In militantly Muslim Somalia, admitting one’s Christian faith often invites death. Yet each day, God calls His Somali children to faith in Him. Often, the Holy Spirit uses LHF translator Mohamed*, a former Muslim who is determined to establish the first Lutheran churches in Somalia. Though he is risking his life, Mohamed continues to share … Read More
As you joyfully sing “Jesus Christ is ris’n today” this Easter, imagine your voice joining those of our Lutheran brothers and sisters in Finland, who will be worshipping using new hymnals provided by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. “We need three books on the way to Heaven,” said Rev. Juhana Pohjola, dean of the Evangelical Lutheran … Read More
What’s a pastor from Kenya, Africa, to do when he marries and moves to Finland, just 450 miles from the Arctic Circle? Why, continue preaching and teaching, of course – to the Finns, Kenyans, Poles and Latvians who enter the doors of St. Barnabas International Evangelical Lutheran Church in Helsinki. Rev. Richard Otiso was born in … Read More
When immigrants from South Sudan arrived in Melbourne, Australia, they quickly decided they preferred the quieter life in the country. Before long, the Sudanese made up a third of the congregants at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Traralgon, where Rev. Stephen van der Hoek was pastor. Following is an interview with Rev. Van der Hoek, … Read More
Thirteen new pastors have joined the pastoral ranks of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan/Sudan (ELCSS/S), bringing the total to 64 pastors to serve the young church body’s 140 congregations and 40,000 members. The seminarians graduated in November 2015 from the Concordia Lutheran Institute for the Holy Ministry (CLIHM) in Yambio, South Sudan, where … Read More