March 2002

Since it appears that Gideon is located for the time being in Denu, Ghana (across the border from Togo), our work is now in Ghana also. During this visit the studies continued and there was discussion on outreach. Pastor Gideon holds services at the humble school with attendance at about 15. He also goes to his home village, Atidzive, to hold a Bible study for three people. He was given transport money to go there until the missionary returns to visit. The Easter service had 17. On April 3rd the missionary baptized Pastor and Mrs. Gideon’s baby son, Samuel, and another member’s 16 month old child, Godwin. A business loan was given to Pastor Gideon to help him provide for his family.

November 2002

The missionary made a brief visit to Denu with Pastor Gideon on the work. The international school with its proprietor, Daniel, have opted to bring in charismatics and exclude Gideon from teaching.

June 2003

Pastor Karl Stewart met with Pastor Gideon on the work.

November 2003

Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited Gideon. A $300 loan was made to Gideon for trading. He will be investigating working in the ministry and in business in the area where his wife is staying with her mother.

2004

Pastor Gideon has moved to the outskirts of Denu due to several problems. A Bible study is held with several people. The missionary was there in April.

2005
Crown of Glory Lutheran Church
Work started in Tema – Roofed worship area in Denu – New man, Agossou, joining as pastor.
Missionary in the field in June and November.

2006

Missionary and Pastor Gideon conferred briefly on the work. Hopefully several young men can complete study of the catechism and differences with other churches to attend NCLC Bible Institute next year. New work is starting in Accra

2007 Ghana – Crown of Glory Lutheran Church – Due to time factors the missionary was only able to meet with Pastor Gideon one day at Accra as well as with some other interested parties. It appears that the congregation in Denu may be disbanding as Pastor Gideon is trying to get work in Tema/Accra area.

2008 Ghana

January ’08 Pastor Gideon was visited by Pastors Ude and Koenig. Gideon continues to try to support himself with grants from the CLC. He has some contacts in Tema and Accra. Pastor Ude will now take over the visitation and contact here.

Dec ’08 Pastor Ude visits with Pastor Gideon.

Dec ’09 Gideon accompanies Pastor Ude on his visit to Togo, for an open pastoral conference with Pastor Kossi and the pastors of the NCLC from the Lagos area.

Aug 2010 Pastor Ude returns to Ghana briefly. Pastor Gideon travels to Togo to be present for the last half of the week of teaching in Togo. Pastor Ude and Pastor Gideon return to Ghana for a few days and visit Pastor Gideon’s congregation.

Introduction

A lot can happen in one hundred years. Think of how our country has been transformed through the hundred years from 1909 to 2009 from the horse and buggy to the nuclear age. In this study we look at another transformation. What has happened with the Lutheran churches that were in India in 1909 up to the present? Lutherans first came to India in mission in 1706 with Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau. The nineteenth century though was the century of great missionary endeavor all over the world. It was no less in India. We view those Lutheran missions that were in operation as the twentieth century began and then one hundred years later. The Lutherans are investigated since we are Lutherans and know the great gifts God gave back to His church through the Lutheran Reformation: justification by faith, universal justification, baptism, communion… This study is just a sketch to remind us of what God is doing and also sadly how man so often can mess things up. In connection with ‘messing up’ as we go through this study we see the results of the nineteenth century mission work was carried on from Europe by mission societies mainly. Since the state churches for so long neglected outreach beyond their borders, God raised up mission societies to do what He wanted done.

Background on the Societies

The largest number of Protestant mission societies were of German origin. The first four in point of time and which became the largest were all interdenominational/unionistic. They were:
· Basel Society – 1815, which worked in India
· Berlin Society – 1824
· Rhenish(Barmen)Society – 1828
· Gossner(Berlin II) Society – 1836, which worked in India.

In 1909 these four were also the largest in terms of yearly income. These four were among the five societies with the highest number of baptized members. With the exception of Gossner, they had the largest number of ordained missionaries in the field. So we see that India was seen by two of the four as a definite field in which to labor.

Of the societies that were the most ‘Lutheran’ Prof. Peters(WELS) cites: Bleckmar(Hanover Free Church), Hermannsburg and Leipzig. Pastor Lenker(General Synod) cites in his words as “strictly confessional”: Leipzig, Neuendettelsau, Bleckmar, and Hermannsburg. So two of the more Lutheran societies, Hermannsburg and Leipzig, labored in India.

Leipzig Missionary Society (1836) was called the ‘Aristocrat among Missions’ and sought to unite Lutherans of Europe and America in the great missionary enterprise. For seventeen years they operated out of Dresden as a branch of the Basel Society. Then trying to be more Lutheran they struck out on their own. In the USA the LC-MS mission festival offerings were sent to Leipzig until 1876 when Missionaries Zorn and Zucker in India withdrew from the Leipzig Society over doctrinal issues and joined the LC-MS.
CFW Walther tried to convince Zorn to return to India, but it did not come about. LC-MS work began in India in 1895 after two more men, Missionaries Naether and Mohn,
withdrew from Leipzig and joined LC-MS. The LC-MS work turned into the India Evangelical Lutheran Church(IELC). It started in the far south around Nagercoil and moved north toward Madras. Leipzig continued to work in the south among the Tamils. They basically carried on the work begun by Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau and worked with other societies also. Today the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church(TELC) traces their history back through Leipzig to Ziegenbalg.

The Basel Mission Society began work in the following areas in the years reported:
· Kanara-Coorg – 1834
· South Marathi – 1837
· Malabar – 1841
· Nilagiri – 1846.
While they may have been unionistic, they sure did put out. Their work was in the south.

The Gossner Mission Society worked in the north from its beginning:
· Along the Ganges among Hindus – 1840
· North India among the Kols – 1845
· Assam among the Kols – 1874
· Calcutta among the Kols – date unknown.
Even today this Lutheran work goes by the name Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church.

The Hermannsburg Society is a thrilling story from beginning to end. It was founded in 1849 by Pastor Louis Harms. Under his ministry in the village Hermannsburg the whole congregation became a mission society, not merely a few members. The congregation was also known as the “Farmers Missionary Society.” Hermannsburg began working among the Telugus in 1866. Today the South Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church owes its existence to the Hermannsburg work. So far then these were the four largest European societies working in India.

There were smaller Lutheran mission societies also at work in India. Schleswig-Holstein Evangelical Lutheran Missionary Society, also known as Breklum, where it was headquartered began work in the Rajahmundry area of Andhra Pradesh in 1845, which was transferred to Americans five years later. But still with work started in 1877 Breklum was working elsewhere among the Telugus. The modern Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church traces its beginning to the work of Breklum.

The Danish Missionary Society began work among the Tamils in 1860. Their work spread to Madras, Bangalore and South Arcot. Today the Arcot Lutheran Church traces its beginnings to this Danish work.

A primitive tribe in Western Bengal by the name of the Santals received the Word through both the Danish Santal mission in 1877 and the Norwegian Santal mission in 1888. The result of this work is the Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church. There was some support of work with the Santals by American Lutherans through this mission. The
World Mission Prayer League voted in 1891 to form the American Board of the Norwegian Santal Mission. In 1904 they sent missionaries to work in that field.

From Sweden the Fatherland Society evidently also known as the Swedish Evangelical National Missionary Society began work among the Ghonds in the Central Provinces in 1877. Today the Lutheran church from that work is called the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Madhya Pradesh or the Madhya Pradesh Evangelical Lutheran Kalisiya.

The Swedish Church Mission also joined in with Leipzig in 1849 working among the Tamils and in 1876 assumed a share of the Tamil field.

The smallest of the societies was the Loventhal which began work in south India in 1872. This appears to have been Grundtvigian.

While the LC-MS work which began with the commissioning of two former Leipzig men on October 14, 1894, the General Council and General Synod Lutherans were at work fifty years before. The first American Lutheran missionary to India was John Frederick Heyer who was supported by the Pennsylvania Ministerium and later by the General Synod. The year was 1842. The two fields of Guntur and Rajahmundry developed into the largest Lutheran church in India, the Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church.

So as we take in the overview of where Lutheran mission societies were working by 1909 the work stretched from one end of the East Coast of India to the other, from Cape Coromandel to Bengal. One exception of more inland effort was work in Madya Pradesh in the central north. The one society that worked along the Malabar (west) coast was Basel. Among all the Lutherans there were in 1909 172 missionaries working. Of these 156 were ordained pastors with 16 other men helping. The 122 wives of these men carried responsibilities for the work also. And there were 65 single women helping. Of the Indian workers at that time there were: 1123 Gospel workers, 1906 school teachers, 155 Bible women. Missions viewed setting up schools as a viable way of reaching out. The Bible women were especially important in reaching out to Hindu and Muslim women who could not be approached by men.

In 1909 there were 1704 baptisms carried out. The number of inquirers was 25,671 which must be those going through some sort of instruction. Total communicants was 67,534. Total souls in the churches was 186,175. In 2006 there were 1,860,888 members in the Lutheran churches, which would be a tenfold increase in 100 years. (Or from another source there are 2.5 million Lutherans in India.) The total population for British India for the last census report (1901) before 1909 was 294,361,056. This included also: present day Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma and what was then the princely states. You can see British India on the map. All things considered it appears that the growth among Lutheran churches was greater than the rate of population growth, for which we thank the Lord. Today in India all Christians cannot make up more than 4-5% of the population, which indicates a lot of work still to do. And we remember sadly how so many Lutherans have vitiated their message with so much error and compromise.

Thumbnail Sketches Today

As we look at the Lutheran churches today we proceed from the southern tip of India north along the East coast. But before we saunter up the east coast along Coromandel north, let’s glance up the west coast for a bit along Malabar.
Basel Mission Society
In 1909 baptized members – 18,404…In 2009… none by the name Lutheran

The Basel Society was a hybrid from the beginning being a joint effort of the Reformed Church of Basel and the Lutheran Church of Wuerttemberg. There was no question that they were concerned about salvation for the heathen. They did not give in under rationalistic pressure. And from their four fields it is evident they were busy. They decided to go to areas where there had not been any Protestant work, hence up the Malabar coast. They eyed for their work all the way from Calicut to Bombay some 500 miles. They were strong on Christian education for the converts and set up schools. Before long the missionaries felt that they had to involve themselves in creating some remunerative jobs rather than just educating people. They saw that when an individual converted he was often cast out from family and support. So they sought to start work that people could do.

This was commendable. But I think it became so dominant that it moved the mission away from what was number one – Gospel preaching. Even today in India the Basel Mission is best known for the industries connected with it. It was good that they set up cottage industries and tried to have the people learn business on Christian principles. You will not find any Lutheran churches from the Basel mission, or at least I have not. Basel was ecumenical from its beginning. In India it worked in early years with an Anglican society(CMS) and then became part of the unionistic Church of South India. So much for the Malabar coast. Now off to the Coromandel coast.

India Evangelical Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members – 196 …….In 2009 (’07) membership – 56,493( some sources list 65,000 members, one in ’07 listed 80,000)

This LC-MS mission worked in Tamil Nadu state moving north from Trivandrum to Krishnagiri, Ambur, Vaniyambadi. They also went west into Malayalam speaking areas into Kerala state. There are some noteworthy names in their work. H. Nau worked here in India, who was later to make the exploratory trip to Nigeria in the ‘30’s and was instrumental in forming a group interested in Muslim missions headquartered in North Carolina. George Naumann working in India in 1900. They maintain their seminary at Nagercoil. While most Lutheran churches are unionistic in their seminary training, the IELC keeps its school going. They belong to the LC-MS worldwide communion of the International Lutheran Council. And in line with Missouri’s ‘levels of fellowship’ teaching at the same time they belong to the unionistic Lutheran World Federation and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India, which is made up of eleven Lutheran church bodies. With 400 congregations and 160 trained pastors they have grown substantially since 1895. They also began work in Sri Lanka.

While they have had internal problems, a former president of theirs, Isaac Moon, was rather outreach minded and instrumental in helping to start the Upper Myanmar Evangelical Lutheran Church that we now have visited and likely will have fellowship with located in Chin State, Burma.

Arcot Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members – 1607….In 2009 membership – 33,000(37,000)

(Taken from ‘Malabar Mission Society’) “This Tamil-speaking church had its beginning in the work of missionaries of the Danish Missionary Society. Not wishing to enter the former Danish-Halle field already occupied by the Leipzig Mission, and disassociating itself from that mission’s toleration of caste, the Danes sought a new field adjacent to that of Leipzig. Taking over the work of the former Leipzig missionary Ochs in 1864, and receiving by transfer a station from the English Baptists in 1882, the Danish Lutherans established centers in Madras, Bangalore, and South Arcot.”

A lot of information can be found out about the Danish work through the years in “It Began in Copenhagen”(Junctions in 300 years of Indian-Danish Relations in Christian Mission) by Oommen and Iversen. We give God the praise that He used such a small country to: begin Protestant/Lutheran mission work in India in 1706, begin again Danish work in 1863 in Arcot, to have involvement with the Loventhal mission in Vellore, to do even more work through Danes in Jeypore and in the Danish Santal mission. Sort of makes you realize that no matter how small the group, God does the work through them. And God crowns the work with blessing. They are a member of UELCI.

Loventhal Mission
In 1909 baptized members – 100…In 2009 ?

In 1909 there were two stations served by two ordained missionaries and one European lay worker. In 1909 Anne Marie Petersen(1878-1951) came to work in the mission and you can read about her interesting life. The founder of the mission was Edvard Loventhal, who was Grundtvigian in his understanding of Christianity. The work began in 1872. Perhaps it was later absorbed by the Danes.

“…Edvard Loventhal, had worked a lifetime in Vellore, west of Chennai, and held the rare and distinctive view, before any other Protestant missionary, that despite its lack of visible results Christianity in India should have an Indian character. European Christianity was not to be transplanted. Instead the seed of Christianity was to be sown in Indian soil and find its own growth. He did not aim at individual conversions and would not perform baptism until a whole caste (almost in a sense of guild) wished to be baptized. He thereby avoided the consequence of individually baptized Christians being torn out of their national, social, and family network.” Pp. 327-328 “It Began in Copenhagen”

Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members of Leipzig Soc.-18,853
“ “ Swedish Ch. Miss. – 1803…..In 2009 membership –103,093(or
105,773 or 120,000)

This church traces its origin back to 1706 through Leipzig. It began in Tranquebar, Tanjore, Tiruchirapalli, Tirunelveli. When the Danish-Halle began to decline the Church Missionary Society(Anglican) began to assume responsibility in the mission. It became Lutheran again when Leipzig “sent J. H. C. Cordes to the area in 1840 (and forty-four others between 1840 and 1880), a decision which led to the restoration of many Tamil Christians to their former Lutheran allegiance. Swedish Lutherans began to assist the Leipzig Mission in 1849. In 1874 the Church of Sweden Mission assumed responsibility for a share of the Tamil field, and in 1901 a separate Swedish diocese was created.” (Malabar Mission Soc.)

While they support a their own seminary in Tranquebar, they are members of the LWF and the UELCI. We certainly thank God that they came back to their Lutheran roots through Leipzig. But the liberalism that caused so many men to leave Leipzig was then sown and today the result is their of union in Lutheran organizations.

Now we cross the present border between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh has the largest Lutheran church in India, the AELC. The state also has to have the largest number of different Lutheran church bodies, fourteen and still counting.

Berea Evangelical Lutheran Church
Pastor Mohan Bas started his church in l981 in Kanyikumari at the southern tip of India. He had left the IELC. The church was then the Bharath Ev. Luth. Church. Now separate from Bas it has 14,191 souls, 338 pastors and 16 in its two year training program. It works also in AP and in the Nicobar and Andaman Islands. They are praying about work in Bangalore and Jharkhand State.

South Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members –3200…In 2009 membership – 28,022(or 45,500or33,863)

Another former Leipzig missionary, in this case Mylius, came to the Nellore field and opened stations at Gudur and Nyadupet. Today this church cooperates with the AELC in supporting the seminary at Rajahmundry. Their old hymnal reflects through the tunes many old German Lutheran hymns. Their headquarters is at Tirupatti, in Chittoor District. They belong to the LWF and the UELCI.

Andhra Evangelical Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members of Gen. Council –16,316
Of Gen. Synod – 38,236…In 2009 membership –450,000
(though I have read of 800,000 too)

The beginning of this large Lutheran church was in Guntur with the field of Rajahmundry
Added later. The great Lutheran missionary in Guntur was John Frederick Heyer. Of men like Heyer, Morris Officer, John Harpster, Adam Rowe and David Day we of the Synodical Conference background know next to nothing. These men were heros going into foreign fields long before the confessional Lutherans did. You can read about them in Wolff’s “Missionary Heroes of the Lutheran Church.”

While the AELC claims that the Rajahmundry field was started in 1845 by Pastor Luis P. Manno Valett of the North German Missionary Society(Bremen) I don’t have information from that society for 1909 in India. They listed their work as in Togo. The Malabar Mission Society states that in 1845 the Breklum Mission had started work in Rajahmundry and then transferred it to the General synod in 1850. Both fields were at first under the General Synod, with the Rajahmundry field being taken over by the General Council. The Augustana Synod also helped there.

Today the AELC is in both the LWF and the UELCI. It has had internal problems in recent years, even having two Presidents, or at least two men claiming to be president. A synod as large as this with over 500 pastors and 5000 congregations is bound to face difficulties. They have opted for ordination of women among other things. Both the WELS and the ELS work in the area of the AELC as do we. AELC’s seminary is at Rajahmundry while their Christian College is in Guntur. Evidently, spawned from this large Lutheran church are a lot of other Lutheran church bodies in Andhra Pradesh. Of course our V.S. Benjamin came from the AELC.

Church of the Lutheran Confession of India
Membership 9000 souls, Pastors – 108 It was started in 1968 by V. S. Benjamin. Its work in Andhra Pradesh stretches from Kakinada to Ongole and up to Hyderabad. In addition it has a cluster of congregations in Chattisgarh State. Thirty-eight are in the three year seminary.

Lutheran Study Center
This is located in Seetharama Nagar, Guntur. They have a website and indicate they are interested in reforming Lutheranism, getting back to what are true Lutheran teachings. They had a seminar in ’06 which had participants from several Lutheran church bodies. They evidently want participation from any and all Lutherans interested in getting back to Lutheran teaching. They indicate they would like to set up Lutheran Study Centers throughout AP.
Lutheran Fellowship of India(LFI)
This is the independent church group that supports the Lutheran Study Center. They are in fellowship with the Ev. Luth. Conf. and Ministerium. In India they had nine congregations with six additional evangelists. They started in ’98 due to the liberalism in the AELC. Rev. P. B. Ravi Prasad is the head of the group of independent Lutheran congregations.

Lutheran Church of the Cross(LCC)
This body is also in fellowship with the Ev. Luth. Conf. and Ministerium. There are seven parishes with two ordained and five unordained pastors. They are in Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy District.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Cross(ELCC)
They are in Hyderabad and in fellowship with the Ev. Luth. Conference and Ministerium(Pastor Steward in Pennsylvania). The VP in India is Pastor K. Prem Kumar.

Christu Sudha Communications and Ministries(CSCM)
This is headed by Pastor Prakasm. It has 61 pastors and 122 congregations. It is also in fellowship with the Ev. Luth. Conf. and Ministerium. So up to this point in time it appears that Pastor Steward’s synod, the ELCM, is in fellowship with the LFI, LCC, ELCC, CSCM.

Association of Free Lutheran Churches(AFLC)
It has headquarters at Cherala. There are 40-50 pastors. It is led by Pres. Rev. Dasari Luther Shastri( a nephew of Dasari Bushanarao).

Bible Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church(BFLC)
This was Dasari Bushanarao’s group. Its president is Rev. G. Shalem Raju. Dasari Bushanarao joined the WELS and even went to the seminary for a time returning to India and being part of WELS’ three man team until the Lord called him home. After that there was dissension and separation.

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Mission(CELM)
The Christ Evangelical Lutheran Mission is associated with the WELS. It is centered in Guntur and at the end of ’08 included more than 7000 souls in about 125 congregations. At that same time those enrolled in the Guntur seminary included 40 in the pre-seminary and 39 in the seminary.

Lutheran Mission of Salvation — India
This group withdrew from the WELS mission and is supported by the ELS. They claim to have 25,000 members. They support 200 orphans, and 22 men in seminary training with two going to the ELS Bethany Seminary in the USA. In India they are centered at: Hyderabad, Rajahmundry, Jabalpur.

Deccan Evangelical Lutheran Church(DELC)
I have only found their name so far.
Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church(GSELC)
They have 41,786 souls in 41 pastorates in East and West Godhavari, Warangal Districts of AP and stretch over into Madya Pradesh in Baster District. It started in 1972 under Rev. Dr. Paul Raj, a convert from a a Hindu family. They are translating the Bible into Joya.

Good Samaritan Evangelical Lutheran Church
It has 9837 members and is headquartered at Bhadrachalem, AP.

The next state up the coast from Andhra Pradesh is Orissa.
Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members –10,786…In 2009 membership – 140,000(133,000)

The Schleswig-Holstein Evangelical Lutheran Missionary Society at Breklum had started work in Rajahmundry and then transferred this to Americans. Next they worked in Koraput District of Orissa among Telugu speakers. They started more stations at Salur and Koraput. Before long they were translating material into the Oriya language. What is called a mass movement developed among the Dambas. Eventually American Lutherans took over the support. Today they have a seminary at Kotapad which trains lay leaders and pastors. Member of UELCI.

East Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Chruch
This is a smaller Lutheran church body. It was originally part of Breklum and then under the Danish Missionary Society. It has three main centers and seems to work with Jeypore ELC.

India National Lutheran Church(INLC)
It traces its roots to Breklum. As time passed pure Lutheran teachings were increasingly abandoned. Pentecostal/charismatic influence came. Struggles over power and money developed. This scenario is repeated many times over among the church bodies. In 1995 Rev. Pramod Kumar Nag founded this church body. They had 23 confessional Lutheran congregations with pastors and catechists. They entered fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Conference and Ministerium in 2004.(This makes 5 with ELCM.) Rev. Nag joined a holiness church body and took a large number with him. Now the church is under the leadership of Hansudaya Asher of the Kotpad District. They also work in the Nabarangpur District.

We cross the border to Jharkand state.
Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members –76,583…In 2009 membership –354,432(or 400-500,000)

Four Gossner missionaries arrived in Calcutta in 1844 and came into contact with Kols. They went to this people’s native area at Chota Nagpur. The headquarters was established at Ranchi and still is. A mass movement began among the Kols. The mission also followed Kols who migrated to Assam for work and missionwork was begun there.

Before long Gossner was working among ten language groups. Indian Gossner leaders have remained Lutheran though there have been temptations to defect. The church is a member of LWF and UELCI.

North Western Gossner Evangelical Lutheran Church
This church body has 110,301 members in 650 congregations with 75 pastors. Though it is supported by ELCA from USA it is not in fellowship with LWF or UELCI.

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Madya Pradesh(ELCMP)
In 1909 baptized members –1425…In 2009 membership – 13,546(15,500)

This was the one Lutheran effort on the Coromandel coast that went inland. The Swedish Evangelical National Missionary Society began work among the tribal Ghonds in 1877. Later the work moved on among caste Hindus. There are now 52 pastorates. It has recently extended its work to Anappur Bhandara and Tumsar in Maharashtra. Headquarters is at Chhindwara, Madya Pradesh. You can see from the numbers that mission work in this area is difficult. But praise God that the Swedes went inland.

We go back along the coast to Bengal and up to Assam.
Northern Evangelical Lutheran Church
In 1909 baptized members – 16,303…In 2009 membership –72,000(85,000)

This was the Santal Mission of the Northern Churches. It was Norwegian, Swedish and Danish supported. Later also support came from Scandinavians in the USA. Work was done in the Santali, Boroni, Bengali and Hindi tongues. As the Santal people moved from Bengal to Bihar and Assam they were followed in the outreach efforts. Missionaries also went to Nepal and Bhutan. Headquarters is at Ebenezer since 1891. Member of UELCI.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Himalayan States(ELCITHS)
This church body was started in 2003 and joined the UELCI. It has about 30,000 members. It combines five distinct ethnic communities, Bodos, Assamese, Oriyas in the Himalayan States, Zomis of North East India, Manipuris into four dioceses. Bodo Ev. Diocese, Assam Ev. Lutheran Church, Eastern Ev. Luth. Church and the Ev. Lutheran Christian Church, Manipur joined together. The executive secretary, Pastor N. Kaizanang, of one of these constituent bodies, the Eastern Ev. Luth. Ch. at Manipur was one of the two contact persons who with I. Moon of the IELC helped inaugurate what became the UMELC with which we now are beginning to work.

The following I have only seen listed somewhere:
Delhi Ev. Luth. Church(Delhi) –members 7862
Latvian Ev. Luth. Church(Trichy) – members 579
Lutheran Orthodox Church – 48 congregations

Conclusion

To the Lord must go the praise for the growth of the churches under the name ‘Lutheran’ in India. Besides the sometimes violent opposition of the devil through Hindus and Muslims the East India Company that was chartered by the English Crown was also in opposition in general to meddling by missionaries in affairs that were to make money. At times even when the Crown took over the India affairs after the mutiny in 1857 there was still some opposition to meddling missionaries. Prior to reforms in the Company’s Charter in 1833 you would find Lutheran missionaries operating under British societies such as the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the London Missionary Society. There would be disagreements over practices that caused disruptions. ( A good book to get an overview of the history of the Christian Church in India is “An Introduction to Indian Church History” by C. B. Firth.)

There were specific reasons why Ziegenbalg and Pluetschau went to the Danish colony to begin their work in 1706. Of course they were supported by the Danish King in his overseas lands. But the English would not allow them, since they favored the Church of England. Even Danish colonial powers in Tranquebar opposed the Lutheran missionaries.

The devil has not changed. Today he simply is using the same tools. In Orissa State there is violent persecution. In several states there are anti-conversion laws. And yet our Lord has promised that the gates of hell shall not prevail against His kingdom.

Correspondence had been carried on between Pastor Denis Mulumba of the ELCC and Pastor Koenig. Encouragement was given to Pastor Denis to do outreach work beyond the Democratic Republic of Congo. He decided to try in Johannesburg, SA. He, his wife and baby are now located in Joburg with the attempt to gather French speaking people into worship. His initial success was thwarted by riots against foreigners that compelled him to go to a different area of Joburg.

September – Pastor Koenig visited him and they discussed his effort and prayed over it. After gathering a group in worship Denis will try to register the church with the government.

2009

Denis was visited by Pastor Koenig in August. Denis had found another man who he was taking through our teachings that they might together reach out. He was also taking university courses that would allow him to set up and maintain a website through which he hoped to reach out. After discussions with government officials it appears no  government registration was feasible at this time. Formal worship services have not been started yet as a suitable place has not been found.

2010-2011

While Pastor Koenig was able to visit Denis in August of 2010, there was still no progress in outreach. And then going into early 2011 a rupture occured due to Denis’ good name being called into question. We know of the high standards God lays down for preachers of His Word in the pastoral epistles. We cannot in good conscience assist or work with Denis until these matters are cleared up. We pray for him, his wife and children.

2008

Extensive correspondence was carried on by the Secretary of the Mission Board, Pastor Ohlmann with the Upper Myanmar Evangelical Lutheran Church beginning in February and carrying on into the Spring. It was proposed to have a visitation by CLC representatives to the UMELC. This was approved at a June meeting of the Mission Board.

October – A visitation was carried out to the UMELC by Mission Board member Larry Hansen, Mark Bohde(missionary in Thailand) and David Koenig. A two day seminar was held with attendance at 70-80. The executive committee of fifteen men was met with as well as having disussions with individuals. It would appear that we are in agreement on the Word. We are making plans as to how we can continue the contact and see how we can assist the UMELC.

2009

The church has formally changed its name to the CLCM. A formal letter of application for fellowship with the CLC has been forwarded to the President. Possible questions on teachings were answered very satisfactority during a visitation by M. Bohde and D. Koenig in November. A three day seminar was held attended by 66 registered men and all 56 congregations were represented by at least one man. Translation work and printing continues to allow all pastors and elders to have our teachings in print before them. The catechism has been distributed throughout the church. A motorcycle was given to the President of the CLCM to allow him to travel to the churches more easily. Land is being investigated as a site for a church, offices, housing and classroom. One of the evangelists is working among Burmese soldiers at a military camp. What a joy to see the outreach and the receptivity of these people to the pure Word.

2010

The CLC-USA at their Jubilee Convention in June declared fellowship with the CLCM. Our prayers are for a growing relationship to work together to spread the Word. Pastor Koenig was present in the country for two weeks in November. A four day seminar was held in Kalay with over 80 participating. All congregations were represented. Meeting with the Executive Committee a number of items were discussed on how we can help. We continue to pray and work toward the purchase of land in Kalay that can serve as a site for: a church bldg., housing for Pastors Thang and Kham and families, a room where teaching can go on of men interested in the ministry of the CLCM. An opportunity arose to conduct a two day seminar in Yangon on what the Lutheran church teaches. Pastor Edwards there was interested in learning more about the CLC and giving the people information on Lutherans. Over 40 attended.

2011

Land was purchased with help from the CLC on which to begin to build a church and other buildings. Pastor Kham was able to attend the Joint Asian English Pastoral Conf. in Chennai, India Oct. 13-14 representing the CLCM. Pastor Koenig in the country for two weeks and able to conduct a four day seminar from Dec. 5-8 at Kalay. Mark and Carlton Bohde planned to come, but did not obtain visas.  Meetings were also held with the executive comm.of 17 men on a variety of subjects.

Pastor Raju Bhitrokoti, with his father’s blessing and advice, began searching the internet for Lutheran organizations that would be willing to offer pastoral training in Nepal. He “stumbled” upon the websites of a few CLC congregations. In reading and searching these sites he read reports concerning the CLC efforts to assist the CLCI and BELC in training pastors in India. Specifically he read reports from previous CLC Mission Helper Trips where mention was made of “pastoral training seminars.” Raju began to send emails asking for assistance in training pastors in Nepal. Pastor Ohlmann and two other CLC pastors received inquiries from Raju. Pastor Ohlmann began corresponding with Raju in September of 2007. After the first few email exchanges it became evident that Raju was sincere in requests for training. He mentioned that his father had received a Lutheran catechism and a couple of other Lutheran books and was convinced that Lutheran doctrine was Scriptural. Over the next several months Pastor Ohlmann led Pastor Raju, by email, through the adult instruction manual written by Pastor John Schierenbeck, titled “Shadows and Substance.” Pastor Raju also shared the lessons with his father and his brother as together they compared the lessons, answers, and Pastor Ohlmann’s comments with Scripture. Through this process they learned more and more and became convinced that the CLC was indeed a true teaching church body with whom they would like to work. Following the completion of this correspondence course, Raju was sent a few other books such as a Sydow Lutheran Catechism and workbook along with Mueller’s Summary of Christian Doctrine, the Augsburg Confession, and other books.

May 2008

With the approval of the CLC Mission Board, Pastor Ohlmann began looking into the possibility of combining a trip to Kathmandu with his already scheduled trip to India in May and June of 2008. It was also decided to ask Missionary Matt Ude to accompany him to Nepal. With the trip approved and scheduled, correspondence with Raju continued.

Missionary Matt Ude and Pastor Todd Ohlmann traveled to Nepal in May of 2008 and spent several days visiting congregations and conducted a seminar to teach the doctrines of the Lutheran church using the CLC Statement of Faith and Purpose. Nine pastors, in addition to Pastor Raju, his father JB and his brother Rajan accepted the teaching of the CLC.

Following the doctrinal discussions, an hour was set aside for Pastor JB and Raju to lead an organizational meeting with the other independent pastors who had gathered. A resolution to join together and form a Confessional Lutheran Church body in Nepal passed with a unanimous vote and enthusiastic clapping of hands and singing. They chose to call themselves the Himalayan Church of the Lutheran Confession of Nepal (HCLCN). Their first act was to elect Pastor Raju to serve as chairman. As chairman he was assigned the duties of continuing correspondence with the CLC, organizing and leading ongoing training of the pastors, and to begin the task of writing a doctrinal platform and constitution.

September 2008

Pastor Raju completed the translation, publishing, and printing of 1,000 copies of the Shadows and Substance study workbook. The CLC Board of Missions approved monthly subsidy for training the nine pastors of the HCLCN to teach their congregations the lessons of Shadows and Substance.

January 2009

Pastors Matt Ude and Todd Ohlmann arrived on January 19th and traveled to the Chitiwan area and conducted three days of pastoral training with the original nine pastors of the HCLC-Nepal. There were also 14 independent pastors in attendance who are interested in learning more about Lutheran doctrine. Since there were these new men in attendance and the CLC Statement of Faith and Purpose has now been translated into Nepali, the three days of seminars were spent reviewing and explaining the doctrinal positions set forth in the CLC Statement of Faith and Purpose as well as an introduction to Luther’s Catechism. The men in attendance all agreed with what was taught and are excited to continue monthly training seminars.

Seminars titled, Saved by the Grace of God, were taught in three congregations. A visitation was also made to an area of northern Nepal near the Tibet border where a young evangelist, who is associated with the HCLC-Nepal, has been working to spread the Gospel. This young man has no formal theological training. He has expressed his agreement with the CLC Statement of Faith and Purpose and has requested further training in the word that he may better serve the Lord and His people.

All the pastors of the HCLC-Nepal have continued to meet monthly as they study through the book Shadows and Substance in preparation for teaching it to the members of the congregations they serve. They will also be studying through the booklet My Church and Others and the 14 doctrinal essays that Missionary Koenig has prepared as soon as they have been translated and printed.

February 2009

Pastor Raju reports that the translation of two booklets titled What the Bible and Lutherans Teach and My Church and Others has been completed and are now waited to be printed. Funding from the CLC-MDF has been approved for the printing of 1000 copies of each booklet at a cost of $650. These booklets will first be distributed to and studied by the pastors of the HCLC-Nepal and then by the members of congregations they serve. Translation work has also begun on Luther’s Small Catechism. This should be ready for printing by July or August of 2009.

March 2010

Pastor Raju and Pastor Ohlmann completed a Christian Doctrine correspondence course (via email) spanning several months using study sheets, the Scriptures, Luther’s Small Catechism, “My Church and Others”, and “A Summary of Christian Doctrine. The answers that Pastor Raju provided were forwarded to the CLC Board of Doctrine for review as they consider the request for fellowship from HCLC-Nepal.

June 2010

The CLC Convention voted to accept the HCLC-Nepal into fellowship. Pastor Raju and Pastor Ohlmann continue email correspondence courses as they study through “Go and Teach.”

July 2011

CLC Mission Helpers: Chad Sebyt, Naomi Bernthal, Randy Wittorp, Carl Reim, Ryan Augustin, Melanie Hallstien, Natalie Schreyer, Becky Sippert,  Emily Hulke, and Pastor Todd Ohlmann spent three and half weeks in Nepal traveling with Raju and Rajan Bhitrakoti as they carried out child evangelism in eleven current or prospective congregations of the HCLC-Nepal. Nearly 1500 children were taught and received gifts from the mission helpers. Pastor Ohlmann and CLC Teacher Chad Sebyt also met with 21 pastors for one day.

(A Story of Human Failure and God’s Mercy)

Initial Contact
In the early 1970′s Oscar Erpenstein of St. Stephen’s of San Francisco came into contact with certain Nigerian students schooling in the USA.  He showed them the truth from God’s Word.  When they returned to Nigeria, contact did not stop with these students of the Word.  Oscar continued to correspond with them and their friends in Nigeria on the basic teachings of Christianity.  From this correspondence a request came from Nigeria to come over and teach us.

Initial Contact

In 1999 Elinore Gbedey was returning to the USA from teaching in the country of Benin. She came through Lome, Togo to visit there, since she is married to a Togolese. While in Lome, she came across a Lutheran, Amegan Kwaku Kpello (Mike) and explained our church to him. He seemed to have some interest, so she contacted Pastor Koenig who had previously been her pastor at Peace Thru Christ in Middleton, WI. Email correspondence resulted. Literature was sent and Mike decided to remain with his Lutheran church which is affiliated with the LC-MS. He gave contact information.

April 2000

Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited with Mike and his family in their house, to which Mike had invited others. One who came was Gideon Abussah. He had gone through a couple of years in a Bible College which is now affiliated with ORU. There was a good deal of discussion over the Scriptures on the pentecostal/charismatics, sinfulness of infants and baptism. Gideon indicated a willingness to come to Nigeria to study at our Bible Institute. Literature was given and more sent later.

December 2000

Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited again. Correspondence courses were started with Gideon and study sessions were held with him. He had started teaching religion at a school and gotten married, so a trip to Nigeria was no longer feasible for him.

CLC History in TogoApril 2001

During a visit, study continued, lessons were corrected and discussions were held with the headmaster of the school where Gideon is basically the chaplain, about giving the Bible and catechisms to the students. The headmaster agreed.

September 2001

In a visit, the classes continued. Books have been sent also to help Gideon in his studies.

April 2001 – Kossi

This was a visit to contact a new prospect, Kossi, who Mike had found. We missed each other and did not meet. Kossi indicated he was still interested and was sent literature by mail.

September 2001 – Kossi

Study began with Kossi, who is a school teacher and a member of a Baptist church. Just as with Gideon so now with Kossi, theological education by extension was being carried out.

March 2002

Studies continued with the missionary’s visit. At this time Kossi told how he saw that the Baptist church was not correct in baptism and commuion as he had seen in our catechism references. He said he had not been baptized and would like to be. On April 3rd the missionary baptized him at Gideon’s house.

November 2002

Missionary Koenig made a brief visit to Lome to work with Kossi. A small congregation has been started and Kossi is trying to train another man to go to Kossi’s home villiage to work there.

December 2002 – Kossi in Efa, Nigeria

Kossi made a trip to visit with the missionary and the brethren in Efa. Studies on Law and Gospel continued with the missionary.

June 2003

Pastor Karl Stewart visited with Kossi and his people and worked with them in Lome.

November 2003

Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited with Kossi. A loan of $500 was made to Kossi to plant sugarcane to support family and perhaps shift from teaching into full-time ministry.

2004
April saw the missionary on the field. Registration with the government was started. An anticipated outreach with TV and videos is to be started. The congregation has 35 members in Lome, Togo with attendance of 25.

2005
Registration to be finished in January 2006 – Land purchased and services started at Segbe – New man, Jerome, joining as pastor.
Missionary in the field in June and November.

2006

Dec. – Missionary and Pastor Kossi could only confer for two days. A new pastor and congregation are requesting to join.

2007 Togo EELCT -

Due to time factors Pastor Kossi was invited to travel to Accra to meet with the missionary on the church’s work for two days. During this year more visiting between the NCLC and the EELCT has taken place building up the fellowship relationship.

Jan. 2008 Pastors Ude and Koenig visited the field. Pastor Kossi is training three new men and we pray these will be faithful and carry through. There are two congregations totaling 115 members and they are trying to open more stations.

Dec 2008 – Pastor Ude visits Togo with Pastor Gideon from Ghana. Pastor Kossi is ordained on Sunday, Dec 14th 2008.

Dec 2009

Pastor Ude, Pastor Gideon from Ghana, Pastor Eric and Michael from Lagos, and member Martin Essien journey to Togo for open pastoral conference.  The week leading up to Sunday was spent  in open air evangelism meetings right outside the walls of the church where Kossi meets with his main congregation.  At its height I would guess about 500 people were at the meetings each night.  On Sunday after church we held a conference which 8 men attended as well as one female Sunday school teacher.  A number of things were discussed, but most of it centered around infant baptism. These men for the most part understood the Biblical teaching of baptism, but were eager for a more thorough discussion since it is one of the areas they are most often attacked.

Aug 2010

Pastor Ude visits Togo for a week. He continues work with the new men that Kossi is training to help him with the Lord’s work there in Togo. Together they spend a week beginning study in Wedland’s “Go and Teach”.

January 2012

Missionary Matthew Ude was unable to make a visit to Togo, but did meet with Kossi in Badagari at the Joint West Africa CLC Pastoral Conference. Pastor Kossi along with five young men studying for the ministry under Kossi’s guidance, arrived in Badagari.

Kossi’s congregations in Varipariso ( 100 adults ) and Segby ( 20 adults ) remain about the same. He does however have two additional outreach areas. Both areas began with families who asked Kossi to come preach and have since grown slightly, in Hatoe there are about 9 adults, and 12 in Zangara. Kossi is also pursuing the possibility of working across the border in Benin.

He still has about five young men whom he is working at training for the ministry. He has taken them through the Catechism, “What does the Bible Say,” and is currently working on “What is preaching.” Besides this he prints out the ministry by mail each week and goes through that with them as well.

Initial Contact

Some had been looking for a new church in their area of Etago, Kisii to replace the churches they were in, namely the Roman Catholic and the 7th Day Adventist. Inquiries were made among tourists from America who travelled nearby. A non-CLC friend from Michigan, upon being asked, recommended they investigate the CLC. President Fleischer received their correspondence and turned the correspondence over to the missionary on January 25, 2000.

Pastor Mutombo Muzakuza was baptized Catholic and joined a confessional Reformed Church in 1978, ordained as a bishop in 1977.  He left and sought to form a new church in the Lutheran mold, as suggested by a Methodist bishop.  The chairman of the CLC Mission Board corresponded with Pastor Muzakuza in April 1998.  The correspondence was turned over to the missionary.  A quantity of French and English doctrinal and devotional materials has been sent.

October 13, 1998
As of this date, Pastor Muzakuza’s group called itself the Eglise Lutherienne de Confession du Congo, ELCC, basically us in the Congo.

May 2001
Doctrinal discussions were held on a variety of subjects between Pastors Koenig and Muzakuza.  There appeared to be no doctrinal differences.  Previously, questionaires and specific doctrinal statements had been sent with no disagreement evident.  The delay in any face-to-face meeting was due to the war raging in the Congo.  French catechisms have been sent and are being used.  During this visit a new congregation in Kinshasa was started.  Pastor Koenig held two doctrinal meetings with this group to explain our teachings.

January 2002
A planned doctrinal visitation from the USA was cancelled.  Membership was 980 souls in 26 congregations reported by Pastor Muzakuza.  In 1999 it had been 394 in 10 congregations and in 2001 it was 589 souls in 18 congregations.

May 2002
In the ELCC there are 27 pastors serving 1063 souls divided into three districts.  It was not possible to go easily to the unstable countryside, so the discussions were held again in Kinahasa with Pastor Muzakuza and his two preachers in Kinshasa.  The desire of a declaration of fellowship was sent by letter to the CLC.  Many problems in getting materials to them and translated and duplicated were worked on.  There continued a clear willingness to abide by the Word in all matters commanded or forbidden.  The original and a second congregation in Kinshasa were visited by the missionary.

June 2002
The CLC in convention declared itself in fellowship with the ELCC, based on doctrinal discussions between the missionary and the ELCC President and lengthy correspondence.  The ELCC appealed for a fellowship relationship with the CLC to the CLC President.

October 2002
A visitation was finally carried out in south Katanga centered in Lubumbashi, by the missionary.  This being the first visit to the area where the bulk of the ELCC congregations are, there was much to be reported.  The church’s head, Pastor Muzakuza, with aid from the CLC, is working to train his pastors through visits, classes and printed material.  Catechists are being trained to teach the catechism.  A translation committee is working on translating confessional Lutheran statements.

November 14-16, 2002
The first meeting of representatives of the Etago CLC, LCEA and ELCC was held at Uchira, Tanzania, to enjoy fellowship, discuss the starting of the seminary, and to study God’s Word.  Pastors Muzakuza and Mbayo attended.

November 22-27, 2003
The first visit by the missionary to Katanga Province was carried out with the visiting of congregations.  Meetings were also held with ELCC women, a translation committee and catechists.  The meeting with ELCC pastors of south Katanga was to try to orientate them to us and our help for them.

2004
This year marked the first assistance from the CLC to seven churches for roofing.  The missionary was on the field in November. We continue supplying Pastor Muzakuza financing and teaching materials to teach his pastors.  Their translation committee finished the Swahili catechism for printing.

There are 1990 members served by 24 pastors and 18 assistants.

2005
Seven roofing projects helped – Translation work progresses well – Increased numbers require tests of all pastors – French materials being made available as well as Swahili – Church Registration and Farming Project fail to prove workable.

November 6-16. 2005
Mission Board members B. Naumann and L. Hansen with missionary held meetings with pastors,  catechists, translation committee and leaders as well as visiting several congregations.

2006
From Nov. 15th to Dec. 9th Pastor David Povolny was in the DRC beginning his work to replace Pastor Koenig who was only present for one week. Pastor Povolny carried out teaching, preaching and advising as the new man under the limited call from the Mission Board for Congo

2007
A visitation was held of missionary and Martin Essien from the NCLC in Nov. Plans were made for next year on: self-help, training, catechist teaching and translation work.

While the statistics reflect a growth, there has to be taken into account that many are not in confessional fellowship yet. The base is 40  pastors and assistants and 12 catechists serving 1001 souls in 26 congregations. Adding to this the inquirers and it is 91 pastors and assistants serving 3102 souls in 45 congregations.

2008 September

Pastor Koenig visited the ELCC in Lubumbashi. Discussions were held with: Pastor Muzakuza, translation comm., catechists, pastors. It is hoped that a loan program can be started for pastors this year.

2009 August

During a visitation by Pastor Koenig serious difficulties were being dealt with that caused the situation in the ELCC to be one of great concern for prayer. A division over administration practices has caused several pastors and their congregations to form a different church. The majority of the ELCC and this smaller group over a two year period could not find a resolution to work together. Because of this all normal activities between us and them are in jeopardy. We pray.

2010 – August

Pastor Nathanael Mayhew (part-time visiting missionary to East Africa), Pastor Todd Ohlmann (CLC Bd of Missions Chairman), and Mr. Martin Essien (of the Nigeria-CLC) spent 12 days the Lubumbashi, Congo area to visit the leaders and pastors of the ELCC and CCLC with prayer for lasting reconciliation so that the work of spreading the truth of God’s saving Word might go on unhindered. Pastors, leaders, evangelists, Sunday School Teachers, and elders of the two church bodies met together for four days of joint Bible training classes. On the final day a study of Church Unity and Church Organization was presented along with a proposed resolution to the ongoing disputes between the two church bodies. Three officers from each church body joyfully signed the resolution and agreed to forgive the sins of the past and work together for the glory of our Savior and for the expansion of God’s Kingdom in D.R. Congo. Translation work will be the first joint project of the CCLC and ELCC and they are planning a joint worship service for December when Mr. Essien will return. Pastor Yumba of the CCLC reports that he has very viable contacts in Zambia who are interested in starting a Lutheran congregation. Pastor Ohlmann and Pastor Mayhew recommend a declaration of fellowship with the CCLC along with the funding of specific outreach/mission projects as funds are available in the MDF.

2012 – January

Pastor Todd Ohlmann and Missionary Matthew Ude arrived for the 2011 visit in the middle of January 2012.

They met to teach the pastors of the ELCC and visit the two Lubumbashi ELCC congregations for two days. During class they discussed the role of the Holy Spirit and a proper understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit

With pastor Yumba of the CCLC they went to the dedication of a new school in Whiski. They also visited with pastors in Kitwe Zambia whom pastor Yumba has been working with. They met for a day with representatives from eight congregations near and around Kitwe. They discussed the basic Christian doctrines as outlined by the CLC statement of fiath and Purpose. Pastor Yumba will continue to meet and teach with these pastors.

They spent a day at a joint conference with the pastors from the CCLC and the ELCC in attendance.

The translation committee has six newly translated Swahili documents as well as reprinting numerous previously translated Swahili and French material. They have also begun work on a Swahili translation of Luther’a small catechism.