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 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.
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