A blessed Reformation and All Saints Day from the Lutheran School of Theology at the foot of the Ngong Hills near Nairobi in Kenya, Africa. It is with great joy that I share with you the news that the Lutheran School of Theology (LST) has just been granted provisional academic accreditation by ACTEA, the accrediting […]
Much joy and a sacred peace to us in Jesus. The Michigan change of seasons reminds us that though the grass withers and the flowers fade, the Word of the Lord and all of His promises remain the same. (Isaiah 40:8) His mercies are new and abundant every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) Amen and amen! Global […]
My first experience with Lutherans In Africa wasn’t through a mission presentation, an email, or even a personal conversation with Rev. James May (the Executive Director). It came through a visit to the LIA website. It was 2015. I had just turned 50 and was thinking about how I might best serve the Church in […]
After eight weeks with Rev. James May at the Lutheran School of Theology in Kenya, we are back in the United States. We thank you for all your prayers, support, and encouragement. We had our share of challenges (travel delays and detours, health issues, aches and pains, bugs, bites, flooding, technical complications) … such is […]
In some ways, life at the Lutheran School of Theology (LST) in previous years was like perpetual camping. From 2017 to the fall of 2023, meals for the students and staff at the LST were prepared in a make shift shelter over an open fire. Depending on what was happening on the campus, meals for […]
Besides the saving Gospel of Jesus, Africa’s greatest needs are … By His promise and grace, the Triune God provides the rains. And through the volunteer service of gifted teachers and the gracious gifts of supporters throughout the world, the Lutheran School of Theology provides students with … In the video below, you’ll see how […]
On October 31st, 1517, Martin Luther nailed ninety-five theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg. The very first one of the ninety-five reads: When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance. Repentance (both sincere sorrow over sin and […]
Each season of the Lutheran School of Theology has been filled with providential events. Such is the story of the Kingdom of God. Come what may, the Triune God orders all things according to His will, for the sake of the Gospel, for the growth of His Church, and for our eternal good. So also […]
Part of the site plan for the Lutheran School of Theology is to construct a dedicated church building for the Masai community. In the past, the staff, students and community surrounding the LST have worshipped in makeshift spaces on the campus (under acaia trees, in classrooms, side rooms of the library). In the future, Lord […]
Rev James May, the director of Lutherans in Africa, was called to Kenya because it was a transportation hub. Each month he was traveling to other African countries to organize training seminars. Over time, several bishops repeated the same comment, “These seminars are great but they are not long enough to train pastors. You need […]
The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! This past Holy Week we began by singing our Palm Sunday “hosannas” on one side of the equator. After traveling north of Nairobi to Meru on Maundy Thursday, we celebrated our Lord’s victory over sin, death, and the devil and his resurrection from the dead on […]
In Africa, the lack of resources available for education, coupled with traditional beliefs and practices, leads to misunderstandings of the Living Word. From the congregational level to the national church body, an overwhelming need exists for basic doctrinal teaching for Lutheran pastors and evangelists. Martin Luther in his preface to the Large Catechism, urged pastors […]
The Challenge in Africa There is a severe shortage of trained pastors in Africa. In Tanzania, for instance, there is on average 1 pastor for every 3,500 members. The Lutheran Church in Tanzania alone has over 10 million members, but the struggle is to equip each congregation with a trained and ordained pastor. The average […]
The Triune God Gives Himself to Us Completely Martin Luther writes that the Triune God gives to us all gifts needed for this life, our salvation, and the eternal life to come. In Christ Jesus, He gives Himself completely (entirely) to us and holds nothing back. … here we see that God gives Himself entire […]
“Po-le, Po-le” In Africa, most things happen “po-le, po-le” (Swahili for “slowly, slowly”). “Po-le, pole” applies to the cadence of conversation, the speed of the internet, the rhythm of the day, the tempo at which tasks get assigned, the rate in which they are accomplished, and even the pace by which the Triune God’s Kingdom […]
