Lawrence Edward Meinzen

1. 12/2/1925 Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu, INDIA

 

Spouse/Family

Wife: Martha Sophia (nee Koch), b. 5/30/1928, m. 6/12/1949

1. 8/21/2004

Children: Grace Elaine (Dick) (1950); Joyce Marie (Morlang) (1952); Philip Edward

(1953); Stephen Eric (1954); Kathleen Ann (Wiemers) (1957); Linda Ruth

(Wiemers) (1958); Timothy Mark (1960); Sharon Lois (Braasch) (1962);

John Luther (1964); David Lawrence (1966); Luke Christopher (b. 1970,

1. 1970)

Dates of Service Field Call Assignment

1950-63 India Teacher/Missionary

1994-95 South Africa Teacher-Pastor

 

Biographical Summary

Lawrence (Larry) Meinzen was born and grew up in Tamil Nadu, India, one of two sons of LCMS missionaries Erwin and Lydia Meinzen.  Larry spent his entire childhood, apart from a couple of furloughs to the U.S., in India, attending boarding school at Kodaikanal School for his elementary and middle-school years.  He writes, “by a sort of circumstantial osmosis I acquired broad experiences, wide interests, and a chronic case of wander-lust.”  After Larry finished seventh grade at Kodai, his family returned to the U.S. and he attended high school in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  During his high school years he suffered from the culture shock that many missionary kids find upon return to their “homeland.”  He knew he wanted to travel and had plans to become an engineer, so he joined the Army and was sent to study engineering at Michigan State University from Sep. 1943 – Jan. 1944.  After basic and advanced infantry training he was sent into combat in Germany and Czechoslovakia.  With his 387th Infantry Regiment, he soldiered also in France, ending his military service as an Occupation trooper in Japan in April 1946.

 

By the time his military service was over, Larry had seen enough of war and destruction and determined to devote his life to teaching, a vocation he hoped would give him a chance to influence young people and make a positive difference.  He enrolled in Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois, studying from 1946 until 1949 and receiving a Bachelor of Science in Education degree.  In his senior year, Larry let the Mission Board know that he would be willing to do mission work anywhere he might be called.  Shortly before his graduation, he married Martha Koch, whom he had met at a track meet at River Forest while she was visiting her sister.  She was a lovely young woman with a heart for missions and an interest in nursing, although she never had the chance to attend nursing school because her family was unable to afford it.  Larry and Martha were called to go to India, where Larry would serve as an educational missionary.  They attended mission school at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis and in January, 1950, departed for India.

 

Arriving in Kerala State in March, 1950, the Meinzens began Malayalam language training in the city of Trivandrum.  Their language study would continue until September 1952.  Larry’s work as an educator began in March 1951.  Of their time in Kerala, Larry writes that his and Martha’s duties were as follows:

1. “to learn to know the Malayalam-speaking people and something of their culture;
2. “to learn the language of these Malayalees: to speak, talk, and write with reasonable competence;
3. “to learn how to assimilate into the ‘world’ of these Keraleeyans where 90% of my work was focused;
4. “initially to teach the Fourth Standard school children in Concordia Middle School, near Perurkada, Trivandrum city….This assignment was more to teach me Malayalam and give me abundant practice in the use of it….
5. “to learn the basics of elementary school management from my Indian mentors;
6. “to visit all thirty-one Lutheran elementary schools spread throughout Kerala State;
7. “to get acquainted with the government education officers and gain a friendly rapport with them;
8. “to attend all the Lutheran school teachers’ conferences twice a year and thus become known to our Lutheran teachers who were to become my colleagues in the teaching task for years to come.”

For most of his time in Kerala, Larry supervised the Lutheran school system, built relationships with and assisted the administrators and teachers in the schools across the state.

 

Meanwhile, the Meinzen family began growing, with children Grace, Joyce, Philip, and Stephen all born before the family had its first furlough in 1956.  Martha was of course kept quite busy with these young ones!  She and Larry were thankful for the opportunity to witness through their life as a Christian family.  Larry was better able to do and to be respected for his work with the IELC because he also had a family and strove to maintain Christian values within his family, and “Mrs. Martha,” as she was called by those near her, was well-loved for her devotion to her family and care for her neighbors.  She helped as she could those people who came to their door with injuries and provided “ambulance service” in emergencies for those who needed to go to the hospital.  Martha also worked with the families of teachers and pastors at the Lutheran schools, attending at births and teaching mothers about diet and childcare.

 

During and after the 1956-57 school year, a furlough year in which Larry taught at Bethany Elementary School in Detroit, Michigan, the Meinzens continued to add to their family.  Kathleen was born in 1957 while on furlough, and Linda, Timothy, and Sharon were born in India following the furlough.  In 1959, in addition to supervising the school district, Larry helped establish the first IELC College Ministry in Trivandrum.  He believed that a thriving campus ministry would provide a way for the church to reach young people with the Gospel and to build up leaders for the future.  Larry completed his work in Kerala by serving as teacher-principal at Koehne Memorial School in Kodaikanal, in 1962-63.

 

In 1963 the Meinzens repatriated to the United States, where Larry began teaching at Lutheran schools in Huntington, Indiana and Pagedale, Missouri.  At this time he also began pastoral ministry studies at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, earning his Master of Arts in Religion degree in 1968.  Following his ordination, he went on to serve in several different capacities, as pastor-missionary in Salt Lake City, Utah; pastor in Price, Utah; Dorsey, Illnois; and Edwardsville, Illinois; and as campus pastor at Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville, Illinois.  Martha was with him throughout these endeavors, continuing to raise their children and supporting Larry in his work.  The Meinzens’ youngest children were born in the U.S.: John in 1964, David in 1966, and Luke, who sadly lived only a short time after his birth.  Now Larry and Martha were parents of ten living children.  Martha also did some work in sales once the Meinzens moved to Illinois in 1975.

 

In 1984, Larry and Martha returned to India upon the request of the IELC that Larry prepare a report on the state of and possibilities for reviving campus ministry.  The college ministry of the IELC had mostly been put on hold.  Larry talked with Indian pastors who were interested in reaching out to college students, and Martha held discussions with pastors’ wives to gauge their level of interest and skills for such ministry.  In the end, Larry formulated a report with ideas on how campus ministries could begin again as a vital part of the life of the Lutheran church in South India.

 

After returning to the U.S., Larry continued as campus pastor at Southern Illinois University until 1989.  He also served as mission developer and later as pastor of Messiah Lutheran Church in Lebanon, Illinois, and worked as an assisting pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, Illinois.  He “retired” for a period of time in 1990 and spent all of 1991 as a volunteer missionary in India, visiting and encouraging Kerala Lutheran congregations of the IELC.  Upon return, however, he continued to serve as a pastor.  In 1994, Larry and Martha decided once again to go abroad as volunteer missionaries.  They spent a year (1994-95) teaching at a technical high school run by Themba Trust missions in South Africa.  Larry taught Christian religion in the boys’ high school, and Martha taught religion as well as hygiene and family life skills in the girls’ high school.

 

The Meinzens returned from South Africa into “second” retirement.  They continued participating in their church, and Larry did some guest preaching.  He was called out of retirement in 1998 to pastor a church in Brussels, Illinois and did not retire “for good” until 2002.  In 2004, Martha was called into eternal rest with her Savior.  Larry continues to live in southern Illinois.  From “India kid” to teacher and pastor missionary, his journey has been a ministry of the Gospel in many different places and circumstances.

 

Nota Bene

Larry writes, “Because the Department of Public Instruction of the Kerala State government took over de facto control of the teachers’ payroll for thirty Lutheran elementary schools and five middle schools by 1958, my assignment was changed from formal schools management to missionary-developer of extra agencies of Christian education such as Sunday Schools, Vacation Bible Schools, released-time classes and college student ministry.  The scope of this ministry was expanded from responsibility in Kerala State to include all three synod areas of the IELC in South India.”

 

Honors Larry has received include the Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge for his military service (1945); Cum Laude and Dean’s List honors upon graduation from Concordia River Forest (1949); and Spiritus Christi Medallion conferred by Concordia River Forest (1996).

 

Phase 2 Information

Biggest missiological issue faced?

Larry writes of the issues he faced as follows:

1. “How to present a common credible evangelical witness to the Hindu, Muslim, animist and other non-Christian communities living in the areas of Kerala State where we labored as a missionary church.
2. “Effective approaches to non-Christian communities such as the Hindus, Moplah-Muslims, animists and Marxists.  Should we seek to bridge the gaps by emphasizing the discontinuities between the Christian Gospel and the other dominant non-Christian beliefs or should we seek to approach these other religionists by emphasizing the continuities?  (See St. Paul’s approach to the Greeks on Areopagus, Acts 17:22-31.)
3. “Cultivating a loving climate and strong friendships among the missionaries, pastors, teachers and other mission personnel to enable a credible Christian witness is essential.  Mutual consolation of the brothers and sisters is vital especially among the Gospel workers living in the more isolated mission posts.”

 

Most significant contribution during missionary service?

From Larry: “Under the Spirit’s blessing I was able to contribute the following to our church’s overall Gospel witness:

1. “Organize and activate college student ministries on seven different college campuses in the IELC’s three constitutent synods: ADS, NDS and TDS.  These cover the rough geographic triangle from Cape Kanyakumari (south) to Chennai (east) to Khozhikode (west).
2. “Activate a string of ‘extra’ agencies of Christian nurture in IELC.  These included Sunday Schools, Vacation Bible Schools and released-time Bible classes which became viable only with the cooperation of many Indian Lutheran pastors and teachers who were willing to ‘learn the ropes,’ do the additional work these entailed and see to their continuance over the years.
3. “As a manager of both our Lutheran college student hostel and Lutheran Book Store I was able to give strong support to the outreach work being done by our Gospel workers among the Moplah Muslims – specifically by providing evangelism materials and church books plus a supply of student volunteers to assist in Gospel work in Malabar during their summer vacation periods.”

 

Connection to today’s mission?

Larry: “My part in promoting Gospel work in Kerala is connected to today’s mission mainly through our Malayalam-speaking Lutheran teachers whom I taught in our Teacher Training School and whose friendships I cultivated over the ten years I served in Kerala as School Correspondent (manager).

 

“Agencies of Christian nurture (apart from our formal Lutheran schools) have, in many congregations, been strengthened and expanded today from what they were in the ‘50s and ‘60s.  But wherever these agencies have continued, there the Holy Spirit has been the life and the effectual power working through Christian teachers.  Thus both faithful teachers and these viable structures have served to connect my varied Gospel stewardship to today’s mission.”

 

Lessons Learned

• “The Holy Spirit’s activity through men and women, whether ordained or commissioned, has proven to be the effectual ingredient in all that was achieved.
• “Crises in the IELC over the past 75 years have become ‘crucibles’ of improvement and healthy change in many areas.  The Lord turns failures into opportunities for great good despite our weaknesses.
• “Strife and stagnancy happen in the churches where its leaders and members lose sight of both the Lord’s purpose and instructions for the carrying out of His gracious will for and among the ‘nations.’
• “Only a collegial relationship between national evangelists and international workers in the Christian church will serve the Gospel best.”

 

Best Practices

• “Frequent study of the Word of God among workers and their families and among layfolk invigorates all our missionary undertakings.
• “Purposeful outreach efforts in every Lutheran congregation assure the church that it will be effective.
• “Lay training that emphasizes strong Christian family life, outreach among the non-Christian neighbors and continuing Christian nurture is essential.
• “Another essential within the Lutheran church’s activities is an effort to provide ongoing mutual consolation of the brothers and sisters who work to spread the Gospel in many ways.  (This becomes an antidote to isolation and discouragement.)
• “Leadership training is very important in the church.  Effective church leaders must share their skills and knowledge with their younger brothers and sisters in the faith. (See Judges 9:7-15.)”

 

Phase 3 Information

Inspiration for entering foreign missions?

Larry: “The inspiration I received for committing to missionary service in a foreign land came by the modeling of both my parents who served in primary evangelistic work in Tamil Nad, south India, for many years.  Moreover, the experiences I endured in Europe’s battles in World War II as a front-line infantryman prompted me to seek a profession after the war to promote peace and peaceable ways among any people to whom I might be sent.

 

“The ‘peace’ I sought to promote, however, was the peace of Christ for He was the hope of nations who alone could move us out of hate and destruction.  As a teacher of the Gospel I wanted consciously to model, teach and promote that peace that is the fruit of the Gospel of our Lord.”

 

Quotation by/about or brief story:

Stories Larry tells of his time in India:

 

• “My life as a Christian plus the years of instruction in the Christian Gospel that I was able to give two young Nair (high caste) Hindu boys residing in Perurkada, Trivandrum, India, brought them to embrace their Savior.  They both asked for and received divine grace in Holy Baptism and with it membership in the Kingdom of Heaven.”

 

• “Several radicalized youth (nominal Lutheran members) gave me much heart-ache in Trivandrum during the 1950s as high school and college students.  Eventually these same youths, having served with our experienced Indian evangelists among the Moplah-Muslims in Malabar, were changed for the better by their experiences and fellowship with them in the midst of a Muslim population.”

 

• “The salutary shock of the rejection by a majority of Kerala’s voters of the Communist-controlled Kerala State Government led some few of our communist youth and one Lutheran teacher, a communist cell leader, to reconsider their Marxism.  Within five years of their ‘reconversion,’ reconciliation took place between these trouble-makers and us in the India church who sought to serve them and to challenge them to Christian service among their own people.  The confession of that sin over a period of years and the absolution that followed enabled genuine reconciliation and much rejoicing!”

 

• “Christmas Eve in 1958 found me and my evangelism team of three Lutherans visiting clusters of believers and seekers in three different locales on the way to the Peermade Hills.  On our return home from the farthest mission station we stopped at a celebration of sorts in a pandal (tent) decorated in Christmas reds.  Upon enquiry I learned that it was to be a Communist Rally.  A communist rally on Christmas Eve?  But the speaker for that rally failed to show up and so we moved in to provide the ‘entertainment’ of the Christmas Gospel which we projected onto a white sheet in front of the audience.  My projector worked well enough to enable us to show the crowd the entire Luke 2 Christmas story.  I ended the projection by making a plea to the large audience to follow this leader Jesus who was and is the Lord and Friend of the poor and suffering masses.  I do remember being invited to return the next year to the same place.  We thanked God for the outcome of that failed communist rally.”