…pray for us that the Word of the Lord may run swiftly
and be glorified...
2 Thessalonians
3:1
Nepal (South Asia) –
Pastor Raju recently reported that fifty-seven adults, children, and infants
were baptized into Christ during visits to distant congregations during the
Easter season. See pictures HERE.
Eight CLC Mission Helpers will be visiting Nepal in late June. Plans are to
teach the Gospel to approximately. 1500 children in twelve different congregations
and preaching stations. Fifteen men will finish their Himalayan Bible Institute
studies in the coming months, and their graduation is planned for October or
November. Thank the Lord for the gift of Baptism and for the 57 souls who have
received this sacrament in Nepal. Ask God to bless all the Mission Helper Trip
preparation over the next several weeks. And ask for the Lord's blessings on the
last few months of Bible instruction for the HBI students.
Liberia (West
Africa) – Due to serious health concerns, 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
will begin working with in Liberia as they make plans to continue the Gospel
outreach work.
Kenya (East Africa)
– Missionaries Naumann and Ohlmann are
planning a visit in May to offer assistance and guidance regarding organizational
and leadership issues. While in Kenya, they will be on hand to teach pastoral
training lessons and attend the KCLC annual convention. Pray that the Lord
grants the necessary wisdom, love, patience, diligence, and clear direction as
we seek His blessings for the upcoming meetings, correspondence, and decisions
that the leaders of the KCLC, the CLC Kinship Committee, and the CLC Board of
Missions need to make.
Nigeria (West
Africa) – With an MDF grant and local offerings, the Nigeria-CLC has made good
progress in constructing a new multipurpose building for the seminary. When
finished, the building will include new classrooms, a library/computer room,
and an office for faculty. Recent pictures show the progress. Missionary
Ohlmann plans to visit the NCLC in the Fall for the dedication of the building.
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!
Bangladesh (South
Asia) – The BLCM building project began with groundbreaking and foundation work
in the week following Easter. Pictures
show significant progress. They hope to complete all the foundation work and
ground floor slab before the monsoon season begins in the coming weeks. The Board
of Missions has sent the first two installments of an MDF grant to help support
this project. Plans are to send the remaining funds in three more installments
over the next six months to help complete phase one of this project. Additional
offerings to the MDF will be needed to complete funding on schedule. 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 finished! 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 that the
project can stay on schedule.
DR Congo (Central
Africa) – Pastor Lumiangu, who serves the members of the Confessional Lutheran
Church of the Family of Saints in Kinshasa, recently lost his rented home to
flooding. He is looking for a new home to rent that will not be so susceptible to
flooding. Pastor Yumba, who serves the CCLC, reports that the seminary students of
Holy Trinity Lutheran Seminary are completing their vicarages. The plans are
for graduation and ordination later this year when Missionaries Evensen and Ohlmann
visit. Pray that the Lord will provide a suitable home and the resources to pay
the additional rent for Pastor Lumiangu and his family. Thank the Lord for the
diligent study and faithful teaching of God's Word over the past several years
of the Holy Trinity Seminary. Ask for the Lord's continued blessings on the
students as they finish their vicarage assignments.
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.
Mexico (Latin
America) – Pastor Olvera's mother-in-law passed away on April 7th. Pastor
Olvera's wife, Claudia, was by her side, providing love and care when the Lord
called her to the eternal home He has prepared for her. Thank the Lord for the
victory over death our Savior won for us on the cross and through the empty tomb
that comforts this family.
Togo (West Africa) –
Missionary Evensen reports that 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.
Tanzania (East
Africa)—Following the Spring Easter break, all the Wittenberg Lutheran
Theological Seminary students have returned to classes. The semester will end in
mid-May, and the students will return to their homes until the next semester
begins. Ask the Lord to bless these students and the instructors, Missionary
Naumann, Pastor Loskira, and Pastor Issangya, in their labors.
The Philippines (Southeast
Asia) – Pastor Palangyos has begun remodeling a new worship and Bible training
facility that his sister donated to the LAMP. Please pray for the LAMP members'
faith and success in their outreach efforts so that more people may repent of
their sins and rejoice in the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. Ask the Lord to
provide everything necessary to complete the new worship and training facility.
India (South Asia) –
Pastor Jyothi and another CLC-India pastor were recently attacked by Hindu Extremists.
The other pastor suffered broken facial bones that required hospitalization and
surgery. Pastor Jyothi was treated and released. Police reports were filed, but
there was no follow-up. Missionary Ohlmann recently applied for a visa to visit
India again. His visa was revoked five years ago, and he has not been allowed
to visit India since. Pray that the Lord will protect, support, and strengthen
the faith of His children in India amid increased persecution against
Christians. Ask the Lord to provide a visa for Missionary Ohlmann if it is His
will to visit India again.
Missionary Peter Evensen (Togo, West Africa) – Missionary Evensen continues his teaching duties
at Mt. Horeb Lutheran Seminary and also teaches at the local congregation in
Lomé. Thank the Lord for the work Missionary Evensen is doing, and pray for his
improved health. He will be returning to the U.S. for furlough in June.
Missionary Bruce Naumann (Tanzania-East Africa) – Missionary Naumann will meet Missionary
Ohlmann in Nairobi on May 17th. They will spend about a week meeting
with the pastors and leaders of the KCLC and the two kinship-supported schools
in Etago and Moi's Bridge. Paula will be returning to the U.S. for furlough on
May 14th. Missionary Naumann will join her a few weeks later. You
can follow Missionary Naumann’s blog at https://clc-tz.blogspot.com/. Praise the Lord
for all that Missionary Naumann is accomplishing, thank the Lord for the
faithful support and encouragement of his wife Paula, and ask our Savior to
grant wisdom, patience, love, and all that is necessary to continue our Savior's
work in East Africa.
Missionary Todd Ohlmann
– Missionary Ohlmann was forced to postpone his visit to Nigeria due to issues
in obtaining a visa. Those issues have been resolved; he received his visa a few
weeks ago. He will meet Missionary Naumann in Kenya in the second week of May.
He will lead the Mission Helper Trip to Nepal in June. He has also been assisting
with the pastoral vacancy at Faith Lutheran Church in the St. Louis area.
Please pray that the Lord blesses and provides for all the necessary
preparations for these trips to occur. 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 sends it.
