Mark your calendars for Sunday, June 3rd, for Mission Sunday!
Rev. Ryan and Emily McDermott serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as career missionaries in West and Central Africa, based in Togo, working in deaf ministry. In this role, Ryan works with partner churches throughout the region to recognize and develop opportunities to reach the deaf with the Gospel. He also identifies and trains leaders, both pastors and laypeople, for working in deaf ministry. As needed, Ryan teaches courses in deaf ministry and theology at The Centre Luthérien d’Etudes Théologiques (CLET), or Lutheran Center for Theological Studies, in Dapaong, Togo.
Ryan was born in Los Angeles. His home congregation is Messiah Lutheran Church, La Crescent, Minn. He graduated from Concordia University, St. Paul, St. Paul, Minn., with a bachelor’s degree in theology and world languages. He received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. Before becoming a missionary, Ryan served as a pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church, Elma, Iowa. He enjoys reading, cooking and studying languages and cultures.
Emily was born in La Crosse, Wis., and her home congregation is also Messiah Lutheran Church, La Crescent, Minn. She attended the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry. Emily’s hobbies include knitting and reading. Ryan and Emily enjoy spending time with their four children – Rhys, Evangeline, Joshua and Kaj.
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? How are they to hear without someone preaching? How are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10)
You can read more about Rev. McDermott serving the Lord in West and Central Africa at https://www.lcms.org/mcdermott and learn how you can help support the ministry.