TELL-ing the World About Jesus

WELS Multi-Language Publications sponsors the TELL Network which offers online Bible courses to students around the world. One Africa Team missionaries are involved in teaching some of the courses, as well as pastors living in the United States. This week’s post features testimonials from two WELS pastors who are volunteering their time to teach students, due to a large number of new students.

Awakened Interest

Rev. Paul Spaude serves St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Niles, IL.

Recently Elizabeth joined my Zoom TELL class and asked for a prayer request: sleep. For whatever reason, it had evaded her. We prayed and God quickly answered.  I asked Elizabeth a question; we heard deafening silence. Hours later WhatsApp dinged, “Pastor! I’m so sorry! I fell asleep in class!” Sleep may have found Elizabeth because she had been awake for over thirty hours – or her teacher was a bit boring. I  am not going to seek out an answer. Regardless, Elizabeth has been back for more lessons because she loves studying the Bible with TELL.

Each class that I teach with TELL follows a logical pattern. To study the Bible, we Think about an interesting topic or question. We Evaluate a Bible story to bring more meaning and context to the lesson. Then we Learn that sin is the problem and only God has the answer. We Lead our brothers and sisters in Christ by telling what we have studied.

Elizabeth (from Trinidad) attempted to fight sleep to study the Bible with TELL. Enno (from South Africa) found time while driving to study the Bible with TELL.  Farooq (from Pakistan) postponed an anniversary date with his wife to study the Bible with TELL. Benard (from Kenya) fought a poor network connection to study the Bible with TELL.  They keep coming back because they love studying the Bible with TELL.

Despite obstacles, these students gather with me to study the TELL course, “The Work of the Savior.” In eight lessons, we are learning about Jesus’ work around the sea of Galilee and in Jerusalem. This is the beginning of their TELL instruction. God willing, they will enroll in more TELL courses. They might even go to their own communities to think, evaluate, learn, and lead their way through a Bible story with friends and neighbors. I hope they do; they are energizing people. I doubt they will put anyone to sleep.

TELL-ing Legacy

Rev. Paul Kolander serves The Springs Lutheran Church in Sparks, Nevada.

When I was young, I wanted to be an African Missionary. My great-grandfather was one. I remember watching slideshows narrated with exciting stories. There were pictures and tales about driving a caravan throughout Africa to tell Africans about the Love of Jesus. Bumpy roads, exotic wildlife, and adventure around every turn gripped my attention. Then, the awesomeness of God’s power and blessings held it for years. The commission to go and make disciples by baptizing and teaching in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit stuck with me. 

I serve as a missionary in my own community by baptizing and teaching Nevadans. I have never been to Africa. But now through a WELS program called TELL, I get to share the message of the one true God to the same countries that my great grandfather did. I don’t have to travel by barge for weeks on end, nor do I have to navigate across hippo-infested rivers. I just need to connect online with people in Africa and worldwide who want to learn more about the God of the Bible. 

God asks his prophet Jeremiah, “ ‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord. “

I am truly blessed to have this opportunity to share God’s love with those who are both near and far away. I get to serve as a missionary. There is one God and one way to heaven. Thanks belong to Him alone for these and all other blessings. 

Visit www.tellnetwork.org or download the TELL app to enroll in free online courses and share on your favorite social media channel! If you are interested in teaching courses use this form to submit information about yourself.

Please pray for those working in fields that are ripe for harvest. Share their story, engage with future news and receive updates. Learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts at https://wels.net/serving-others/missions/africa