“Preach the word,” Paul told Timothy.

Paul was in prison in Rome, facing execution for Jesus.

“Preach the word,” Paul emphasized. “Be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage — with great patience and careful instruction” (2 Timothy 4:2).

A Joyful Celebration in Lusaka

“Preach the word,” Harland Goetzinger, head of the Pastoral Studies Institute of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary of Mequon, Wisconsin, USA, told 15 other pastors from 5 countries, plus all the other pastors and other guests in attendance, on May 28, 2026, in Lusaka, Zambia.

Guests included CELC synod leaders:

• Matthias Abumbi and Ngalame Gervase (Cameroon),
• Paul Mboya and Mark Anariko Onunda (Kenya),
• Ephraim Adiauko, Michael Egar, Wonah Johnson, and Stephen Stephen (Nigeria)
• Elias Mututwa and Mascrif Mulonda (Zambia).

Guests also included:

• Jonathan Bare of Asia Lutheran Seminary,
• David Bivens of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary,
• Anthony Phiri and Chibikubantu Simweeleba of Lusaka Lutheran Seminary, and
• Several WELS One Africa Team missionaries and their wives.

The 15 pastors from 5 countries were graduating in the chapel of the Lutheran Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia, with Bachelor of Divinity degrees from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

The 15 pastors:

•     Christopher Chisankulo (Zambia)
•     George Chumba (Malawi)
•     Mesue Isreal (Cameroon)
•     Evans Makowani (Zambia)
•     Stanford Mandevu (Malawi)
•     Steward Mbele (Zambia)
•     Titus Mbele (Zambia)
•     Bismark Ndumba (Zambia)
•     Richard Ochichi (Kenya)
•     Samwel Owage (Kenya)
•     Mathews Owidi-Osome (Kenya)
•     Du Shawa (Zambia)
•     Foster Soko (Zambia)
•     Aniedi Paul Udo (Nigeria)
•     Idorenyin Joshua Udo (Nigeria)

All of these men were already pastors before their bachelor’s degree studies began. Classes took place in person just twice a year. That way, men could attend to their main duties and their families without faraway studies getting in the way.

Two past cohorts of the former Greater African Theological Studies Institute (GRATSI) received bachelor’s degrees in 2014 and 2019. Those past graduates were all from Malawi or Zambia. This 2026 graduating BDiv cohort came from East, South, and West Africa!

Remember God’s Patience

“Preach the word,” Professor Goetzinger told them—the full word of God, including the law in all its sternness and the gospel in all its sweetness.

“Correct, rebuke, and encourage, with great patience and careful instruction.”

Great patience—what a root of the gospel. And great patience—what a fruit of the gospel.

“Great patience,” or “total patience,” you could even translate—how else could you describe the way God treated our first parents when they rebelled against him?

“Nothing but patience”—finally, God sent his Son to be born in Bethlehem to save the world through him.

And once Jesus rose from the dead, why would he appoint someone like Paul to be his ambassador?

“I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life” (1 Timothy 1:16).

Total patience—again, what a fruit of the gospel. What a fruit of the Spirit.

One Journey Ends, Another Begins

Our 2026 BDiv graduates and visiting Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary professors showed great patience with their first-time program coordinator, the undersigned, when he made rookie blunders.

Visiting professors for this cohort over the years:

•     David Bivens
•     Kenneth Cherney, Jr.
•     Paul Nitz
•     John Schuetze
•     E. Allen Sorum
•     Bradley Wordell

The fifteen 2026 BDiv graduates also showed great patience during Covid-19-related delays, long bus rides and flights, internet woes, visa mix-ups, and other class-related difficulties.

They showed great patience through daunting learning tasks, personal financial struggles, family sorrows, and other disappointments. One graduate, Mesue Israel, cheerfully went through hip replacement surgery during his studies. God sent all such bad things for good.

photo of Mesue Israel and Dan Witte after the service

And now they are back in their classrooms and congregations, showing the same great patience by the power of the Holy Spirit to the glory of God.

They are serving the saints. They are training future leaders. They are exemplifying great patience in all the ups and downs of living in Africa.

They are teaching the gospel not only with their words but with their lives. They are modeling great patience for people who will, in turn, model the great patience of God to others, as God’s kingdom comes by God’s Spirit.

That’s one reason why the last day hasn’t come yet. God is so patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

Africa has so many millions, especially in its biggest cities, who need to repent.

As we wrapped up graduation day together, I had all 15 men write brief thoughts on a sheet for each of the others: “One thing I really appreciated about _____________ during our time together was …”

Sheets were passed around until they reached the man the others had written about. Then each man read at least one of his favorites. How we laughed. We treasured the descriptions.

We prayed, we sang, and we hugged. Then went back to our homes in five different countries. The day for which we waited so long had finally come.

But we are still all waiting patiently.

“Our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3:20–21).

Daniel Witte is part of the WELS One Africa Team and lives in Lusaka, Zambia.

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

Last March, Missionary Howard Molhke and I made our first visit to a church in the Republic of Congo. The ROC, which is commonly referred to as Congo-Brazzaville, neighbors the Democratic Republic of Congo to the northwest. This is the first time ever that WELS missionaries have traveled to this country. The Eglise Evangélique Luthérienne du Congo-Brazzaville (EELCB) reached out to WELS and the One Africa Team because they wanted to remain a confessional Lutheran Church. 

Searching the Scriptures

We met all 10 pastors in the EELCB. The WELS’ process for establishing formal relations with another church body begins with a preliminary visit. In a preliminary visit, our goal is to learn as much as we can about a church body. Also, we provide information about the history of the WELS and working with OAT.

The first two days of our meetings were about their church. We also worked through the pamphlet, “What the Bible and Lutherans Teach,” an overview of doctrine. We used this document to discover our common beliefs and to identify topics that need further study. We also studied Ephesians chapter 2, and discussed the practice of baptism.

Meeting the Members

We visited four churches and met some of the members of EELCB. It was amazing to see their push to worship in places where they have only a roof and no real building. I am meeting online regularly with EELCB leaders to continue discussions. We are already making plans for future in-person meetings to continue our process of establishing fellowship. 

The work in the ROC is a great example of the opportunities for outreach that God is presenting the OAT here in Africa. We help church bodies that want to be confessionally Lutheran. In addition, we are pursuing relationships with churches that are already confessional Lutherans and desire contact with others. The One Africa Team is developing a large network of confessional Lutheran churches across Africa. This may have been the first time for WELS missionaries to visit the Republic of Congo, but it certainly will not be the last.

Missionary Jake Vilhauer lives in Zambia and coordinates outreach efforts to French-speaking Christians living in 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

Pastor Jon Bilitz is a member of the WELS Commission in Inter-Church Relations (CICR). He recently returned from a meeting with the leaders of the Confessional Lutheran Synod of Uganda (CLSU).

Have you ever reached into a pocket and discovered money you didn’t remember putting there? The discovery is completely unexpected—and delightful.

First Impressions of CLSU

That is how I felt after a recent trip to Uganda to visit the Confessional Lutheran Synod of Uganda (CLSU). At the end of March, I accompanied One Africa Team missionary Ben Foxen on a visit to Ibanda, located in the western hills of the country. Because it was my first time representing the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR), I wasn’t sure what to expect. In the end, the experience far exceeded anything I could have imagined.

The purpose of our visit was to explore a potential partnership between WELS and the CLSU. Together, we studied CLSU’s statement of faith and constitution, asking questions for clarification and deeper understanding. These discussions proved both productive and encouraging. The CLSU holds firmly to the Bible, teaching and preaching in accordance with Scripture. We share a strong emphasis on gospel ministry that keeps Jesus at the center. We pray for and look forward to the day when our synods can formally declare fellowship.

The CLSU consists of 40 congregations across Uganda, with approximately 3,200 baptized members. After analyzing the demographics of their congregations, their leadership has developed a clear plan for ministry. With nearly 80% of their members under the age of 18, they are focusing on youth ministry and strengthening catechism instruction. They are also working to expand access to education through their schools and are eager to encourage more young men to pursue seminary training and become pastors. In short, they have ambitious goals, coupled with a deep trust in God’s blessings.

Connected Through Christ

On a personal note, getting to know the members of the CLSU leadership team is something I will carry with me for years to come. Worship on Palm Sunday was a particular highlight. Witnessing the faith and dedication of these Christian men—and forming friendships with them—was a remarkable joy. Though they live on another continent, I now count them among my dear Christian friends. Our time together lasted only a few days, but the memories will last a lifetime.

This trip also gave me valuable insight into the work of our One Africa Team missionaries. Watching Pastor Foxen interact with the CLSU was a joy and an encouragement. God is clearly blessing the efforts of our pastors in Africa as they seek out partnerships with groups like the CLSU. The Holy Spirit is powerfully at work through the Word, bringing souls into God’s kingdom. Uganda is a vivid example of the gospel as “the power of God for the salvation of all who believe” (Romans 1:16).

In the end, perhaps the unexpected joy of this trip should not have been so surprising. God is always at work, advancing his kingdom. I look forward to the day when believers from every nation will gather for an eternity in his presence. That joy will far surpass even the happiest unexpected discovery.

Pastor Jon Bilitz serves as a full-time campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, located on the campus of the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

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