Darrell Gene Van Luchene

1. September 17, 1946  Billings, Montana

 

Spouse/Family

Wife: Sue Zann (Denton) Van Luchene, December 19, 1946 York, Nebraska USA

1. August 19, 1967

Children: Heath Michael Van Luchene, June 28, 1972 (Married)

Corey Andrew Van Luchene, June 18, 1975 (Married)

 

Dates of Service Field Call Assignment

August 1, 1980 – July 31, 1984   Hong Kong,    Teacher, Administrator HKIS

August 1, 1989 – July 31, 1995   Hong Kong     Teacher, Special Projects

HKIS

August 1, 1995 – June 30, 2009  Indonesia Seconded to the Pelita Harapan Education Foundation – Headmaster and System Coordinator

 

Biographical Summary

Sekolah Dian Harapan, Jakarta, Indonesia                             July 1, 2005 - Present

System Coordinator for 4 Dian Harapan campuses

           Academic Advisor on expansion campuses

 

Sekolah Pelita Harapan, Jakarta, Indonesia                                   August 1995 – July 2006

National Plus School

           Headmaster; Campuses in Karawaci, Bukit Sentul, and Cikarang

 

Hong Kong International School, Hong Kong                                August 1989 - July 1995

Special Projects Manager (New construction and building renovation)

Unit Leader, Teacher - Grade 8

Business Administrator                                                                   August 1980 - July 1984

Assistant Elementary Principal, K - 6

Teacher

 

East Paul Lutheran School Association                                        August 1984 - July 1989

St. Paul, Minnesota

Principal, K - 8

 

Memphis Lutheran High School Association                                 March 1978 - July 1980

Eastdale Lutheran Academy, Memphis, Tennessee

Principal, K - 8

 

St. Mark Lutheran School                                                     August 1968 - February 1978

Flint, Michigan

Principal/Teacher, K - 8

 

Education:

Doctor of Letters         Concordia University

Honorary Seward, Nebraska                2006

 

Education Specialist                                            College of St. Thomas         1989

Administration                                                     St. Paul, Minnesota

 

Master of Arts                                                     Michigan State University    1973

Science Education                                               East Lansing, Michigan

 

Bachelor of Science                                             Concordia Teachers College 1968

Elementary Education                                          Seward, Nebraska

 

Nota Bene

1. Receiving Honorary Doctor of Letters from Concordia University Seward for bringing about curriculum and methods of instruction changes among 7 campuses ministering to over 7000 students.
2. Leading the way for Pelita Harapan schools to be the first and second national school campuses in Indonesia to receive International Baccalaureate Diploma authorization.

 

Phase 2 Information

 

Biggest missiological issue faced?

Adapting to culture; not imposing my own nor giving up my own. As my wife and I have lived in two different foreign cultures, it has meant adapting to and using the best of each culture in developing relationships, but avoiding cultural practices that detract from the sanctity of life and individual rights and freedoms.

 

Most significant contribution during missionary service?

Developing bilingual education systems with integrated Christian Worldview classroom instruction while facing teachers and administrators resisting change.

 

1. Changing the way the Pelita Harapan Education Foundation does school. I led the way for three Pelita Harapan Schools to move away from National tests and government diplomas to an International program including the International Baccalaureate Diploma and accreditation with New England Association of Schools (NEASC)and Colleges and Council of International Schools (CIS). This paved the way for graduates to more readily enter universities through out the world, but especially in the United States. Because the academic standard is high, many of the graduates receive some sort of scholarship. In addition, the Pelita Harapan schools are bilingual schools, teaching in both English and Bahasa Indonesia. In developing the curriculum, emphasis was placed on faith integration in each lesson plan. The mission is for graduates to return to Indonesia and influenced by a Christian Worldview, take on roles of leadership, transforming the way Indonesia is governed and the way people do business at the present time.

 

2. I also was charged with the responsibility to improve the curriculum and teacher training in the four Dian Harapan schools (primarily middle income families). Here a stronger English program was put in place with adoption of instruction in English in Math and currently in process is English instruction Science and Social Studies for Middle and Senior high students. This required intense teacher training as well as English language acquition by Indonesian teachers. International methods of classroom management and instruction are constant Professional Development topics. Most graduates from this system will remain in Indonesia for university studies, so it was necessary to retain the National testing preparation. Here again, emphasis was placed on faith integration in lesson design as the curriculum was constructed.

 

Connection to today’s mission?

1. The Mission of the Pelita Harapan Education Foundation is to prepare Christian Leaders in an Islamic country. All teachers are Christian even though only 80% of the student body is Christian. The curriculum embodies a Biblical Christian Worldview. Therefore even the non-Christian students learn values that they are to carry forward when they take on roles in Indonesian society, changing corrupt practices that are currently in place. Christian graduates will be able to move into leadership positions that hopefully will give opportunity for Christian witness.
2. Until 2005, the area of Northern Sumatra was closed to the outside due to separatist activity in the province of Aceh. A tsunami killed over 165,000 people opening the doors for massive humanitarian relief. LCMS World Missions was able to take a teacher who was elsewhere in Indonesia and move him to Aceh to begin relief work. Since then World Missions has established an NGO office to work in the city of Banda Aceh, helping with community development and teacher training. While it is still impossible to openly witness, LCMS workers are allowed to worship freely and witness through their actions. In addition, through the worker in Banda Aceh, connections are being made with the Lutheran HKBP church in the Medan area to assist with teacher and pastor training.

 

The secondment of Lutheran teachers working for a Christian education foundation in Jakarta has led to mission opportunities elsewhere in Indonesia.

 

Lessons Learned

Learn the culture and act accordingly. Too often we think we have the best way of doing things. As a stranger in a strange land, it is important to keep quiet, observe, and then after several months start to put in place administrative practices that are productive and incorporate ideas learned from the new location balanced with practices learned from experience. Moving too quickly will lead to resistance, even though the idea put in place is a good one. Moving too slowly will lead to entrenchment and the inability to make any improvement at all.

 

Learn who has the greatest influence and become friends with them. Learn from them what is culturally sensitive and needs care, and what practices can best be used to move forward. However, be sincere, honest and yourself.

 

Best Practices

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate. These are the three most important things to do. Don’t assume everyone knows what you’re up to. Through communication you will get feedback on what and what not to do. People don’t like surprises.

 

Maintain a semblance of structure. Random activities and actions might produce some results, but having a clear operational path and set of guidelines that one follows keeps everyone on the same page.

 

Phase 3 Information

 

Inspiration for entering foreign missions?

My wife Sue and I were called to the Hong Kong International School when a friend turned in our names. Until then we had no knowledge of mission opportunities, nor did we seek living outside the United States. It was truly God at work. However, once we worked in Hong Kong, we had little intention to return to the states, though we did so I could complete a degree in education administration. Ministry in both Hong Kong and in Indonesia has been extremely satisfying and rewarding. I believe I have received more blessing than I have been a blessing to others.

 

Quotation by/about or brief story:

I travelled with one of the Pelita Harapan founders to Irian Jaya, otherwise known as Papua (the Indonesian half of Papua New Guinea). After several trips, I flew to the capital of Papua to meet Wally Wiley, the executive director of Mission Aviation Fellowship. Wally said he had been waiting for me for a long time, even when he didn’t know it was me. He had a vision to start a school for Papua children who would be the future of Papua and would guide their own destiny. Wally asked for my help. Wally took me into the interior of Papua in a MAF plane to impress on me the educational needs of the people. I thought I was stepping back 200 years as we flew into different highland villages that day. It was a National Geographic experience. Ten years later, and with a leap of faith, a school began in August 2008, with 8 children age 5, coming down from the highlands to a boarding school near MAF headquarters. While my wife and I are not working in the school, we are advisors for Wally and Sekolah Papua Harapan (School of Papua’s Hope). We will continue to advise and support where we can in the future. Need a National Geographic Experience?