Rev. James' May work visa for Kenya has been approved. He and his family will be moving to the LHF compound in Nairobi on March 27, 2009. The May family's address will be: LUTHERAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
P.O.Box 521
Karen 00502
Nairobi KENYA
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 Rev. James May is called to the Lutheran Heritage Foundation to assist Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki in overseeing LHF activities throughout Africa. Centered in Nairobi, Kenya, Rev. May is learning Swahili to help translate and introduce Lutheran books for people in East Africa.
Read past blog entries:
November 2008
December 2008
January 2009
March 2009
May 2009
July 2009
September 2009
November 2009
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| REV. JAMES MAY REPORT: MAR. 17, 2009
 I have just returned from the 2nd Annual Continuing Pastoral Education Seminar held in Dapaong, Togo. Let me begin by passing along gratitude from all the participants, especially, Rev. Dr. Emile Lussambu Dongo (director of the Lutheran Seminary in Togo), Rev. Dr. Joseph Phuati (director of the Lutheran Seminary in Congo [Kinshasa]), Vicar Marc Geuhi Geuhi (president of the Lutheran Church of Cote d’Ivoire), Vicar Felix Mamadouno (president of the Lutheran Church of Guinea), Rev. Bigbi Kombate (president of the Lutheran Church of Togo), and Rev. Tchibinda Mavougou (president of the Lutheran Church of Congo [Brazzaville]).
To extend their gratitude in one sentence does not adequately articulate the gratitude these leaders expressed. Multiple times each day these men and the other participants came up to me with overwhelming joy to express their sincere gratitude to the Lutheran Heritage Foundation and Good News magazine for deciding to make a statement of commitment and true brotherhood in the Christian faith by hosting this conference for a second year. It gives them hope that you sincerely care about the nurturing of the faith in Africa. I have tried to convey in other articles and to other Americans that 90 percent of the effort of missionaries in Africa is spent on social projects and this is not good. It is true that hundreds of millions die in Africa each year because of lack of clean water, access to decent health care, and deadly diseases. Nevertheless, a vaccination here or a malaria kit there only puts off death for another day.  The real question that Africans want to know is, how do I get out of this world? Does heaven exist? Where is God?
In just one week, Rev. Dr. Wilbert Kreiss gave them more encouragement about the gifts of baptism than a first aid kit could have ever given. They all pleaded for the Continuing Pastoral Education Seminar to be held again next year and for similar conferences to take place in each of their respective countries so that their pastors and evangelists may carry that same death conquering medicine, ie the pure Gospel. Similar expressions like this were repeatedly expressed. Please share this with others on the LHF and Good News team. What they are doing and supporting is having a profound effect. There are many churches all around the world who go to Africa and force an agenda or a program that has nothing to do with the mission of Christ’s Church. LHF may be the only (or at least one of the only) groups that is sincerely interested in equipping “the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.” (Ephesians 4:12-14) The leaders of the French speaking African Lutheran Churches recognized that. By sitting down and listening they often asked me, “Why do missionaries come over and throw money around? Most of the money gets stolen. We would really like to be strengthened in the teaching of Christ.” We need to understand these actions ourselves. We are already detached by language and culture. Solidarity and support is more than just money. It is understanding and listening to them. Africa is more than just Kenya. The leaders get the updates and see all the projects going on and the cost associated with fancy buildings. The leaders from the French-speaking churches aren’t asking for money. They want to have trained pastors who can comfort the people with the healing gospel so that they can withstand the death and suffering all around them. These men want to be equipped and want us to come and help them. LHF can provide the resources to facilitate this. I promised we would. Rev. James May
Nairobi, Kenya
| Field ReportsClick on the links below to read the reports of LHF staff and associates working in the mission fields.  SOUTHEAST ASIA
The Muellers
 CAMBODIA
Ken Precht 
TURKEY
Laura Davis
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