…pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified... 2 Thessalonians 3:1
India (Southeast Asia) – Pastor Prem Kumar, a long-time
pastor and leader of the CLC-India, lost his battle with kidney disease and was
taken to be the Lord. He leaves behind a wife, two young children, and a large
congregation of believers he has faithfully served for many years. Thank the
Lord for providing this faithful servant for the work of His Kingdom and
the harvest of souls in India. Pray for the Lord's comfort and assurance
for his wife, children, family, congregation, and all those in the CLCI who mourn
his passing and rejoice in his victory over the grave through faith in Jesus
Christ.
Kate
Sauers (USA) – Kate is the wife of
Board of Missions member Pastor Rob Sauers. She was diagnosed with ALK-positive
large-cell lymphoma cancer in late September. She has received two rounds of
chemotherapy so far, and doctors report that she has responded well. Thank
the Lord for blessing the treatments thus far and ask for His continued
blessings on the remainder of the treatments she is scheduled to receive.
Continue to Pray for courage, comfort, hope, strength, and trust in our
Savior's love and plans for their family.
Liberia (West Africa) – Pastor Joseph's sister recently went
to be with the Lord following a battle with liver cancer. With a presidential
runoff taking place on November 14th, there is a lot of uncertainty and
instability in Liberia right now. Pastor John Hein continues treatments for a
rare and very aggressive form of thymic cancer. He will have more scans
scheduled for November. Pray for the Lord's comfort as Pastor Joseph and
his family mourn the loss of his sister and rejoice in victory over the grave
through faith in Jesus. Ask the Lord to direct the affairs of the
Liberian elections this month so that peace may prevail and good government may
serve His purpose. Pray for the Lord's hand of healing upon our brother,
Pastor John Hein, so that the treatments he is receiving will rid his body of
cancer. Pray for good results from the scans so Pastor Hein can begin
planning for a visit to Liberia in January.
Missionary
Evensen (Togo, West Africa) –
Missionary Evensen recently had a kidney stone block his only kidney. Pray
that he will have no further complications, as necessary surgical treatments
may not be readily available. Ask the Lord to provide a quick and
complete recovery so he can return to the work he has been called to.
Mexico – Bd of Missions member Jeff Radichel and Missionary
Ohlmann recently visited Pastor Olvera, his family, and our brothers and
sisters in Christ of the Iglesia Luterana Confessional Mexico. They discussed future
plans for Gospel outreach and leadership training for lay leaders in one
congregation and three preaching stations in Mexico. Thank the Lord for
this opportunity to fellowship together around His Word. Pray for the
Lord's blessings and provision as these new plans develop so that many more may
be reached with God's saving word.
Missionary
Bruce Naumann (Tanzania-East Africa) –
Missionary Naumann, along with his wife Paula, are getting more accustomed to
their new home in Tanzania. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at the
seminary, he has also begun taking a more active role in correspondence and
training pastors in Kenya and Uganda. They will be returning to the States for
a one-month furlough in December. You can keep updated on things happening in
Tanzania at clc-tz.blogspot.com. Ask for the Lord's blessings as Missionary
Naumann and Paula continue to adjust to life in Africa. Pray for our Savior's
abundant blessings on the work of training pastors, teachers, and leaders in
Tanzania.
Missionary
Ohlmann – Missionary Ohlmann is
currently traveling and working in Asia until the middle of December. He will
spend a few days in Tokyo, visiting a congregation once in fellowship with the
CLC. From there, he will spend approx. six weeks working with the pastors and
leaders of the Bangladesh Lutheran Church Mission (BLCM) and the Himalayan
Church of the Lutheran Confession of Nepal (HCLCN). While in Bangladesh and
Nepal, he will visit several congregations and preaching stations, conduct
Pastoral Training Seminars, and be privileged to attend the Himalayan Bible
Institute graduation. Pray for all that is necessary for these trips to
be planned and take place. Ask the Lord to be with and bless his wife,
Beth, her father, and their family while he is away. Pray for the Lord's
love, wisdom, patience, and zeal during these visits that His name be glorified
as the truth of His saving word is proclaimed and pastors are trained. You can
read reports and see pictures from his travels at missionaryohlmann.blogspot.com
Mission
Development Fund – CLC president Mike
Wilke writes: "When the convention approved the calling
of our third foreign missionary, it determined that the funding of that
missionary would come fully from the MDF for the first year. The cost of
funding that missionary is about $80,000 and has impacted other planned MDF
projects. Currently, the balance of the MDF is enough to cover the cost of our
third foreign missionary for the rest of this fiscal year and a few other
essential projects, but without additional funds, we will not be able to fund
other planned projects. We have already put a hold on all other projects,
including funding Bibles and other Christian literature, church-building
assistance, and many planned outreach projects. Pray that the members of the
CLC will remember this work in their prayers and their offerings so that we
might continue to carry out the work the LORD has set before us and which we
have decided to do as a church body."
Tanzania (East Africa) – Pastor Paulo Kiara, who serves in the
Tanga district of the Tanzania-CLC, is recovering from abdominal surgery. A
Kinship grant was provided to assist with the cost of the life-saving surgery. Pray
for a speedy and complete recovery. On November 19th, three
evangelism students will graduate from the one-year program at the Wittenberg
Lutheran Theological Seminary. Two of these students will continue their
training in the three-year seminary program. Missionary Naumann and the seminary
faculty have several prospects for new enrollments in the next academic year, which
begins in January. Praise and thank the Lord for these students and
their dedication to preparing for the public ministry. Pray for the
students, their families, and the teaching staff at the seminary, asking the
Lord to continue to provide all that is necessary for this work to continue.
Myanmar
(Southeast Asia) – Our brothers
and sisters in Christ of the CLC-Myanmar continue to struggle under the
oppressive rule of the military junta. Pastor Kham continues to heal from the
injuries he received. His wife, Haui, has been released from jail, and their
debt has been paid through the compassionate offerings of God's children. Continue
to pray for strength and courage for Haui as she deals with the emotional
and physical trauma of her arrest. Pray for the children Pastor Kham and
Haui care for as they live in constant fear of military attack and now also the
fear of losing those who love and care for them. Continue to Pray for
justice and peace for all the people of Myanmar. Pray especially for our
brothers and sisters in Christ that our Savior will give them strength,
comfort, courage, and boldness during these difficult times and that He will
provide for all their needs. Thank the Lord for moving the hearts of His
children to give generously to the needs of others through their offerings and
prayers.
The
Philippines (Southeast Asia) – Pastor
Andrew Schaller (CLC Bd of Doctrine Secretary) continues the colloquy with
Pastor Jordan Palangyos and the Lutheran Autonomous Mission in the Philippines
(LAMP) via email correspondence. Pray that the Lord will bless the
colloquy and that this will lead to a God-pleasing unity of faith and teaching.
Ask the Lord to provide opportunities and all that is necessary for
Pastor Jordan to continue to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ!
Pakistan – Pastor Tim Daub
continues to teach online video Bible lessons to two groups of Christians who
are eager to start a Lutheran church in Pakistan. The Board of Missions has
authorized Missionary Ohlmann to accompany Pastor Daub on a visit to Pakistan
in 2024. With the upcoming elections in Pakistan and due to safety concerns
surrounding it, there is some uncertainty about when this trip will occur. Pray
that the Lord will continue to bless the teaching and learning of His word.
Thank our Savior for this opportunity and the technology to proclaim the
truth of His word in such a way.
Bangladesh (Southeast Asia) – Missionary Ohlmann will be in
Bangladesh for the first three weeks of November. He will work with Pastor
Monotosh to visit several congregations and preaching stations, and they will
conduct a five-day pastoral training seminar. Ask our Savior to continue
to bless both the preaching and learning of God's word in Bangladesh and to
provide all that is necessary for the ministry of the BLCM.
Nepal (Southeast Asia) – Pastor Raju continues to train men
to be faithful preachers of God's saving word. The students recently braved
flooded rivers and landslides to attend a one-week training seminar at the
HCLC-Nepa headquarters. They are preparing for Missionary Ohlmann's visit in
late November and for the graduation of several Himalayan Lutheran Bible
Institute students. Thank the Lord for keeping all the students safe in
their treacherous travels and blessing their lessons in His Word. Pray for
the Lord's blessings on the work and preparation for the upcoming
missionary visit. Ask the Lord to provide all that is necessary so that His
word will be spread among the many idol worshippers of Nepal and that many will
be led by the Spirit to repent and trust in their Savior Jesus.
Ongoing
Opportunities – 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 sent it.
That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation
among all nations. Psalm 67:2