Cameroon has had its ups and downs the past few years – which always give more opportunity for the gospel message to take priority. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Our partners in Cameroon have the message of hope in Jesus and they’re taking every opportunity to share it.

We need more people to do the work! Last March, we hoped that classes would be able to resume at our campus there at Barombi Kang. But those plans had to be scrapped when the only Cameroonian Seminary teacher, Rev Israel Mesue, was informed by armed thugs that “if you open that school, you yourself will be taken for ransom (kidnapped).”

But as the old saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed try, try again.” Just a few months later Pastor Isreal proposed to continue teaching his students in Cameroon via “Satellite Seminary” in order to re-invigorate students about preparing for the full-time ministry. Pastor Isreal spends six weeks on the road, spending up to two weeks in each of the three districts of the Lutheran Church of Cameroon (LCC). He is currently teaching lessons on “The Three Ecumenical Creeds,” “Homiletics (Preaching)” and “The Large Catechism” (Pt 1 – Commandments), together with worksheets, discussion topics and even tests for those courses.

Rev. Isreal began his first tour in the Western Bakossi District (Nyadong Village) with students Thomas and Vincent. The teaching went well and the students were happy to be back into the books. One of the LCC’s members sat in on the classes at Nyandong and decided that he might be interested in pursuing studies for the ministry in the future. If the Satellite Seminary program runs smoothly, James will be able to start his studies in September of 2022! We see the Lord of the harvest answering our prayers to provide men who are eager to serve him.

It can be bumpy at times teaching seminary students on the road. On his trip to the Northwest District, Pastor Israel’s bus broke down close to where some of fighting has been taking place between pro-government and separatist forces. When the military showed up, Pastor Isreal found himself less ten feet away from a shoot-out! Thankfully nobody was injured. Pastor Isreal looks to the Lord for protection and praises him for the many things that went well on his first trip.

Two weeks ago Rev. Israel was at Northwestern District (Mbemi Village) with the Chairman of the Board for Worker Training Rev. Fon George, along with students Crispos and David. He was a bit delayed in starting his visit there because of another “project” in his home town of Kumba where he is teaching students Ferdinand and Solo (pictured here writing their final tests).

A French-speaking student, Jean-Jacque, did not join his fellow students in the English-speaking region of Cameroon because of the political climate. Nico, another student, was not able to join the program either because of his work. Both Jean-Jacque and Nico will have some catching up to do. While at Kumba there were a few interruptions, but Rev. Isreal adjusted the schedule as necessary to ensure that the students learned the material well.

It was a great blessing for both the students and their teacher to spend time together in God’s Word during this “Seminary road trip.” The next step will be to “try, try again” and bring all the students together on the campus of the LCC Seminary at Barombi Kang in Kumba. Please pray for the peace and safety of the people of Cameroon, and that God continues to bless the work of our partners in the LCC.

Dan Kroll lives in Malawi and coordinates OAT’s work in 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

It is hard to believe that the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA) has been running the Greater African Theological Studies Institute (GRATSI) now for almost 9 years. With assistance of visiting professors from the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) LCCA pastors from Malawi and Zambia receive further opportunities to obtain advanced degrees in theological studies. The first class called GRATSI 2010 graduated in 2014 and now the second GRATSI class called GRATSI 2014 graduated on July 19, 2019.

The GRATSI 2014 class spent nearly five years meeting two to three times a year in week-long face to face study courses with visiting PSI professors. Class sessions were taught alternatively on the campuses of the Lutheran Bible Institute in Lilongwe, Malawi and the Lutheran Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia.  On July 19, nine LCCA pastors received a Bachelors of Divinity Diploma from visiting Professor Paul Koelpin, who was representing the PSI program of the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Over 30 other LCCA pastors were able to take part in the graduation ceremonies as well, because the graduation event coincided with the close of this year’s Pastors’ Continuing Education course.

The GRATSI program is a work in progress. For the first time, a cohort of four GRATSI 2010 graduates has been formed to pursue a GRATSI Master’s Degree.  These men have been meeting in several on-line courses, as well as a face to face classes with visiting Professor Paul Koelpin. In an attempt to broaden the GRATSI program beyond the borders of Malawi and Zambia to all of Africa, pastors from other African Synods in our fellowship were invited to attend several sessions of the just concluded GRATSI 2014 cohort. This is in keeping with the GRATSI namesake of the Greater African Theological Studies Institute.

But the Lord has blessed One Africa Team with an even broader vision for our efforts to deliver advanced theological training to our partners in Africa. Soon the name “GRATSI” will be changing to “Confessional Lutheran Institute” (CLI). Course work prepared by the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s PSI for the GRATSI program has now also been used in other Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) church bodies outside of Africa. God has blessed WELS with the opportunity to continue advanced training for Lutheran theological workers and pastors not only in Africa, but also throughout the world. May God grant success to our endeavors as we seek to “encourage one another and build each other up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

Acting LCCA Seminary Principal
Philip Birner

Moses was on his bike at sunup this morning, with his wife
and child riding behind him. He pedaled for two hours on dirt footpaths through
rolling hills to reach the village of Msambo, where the Lutheran Mobile Clinic
is seeing patients today. His child has ringworm, and the Lutheran clinic in
Msambo is the best bet for a cure since government-run hospitals rarely have
medicines in stock.

But Moses has another task to perform. He is an elder in his
church at the village of Thawale, where he reads sermons to people worshipping
at the local LCCA congregation when the pastor is absent. Moses has the
privilege of speaking a message from God’s word to the patients gathered in
Msambo today. He has chosen Psalm 39 as his text: “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is” (v4). Watch a
video of Moses reading these verses in Chichewa at https://youtu.be/QLOByFGjY48

The average life expectancy in Malawi today is 64 years –
about 15 years less than in the United States, but up considerably from the
mid-40’s in the early 2000’s. AIDS, Malaria, diarrhea and respiratory
infections are the leading causes of death in Malawi. The consequences of
mankind’s fall from grace are clearly evident here.

The treatment that the Lutheran Mobile Clinic provides is
primarily preventative in nature. The development of expectant mothers and
young children is monitored, patients are screened for malaria and children are
given immunizations. Classes on nutrition and hygiene are taught and vitamins, food
supplements and formula for orphans are distributed. Children under the age of 5
and pregnant women receive Vitamin A  to
support normal vision, and infants from 6 months to 2 years receive
micronutrient supplements. The level of care is basic, but greatly appreciated
by those who have nowhere else to turn.

On clinic days, the people line up to be seen on a first
come, first serve basis. Adult patients pay a fee of 500 kwacha (about 75 cents,
half a day’s wages) to be seen and receive treatment, including medicine. Expecting
mothers pay a one-time fee of 500 kwacha and receive free prenatal exams
thereafter. All pregnant women receive HIV testing and counseling, and tests
for syphilis and anemia. The fee for children under the age of 5 is 300 kwacha.
There are different stations for the exams of children and adults, and a room
for private consultations. During the rainy season when malaria is endemic,
clinic workers can see over 300 patients in a day. 

The Bible urges us to do good to all people and especially
our fellow Christians as we have the opportunity to put our Christian love into
action (Gal. 6:10). Whether you live in a developing country or in the United
States, your days are numbered by God. Make faithful use of the resources he
has entrusted to you for this life, as you look forward to days without end. 

The Lutheran Mobile Clinic in Malawi is an arm of the
Central African Medical Mission (CAMM), a subsidiary of WELS World Missions.
This program is completely funded by private donors and groups, and not by
Congregational Mission Offerings to the WELS. You can find out more about CAMM
at http://www.camm.us/