About Sue Hasselbring,
Ministry Catalyst

Sue's interest in ministry among international students began when a Muslim student she had known for less than an hour asked her "What do you Christians believe?" The Holy Spirit used his question to lead Sue into 30 years of cross-cultural service with several organizations in Africa and Asia.
In 1982 at the University of Missouri – Rolla, the question of an international student changed Sue’s life. Sue was looking up a book in the card catalog and saw an international student looking frustrated near her. Sue offered to help him find his book in the catalog and then on the shelves. As they walked, he asked her “Why do Americans do this? Why do Americans do that?” Soon, Sue learned that he was from the Middle East. He seemed so thankful for the answers. Eventually, he asked, “What do you Christians believe?” Sue was shocked that a Muslim would be curious about Christianity, and she willingly shared about the salvation won by Jesus. Although they never met again. The Holy Spirit used his question to lead Sue into 30 years of cross-cultural service with several organizations in Africa and Asia.
In 2007, Sue began learning to facilitate ‘participatory discussions’ which help groups to describe and analyze their situation, reach decisions, develop plans and to evaluate what has been done. Soon her team was training others all over Asia to facilitate discussions as well as to teach workshops to train more people. Participatory discussions can help the voices of all stakeholders to be heard and can increase participation in problem solving, planning, and program evaluation.
Sue uses her facilitation skills as she serves as the Ministry Catalyst for ISM Inc. The Ministry Catalyst role has four areas of focus: increasing awareness about ISM, sustaining existing ISM sites, encouraging LCMS congregations to start more ISM sites, and planning and administering the work of ISM at the national level.
She is available to speak to campus ministries, congregations, LWML gatherings and at other events. She can also provide training and mentoring for existing sites and those who would like to begin to intentionally share the love of Christ with international students.
In 1982 at the University of Missouri – Rolla, the question of an international student changed Sue’s life. Sue was looking up a book in the card catalog and saw an international student looking frustrated near her. Sue offered to help him find his book in the catalog and then on the shelves. As they walked, he asked her “Why do Americans do this? Why do Americans do that?” Soon, Sue learned that he was from the Middle East. He seemed so thankful for the answers. Eventually, he asked, “What do you Christians believe?” Sue was shocked that a Muslim would be curious about Christianity, and she willingly shared about the salvation won by Jesus. Although they never met again. The Holy Spirit used his question to lead Sue into 30 years of cross-cultural service with several organizations in Africa and Asia.
In 2007, Sue began learning to facilitate ‘participatory discussions’ which help groups to describe and analyze their situation, reach decisions, develop plans and to evaluate what has been done. Soon her team was training others all over Asia to facilitate discussions as well as to teach workshops to train more people. Participatory discussions can help the voices of all stakeholders to be heard and can increase participation in problem solving, planning, and program evaluation.
Sue uses her facilitation skills as she serves as the Ministry Catalyst for ISM Inc. The Ministry Catalyst role has four areas of focus: increasing awareness about ISM, sustaining existing ISM sites, encouraging LCMS congregations to start more ISM sites, and planning and administering the work of ISM at the national level.
She is available to speak to campus ministries, congregations, LWML gatherings and at other events. She can also provide training and mentoring for existing sites and those who would like to begin to intentionally share the love of Christ with international students.
Sue earned her bachelor's degree in chemistry at Concordia University Chicago with certification to teach science and math. She earned her masters in sociolinguistics at Georgetown University and her doctorate in linguistics at the University of South Africa - Pretoria. She taught science and math at a Lutheran high school for two years, before serving for ten years with Lutheran Bible Translators. She served as a volunteer with LCMS World Mission for three years. She served as a sociolinguistic consultant with SIL International for fourteen years. Teaching brings her joy, whether kindergarten Sunday School, women's groups, intense two week workshops or graduate linguistics courses. She loves to design interactive learning experiences, mentor young people, invite more people into what God is doing and help people learn from God's Word.