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Rev. Dr. Robert Newton
Rev. Dr. Robert Newton
A 1977 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Robert served as an evangelistic missionary to the Kankanaey people in the Philippines from 1977-83. He and his family lived in a remote mountain area of northern Luzon. The ministry involved planting new congregations and preaching stations along with training men to serve as pastors, elders, and evangelists.
The Newtons returned to the United States in July of 1983 in order for Robert to pursue graduate studies at the School of World Mission, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA. While there, he assisted the Pacific Southwest District in developing a cross-cultural leadership training program. He completed his PhD in 1993 at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.
Robert served as professor of world missions at Concordia Theological Seminary from 1985 until 1998. For the 1996-97 academic year he was on sabbatical with his family serving the Gutnius Lutheran Church in Papua New Guinea under the Board for Mission Services. In 1998 he accepted a call to serve as senior pastor to First Immanuel Lutheran Church, an urban, multi-cultural congregation in San Jose, CA. He was elected president of the CNH District in 2003 and served in that position until retirement in 2018.
Robert and his wife, Priscilla, grew up together in Napa, California and now have 8 children (including in-laws) and 14 grandchildren.
Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt
Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt
Dr. Douglas L. Rutt is professor emeritus and former provost at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He previously served as the executive director of International Ministries for Lutheran Hour Ministries, professor for pastoral ministry and missions at Concordia Fort Wayne, regional director for Latin America for LCMS missions, missionary to Guatemala, Central America, and pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church in St. James and Truman, Minnesota.
He has taught seminary level courses on cultural anthropology, contemporary missiology, theological education cross-culturally, and missionary formation. He received his MDiv and PhD degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne.
Before he began preparing for ministry, Rutt was a U.S. Navy jet engine mechanic and was a commercial pilot and flight instructor after he was discharged from the military. His written works include several articles on mission history and practice. He and his wife Deborah have grown five children and 15 grandchildren.
Alvina Federwitz
Alvina Federwitz
Alvina Federwitz and the late Rev. Dale Federwitz became Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) members in September 1971. Alvina retired in 2016 and has served as an adjunct missionary since then. Most of her 45 years in West Africa were spent in Liberia initially in Bible translation and literacy. When Dale died in 2002, she moved into
multilingual education (MLE) and worked with the Liberia Ministry of Education developing a curriculum in 15 Liberian languages. Engaging with Liberians of all ages
and academic skills gave her great appreciation of what Liberians can do with their few resources. Many Liberians speak their mother tongue and can talk fluently in their
neighbor’s unrelated languages.
Alvina takes great pride in her four children and their families. Her children are all serving with LBT or a combination of LBT/ WBT. Jonathan and Carrie served in Papua New Guinea for 23 years, Jonathan in aviation, and Carrie as a teacher. Jonathan now serves as JAARS Flight Instructor - advanced flight instruction to prepare pilots with the special skills necessary to fly on the mission field, and Carrie is Administrative Assistant
to the Director of JAARS Aviation Training - a lot of data entry and organizing and other tasks to assist the Director of Aviation Training. Danny and Rebecca DeLoach served in Scripture Engagement in Papua New Guinea for 12 years. Danny now serves as
Senior Field Coordinator for Global Partnerships in PNG. He maintains a heavy travel schedule, as he focuses on developing church-led Bible translation projects in regions with some of the highest concentrations of Bible translation needs. In this season of life, Becca is focused on meeting the needs of their family, especially as Danny travels, and on discipling children, both in homeschooling their children and her involvement in
various children's ministries at their church. David and Valerie served in Ghana for 17 years in literacy, and Scripture Engagement, and David was Regional Director for West Africa. David is now the Director of Partnerships & Scripture Engagement. He works to establish relationships with potential partner organizations and churches to facilitate engagement with Scripture in the language that is most meaningful to their community members. Valerie serves on the Member Care team as a Nutrition & Wellness Advisor. She supports the well-being of our missionaries and office staff through education, activities, one-on-one consultations, and personalized strategies to optimize their health. Paul and Ali served in Ghana for 15 years before moving to Ethiopia for 2 years. Paul is presently the Chief Programs Officer. In this role, he provides leadership for Lutheran Bible Translators’ Ministry work throughout the world. Ali is the Prayer and Member Care Manager. She cares for our missionaries and staff in a variety of ways and facilitates prayer activities throughout the organization.
Alvina’s 14 grandchildren also share her passion for Bibleless people. Three granddaughters have or are teaching missionary children in PNG and Cameroon, my oldest grandson and his wife are working in mission aviation and the rest are prayer warriors, some of whom may one day be serving on the field.
Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske
Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske
Rich Rudowske began serving as the Executive Director for Lutheran Bible Translators in 2023. His leadership approach draws on his experience as a Bible translation advisor in Botswana. He and his wife, Maya, partnered with the Bakgalagari community from 2009 to 2013 to translate and produce the Gospel of Luke in their previously unwritten language. In 2013, Rich began serving as the Regional Director for Southern Africa, facilitating partnerships with 24 language communities and Bible translation programs.
Rich and Maya – with their five children – returned to the United States in 2014 upon Rich’s assignment to serve as the Director for Program Ministries for Lutheran Bible Translators at the international offices. He served as Chief Operating Officer from 2017 to 2022. Dr. Rudowske earned the BBA from Eastern Michigan University in 1996, the MDiv from Concordia Seminary in 2005, and the PhD in Missiology from Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne in 2022.
He has served congregations as pastor in Ohio and Missouri and currently serves as visiting lecturer at Concordia Theological Seminary and as the vice-chair of the Forum of Bible Agencies International.
Rev. Dr. Tom Zelt
Rev. Dr. Tom Zelt
Pastor Tom Zelt has been the Senior Pastor at Prince of Peace in Fremont, California, since 1995. He is married to Sue, and they enjoy a growing family that Includes six grandchildren. He serves primarily as a teaching pastor and an author of books, articles, and video series. His background includes masters degrees from Concordia Seminary In St. Louis and from Jerusalem University, along with his doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Among other things, Pastor Zelt also enjoys teaching a seminary class that travels to Israel and studies the Bible in context. He also works to create content for Impact Biblical Resources.
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