Sent to Bangladesh and The Philippines - Jan/Feb 2025

Tomorrow afternoon, I will leave on a literal "round-the-world" trip. I will start by flying east from St. Louis to Chicago, then continue on to Istanbul for an 11hr layover, before arriving at my first destination in Dhaka, Bangladesh. From Dhaka, I will take a one-hour flight on a local airline to Saidpur, where I will be met by Pastor Monotosh and the church leaders of the Bangladesh Lutheran Church Mission (BLCM). 

During the two weeks I will spend in Bangladesh, I will visit several congregations and preaching stations. I will also have the privilege of teaching on the Doctrine of Election and the Grace of God at a four-day pastoral training seminar in Gopalganj. Following the pastoral conference, I will return to Dhaka. The next day I will fly to Manila in the Philippines, with a layover in Bangkok, Thailand. 

While in the Philippines, I will spend about ten days working with Pastor Palangyos and members of the Lutheran Autonomous Mission in the Philippines (LAMP)visiting and reaching out to abandoned Lutheran congregations in mountain villages north of Manila and a few hours north of Baguio City, where Pastor Palangyos and his family live.

Once my time in the Philippines comes to an end, I will fly from Manila to San Francisco and then return from the West to my home in the St. Louis area, completing a trip around the world. In all my travels over the past 25+ years, this trip will mark my first time circumnavigating the globe.

Your prayers for safe and uneventful travels are requested and much appreciated. Please pray for the work of the BLCM and the LAMP and all the plans they have made to preach and teach the truths of God's saving word while I have the privilege of helping. 

Rather than rewrite what I just shared a few days ago, here's a couple of paragraphs from the January 2025 CLC World Missions Prayer List...

Bangladesh (South Asia) – The CLC will sponsor a four-day pastoral training seminar in Gopalganj for the pastors and leaders of the  Bangladesh Lutheran Church Mission (BLCM) in mid-January. Missionary Ohlmann and Pastor Monotosh will lead the studies. More than fifty pastors and church leaders are expected to attend. Plans for the BLCM building project have received government approval, and the necessary permits are ready to be issued. The contractor is prepared to begin construction as soon as funding becomes available. The Board of Missions has approved an MDF grant to support the construction of this multipurpose building, which will serve the BLCM as a Bible Institute for training faithful church workers, a place for worship, and housing for teachers and students. In mid-January, Missionary Ohlmann will spend two weeks in Bangladesh teaching at the seminar and visiting several congregations and preaching stations of the BLCM for outreach. Ask the Lord to bless the pastoral training seminar and Gospel outreach.  Continue to pray for the building project and that the Lord would move the hearts of His people to give generously for this important work.

The Philippines (Southeast Asia) – Pastor Palangyos had several new opportunities to preach the Good News as part of the Lutheran Autonomous Mission in the Philippines (LAMP) December outreach program. The Christmas outreach was conducted both in rural and urban areas. Missionary Ohlmann will spend ten days in the Philippines working with Pastor Palangyos and the LAMP in late January and early February. Plans include visiting an independent Lutheran congregation with no pastor in a mountain village. Ask the Lord to strengthen the faith of His children of the LAMP and to fill them with zeal to spread the Gospel. And ask for our Savior to bless the outreach efforts of the LAMP so that many more may join us in repenting of our sins and rejoicing in our forgiveness in Jesus Christ.