India (Sout Asia) – On
August 1st, our brother in Christ, Pastor Raju, the oldest brother
of Pastor Jyothi suffered a heart-attack. Pastor Raju serves as a district
chairman for the CLCI. By the grace of God, a Kinship medical aid grant was quickly
approved and sent so that necessary medical care could be administered. The
surgery was successful and he will be discharged from the hospital soon. Thank the Lord
for providing all that was and is necessary to restore Pastor Raju back to good
health. Ask for His continued blessings on the recovery and rehabilitation
regimen so that Pastor Raju can return to his work among the sheep of our
Savior’s CLCI flock.
Liberia (West Africa)
– Pastor Joseph Kwiwalazu underwent an emergency appendectomy on August 5th.
The Lord blessed the surgery, and he hopes to be discharged from the hospital
on August 11th. He was preparing to depart for a Pastor Training
Seminar in Bopolu when he was in too much pain to travel. Thank the Lord for the quick diagnosis and successful surgery. Ask
the Lord to bless his recovery so Pastor Kwiwalazu can return to his Kingdom
work and reschedule the Bible training seminars.
Democratic
Republic of the Congo
(Central Africa) – The CLC Board of Missions recently approved a recommendation
to relocate Missionary Peter Evensen from Togo to the DR Congo. Having served
for the past seven years in Togo, honing his French skills and translating the
Online Theological Studies (OTS) curriculum, it has long been the plan for
Missionary Evensen to use his French skills to assist Pastor Lumbala and the
CCLC in DRC to further develop their pastor training program and incorporate
the OTS courses into their curriculum. Pray that the
Lord will bless all that is necessary for this move to take place in early
2027.
Nepal (South Asia) – The
HCLCN recently held their annual General Pastor Conference and Himalayan Bible
Institute (HBI) Alumni gathering. Thirty-four pastors, evangelists, and church
leaders attended the three-day conference. <> Fifteen HBI students are
scheduled to attend classes following the conference. <> Outreach efforts
are on hold during the monsoon season, but plans are in place to conduct
evangelism to unreached areas of Nepal once the rains have subsided. <>
The congregation in Kathmandu has received a one-year extension on their lease
so they will have more time to find a new place to worship … Thank the Lord for safe travels and His blessings on the study of
His word at the recent conference. Pray for the Lord’s wisdom, guidance, and provision as they seek a
new place to worship. Ask the Lord to
bless the outreach efforts to bring the Gospel to the unreached areas of Nepal.
Bangladesh (South Asia) –
The Bangladesh Lutheran Church Mission (BLCM)
has completed a new multipurpose building with support from a CLC‑Mission
Development Fund grant. The dedication of the worship space, classroom,
dormitory rooms, library, office, and residence is planned for mid‑October
during Missionary Ohlmann’s annual visit. A four‑day Bible training seminar,
congregational visits, and planning discussions for opening a Bible Institute
are also scheduled. <> Pastor Monotosh reports that the government is
debating new laws to regulate religious organizations. Although Bangladesh
identifies Islam as the official state religion, it has long described itself
as “secular” in official documents. Proposed changes would replace “secularism”
with terms such as equality, human dignity, social justice, religious freedom,
and harmony. While supporters say this will protect minority religions,
Christians are concerned the government may begin regulating Christian
activities as it already does Islamic madrassahs and clergy. Thank
the Lord for the completion of the BLCM building and ask His blessings on the
upcoming dedication and Bible seminar. Pray
for His guidance in establishing the new Bible Institute and for wisdom for
lawmakers as they implement new regulations affecting His flock in Bangladesh.
Togo (West Africa)
– Pastor Kossi Blewu’s weekly Bible Study radio program in a rural area north
of Lomé has led to several new contacts. Missionary Evensen and Pastor Blewu
are working on an introductory training program for several independent pastors
who heard the radio program and have asked for more information about joining
the EELC. They are also starting monthly meetings to strengthen the current
EELC pastors. Pray for the Lord’s blessings on these efforts to proclaim the
truth of God’s word and to strengthen and further establish the Gospel ministry
of the EELC in Togo before Missionary Evensen moves to the DR Congo in early
2027.
Tanzania (East Africa)
— Pray for the theological education of the twelve students attending
Wittenberg Seminary. Ask our Savior
to prepare them for service in His kingdom, so that they will be ready to
preach and teach Christ crucified in their ministries. Ask for God's
blessings on efforts complete the process of government certification of both
the church body and the seminary, so that the students from Kenya will not be
hindered from attending because of visa complications.
Kenya (East Africa) – Ask God to bless
the upcoming Kenya of Missionary Naumann and his wife, Paula, in September. Pray for the expansion of the KCLC through efforts to reach
doctrinal agreement and fellowship with a number of new pastors and
congregations in the Kitale area. Pray that the students of St. David's Academy in Etago and Emmaus
School in Moi's Bridge will be blessed through instruction in the Word of God.
Uganda (East Africa) – Pray for the Lord’s
blessings and provision for the pastors of the CCRU, as they face challenges in
their ministry due to tighter restrictions on religious institutions by the
Ugandan government. Ask God to bless their studies through the Online Theological Studies
(OTS) with Missionary Naumann, so that they can be better equipped to serve
their congregations and fulfill government requirements to qualify as
"genuine" pastors.
Pakistan (Asia) – Pastor
David Reim of the CLC Board of Missions is currently conducting an online
colloquy with Pastor Gill in preparation for a face-to-face visit in early 2027.
<> Pastor Gill and his family are facing a difficult situation with the
ownership of the building where they have lived and currently conduct worship
service and Bible study. They also plan to convert the ground floor into a
permanent place of worship in the future. Pray for the Lord’s continued blessings on the colloquy process that this
will lead to a God-pleasing fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ
in Pakistan. Pray also for a God-pleasing and peaceful resolution to the
building situation.
The Philippines
(Asian
Pacific) – Heavy monsoon rains have hampered travel and outreach in the Cordillera
mountains where the Lutheran Autonomous Mission (LAMP) of the Philippines has
two congregations and one preaching station. Property has been destroyed and
travel has become dangerous. Pray for the Lord’s protection and blessings for the members of the
LAMP as they endure severe monsoon conditions.
Zambia (Central
Africa)
– The Zambia-CLC has recently begun monthly pastor, evangelist, and church
leader training seminars in three districts to further strengthen the ministry,
outreach, and leadership of local ZCLC congregations and preaching stations. Thank the Lord
for opportunities and renewed zeal to spread the Gospel and to assist our
brothers and sisters in Christ in their ministries and to bless the Gospel
message they preach.
2026 CLC
Mission Helper Trip –
Eleven Mission Helpers traveled to Kenya, Tanzania, and Zambia in July and
taught nearly 6,000 children the Good News of who Jesus is and what He has done
for them. Pray that the
Lord will bless the seed of His word that was planted and that He will continue
to bless efforts in these countries to prepare faithful indigenous pastors and
teachers to water and work the harvest fields. … Thank the Lord
for this opportunity and for those who volunteer their time and resources for
this important work!
Missionary
Peter Evensen (Togo, West Africa) – Missionary
Evensen recently returned to Lomé, Togo following a visit to the U.S. to attend
the CLC convention, relax, see friends and family, and attend necessary
appointments. He will be spending the next several months preparing Togo church
leaders to take the reins as he gets ready to move to the DR Congo in early
2027. Thank the Lord for providing this faithful missionary
and for the language skills he has been given to help prepare faithful
preachers for service in Togo. You can see his online pictures https://bit.ly/petertogo.
Missionary
Todd Ohlmann – In mid-August, Missionary
Ohlmann will be visiting CLC members located in the south-central Ohio and
north-central Kentucky area on behalf of the CLC Board of Missions to explore
preaching station opportunities. He is also scheduled to preach for a couple of
Mission Festivals this Fall along with visits to our sister congregation in
Juarez, Mexico. Following Board of Missions meetings and the South-East Pastoral
Conference (SEPC) in September he has visits scheduled to Bangladesh, Liberia,
and Namibia. In early October he and his wife Beth plan to visit Valentine, NE to
meet and celebrate the birth and baptism of their fifth grandchild! He
continues to instruct individuals through Online
Theological Studies correspondence courses with men in Papua New
Guinea, Namibia, Indonesia, Zambia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. Pray for his safe and uneventful travels, for an
abundance of wisdom, love, compassion, and patience while he works with pastors
and church leaders around the world. Pray for the
safe and healthy delivery of Noah and Erica’s first child. Continue to
pray for his wife, Beth, as she continues to care for her elderly father, who
is bed-ridden and longing for his heavenly home. <> You can read reports and see
pictures here: missionaryohlmann.blogspot.com.
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
