Another book is being written, and I can guarantee a good read. It includes the Rob and Rebecca Wendland family, and so many more.

Maybe you already read the first book that Rebecca authored.  She compiled a selection of emails that she and Rob had written to their family and friends over the years while in Malawi, Africa; it was those very writings that became the basis for her book, “Bloom Where God Plants You.”

And they did. In 2003 God planted them in Malawi’s oldest city and main commercial and industrial center: Blantyre.   This is a busy, bustling southern region city of multi-story offices, markets, and mini-bus mayhem. The streets are as crowded as they are noisy.

Rob’s ministry work, however, for the most part, took him out of the city into the quiet, laidback African bush known as the “Lower Shire.”   It was there in the stillness of this valley where he would let the Lord Jesus whisper His own story of forgiving love.

In July of 2017 Rob accepted the call to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Even though Rob and the family are back in Wisconsin, it is this unique Malawi gospel ministry that is still fresh in his mind:  “Ministering to people in the Lower Shire & working with national pastors have been highlights.  Long days down to the Shire, dusty & bumpy roads with enthusiastic members receiving me at the end of the journey are wonderful memories.”

Wonderful memories indeed!  And what else will Rob miss about Malawi?

“Aspects of the culture and people – the rural lifestyle of my (former) members, the way respect is shown and received. The warmth of the people and also warm weather and climate…the people can show so much kindness and patience. The beautiful, tropical landscapes, as well as the relaxed idea of time, are also things I’ll miss.”

Rebecca, too, has her things that she will miss about Malawi:

“I will miss the enthusiasm of the village worship and singing along with the friendly people…I’ll miss the tropical weather, plants and country. I will also miss the mission ladies’ retreats studying and sharing together God’s Word.”

But is there anything Rebecca won’t miss?  Maybe a few things…

“I will not miss security issues, being far from family & sleeping under mosquito nets. I won’t miss power, water, internet & food outages and fuel shortages. I won’t miss the dust and mold.”

Though their daughter Bethany won’t miss waking up with clusters of bites from “who knows what kind of bugs,” she says she’s going to miss the fresh vegetables and fruits (like Litchis) and the delicious slabs of Chambo (aka tilapia) from Lake Malawi.

Hannah and Nathanael, who have been away from Malawi while schooling at Lutheran Prep School (LPS) in Watertown, Wisconsin, both share the same sentiment: “Though we will miss Malawi, it’s going to be nice to have the whole family back together again!”

Perhaps unknowingly, Caleb has been preparing for this day when they would move.  Throughout the years he’s been collecting stones.  When he and his family would visit various sites throughout Malawi, invariably he would find a stone and keep it.  He’s selected a few choice ones from his rock-pile stock-pile and has taken them to Wisconsin. Most likely you’ll find them proudly displayed on a shelf in his home.  His mom comments on his behalf: “Those stones bring back memories and are reminders of the special places and times with family…they will serve as concrete reminders of all the rich blessings we have enjoyed together.”

For Rob and Rebecca, those rich blessings have come over a span of 14 years in Malawi. But the house that was the Wendland home now stands vacant and quiet. No more Wendland birthday celebrations at the Kabula house. No more St. Andrew school runs. No more shopping trips in the Blantyre markets. No more holidays at the Lujeri Tea Estate. The things of Malawi are the things of the past.

The Malawi mission staff held a farewell for the Wendlands at their Fall retreat on the Zomba plateau. The Wendlands sorted and sold belongings. They took what they wanted and left behind what they didn’t. They packed up and movers came with their truck, which unfortunately was a little too wide to fit through their gate! They boarded a plane and said good bye to the Warm Heart of Africa and hello to the Dairy State of the USA.

But really it wasn’t the land of milk and cheese that beckoned them to move.  The Lord of the nations did. The One who called and equipped them to serve in Africa is the same One who now has called them to serve Him in America.

Rob will serve as a Church History and Homiletics Professor at the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.  Just think…Rob will have the opportunity to touch the lives of many men who will also go out one day – only God knows where – and proclaim the message of forgiveness in Christ.  The very same message that Rob had shared in the Lower Shire Valley in Malawi!  Imagine how blessed the Seminary students will be to have a professor who will be able to share his rich mission experience that the Lord had given to him on the Malawi field.  “Dear class, let me tell you about the time when…”

Maybe some of Rob’s classroom experiences and some of Rebecca’s home situations on the Seminary campus will end up in their emails.  Maybe Rebecca will write another book. But someone else is writing His book: our Lord God!   It is the Lamb’s book! (Rev. 21:27) Hasn’t He already begun writing?  Isn’t the Author of life also the Author of the Book of Life?  Isn’t He, in a sense, writing the chapters of our lives that are yet to be read?  And isn’t it true that every believer’s name is written in that book?

And when the last chapter is finally written, those same hands which wrote the book will be the same hands enthusiastically receiving every one of his believers at the end of this earth’s bumpy journey, including the Wendland family, and including you and me!  A Book we might call a “best seller?”  I think so!  An exciting read?  No doubt!

Even though the Wendlands are now gone from Malawi, they are not gone from the real Warm Heart of Africa which is Jesus Himself.  The Wendlands are securely tucked in Jesus’ arms like a page in a book.  The next chapter about the Wendland family is now being written. They have been received a new calling. A new home. A new congregation. A new circle of people.  In a sense, a new planting by the Gardener Himself. Another place to bloom.

Missionary John Holtz lives in Lilongwe, Malawi

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

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.

Let’s chart the flow of these three streams. Rev. Henry Nau (LCMS) headed Immanuel Lutheran College in Greensboro, North Carolina. The Ibesikpo people sent Jonathan Ekong, the son of a local chief, to America to study and to find a church mission sponsor. Ekong was a very brave young Christian witness, who had already influenced his father and other leaders to become Christians. At Immanuel Lutheran College Ekong met Rev. Nau. They urged the Synodical Conference committee to choose Nigeria as its new overseas field. That committee sent three men, including Nau, to explore Nigeria’s potential in 1935. The Synodical Conference sent Rev. and Mrs. Nau to Nigeria in 1936 to prepare the field for the first permanent missionaries.

Nau lived on the Nigeria field for 18 months, the last six months overlapping the arrival of the first permanent Synodical Conference missionary, Rev. Bill Schweppe (WELS) and his wife Leola in 1937. Under Schweppe, the Lutheran Mission expanded in every direction. His partners were missionaries, teachers, doctors, and nurses representing LCMS, WELS and ELS. Equally important was the work of many faithful Nigerian pastors, teachers, and leaders. The “big station” mission strategy was typical for that time: churches, elementary schools, Lutheran high school, teaching training school, clinics, hospital, and seminary. These mission efforts were the tributary streams of a broad river named The Lutheran Church of Nigeria.

When the ELS and WELS left the Synodical Conference, the work in Nigeria was left to the LCMS. By 1962 WELS no longer participated in the work in Nigeria.

Diversions and Confluences

When civil war came to Nigeria in 1967, Lutherans were caught in the conflict. In just three years, the Biafran war brought horrible suffering and atrocities. The Lutheran Church of Nigeria also became divided against itself. In 1969 Lutherans of the Anang clan north of Abak withdrew from the LCN and formed Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nigeria (CKLCN) with one pastor, two seminary seniors and fifteen congregations. Many Lutherans resisted this division, sometimes with violence. Some leaders of the new movement were arrested.

Several sons studying in the U.S. during these years lobbied WELS to link with the newly-formed Lutheran synod in Nigeria. Rev. E. H. Wendland, Rev. Theodore Sauer and a number of other WELS missionaries and pastors made teaching visits. In 1981 WELS declared fellowship with CKLCN. The confluence of these two rivers brought the CKLCN guidance, training, and support from WELS. Starting in 1985, WELS Counselor Rev. John Kurth made repeated visits for several years. Christ the King Lutheran Seminary started its first class with Rev. Larry Schlomer and Rev. Prof. Harold Johne as instructors and graduated its first class of six in 1994.

In 1991, a second diversion from the Lutheran Church of Nigeria developed 250 miles to the northeast in Ogoja. This group registered as All Saints Lutheran Church of Nigeria (ASLCN). They also suffered some arrests and violence. It is interesting that Rev. Nau had completed a round trip to Ogoja by cycle, canoe, lorry, and by foot already in 1935. ASLCN people were unaware of CKLCN and of WELS. They thought they were standing alone in the world, but the Master Weaver knit the strands together. God led the leader of ASLCN to worship at a CKLCN congregation in Calabar, 175 miles from his home. CKLCN and WELS made visits to the Ogoja area and joined in mutual doctrinal studies. In 2000 CKLCN and ASLCN declared joint fellowship. In 2001 WELS declared fellowship with ASLCN, completing the confluence of these three rivers of God’s grace. At the time, All Saints Lutheran had two pastors and twenty congregations. All Saints accepted the hand of church fellowship without expecting WELS subsidy for salaries and synod expenses. Even so, there are many benefits for ASLCN, the most important of which is training for their new pastors. Since 2004 ASLCN has ordained 15 pastors who were trained in partnership with CKLCN and WELS.

Our River of Grace in Nigeria Today

For the last 15 years, the WELS river guide on the confluence of CKLCN, ASLCN and WELS was Rev. Douglas Weiser. After Weiser’s retirement in 2017, Rev. Jeff Heitsch answered the WELS call to be a missionary to both Cameroon and Nigeria. He and his wife Stephanie moved to Bamenda, Cameroon where Heitsch will assist pastors and congregations of the Lutheran Church of Cameroon. He will also continue making visits to Nigeria to assist the two synods there and to provide WELS oversight for the theological training of pastors. It’s a multi-task call, and we trust the Lord God to provide and sustain.

Without resident WELS missionaries, the two synods of Nigeria must be more independent than most. They do not enjoy the level of face to face contact and financial support that many other WELS missions have, but they persist because they believe in the need of the Nigerian people to hear the pure message of the Gospel. In this 49^th year of CKLCN and 27^th year of ASLCN, pray for the Lord’s continued blessings on these two synods and the WELS missionaries and volunteer instructors who ply the river of God’s grace with them.        

For further information about the history of Lutheranism in Nigeria click here

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

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!

The three groups are the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ, in Kenya; the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church, made up of members of the Nuer tribe from South Sudan, but presently living in refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia; and the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia, founded by Dr. Kabede in Bishoptu, Ethiopia, which is in fellowship with the WELS.

On the day we arrived in Kenya, we met with leaders of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ.  We were joined by Professor Allen Sorum from the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Wisconsin, and Pastor Mark Onunda, President of the LCMC and also our chauffeur and guide. We visited  with both LCMC members and pastors. At each place Pastor Mweete taught on Church Fellowship, Prof. Sorum taught the Doctrine of the Church and I taught on Pentecostal issues.

Our purpose was to teach the people what the Bible says on these topics so that the members of the LCMC may decide if they agree with us. I look forward to April 2018 when a delegation from the LCMC will be traveling to Lusaka and meeting with the LCCA-Z Doctrinal Committee for more formal discussions as the churches work toward fellowship.

You can read more about the LCMC Kenya visit at  https://welsfriendsofafrica.com/true-friends-of-the-bible/

On 16 October Pastor Mweete and I started the next leg of our journey.  We flew into Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and were joined by Missionary Terry Schultz from the USA and Pastor Peter Bur. Pastor Bur is a South Sudanese of the Nuer tribe who immigrated to the United States several years ago and graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2015. Because of flight connections we had an overnight layover, which gave Terry Schultz time to go shopping for clothes because his luggage had not arrived from the USA. It also gave us time to visit the Orthodox Church where Emperor Haile Selassie is buried. The stained glass windows and stone statues made us think we had arrived in Europe!

On 18 October we flew out to Gambela, Ethiopia where four refugee camps are located. Because of a civil war within the country of South Sudan, over one million people have fled the violence into neighboring countries of Kenya, Ethiopia, Sudan and Uganda.  Pastor Bur has been teaching Lutheran pastors and church leaders who have organized themselves into the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church within the refugee camps.

A choir of singing and dancing men and women came out to greet us as we dismounted from our Bajaj taxi, a three-wheeled vehicle with room for three passengers. We were led inside the church yard and seated on a bench, where the women took off our shoes and socks and poured water over our feet. That was a welcome I have never experienced before!

The ten pastors and six evangelists who had gathered are from the Nuer tribe. The Nuer are easily recognized by the traditional practice of scarification. Men have scar lines across their foreheads and women have scars on their cheeks.

Over the next few days, Terry Schultz taught the leaders about the doctrine of Justification. Pastor Bur taught from Luther’s Catechism, which he had translated into the language of the Nuer. Pastor Mweete and I each taught a lesson and conducted a devotion. Pastor Bur was busy as he taught his own lessons and translated for the rest of us. Each day we rode the Bajaj taxi to our hotel, where monkeys watched us as we ate our meals. We never used the horse-drawn taxi-carts, one of which almost ran over us one day!

Plans are in the works for further training and encouragement of our Nuer brothers and sisters in the refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia. Please pray that the fighting stops soon, so that they can return to their homeland in South Sudan and be a blessing to the church there.

On 21 October Pastor Mweete and I flew back to Bishoptu, Ethiopia in time for the installation of a new pastor in the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia and the second graduation of the Maor Theological College and Seminary. Maor Theological College was founded and is run by Dr. Kebede Yizgezu. Dr. Kebede is the founder and President of the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia as well as the primary professor of the College and Seminary.  This year’s graduating class numbered 34 students in six different levels of theology. Dr. Kebede was the only pastor in the church until the ordination and graduation of a second pastor, Shambel Hordofa Robi. Prof. Allen Sorum from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary preached at the service and Pastor Mweete and I assisted with the presentation of diplomas.

Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary currently sends its professors on short-term teaching trips to Maor Theological College. We pray that this arrangement may continue, and that other avenues of training the leaders of God’s church in Africa may be explored as well.

These are our brothers and sisters in Christ from Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan! All of them rejoice with us in the Scriptural truth of full and free salvation! All of them are thankful to celebrate the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation! Let us give thanks to God for our fellow Lutheran Christians and pray for their growth in the truths of his grace!

Missionary John Hartmann lives in Lusaka, Zambia and coordinates outreach for One African Team

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