Missionary Travels - Our missionaries are traveling to several different countries during January and February to visit our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. On January 7th, Missionary Naumann returned to Tanzania. On January 12th, Missionary Ohlmann and Board of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft are scheduled to depart for a visit to Togo and Liberia. Part-Time Missionary Pastor Paul Nolting will be heading to Tanzania later in January to teach at the Wittenberg Lutheran Theological Seminary while Missionary Naumann visits Kenya and Uganda. Joel Kraftt will travel from Liberia to Kenya to Join Missionary Naumann, Pastor Jeremia Issangya, and Kinship Chairman and Christian School Instructor Supervisor Ted Quade in Nairobi on Friday, January 26th. These men will be visiting Moi's Bridge, Kenya; Iganga, Uganda; and Etago, Kenya during a 10-day trip. At the end of January, Missionary Ohlmann and CLC Board of Doctrine member Pastor Andrew Schaller will travel to the Philippines to conduct an in-person colloquy with Pastor Jordan Palangyos of the Lutheran Autonomous Mission of the Philippines. Please pray for safe and uneventful travels for our missionaries and that the Lord will bless their preaching and teaching of His Word to accomplish His will.
India (Southeast Asia) – In early
December, Cyclone Michaung hit the eastern coast of India, causing damage and
flooding to the churches of the BELC as well as the Martin Luther Bible School
(MLBS) pastor training center. The storm affected eleven out of the fourteen
districts of the BELC, resulting in 55 churches and the MLBS being damaged and
in need of repair. The Board of Missions has approved a Kinship disaster relief
grant to assist with building repairs and reconstruction. Pray for the Lord's
continued protection and provision as our brothers and sisters in Christ begin
the clean-up and recovery from this disaster. Ask our Heavenly Father to send
His Holy Spirit to give comfort, courage, strength, and hope in His perfect love
and plans as they struggle during these trying times. And thank the Lord for
the compassionate and generous hearts that provide support through offerings to
Kinship.
Myanmar (South Asia) – Pastor
Kham recently reported that the Myanmar military had dropped bombs on portions
of the city of Kalaymyo. Fortunately, the bombing did not affect the
CLC-Myanmar (CLCM) church or orphanage, and there were no injuries to CLCM. However,
several private homes, businesses, and church buildings were destroyed or
damaged. There were more than twenty people killed and many more injured.
February 1 will mark the third anniversary of the military takeover and, thus,
three years of civil war. The people of
Myanmar and our brothers and sisters in Christ continue to suffer. Please pray
for the innocent bystanders caught in this conflict, especially our brothers
and sisters in Christ of the CLC-Myanmar. Ask that God's will be done as this
conflict continues and that peace may prevail.
Tanzania (East Africa) – Missionary
Naumann has returned to Tanzania for the beginning of the new semester of
classes at the seminary. Pastor Nolting will be arriving in mid-January to
serve as a guest/substitute instructor a the seminary. Pray for God’s continued
blessings on these efforts to train and send out faithful preachers and
teachers of God’s saving word in East Africa.
Pakistan (South Asia) – Pastor Tim
Daub continues electronic correspondence and instruction to the members of the
recently established Lutheran congregation in Pakistan. The Board of Missions
has authorized Missionary Ohlmann to join Pastor Daub on a visit to Pakistan.
They are tentatively planning a visit for mid-to-late April. Pray for the
Lord's continued blessings on the teaching and learning of His word. Give
thanks to our Savior for granting us this opportunity and the technology to
spread the truth of His word in such a manner.
Nepal (South Asia) –
Pastor Raju has experienced partial voice loss for the past few months due to
the presence of lesions or nodes on his vocal cords. He has been resting his
voice for the past several weeks. A recent examination shows signs of healing.
In the upcoming weeks, he will begin voice therapy to aid the recovery and
strengthening of his vocal cords. Consequently, the start of Himalayan Bible
Institute classes will be postponed until March or April. Applications for the
next HBI session are currently being received and reviewed. Please pray for the
Lord's healing of Raju's vocal cords, enabling him to continue the work of
proclaiming God's word and training faithful workers for His kingdom in Nepal.
The Philippines (Southeast
Asia) – Pastor Andrew Schaller, the Board of Doctrine Secretary for the
CLC, has finished the correspondence part of the doctrinal colloquy with Pastor
Jordan Palangyos and the Lutheran Autonomous Mission in the Philippines (LAMP).
In early February, Pastor Schaller, accompanied by Missionary Ohlmann, is
scheduled to be in the Philippines to conduct the in-person portion of the
colloquy. Please ask for the Lord's blessings on the colloquy, that it may
result in and reveal a unity of faith and teaching that pleases God. Pray that
the Lord will provide Pastor Jordan with opportunities and everything he needs
to continue proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.
DR Congo (Central Africa)
– The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains in a state of unrest and
violence after the recent presidential election on December 20th. Pastor Yumba
has suggested that the plans for Missionary Ohlmann's visit to the DRC in 2024
should be delayed until security has been restored. Pray for peace and harmony
among the people of the DRC as they struggle through these issues. Ask that the
Lord's will be fulfilled in this election, and pray for the safety, hope, and courage
for our fellow brothers and sisters in the CCLC.
Bangladesh (South Asia) –
Pastor Monotosh continues to seek the Lord's blessings in raising funds for
constructing a BLCM headquarters, Bible Institute, dormitory, and worship
facility on land purchased last year. Pray for the Lord’s provision of
resources needed for this important building project. Ask for the Lord’s
continued blessings on the preaching and teaching of His word.
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."
Missionary Evensen (Togo,
West Africa) – Missionary Evensen continues the work of translating Online
Theological Studies courses into French for use in training pastors and church
leaders in Togo and other French-speaking African countries. Ask for the Lord’s
continued blessings on this work and pray that the Lord will continue to
provide good health and all that is necessary for the spread of the Gospel in
Togo.
Missionary Bruce Naumann (Tanzania-East
Africa) – Missionary Bruce Naumann has arrived in Tanzania to begin the new
semester at Wittenberg Lutheran Theological Seminary. He is set to participate
in the CLC visitation team's trip to Kenya and Uganda in late January. His wife
Paula will join him in Tanzania in early February. Pray for their safe travels,
as well as for the returning students. Ask for our Savior’s blessings on the
pastors and people of the TZ-CLC as they spread the Gospel of Christ crucified.
Follow their blog at clc-tz.blogspot.com.
Missionary Ohlmann – Missionary
Ohlmann has upcoming travel plans to Togo, Liberia, The Philippines, Nigeria,
Zambia, and Pakistan in the following months. He is also scheduled to serve as
the Pastor for the Southeastern CLC Women's Retreat in Charlotte, NC, in
mid-February. Pray for the Lord’s guidance and blessings on his travel plans
and for wisdom, humility, patience, and boldness as he proclaims God’s word. Continue
to pray for his wife Beth as she cares for her elderly father as he longs for
his heavenly home. You can read reports and see pictures here: missionaryohlmann.blogspot.com
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.
