WELS Friends of Africa

Imagine you go to church.  You know it is time for the Psalm, but in the bulletin you see the heading: Salimo 1. Under it, you try to solve the new puzzle of a new language.

Ngwodala munthu wosatsata uphungu wa anthu oipa,
wosatsanzira mayendedwe a anthu ochimwa,
wosakhala nawo m’gulu la anthu onyoza Mulungu,
koma wokondwerera kumvera malamulo a Chauta,
nkumasinkhasinkha za malamulowo usana ndi usiku.
Munthuyo ali ngati mtengo wobzalidŵa m’mbali mwa mtsinje wa madzi,
ngati mtengo wobereka zipatso pa nthaŵi yake,
umene masamba ake safota konse.
Zochita zake zonse zimamuyendera bwino. Continue reading “Water for Roots and Fruits”

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is…teaching, then teach” (Romans 12:6-7)

The Lutheran Church of Cameroon in West Africa has 31 congregations served by only 8 pastors. No new pastors have graduated since 1999. In 2014, Missionary Dan Kroll arrived in the town of Kumba as the lone WELS missionary in the country. In the Fall of 2016, Missionary Kroll and one other Cameroonian Pastor began training a new class of 11 pre-seminary students. Their work is challenging for sure, but is greatly enhanced by WELS volunteers who come to Cameroon for short-term teaching trips. Could you be a future volunteer teacher? Read Missionary Kroll’s post and find out more.

Continue reading “A Teacher’s Mission”

“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.” (1 Cor. 3:6)

To me, everything was business as usual.  Nothing stood out as extraordinary.  It was just another meeting.

Two weeks ago, the leaders of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa-Malawi Synod (LCCA-MS) met with the leaders of the WELS mission in Malawi.  Five Malawians represented the local synod.  Three missionaries represented WELS. We gathered at a rustic little lodge on the southern shores of Lake Malawi in a region called Mangochi. 

The scenery was stunning, but the meeting felt routine to me.  In the past 10 or 12 years, I have participated in dozens and dozens of such meetings.  So when we gathered in Mangochi, I didn’t think much of it.  It took the fresh perspective of a newly-arrived missionary to recognize what was extraordinary. Continue reading “God’s Business – As Ususal”