he has successfully raised $4,635, leaving a remaining balance of $3,500 to be collected before his departure.

Dixon’s travel plans were announced several months ago, with the trip scheduled to begin in mid-June (18th) and conclude in early August (5th). The itinerary includes visits to both Tanzania and Liberia, marking a significant return to regions where the family previously served.

Background and context

It has been nearly four years since the Gbeanquois family was forced to leave Tanzania abruptly to return to their home countries to obtain visas for entry to the United States. The missionary family had originally planned to return to Tanzania after receiving their visas to properly transition the mission fields and various projects they had been managing before their departure to America.

Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic created significant disruptions and challenges that prevented their planned return to Tanzania. The resulting travel restrictions and global chaos forced the family to relocate directly to the United States from Nigeria, rather than completing their intended transition work in Tanzania.

“Therefore, now that Dixon is halfway through his studies, this is a good time for him to visit Tanzania and then travel to Liberia to see some of the work the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Liberia is doing and how he can contribute to it moving forward,” they highlight.

How to support

Individuals, organizations, or anyone interested in supporting the Gbeanquois family’s mission work are encouraged to contribute by clicking on this link. 

“Every contribution, big or small, makes this trip a reality,” add the missionaries.

An emotional “earthquake” for “Divina Providencia”

By Moisés G. Hernández

“An emotional earthquake.” That’s how Pastor and missionary Adrián Ventura described the situation of the Lutheran congregation Divina Providencia, in Santiago, Chile.

Despite being one of the largest congregations in the country, with over 50 members, it no longer has a building. Due to limited financial resources and the high cost of real estate in Santiago, it has become very difficult to rent—let alone purchase—a place to worship God.

Pastor Adrián’s diagnosis is a fitting play on words. Divina Providencia’s home is one of the most seismically active countries in the world.

But, as the reader may have guessed, this shake-up has nothing to do with the restless tectonic plates of this southern land.

Timeline of events

It all began on January 10, 2025.

As Pastor Adrián shared in his latest newsletter, the congregation was informed that it would need to vacate the property it had occupied for over five years by March. There simply weren’t enough funds to cover the nearly $2,000 monthly rent.

The property was a fairly spacious house that, for a time, also served as temporary housing for immigrants sponsored by our organization. It also hosted the GLO Chile offices.

In the backyard stood a modest temple that was affectionately compared to Israel’s tabernacle.

The wooden temple was dismantled on February 22 with the help of a volunteer team from the sister church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina (IELA).

All of the church’s furnishings were distributed among members for safekeeping until a stable location is found.

In the meantime, as of April 27, Divina Providencia holds its Sunday services at a local community center near their former property. But it’s not free. Renting the space for just a few hours a week costs about $300 per month.

“Many people don’t like having to go through changes in life: a new job, a new home, a new family member, an illness, and many others. One reason is our comfort zone, which makes us feel safe, content, and secure. But in life, the only certainty we have is that change will come,” Pastor Adrián shared in his newsletter.

A time of testing

Without a doubt, Divina Providencia is experiencing a true emotional earthquake.

“It’s a time of testing, but we trust that God will provide a permanent place for our congregation in His time,” Pastor Adrián also wrote.

We invite you to pray that Divina Providencia finds a permanent space to gather—and that, while they wait, the members remain united, steady, patient, and confident in the Lord who can do all things.

How family builds faith—and faith builds family

In his latest newsletter, missionary David Ernst shares a touching story from La Caramuca, Venezuela—how one family’s faith journey has grown across generations, and how their faith has, in turn, strengthened their family bonds.

On Easter Sunday 2025, Alfonso Torres was officially received into church membership. But Alfonso is no stranger to the Lutheran community—nor is his family. In fact, five of his children were among the first to be baptized in the mission on March 25, 2007: Yexi Karina, Deisy Yovana, Yaneth Andreina, Yovanny Javier, and Jhonny Alexander.

Pastor David explains that Yaneth was the youngest at 18 months. Deisy brought Yaneth to our Sunday school classes and, from 2 to 6 years of age, Yaneth was a student in our preschool. Deisy and Yovanny received first communion on October 25, 2009 (Reformation Sunday). Jhonny received first communion on October 31, 2010 (again Reformation Sunday). 

Alfonso and his wife, Maria Cecilia, welcomed another daughter, Diana Carolina, and she was baptized on January 8, 2017 (the dedication of their current sanctuary). Diana also would attend their Sunday school and preschool. She received first communion on October 31, 2021.

Deisy’s daughter, Emely Antonella Estrada Torres, was baptized on December 24, 2017. Two more of Alfonso and Maria Cecilia’s grandchildren, Jesuly and Josué Fernández Torres, were baptized on January 6, 2019. They received Maria Cecilia into membership by reaffirmation of faith on September 15, 2024.

“The Torres are an example of how family can strengthen the faith and faith can strengthen the family. The great outflow of people from Venezuela has had a devastating effect on many marriages, which have not survived lengthy separations. Of the Torres children, only Yaneth and Diana remain in La Caramuca, but we give thanks to God that they have a home with both parents present and a church home in our mission,” Pastor David reflects.

This testimony is perfectly captured in the words of Joshua 24:15: “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Follow the Ernsts’ ongoing mission by subscribing to their monthly newsletter.

An unusual friendship: “Grandma” Shary meets Srey Na

By James Tino

Fourteen-year old Srey Na is the youngest of eight children and the only one still living with her parents in Siem Reap, Cambodia. 

Her parents eek out a meager living, earning anywhere from $10 to $25 per week. During the day, Srey Na weaves baskets which she can sell for $2.50 each. It takes her two days to make one basket. Life is a delicate balance between subsistence and starvation. So when her father became gravely ill, the whole family was understandably concerned.

Srey Na wanted to learn English. For the whole year before her father’s illness, she attended an English class led by 76-year-old GLO missionary Shary Frahm. Shary does not speak much Khmer (the language of Cambodia), but she does weave baskets! Shary said, “We would sit while she made baskets before English class. Our spoken language is limited, but we connected at a heart language.”

Learning of her father’s illness, Shary went to visit the family. She helped obtain medicine for the sick man. She noticed Buddhist spiritism symbols around the house which are supposed to bring peace and wellness to the family. Shary became a regular visitor in the home, sitting with Srey Na’s parents, hugging her mother Hong Hai, and praying for them. Hong Hai wondered why Shary loved them. 

“Srey Na is quiet but mighty in her pursuit to follow Christ. She does not have a Bible, and so, with a few others, she sits and copies the Bible word by word. They sit outside the church under the porch and diligently work.”

Curious about what made Shary so different, Srey Na started attending the Lutheran church in Siem Reap. She would sit near Shary and watch her, often peeking over her shoulder. Gradually, Srey Na’s father’s health stabilized, and gradually Srey Na came to faith in Jesus Christ. 

On February 11 2024, she was received into God’s family through the waters of Baptism. Her consistent attendance and participation in all areas of ministry is a testimony to her faith in Christ. She sings for worship, reads Scripture, and cleans the church and school. Through her quiet witness, her mother Hong Hai also came to faith and was baptized in January 2025. 

Shary says, “Srey Na is quiet but mighty in her pursuit to follow Christ. She does not have a Bible, and so, with a few others, she sits and copies the Bible word by word. They sit outside the church under the porch and diligently work.”

Just the other day, using her basic English, Srey Na sent a message to Shary: “It is good for me and all my friends to have you here. Thank God for bringing you here to meet me. I want you here forever.”

Shary concludes: “We are in an Acts movement here in Cambodia. It is truly unbelievable! Disciples are springing up and carrying the torch (of the Gospel) in their excitement. We do not have enough leaders to mentor these people. Being 76 in this culture gives me an extra measure of respect and credibility that I do not take lightly.“

Thanks to your partnership with Global Lutheran Outreach, non-traditional missionaries like Shary Frahm are making an eternal difference in the lives of people like Srey Na all around the world! 

You can read Shary’s newsletters and learn more about her ministry here.

The role as both a teacher and a spiritual guide

What does the work of a teacher who has studied theology look like? Is it just teaching—or something more?

In their latest newsletter, the Gbeanquois family shares reflections on Christiana’s role as a teacher at an elementary school in Illinois, located in a troubled community.

“As someone who studied theology, Christiana sees herself not just as a teacher but also as a person who should shine the light of Christ in these children and her coworkers,” says Dixon, her husband.

He shares that Christiana is enjoying teaching so far and is excited that the school year is almost over. She can hardly believe she has come this far as a first-time teacher in the U.S. She also notes that teaching in this country “is quite different and more engaging as compared to Nigeria or Tanzania.”

As shared in a previous newsletter, the work has been a big challenge. Around 75% of the parents of her students are involved in drug use or some form of criminal activity.

Despite the difficulties, Christiana deeply appreciates her students. For Easter, for example, she plans to celebrate with her class by giving Easter gifts and preparing some traditional African treats.

And when the school year comes to a close, she’s planning a class party to celebrate her students’ achievements: making it to the top 1,000 in the state of Illinois for elementary schools, and being ranked number one in reading, with all seven students from her class recognized!

She also wants to include the parents in this celebration—to invite them and thank them for entrusting their children to her care.

If you would like to contribute to Christiana Easter and the end-of-year class party, please make a donation here.

Tino family relaunches ministry programs in Guatemala

Missionary Benjamin Tino brings exciting updates from Guatemala in the latest Tino Family newsletter: the return of a youth group in Puerto Barrios and the revival of a church-owned property that’s now home to a Sunday School in a vulnerable neighborhood.

The youth group, which now has 25 members, had been inactive for years. When the opportunity to revive it came up, Ben and his wife Scarlett were quick to step in.

He expresses how they like working with youth, and it seems that the participants like to gather every Friday evening, as well.

The group gathers every Friday evening, and there’s already talk of organizing a special youth outing, funded by bake sales at the local church.

Cleaned up and kicked off!

Meanwhile, in the El Estrecho neighborhood—an area marked by poverty and broken families—Scarlett, along with church member Estela, rolled up their sleeves and gave new life to a long-unused church property.

“They then started up Sunday school classes the first weekend in February, taking turns leading them and showing the kids God’s love,” Ben explains.

This space now serves as a safe and welcoming environment for children who otherwise wouldn’t have access to education or positive community spaces.

If you feel moved by what God is doing through the Tino family, support their work here.

Important achievements in the Guyana Mission

Víctor and Belén Rivas share exciting updates from their ministry in Guyana, highlighting progress in music ministry, home visits, and even evangelism at funerals.

Growing through music

The Rivas report steady progress in their music lessons. At Nazarene Church, children are preparing for an upcoming performance, playing “God is So Good” on the recorder.

Meanwhile, the girls at New Testament Church are learning their first songs and beginning to play together as a group.

Strengthening the community

At Guyanese Outreach, weekly devotionals with the staff continue to be a source of encouragement, bringing the team closer together. Home visits with members of Saint Philips and Emmanuel churches take place twice a week, and the impact is growing—more people are joining every week.

Evangelism at funerals remains an important part of their ministry. Interestingly, they note that many people in Guyana, regardless of their religion, prefer Hindu weddings but Christian funerals —a unique cultural insight.

Guyanese Lutheran hymnal app

Another exciting development is the progress of the Guyanese Lutheran Hymnal app.

“With the help of Taeshiko Fraser, we have already written 143 of the 486 hymns, and we hope to complete the project by the end of April,” Víctor shares.

Once finished, the app will be available on the Google Play Store, making these hymns accessible to more people.

“We are deeply grateful for all your support—this wouldn’t be possible without you! Once this project is complete, I also plan to start working on the hymnals used in Guatemala,” Víctor adds.

A window on the New Testament: a new course for deaconess training in Venezuela

The deaconess training program in Venezuela continues to grow with the introduction of a new course: “Luke-Acts: A Window on the New Testament.”

This course delves into two central books of the Bible that articulate the narrative of Christ’s redemptive work and the origins of the Christian Church. “The study of these two books will help to understand the main doctrines of the New Testament,” explains missionary David Ernst in his latest newsletter.

Luz María, a missionary and the wife of David Ernst, continues to mentor the Venezuelan women enrolled in this program, which is developed by Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic and locally presented by the Juan de Frías Theological Institute.

In addition to deepening their understanding of biblical doctrines, “Luke-Acts: A Window on the New Testament” also offers participants the opportunity to practice essential principles of biblical interpretation.

Currently, around 50 women are participating in this course, eager to deepen their faith and understanding of God’s Word.

“Grandma” Shary in Cambodia: An inspiring journey of faith and purpose

At 59 years of age, George and Shary Frahm went to Indonesia. George, an engineer, was offered a job teaching at a university while both George and Shary served as dorm parents. There, they felt the Lord calling them to be missionaries in Asia.

When Indonesia did not renew their work visas, the Frahms accepted a call by LCMS World Mission as missionaries in Cambodia, serving as consultants for a construction project. Focused on their ministry in Cambodia, they were unaware of the tensions boiling beneath the surface between the LCMS and the project leaders. After 20 months on the job, the LCMS decided to no longer support the project and terminated the Frahm’s missionary call.

Heartbroken, George and Shary returned to the USA, determined to find another way to serve as missionaries in Cambodia. They knocked on every door, chasing down leads to return to the country and the people that they loved. Nothing worked. They felt defeated. They began to question their call – was the Lord really calling them to serve as missionaries?

They didn’t know it, but in their darkest hour, God was working. GLO director Jim Tino was invited to speak at a church in Palatine, Illinois, where the Frahms were living with family. By divine appointment, they attended the same church that Sunday and learned about the ministry of Global Lutheran Outreach. Could this be the answer they were looking for? 

The Frahms invited Jim to meet with them the next day. They learned that GLO removes the roadblocks so that missionaries can follow God’s call on their lives, wherever it may lead. Finally, an organization that would allow them to be who God wanted them to be! Six months later, they were back in Cambodia serving as missionaries!

Returning to Cambodia

After 7 years, God called George home to heaven. Without her lifelong partner, Shary wondered what God had in store for her. She could not imagine returning to Cambodia without George, but neither could she stop thinking about the country and the people that she loved. When pastor Ravy from Cambodia called her and asked her to return, she knew her answer. Three years ago, at age 73 and with full confidence in the Lord’s provision and care for her, Shary returned to Cambodia as a GLO missionary! 

Today, Shary serves alongside pastor Ravy in Siem Reap, Cambodia six months out of the year, and spends the rest of the year living in the USA with her children and grandchildren. She is helping to plant Taros Village Hope Lutheran Church by serving people in their needs and teaching English, and she loves it! Everyone calls her “mama” or “grandma”. Recently, a volunteer team from Poland visited Siem Reap and was so impressed by the service of such a “senior” missionary that they made videos of her! 

Thank you for helping Shary follow her call. Your faithful support makes it possible for Global Lutheran Outreach to help people like Shary pursue their calling as missionaries, walking alongside them, and providing the essential tools, training, and support missionaries need to step into their calling with confidence.

Original story by James Tino’s newsletter