The Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK), in Schönfeld, Germany, holds its 96th Synod Convention and a special celebration of the ELFK’s 150th anniversary.

“What you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” — 2 Timothy 2:2

The apostle Paul’s words describe a pattern that continues from one generation of believers to the next: Christians receive the truth of God’s Word, grow in their understanding of it, and then help others learn and teach that same truth.

Across our worldwide fellowship, member churches share a commitment to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Through conventions, regional gatherings, theological study, and mutual encouragement, pastors and church leaders strengthen one another in their common faith and mission.

Yet many pastors, teachers, seminary students, and church leaders still serve in relative isolation. Some live far from other confessional Lutheran leaders. Some have limited access to theological education or doctrinal resources. Others work across languages and cultures, making it difficult to study, consult, and collaborate with fellow believers.

The Lutheran Leader’s Companion is being developed by WELS to help these connections continue and grow. It can provide an ongoing place where leaders from member churches and mission fields may study together, share trusted resources, participate in Bible studies, and encourage one another between conventions and regional gatherings.

For one church body, the greatest need may be theological resources in a local language. For another, it may be continuing education for pastors or seminary students. In another region, leaders may be looking for stronger connections with experienced teachers, easier access to doctrinal discussions, or a practical way to bring people together for online learning.

The Companion can help meet these needs while building on something our members already share: unity in the truth of God’s Word. A pastor in one country may be able to join a study led by a theologian in another. A seminary student may gain access to resources that were previously unavailable in a familiar language. Teachers serving in smaller or emerging church bodies may be able to learn from others facing similar ministry opportunities and challenges.

Technology cannot replace local churches, pastors, seminaries, or face-to-face Christian fellowship. Nor is it intended to do so. But when used wisely, technology can support their work. It can reduce barriers created by distance, language, cost, and limited resources, helping member churches share what God has given them more readily with one another.

Growing Through Partnership
The Lutheran Leader’s Companion is currently in active development. It is not being presented as a finished platform. Instead, it is taking shape gradually through pilot sessions, collaborative planning, technical testing, and feedback from international ministry partners.

This careful process allows the platform to be shaped by the people who may use it—pastors, teachers, theologians, seminary students, and church leaders serving in a variety of regions, cultures, and languages. Their experience will help determine which resources, learning opportunities, and multilingual capabilities will be most useful.

The features described at this stage represent a combination of present capabilities and future development goals. As the Lutheran Leader’s Companion grows, its purpose remains clear: to help faithful Lutheran leaders think carefully about ministry needs, evaluate opportunities in the light of Scripture, learn with and from one another, and lead others more confidently in Christ.

No pastor, teacher, student, or church leader should feel that distance or language must leave them without encouragement or support. The Lutheran Leader’s Companion offers a practical way to strengthen the fellowship already present, equip leaders with trustworthy biblical resources, and help the truth entrusted to one generation be faithfully shared with the next.

                 
Seminary Graduates from the Lutheran Church of Central Africa in Lusaka, Zambia

We pray for our Lord’s continued blessings upon these men as they return home to share what they have learned with their flocks, preaching and teaching the freedom that we have in the gospel of Jesus; sins forgiven and the certainty of life eternal.

Submitted by Prof. Harland Goetzinger, Director of Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI)

Encouragement in Christ
Meeting others who share their faith brought participants much-needed encouragement. Many work in places where there are very few Christians, and being together reminded them they are not alone in the work God has given them. Time spent in God’s Word, praying, and talking openly about the joys and struggles of gospel ministry gave them renewed strength.

• “I experienced great encouragement. We are so small. Here I see our unity in the Word on a larger scale.”
• “In [our country] we have so few believers; [there is] no fellowship like this.”
• “It was comforting to see we have the same struggles, big and small, but also to see how God provides for our ministries.”

Building connections
Many valued meeting others who serve in gospel ministry across the region. They traded contact information, hoping to support each other in prayer and to stay in touch. Some talked about studying the Word together or sharing resources to help one another as they continue serving in their own countries.

• “It was a good opportunity for networking for our ministries in Asia.”
• “The conference helped me see the need for patient endurance. I would like to keep meeting and following up on ideas.”
• “We hope the connections from this conference will continue.”

Sharing ministry practices
Participants gained practical ideas by listening to those who face similar challenges. They enjoyed hearing how others in different countries teach the Word, plan worship, and reach out to their neighbors. These conversations gave them new ideas and fresh motivation for their work. Many hope to keep learning together through online classes, follow-up chats, and by sharing helpful materials.

• “I learned about planning, studying the Word, and the hardships others face.”
• “Each country has something to offer. I learned how I can help others and they can help me.”
• “Hearing how others handle challenges encouraged me to keep serving and to look for solutions.”

             The main lodge of the Golfview Hotel in Lusaka, Zambia

The CELC Planning Committee is pleased to announce that a hotel has been selected for the 2026 international convention in Lusaka, Zambia. It is the Golfview Hotel, which was the recommendation both from the leaders of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa—Zambia and from the WELS mission team.

The Golfview has much to commend it. It has a large, park-like property, where sometimes you can see free-roaming impala. The sleeping rooms are modern and well-furnished, and there is a meeting room just the right size for a CELC convention. Plus, the dining room has buffet service that will fit our needs well, and there is an airport shuttle. More information and pictures can be found here.   

              The dining room of the Golfview Hotel in Lusaka

We are confident that convention participants from around the world will enjoy safe, pleasant surroundings as they worship and study God’s Word together at this venue. We are thankful to God for providing it, as we pray that he will allow our plans to come to fruition in 2026.
The dates for the convention are Friday, May 29, through Monday, June 1, 2026. Participants are expected to arrive on Thursday, May 28, and to leave on Tuesday, June 2.

Registration for the convention will take place online from January 1-31, 2026. Each member church of the CELC should be thinking about who will represent them. The goal is to have two voting delegates from each member church.

Look for more information later in the year. And pray that God will grant a memorable and edifying convention in Zambia in 2026!

Submitted by the CELC Planning Committee