This 2016 photo is from Resurrection Lutheran Church in Kyiv,
pastored by Pres. Vyacheslav Horpynchuk of the ULC.

The eyes of the world are focused on Ukraine as war has erupted. The CELC Planning Committee offers this prayer for Ukraine, with special concern for the members of our sister CELC church—the Ukrainian Lutheran Church.

Gracious heavenly Father,

You have told us that there will be wars in this world until the end of time because the sinfulness of humanity leads to division, hatred, and brutality.

Yet we know that you control everything in this world, and you urge us to pray for rulers so that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.

These days we hold before you the country of Ukraine, and especially our brothers and sisters in the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and the Gift of Life ministry, as war has come to their country.

In your mercy, please limit destruction and the loss of life in this conflict, and restore peace quickly, if it is your will.

For our brothers and sisters in the Ukrainian Lutheran Church we pray that you preserve their lives, and that you continue to provide what they need day by day during the disruption and hardship of war.

Most of all, keep our brothers and sisters strong in faith during this distress. Allow them to share the promises of your Word with each other in person or online, and give them comfort through the good news of the forgiveness of sins and salvation in Jesus Christ, found in your Word and sacraments.

Also, provide opportunities for our brothers and sisters to share the hope of the gospel with others around them who do not know Christ. Somehow use this calamity for the spread of the gospel and the furtherance of your church.

We pray in the name of our Redeemer Jesus, trusting that you love us for his sake. Amen

 

Rev. Agron Mece, here pictured with his wife Vitori, was called home to heaven on September 7, 2021. Rev. Mece was the president of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Albania and was a regular participant in CELC meetings. The following obituary was written belatedly by Rev. Luke Wolfgramm.

Agron Mece was born in Korçë, Albania, on September 10, 1952. During his childhood, Agron’s family moved to Albania’s chief port city, Durrës, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. In 1976, after completing his degree in Russian and Albanian language at the University of Tirana, Agron returned home to Durrës. Here he worked as a teacher until 1981 and then as an administrator for education until 1994. He also worked a short time as a Russian translator for an export company.

During his days in Tirana, Agron met Vitori Kasa who was studying English at the university. Agron and Vitori married on November 6, 1977. God blessed them with two children, a son, Dorian, and a daughter, Anjeza.

The Holy Spirit won Agron’s heart in a most interesting way. In the early 1990s, Vitori translated some letters from an American WELS member. This believer wanted his Albanian relatives to know about our Savior, the Lord Jesus. Moved by God’s good news, Agron and Vitori sought and eventually contacted WELS missionaries Kirby Spevacek and Richard Russow. The pastors helped nurture the couple’s new faith in Christ. In 1995, Agron and Vitori were baptized. Because there was no pastor, Vitori first baptized her husband. Agron then baptized his wife and children.

Agron immediately began hosting worship services in his home. About ten people gathered to hear Agron read sermons provided by missionaries serving in Bulgaria which Vitori translated into Albanian. Missionaries Kirby Spevacek, Richard Russow, and Greg Bey made regular trips to Durrës and began preparing Agron for public ministry.

In 1997, civil war broke out in Albania. For a time Agron sheltered the Spevaceks and Russows in his apartment. Early in 1998, he helped the American families board an Italian naval vessel and escape to safety. God protected the Meces and the Albanian believers during the crisis.

From 2003 until 2006, the Meces lived in Canada. In 2006, Agron and his family returned to Albania and bought an apartment in the capital city of Tirana. Here with God’s blessing, Agron gathered a congregation. God had provided another man to serve Durrës, seminarian Mikel Bishka. Missionary Bruce Ahlers served Albania from 2003 until 2008 and taught seminary classes for Agron and Mikel. After this, seminary rector John Vogt made regular visits and continued pastoral training. Other instructors taught classes online. Finally in 2013, Agron and Mikel were ordained at a festival worship service in Durrës. WELS mission representatives James Hoff, John Vogt, and Ron Drektrah were present at the historic ordination.

God provided strength for Agron to serve souls in Albania for more than twenty years. Those who mourn him say, “He was cut out to be a pastor.” Agron loved people and wanted to help them. During his ministry, Agron modeled the peace, joy, warmth, and generosity of God’s Son who offered himself on the cross to forgive us guilty sinners and to win eternal life for us in our Father’s heavenly home.

Late in the evening of September 7, 2021, God suddenly called Agron to eternal rest. Two days later, Pastors Nikolla and Mikel Bishka conducted a graveside funeral in Tirana. Nikolla comforted Agron’s family—his wife, children, brothers and sisters—with the words of Psalm 23: “The LORD is my shepherd. … Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Agron is survived by his wife, Vitori (nee Kasa); his son, Dorian, married to Laura (nee Çyçja) with grandson, Alex; and his daughter Anjeza, married to Vincent Santiago with grandson, Vincent Jr., and granddaughter, Emma. He is further mourned by those he served in Tirana, Durrës, and other villages in Albania, as well as brothers and sisters of the CELC living around the world.

We thank our gracious God of life for adopting Agron in Holy Baptism and for calling him to proclaim his good news to the people of Albania. May our merciful Lord Jesus comfort all who mourn. And may the mighty Holy Spirit empower the pastors and people of the Lutheran Church of Albania that they may fearlessly declare God’s Son, our only Savior, to the many Illyrians still living in darkness.

 

The CELC Planning Committee has selected essayists for the 2023 CELC convention to be held in Seoul, South Korea. The essayists come from the various regions of the CELC, with essays covering the various areas of theological study. They are:
 

• Rev. Nicholas Proksch (ELS)
  Biblical exegesis:  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
   
• Rev. Uģis Sildegs (Latvia)
  Doctrine:  Civil Government
   
• Rev. Kebede Yigezu (Ethiopia)
  Lutheran Confessions:  Formula of Concord, Articles I + II
   
• Rev. Angus Cheung (Hong Kong)
  Church History:  Lutheranism in East Asia
   
• Rev. Mario Gálvez (Chile)
  Practical Theology:  Training the Laity for Evangelism

The exact dates and venue for the convention are yet to be determined, and much remains uncertain in our world due to COVID-19. But the Planning Committee is planning for an in-person convention in Korea in May/June 2023, God willing.  

Looking ahead to this convention, the Planning Committee is pleased to present such a fine list of essayists, with topics that should be beneficial for people everywhere. We encourage CELC leaders from around the world tentatively to make plans to attend.  

 

On December 19, 2021, the last Sunday of Advent, David Choi was ordained and installed at Seoul Lutheran Church. The sermon theme was based on 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, “The Lord sends messengers to prepare his people for Jesus’ second coming,” and was preached by the ELS Board for World Outreach Administrator Thomas Heyn. The rite of ordination was conducted jointly in English and Korean by Pastor Heyn and Pastor Samuel Choi.

David Choi, born and raised in China, was first brought into contact with the Lutheran Church when he visited his aunt in Seoul, South Korea. She introduced him to Seoul Lutheran Church where Pastor Young Ha Kim instructed and confirmed him. Later, he studied pre-seminary classes under Dr. Samuel Choi, director of Seoul Lutheran Theological Institute. 

When he was being pressured to abandon plans to become a Christian pastor, the ELS Board for World Outreach decided to bring David to the United States to complete his theological training at Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary in Mankato, Minnesota. After four years of study and a vicar year at Reformation Lutheran Church in San Diego, California, David received his M.Div. and received a joint assignment to serve Seoul Lutheran Church and serve as missionary under the ELS BWO. 

His work will include helping Pastors Samuel Choi and J.W. Kim strengthen the existing congregations in east Seoul and Anyang, as well as beginning new outreach to Chinese-Koreans in Seoul. We pray that the Lord bless his work in extending his kingdom in Korea, and perhaps in other parts of East Asia.

Pictured, left to right: Thomas Heyn, David Choi, Samuel Choi

Submitted by Thomas Heyn

 

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Recently, representatives from congregations in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Haiti, and Venezuela worked together to form a new synod, called Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional (ICWI). 
 
ICWI was founded to help facilitate collaboration throughout Latin America. It provides a destination for new groups that are starting through the Academia Cristo training program. After groups started through the Academia Cristo model have completed approximately two years of study together, they may be able to apply for membership in Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional.
 
One of the main initiatives of this new synod is the development and operation of a seminary. Leaders who have completed 21 live courses with Academia Cristo and meet other criteria may be able to attend the seminary that Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional is currently developing.  

Videos that describe this new synod can be found here:
Spanish Version – https://youtu.be/CJB6F67JBSs
English Version – https://vimeo.com/644909318
 
The newly installed officers are:
Henry Herrera (Colombia) – President
Tony Quintero (Colombia) – Secretary
Manuel Hierro (Dominican Republic) – Treasurer 
Julio C. Ascarrunz Martínez (Bolivia) – President of the Seminary that is in development
Mike Hartman (WELS) – Academia Cristo Representative (soon to be replaced by Andrew Johnston)

ICWI will not be ready to apply for membership in the CELC in 2023, but they look forward to that in the future, God willing.

Submitted by Missionary Matthew Behmer

 

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