LCMS Honors Holsts for Mission Service

In 1962, a freshly minted seminary graduate told the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod World Mission office, “send me anywhere,” wherever he was needed most. For the next six years, the Rev. Dr. Robert Holst, his wife Lynne, and their two children shared their lives and faith as the first missionaries to the Ipili people in the central mountains of Papua New Guinea.

Bob’s work included deciphering the language, learning about the culture and finding where people lived, often hiking into isolated areas where the people had limited exposure to light-skinned people they called “Europeans.” Some questioned whether he was human or a spirit in human form, but when Bob was badly cut in an accident, the presence of blood and a New Guinean’s ability to stitch the wound proved his humanity and helped earn their trust. Lynne’s work as a registered nurse soon earned the respect and gratitude of people suffering from malaria, skin diseases, injuries, malnutrition and other health problems.

Living and sharing Christianity presented tremendous challenges. The Ipili feared and revered many kinds of spirits but expected more harm than good from them, believing angry spirits were responsible for everything from a simple stubbed toe to a tragic house fire. Sacrifices and rituals were required to appease evil spirits.

The Ipili were surprised to learn that Bob and Lynne believed in one God who was a compassionate, supernatural Being. Initially, the story of Jesus was incomprehensible for the people; the resurrection was a difficult, even repulsive, idea for them. God as Creator and Preserver proved a more effective starting point in sharing their faith and, eventually, many Ipili received Christian baptism.

Bob and Lynne’s mission goal was to plant the church and, like other missionaries, Bob worked not only to call the people to faith but also to educate indigenous leaders. “I was praying that God would open the heart of someone to accept the Gospel,” he said. “I searched for someone to be able to share it with more cultural insight than I had as an outsider and to become an effective leader.” He noticed a young man who seemed particularly interested in his teachings and began individual discussions with him. After more than two years of nearly daily conversations, the young man and his wife became the first Ipili to be baptized and, eventually, the young man became the first ordained Ipili pastor. “For more than 40 years he has served the Ipili people as a faithful pastor and respected leader,” Bob said.

Bob and Lynne’s experience with the Ipili people deepened their faith, shaped their insights into sharing the Gospel, and motivated them to serve as missionaries wherever they live, including the past 16 years with Bob serving as president of Concordia University, St. Paul. Bob and Lynne were among eight couples recognized recently at the 2007 LCMS Synodical Convention for lives dedicated to the Great Commission.

“In one of the most beautiful countries in the world, we saw the power of the Gospel to change people’s lives,” Holst said. “We were blessed by God and are grateful for our time with the Ipili people.”

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