Free to worship an extraordinary God

Volunteers Tracy Beasley, Caroline Blankenship, Con-Ning Yen and participant children hold a “Jesus Frees Us” sign during an LCMS Short-Term trip in Asia in January 2024. The volunteers from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Va., prepared and hosted a Bible camp for children of the Asia international workers. (Caleb Ching)

Tracey Beasley is a sinner redeemed by Christ. She attends Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Va., where she enjoys teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school and serving in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. From Dec. 30, 2023, to Jan. 8, 2024, she and members of her home church served on an LCMS Short-Term team in Asia. The team prepared and hosted a Bible camp for children of the Asia international workers, and Tracey was the leader for the Asia Workers’ Children’s Program team. She prays that God will open doors to serve internationally again in the future.

By Tracy Beasley, LCMS International volunteer

“For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!” (Psalm 47:7)

As ordinary people who had never served internationally, we soaked up all that we could learn and appreciated using the “Jesus Frees Us” curriculum to prepare a Bible camp for the children of the Asia international workers during their annual retreat.

As we stepped onto the plane with suitcases packed with more game supplies, snacks, crafts and Bible story materials than clothes and toiletries, we were both excited and totally unprepared to see how God would transform ordinary activities and use them in extraordinary ways to bless both the children and us.

The best advice we received as we learned about short-term service projects was:

Be over-prepared.

Be flexible.

An LCMS Short-Term team from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Va., is pictured with the children and teens they served during a trip to Asia in late 2023 and early 2024. (Rev. Dr. Stephen Oliver)

We quickly realized on the first day that a few adjustments were needed to adapt to the room and to the needs of the children. In no time at all, we were sharing — amid laughter and fun activities — how Jesus frees us to forgive, to trust and to live as His children.

Meanwhile, part of our team also led a Bible study and activities for the teens. Through ordinary Bible stories, games and crafts, we shared Jesus’ love, enjoyed getting to know the children and learned a little bit about each of them and where their families lived.

Having the opportunity to worship with the international workers serving in Asia was another extraordinary experience. Each morning and evening we gathered to worship. Even though we were in a ballroom at a hotel, in an unfamiliar country, with folks who chose to live in different countries so they could share Jesus, we were the Body of Christ in that time and place.

Even more extraordinary was the Wednesday service, when leaders from the Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church (GKLI) worshiped with us. As we sang, we quickly realized that we were worshiping in three languages — English, Indonesian and American Sign Language. It was an amazing moment as God transformed an ordinary worship service into an extraordinary opportunity to worship with those who are blessed to share the Gospel in different places.

The LCMS Short-Term team from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Va., stands with Indonesian Christian Lutheran Church (GKLI) members in January 2024. (A member of the GKLI church)

After the retreat, we traveled with some of the international workers and their families for a jungle excursion. This exciting opportunity allowed us to visit with the families and learn more about where they lived and how they served and the challenges and blessings of living overseas. What a joy to learn firsthand how God’s Word and His love are being shared throughout Asia! Our extraordinary God is praised all over the world.

On our last day, we attended the GKLI church in Medan. As we entered, our sisters and brothers in Christ greeted us warmly, giving us a chance to say, “Selamat pagi!” — “Good morning.” Since that was the extent of our knowledge of the language, we were prepared not to understand anything else. Imagine our surprise when the organ began to play “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” In this unfamiliar place, we heard a familiar, well-loved hymn. The Indonesian words were printed in the bulletin, and we began to sing in Indonesian.

A service with people worshiping in different languages suddenly became an opportunity for unity in the Body of Christ. What an extraordinary experience — to worship our God, the God of all nations, with a small part of the universal church! Indeed, we serve an extraordinary God in ordinary ways as Jesus frees us to live in His service. Praise be to God!

“All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:27–28).

Tracy Beasley, an LCMS Short-Term team member from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Va., holds an international worker’s child during a trip to Asia in December 2023 and January 2024. (Con-Ning Yen)

LCMS Short-Term team members from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Roanoke, Va., enjoyed fellowship with some of the international workers in Asia after the retreat ended in January 2024. (Con-Ning Yen)

Visit lcms.org/servenow to find your opportunity to serve the Lord and His people internationally through the LCMS.