How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach UNLESS THEY ARE SENT? ...So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:14–15a, 17
When I visited Nigeria last year the leaders of the Nigeria-CLC (NCLC) were excited to tell me about their upcoming 50th Church Anniversary celebration they were planning for 2026. They asked me to invite dignitaries from the CLC to attend the festivities. I laughed and explained that the CLC does not have dignitaries, but I would be glad invite the CLC President and CLC Board of Missions chairman. And so, CLC President Wilke, his wife Gloria, Mr. Joel Krafft, and I began looking at schedules and making plans. The Lord blessed those plans and we were able to spend a week with many of our brothers and sisters in Christ of the NCLC for their 50th Anniversary celebration and annual convention. President Wilke delivered an essay on Objective Justification, Joel presented an essay on Communion and Fellowship, Gloria was able to teach a Bible lesson the children and delver an essay to the Women's Fellowship of the NCLC. I delivered an essay on the dangers of the Prosperity Theology. President Wilke served as the guest preacher for the Sunday NCLC worship service. President Wilke and I were also asked to officiate the the dedication of the new NCLC Seminary Academic and HQ building that is nearing completion and already being used for seminary classes. On our final day in Akwa Ibom State before we flew back to Lagos, we visited the compound where Missionary Norbert Reim (Gloria Wilke's father) lived with his wife Celeste and their family in the 1950s when he was a missionary for the Synodical Conference. We also got to tour the seminary where he taught. In addition to all of these blessings we also got to spend time getting to know many of our brothers and sisters in Christ of the NCLC and putting names to the faces that many have only read about in various Lutheran Spokesman articles and reports. It was a blessed week, blessed in too many way to list them all.
The Wilkes and Joel Krafft have safely returned to the U.S.. I am currently in Kinshasa, DR Congo (DRC). I flew from Lagos, Nigeria to Lomé, Togo where I met up with Missionary Peter Evensen. From there we flew together to Kinshasa. We will spend about a week working with Pastor Jacques Pondi Lumiangu who serves a Confessional Lutheran congregation in this very large and chaotic city. Since the DRC was once a Belgium colony, French in the official language and very few speak English. That means that Peter does most of the talking and teaching while we're here. The plan is for Peter to take over the annual visits to the DRC going forward. Which also means that this will my last annual visit to the DRC. Next week, Peter and I will fly to Lubumbashi in the south where Pastor Yumba Lumbala, the CCLC, and the Holy Trinity Lutheran Seminary are located.
Enjoy the pictures from Nigeria...more pictures available HERE
CLC President Wilke, NCLC President Essien, Bd of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft
CLC President Wilke greeting the attendees at the NCLC 50th Anniversary Celebration
The NCLC 50th Anniversary Cake
CLC delegation with Pastors Mike and Charles Essien in front of the "Mission House" where CLC Missionaries have lived
Six of the Seven current NCLC Immanuel Lutheran Seminary Students
NCLC Immanuel Lutheran Seminary Students and Teachers
Dedication of the new NCLC Seminary Academic and HQ Building
Sunday Morning worship service at the NCLC church in Efa Anyam, Akwa Ibom State
CLC Board of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft delivering his essay
I am currently sitting in Missionary Peter Evensen's apartment after traveling from Nigeria to Togo yesterday (12/5) afternoon. It's only 285 km (177 miles) from Lagos to Lome, but it took 2 short flights to get here. It was like taking a big bus in the sky. We took off from Lagos, flew for about 30 minutes, and landed in Cotonou, Benin. A few passengers got off, a few more got on, and we then flew for about 35 minutes to Lome, where some passengers and I got off. I'm not sure where the plane was going from there. Missionary Evensen and Pastor Kossi were at the airport to meet me. It was good to see them both!
The visit to Nigeria was brief but filled with many activities. Pastor Mike Essien has served as the president of the Nigeria-CLC for the past five years. It is a real privilege to work closely with Pastor Mike. The Lord has truly blessed his leadership. After the death of the founding president, Pastor E.E. Essien, about 20 years ago, and the sudden, unexpected passing of Pastor Patrick Udo a few years later, the NCLC faced significant challenges. However, the Lord has blessed NCLC with a renewed focus on Gospel outreach and pastoral training. With MDF grants from the CLC, they have been carrying out Gospel outreach in Bayelsa State and are also working to reopen some congregations that closed. They plan to assign an NCLC pastor to the capital city of Yenagoa, Bayelsa, to conduct outreach and provide theological training for the six independent Lutheran pastors serving in this waterlogged river delta region of Nigeria. Additionally, the seminary faculty has been regularly conducting NCLC pastoral training seminars for all NCLC pastors to encourage one another in ministry and to continue to grow in their understanding of God's Word. The NCLC has also been working to reaffirm its status, especially in the Akwa Ibom State area, as a confessional Lutheran church grounded in the faithful preaching and teachings of all the truths of God's saving word. These efforts are part of the NCLC's recent renewed efforts, including the construction of a multi-purpose academic and NCLC headquarters on the seminary campus. They are also working on a major expansion of the main church building in Efa. Exciting developments are happening among our brothers and sisters in Christ in the NCLC.
Planning is also underway for an NCLC 50th anniversary celebration in 2026. The event will take place during their annual convention in April. They have invited CLC President Mike Wilke, CLC Board of Missions Chairman Mr. Joel Krafft, and I to attend. This will also coincide with the completion and dedication of the Academic and NCLC HQ building.
My visit to Nigeria lasted only 8 days, but I left feeling excited about the renewed zeal and exciting plans that the Lord is blessing among our brothers and sisters in Christ of the NCLC. I am eagerly looking forward to returning for the festivities in April!
Here are a few videos and pictures from the visit. You can see more HERE
Essien Brothers LtoR - Alfred, Mike, Martin, and Charles
Main NCLC Church Building In Efa
NCLC Pastors after the 2-day Pastor Conference
NCLC Pastor Conference in the newly completed seminary classroom
