Pakistan - JAN 2026

One week in Faisalabad probably wasn't enough, but it was the time the Lord gave us, and it was enough to come away with an appreciation of God's faithfulness in extending His kingdom through the preaching and teaching of His saving word! Pastor Daub has been working with Pastor Gill for about five years. You'll be able to read the back story of this fledgling congregation in an upcoming issue of The Lutheran Spokesman. In brief, it started with an online contact that didn't work out, but that led to Pastor Gil contacting Pastor Daub, asking to continue studies with him and his extended family. Through weekly online video chats, Pastor Daub led them through Luther's Small Catechism. The group formed a congregation and began weekly worship services a couple of years ago. A visit in late 2024 was planned, but the Lord had other plans, and so we postponed until last week. 

Since Pastor Daub has been meeting with this group almost weekly via online video chat, he was familiar with many names and faces. It was a privilege to witness and join in the joy of all these Christians meeting face-to-face for the first time. It was almost like a family reunion, meeting distant cousins for the first time. 

We spent the first evening eating some delicious Pakistan foods prepared by Pastor Gil's wife and other family members. She is an amazing cook!!! Tim can tell you all about it since he spent some time in the kitchen with her, picking up some cooking tips. 

Much of our time was spent making house visits to the members of the congregation. Many of the members live within a couple of kilometers of the Gil home, so it was easy just to walk from home to home. What we found in each home was Christian brothers and sisters who were hungry for the Word of God and humbly dedicated to their Savior, in a predominantly Muslim nation. 

The schedule didn't quite work out as we had anticipated due to some uncertainty with immigration officials and the police, who seemed to be tracking our every move and our coming and going from our hotel. This kept us from the nightly public Bible studies we had planned. But Pastor Daub led a couple of Bible studies and preached at the Sunday morning worship service. Much of the remaining time was spent in discussions with Pastor Gil and another Christian pastor whom the Lord introduced us to. 

All in all, the trip was successful as we were able to confirm with our eyes and ears what Pastor Daub has already witnessed through 4+ years of online correspondence and teaching. A recommendation to President Wilke to begin the formal colloquy process has already been sent and received. That means President Wilke will appoint a CLC representative to begin months of correspondence with Pastor Gil, involving a series of questions and answers on doctrinal matters, culminating in another face-to-face visit with Pastor Daub, me, and the CLC representative about a year from now to determine whether doctrinal unity exists. 

Here are a few pictures and a video of Pastor Daub teaching with Pastor Gil translating. Enjoy and praise the Lord for His goodness and guidance during this trip and in the coming months of the colloquy process!

First evening meal with the Gil family

Enjoying the cool weather with a stroll through a local park

Evening Bible Study

Pot-Luck...Pakastani Style with Chicken Korma and Naan

Evening Bible Study

Pastor Daub and the Gil Family

Pastor Gil and Family

Sent to Pakistan and the Philippines...Bangladesh Postponed - JAN/FEB 2026

Later this morning, I will head to the airport for a month-long trip to Southeast Asia. I'll be accompanied by Pastor Tim Daub for the first week in Pakistan, and Board of Missions Chairman, Joel Krafft, will join me for the last week in the Philippines. 

Pastor Daub and I will meet up in Dubai. After a 12-hour layover, we will fly to Faisalabad, Pakistan. We will spend about a week meeting with a local Pastor, leading Bible studies in the evening, and attending worship on Sunday morning. After Pastor Daub returns to the U.S., I will spend another week in Faisalabad, meeting with the pastor and other potential contacts, and leading Bible studies in the evenings. 

Pastor Daub has been corresponding with this local pastor and conducting online video Bible studies with two different groups in Faisalabad for about four years. The group has formed a Lutheran congregation. They meet weekly for Sunday worship and continue to attend online Bible studies with Pastor Daub. This will be the first face-to-face meeting with CLC representatives. This visit is the third step in the protocol our CLC Board of Missions follows to establish fellowship with foreign church bodies and ministries. The first two steps include 1-3 years of correspondence. If all goes well with this third step, Pastor Daub and I will recommend to the CLC president that the official colloquy process begin. If President Wilke accepts our recommendation, he will appoint a CLC representative (typically a member of the CLC Board of Doctrine) to conduct the colloquy. The colloquy will be conducted via email and online video chats over the next year. If all goes well, a second face-to-face meeting will be scheduled to complete the final step of the colloquy process. If this goes well and a true unity of doctrine and faith is revealed, a recommendation for a declaration will be forwarded to President Wilke for action. It's a very thorough process to follow our Lord's will to spread the Gospel throughout the world in a God-pleasing way, as we seek fellowship grounded in the truth of His saving word! This is the process that the Board of Missions and our CLC missionaries have been following for the past several years. Through this process, the CLC has established fellowship with several ministries in countries such as Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Myanmar, DR Congo, Uganda, Liberia, and others. Praise the Lord for the privilege of partnering with faithful preachers and teachers of God's saving word to assist with the spread of the Gospel!

Until just a few weeks ago, I was scheduled to fly from Pakistan to Bangladesh to spend a couple of weeks with Pastor Monotosh and the Bangladesh Lutheran Church Mission (BLCM) conducting Gospel outreach, conducting a week-long Pastor Training seminar with fourteen pastors, evangelists, and church leaders, and we were also going to dedicate the new BLCM church headquarters and Bible Institute building. But things have changed, and now this visit is postponed, Lord willing, until later in the year. 

Bangladesh has been experiencing significant political unrest over the past couple of years. Protests in Dhaka turned violent in December, resulting in the death of a popular opposition leader. With national elections scheduled for February 12, the whole country is tense. The government has imposed travel restrictions between districts and curfews, and many expect martial law to be implemented in some places. I was scheduled to be there the two weeks prior to election day. With all the government travel restrictions in place, it would be impossible for me to travel freely for evangelism, and those scheduled to attend the pastor training conference will not be able to travel either. Because of all of this, Pastor Monotosh asked me to postpone my visit until later in the year. 

I was able to change my airfare so I can spend an extra week in Pakistan and then arrive in the Philippines a few days early. Fortunately, the cost of this new itinerary, even with cancellation fees, was about $250 less. Thank you, Lord!

If all goes as planned, I will depart Faisalabad, Pakistan, on  February 6th. After a two-day layover in Dubai, I'll arrive in Manila a few days ahead of Joel Krafft. Since Pastor Palangyos and the Lutheran Autonomous Mission of the Philippines (LAMP) are located about 8 hours north of Manila, I will just hang out in Manila until Joel arrives, so I can meet him at the airport, and we can travel together by bus from Manila to Baguio. 

Joel and I will spend a week with Pastor Palangyos visiting the two LAMP congregations in the Cordillera Mountains. We will also visit Kapangan. This is the village where Pastor Palangyos' parents live and where his recently deceased sister donated a building to the LAMP. With a small MDF grant, this building has been cleaned up, and chairs, desks, and other furnishings have been purchased with plans to begin pastor and church leader training. Currently, this is also the location of a LAMP preaching station. An outreach seminar will be conducted while Joel and I are visiting, with the hope and prayer of bringing the truth of God's saving word to many in this village. 

Please keep these trips and the meetings we have in your prayers, asking for the Lord's blessings on everything we need for travel, the work, and our return home to our families. And thank the Lord for His faithfulness in His promised effectiveness of the preaching and teaching of His saving word to accomplish His will!  

CLC World Missions Prayer List – January 2026

…pray for us that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified...

 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Bangladesh (South Asia) – Protests in Dhaka turned violent in December, resulting in the death of a popular opposition leader. With an upcoming national election scheduled for February 12th, the nation is on edge, prompting the current government to impose travel restrictions, curfews, and martial law in many areas. As a result, Missionary Ohlmann was advised by local church leaders to postpone his scheduled visit. Construction on the multipurpose building is progressing well. This building will serve God's Kingdom as a Bible Institute for training faithful church workers, a place for worship, and housing for teachers and students. Fourteen men are ready to begin pastoral training once the building is completed. Pray for peace and security, and for safe and honest elections. Pray that the Lord will provide for good government that will be a blessing to the citizens of Bangladesh and for the Gospel ministry of the BLCM. Please continue to pray for the success of this building project and that the Lord would move the hearts of His people to give generously for this important work, so the project can stay on schedule.

Pakistan (Asia) – Pastor Tim Daub has been conducting online training and Bible studies with a group in Faisalabad for the past few years. They have established a congregation that meets weekly for worship. Pastor Daub and Missionary Ohlmann will make the first face-to-face visit January 20-28. Missionary Ohlmann will spend an additional week visiting other contacts and leading evening Bible studies. If all goes well with this visit, the CLC will begin the formal colloquy process with Pastor Gil. Pray for safe and uneventful travels and for the Lord’s promised blessings on the preaching and teaching of His saving Word.

The Philippines (Southeast Asia) – Joel Krafft, CLC Board of Missions chairman, and Missionary Ohlmann are scheduled to visit the Philippines in February. They will spend about a week visiting Lutheran Autonomous Mission in the Philippines (LAMP) congregations and preaching stations. Plans are to conduct outreach seminars in the big city of Baguio and at a preaching station in Pastor Palangyos’ home village. Work also continues on a donated worship and classroom space in Pastor Jordan’s home village. A small MDF grant was sent to help purchase chairs, tables, and other furnishings. Please pray for the LAMP outreach efforts so that more people may repent of their sins and rejoice in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Thank the Lord for recent growth and ask for His blessings on these new members. Pray that the Lord provides everything necessary to complete the new worship and training facility.

Nepal (South Asia) – The Himalayan Bible Institute will begin classes with a new cohort of 16 students on January 25th. Following the Gen-Z protests last Fall, which led to the resignation of the prime minister and several others and the collapse of the government, elections are scheduled for January 24th and March 5th. Ask the Lord to bless the new HBI students and the teachers. Pray that the Lord will provide a new, stable, and good government that will be a blessing to the citizens of Nepal and to the Gospel ministry of the HCLCN.

India (South Asia) – Both the BELC and CLCI conducted Christmas outreach in December. Classes continue at the BELC Bible Institute with twenty-seven students and the CLCI seminary with fifty-one students. Please pray that the Lord will protect, provide, strengthen, and give hope to His children in India through the Gospel ministry of the BELC and CLCI.

Liberia (West Africa) – A regular schedule of Bible training seminars continues for pastors and church leaders across several areas of Liberia. Missionary Ohlmann visited for two weeks in November. He and Pastor Kwiwalazu traveled to several areas of Liberia and conducted a Pastor Training Seminar with 18 pastors and church leaders in Bopolu. Thank the Lord and ask for His continued blessings for the ongoing Biblical training and outreach. Ask the Lord to bless the training seminar and conference in Bopolu.

Nigeria (West Africa) – With an MDF grant and local offerings, the Nigeria-CLC (NCLC) is nearing completion of its long-awaited building project. The building will include new classrooms, a library/computer room, and a faculty office. Missionary Ohlmann visited in November. The NCLC is planning a 50th-anniversary celebration in April. CLC President Mike Wilke and his wife, Gloria, CLC Board of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft, and Missionary Ohlmann plan to travel together to Nigeria to join the celebration. The new academic building will also be dedicated while they are there. Ask the Lord to continue to bless the building project and thank Him for providing funding through the NCLC and MDF offerings. Ask for the Lord’s blessings on the travel plans for the CLC representatives. Thank the Lord for the privilege of working together in this effort to train faithful workers for His Nigerian harvest of souls! Ask the Lord to provide safe travel for everyone attending the conference and building dedication.

Togo (West Africa) – Three students at Mount Horeb Lutheran graduated on December 6. Missionary Evensen and Missionary Ohlmann were in attendance. Head Pastor Kossi Blewu will soon resume his Gospel outreach radio program in Assahoun, a town about 30 minutes from the seminary. One of the graduates will be called to start a congregation there, since people have been calling to attend our services after hearing Pastor Blewu.

Myanmar (South Asia) – Pastor Kham reported that the military junta continues to conduct nightly raids on homes and soccer fields to conscript young men into the army forcefully. They have also started conscripting older men into the military. Previously, families could pay ransoms for their release, but the junta no longer accepts bribes due to its urgent need for soldiers. The orphan boys cared for by Pastor Kham and his wife are in hiding, as military checkpoints are everywhere, even near schools. Please pray for peace, justice, and relief for all affected by this conflict.

Tanzania (East Africa) — Six seminary students graduated on November 30. Twelve students are enrolled for the new year. Pastor Emerita Paul Nolting spent two weeks in Tanzania in January as a guest lecturer at the seminary. He will also attend the TCLC pastoral conference. Ask the Lord to bless the seminary students as they grow in grace and in the knowledge of Scripture, equipping them to be effective ministers of the Gospel.

Kenya (East Africa) – Missionary Naumann traveled to Kenya to attend the KCLC conference, where pastors and church leaders gathered near Moi’s Bridge to continue organizational efforts and study God’s word for growth and mutual encouragement in the Gospel ministry. Pray for the KCLC's growth, unity, and effective spread of the Gospel as they establish new congregations.

Uganda (East Africa) – A meeting of CCCRU pastors and church leaders in January was postponed due to security concerns ahead of the January 15 national elections. Five congregations are being served by five pastors and two evangelists. The Hope Centre children's home in Iganga houses 34 children. The pastors and their families struggle at times with medical issues and a lack of resources. Ask our Lord to give them good health, daily bread, and zeal for spreading the true Word of God. Ask our Lord to provide for the daily needs of pastors as they struggle to serve the Lord and their families with little financial support from the impoverished congregation members.

DR Congo-CCLC (Central Africa) – Pastor Yumba, who serves the CCLC, reports that the seminary students of Holy Trinity Lutheran Seminary have completed their vicarages. Final exams, graduation, and ordination are scheduled for April or May, when Missionaries Evensen and Ohlmann are expected to visit. Thank the Lord for the diligent study and faithful teaching of God's Word over the past several years at the Holy Trinity Seminary. Ask for the Lord's continued blessings on the students as they finish their vicarage assignments. Pray that the Lord will bring peace and an end to the greed and violence that have been such a terrible part of the DR Congo’s history.

DR Congo-ECLSAFA (Central Africa) – Pastor Jacques Pondi Lumiangu in Kinshasa has scheduled several outreach seminars in early 2026. The congregation is also facing challenges with renting their church building and is unable to fully support Pastor Pondi Lumiangu, so he is facing financial challenges as well. Missionaries Evensen and Ohlmann plan to visit in April. Pray for the outreach work of the ECLSAFA Congo and that God would abundantly provide for their needs.

Please continue to pray for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, who, by God's grace, are dedicated to proclaiming the truths of God's saving Word for the salvation of souls as they trust the promise of our Savior that His Word will not return to Him void but will accomplish that for which He sends it .

Missionary Peter Evensen (Togo, West Africa) – Since the Mt. Horeb Seminary graduation in early December, Missionary Evensen has been working to edit and improve the French translations of the curriculum for the next cohort of students. He will join Missionary Ohlmann on a visit to the DR Congo in late April. Pray for his continued health as his right knee, which was operated on over a year ago, has started to bother him again, and for the Lord’s continued blessing on Missionary Evensen’s work to prepare faithful preachers and teachers of God’s saving word.

Missionary Bruce Naumann (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda-East Africa) – Missionary Naumann and Paula were able to return to the U.S. for the month of December and were blessed to spend time with family. Missionary Naumann returned to Tanzania in early January and spent a couple of weeks in Kenya. Paula will return to Tanzania later in January. You may see the latest news and photos of their work and daily lives at clc-tz.blogspot.com

Missionary Todd Ohlmann – Over the next few months, Missionary Ohlmann is scheduled to visit Pakistan, the Philippines, Nigeria, DR Congo, and Zambia. Pray for God's blessing on the necessary arrangements for these trips, and for his wife, Beth, as she continues to care for her elderly father, who is on hospice care and is longing for his heavenly home. You can read reports and see pictures here: missionaryohlmann.blogspot.com