• JAPC All Essays

  
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  All Essays given at the 2011 JAPC in Chennai

• Child Evangelism in BELC

  
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  Presented by Rajamani - BELC a. Youth of congregations teaching Sunday School Regularly ( 8,284 children ) b. VBS Program i. Next year “Christ is our Manna” ii. Many Hindu and Muslim children attend iii. Volunteers provide snaks iv. Youth do teaching

• CLCI General Report

  
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  Delivered by Nireekshana - CLCI a. Receiving a good number of phone calls based on Tract distribution b. Activities through which members are joining CLCI i. 1% Special Need ii. 2-3% Walked in to the church iii. 5-10% Tracts and Evangelism iv. 15-20% VBS – Sunday School v. 24-30% Gospel Meetings vi. 15-20% Church Programs vii. 55-70% Friend or Relative c. CLCI has built 6 new prayer sheds and is desperately praying for 12 more in the coming year at the cost of $1,000 USD each d. 27 converted Muslims are now pastors in the CLCI ( 1985 – 2011 ) – these pastors then return to the Muslim areas e. Tribal Outreach - The Tribal people of India have no income, no jobs, little too eat and even schooling is denied to their children. The CLCI reaches out with the Gospel, but also with education, teaching reading and writing, distributing slates and slate pencils, and twice yearly conducting Medical Camps f. Other Ministries i. Audio Ministry ( sending out CDs every two weeks with messages ) ii. Film Ministries iii. Prison Ministries ( One prisoner was released and worked as part time evangelist, but was than killed by his enemies. ) iv. Medical Camps v. VBS ( 1,515 children this year )

• Nepal Report

  
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  Delivered by Raju Bhitrakoti - HCLCN a. 2 pastors near Tibet border cross into the Tibet area and do some teaching – plus there are some contacts across the border that are interested in working with HCLC-N b. STATS: Pastors 23, Baptized Believers 200+, Church Members 3500+ c. Monthly Youth Fellowship with 80 -100 attending d. Mrs. Rama ( JB’s Wife ) is also teaching Woman Conferences Annually e. Orphanage started with 11 children in home

• Andaman and Chengelput Report

  
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  Delivered by Deepak - BELC a. Currently teaching “Summary of Christian Doctrine” and “Shadows and Substance” in both district b. Orissa – When Deepak became a Christian his parents told him he must choose us or Christ. For 15 years no contact with his family. His family thought that he had dies in the Tsunami so they asked pastors in Andaman looking for information about Deepak. Now he found out that many of his family are now Christian. c. Pray Requests – church buildings, orphanages, schools, paddy land, start work in Orissa

• Kadapa Report

  
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  Delivered by V. Victor - BELC a. Trusting the Lord’s sovereign guidance frees us from financial worry. This keeps us focused on ministry rather than relying on human ingenuity or cleverness to raise money. b. Districts where V. Victor is working: Kadapa, Kurnool, Rayachotti, Rajampetta, Mydukur and Goa. c. “I am one of the agents of God . . . [to] multiply many agents of the Lord . . .” d. Three times he has visited Goa, now a fourth is planned. In Goa the pastors’ native tongue is English. A few people also speak Portuguese.

• CLCM Report

  
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  Delivered by Kham - CLCM a. The CLCM operates primarily in the Chin state of Myanmar, and works primarily among the ethnic group Teddim Chim ( there are 35 ethnic groups in Myanmar ) b. 95% of the population is Buddhist c. The Headquarters are Munlai Kalaymo, Sagaing Division where any foreigner can visit without restriction from the government. d. 9 pastors, 2 evangelists, and 1 worker – 56 congregations e. Evangelist Hmang – is able to enter the military camps and speak in Burmese and preach and teach among the Burmese, especially among the military. Because his father was military he is able to enter among the military. f. They have 3 schools, but these schools were shut down by the government g. Able to purchase four plots of land for permanent site for CLCM i. Build a church, office for chairman and secretary, later on children home, and college h. It is our deep desire to open Lutheran Institute – There are young men waiting to enter into study for the ministry

• BELC Southern Districts

  
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  Delivered by D.Paul - BELC a. 161 souls added to the church this year b. Confirmation – All pastors are teaching Wednesday or Tuesday evening bible study on small catechism. When ready for confirmation the pastor meets with them individually to deal with any special conditions or problems. c. Lord’s Supper is celebrated twice monthly, some congregation every month d. Film ministry this year in over 33 villages e. Tuition Centers - Out of work youth help conduct tuition Centers, where they help children in the area. These youth receive no money for their work. f. Rajamani is currently supporting a few medical camps g. Dave asked about the possibility of getting the Luther Film Dubbed into Tamil – D Paul said he would look into it.

• CLCI CLC Missionary Visits Report

  
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  Delivered by V. D. S. Raju - CLCI a. Missionary Matthew Ude’s Visit October 2010 b. Brother John Rohrbach visited from 17th Dec to 4th Jan – brother john gave away many many gifts and visited 9 congregations c. Rev. David Koenig visit February 2011 – preach with much visual aids – opened new prayer shed at Dandamudi village d. Brother David Lueck visited September 2011 – preached on Samaritan Woman – Taught teaching techniques of Jesus

• Nellore and Renigunta Districts Report

  
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  Delivered by Moses Raghu - BELC a. Nellore – Pastors 45 – Children 1200 – Adults 1700 b. Renigunta – Pastors 40 – Childrens 977 – Adults 1300 c. Built 2 church buildings d. Leprosy Work e. Bangalore – 30 pastors – here they are waiting for us to come – I visited once, Moses visited twice more

• CLCI Seminary Report

  
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  Delivered by Jyothi Benjamin - CLCI a. 95 Fully trained pastors have come from Seminary in the last 13 years ( 6 previous Muslim ) b. 14 Graduates Seminary this last June c. 436 graduates from Bible Correspondence Course d. 10 Graduates from Correspondence Course this last June

• MLBS Report

  
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  Delivered by D. Paul - BELC a. The teachers of the MLBS along with what it is they teach i. T. Sampath; V. Rajamani; K. Ashirvadham; B. Bhasker; D Paul b. Graduation Feb 28 – 18 Graduates c. March 1st – Inauguration – 16 new students ( 6 students from BELC congregation – 10 from outside the BELC ) d. Many from other congregations request

Holy Cross Lutheran Church and School

Emmaus Milimani

Near Moi’s Bridge, Kenya

School –

The  Emmaus  Hill School is in its third year of operation.  The School year runs from January through November with the months of April and August recessed.  This school has been a welcome addition to the community due to the fact that the towns of Milimani and Jaribu Kagoto are predominantly very low income areas.   Present schooling options are either at too great of a distance or incur too great of a cost for the majority of families that inhabit this area.

Until recently, the church building of Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Emmaus Milimani had been used as the only school building.  For the opening of the 2011 school year a new school building has been constructed which contains two classrooms, each able to adequately hold approximately 40 students each.  The construction of this building was a joint effort.  The land had been donated by Anna Sagala as well as the timber from the Sagala farm  for the construction of the walls.  The iron sheets for the roof were a donation from the CLC Kinship committee.  The cost of classroom furniture, labor, doors and windows was donated by Holy Cross Ev. Lutheran Church, Phoenix.   Several church members also donated their time and talents in the installation of the iron sheets onto the roof, the preparation of the foundation, and the hard work of mudding the walls.  Mary and Anna Sagala were the chief coordinators for the construction project.

For the 2010 School year, the school had 107 students enrolled in three different grade levels.  This included Baby Class (Pre- School aged children), Kindergarten, and First grade.   These three grade levels were served by only two teachers who, initially, were receiving little to no compensation for their long hours of work.  Holy Cross has since starting sponsoring the teacher salaries at a rate of KSH 3,000 (Approximately $40)  per month for each teacher.  Having the teachers sponsored frees up any and all school fees that come in to be applied towards the purchase of school supplies, school uniforms, and food for the school lunches.   With the addition of the classroom building another grade level  (2nd Grade) has also been added in order to carry along students who had started at the school.  In the 2011 school year there have been no final enrollment numbers reported, but the school is staffed with 3 full time teachers, one assistant for the lower grade level, and a cook.  These teachers have had many years of experience working in various private schools in the Matunda/Moi’s Bridge area.  They also attend divine services at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Emmaus Milimani regularly.  Approximately 30 of the students at our school are orphans.
Church –

For the first year and a half of the existence of Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Emmaus Milimani the Sunday Services were led by the president of the congregation, Mr. Samson Otieno, resident of nearby Jaribu Kogoto.  Anna Sagala would teach Sunday School and also assist the congregation in learning parts of the catechism.  Upon the arrival of Missionary Gurath, he was requested to establish an order of worship service similar to one that is practiced here in the United States – liturgical in form, centered around the Word and Sacrament.   During his 5 months serving this church Missionary Gurath personally had performed 23 baptisms. He had to wait until the Kenyan Church of the Lutheran Confession registration papers were processed until he could produce official baptismal certificates.

They have not reached the point where they celebrated the Lord’s Supper together at the church.  Many of those attending church were coming from various church backgrounds and it was important to explore the Bible teachings together as presented in the Catechism before we united together in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.   The preaching and the teachings were very well received and attendance at the Sunday services averaged close to 80 people.   Everyone who attended church regularly and joined us for Catechism instruction following the service received a Kiswahili Catechism produced by CPH (Concordia Publishing House).  These catechisms along with several issues of Good News Magazine in the Kiswahili language, and Hymnals in the Kisii language were donated by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation based in Nairobi, Kenya.  (This is an independent Lutheran Mission organization which is heavily involved in many translation projects all throughout Africa.)

Catechism instruction took place after every Sunday Service and lasted 1 to 2 hours.   Before leaving, Missionary Gurath had produced small hymnbooks so that the congregation could become familiar with about 50 hymns in Kiswahili and be able to follow along in the worship service without the use of bulletins.  These are normally produced by our missionary for every service while serving in the area.

Two men were selected by the congregation to attend the CLC seminary in Chotororo in the Kisii area of Kenya.   One will attend for two years to be an evangelist and to mainly assist in the work of the congregation at Milimani: Jasper Juma Musakali.  The other, Amos Otieno, who is the son of the president of the congregation, will attend the seminary for the full four year term in order to serve the congregation at Milimani in the future as their full-time pastor.   These two students will be sponsored by the CLC KINSHIP committee and expect to begin their studies in May. Since the seminary is some distance away, there is a need to help with the cost of taking the bus to and from the seminary for these two students.  The cost for this comes to $35 per student each month.

Semi-regular adult instruction classes were usually held during the week on Fridays.  There were various people in attendance and the Schierenbeck instruction booklet “Shadows and Substance” was used.  Weekly Bible study was held at the church along with time for prayer.  They used the edition of the Good News Magazine that was on hand, the issue centering on prayer, specifically the Lord’s Prayer.

In the interim, while Missionary Gurath is away, the president of the congregation, Samson Otieno is conducting the worship services.  He is well grounded in the Scriptures, carries himself in humility, and is serious about serving the people of God and bringing up the children of that congregation in the ways of the Lord.

Future Projects:

There are plans in the works to drill for a well on the property of the church and school.  For now the nearest clean water source to Milimani is at a distance and needs to be carried to the church and school. In the dry season a long queue can form at the water source.  They are awaiting an estimate from a rock quarry company who can assist in the drilling at a reduced price in exchange for keeping any rock that is turned up in the drilling process.  This would be a great boon to the school, church, and community at large.
The goal is for the school to eventually become self-sustaining. The opportunity for this to happen grows very much as the school progresses, for the local communities and outlying areas see what a blessing the school is. With the school providing a quality, Christ-centered education, even more students will be drawn from other areas.  As families get to know the school and staff better, that opens the door for them to begin attending the church as well.

There are folks who live a significant distance away who are talking about donating land and other resources with a view toward having a place of worship not so far away.  The fields are white!  The opportunities abound!

With a view toward helping the church and school becoming self-sustaining, consideration is being given to operating a bureau (photocopying, scanning, internet use) in the town of Matunda.  This would double as an office and meeting place for Bible study, adult instruction classes, etc., while generating income.

During his time in Kenya, Missionary Gurath made monthly excursions to teach at the seminary.  His intention is to continue with this.  We have also asked the CLC Mission Board if there are any other areas where he could be of service to them in East Africa as time permits.

“I thank God because I had a good trip from Kilimanjaro-Tanzania to Lusaka Zambia. I departed my home place to Zambia on 21/02/2011 and I reached Lusaka Zambia on 24/02/2011 this is because I used the road by traveling…

The Lord was faithful in my trip and I hope He will continue to guide me in His work.

When I reached Lusaka I met my friends who were waiting for me, because I informed them about my trip. I thank God for it, because it was my prayer to God that when I will reach this country to have brothers and sisters in Christ who can welcome me and it will be my starting point for planting the CLC congregation in Zambia. And God has answered my prayer.

I want to let you know that now I am in Zambia for the work of the Lord (Full working not part time preacher). You may contact to me through this email address or the cell phone numbers (+260964868370) you can send a short message to me through this number and I will appreciate your prayers.”

In March Ibrahim wrote:

“The aim of this message is to try to let you know more about me since I departed in East Africa Tanzania. Really I have seen the hand of God upon me.

I want to tell you that the work of God has already started here in Zambia. I have introduced the CLC to my friends and they agree to join. On 13/03/2011 I preached for the first time for forming the CLC congregation and we were six people and four kids. The place which we are meeting is the one of the friend who welcomes me, he is a good man and he wants to serve God but he doesn’t know where he can start. Pray for this man (His name is evangelist Peter Mwerwa) .He has promised us to work together and he will assist me to reach many people by the word of God (Matthew 28:19-20)

My daily time table is to have real evangelism (door to door).Sometimes this happen in schools because Zambia is Christian Nation and we are allowed to teach in schools. My target is to make sure the church is growing and people know the truth and the truth shall set them free.

The goodness of Zambia most of people are speaking English.Even though they have other languages but in town they are using English. Please send to me anything about our church then I will print and share with people in Zambia.

Lastly, I request CLC mission to visit us in Zambia even for two days for a seminar. From Lusaka town to the place which I am planning to open the church is almost forty five minutes. Nearest to the main road to Botswana and Zimbabwe…

(Also at Kitwe, Zambia a congregation of 25 is being formed under the CLCC(Congo). We pray Pastor Yumba will be able to send us more news.)

In Christ dearly beloved,

Cordial greetings to you in the precious Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We praise God for the wonderful visit of Bro. John Rohrbach from 17th December 2010 to 4th January

2011 in the CLCI. We praise God for enabling us to have wonderful and blessed time with Bro. John in  visiting  few  CLCI  congregations  and  gave  assistance  and  undertake  some  of  the  church construction programs. Bro. John’s trip to the CLCI congregations has been well accepted and the members of the CLCI appreciated and thanked Bro. John for his wonderful services to the CLCI churches.

This is the seventh time that Bro. John visits the CLCI. He was well known and remembered by many of the senior CLCI members. Many of the pastors and members came to the CLCI mission campus and voluntarily attended the welcoming ceremony to meet Bro. John personally. Rev. V.S.Benjamin felt very happy to see Bro. John after 14 years. We are glad to report that Bro. John came to the CLCI with dedication and with great commitment to serve the CLCI from different angles like – Children, poor pastors and students, Widows Care and Church constructions, etc. It was so nice of Bro. John to donate many fruit and flower plants of worth many thousands of rupees to various CLCI churches and encouraged and instructed members to develop the church gardens which would give much profit to their church as well as peace to their souls. Also it is very kind of Bro. John help in repairing the house of our CLCI pastor at Machavaram. Cement plastering of walls, sunshades and wind protectors for windows, planting new fruit and flower trees in the church gardens, cleaning the garden, repairing cement benches in the Church garden, remodeling the Church-alter at Machavaram, fixing new roofs for Bathroom and Latrines, etc are some of the projects we did with the kind help from Bro. John. With wonderful financial help from Bro. John now the CLCI church at Machavaram has drinking water facility which has overwhelmed the entire church members. The CLCI members and pastor of that congregation expressed their appreciation from the bottom of their hearts.

Bro. John touched the hearts of the CLCI pastors and students with wonderful words and Christmas greetings and gifts. Bro. John distributed clothes to the CLCI pastors’ families and seminary students. The CLCI Sunday school children and orphans welcomed Bro. John.   The CLCI Orphan Children have been enjoying the valuable educational CDs presented by Bro. John. All the children thanked him from the bottom of their hearts for these valuable gifts. Bro. John presented many hundreds of gifts such as notebooks, lunch boxes, dining plates, pens, pencils and new testaments to the CLCI children at various CLCI congregations.

All the members of the CLCI church at Machavaram thanked heartily Bro. John for his wonderful help in providing new sound and lighting system to their Church. Many of the widows and old aged women in the CLCI celebrated the Christmas with great joy because they received new Sarees from Bro. John. Many widows and old aged women thanked Bro. John for his love and affection towards them.    Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. James 1:27

Since many years we have been using rented Tents, chairs and dining benches in the CLCI annual convention meetings and CLCI public gospel meetings. We are happy to inform you that with the generous help from Bro. John now the CLCI has its own new Tents, 50 plastic chairs and dining benches. Also Bro. John helped the CLCI vehicle in replacing the old radial tyres, tubes and car battery with new ones. We really thank and appreciate Bro John for this because our CLCI vehicle has been traveling thousands of kilometers for the gospel proclamation. Also it is so grateful of Bro. John’s  assistance  in  painting  church  gates,  compound  walls,  pulpit,  water-fountain,  Water  well, window grills and window doors etc. Also we thank Bro. John for his kind contribution in providing the CLCI many Telugu Lutheran hymnals, Telugu Old Testament history books for seminary and Telugu song books of worth many thousands of rupees.

Along with Bro. John we have visited 9 CLCI congregations in three districts and prayed for many hundreds of members. We are very glad to inform you that this year with kind help from Bro. John we are able to construct a new prayer shed at Dandamudi village to worship the Lord. With kind and untiring work and help of Bro. John within two days and nights, we were able to raise a new Prayer shed at Dandamudi village with the walls of cement bricks, with asbestos sheeted roof and polished granite stone flooring. It is inspiring to many youth and members that Bro. John himself participated in the labor work such as carrying sand, cement, bricks etc. We praise the Lord for His amazing grace toward this prayer shed. On behalf of that CLCI congregation at Dandamudi village we thank Bro. John once again for his kind and generous help in constructing this prayer shed.   Blessed is he that considers the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. Psalms 41:1

We praise God for helping us in our efforts to improve and develop the CLCI through Bro. John. This special visit by Bro. John Rohrbach became a real source of joy to the many hundreds of CLCI members. It is only by His grace and provision that we have been able to visit those villages. Now the members in those villages have more faith in Christ’s wonderful doings. This is nothing less than a great blessing to the CLCI! As it is written, He has dispersed abroad; he has given to the poor: his righteousness remains forever. 2Corinthians 9:9.

Bro. John Rohrbach left to US from Hyderabad on 4th  January 2011. Bro. John Rohrbach’s visit and services enriched the CLCI in many ways. We, the CLCI pastors, seminary students, and the staff working in our CLCI ministry, the congregational members, orphan children and our family members are all praying for you and your welfare.  We look forward for greater blessings of the Lord in granting us spiritual blessings and growth through many Lord’s servants like Bro. John, So that our faith in the Lord will be strengthened and His love may continue to shine in our lives as we minister to the Indian people. We request you also to continue to remember us in your daily prayers.

Please see that attached JPEG files of Bro. John’s visit.  Praying that Lord bless you all richly always. Thank you

I remain

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Jyothi Benjamin

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Christmas Mission Work

The month of December is well known to us as the special time for Christians to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. In the Christmas gospel of Luke we hear of mission work being done already at the very beginning of Jesus’ life. Our memory from childhood reminds us that it was the lowly Bethlehem shepherds who carried out this outreach effort – “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child.” (Luke 2:17)  This serves as a good reminder to us that mission work is first to begin in our immediate area and then also to extend to the farthest reaches of the earth.

Outreach Efforts in Nepal

Pastors JB and Raju Bhitrakoti recently sent a report concerning outreach and evangelism being done by the Himalayan CLC of Nepal near the border of Tibet.  Pastor Raju reports that they conducted a 2 day seminar for those interested in the true teachings of Lutheranism in Chaku, which is just 9 KM from Tibet. They had 200 people in attendance. The pastors and evangelists who were in attendance showed great interest in what was taught and asked them to return. The vast majority of the population in this part of world is either Buddhist, Hindu, or a combination of the two. There are very few Christians in Tibet and the government has very strict rules against evangelism by outsiders. Pastor Raju is encouraged that the Lord has apparently opened a door of opportunity to spread the Gospel in Tibet through the contacts they have made. Since Tibet is officially a Chinese province or territory, this could also serve as an inroad for spreading the Gospel in an area of Asia that would otherwise be inaccessible.

Pastor Raju and his father JB are excited and encouraged that a few of the pastors and evangelists from Tibet attended (at their own expense) the monthly pastoral training seminar that was held in Kathmandu on November 23-25. Your offerings to the CLC and the MDF serve to support these types of Gospel outreach efforts in Nepal along with the ongoing monthly pastoral training seminars, correspondence courses, and translation of theological books. Just recently the HCLC-Nepal completed the translation and printing of 1,000 copies of Luther’s Small Catechism (Sydow edition) at a cost of $1.67 each.

Please continue to pray for your brothers and sisters of the HCLC-Nepal as they continue to proclaim the Gospel. Also pray that the Lord will bless the preparations of the 2011 Mission Helpers as they get ready to travel to Nepal in July.

Evangelism Workshop

On Sunday, November 28^th, Messiah Lutheran Church in Eau Claire held an Evangelism Workshop. It was attended by about 70 participants from Messiah and from congregations in Middleton, Hales Corners, and the Twin Cities. After observing two “actors”  role‑playing a witness opportunity, they broke up into smaller groups to discuss their own experiences in similar situations. They also talked about how they might better use their future opportunities to speak about their faith. The witnessing scenarios they discussed included speaking about their faith to an atheist, a believer in a generic “god,” to a person who is in mourning, and to an acquaintance who belongs to a false teaching church. The mutual encouragement to do this important work for our Lord was a great benefit to all involved. Messiah’s Outreach Committee plans to hold a third annual Evangelism Workshop in 2012.

Domestic Missions

The Board of Missions considers it important for our synod to be kept informed about the mission efforts in our domestic mission congregations. Rather than providing you with just a brief paragraph of each congregation twice a year, our monthly mission newsletter will feature a mission congregation. In this way we hope to provide you with an in depth picture of the work you are supporting through your offerings and prayers. In the month of January, we plan to share a report from St. Paul Lutheran Church in Vernon, British Columbia. As you learn of the mission efforts taking place in each of the mission congregations, offer your prayers and petitions on their behalf seeking the Lord’s blessing.

Myanmar Report From Missionary Koenig

Myanmar presents to us a different situation in the fellowship relation between us and the CLCM. The government does not allow foreigners to enter Chin State, where the 56 congregations of our sister church are located, only one congregation is not located in this area. This means we cannot visit with the pastors and congregations in Chin State. Instead we ask them to send at least one representative to a seminar we conduct in the city of Kalay. This year all congregations were represented among the eighty plus participants in the four day seminar. Your offerings allow us to bring the representatives to this study.

Topics covered in the seminar were: history of Luther with pictures, homiletical studies, the Unit Concept in fellowship, Christ in the Old Testament, a study on customs in the Bible, Using the three  ‘I am’s’ of John Gospel to teach Law and Gospel, study of the apostles, Greek words’ meaning in Fruit of the Spirit and Works of the Flesh in Gal. and Col. 3 putting on certain virtues, the Will of God, Why we are not Pentecostals, wrong teachings on the end times( rapture, millennium, warfare, all Israel saved). At our subsequent executive meeting I took suggestions as to what to present next year. The suggestions are enough to fill a couple four day seminars at least.

The Lord has apparently opened another door through an invitation of a Lutheran pastor in Yangon who was inquiring about the CLC.  Through this contact I had the opportunity to have a seminar with 40 some people on Baptism, Communion, Fellowship, What is a Lutheran? and some other topics. We pray the Word works on the people.

Myanmar (aka Burma) Statistics:

Population: 53,414,374

Religions: Buddhist 89%, Christian 4% (Baptist 3%, Roman Catholic 1%), Islam 4%, animist 1%, other 2%

(source: www.cia.gov)

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(Hebrews 13:8) “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

Dearly beloved in Christ,

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

10th Joint Asian Pastoral Conference 2010:- The wonderful Nellore atmosphere welcomed all the pastors of the CLCI, BELC and HCLCN and gave good pleasure to everyone, who has participated in this 10th Joint Asian pastoral conference, held at Nellore from 6th to 7th October 2010. Once again it is a joy to see through this conference that everyone is connected in prayer and spiritual fellowship with such a unity. Every effort was made by all the pastors to conduct this conference in a very successful manner. The representatives of CLCM from Myanmar are unable to attend the conference because of the border difficulties but they sent their report to the conference by e-mail. Rev. Matthew Ude presented the CLCM report to the conference.

It was a great blessing for all the CLCI, BELC and HCLCN pastors to participate in this pastoral conference and receive the greetings, blessings and encouraging words from the wonderful Lord’s people, honorable president of the CLC Rev. John Schierenbeck and honorable Chairman of the Mission Board Rev. Todd Ohlmann.

Everyone blessed by the words of encouragement and inspiring devotions from the respected Missionaries Rev. David Koenig and Rev. Matthew Ude.

All the mission reports showed the much more improvement in their mission activities. We thank the Lord for the profitable and helpful time of teaching, learning, witnessing and getting ready to discover more opportunities in spreading the Gospel in many new places.

The Lord in His rich mercy and sovereign grace gave more energy to our hands through this conference 2010 to do His work. Verily Jesus has or¬dered a great revival through this Joint Asian pastoral conference.

We pray that our Lord be pleased to bless all such a corporate endeavors through this type of Pastoral Conferences and thus further His work. Our lives are in the hands of the Lord. “Bless the Lord, Oh my soul and all that is within me. Bless the Lord Oh my soul and forget not all his benefits.”

Praying that through this Joint Asian conference we would be led into a deeper unity and knowledge of the love of Christ. And thus be brought into the enjoyment of the fullness of God with all the beloved brothers and sisters, under His Headship, and serve Him for His glory in His Church.

Thank you

Yours in His grace,

Pastor Jyothi Benjamin,

Conference Secretary

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? Romans 10:14

God is good. The 2010 graduates of CLCI Theological Seminary celebrated commencement on Tuesday, June 15 at CLCI mission campus.

We are very pleased to inform you that God has led another 12 students to complete the seminary course successfully. As graduated students, they are sure to have a great measure of satisfaction in leaving the seminary and entering into CLCI preaching ministry. Even though he is not feeling well, the Chairman of the CLCI, Rev. V.S. Benjamin participated in the graduation and delivered the commencement address and performed certificate distribution ceremony. Bro. Raju from Hyderabad, Rev. Nireekshana and some of the CLCI pastors conveyed their greetings to the graduates. Principal of the seminary, in his words, congratulated and encouraged all the graduates to be faithful in proclaiming the good news despite of apathy or opposition. Bible correspondence course students received their certificates from Bro. Raju. They have also received a special cash gift of Rs. 300 donated by honorable missionary Rev. Koenig. Rev. V.S.Benjamin awarded “Diploma in theology” certificates to the Seminary graduates. Special prizes, leather Bible bags and cash gifts from respected Kinship and Rev. David Koenig were also presented to the seminary graduates. Many of the CLCI Pastors, members attended the graduation ceremony and congratulated the graduates. A reception and wonderful feast was held to honor the graduates following the commencement exercises. Graduates’ future endeavors include careers in pastoral and congregational ministry and mission work. The Commencement ended with the graduates’ word of promise, and a prayer of benediction offered by Rev. V.S.Benjamin

These following 12 students have been successfully completed the seminary course and graduated this year 2010. Please remember them in your daily prayers.

1. Chrithuraju. K, 2. Immanuel N 3. Israel. P, 4. Issac. V, 5. Joseph.N, 6. Mohanarao. M, 7. Nathanu. P, 8. Padmarao.A, 9. Prasadrao K, 10. Rosaiahbabu P, 11. Samuel.P, 12. Sowreelu B

These 12 men committed to the Word, dedicated their lives to do the Lord’s work in those areas with great strength as St. Paul said in the book of Philippians chapter 4: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” May the Lord continually bless these 12 men as they go into the field of Gospel as shepherds to spread the Word of God to the sheep. These 12 are the witnesses to what the Lord can do through the power of His Word. Acts 6:4 “…But we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

On behalf of the CLCI seminary, the staff and the students, I want to express our gratitude and thankfulness to all of you, who tirelessly supported us in prayer and in finance. Apart from God’s help, without your prayers and supports, we could not have made it. We feel, think, and believe so blessed that we are part of this important ministry to train spiritual and faithful servant-leaders of Jesus Christ for the Church here in India. We once again thank and praise God for the wonderful assistance we have been receiving from the respected CLC Mission Board, Kinship Committee, honorable Missionaries Rev. David Koenig, Rev. Matthew Ude, CLC visitors, Mission helpers and volunteers. Especially we thank all those individual CLC sponsors there in USA who have been praying and helping the seminary students.

We are honored and glad to inform you that in the midst of this 12 year period, 81 fully trained pastors came out of this CLCI seminary and all of them have been rendering their valuable services in various CLCI congregations. Now the Seminary students are enjoying their new educational year 2010-11. Please pray that more young people will be challenged to take up the call to the ministry. It has been an absolutely rewarding ministry. Before closing this report on graduation, I would like to quote a verse form Hebrews 6:10, “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which, you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”Accordingly, the Lord will bless you all abundantly. For this we have been praying everyday with thankful hearts.

—respectably submitted by Pastor Jyothi Benjamin, (Principal, CLCI seminary)

Psalms 103:21 “Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.”

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