Monday, February 26, 2024

February/March 2024 - CLC Missions Prayer List

Mexico – Pastor Olvera and his family have been plagued by covid and other various illnesses for the past couple of months. They are recovering and slowly getting back to regular work and ministry activities. Thank the Lord for healing and ask for continued strength and recovery for this family. Pray also that the Lord would open doors of opportunity for their planned outreach efforts.

The Philippines (Southeast Asia) – Pastor Andrew Schaller, the Board of Doctrine Secretary for the CLC, and Missionary Ohlmann have recently returned from a visit to the Philippines to conduct the face-to-face portion of the doctrinal colloquy. This meeting is the result of more than three years of correspondence, one initial visit in early 2023, and a written doctrinal colloquy via email. Pastor Jordan Palangyos, representing the Lutheran Autonomous Mission of the Philippines (LAMP), sat with Pastor Schaller and Missionary Ohlmann for two full days to review the colloquy questions in depth. This process revealed that there is unity of doctrine between the CLC and LAMP. President Mike Wilke declared fellowship with Pastor Palangyos and the LAMP on February 23rd. Praise the Lord for these great blessings of unity of faith and teaching and the opportunity to work together in a God-pleasing way to help spread the Good News of Jesus in the Philippines! Pray that the Lord will provide Pastor Jordan with opportunities and everything he needs to continue proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Myanmar (South Asia) – Pastor Kham recently reported that the Myanmar military has continued to indiscriminately bomb portions of the city of Kalaymyo, where the CLC-Myanmar headquarters and orphanage are located. Bombs have destroyed much of the main street that goes through town, less than a kilometer from the CLC-Myanmar (CLCM) church or orphanage. Kham reports that the military is constantly patrolling with machine guns and regularly fires on any gathering of civilians. While we are thankful that there were no injuries to CLCM, three more people were recently killed near the church, and many others have been seriously injured. February 1st marked 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.

Kenya and Uganda (East Africa) – Missionary Bruce Naumann and CLC Bd of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft recently visited our brothers and sisters in Kenya and Uganda. Unfortunately, Kinship Committee chairman Ted Quade was not able to make the trip due to health issues. While in Kenya they visited and discussed the needs of the two elementary schools that are partially supported by Kinship donations. They also met with the leaders of the Kenya-CLC to discuss the necessary steps for more consistent Bible instruction in the schools. While in Uganda they visited the orphanage that receives support from Kinship to discuss their ongoing needs. Thank the Lord of their safe travels and productive time among our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Tanzania (East Africa) – Missionary Naumann reports that all students are now present for the new semester of classes at the seminary. Pastor Nolting spent a couple of weeks in mid-January serving as a guest/substitute instructor at the seminary while Missionary Naumann was visiting Kenya and Uganda. 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. You can follow Missionary Naumann’s blog at clc-tz.blogspot.com.

Pakistan  - Pastor Tim Daub continues correspondence and instruction classes with the recently established Lutheran congregation members in Faisalabad. The Board of Missions has authorized Missionary Ohlmann to join Pastor Daub on a visit to further encourage and instruct this congregation. They are tentatively planning a visit for mid-to-late April. With the recent elections in Pakistan, they are waiting for the newly elected leadership to be in place before they make final arrangements. Pray for the Lord's guidance and wisdom as plans take shape. Ask the Lord to continue to bless the preaching and teaching of His saving word among this new congregation of believers.

Nepal (South Asia) – Pastor Raju is undergoing voice therapy to treat lesions or nodes on his vocal cords. He recently reported that his doctor is pleased with the progress, and he has started public speaking again. The start of the Himalayan Bible Institute (HBI) classes was postponed until he was able to regain his voice. Currently, they are reviewing applications for a new cohort of HBI students, which is scheduled to begin in April. Give thanks to the Lord for the healing of Raju's vocal cords, which has allowed him to continue spreading God's word and training faithful workers for His kingdom in Nepal.

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.

Liberia (West Africa) – While Pastor Kwiwalazu was disappointed that Missionary Ohlmann and Bd of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft were unable to visit in January as planned due to issues with obtaining the necessary visas, he reports that meetings with a group of independent pastors who have separated from the Methodist church of Liberia went well. He is eager for the visit to be rescheduled and is hopeful that Pastor John Hein’s health improves so that he, too, will be able to visit. Pray for the blessings and provision for the work of spreading the Gospel in Liberia and also for the developing opportunities in Guinea. Ask the Lord to bless the cancer treatments that John Hein is receiving so that he may resume his work in Liberia.

India (South Asia) – The BELC continues to grow with more than 750 pastors serving congregations, teaching on-going monthly pastoral training seminars in twenty-seven districts, and training 25 men at the Martin Luther Bible School. The CLCI is still active in outreach despite the real and constant threat of persecution. The CLCI also continues its work with the orphanage and the seminary, with seventeen men graduating and being ordained as pastors each year. It has been a few years since the CLC has been to visit our brothers and sisters in India. With Missionaries Evensen and Ohlmann no longer able to enter India because their visas were revoked, the Bd of Missions is looking at different options for future CLC visitations. Pray that the Lord continues to bless the efforts of the BELC and CLCI as they boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus. Ask for our Savior’s guidance as the Bd of Missions looks for ways to visit India again.

Missionary Peter 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 returned to Tanzania in early January for the start of the new semester at Wittenberg Lutheran Theological Seminary. His wife Paula returned to Tanzania in early February. Thank the Lord for providing safe travel for Bruce and Paula. Ask for our Savior’s blessings for these two faithful servants of our Lord. Pray they will be kept safe and healthy as they serve in our Savior’s East Africa harvest fields. Follow their blog at clc-tz.blogspot.com.

Missionary Todd Ohlmann – Missionary Ohlmann departed for a short visit to Nigeria on February 27th. He will make a short stop-over in Togo to visit Missionary Evensen and Pastor Blewu. While in Nigeria, he will attend, preach, and present at the Nigeria-CLC pastoral conference in Efa. He will also visit and preach at a newly established NCLC congregation in Badagry. He is tentatively scheduled to visit Pakistan and Zambia in April and May. 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 Opportunitiesplease 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.

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