Pakistan (South
Asia) – Pastor Tim Daub and Missionary Ohlmann will depart for Faisalabad, Pakistan,
on Tuesday, October 15th. This will be the first face-to-face meeting with Pastor
G. and the group of believers that Pastor Daub has been instructing through
online classes for the past few years. Please pray for the Lord's blessings on their
travels and meetings as they discuss and proclaim the truths of God's saving
Word. Give thanks to our Savior for granting this opportunity and the
technology to spread the truth of His Word in such a manner.
Liberia (West
Africa) – Pastor Kwiwalazu is still engaged in doctrinal discussions with a
group of independent pastors who have separated from the Methodist Church of
Liberia. CLC Board of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft and Missionary Ohlmann are
scheduled to visit in November. Pray for God's blessings and provision for the
work of spreading the Gospel in Liberia and for the developing opportunities among
the independent pastors and in Guinea. Pray for the Lord's blessings on visitation
preparations. Ask the Lord to bless the cancer treatments that John Hein is
receiving so he can resume his work in Liberia.
India (South Asia) –
A joint India Pastoral Conference was held August 20-22 in Chennai, India.
Pastors, leaders, and delegates from the CLC-India and the BELC will be in
attendance. The CLC also had one Pastor in attendance to represent the CLC.
Thank the Lord for this opportunity for Christian fellowship and study of His
saving Word. Thank the Lord for His blessings that our CLC representative was
able to attend and had no issues with the Hindu nationalist government while he
was there.
Bangladesh (South
Asia) – Pastor Monotosh reports that the interim government
that was established after violent protests and the resignation of the prime
minister has restored peace to the nation. There are still protests going on as
a new government is established but they have remained peaceful. Prep work
continues for the building project. The Board of Missions has approved an MDF
grant to assist with the construction of a multipurpose building that will
serve the Bangladesh Lutheran Church Mission (BLCM) as a Bible Institute to
train faithful church workers, a place for worship, and housing for teachers
and students. Thank the Lord for His protection of His children during the
recent violence and change in government. Ask the Lord to bless this nation
with good government so that they can live in peace and continue to spread the
Good News of Jesus. Pray also for the building project and that the Lord would
move the hearts of His people to give generously for this important work.
Nigeria (West
Africa) – The NCLC has been hoping and planning for the construction of a
multipurpose building for the seminary for more than twenty-five years. They recently
met their fundraising goal for the project and have received approval of the
building plans by the local government. They plan to begin working on the
foundation by mid-October and hope to have the project completed by March. The
CLC Board of Missions has approved an MDF grant to assist with construction
costs. The building will have two large classrooms, a library/computer room,
and an office for the faculty. For the past several years, they have been using
two small dormitory rooms as classrooms. With an increase in enrollment and in
anticipation of an even larger enrolment next year, this building is much
needed. Ask the Lord to bless this project and to provide necessary funding
through the offerings of NCLC members and MDF offerings of CLC members. Thank
the Lord for the privilege of working together in this effort to train faithful
workers in His Nigerian harvest of souls!
Tanzania (East
Africa) – Classes have resumed at the Wittenberg Lutheran Theological Seminary
after a three-week break. Eight students are enrolled. Four students are
scheduled to graduate at the end of November. Thank the Lord for safe travels
and productive visits. Praise God for the privilege of partnering with the
TZCLC in training men to be faithful preachers and teachers of God's saving Word.
Ask for God's continued blessing, guidance, and provision for Wittenberg Seminary
and the work of the TZCLC.
Nepal (South Asia) –
Nepal has been hit by unusually heavy rains that have caused flooding and
landslides. Many lives have been lost, and several villages have been
destroyed. Damage to the roads makes it dangerous to travel and almost
impossible to reach many who are affected, including some HCLCN families living
in the foothills of the Himalaya. Missionary Ohlmann is scheduled to visit
Nepal in December. While in Nepal, he will have the opportunity to teach the
fifteen students who attend the Himalayan Lutheran Bible Institute (HLBI). He
will also attend and teach at a regional HCLCN pastoral conference following
the week of classes at the HLBI. Ask our Savior to keep the sheep of His HCLCN
flock safe during these dangerous days and to grant safe travels for the
pastors and leaders who attempt to visit and evangelize in dangerous places. Praise
the Lord for the fifteen men who have dedicated their time and lives to
training for the Gospel ministry. Ask for the Lord's blessings on the upcoming
visit and for all the preparations that need to take place.
Myanmar (South Asia)
– It's been over three years since the military overthrew Myanmar's
democratically elected government, plunging the nation into a devastating civil
war. Countless individuals continue to suffer, including farmers who can't grow
crops, leading to food shortages and soaring prices. Many members of the CLCM
have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety for their families. To
help our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, the CLC Board of Missions has
approved Kinship funding for one year. This funding will provide vital
humanitarian aid, ensuring access to essentials like food, shelter, and medical
care for displaced CLCM members. Please continue to keep our brothers and
sisters in Christ in your thoughts and prayers, asking for peace, justice, and
relief for all affected by this conflict.
Togo (West Africa) –
During Missionary Evensen's absence due to health problems, classes have
continued at the Mt. Horeb Lutheran Seminary using the curriculum written by
Prof. David Lau and translated by Missionary Evensen. Three students are
scheduled to graduate in March. Between now and their graduation/ordination,
they will be working to establish preaching stations and congregations to serve
once they are finished with their formal training. Pray that our Savior will
continue to bless the students as they finish their studies over the next several
months. Ask the Lord to guide them as they work to establish new preaching
stations where they will proclaim the Good News of sins forgiven in Jesus'
saving name!
Kenya (East Africa)
– Missionary Naumann was able to visit the pastors and leaders of the Kenya-CLC
to discuss the necessary organizational work that will allow the KCLC to more
effectively serve the souls of the congregations and to reach out to others
with the Good News of Jesus. Pray for the pastors and leaders of the KCLC as
they work on church registration issues and continue to serve the Lord.
Uganda (East Africa)
– Missionary Naumann spent a few days in Uganda visiting two different groups.
One group was accepted into fellowship with the CLC at our June convention. The
other group is made of several pastors who withdrew from another Lutheran
fellowship and formed a new confessional Lutheran church body. This second
group has been in correspondence with Missionary Naumann for the past several
months and is beginning the colloquy process. Thank the Lord for granting safe
travels for Missionary Naumann and for blessing His Word as it was proclaimed
and taught.
The Philippines (Southeast
Asia) – Pastor Palangyos has started outreach efforts among the large
youth population in Baguio City where he and his family live. There are several
colleges and a university in Baguio with Filipino youth coming from several
different rural areas to study. His wife Amabel holds a PhD in language and is
a professor at the university, which provides an "in" to this
Filipino demographic. Outreach also continues in the two rural congregations
that Pastor Palangyos serves in the mountains that surround the city. Pray for
our Savior's blessings on the outreach efforts of the Lutheran Autonomous
Mission in the Philippines (LAMP), both in rural and urban areas.
Missionary Peter Evensen (Togo, West Africa) – Missionary Evensen continues to recover from
knee surgery in Spokane, WA. Pray that the specialists there will be able to
find the cause and a suitable treatment for the swelling in his right knee and
foot so that he can return to work in Togo, West Africa.
Missionary Bruce Naumann (Tanzania-East Africa) – Missionary Naumann used the three-week
Tanzania seminary break to make visits to Uganda, Kenya, and parts of Tanzania
that he has not yet had the opportunity to visit. You can read his report HERE. Paula was able to return to the U.S.
to spend time with family while Missionary Naumann was visiting Uganda, Kenya,
and TCLC districts. Praise the Lord for all that is being accomplished by
Missionary Naumann, and thank our Savior for granting safe travels for both
Bruce and Paula.
Missionary Todd Ohlmann
– Missionary Ohlmann, along with Board of Missions member Jeff Radichel,
recently visited Pastor Olvera and our sister congregation in Juarez, Mexico.
During the last few months of 2024 he will visit Pakistan, Liberia, and Nepal
and will help out with CLC vacancy preaching as able. Ask the Lord to bless and
provide for all the necessary preparations for these trips to take place.
Please continue to pray for his wife, Beth, as she cares for her elderly
father, who 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.
That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. Psalm 67:2
This trip to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been a long time in the making. Pastor Tim Daub came into contact with a group of believers and began sharing God's word with them via online video meetings a few years ago. During the past 3+ years, he has conducted weekly online classes with the group, taking them through Luther's Small Catechism and other more in-depth studies of God's word. Several months ago, the group decided to form a congregation and begin meeting for worship every Sunday. They choose to call themselves the CLC Pakistan. They are led by Pastor G. (full name withheld for security reasons). A second group of believers also began meeting with Pastor Daub for online classes. The congregation currently has around forty members, and the second group numbers around ten. These are the folks we are going to meet.
