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 clear and compelling call that could keep many hands full of work for generations to come. It’s an echo of the words Jesus continually calls out to His Church,
The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. (Matthew 9:37-38)
Lutherans in Africa is answering that call in two ways.
- First, in partnership with the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, it translates, prints and distributes foundational Lutheran resources (such as Luther’s Small Catechism, the Book of Concord, God’s Yes and No) across the African continent.
- Second, through the missionary visits of Rev. May to 23 different countries and the newly established Lutheran School of Theology (just outside of Nairobi) it trains, teaches and forms African Lutherans to be teachers of the faith.
I’ve had the opportunity to serve with Rev. James May. In my recent visit (December of 2017), I tried to capture the mission and work of LIA through a series of “Photo Stories”.
I share them here with you.
Summary of PhotoStory 1: Arndt Family Goes to Africa
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- First trip to Lutherans in Africa (December 2016)
- Brief recap of LIA and its mission
- Lutheran School of Theology (LST) site plan
- Start of construction
- The first seminars at the newly established LST
- Daily life on the LST
- A rugged beauty and majestic giraffes
- Construction of the library begins
Summary of PhotoStory 2: Arrival at the LST
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- Travel adjustment and recuperation
- “Karibu Kenya”
- Rev. James May’s Intensive on the Lutheran Liturgy
- Construction progress: library, visiting professor’s cottage, May family home
- Chores and daily life on the LST
- The giraffes stop by for a visit
Summary of PhotoStory 3: Teaching at the LST
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- The trip from Nairobi to the LST
- The Ngong Hills and the majestic Rift Valley
- Traveling the road to the LST
- Advent 2 and the Service of the Word
- Progress (and delays) on the library. “Karibu Kenya”.
- Seminar on the Psalms
- Daily life on the LST
- Afternoon walks with the giraffes
Summary of PhotoStory 4: Finals Day at the LST and Send Off
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- Final Exams
- Posting of grades and a moment to celebrate
- Send off for pastors and their long trips back home
- Giraffe traffic jam
- LIA staff Christmas party at the LST
- “Thorns, thistles and the sweat of your brow”
- “The wages of sin is death”
- “I am making everything new”
Summary of PhotoStory 5: Christmas Youth Gathering
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- Off to the Kenyan Coast for the Youth Gathering
- Just follow James
- Matatus – mayhem on wheels
- A full week of teaching the youth
- The beauty of Kenya
- Some downtime at the beach
- Advent 4 and Christmas Day with the Youth
- Christmas Day Feast
- Freedom for the prisoners
- A crown of beauty instead of ashes
