I wish I would have kept track of the number of times I said to myself, “Ok, I guess we are not in charge of these matters.”

In December of 2019, I was blessed to visit Uganda for a teaching trip on behalf of the One Africa Team Outreach Committee.  I accompanied Missionary John Hartmann for the third meeting with a group of Pastors, Evangelists and other church leaders. Since this was my first visit, I wasn’t sure what to expect.  I was pleased with what I saw there -a solid and serious group continuing to hunger and thirst for the true righteousness only Jesus can provide (Matthew 5:6).  These people were eager to know the truth and see how those teachings fit into real life.  Most of them had experience in the church that left them thinking “there should be more to what I’m hearing and seeing from the leaders of my church body.”

One of the problems we have run into here in Africa is the overwhelming temptation to bring our own American logistical organization into the African contexts in which we work.  Since most these logistics are NOT doctrinal, we are currently making a conscious effort to avoid setting up American methods and standards for non-biblical matters.  It will be more truly “African” if our new brothers take ownership of those logistical matters and our missionaries focus more specifically on the doctrinal matters as they are presented in Scripture.  In order to do that, our WELS missionaries must remind themselves regularly to “go with the flow” because we are not in charge of these matters.

Here are some examples to help us remember who
was and was not in charge of this program:

• Because one of our planes was late getting into Entebbe, we were not able to stay where we had planned on the first night.
• On the first full day, we waited about 4 hours on the side of the road for a drive shaft to replace the one that had fallen off the car.
• Since food is such an important part of the culture, we ate twice on our arrival: 10pm and midnight.  We are not accustomed to such hospitality, so it was a good reminder that we are not in charge of these matters.
• “Starting teaching time” = “when everybody is present,” by somebody else’s evaluation. We learned flexibility.
• We were late for Sunday worship at Nairika Congregation because of a broken wheel, due to incessant rain and an odd stone that appeared in the road.  The members were patient, waiting until 2 pm for us to arrive.  Maybe they also recognized that they were not in charge of the situation.  Our return “home” was delayed by 1) getting stuck in the mud and 2) a broken-down sugar cane truck on a one-lane mud road.  We made it back to Pastor Musa’s house in God’s (good) time, since he himself (God) was in charge of these things.

Rather than being in charge, the members of the One Africa Team are working hard to fit into the program of Obadiah Lutheran Synod there in Uganda.  We came to do the teaching.  The what and the how of that teaching activity is absolutely in our hands (unless God himself intervenes again), and we consider ourselves very much blessed to be subject to the culture and methods of our brothers where those cultures and methods do not conflict with God’s will.  We are not in charge of any other logistics regarding when and where that our teaching would take place.  Pastor Musa, together with Pastor Edward, Pastor Isaac and Pastor Wilberforce were taking ownership of this program by making decisions about those logistics. It was a great blessing to see these men take control of their own church body while we filled them with the Lord’s good counsel to guide their hearts.  We are planning for three more visits in the coming year or so, to build a strong, Ugandan-owned and operated church body.

Dan Kroll lives in Malawi and serves as the OAT
liason to West Africa

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

Ethiopia is one of Africa’s historic countries
with rich long-standing influence of Judaism and Christianity. It is widely
accepted that the Queen of Sheba mentioned in the Bible had brought Judaism back
with her to Ethiopia. Furthermore, it is believed the Ethiopian Eunuch who met
Philip (Acts 8) brought the true Gospel to the Ethiopia of those days, and that
Jewish merchants who were also followers of Christ later strengthened the
Christian movement in Ethiopia. Coptic Christianity became the state religion
in 330 AD and was later named the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC)

Since Coptic Christianity became the state religion of Ethiopia, government leaders have bestowed favored status to the church. For example, the government granted one-third of the land in Ethiopia to the EOTC. The EOTC has in return supported government leaders by anointing kings and approving their coronation. Similar to what happened in the Roman Catholic Church, Ethiopian government leaders wanted to exert influence over the church, especially King Zar’a Yacob who introduced many teachings and practices contrary to what the Bible teaches. Over time the truth of Christian faith was compromised and the preaching of the Gospel was forgotten.

Prior to the time of Dr. Martin Luther there
were individuals who attempted to reform the EOTC from within. In the 15^th
century the monk Abba Estifanos advocated the teaching of salvation by grace
alone through faith and condemned the veneration of saints. In the 17^th
century the theologian and philospher Zer’a Yacob (not to be confused with the
aforementioned king), who rejected church tradition in favor of Scriptural
authority. This proves that God wanted the reform of His Church and raised men
for this purpose. The EOTC however resisted their efforts and persecuted them, often
to the point of death. 

In the late 19^th century, Lutheran
missionaries from Northern Europe and America first arrived in Ethiopia. When
the EOTC resisted their efforts to reform the church and persecuted the EOTC
priests who were the first converts to Lutheranism, the Swedish, German and
American Lutherans agreed to establish a new church. It’s name is the Ethiopian
Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY). “Mekane Yesus” means “Dwelling Place
of Jesus.” In 1959, the EECMY became a legally registered national church.

Rev. Dr. Kebede Getachew Yigezu became a
Christian in the EECMY at the age of 15 in 1987 and had been serving as a youth
leader, choir member, solo singer, lay preacher and later as theologian for a
total of 25 years. After being involved in various voluntary services for 18
years in the EECMY, Kebede studied theology at Mekane Yesus Seminary and
continued serving in the EECMY. In 2007, Kebede joined Concordia Seminary in
Saint Louis, Missouri, and received advanced theological training. While there,
his were eyes opened to confessional Lutheran theology and Kebede ascertained
that the WELS understanding and practice of the doctrine of fellowship is more
in line with the Bible’s teaching than the EECMY’s understanding of fellowship.

Kebede left the EECMY for doctrinal reasons to
remain faithful to confessional evangelical Lutheran theology of the Law and
Gospel and the truth of the Scriptures. In compliance with the Ethiopian
government’s requirements Kebede and 56 founding members registered The
Lutheran Church of Ethiopia (LCE) as a confessional Lutheran church body in
2013. The LCE also founded Maor Lutheran Theological Seminary (MLTS) as a Christ-centered,
Bible-based and Reformation-driven confessional Lutheran theological seminary,
which is authorized to offer bachelors and masters degrees and also doctorate
programs. More background information about the church and seminary are found
at https://lcemtc.weebly.com/college.html

Soon after the establishment of the church and
seminary in 2013, Kebede was ordained in the LCE and reached out to WELS with
the purpose of establishing fellowship. In 2014 and 2015 the LCE was visited by
Professor Edward Allen Sorum and Professor Kenneth Cherney of Wisconsin
Lutheran Seminary, Rev. Peter Bur-Chairman of the Global South Sudanese
Outreach, Rev. Paul Nitz-delegate of the WELS Board of World Mission, and Rev.
Davison Mutentami-CELC Africa Region President.

After several years of talks with WELS
representatives, the LCE and WELS declared fellowship in 2017. WELS has been
collaborating with the LCE on the work of training church workers by sending
professors for short-term intensive teaching trips, and by providing funding to
purchase property and to complete the construction of a five floor
multi-purpose building where the LCE operates her Gospel ministry and
theological education programs.

The LCE is a small church body bringing the Gospel truth to light
amongst more than the one hundred million people of Ethiopia. Like Luther, Kebede
and the members of the LCE are standing against many opponents of the Gospel
truth. It is not an easy path to follow but by the grace of God the latest
statistics show:

• Baptized national members = 421
  • Organized congregations = one very active
    congregation in Bishoftu and four active preaching centers (Adama, Addis Ababa,
    Wukro and Dukem)
  • National pastors = one
  • National evangelists = four (volunteers and
    active witnesses in life and ministry)

One of the greatest blessings that have come
from the declaration of fellowship between LCE and WELS is our partnership in the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
which is based on our unity of faith, love and purpose. In view of
this, we rejoice at the many opportunities God is giving us to make this unity
visible. The LCE and MLTS enjoy the wonderful blessing of fellowship with
like-minded brothers and sisters in the WELS and CELC member churches, who
share their beliefs and gladly pray on their behalf to our heavenly Father. The
Lord is blessing the humble beginnings of the LCE. We praise God for giving the
members of the LCE the endurance to run their race in Him and to pass the baton
of the Gospel truth to the next generation of Christians.

The Gathering Place. I remember there used to be a small restaurant by that name in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. That was decades ago.  Perhaps it’s still there.  Maybe not.Regardless, it’s a fitting name for a restaurant as the locals would, well, gather.  Eat the special of the day.  Drink endless cups of coffee.  Chat, laugh, share the news and enjoy the stories and the company.

There’s a gathering place here in Malawi, too.  Many of them, in fact.  And now there is one more. In a place called Salima.  This particular gathering place is not a restaurant, but it is a place where you can get a drink any time of day or night. 

It’s a borehole.  This borehole serves one thing and one thing only:  WATER!  (Hey, I just thought of something…maybe THE BOREHOLE would be a good name for a restaurant here in Malawi….they’d probably have to serve more than water, however, if they are going to make any money!) A borehole is simply another word for a well. Here they are usually equipped with a hand pump.  The depth of the pipes depends a lot on the level of the water table as it is normally found in the dry season.

It’s a gathering place.

Women and children come every day to pump water and carry it home.  Often the queues are long and the crowds thick. Buckets and pails everywhere.  But it’s worth the wait because there’s food to cook, clothes to wash and baths to take. If all these people had taps in their gardens or faucets in their homes, they wouldn’t have to gather at the borehole.  But they don’t so they do.

Many community members go to this newly tapped borehole for water.  But if it is up to the LCCA congregations like Holy Trinity, then they will go home with more. Much more. The Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA) congregation called Holy Trinity in Salima applied to the WELS Committee on Aid and Relief (CA&R) for funds for a borehole. 

   CA&R granted it.
Water Access drilled it.
    Holy Trinity dedicated it.
       Many gather around it.

CA&R asked the pastor and congregation a question and
they answered it this way…

In Malawi, the ones who normally gather in numbers at the
borehole every day are the women and children. 
They have come for water, yes, but there’s a whole lot more that goes on.  It’s a gathering place.  It’s a bee hive of activity and there’s a
buzz of conversation. News and lives and stories are shared.

This particular borehole has been placed right next to another gathering place:  the church itself!  Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.

      Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Salima,
Malawi

Holy Trinity currently has 164 baptized and 129 confirmed members and is being served by Pastor Patrick Magombo. What a gathering place!  The building is strong, the size adequate, the location prime. But more importantly, the Gospel of Jesus is preached and the sacraments are administered!

And now Pastor Magombo and Holy Trinity Congregation has
a gathering of people from the community coming on their premises for water. 

Every day.

Every day their water needs are met. And they will be
back tomorrow. And the next day.  And the
next…

It’s not only a good
time for a drink of cool water, it’s a great time for a prayer:

“Lord, we know that the gift of water is a precious
thing.  Forgive us for taking water for
granted.  Many don’t have the easy access
we do.  Many don’t have the convenience
of clean water that comes straight into our homes.  But you provide in various ways and even
water from a borehole is a gift from your divine Hand.  Thank you for moving the hearts of people who
have donated offerings to CA&R.  Many
people in faraway countries are blessed because of it. Thousands in Malawi!  Encourage the Holy Trinity congregation and
Pastor to also reach out with the gospel as the people gather both inside and
outside the church building. In Jesus’ name. 
Amen.”

With the borehole water, the
people will thirst again. (John 4:13). 

With the living water of Jesus from the wells of
salvation, they won’t. (John 4:14).

In the presence of Jesus….

What a Gathering Place!

Your Malawi Mission Partner,
John Holtz