LCC seminaries present special awards

Perpetua Alfazema is honoured by Concordia Lutheran Seminary with the Faith in Life award.

CANADA – Lutheran Church–Canada’s two seminaries presented special awards to members of the church during their annual convocation ceremonies.

Concordia Lutheran Seminary

Perpetua Alfazema.

During the May 26 Convocation ceremony, Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton presented Perpetua Alfazema with the honourary Faith in Life award.

Perpetua Alfazema was born in Mozambique but had to flee during the civil war to find refuge in Canada. In 1995, she and her husband returned to his home community of Kapasseni, only to find the village in ruins. When her husband, Rev. Joseph Alfazema, was ordained in 2006, he and Perpetua answered God’s call to return to Mozambique, founding six Lutheran churches and many social ministries. Through this work they founded the Kapasseni Project. Perpetua studied to become a nurse and a social worker, founding the non-profit organization Kuwangisana to help people living with HIV/AIDS, chronic diseases, work with orphans and vulnerable children, and to address poverty. A dedicated missionary, Perpetua Alfazema remains Executive Director of the Kuwangisana organization.

“When I received [the] email and read that I had been chosen as the recipient of the ‘Faith in Life’ award, I was shocked,” Alfazema says. “I could not believe it! Then I started crying with joy and felt so encouraged. Indeed, this is good news not only for me, but for my family in Edmonton, our supporters, and the team here at Kuwangisana and various communities we serve. Even though they will not be there physically to witness me receive the award, I am sure they will be there spiritually and in prayers.”

“Dr. Gimbel’s message came in at a time when I, personally, had been feeling helpless, hopeless and desperate as we are facing many challenges here in Mozambique,” she continued. “We are experiencing food shortages and a drought. People are dying of hunger.”

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary

CLTS President Thomas Winger poses with Stephen Klinck.

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines, Ontario held its annual call service on May 28, 2016, at which time the seminary presented two special awards.

Stephen Klinck (managing director of Lutheran Hour Ministries-Canada) was awarded the Delta Chi (Servant of Christ) award, the seminary’s highest honour. Klinck joined the staff of Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada (Lutheran Hour Ministries – Canada) in 1986 and has served as its Managing Director since 1996. For four years prior to that, he worked with Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada.

He has served in a number of leadership positions at his local congregation, including currently as Financial Secretary, and as a member of mission teams to Nicaragua. He has served the wider church as a representative for LCC on the Lutheran Council in Canada and currently as a member of LCC’s Committee for Communication and Technology. In the East District he has served as member of the Handbook Committee and as local arrangement chairman for district convention. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors for Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada.

“Through these opportunities God has graciously allowed me to meet many of His saints from across Canada and around the world,” Klinck said. “I am happy to have had a small part in sharing and helping others to share the Good News of Jesus and His love.”

At the same event, CLTS also recognized Dr. David Goicoechea with the Friend of the Seminary Award. Dr. Goicoechea is a retired professor of philosophy at Brock University. With the award, CLTS recognizes Dr. Goicoechea’s instrumental role in building connections between the seminary and the philosophy department of the university.

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