“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28 NIV).  We know that this is true, but sometimes it doesn’t feel that way.

In western Ethiopia is a region called Gambella.  Gambella is home to three Lutheran Synods seeking fellowship with WELS.  Together, these three groups may have as many as 40,000 members, perhaps more.  Many of them are refugees from South Sudan.  These synods do not have many trained pastors or church elders, but they are eager to receive instruction from God’s word.  It is a tremendous opportunity to reach out with the gospel!

Missionaries Howard Mohlke, Christopher Pluger, and Mark Panning were set to go.  Fourteen delegates from the three synods were going to meet us in Bishoftu, Ethiopia, along with three delegates from our sister-synod, the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia.  We were excited about the meeting.  We purchased airline tickets for the 14 representatives and booked a conference hall in Bishoftu.  Everything was ready.

God had other plans.  A few days before the meeting, civil war returned to Ethiopia.  Seven rebel groups had banded together against the government.  Armed militias had captured several airports, and airline service was suspended.  In Gambella, long-standing tribal disputes immediately boiled over.  Roads were blocked.  Then we learned that a Lutheran youth group was traveling to a meeting when their bus was attacked by rebels.  Several of those Lutheran youth were wounded in the attack.  One of them was killed – a young Lutheran woman named Martha Nyalam Chuol.

I heard about the fighting at 6:30 a.m. on September 22.  By 1:00 p.m. on the same day, the meeting was already canceled.  To be honest, I felt very discouraged.

But I did not hear discouragement from our Lutheran friends in Gambella.  They understood that the meeting had to be postponed.  Yet even as we were canceling the tickets, I heard some say, “We will pray to God.  Maybe things will improve if we wait a few days.”  Others said, “This meeting is very important! When can we reschedule?”  On the following Sunday, Lutherans in Gambella gathered to comfort and encourage one another with the word of God.  They were not discouraged.

Nothing happened the way we thought it would.  It didn’t feel like a triumphant march toward glory.  But that’s exactly what it was.  In his infinite love and wisdom, God carried out his plans in the way he knew was best.  The faith and trust of God’s people were tested in fire and purified like gold.  The leaders of those Lutheran churches grew in their resolve to serve God and his people.  Those who suffered painful trials found peace and comfort from God’s word.  And a young Christian named Martha received her everlasting crown of glory, and it will never be taken from her.

“We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him.”  It often happens in ways that we do not expect, but God’s kingdom marches on.

Missionary Mark Panning lives in Malawi.

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

Recently my wife and I journeyed to Kenya with three students enrolled at Martin Luther College, the WELS college of Ministry, and ten students from Wisconsin Lutheran High School. This was our first trip to Kenya, and the first group of teens to be received by the WELS’ sister synod, the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC Kenya).

While every new venture brings some anxiousness and concerns, our group could not have been welcomed more warmly. Whether it was at church on Sunday, visiting local schools, or shopping at local markets, everyone was happy to greet us by saying, “Karibu” (meaning, “Welcome”), a big smile, and often a warm embrace. 

A Variety of Experiences

The main goals of the trip were to strengthen our bonds of fellowship, learn about Kenyan culture and ministry to Kenyan people, and to offer volunteer services as much as possible. The biggest opportunity for this came when we visited three schools throughout the week. The connection was made through LCMC President Rev. Mark Anariko and his wife, Grace, who teaches in Nairobi at Dandora Primary School. It was certainly a life-changing experience to visit these schools! We had only been in Nairobi for 36 hours when we first visited Dandora Primary School, a school of over 3,600 students from Pre-K to 9th grade! Our students had the opportunity to teach a Bible lesson, sing songs, and do a Bible-themed craft with students. We were then treated to a special program of songs and dances from various student groups. 

This same program was repeated at each school we visited. Our students enjoyed this so much that we actually went back to Dandora Primary School a second time! At each school we were welcomed (and swarmed!) with many smiles and hugs, and so much love as we were sent on our way that most of our students left with tears in their eyes. It made for great conversation and reflection each evening!

Scattered throughout the week, we also had various Kenyan immersion experiences. We went on a safari at Nairobi National Park and visited an elephant orphanage. We took pictures on the helipad rooftop of the Kenya International Convention Center. We visited the Kenya National Museum, as well as local malls and markets. Each experience was an adventure as we saw the wonders of God’s creation, learned about the history of Kenya, and interacted with many people of every background. We had lots of time to think as we sat in traffic for hours, as is inevitable for any visitor to Nairobi. 

Highlight of the Visit

The greatest highlight of the trip was the opportunity to worship at Umoja Lutheran Church on two consecutive Sundays. The congregation welcomed our group with great love and joy, and our young people eagerly talked with and enjoyed time with their young adults and young children. It was a very different experience to worship for more than two hours each week and sing ten hymns.

And yet, it was a very familiar experience as we followed the same liturgy (only in Swahili) and sang several familiar hymns. Personally, I had the privilege of preaching each Sunday and also distributing the Lord’s Supper. What an extraordinary blessing to be able to worship with brothers and sisters across the world the same true God and confess our shared faith in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

As a whole, the trip was unforgettable from start to finish, and every person in our group was touched to their heart by the warm welcome, the love shared, and our strong bonds of Christian unity. We look forward to sending another team again in the near future. In the meantime, we pray fervently for our dear brothers and sisters in Christ in Kenya. Whether we meet them in person face to face again or not, we eagerly look forward to the day when our Savior in heaven tells us, “Karibu!”  

Dr. Phil Huebner lives in the United States and is the Campus Pastor for Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

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

“Preach the word,” Paul told Timothy.

Paul was in prison in Rome, facing execution for Jesus.

“Preach the word,” Paul emphasized. “Be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

A Joyful Celebration in Lusaka

“Preach the word,” Harland Goetzinger, head of the Pastoral Studies Institute of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary of Mequon, Wisconsin, USA, told 15 other pastors from 5 countries, plus all the other pastors and other guests in attendance, on May 28, 2026, in Lusaka, Zambia.

Guests included CELC synod leaders:

• Matthias Abumbi and Ngalame Gervase (Cameroon),
• Paul Mboya and Mark Anariko Onunda (Kenya),
• Ephraim Adiauko, Michael Egar, Wonah Johnson, and Stephen Stephen (Nigeria)
• Elias Mututwa and Mascrif Mulonda (Zambia).

Guests also included:

• Jonathan Bare of Asia Lutheran Seminary,
• David Bivens of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary,
• Anthony Phiri and Chibikubantu Simweeleba of Lusaka Lutheran Seminary, and
• Several WELS One Africa Team missionaries and their wives.

The 15 pastors from 5 countries were graduating in the chapel of the Lutheran Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia, with Bachelor of Divinity degrees from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

The 15 pastors:

•     Christopher Chisankulo (Zambia)
•     George Chumba (Malawi)
•     Mesue Isreal (Cameroon)
•     Evans Makowani (Zambia)
•     Stanford Mandevu (Malawi)
•     Steward Mbele (Zambia)
•     Titus Mbele (Zambia)
•     Bismark Ndumba (Zambia)
•     Richard Ochichi (Kenya)
•     Samwel Owage (Kenya)
•     Mathews Owidi-Osome (Kenya)
•     Du Shawa (Zambia)
•     Foster Soko (Zambia)
•     Aniedi Paul Udo (Nigeria)
•     Idorenyin Joshua Udo (Nigeria)

All of these men were already pastors before their bachelor’s degree studies began. Classes took place in person just twice a year. That way, men could attend to their main duties and their families without faraway studies getting in the way.

Two past cohorts of the former Greater African Theological Studies Institute (GRATSI) received bachelor’s degrees in 2014 and 2019. Those past graduates were all from Malawi or Zambia. This 2026 graduating BDiv cohort came from East, South, and West Africa!

Remember God’s Patience

“Preach the word,” Professor Goetzinger told them—the full word of God, including the law in all its sternness and the gospel in all its sweetness.

“Correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction.”

Great patience—what a root of the gospel. And great patience—what a fruit of the gospel.

“Great patience,” or “total patience,” you could even translate—how else could you describe the way God treated our first parents when they rebelled against him?

“Nothing but patience”—finally, God sent his Son to be born in Bethlehem to save the world through him.

And once Jesus rose from the dead, why would he appoint someone like Paul to be his ambassador?

“I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

Total patience—again, what a fruit of the gospel. What a fruit of the Spirit.

One Journey Ends, Another Begins

Our 2026 BDiv graduates and visiting Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary professors showed great patience with their first-time program coordinator, the undersigned, when he made rookie blunders.

Visiting professors for this cohort over the years:

•     David Bivens
•     Kenneth Cherney, Jr.
•     Paul Nitz
•     John Schuetze
•     E. Allen Sorum
•     Bradley Wordell

The fifteen 2026 BDiv graduates also showed great patience during Covid-19-related delays, long bus rides and flights, internet woes, visa mix-ups, and other class-related difficulties.

They showed great patience through daunting learning tasks, personal financial struggles, family sorrows, and other disappointments. One graduate, Mesue Israel, cheerfully went through hip replacement surgery during his studies. God sent all such bad things for good.

photo of Mesue Israel and Dan Witte after the service

And now they are back in their classrooms and congregations, showing the same great patience by the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God.

They are serving the saints. They are training future leaders. They are exemplifying great patience in all the ups and downs of living in Africa.

They are teaching the gospel not only with their words but with their lives. They are modeling great patience for people who will, in turn, model the great patience of God to others, as God’s kingdom comes by God’s Spirit.

That’s one reason why the last day hasn’t come yet. God is so patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Africa has so many millions, especially in its biggest cities, who need to repent.

As we wrapped up graduation day together, I had all 15 men write brief thoughts on a sheet for each of the others: “One thing I really appreciated about _____________ during our time together was …”

Sheets were passed around until they reached the man the others had written about. Then each man read at least one of his favorites. How we laughed. We treasured the descriptions.

We prayed, we sang, and we hugged. Then went back to our homes in five different countries. The day for which we waited so long had finally come.

But we are still all waiting patiently.

“Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20–21).

Daniel Witte is part of the WELS One Africa Team and lives in Lusaka, Zambia.

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