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 As we are entering into the end of the church year, when the sun is shining less and darkness is increasing, it is important to reflect on Judgment Day.
It is not a time that many people like to discuss: “It is too depressing or gruesome.” This time of the year, the Western world prefers to make light of death and demonic spirits.
What is the result of ignoring Judgment Day or making light of the dark spirits of this world? It appears that people have ceased to believe in them. Complacency has set in. There is a lack of fear that one day we will have to answer for what we have done. The scary thing is, because it is true, we will not be our own judge. The King of Heaven and Earth will be the Judge, and He has already given the list of rights and wrongs.
The church calendar is not the only reason for bringing this topic up. This past summer the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the largest Lutheran church body in America, decided to permit the ordination and blessings of homosexual men and women pastors.
One can say, “the writing has been on the wall” for many years. The reason is due to a method of interpretation that rejects literal passages in the bible as literal statements from God. Some churches teach that the Word of God should be updated to modern times. The question should be asked, who is going to determine that standard? Can man be trusted, or is he even qualified to make changes to God’s Word?
We should be reminded of the first instance when God’s Word was tested. In the Garden of Eden, Eve was tested about the inerrancy and infallibility of God’s Word. “Did God really say?” It was the work of Satan who incited Eve to doubt God’s Word. “The serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil"” (Genesis 3:4-5). We know the result.
A similar situation has been taking place in Tanzania. The Lutheran Church in Tanzania has been questioning for some time the Word of God. Not because they don’t fear God. In fact, they are very God-fearing people.
The problem has come from foreign teachers and theologians who has said, “We are much wiser than the people in Biblical times. Therefore we must adapt to modern times.”
Many compromises have been made, and many people in the Lutheran Church do not even know why someone is baptized or what one receives in the Lord’s Supper.
To be fair to them, how can they know unless they have a copy of Luther’s Small Catechism in Kiswahili?
There are approximately four million Lutherans in Tanzania and we have distributed less than 30,000 copies. That means LESS than 1 percent of the members have received a copy of the catechism. Again to be fair to them, how can they know to ask for a book about which they have never heard?
 Therefore, keeping in the spirit of the Reformation, we invited 23 pastors and church workers from Meru, Tanzania to spend some time at the Lutheran Heritage Foundation Headquarters here in Nairobi, Kenya. This was at their request. They arrived with so many questions because the actions and decisions of the ELCA have been printed in the newspapers here in East Africa. They want to know, what is going on? What is the basis for Lutheran teaching?
We took them back to Luther: Sola Scriptura, Sola Gratia, Sola Fides, Sola Christus.
We gave them copies of Luther’s Small Catechism and read it from cover to cover. Their reaction was elation. Instead of trying to reconcile modern desires with the scripture, we were reformed by the pure, unadultered Word of God. On the second day of the ten-day course, they immediately called their bishop to say that the rest of the pastors and church workers must be trained with this ‘new’ book, Luther’s Small Catechism.
They wrote letters of appreciation and letters of request that this hidden book would be spread to all the churches.
By means of the generosity of the supporters of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, 1000 more copies were sent with them. They thanked all of you for supporting this work, and yet they had some reservations. “We still have many more people who need this work. Continue and print more! We promise to teach this to our people because they want to know the truth.”
After taking our yearly inventory, we have about 5,000 copies left, and it looks like another printing of the Small Catechism in Kiswahili is in order. We hope to begin this next year.
It was the late Rev. Dr. Robert Preus who was giving lectures in Nairobi, Kenya some 15 years ago. He repeatedly referenced the Book of Concord.
After these much appreciated lectures, many Lutheran pastors asked, “What is this book and how can we get a copy?” As a result of these inqueries, the work of LHF began in earnest in Africa. It was not an easy task, but now after 13 years, the Book of Concord has finally been completely translated into Kiswahili.
The index is being made now, and the Book of Concord should go to the printer by the end of the year. The man who directed this work for 13 years is Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki. He will now retire and move back to Uusikaupunki, Finland.
Rev. Simojoki's work has transformed Lutheranism in Africa, and we are very grateful for all he has done. Part of the reason the Book of Concord has taken 13 years is because, as Lutherans all over Africa have heard about the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, many other countries have also asked for Lutheran catechisms, hymnals, and teaching materials (such as The Freedom of a Christian) in their local languages. More than 50 books have already been published. In addition, Rev. Simojoki has directed the translation of 25 issues of the Good News magazine into Kiswahili.
We wish to thank Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki for his hard work.
"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
1 Peter 1:24-25
The May family and LHF-Africa always need your prayer support. At this time we ask your prayers for:
- Rev. Dr. Anssi and Marja Simojoki as they move back to Finland after 20 years of mission work in Kenya (13 with LHF).
- Rev. James May, that he would be given wisdom and strength to continue the work that was begun by Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki.
- The pastors and church leaders from the Meru Diocese of Tanzania, that they boldly teach and preach the good news to their people so that they are not tossed to and fro by the deceitful teachings of this world.
- Health for Mrs. Tiina May and the new baby.
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