Photo essay: Introducing international students to Christ
Reporter Staff
LCMS national missionary Rebecca Wagner talks with Juncheng, a Chinese student studying philosophy, on Feb. 21, 2018, at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Wagner serves alongside the Rev. David Kind at University Lutheran Chapel and focuses on outreach to international students. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
Students (from left) Sarah Schultz, Rachel Wagner, Rachel Walker and Bekah Zimmerman sing with Kari Walker (back row) during a Feb. 21 Vespers service at Luther House in Minneapolis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
Story by Megan K. Mertz
Photos by Erik M. Lunsford
On the edge of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, campus in Minneapolis, there’s a little Lutheran oasis where students gather to play games, eat, laugh and study the Bible together.
Luther House — a former sorority house-turned-bed-and-breakfast — is home to University Lutheran Chapel, a congregation of 140 members with an active campus ministry led by the Rev. David Kind.
Kind is assisted by Rebecca Wagner, an LCMS national missionary through the Synod’s Mission Field: USA initiative.
Wagner focuses on outreach to international students, bringing not only genuine friendliness to the role, but also the ability to speak Mandarin Chinese and Russian.
This unique combination helps her bridge cultural gaps and make friends with many of the international students.
There’s great opportunity to share the Gospel at the University of Minnesota, since the Twin Cities campus hosts nearly 6,500 international students from 130 countries. Almost half of those are from China.
“Fortunately for us, a lot of people who might not be able to hear the message of Christ in their own country are coming here, where they can ask as many questions as they want,” Wagner says.
“That’s the reason I said yes to Pastor Kind when he asked me to take on this role. It’s a wonderful chance to share the Gospel with Chinese students and people from Muslim countries. You can’t pass this opportunity up.”
LCMS national missionary Rebecca Wagner walks to meet with a student on Feb. 21 at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Wagner serves alongside the Rev. David Kind at University Lutheran Chapel and focuses on outreach to international students. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
LCMS national missionary Rebecca Wagner talks with Juncheng, a Chinese student studying philosophy, at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Wagner often meets one-on-one with international students like Juncheng. As they talk about the joys and struggles of daily life, she is able to share her faith and invite them to visit University Lutheran Chapel. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
The Rev. David Kind, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel, prepares for afternoon prayer with LCMS national missionary Rebecca Wagner at Luther House near the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
LCMS national missionary Rebecca Wagner (center) prepares lunch at Luther House near the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, on Feb. 21. She is joined by (from left) Fiona, an international student, Andrew Kind, and Bekah Zimmerman, a student studying Japanese. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
Sam Walker, a student living at Luther House of University Lutheran Chapel, studies after class. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
The Rev. David Kind, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel, conducts confirmation class at Luther House in Minneapolis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
The Rev. David Kind, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel, conducts confirmation class at Luther House on Feb. 21. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities students attend confirmation class at Luther House with the Rev. David Kind, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
A woodcut of University Lutheran Chapel and a reproduction of a painting with Martin Luther are displayed at Luther House in Minneapolis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
The Rev. David Kind, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel, leads table talk with his congregation following dinner at Luther House on Feb. 21. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
The Rev. David Kind, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel, leads Vespers on Feb. 21 at Luther House in Minneapolis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
The Rev. David Kind, pastor of University Lutheran Chapel, leads Vespers on Feb. 21 at Luther House in Minneapolis. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
A bicyclist pedals past Luther House (left) near the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, on Feb. 21. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
As the sun sets over the Minneapolis skyline, a pedestrian walks along 10th Avenue SE near Luther House and the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
Jacquelyn Magnuson, church organist at University Lutheran Chapel, lets young friend Margaret Costello help her practice following Vespers at Luther House in Minneapolis on Feb. 21. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)
