Archives for July 2025

 

The Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) held its annual convention on June 16-18, 2025. Over 200 pastors and lay delegates gathered on the campus of Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato, Minnesota, for the convention. The convention opened each day in the college chapel with devotions led by ELS pastors. A communion service was also held for convention attendees and members of our fellowship.

The convention celebrated the 500th Anniversary of the writing of “The Bondage of the Will” by Martin Luther with the theme, “The Bondage of the Will: I Cannot by My Own Reason or Strength…” Rev. David Jay Webber delivered the convention essay of the same title.

Delegates and pastors reviewed the work of the ELS boards and committees from the past year and made recommendations for future work. A report on the challenges facing Bethany Lutheran College was delivered, and all present were urged to continue prayers and support for the college.

Two pastors from the Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Kenya (ELDK) attended and brought greetings to the convention. This church body is applying for membership in the CELC. The Evangelical Lutheran Synod thanks our gracious God for the fellowship we enjoy with the CELC.

Photos, video, and the convention essay are available at this link: els.org/convention

Submitted by Rev. Paul Fries, ELS Communication Director

                                                                                                                             

 

At the 2024 convention of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa—Zambia held in Lusaka, the capital city of the republic of Zambia, Pastor Mascrif Mulonda was elected as the new church chairman. Pastor Mulonda serves a congregation in Lusaka called St Peter’s Mandevu congregation, which was established in 1988.

The Lutheran Church of Central Africa has seen faithful leaders coming in to serve as well as going out to serve in other endeavors. In this regard, Pastor Mulonda was elected to replace the longest-serving synod chairman, Rev. Davison Mutentami.

The following are the current members of the synodical council:
     Rev. Mulonda, Synod Chairman
     Rev. Mututwa Elias, Vice-chairman
     Mr. Moses Tembo, Secretary
     Mr. Kenneth Shibuchi, Treasurer

God willing, the Lutheran Church of Central Africa—Zambia will host the 2026 international CELC convention in Lusaka on May 29–June 1, 2026. Pastor Mulonda, Pastor Mutentami, and others have begun to make plans for this convention.

Submitted by Rev. Mascrif Mulonda, LCCA-Zambia Chairman

WELS missionaries Matthew Doebler and Michael Hartman are creating a series of 25 podcast interviews on different ministry topics. The podcasts are coming out every other week throughout the year, and they focus on doing mission work outside of one’s own country. Eventually, the interviews will be part of a missiology course taught through Asia Lutheran Seminary.
Some of the podcasts will feature speakers who are known in the CELC, including: Glen Thompson, Paul Wendland, Larry Schlomer, Jon Schroeder, Rob Siirila, Paul Nitz, Bill Meier, Terry Schultz, and Aaron Wakeman.

Links are provided here for anyone who would be interested in listening or subscribing:

https://open.spotify.com/show/4d1zbWwnxrfHWpnrPgeSTf
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jesus-and-jetlag/id1791294280
https://www.gospelcenteredmentoring.site/s/jesus-and-jetlag

Submitted by the CELC Planning Committee upon request

       Celebrants at the 20th Anniversary of Asia Lutheran Seminary

Twenty years ago, on May 29, 2005, Dr. John Lawrenz preached for the opening service of a brand-new seminary: Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS). His sermon was based on 2 Corinthians 6:1-2, where Paul writes, “I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” On June 1, 2025, brothers and sisters from the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Thailand, and other places in Asia gathered in Hong Kong to thank God for giving ALS the privilege of serving his people with the gospel for 20 years.

Rev. Daniel Koelpin, former administrator for the WELS Board for World Missions, preached on Philippians 1:3-11. He reminded those gathered that this anniversary is a time to thank God for his blessings, to celebrate partnerships, to stay committed to the task at hand, to pray for more opportunities to serve, and to give glory to God above all else.

A banquet was held after the worship service, which included speeches, performances, and entertainment by guests, faculty, and staff. What will ALS be like in another 20 years? Of course, only God knows the answer to this question. God not only knows all things, but he also guides and directs the events of this world to accomplish his goal and purpose.

We know what this goal is: that his Word would be preached to all the world, that more people would come to faith, and that his kingdom would come. Because we know this, we also know that we will always be able to say, “Now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Submitted by WELS Missionary Tony Bartels