Handle With Care

…correctly handling the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15 EHV

For six days, over 30 men of varied theological and educational backgrounds came together as congregational shepherds of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) in Uganda. What brought them together was a united confession faith adhering to the Lutheran Confessions, and a commitment to handle the word of God carefully.

In the past year, the OLS has been sharing its confession of faith with many people and throughout the country of Uganda. In response, many individuals, and groups are eager to be part of a church that focuses on the word of God.

*The “tabernacle” purchased by OLS with funds from WELS donors*

However, as a young church body, it does not have a traditional worker training program and if it did, it would take years to prepare enough preachers to serve all the congregations. Therefore, the OLS has realized that it needs to equip and train the elders and leaders of the congregations in a way that will allow them to continue to serve as they learn.

With this goal in mind, the OLS has asked the One Africa Team (OAT) of WELS World Missions to host workshops that will train the leaders of local congregations to be better equipped to handle the word of truth carefully and share it with their congregations.

Therefore, from August 29 to September 3, Rev. Howard Mohlke of the OAT with the few Pastors of the OLS presented a workshop on basic Bible interpretation, and basic devotion/sermon preparation. The main objective of the workshop was to ensure that all participants could read the Bible and recognize the difference between what God asks us to do, law, and what he has done for us, the gospel. A second objective was that church leaders faithfully share that truth in a clear and simple manner.

Additionally, copies of a Catechism Sermon book, developed in Africa and available through Multi-language Publications were distributed to all the participants. The last two days were used to learn how to use the sermon book for personal and public study and preaching.

Over the week, the progress was evident. As the days went by, the preaching of “what God has done for us” to comfort and motivate became clearer. As a result, the temptation to preach a legalistic message faded away.

After each message was shared with the group, the group would then give feedback. That feedback always began with the simple question, “what the gospel proclaimed?” It was then followed by, “what specific promise of God was proclaimed?” It was encouraging to see such honest feedback given in such an encouraging way. No one was criticized but all criticism was given to help one another improve in their presentation of the gospel.

Little by little, Rev. Mohlke’s participation became less, as the experienced pastors and leaders of the OLS led the training and review. This to was done on purpose, so that such training could continue in the OLS without the need for an OAT missionary.

Overall, the workshop in Uganda is a great example of the work of the WELS World Missions One Africa Team. The need for such a workshop was identified by the leadership of the OLS. The workshop focused on the development of word ministry through the art of shepherding. Then finally, the knowledge and skills shared at the workshop will immediately benefit the ministries of OLS congregations.

In this way, the OAT carries out its mission of working with partners in Africa to teach the scriptures, gather the lost, and shepherd God’s people.

Missionary Howard Mohlke is the Leader of One Africa Team and lives in 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

Are We Together?

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts (Acts 2:46)

Our Lutheran brothers in West Africa often ask out loud, “Are we together?” It’s partly because poor internet connections make it difficult to understand one another. But the question also serves the purpose of verifying group unity during the discussion of vitally important issues.

Together with Missionaries

“Are we together?” is a question that WELS missionaries in Africa can respond to with a resounding, “Yes!” Through weekly online meetings, daily email exchanges, and instant messages the missionaries living in Malawi and in Zambia strive to work closely together.

singing God's praises together — *The opening worship service of our quarterly meeting in Lusaka*

Last month, the members of the One Africa Team gathered together in Lusaka, Zambia. It was their first face-to-face meeting since 2019. This was an opportunity to renew personal relationships. We also officially welcomed new missionaries Ben Foxen and Keegan Dowling to our team. We face the exciting challenge of knitting together a new team. After 54 years of service, Missionary Ernst Wendland has retired. Several other missionaries will be returning to the States over the next several years,

getting together after the worship service — *Making new friends and renewing old acquaintances*

Our missionaries are also working together to develop new strategies to pursue new mission opportunities across the African continent. We are not abandoning our old friends in Central Africa! Our partners’ stability permits us to consider the redeployment of some of our staff to other regions. It is a humbling privilege to be on the ground floor of these initial conversations. We are developing these plans together and trust the Lord of the harvest to direct us.

Working with Partners

One Africa Team is the face of the WELS in Africa. As such, we act on behalf of our Synod as a “granting agency.” We manage the resources that donors have entrusted to us for kingdom work. One Africa Team works with ministries that 1) share the full Word of God 2) gather and shepherd flocks with Word and Sacrament, and 3) promote local responsibility and ownership. The ministries that meet these criteria are what WELS World Missions considers “healthy” and worthy of support.

discussing future plans together — *Our team members from the US joined our sessions remotely*

Changes to the status quo are both exhilarating and frightening. Missionaries must trust one another unreservedly. New mission families desire to be integrated into the team. Mission partners want to see that their counterparts pay attention to their concerns. We all need encouragement to stand firm against Satan’s assaults on the Gospel. Meeting together in person meets all of these needs and many more. “Are we together?” “By the grace of God, we are together!”

Missionary John Roebke lives in Malawi

TELL-ing the World About Jesus

WELS Multi-Language Publications sponsors the TELL Network which offers online Bible courses to students around the world. One Africa Team missionaries are involved in teaching some of the courses, as well as pastors living in the United States. This week’s post features testimonials from two WELS pastors who are volunteering their time to teach students, due to a large number of new students.

Awakened Interest

Rev. Paul Spaude serves St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Niles, IL.

Recently Elizabeth joined my Zoom TELL class and asked for a prayer request: sleep. For whatever reason, it had evaded her. We prayed and God quickly answered. I asked Elizabeth a question; we heard deafening silence. Hours later WhatsApp dinged, “Pastor! I’m so sorry! I fell asleep in class!” Sleep may have found Elizabeth because she had been awake for over thirty hours – or her teacher was a bit boring. I am not going to seek out an answer. Regardless, Elizabeth has been back for more lessons because she loves studying the Bible with TELL.

Pastor Paul Spaude teaches TELL classes online

Each class that I teach with TELL follows a logical pattern. To study the Bible, we Think about an interesting topic or question. We Evaluate a Bible story to bring more meaning and context to the lesson. Then we Learn that sin is the problem and only God has the answer. We Lead our brothers and sisters in Christ by telling what we have studied.

Elizabeth (from Trinidad) attempted to fight sleep to study the Bible with TELL. Enno (from South Africa) found time while driving to study the Bible with TELL. Farooq (from Pakistan) postponed an anniversary date with his wife to study the Bible with TELL. Benard (from Kenya) fought a poor network connection to study the Bible with TELL. They keep coming back because they love studying the Bible with TELL.

Despite obstacles, these students gather with me to study the TELL course, “The Work of the Savior.” In eight lessons, we are learning about Jesus’ work around the sea of Galilee and in Jerusalem. This is the beginning of their TELL instruction. God willing, they will enroll in more TELL courses. They might even go to their own communities to think, evaluate, learn, and lead their way through a Bible story with friends and neighbors. I hope they do; they are energizing people. I doubt they will put anyone to sleep.

TELL-ing Legacy

Rev. Paul Kolander serves The Springs Lutheran Church in Sparks, Nevada.

When I was young, I wanted to be an African Missionary. My great-grandfather was one. I remember watching slideshows narrated with exciting stories. There were pictures and tales about driving a caravan throughout Africa to tell Africans about the Love of Jesus. Bumpy roads, exotic wildlife, and adventure around every turn gripped my attention. Then, the awesomeness of God’s power and blessings held it for years. The commission to go and make disciples by baptizing and teaching in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit stuck with me.

mechanical breakdown in Africa, ca. 1949 — *A scene from the film, “Africa Still Calls”*

I serve as a missionary in my own community by baptizing and teaching Nevadans. I have never been to Africa. But now through a WELS program called TELL, I get to share the message of the one true God to the same countries that my great grandfather did. I don’t have to travel by barge for weeks on end, nor do I have to navigate across hippo-infested rivers. I just need to connect online with people in Africa and worldwide who want to learn more about the God of the Bible.

God asks his prophet Jeremiah, “ ‘Am I only a God nearby,’ declares the Lord, ‘and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?’ declares the Lord. “

I am truly blessed to have this opportunity to share God’s love with those who are both near and far away. I get to serve as a missionary. There is one God and one way to heaven. Thanks belong to Him alone for these and all other blessings.

Visit www.tellnetwork.org or download the TELL app to enroll in free online courses and share on your favorite social media channel! If you are interested in teaching courses use this form to submit information about yourself.