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 […]
Not soon after I wrote about Martin Luther’s Evening and Morning prayers and the daily spiritual exercise of “commending all into the Lord’s hands”, we were given ample opportunities to practice it. Such is the life of the Christian. Confessing the faith and living it out, walk hand in hand. No matter how thorough one […]
Finally! After, a busy and bustling number of weeks, we’re on our way to the Lutheran School of Theology in Kenya to serve with Rev. James May and Lutherans in Africa. The preparation for a trip to the African continent is controlled chaos. It’s filled with scattered and coffee stained sheets of lists, tedious double, […]
We’re soon heading back to Lutherans in Africa to teach with Rev. James May at the Lutheran School of Theology in Kenya. The mission of the school is to “form African Christians to be teachers of the faith”. I helped establish the school during my trips in 2016 and 2017 and now, after seven years, […]
“I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills.” Out of Africa, Isak Dinesen There is a school in Africa nestled on the edge of the great Rift Valley, at the foot of the Ngong Hills. Here students come from across the African continent to study at the Lutheran School of […]
My connection with Lutherans in Africa didn’t start with a visit from Rev. James May (LIA’s executive director) or a mission presentation or even an email or phone conversation. It all started with a phrase posted bold and centered on the LIA website. It’s just a handful of words but underneath those words are a […]
We just finished up a week long youth seminar and Christmas Day celebration with the Kenyan Youth. Now back to Nairobi for a night’s rest and then back to the United States. Thank you for all of your prayers and encouragement. The Lord bless and keep us with all of the gifts that come through […]
We’re finishing up our time at the Lutheran School of Theology at the foot of the Ngong Hills just outside of Nairobi, Kenya. The students just finished taking their final exam for the seminar on “Finding Christ in the Psalms” and, after about 8 weeks, they are finally returning home. After the first of the […]
I am currently at Lutherans in Africa’s School of Theology at the foot of the Ngong Hills, west of Nairobi. This last week I began teaching “Finding Christ in the Psalms”. It’s a much needed study, first, for my own life and ministry, as well as for the African students and pastors. We hold on […]
The Lord be praised, we arrived in Kenya without incident. On Monday, I will continue the Fall semester training at Lutherans In Africa’s School of Theology. I’ll be teaching a two week intensive course on “Finding Christ in the Psalms”. It will be a seminar that I need for my own life and ministry. I […]
In December I’ll be heading back to Kenya, Africa to work with Rev. James May and Lutherans in Africa. LIA’s mission is “to form African Lutherans to be Teachers of the Faith”. I’ll be teaching “Finding Christ in the Psalms” at LIA’s new Lutheran School of Theology just outside of Nairobi, Kenya at the foot of Ngong Hills. To view a […]
