Droege Boys Dropped (2023)!

Welcome to Droege Boys Dropped 2023! There are people in the world who are survival experts. They have the skills to survive in any kind of climate with almost nothing. They are tough. They are brave. They have been trained for extreme conditions. They are true professionals. These guys below are not those people. But they are still getting dropped into the Georgia wilderness with almost nothing! They must try to try to scratch a living off the land and survive for 50 hours. Let’s meet the players . . .

The Players

The players in this year’s survival challenge are:

JAY

This is obviously a picture of him trying to appear as tough and rugged as he can. We shall see . . .

TIM

Is this guy seriously taking a slipshoddy picture of himself at a stoplight just so he can upload this post today? The answer is . . . yes.

JACOB

Somebody better wipe that smile off his face because there are no Christmas presents where he’s going. Even poorly wrapped ones . . .

LUKE

So he can easily punt a ball 50 yards, but will Mr. Football have the bandwidth to go 50 hours? There are doubters.

ISAAC

This guy looks prepared for action, but let’s see how he does without his precious poncho.

The Location

The Droege Boys are getting dropped into a remote location in North Georgia where there will be zero access to food.  Survival participants do not get to leave the allotted territory for rescue at any time.  Even if they were to run across another human being, they cannot ask for help or receive any.  If there is no water, tough!  If there is no food, tough!  There is no shelter of any kind that the Droege Boys will start with.  If they want one, they will have to make one with the raw materials they find around them.  They are completely and totally on their own in our good Lord’s rugged creation.

The Rules

Image result for public domain, referee blowing whistle
  1.  The Droege Boys must survive for 50 hours dependant only on their own limited skills to survive.
  2. Everybody has to stay.  If one person cries, whines, and decides to quit, everyone loses.
  3. Each survival participant can bring one item.  The item cannot be food.  Or drink.  Or a tent.  Or any bedding supplies.  Or a fishing pole.  Or anything that makes instant flame.  Or water purification tablets.  Or any artificial illumination like a flashlight.  And this year, all multi-purpose tools are now outlawed. Sorry fellas! Make sure you choose wisely!
  4. The Droege Boys will receive 1 bonus item. It will be chosen by this year’s drop masters (the Deluca’s!). The bonus item may not even be necessarily helpful, but perhaps they will be usable.  Be kind somebody! 

The Purpose

Our purpose is to raise support for ministry of the Confessional Lutheran Church of Pakistan which is now preaching the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in Pakistan.  God is doing miracles through His Word and reaching many people! Many of the poor Christian families that the LCCP reaches are trapped in indentured servitude (slavery) with no way of escape. Pastor Jay Dass and his wife Julie pay the price for their release (sometimes less than 50$ per person) so that these Christians can be set free and start a new life. These families have been getting new clothes, receiving daily meals, studying the Bible, learning the Catechism, and being confirmed to become members of the church. Baptisms are happening for adults, youth, and infants on a regular basis. Many of the people have never known about the Biblical teaching about Holy Baptism (God’s act for us!). The children have never been allowed a regular education on account of their faith in Jesus. Our tiny effort seeks to give care, support, and love to our brothers and sisters in need in the name of Christ as they get healthy in Christ and prepare for their own vocation.  We seek to draw attention this crucial work where God is meeting human needs through His beloved Church while also teaching God’s Word and delivering His life-giving gifts.  Below, are a few of the kids that are now receiving both regular and Bible education at the church. We want to support Pastor Dass and his dear wife Julie in this ministry.

How to Participate

This challenge intends to raise support for the LCCP and works this way.  If you want to participate, there are 4 different pledges that we are suggesting.  If you want to do something other than these suggestions, you are free in Christ to do so!

  1. A support pledge of $10
  2. A support pledge of $100
  3. A support pledge of $1000
  4. A support pledge of $10,000

To do this, simply write a check out to the “LCCP” with “LFLC Challenge” in the memo line and send it to:

Attn: Dave Koch

Living Faith Lutheran Church

P.O. Box 992

Cumming, GA 30040

If you would like to make a pledge online, go to the LCCP homepage at LCCPmission.org.  Click on the “Giving” tab. Scroll down to click the “Give” button. On the right, you will see a heading that says “Donate Now” and a bar under that heading which says “General.” Click on that tab and select “LFLC Challenge.” Follow the prompts from there and choose whatever donation you like. We completely understand if you are not able to support the mission right now, but you can each help them by getting out this message far and wide by sharing or reposting!

The DROEGE BOYS DROPPED! event will take place June 22-24, but the results will not be made known until July 6, 2023.  If the Droege Boys are unsuccessful, no one will be held to their pledge commitment.  People will be free to do whatever they choose.  Once the DROEGE BOYS DROPPED! video is put together, you will know the results!  The results of the challenge will be on the Kairos Network website.  To get updates and results directly, sign up to FOLLOW the Kairos Network at http://www.thekairosnetwork.org.

The Lutheran Church of Pakistan

Blessed New Year to each of you in the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ!  The Kairos Network is pleased to announce to you that there will be a Mission Forum for the future work of the Lutheran Church of Pakistan on January 12-14, 2020.

The Purpose

A forum of the church to come together by LCMS missions and sister churches to bring God’s Word and Sacraments to Pakistan.

Presentations

PRESENTATION 1 – Can Orthodoxy Be Missional?

PRESENTATION 2 – Building A Sacramental Culture

PRESENTATION 3 – The Lutheran Church of Pakistan Project

PRESENTATION 4 – Missions To An Unbelieving World

Presenters

Dr. John Bombaro
Dr. John Bombaro

Rev. John J. Bombaro, Ph.D. (King’s College, University of London) is a missionary of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, serving as the Assistant Director of Theological Education at the Luther Academy, Rīga, Latvia. In this role, he works to plant an English-speaking congregation in Riga. He teaches Lutheran theology and mentors seminary students in a Bachelor of Divinity program at Riga Luther Academy (the Latvian Ev. Luth. Church’s seminary). He assists in the re-accreditation of the seminary, not only as a Latvian seminary but also as an English-speaking seminary accredited throughout the European Union. He builds confessional and strategic relations between regional partner churches and synods. With Melinda’s help, John also coordinates conferences around Eurasia for pastors and other church workers.

Rev. James Krikava
Rev. James Krikava

Rev. James Krikava serves the Lord as a missionary through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in the Eurasia region, based in the Czech Republic. In this role, James serves as the regional director for the Eurasia region. He partners with local church leaders and current LCMS international mission leadership to strengthen and sustain existing congregations in this part of the world. He also is involved with theological teaching and with building relationships with other church bodies that are currently not in fellowship with the International Lutheran Council (ILC).

Jay dass
Vicar Jay Dass

Vicar Dass, along with his wife Julie (not pictured for her safety), are missionaries to all people, but mostly to adherents of the religion of Islam.  They both grew up as Christians in Pakistan, but now serve as dedicated servants of Christ in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.   Vicar Dass is studying to be a Lutheran pastor through the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis and will be ordained in 2021.  His passions are studying God’s Word, sharing Christ, and reading the writings of Martin Luther.  The Lord is preparing them to go to Pakistan to establish a Biblical, Lutheran Church there.  Jay and Julie are working with 9 young men in Pakistan who are eager to study at the Lutheran Seminary in Riga, Latvia in Fall of 2020.

Location

Living Faith Lutheran Church

1171 Atlanta Hwy

Cumming, GA 30040

LivingFaithLutheran.com

Lodging

Hampton Inn

915 Ronald Reagan Blvd

Cumming, GA 30041

Call and set up your reservation at 844-359-4652.  Mention the Mission Forum at Living Faith Lutheran Church to get the special rate.

If you are in the area, attend as many events you are able.

Tentative Schedule

                      Sunday: January 12, 2020                       

9:00 AM – Bible Study 1

10:15 AM – Divine Service – Rev. Jim Krikava

12:00 PM  – Lunch and Fellowship

Afternoon – Open for Mission Meetings

                               Monday: January 13, 2020                             

8:00 AM – Coffee and Welcome

8:30 AM – Matins in the sanctuary

9:15 AM – Bible Study 2

10:15 AM – 1st Presentation – Dr. John Bombaro

11:30 AM – Table Discussion and Prayer

12:00 PM – Lunch at Living Faith Lutheran

1:00 PM – 2nd Presentation – Dr. John Bombaro

2:15 PM – Table Discussion and Prayer

2:30 PM – Break

2:45 PM – Lutheran Church of Pakistan Project

4:00 PM – Question and Answer

4:30 PM – Overview of Islam – Rev. Bruce Lieske

5:00 PM – Dinner at Living Faith Lutheran

6:00 PM – Evening Prayer in the sanctuary

7:00 PM – Reception at Living Faith Lutheran

                     Tuesday: January 14, 2020                      

8:00 AM – Coffee and Fellowship

8:30 AM – Matins in the sanctuary

9:15 AM – Bible Study 3

10:15 AM – 3rd Presentation – Rev. Jim Krikava

11:30 AM – Table Discussion and Prayer

12:00 PM – Midday Prayer and Departure

+VDMA+

 

 

April 14 Arrives Soon!

Trinity Lutheran Church has its first service in Norcross, Georgia on Palm Sunday, April 14!  All is set and ready for the preaching of the unmerited grace of God in Jesus Christ, our crucified and risen Lord!  This is a new place at a new altar where people can gather and receive the eternal treasures of the Triune God!  This is a place where our Lord will snap the idolatrous chains of Satan that keep people trapped in spiritual death (Ephesian 2:1-10).   This will be a place where burden and guilt will be lifted off the shoulders of troubled souls by the forgiveness of sins in our loving Savior, Jesus (John 20:20-23).  We give God thanks for the mission heart and support from the Atlanta North Circuit for the purchase of the new hymnals and catechisms.  We also thank our Lord for our Florida-Georgia District who have given a generous gift to cover the cost of rent at Norcross Elementary School for 6 months.  It is time.  If we continue to wait until our weak sinful natures are ready enough to engage in the Great Commission, we will never move.  But our Lord Jesus Christ says “Go (Matthew 28:18-19)!” We trust the power of the Word of God to bring all the results.  We trust the Holy Spirit Who brings new life when and where He wills (John 3:3-7).    “Behold, now is the favorable time (kairos); behold now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2)!”

Pastor Belton at Stepping STone Pic for Kairos Network black and white

The schedule for the day will be:

  • The Divine Service at 9 AM with Dr. Victor Belton preaching (pictured above left).
  • Bible Study for all ages at 10 AM.
  • The Divine Service in Korean at 11 AM with Rev. Min Soo Kim preaching (pictured below with his family).
  • Bible Study for all ages in Korean at Noon.
  • Food and Fellowship for all at 1 PM.

IMG_8912 (1)

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;

Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heavenly host:

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.  Amen!

~Thomas Ken