Monday, April 20, 2026

Nigeria - DR Congo - Zambia - APR/MAY 2026

Later today I'll head to the airport for a five-week trip to Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia. 


For the first leg of the trip, I will be joined by CLC President Michael Wilke and his wife Gloria, as well as CLC Board of Missions chairman, Mr. Joel Krafft. We are traveling to celebrate the
50th anniversary of the Nigeria Church of the Lutheran Confession (NCLC).


Our seven-day Nigeria itinerary is packed...

  • The NCLC Annual Convention and Pastor Conference: Pastor Wilke, Joel Krafft, and I will each be delivering theological essays. 
  • Dedication Ceremony: We will dedicate the newly constructed NCLC academic building and headquarters. 
  • Worship & Fellowship: Pastor Wilke will preach for the NCLC-wide Sunday morning worship service. 
  • NCLC Women's Conference: Gloria will deliver an essay on the blessings of Christian motherhood and lead a Sunday School teacher workshop for the women of the NCLC.
After a week in Nigeria, the Wilkes and Joel Krafft will return to the U.S., and I will fly from Lagos to Lomé, Togo. There, I will meet Missionary Peter Evensen in the airport, From there, we will fly together to the Democratic Republic of the Congo.


Having Peter along is a real blessing; since the DRC is French-speaking, his fluency—honed through his regular teaching and preaching in French for the past several years in Togo will be much appreciated. Our time in the DRC will be split between two locations:

  • Kinshasa: visiting Pastor Luminangu and assisting in efforts to establish a confessional Lutheran ministry in the capital city of the DRC. 
  • Lubumbashi: visiting the headquarters of the CCLC and Holy Trinity Lutheran Seminary. We will host a pastor conference and participate in the graduation and ordination of the latest seminary class.

The final two weeks of the trip will be spent in Zambia working with the Zambia CLC (ZCLC). While I am there, I will conduct a four-day pastor training seminar. The ZCLC will also conduct the first formal organizational meetings for the church, with pastors traveling from four different districts to attend. The last week in Zambia will be spent in Livingstone helping to conduct an outreach seminar.


Your prayers for safe and uneventful travel, Godly wisdom, patience, and love, along with God's blessings on all the plans and logistics as He fulfills His promise to bless the preaching and teaching of His holy word are requested and much appreciated.