Liberia - NOV 2025

I left Liberia a little over a week ago. I finally have reliable internet access while I spend a final day at a hotel near the Lagos, Nigeria airport, waiting for my flight to Lome, Togo tomorrow morning. Since I didn't have time to write a blog post before I left Liberia, I figured I might as well do one now... better late than never.

My two weeks in Liberia went quickly, with visits to Morovia, Gbargna, Lutheran Global Village, and Bopolu. Pastor Joseph Kwiwalazu and I made these visits together. The big event on this visit was a three-day pastor's conference with Pastors Kwiwalazu, Cheneken, and Cheanweay (the three pastors in fellowship with the Liberia-CLC), along with about 12 other pastors and church leaders who have been studying with Pastors John Hein and Kwiwalazu for about 10 years.  

I also had a day at the end of my time in Liberia to meet with the three LCLC pastors, meet some of their family members, and discuss Gospel outreach and humanitarian efforts they are involved in. We also spent a few hours relaxing and visiting at a beautiful beach resort.

The time in Liberia went by quickly, but thanks to Pastor Kwiwalazu, it was a well-planned and organized visit, and we were able to accomplish a lot, with concrete plans that we ask our Savior to bless in the coming year. 

Showing the Jesus Video at Lutheran Global Village

Our transportation from Monrovia to Bopolu...

From Right to Left...LCLC Pastors Cheneken, Kwiwalazu, Cheanweay, and a nobody

At the beach with Pastors Cheanweay and Kwiwalazu

Pastors and Visitors at the LCLC Conference in Bopolu

Sent to Liberia - Nigeria - Togo - NOV/DEC 2025

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, I'll be heading to West Africa for visits to Liberia, Nigeria, and Togo. 

The trip will begin with flights from St. Louis to Washington, DC, then to Accra, Ghana, and finally to Monrovia, Liberia. I'll spend a little over two weeks in Liberia working with the LCLC. We'll make visits to Gbarnga and Global Village. We will then travel back to Monrovia on our way to Bopolu, where eighteen pastors and church leaders will gather for a three-day pastoral training seminar and conference. Following the conference, we'll head back to Monrovia for a weekend of worship and meetings.

I'll travel from Liberia to Nigeria on Nov 26th. Thanksgiving Day will be spent traveling from Lagos to Akwa Ibom State, where the NCLC's headquarters and seminary are located. If all goes according to schedule, I'll arrive in time to attend the afternoon session of the pastoral training seminar. Friday and Saturday will be spent teaching at the training seminar and attending meetings with the NCLC boards and committees. I will also have the privilege of attending the dedication of the new seminary academic building, visiting a few congregations, and worshipping at one of the NCLC congregations in the area. I'll then make my way back to Lagos for a day of report writing, rest, and a trip from Lagos to Lome', Togo.

I'm scheduled to arrive in Lome' on Thursday, Dec. 4th. The Togo visit will be short. I'll have just enough time in Togo to visit Missionary Evensen, attend and preach at the Mt. Horeb Lutheran Seminary graduation, worship with the Lome' congregation, and discuss the work with Missionary Evensen and Pastor Kossi. 

On Dec. 9th, I'll fly from Lome' to Brussels to Chicago to Home...just in time to get in on the late-season deer hunt in Missouri and a quick trip to Phoenix to celebrate my mom's 85th birthday!

It's going to be a busy month. Your prayers for safe and uneventful travels, safety, good health, and all the blessings necessary to carry out this Kingdom work are requested and much appreciated. 

 

Sent to Liberia - November 2024

Board of Missions Chairman Joel Krafft and I will meet in Chicago later today (November 14) to catch an evening flight to Brussels. From there, we will travel to Monrovia, Liberia, for a short visit with Pastor Joseph Kwiwalazu and our brothers and sisters in Christ from the Liberia Church of the Lutheran Confession (LCLC). 

Originally, we had planned to make this visit in January, but our visas were not issued in time due to unknown problems at the Liberian Embassy in Washington, DC that had something to do with the transition to the newly elected Liberian president and staffing at the embassy. Our visas were eventually issued but they expire in early 2025, so we decided to squeeze in a visit before the end of the year. 

We had all hoped and prayed that Pastor John Hein would be able to join us on this trip, but his cancer treatments and current health situation are preventing him from traveling internationally. We continue to pray for the Lord's healing so that he can return to his close friends and assist in spreading the Gospel in Liberia!

This will be Joel and my first visit to Liberia. After hearing about the opportunities and the wonderful people at the LCLC, we are very much looking forward to getting to know the many pastors and church workers we have only read about in reports. I had the privilege of meeting Pastors Joseph and Samuel at the West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference in Lomé, Togo a couple of years ago. I look forward to seeing them again and working with them among the sheep of our Savior's LCLC flock.

Pastor Joseph has a busy schedule planned for our brief ten-day visit. We will spend much of our time traveling between locations to attend a four-day pastoral conference and to meet with the leaders of a group of independent pastors who have recently withdrawn from the United Methodist Church of Liberia. They have formed an independent church body and have met with Pastor Hein and Pastor Kwiwalazu several times.

Your prayers for safe and uneventful travels are requested and much appreciated.  

West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference Recap...

Tuesday February 28 - The West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference is off to a blessed start. With twenty pastors arriving safely yesterday (Monday, 2/27) afternoon and evening from Togo, Liberia, Ghana, and Nigeria, we started early with morning prayers, Psalms, and breakfast.

Following an opening devotion, review of the schedule, greeting, and encouragement from CLC President Wilke and Board of Missions Chairman Krafft, and the appointment of a conference chairman and secretary, we heard the first of six essays under the theme "Seek First the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness." The first essay was titled "What God Reveals About His Kingdom."

Following a lunch-break we gathered again for our second essay titled "What God Reveals About His Righteousness," delivered by Missionary Peter Evensen.

Missionary Peter Evensen 

Wednesday, March 1 - Day two of the West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference has begun as we expect another fruitful day in our Savior's word.

Pastor Sunday Akpan Udo led us in the singing of "Rock of Ages" and encouraged us with our Savior's words recorded in Matthew 18:1-4.

Today we will hear and be encouraged by God's saving Word through two essays delivered by Pastor Godwin Akpan (Seminary Dean from the Nigeria-CLC) and Pastor Kossi Blewu (MELC-Togo).

This evening we will gather for worship and the Lord's supper.

Pastor Mike Essien (Nigeria)

Pastor Joseph Kwiwalazu (Liberia)

Pastor Godwin Akpan Ukoh (Nigeria)

Pastor Sunday Akpan (Nigeria)

Pastor Kossi Blewu (Togo)

Pastor Samuel Cheneken (Liberia)

Thursday, March 2 - The third and final day of the West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference is about to begin. We're looking forward to essays delivered by Pastors Mike Essien (President of the Nigeria-CLC) and Joseph Kwiwalazu (Liberia-CLC). Pastor Samuel Cheneken (Liberia-CLC), our morning Chaplain, encouraged us in our work with the Word of God from Matthew 4:18-19 & 1 Peter 2:20-21.

Before we began today, we took a few group pictures.

Join us in thanking our Savior for the many blessings He has given to this conference and ask for His continued blessings on our travels home over the next few days.

Deborah and the ladies who took such good care of us.

Liberia Delegation

Nigeria Delegation

Togo Delegation

Group Picture of all delegates

Pastor Essien Michael (Nigeria)

Sent to West Africa...

 

I'm gearing up for my first visit to Togo since before the pandemic. I'm leaving Sunday (2/19) morning, so I'll be able to arrive in time to travel with Missionary Evensen to the seminary to spend a couple of days teaching and observing classes. I'm excited to spend some time with my good friends and colleagues Missionary Peter Evensen and Pastor Kossi Blewu. I am also looking forward to seeing firsthand how the land and building have progressed. The last time I was there was when Peter first took up residence in Togo. At that time nothing had yet been built. Missionary Evensen has sent several pictures, but it will be great to see things with my own eyes. 

The following week, pastors from Togo, Liberia, Ghana, Benin, and Nigeria will gather in Lomé, Togo for the three-day West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference that is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Feb. 28th. This conference was initially scheduled for 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. We are expecting twenty pastors and seminary students to attend. Missionary Evensen, Pastor Blewu, and I will be hosting this semi-annual conference. Six essays will be delivered by some of the pastors in attendance from each nation in attendance. An evening worship service with the Lord's Supper will be a highlight as we gather to be encouraged by a sermon from one of the Nigerian pastors. 

Your prayers are requested and much appreciated, asking the Lord to bless all those traveling to Lomé on February 27th with safe and uneventful travel. Thank the Lord for this opportunity for these pastors to gather, study, encourage, and grow together in the saving truths of God's saving word. Ask the Lord to bless the preaching, teaching, and hearing of His word that His name will be honored. And please pray for my wife Beth and family while I am gone.