Zambia Visit - AUG 2025

Two weeks in Zambia passed rather quickly. Four days were spent on buses traveling to the three districts of the Zambia Confessional Lutheran Church (ZCLC). I was accompanied by Pastor Ibrahim, a longtime good friend and faithful servant of the Lord. Ibrahim was trained at the CLC-sponsored seminary in Tanzania. When it became necessary to close the seminary and CLC-East Africa was struggling with dishonest leadership, Ibrahim packed his bags and moved to Zambia. He was invited by a friend to relocate to Lusaka, where he started a Lutheran church that would stay faithful to the Scriptures. Around the same time, Pastor Yumba from the DR Congo was doing outreach across the border in the northern Copperbelt Province of Zambia. A few years later, as Ibrahim traveled regularly to Zimbabwe to work with a CLC contact in Bulawayo, he also did outreach in Livingstone, a border town between Zambia and Zimbabwe. This outreach led to the founding of a congregation. With no other Lutheran outreach in the area, several people became interested and excited about studying Lutheran doctrine with Ibrahim,  seeing that everything he taught was taken directly from the Bible. This was something new for many, as they were accustomed to hearing pastors preach about their visions or testimonies, often with little regard for the Bible's actual teachings. With help from the CLC-MDF, an unexpected anonymous bequest, and the generosity of a local Zambian who was eager to see a church get started in his neighborhood, a small building was purchased that would serve as a church, a Bible institute for training pastors and church leaders, and a pastor's residence. 

Over the past fifteen years, the ZCLC ministry has experienced various ups and downs, as well as many blessings from the Lord. The ZCLC is nearing the completion of its registration as an official Zambian church body. This process is not straightforward. Due to the prevalence of fraudulent ministries that exploit the people of Zambia, the government has implemented a strict procedure to ensure that only legitimate ministries receive the necessary documentation. Registration is important for a couple of reasons: 1. Since Ibrahim does not hold Zambian citizenship, he needs a registered organization to work under in order to avoid immigration issues. 2. The government will not recognize marriages and funerals conducted by non-registered churches. The ZCLC has been informed that everything is now in order, and they anticipate receiving the official registration documents within the next couple of weeks! Once registered, the ZCLC will be official in three districts: 1) Copperbelt District, 2) Lusaka District, and 3) Livingstone District.

My visit began with a week spent in Kitwe, located in northern Copperbelt Province. I had the privilege of preaching during the Sunday service, where members from all three ZCLC congregations in the area gathered at the Kalulushi congregation, which is about 40 minutes outside of Kitwe. Additionally, we conducted an outreach seminar and a training seminar for pastors and church leaders. We also took the time to discuss the church registration process, as well as some of the opportunities, needs, and challenges of the three congregations in the district.

Joint worship at the Kalulushi congregation in the ZCLC Copperbelt District

Joint worship service of three ZCLC congregations in the Copperbelt District

Pastors and Leaders in the ZCLC Copperbelt District

ZCLC Leadership Committee in Kitwe, Copperbelt Province

Ibrahim and I traveled back to Lusaka from Kitwe, which is a 9+ hour bus ride. In Lusaka, we met with contacts and tried to meet with the local ZCLC evangelist but there was some miscommunication that prevented our meeting. We also spent time following up on the church registration at the Office of the Societies Registrar.

 

After a quick visit to Lusaka, we took a bus for another long journey, this time to the southern border city of Livingstone. We spent five busy days there conducting worship, Bible study, outreach activities, a training seminar for pastors and church leaders, and several meetings to discuss the opportunities and challenges they are facing in the area, as well as future plans for the congregation and outreach efforts.

Worship at the ZCLC Congregation in Livingstone, Zambia

Pastor Ibrahim leading worship in Livingstone, Zambia

Pastor Ibrahim leading worship in Livingstone, Zambia

Participants and the Pastor/Church leader training seminar in Livingstone, Zambia

Livingstone is always a fun place to visit because it is close to Victoria Falls, making it a popular destination for tourists from all over the world. The hostel where I stay has become a sort of home away from home. The staff knows me well by now, and it's like a homecoming when I arrive. And, there are always many interesting people to meet.

I made friends with a father and son from New Zealand. The father had served for fifteen years as a medical missionary and pharmacist in Zambia, where his son was born. They spent five weeks doing construction and maintenance work on a hospital and a school in the town where they once lived. They are both very conservative Christians, and we found we had a lot in common, including views on creation, Biblical inerrancy, salvation by Grace alone through faith alone, and Christian education.

I also met a young man from Germany who came to Africa with only a bike, a small tent, and a few clothes. He started his journey in Cape Town, South Africa, and had ridden his bike for more than 2,000 kilometers before it broke down. He couldn’t find parts to fix it, so he abandoned the bike in Angola and is making his way by bus to Lusaka to either buy a new bike or continue his African adventure by bus.

I also met a man, about my age, from the U.S. who is spending 14 months riding his motorcycle around the world. He is a nurse and has taught at a nursing college in Phoenix, specializing in behavioral health. With his children all grown and out of the house, and his wife recently taking a new position in Flagstaff, Arizona, leaving him between jobs, he decided it was a good opportunity to explore the world. He began by shipping his motorcycle to Europe. After touring Europe, he flew his bike to South Africa. Once he finishes his travels in Africa, he plans to head to South America and then Asia. Both he and his wife have been involved in supporting Gospel outreach efforts throughout Africa, so he's been trying to find and spend time with pastors connected to ministries they have supported along his route. He also looks for opportunities to use his nursing and teaching skills wherever he can. This led to an opportunity to spend a few weeks taking care of an elderly woman who had returned home from major surgery. 

It's always exciting to meet such interesting people from around the world, and I stay in contact with several of them. I consider this a fringe benefit of my travels!

My lodging at the Hostel in Livingstone, Zambia

Rick and his round-the-world motorcycle trip

I'm back in Lusaka now, waiting for a late-night flight from Lusaka to Doha, then on to Miami, and finally home. If everything goes as planned, I should arrive home in the early hours of Saturday morning. 

 

I appreciate your prayers for safety, good health, and the blessings of our Lord on the Gospel ministry here in Zambia. Thank you! Please continue to pray that the Lord will bless me with safe and uneventful travels.

Sent to Zambia - August 2025

Later today (Wednesday, August 6th), I'll leave for a visit to Zambia. I'll fly from St. Louis to Dallas to Doha (Qatar) to Lusaka, Zambia. Pastor Ibrahim will meet me in Lusaka. From there, we'll take a nine-hour bus ride to Kitwe in the Copperbelt Province. We'll be there for weekend worship services and a four-day training seminar with the four pastors and a few church leaders. Following the seminar, we'll head back to Lusaka, where we'll spend a day meeting with contacts in Lusaka and the surrounding area. Hopefully, we'll be able to get some definitive answers on what is holding up the church registration process. Then we'll take another long bus ride to Livingstone in the south for a training seminar with the pastors and church leaders in the area. 

Pastor Ibrahim and the Zambia-CLC (ZCLC) continue to face challenges related to issues caused by other ministries in the Livingstone area. This situation began a few years ago when some pastors became jealous of the outreach efforts of the ZCLC and the CLC Mission Helpers. You can read about it HERE. 

Please pray for the Lord's blessings on our travels, preaching, and teaching, as well as our efforts to address the struggles that have hindered the Gospel ministry of the ZCLC in recent years.

July 2025 - CLC World Missions Prayer List

Bangladesh (South Asia) – Due to Islamic festivals in Bangladesh, which is predominantly Muslim, and the annual monsoon season, the BLCM building project experienced delays as workers took time off, and the rains continue to impact working conditions. Despite these challenges, progress has been made. The Board of Missions has sent the first three installments of an MDF grant to support this project. The plan is to distribute the remaining funds over the next few months to complete Phase One. Contributions to the MDF will help complete phase one of the project and continue supporting other MDF projects worldwide. This multipurpose building will serve God's Kingdom as a Bible Institute for training faithful church workers, a place for worship, and housing for teachers and students. Fourteen men are ready to begin pastoral training once the building is completed. Please continue to pray for the success of this building project and that the Lord would move the hearts of His people to give generously for this important work, so the project can stay on schedule.

Nepal (South Asia) – Fifteen men will finish their Himalayan Bible Institute studies in the coming months, with a graduation planned for October. Missionary Ohlmann hopes to be there for the graduation. Eight CLC Mission Helpers to Nepal returned home safely on July 11^th. While in Nepal, they traveled and hiked to twelve different HCLCN congregations and preaching stations, where they had the privilege of working with Pastor Raju and his brother, Rajan, to teach the Good News of Jesus to over 1,300 children!  Ask for the Lord's blessings on the last few months of Bible instruction for the HBI students. Thank the Lord for blessing the 2025 Mission Helper Trip and ask for His blessings on the Gospel “seed” that was planted!

The Philippines (Southeast Asia) – Pastor Palangyos has started remodeling a new worship and Bible training facility that his sister donated to the LAMP. One of the two LAMP congregations has recently experienced significant growth with new members, increased attendance, and baptisms. Please pray for the LAMP outreach efforts so that more people may repent of their sins and rejoice in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Thank the Lord for recent growth and ask for His blessings on these new members. Pray that the Lord provides everything necessary to complete the new worship and training facility.

Tanzania (East Africa) — Missionary Naumann has identified several essential improvements needed for the seminary facilities. These include replacing the seminary door, which has deteriorated due to rainfall, and installing an overhanging roof to safeguard the new door and prevent water from entering classrooms, completing two small instructor offices, and office furniture. Completion of these projects is dependent upon sufficient support from MDF offerings. Following Pastor Lengutai’s retirement, the TZCLC has appointed Pastor Tobias Mbise as his successor on the seminary faculty. Pray for the seminary students as they continue to prepare for service in our Savior’s kingdom as faithful preachers and teachers of God’s saving Word. As for the Lord’s continued blessings and provision for the instructors, Missionary Naumann, Pastor Loskira, Pastor Issangya, and the newly appointed Pastor Mbise.

Nigeria (West Africa) – With an MDF grant and local offerings, the Nigeria-CLC continues to make progress in constructing a new multipurpose building for the seminary. Upon completion, the building will feature new classrooms, a library/computer room, and an office for faculty. Missionary Ohlmann plans to visit the NCLC in November for the dedication. Ask the Lord to continue to bless this project and thank Him for providing the funding through the NCLC 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!

DR Congo (Central Africa) – Violence in the DRC continues to be a concern as the M23 militia has pushed into areas of the country where the CCLC is active. Recent peace negotiations and ceasefires have been consistently violated by the militias. Because of these issues, a planned visit by Missionaries Evensen and Ohlmann has been temporarily postponed until security improves. Pastor Yumba, who serves the CCLC, reports that the seminary students of Holy Trinity Lutheran Seminary are completing their vicarages. A graduation and ordination, when it is safe for Missionaries Evensen and Ohlmann to visit, is being planned. Thank the Lord for the diligent study and faithful teaching of God's Word over the past several years at the Holy Trinity Seminary. Ask for the Lord's continued blessings on the students as they finish their vicarage assignments. Pray that the Lord will bring peace and an end to the greed and violence that have been such a terrible part of the DR Congo’s history.

Togo (West Africa) – Three students are in their final year at Mount Horeb Lutheran Seminary, with graduation tentatively scheduled for November. One of the students has started a preaching station in his home and is actively inviting people to attend. Pastor Kossi Blewu has been conducting a Gospel outreach radio program in a town located about 30 minutes away from the seminary. If the Lord blesses this effort to establish a preaching station, one of the graduates from the seminary will be called to serve there. Please pray for these students as they complete their studies and ask the Lord to bless their efforts in establishing preaching stations and congregations so that the truth of His saving word may be proclaimed for the salvation of Togolese souls.

Liberia (West Africa) – Due to serious health issues and the complications of the necessary treatments, Pastor John Hein has resigned his call as the part-time visiting missionary to Liberia. The Board of Missions has assigned visiting, correspondence, and oversight duties to Missionary Ohlmann. Thank the Lord for Pastor Hein’s faithful service to his call and for the many blessings experienced by both Pastor Hein and the members of the Liberia-CLC. Ask the Lord to grant patience and wisdom to Missionary Ohlmann and those he is now working with in Liberia as they make plans to continue the Gospel outreach work.

India (South Asia) – Seventeen students graduated and were ordained as CLCI pastors in late June. These men successfully completed three years of full-time theological studies at the CLCI seminary and will now be assigned to new and established CLCI congregations. A joint pastoral conference of the CLCI and BELC is tentatively being planned for October to coincide with Missionary Ohlmann's planned visit. Please pray that the Lord will protect, support, and strengthen the faith of His children in India, especially amid the increasing persecution against Christians. Also, ask the Lord to bless the new pastors of CLCI and the preparations for the upcoming pastoral conference in October.

Myanmar (South Asia) – The civil war in Myanmar continues with no end in sight, causing much suffering for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Thankfully, we have been able to provide minimal humanitarian assistance through Kinship. With so much damage done to the infrastructure, consistent electricity is scarce. The orphanage has been relying on a generator for a couple of hours each evening for light and to pump water. The generator is now beyond repair. Kinship has provided a grant to help them purchase a new generator for the orphanage. Please keep our brothers and sisters in your prayers, asking for peace, justice, and relief for all affected by this conflict. Thank the Lord for providing a new generator through the offerings to Kinship.

Missionary Peter Evensen (Togo, West Africa) – Missionary Evensen returned to Togo following a furlough in the U.S. Classes have resumed at the Mt. Horeb seminary as the students are on schedule to graduate and be ordained in November. Pray for the Lord’s continued blessing on Missionary Evensen’s work to prepare faithful preachers and teachers of God’s saving word.  

Missionary Bruce Naumann (Tanzania-East Africa) – Missionary Naumann and Paula have returned to Tanzania following a furlough in the U.S. Classes have resumed at the seminary, and outreach visits to the Ruvu District are being planned. Their 2-year resident status will soon be up for review. Pastor Issangya continues to work on the TZCLC government registration. You can follow Missionary Naumann’s blog at https://clc-tz.blogspot.com/. Pray for the Lord’s blessings and provision in the resident status renewal for Missionary Bruce and Paula Naumann, and for the church registration process.

Missionary Todd Ohlmann – Missionary Ohlmann has been granted a 5-year visa to visit India again, after it was revoked five years ago. Praise the Lord! He recently returned from a successful Mission Helper Trip to Nepal, and in August, he will travel to Zambia. In September, he is scheduled to attend the CLC Board of Missions meetings. In October, he plans to visit Nepal and India, with trips to Togo, Liberia, and Nigeria tentatively scheduled for November and December. Pray for God's blessing and provision on the necessary arrangements for these trips, and for his wife, Beth, as she cares for her elderly father, who is longing 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 sends it.