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

 

“The Creation of Man—Wonderful News for the World.” This was the topic of our European Regional CELC Meeting in Nerchau, Germany on May 22-25, 2025, hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK). Nerchau is close to Grimma, the place of the ninth triennial convention of the CELC in 2017. St. John’s Congregation in Nerchau is currently vacant, but a group of volunteers supported the preparation of this regional CELC meeting.

Approximately 50 guests from different countries attended the conference. We were especially thankful that Bishop Horpynchuk from the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and Dmytro Maksymenko were among them. The latter serves as the Director of the “Gift of Life” International Charitable Foundation in Ukraine. Our Russian brothers sent a video message, and our brother Iliyan Itsov (Bulgaria) wrote greetings, since he was not able to attend our conference. Dr. Ugis Sildegs (Latvia), who had prepared one of the four papers, could not attend the meeting because of problems with his car. As guests from outside of Europe, we welcomed: Prof. Tim Schmeling (ELS, Mankato, Minnesota) as guest presenter, Rev. Larry Schlomer (WELS Board for World Missions), Rev. Jonathan Schroeder (WELS), and Rev. Tom Heyn (ELS).

We enjoyed a blessed time together with four excellent papers. You can download all the papers under the Regional Conferences > Europe > Papers tab on this website.

Two of the papers were prepared by Prof. Tim Schmeling. His first lecture was titled: “Man—Created by God.” His second lecture was our last and titled: “Man—Created in the Image of God.” Our second lecture was prepared by Rev. Nikolla Bishka from Albania, together with Rev. Luke Wolfgramm, the WELS Mobile Ministry Partner and Pastoral Studies Institute Adjunct for Europe. “Man—Created as Male and Female” was the topic of the paper. The third lecture was prepared by Dr. Ugis Sildegs. His paper was titled: “Man—Creation with Body and Soul: Today’s Challenges” and was presented by Rev. Holger Weiß, the chairman of CELC European Region.

Jonathan Schroeter gave a short overview of the WELS worldwide mission work. Tom Heyn gave some information about the ELS work, especially in Europe, but also worldwide. Larry Schlomer introduced the WELS call for Jennifer Wolfgramm as WELS Mobile Ministry Partner for Women in Europe. He explained her tasks and offered her help for all the work among women in the European CELC churches.
The meeting ended with a closing worship service including the Lord’s Supper. The liturgy was conducted in German by Pastor Michael Herbst (President of the ELFK). Pastor Holger Weiß preached the sermon on Isaiah 55:6-11 under the topic “Seek the Lord!” After the sermon, Jennifer Wolfgramm was installed by Rev. Larry Schlomer. You can watch the video of the closing service on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XJriBP2KdqQ

God willing, the next European Regional CELC meeting will be hosted by the LBK Sweden on June 18-20, 2027. But before that, we are looking forward to the next triennial CELC Meeting in Zambia on May 29–June 1, 2026.

Let us pray with Psalm 100:

1 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
2 Worship the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
   It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations. Amen.

Submitted by ELFK President Michael Herbst

 

 

 

 

(Go to Regional Conferences > Europe > Participant Photos for more pictures from the meeting.)

                                      Rev. Titus Tse left, Rev. Alex Wong right

In the 1960s, WELS missionaries were sent to Hong Kong to assist local Chinese Christians. In 1977, a Lutheran church body named SALEM (South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission) was established.

In 1997, Rev. Titus Tse from Hong Kong was called and installed as the first chairman of SALEM. By God’s grace, under Rev. Tse’s leadership, the SALEM church body grew and matured into a stable, developing, and faithful community of believers.

After many years of faithful service, Rev. Tse has now entered a new chapter. Having “retired” from his pastoral ministry at the congregation in accordance with SALEM’s policies, he was immediately commissioned as a missionary to establish a Chinese Lutheran church under SALEM’s mission work in Auckland, New Zealand.

The mantle of leadership in Hong Kong has now been passed to another capable leader, for God always provides the right people at the right time. Rev. Alex Wong officially assumed the role of chairman of SALEM on January 1, 2025, with the installation ceremony taking place on March 2 of the same year. He now steps into this new role with over a decade of pastoral experience and a shepherd’s heart.

When Rev. Tse assumed leadership in 1997, Hong Kong was undergoing historic transitions. Now, as Rev. Wong takes office, the city once again faces new challenges amid shifting times. Through these eras of change, God continues to expand his kingdom and raise up fitting leaders for each season. These pivotal moments create unique opportunities for his people, and we rejoice in his unfailing wisdom and grace.

Rev. Wong’s leadership is a gift to the church. By God’s power, SALEM is poised to embrace this new chapter, strengthen believers, and seek the lost. We praise God for all he has accomplished through his people in Hong Kong and pray that he grants Rev. Wong and all church leaders strength and wisdom equal to their calling.

Submitted by WELS Missionary Tony Bartels