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
