Archives for May 2022

In June 2020 the Confessional Lutheran Institute (CLI), the educational arm of WELS World Missions’ One Africa Team, invited African CELC pastors to join a learning cohort.

Dozens of applications came in. Many ordained CELC brothers in Africa said, “Yes, I would love to keep learning Bible, church history, doctrine, and shepherding God’s flock.”

Then Covid-19 kept saying, “Wait.” Related travel restrictions worsened. Classes were delayed. The cohort met only over WhatsApp.

But God finally made a way. Flights—even two-day flights—and bus trips were lined up. Bags were packed up. Six A.M. border crossing issues for some got solved. On March 30, 2022, twenty-two pastors arrived safely at the campus of the Lutheran Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia. It was the first time CLI’s 2020 Bachelor of Divinity (BDiv) cohort was able to meet in person, after nearly two years of waiting.

The gathering was a Psalms class. But it was almost a regional CELC meeting. Participating were:

• One pastor from the Lutheran Church of Cameroon (Israel).
• Six pastors from Kenya, from Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (Amayo, Mbeta, Ochichi, Omuse, Owage, and Owidi).
• Five pastors from the Lutheran Church of Central Africa – Malawi Synod (Chumba, Macharenga, Mandevu, Mukhweya, and Mulinga).
• Two pastors from Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nigeria (Udo and Udo).
• Eight pastors from the Lutheran Church of Central Africa – Zambia Synod (Chisankulo, Makowani, Mbele, Mbele, Ndumba, Shawa, Shonga, and Soko).

For most of the 19 pastors in the cohort, CLI’s March 31–April 7, 2022 Psalms course was the third in a series of nine courses and a final thesis, all of which will lead, God willing, to a Bachelor of Divinity (BDiv) degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS). Since they already have a bachelor of divinity degree, three Kenyan pastors were starting on a Master of Theology (MTh) program through CLI and WLS.

The main teacher for the course was WLS Professor Bradley Wordell. He kept showing how the whole book of Psalms fits together and centers on Christ. Also teaching was Dr. Ernst Wendland from Lusaka Lutheran Seminary, who taught two afternoons, and Pastor Daniel Witte, who led learning the last day and a half.

We thank God for all the concord the Spirit of our risen Brother created among all the pastors in attendance. For more sidelights on this CLI Psalms course, in hopes that you will keep singing to God with all who were in it, “How great your name!”, please see this WELS Friends of Africa article.

Submitted by Pastor Daniel Witte

         
                                  Prof. Bradley Wordell leading a session

Greetings in the name of our Risen Savior!

For the first time in four years, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary will be hosting on-campus, in-person Summer Quarter classes for the pastors of WELS, the ELS, and sister church bodies in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). 

Summer Quarter runs for two weeks, from June 24 – July 1. Some classes run for both weeks. Many one-week courses are also being offered. 

The schedule for Summer Quarter 2022 can be seen here. Registration information can be found here. Two online courses are also being offered.

Tuition assistance is available for participants from international CELC churches. The cost for one week in the dormitory and ten meals (weekday breakfasts and lunches) is US $215. Travel costs are the responsibility of the pastor or his sending church body. 

Inquiries should be sent to Grow in Grace Director Bradley Wordell (Bradley.Wordell@wisluthsem.org) or Grow in Grace Executive Assistant Barbara Rickaby (Barbara.Rickaby@wisluthsem.org).

Submitted by Prof. Bradley Wordell

Here is a touching picture from the first Sunday School in a new WELS world mission field in a Muslim nation in South Asia, submitted to the CELC president for use in a CELC news brief. For security reasons, the name of the country and the name of the person who shared the picture cannot be shared. The country is roughly 1% Christian, and the believers are experiencing great persecution. Still the believers are showing love to those who persecute them, and many adults and children are learning about the love of Jesus.

As we hold the 34 churches of the CELC in our thoughts and prayers—churches whose names we know and freely share—we can also remember our fellow believers in countries that we can’t openly speak about on the internet. How wonderful to know that the good news of Jesus is spreading also in places like that.

To our Brothers and Sisters in the CELC,

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer” (Acts 2:42).

It is a pleasure for me to inform our brothers and sisters of the CELC about the 94th synod convention of the Evangelisch-Lutherische Freikirche. God willing, it will take place from June 10–12, 2022, in Chemnitz, Germany. Vice president Rev. Jörg Kubitschek (Saalfeld) will present the synodical essay. His paper will focus on “The relevance of a Lutheran Confessional Church in a pluralistic environment.” 

In 2022 our synod looks back on a history of 145 years under God’s blessings. It was founded by the first conventions in 1876 and 1877. Our first president came out of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. His name was Friedrich Ruhland. He was born in Germany, but left his homeland for confessional reasons. In 1873 he accepted a call to St. Johns in Planitz and Trinity in Dresden. 

The time when the ELFK was founded seems to be quite similar to our time today. From its beginning, the ELFK stood faithfully on the inspired Word of God and the Lutheran Confessions in a pluralistic environment. But it is alone God’s grace and work. May he continue to give us strength and power to hold on to his Word and the Lutheran Confessions. May he give us faithful called ministers in the future and may our congregations continue on this way on earth to our heavenly home. For this reason we come together for our 94th synod convention in 2022. 

May God be with you and bless your work in his kingdom.

Your brother in Christ,
Rev. Michael Herbst
ELFK President