God is Goood! There was JOY! There was hugging and much excitement! It had been nearly five years since we had worked side by side as Lutheran women in Cameroon. The cause for our separation was not being too busy and failing to keep in touch. A political conflict culminating in a civil war forced us to leave Cameroon in 2018.
Victims of Trauma
I, along with three pastors’ wives and two laywomen gathered together in Douala, Cameroon, away from the conflict, for a purpose. As a pastor’s wife and former social worker, one purpose for this visit was to gather with the women to educate them about trauma and how they can offer support to the many IDPs (internally displaced persons) that live among them. And that is when the stories came. Combatants brutally murdered one woman’s father-in-law. She and her family now keep seventeen IDPs who have lost their home and have no other place to go. (Imagine your family coming to Christmas dinner and not leaving). Another woman lost her home and has been living (hiding) in the bush for over a year. Another was out in the field planting crops and returned to find her entire village, including her house, had burned to the ground.
Many homes have been burned
After they shared their stories there was a pause in the conversation. What could I say that wouldn’t sound condescending or trite? I came to Cameroon to teach the women about trauma and how we could bring the comfort of God’s love to the IDPs, but they themselves have experienced that trauma. Real trauma. Not the way we sometimes use the word to describe a bad day. And yet their focus was not on themselves, but rather, on how they could help others.
Victors in Christ
One of my sisters pierced the silence and exclaimed with a big smile, “God is goood!”. I will confess, that was not the first thought that entered my mind. But I think this is what Nehemiah (8:10b) is referring to when he says, “Do not grieve. The joy of the Lord is your strength”.
The six of us had six blessed days together. As I mentioned, one of the reasons we gathered together was to learn how to help IDPs; but that wasn’t all. We gathered together around the word of God from which we get all comfort, all joy, and all hope. “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
We will never find peace in this world of sin. We find peace alone in Christ who has redeemed us from our sins and won eternal life with him in heaven.
In the meantime please pray for your brothers and sisters in Cameroon. Pray for their safety, pray for their ministry, and for an end to the conflict. And remember…yes, God is indeed goood!
Karen Kroll lives in Malawi with her husband Dan, who serves as the One Africa Team Liaison 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. 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
New and Old Brooms
The difference between new and old brooms is summarized in a proverb. “The new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom knows the corners.” The meaning is that while youth brings energy to a situation, people with experience bring more knowledge.
A fresh set of eyes helps you see things you’ve overlooked or grown accustomed to. The Africa Regional CELC gathering in Lusaka, Zambia this month brought together both new and old WELS mission partners. The former brought fresh perspective and energy. The latter brought experience and encouragement. The exchange was invaluable for all.
A Practical Conference
The agenda set real-life ministry issues before the delegates. The first presentation addressed the pros and cons of church-run businesses. One of the “new brooms” represented at the conference was the LCMC-Kenya. Its president, Rev. Mark Anariko Onunda, delivered a paper on this topic. He wrote, “Our churches are poor and the poverty of the church workers leads to a crisis of the spirit.” Generally speaking, African pastors are poorly compensated by their members, due to various factors. Many African pastors operate small business ventures to help support their families. Some are more skilled at managing their time and money than others.
The first community of believers chose seven deacons to manage the financial affairs of the church. They left the apostles free to give their attention to prayer and the ministry of the word (Ac 6:4). Rev. Onunda noted that skilled laypeople can run church businesses well,. Pastors should concentrate on the spiritual needs of their flocks.
Training Shepherds
One Africa Team Leader Rev. Howard Mohlke led a Bible study on Christian service, both private and public. The number of organized African congregations is much higher than the number of ordained clergymen available to serve them. Many view the term “pastor” as a title of respect rather than as a calling to serve. Rev. Mohlke noted that the word “pastor” is a verb that means “to shepherd”. The shepherd’s job is to care for the needs of the sheep. All Christians have the gifts and responsibility to personally serve one another as members of Christ’s body. Some Christians have been called to serve in public ministry on behalf of the congregation. The essence of their work as public ministers is the same as that of all Christians. It is a humble, Spirit-filled service that focuses people’s attention on the Gospel of Christ.
traveling to lunch at a local restaurant
The LCCA Zambia is one of the “old brooms”. One of the WELS’ oldest Gospel partners in Africa, Rev. Davison Mutentami is its President. His presentation touched on the kind of training needed for a healthy church. In his words, “Africa has been invaded by prophets and preachers from all walks of life. Africans have been invaded by teachings that are likely to deny them a chance to receive the true message of salvation by grace.” Many churches are led by people with no formal or informal Biblical training. Several African governments are considering legislation to require that pastors obtain a degree from an accredited institution.
But training should not be limited to members of the clergy. One size does not fit all. There are many local church leaders who would benefit from training tailored to their needs and abilities. The curriculum of many Lutheran seminaries is a treasured heritage to be sure. However, there are other practical skills to learn that will benefit both pastors and their congregations. One of the delegates, a layperson, made the following insightful comment. “Theological education’s purpose isn’t to turn a man into a gospel minister, but to help him do gospel ministry.” That kind of training will certainly result in a healthy church.
communion worship service
A Layperson’s Perspective
An accountant by trade and a former Treasurer of the LCCA Zambia, Mr. Zororai Shoko delivered the fourth presentation. He very effectively demonstrated the need for financial accountability and transparency in the church. Mr. Shoko made his case by citing examples from both the Bible and recent case studies. He wrote, “whenever a person in power – especially the power of handling finances – tries to avoid transparency and accountability, the Church is in danger.”
When Mr. Shoko served as the treasurer of a local congregation, members asked to borrow funds from the general offerings. He refused, even though this had been standard practice in the past. Some congregations did not have bank accounts, but offerings were handled single-handedly either by the treasurer or the pastor. This lack of checks and balances has damaging consequences for the pastor and the church. According to one study, in 2019 Christian organizations were estimated to have lost $68 billion due to fraud. In the same timeframe, donors were expected to give $60 billion for worldwide mission work.
Part of the reason for low offerings is a spiritual problem, but another is the lack of accountability. Fiscal malfeasance is endemic in the government. Nevertheless, Mr. Shoko remarked that “people expect more from the church than from the government.” The solution to these problems is simple. The church must establish clear procedures for counting, depositing, and accounting for funds entrusted to them. In the absence of such procedures, sinful human beings will take advantage of the opportunity. Mr. Shoko shared this final anecdote: A thief was asked if he would give up stealing. His reply? “Not if they remain so careless.”
(L-R) Africa CELC officers: Rev. Mathias Abumbi (Vice-Chairman), Rev. Davison Mutentami (Chairman). Mr. Effraim Adiuko (Treasurer), Rev. Mark Onunda (Secretary)
Prayer Requests
Delegates from each of the seven synods attending the CELC Africa Regional meeting presented a brief history of their church bodies. They also mentioned requests for prayers. May I ask you to join me in praying for our African brothers?
The Lutheran Church of Cameroon: pray that God end the current war that has led members from seven congregations to flee the region
The LCMC-Kenya: pray that God will relieve the current famine and grant peaceful relations between various ethnic groups in the country
The LCCA-Malawi Synod: pray that God will empower the leaders of the congregations and the synod as a whole to use offerings in a transparent and accountable way
Obadiah Lutheran Synod (Uganda): pray that God will help them train church leaders and build up their church body’s infrastructure
The LCCA-Zambia Synod: pray that God will grant pastors the courage to serve under extremely difficult circumstances and give the church body spiritual growth
May God bless the efforts of both new and old brooms to sweep souls into His Kingdom everywhere!
Missionary John Roebke 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
How did you Become a Christian?
How did you become a Christian? When did it happen? Were there other people who helped you to know Christ?
When I arrived, I asked each student to share his story. How did you become a Christian? When did it happen? Were there other people who helped you to know Christ? All of them had interesting stories. One student is the son of the LCE’s one and only pastor. He didn’t ask to be born into that family, but he was. And that is how he became a Christian. Another student was a Sudanese man who came to Ethiopia as a refugee. His mother and father were not Christian, but he learned about Jesus from his uncle, a man who is now a pastor in the WELS. That’s how he became a Christian.
Missionary Mark Panning and Rev. Dr. Kebede Getachew Yigezu of the LCE
I shared my story, too. A father who was my seminary professor, who taught me so many ‘big religious words’ and deep truths about the scriptures that I can’t possibly remember all of them. A mother who led me in my bedtime prayers, prayers that were so foundational to my spiritual development that I can’t possibly forget even one of them. And that’s how I became a Christian.
All of us told very different stories, but one thing was the same in every one of them. We were all so grateful to God for the people who helped us to know Christ.
St. Timothy had a story, too. His father was a Greek who almost certainly did not believe in Jesus. But Timothy’s mother was a dedicated Christian, and his grandmother was, too. That’s how Timothy became a Christian. Paul wrote in his Second Letter to Timothy, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason, I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you” (2 Timothy 1:5,6).
How can we thank God for those who shared the word of God with us? And how can we honor those who have led us to faith in Christ? St. Paul tells us how. ”Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it” (2 Timothy 3:14).
For about two weeks, the students and I studied the word of God in the Letters to Timothy and Titus. We grew in our understanding of the gospel. We honed our abilities to share God’s word with others and lead people to Christ. That’s the best way to thank God for his blessings.
When people tell their stories and thank God for those who helped them to know Christ, how many people will thank God for you?
Mark Panning lives in Malawi and is the One Africa Team Field Liaison to the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia
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
