Author: shepherdroebke@gmail.com

Lutheran Headwaters

As many streams flow together to drain West Africa into the Bight of Bonny, so also many fervent desires and events flowed together as the headwaters for the “Lutheran Mission in Nigeria.” Stream One: members of Lutheran “Negro Missions” in America’s South lobbied for a Lutheran mission to Africa. They raised $6,000 for this work by 1930 ($83,000 today). Stream Two: the Synodical Conference of North America wanted to open a new world mission for its 50^th anniversary. Stream Three: the congregations of the Ibesikpo in southeast Nigeria wanted a new mission sponsor. Continue reading “Rivers of Grace in Nigeria”

In October representatives from the Lutheran Church of Central Africa – Zambia Synod, the Pastoral Studies Institute and One Africa Team visited the countries of Kenya & Ethiopia. Missionary John Hartman writes:

On 10 October, Pastor Simon Mweete and I flew from Lusaka, Zambia, to Nairobi, Kenya, to begin a two-week trip to visit three groups of African Lutherans from different nationalities at three different levels of development. The days were full of God’s grace and favor on display working among the people of eastern Africa! Continue reading “Meet Our Brothers and Sisters in East Africa”

At Christmas time my family and I display some of our nativities in remembrance of our newborn King.  When setting them up and seeing them displayed, my mind immediately recalls the time I once bought a crèche in an open air market here in Lilongwe, Malawi. Picture this:  Mary and Joseph and Jesus, some shepherds, the Wise Men, a star, a cow, a couple of sheep, a donkey or two…and a hippo. Continue reading “I want a hippopotamus for Christmas!”