Lutheran Missions .org

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #216

Mary Koenig — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:31:02 +0000

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #216
I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’

May 9, 2012

China – While we in the CLC and our sister churches are not involved in mission work in China, we can only rejoice at what Chinese Christians are doing to reach out. Many of these Chinese are pentecostal and of course therefore we do not agree with some of their teachings, like God speaking to them in dreams, we still acknowledge God’s work through them. Also the figure of 1 million grown to 100 million are both the upper limits of Protestants in China, whereas the Roman Catholics would be in addition to this, though of course no one but God knows the exact figures of believers.

The Spreading Flame

The News that is Fit to Print Back on Feb. 3, ’11 in the Washington Post this appeared. “Although today is the dawn of the Chinese New Year, most people are unaware that Chinese Christians are gearing up to be the world’s most potent missionary force. China? Christians? Sure enough. For decades now they’ve had plans to evangelize the Muslim world that lies along the old Silk Road route. This could be one of the most ambitious missionary enterprises in 2,000 years of Christianity. No national church has amazed the world as much as that of the Chinese. From 1 million at the time of the Communist takeover in 1949, it’s grown to 100 million followers, a breathtaking growth in 60 years. Evangelical Chinese Christians have come up with a way to evangelize a large portion of the world that will never see a western missionary. These are countries with large Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu populations, most of them located somewhere along a 7,000-mile route stretching from Xian in central China to the cities of Jerusalem, Antioch and Istanbul in the Middle East. Those were the ancient terminuses of the famous Silk Road. Mission experts estimate there are some 2 billion people in these countries who’ve never heard of Christianity. And what nationality has businesses and enterprises in every nation on the Earth? And which is the most populous country with the fastest-growing church? Starting several decades ago, Chinese Christians began to strategize how to secretly plant churches along this Silk Road through an initiative called the Back to Jerusalem movement. The idea was to start businesses in countries from India to Iran that would never suspect that the Chinese grocer or restaurant owner down the street would like to convert them…” God is at work in myriad ways. Praise be to Him who loves a world gone mad.

The Spreading Flame #2 The following is an article by Mike Turner in ‘LifeBrook’

“…This article, however, is not so much about the persecution of Christians in China as it is about the heroic efforts of Chinese Christians to spread the gospel beyond the borders of the Middle Kingdom. The fact that these brothers and sisters in Christ plan and execute these missionary efforts is especially remarkable, considering the political environment in which they have to operate.

I lived and worked in China for over five years, serving as a “tent-maker” missionary. During this time, I became acquainted with many Chinese Christians, both members of underground house churches and the official Three Self Patriotic Movement, the government sanctioned church in China. It was through my friendships with these remarkable Christians that I first learned of the “Back to Jerusalem” project. Since returning to the States I have learned that very few western Christians are aware of Back to Jerusalem, so I want to share a bit of information about the movement in hopes that these brief words might motivate readers to pray for these courageous missionaries who, quite often, place themselves in the mouth of the lion.

Briefly stated, the goal of the Back to Jerusalem project is for Chinese Christians to evangelize all the nations between China and Jerusalem. The proponents of the movement understand that Christianity spread westward from Jerusalem and eventually to Britain and America. The faith then traveled from these two countries to China. The Chinese Church now feels it has both a call and a mandate from God to take the gospel message all the way back to its origin. In a geographical sense, the good news will have spread around the world.

The vision for Back to Jerusalem actually was birthed back in the 1920’s, but due to the ever-shifting nature of Chinese politics during the first half of the 20^th Century, the movement fell off the radar for a number of years, only to resurface with great passion as the century drew to a close. Often hamstrung by a lack of funds, the proponents of the project never gave up. Against all odds, the initial missionary team was formed and trained.

In March, 2000, a team of 36 Chinese missionaries left the country for the mission field. A number of them never returned, but the project continued to move forward. Relatively unknown in the West, the Back to Jerusalem movement continued to arouse passion in the Chinese Church. Many of the initial missionaries had been subject to torture, deprivation, and ill-treatment in their home country, so they were well-prepared for what they might face in other lands that were hostile to Christianity, especially Muslim nations.

The Islamic countries are a high priority for the Back to Jerusalem missionaries. As I talked to people involved in the project and reflected on what I learned, I arrived at one salient awareness: Perhaps the Chinese are much better equipped to evangelize Muslim nations than we westerners, particularly Americans, are. The fact is, Americans have a bad reputation in the Islamic World. Whether this image is justified or not is not the issue here. The reality is, a Muslim is more likely to listen to a Chinese Christian than an American one.

Space does not permit a detailed analysis of the movement here. I would like, however, to encourage Christians here in the States to pray for these missionaries, their families, and for the success of Back to Jerusalem. Believe me, these folks need all the help they can get, spiritual and material. If you would like more information on the Back to Jerusalem project, visit the website:”

http://www.backtojerusalem.com

The Spreading Flame #3

News from Lausanne Word Pulse in Sept. ’11 this appeared. “Chinese Missionaries Today Chinese missionaries serving in Muslim countries have much more freedom to witness because they are not from the West. In 2005, teams of Chinese missionaries went into Pakistan after the December 2004 massive earthquake. They took blankets, tents, food, Bibles and Christian literature in Urdu. The Pakistani people were very open to the gospel during this time. When the Chinese NGOs would approach in their Jeeps (which had Chinese flags on them) the locals would yell, “The Christians are coming!” They would run toward the Jeeps, eager to receive the help that was offered in the name of Jesus.

Today Chinese missionaries serving in Muslim countries have much more freedom to witness because they are not from the West.

Church leaders in Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are asking for Chinese pastors and missionaries to come and teach on suffering. The years of suffering under the hand of the Communist government have placed Chinese church leaders in a unique place to help these young pastors who are facing arrest, imprisonment and harassment in Central Asia. Few joys have surpassed that of participating in two days of teaching in an underground training center in west China. I translated for one instructor as he taught a group of Chinese missionary candidates how to reach out to Muslims. At the end of our time together our Chinese hosts took us to a feast of roasted lamb in the heart of the downtown bazaar. After sharing a meal and laughter, they eagerly asked if the instructor would come to the Middle East to help train their workers. They invited him to return to west China to train more Chinese missionaries on how to reach out to Muslims in the name of Jesus. We thanked God for one more glimpse of the work he is doing through Chinese believers…” We come up with innovative ways to reach out. The Lord who is over all has ways we did not think of and successful to boot.

Pastor Koenig

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #215

Mary Koenig — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 21:46:13 +0000

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #215
I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’

April 28, 2012

Introduction – From Wikipedia “The 10/40 Window is a term coined by Christian missionary strategist Luis Bush in 1990^[1]^[2] to refer those regions of the eastern hemisphere located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, a general area that in 1990 was purported to have the highest level of socioeconomic challenges^[3]^[4] and least access to the Christian message and Christian resources^[5]^[6]^[7] on the planet.

The 10/40 Window concept highlights these three elements: an area of the world with great poverty and low quality of life, combined with lack of access to Christian resources. The Window forms a band encompassing Saharan and Northern Africa, as well as almost all of Asia (West Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, East Asia and much of Southeast Asia). Roughly two-thirds of the world population lives in the 10/40 Window. The 10/40 Window is populated by people who are predominantly Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Animist, Jewish or Atheist. Many governments in the 10/40 Window are formally or informally opposed to Christian work of any kind within their borders.”
This is an area of major unreached people, those who have not heard the Gospel in this age we live in. As you see the areas and countries in the lists why not pray over them that these people are reached by the Christian Church. Pastor Koenig

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #214

Mary Koenig — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 11:53:42 +0000

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #214

I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’

April 6, 2012

EASTER REFLECTIONS

With our eyes, we see

the beauty of Easter,

as the earth awakens, once more!

With our ears, we hear

the birds sing sweetly,

to tell us, Spring, again, is here!

With our hands, we pick

the golden dandylions,

which delight the simple heart!

But, only, with our hearts can we feel

the miracle of God’s love,

which redeems all men!

And, only, with our soul

can we make, “Our pilgrimage, to God,”

and inherit His Easter Gift of Eternal Life!

Waltraud

A Blessed Easter to You

They should have seen it coming. Jesus entered into the home of Jairus, Mk. 5:22-24, 35, 41-41. He gave new life to the hopeless as He had the little girl arise from the dead. Jesus came at the head of a joyful procession and met the mourning procession of the Widow of Nain. Lk. 7:12-15 Jesus turned their sorrow into joy as He raised the young man from the dead and gave him back to his mother. Jesus loves is fact. One of those He loved personally on earth when He walked was Lazarus. Jn. 11:21-27 He came to Lazarus’ tomb and gave the dead life, promising us the same. He has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light. Good Friday is the death knell for sin, hell, satan, and death. He died to cancel out all that stood against us. As we celebrate Easter, we are celebrating the proof of what has been done by Him. The same living Lord now walks with us to guide us into eternal life.

Pastor Koenig

January 2012 East Africa Visitation Trip Report

Matthew Ude — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 13:06:02 +0000

“And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them” – Mark 16:20
In Badagari, Nigeria, a new church standing on the border between Benin and Nigeria welcomed me and pastors from three
other countries. Some of these pastors came from churches with traditions and songs vastly diverse from our typical Lutheran heritage. Here traditions were shared while unity was preserved. As the words of F. Pieper reminded this group, “The unity of the church consists in it’s holding fast to the Word of Christ and its division consists in departing from that word.” Unity was sought and maintained in truth while all other diversity was a source of joy.

Conference in Kitwe Zambia

In Ethiopia, Pastor Ohlmann and I had a short layover. We were there barely long enough to sleep and enjoy a fresh brewed cup of Ethiopian coffee.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is a land of extreme poverty and strife. In the north, dwindling remnants of their last bitter civil strife continue to flutter. How sad it is that this same trouble should have found a place within the church. Yet, despite our ugliest sins the Lord brings His life. Here where once we were hindered by familial fights the Lord sends out His servants. Muzukuza and the ELCC are reaching out through five districts and 31 called servants as far away as Kinshasa. Yumba and the CCLC are exploring new areas to the south, even crossing the border into Zambia. Here in Kitwe eight congregations eagerly desire instruction, asking as did the Ethiopian, “How can I [understand], unless someone guides me?”

members in kitwe

Further south in Lusaka, Zambia, we are greatly encouraged to find that those whom we have trained are not content to receive and sit, but being filled with Christ are compelled to go and give. Ibrahim, who has worked closely with Pastor Nathanael Mayhew in Tanzania, took the initiative and traveled to a distant and foreign land to bring the Gospel to these people. Far from home and family Ibrahim teaches a handful of prospective future pastors, wanders in destitute villages giving short devotions from house to house, and visits the sick at AIDS hospitals bringing those who mourn with sadness the comfort of release. “ . . . and the poor have the gospel preached to them.”

Victoria Falls

Continuing south we stopped briefly at Mosi-oa-Tunya, that is, “the Smoke that Thunders” and saw the raw power of Victoria Falls where each second 100,000 cubic feet of water pour over the cliff and send mist and spray 1,300 feet into the air. Yet, even this awesome sight cannot compare to the power encountered further south in Bulwayo, Zimbabwe. Here a group of 15 young men by the power of the Holy Spirit without Lutheran pastors or Bible schools recognized the truth of Scripture and reached out, seeking to learn and grow in that understanding. Although Pastor Todd Ohlmann and I only had two days to spend with these young men, Pastor Mark Gullerud has been corresponding with them for the last year with materials, guidance, and encouragement.

- Missionary Matthew Ude

A Report from Pastor Nolting on CLC work in Peru

Matthew Ude — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:53:29 +0000

The following is a report from Pastor Nolting on CLC work in Peru. Read with prayer of thanks.
Regarding the work in Peru. Daniel Pfeiffer (member of CLC Mankato, Mn.) is back in Lima until Thanksgiving. He will be working full-time in mission outreach and teaching. He had begun the instruction of about 20 adults before coming back last October. He has an additional ten or so that were interested in starting, so he should have about 30 adults in class. He will also be instructing the elementary students at Stella Maris School, owned and operated by Dimas Vivanco and his wife, Blanca. There were about 35 children last year and it looks like the enrollment may be up to about 45 this year. He will be instructing the students in Religion and English.

I will be making a twelve day trip down to Lima in April. It is hoped that the weekly Bible Study of last year will be turned into a weekly worship service this year. Dimas would like to plan a conference for the summer of 2013, in which a number of people from the US would come to present various Biblical topics. I have talked to four or five people with some Spanish fluency to participate in such a conference, but we will have to wait and see whether the Lord permits it to develop and proceed.

Encounters of a Spiritual Kind the Third Party-Acts 13:5-12

Matthew Ude — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:47:40 +0000

This is what could be called a spiritual tug of war. With Paul on one end, Elymas on the other and Sergius in the middle. It is also confrontational. The confrontation though is not with Sergius, the object of the witnessing, but with the opponent Elymas. Here Paul must hurl the law at Elymas who is interfering with Sergius who “sought to hear the Word of God.” In a way this reminds one of the Leipzig Debate where Luther was not so much trying to win over his opponent at the opposite podium as to influence those observing the debate.

Sergius was a man of intelligence who truly was interested in Paul and Barnabas’ message. Elymas tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith. We of course do not have apostolic power to do as Paul did. But we do have the law to refute and condemn the modern day Elymas. There are those times when in a very small group of three or so we may have one individual who we are trying to witness to, but are hindered by someone else. Then it is that we must turn to that opponent and direct the Word on what he is saying.
I can remember discussions in college in small groups when I would have to refute a Mormon in the discussion to get through to another listening. The beauty of this encounter of Paul and Sergius is that the proconsul did believe, “astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” It was the Gospel that Paul then preached that won him over after the interference was eliminated.

In the BELC – Pastor Anand Rao of the Chenna Dist. went to be with the Lord in Nov. He had joined us in ‘09. In the NCLC – I have just learned that Pastor Antai’s spirit returned home very recently. This brother was with us from the beginning of our work in Nigeria with Pastor Essien’s group back over 30 years. He was a pharmacist and upon retiring attended our Bible Institute for five years and became pastor in Mbokpu Oduobo where he had started a congregation.

Both of these men whether with us for a long time or a short time we rejoice over, that we could work together for Him. Blessed(happy) are the dead who die in the Lord.
Pastor Koenig

Greetings from Teacher Ibrahim

Matthew Ude — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:41:56 +0000

I am very happy to write to you this mail because in the Christ we are one therefore we need to know each other in spiritual life and physical as well.

It is by the grace of God to communicate to you through mail but in spirit we communicate every day through prayer as the Bible commands us (praying without ceasing).Through your prayers the CLC Zambia is growing and many people are coming to learn the word of God after being reached by the gospel.

The following is the testimony which I faced last week when we reached one tribe in Zambia called Tonga Lea (Tonga). Most of this tribe lives out of developments and most of them are living in houses which are built with grass from foundation of the house up to the roof (But others are living in town and they are rich).

Most of them don’t know things called good house, good food, good clothes, Television etc. We remember we were with evangelist Peter Mwerwa, the one who is working as a Timothy and with two brothers in that area. We approached some families but it was difficult because whatever we spoke needed to be translated. But we thank God for those two brothers to help us to translate (the people can’t speak English well, especially the old people).

One family asked us this question “are you speaking words of Jesus, where is he? Can we welcome him to visit us? And if these words which you are speaking to us are true, where were you since we were young until today? They concluded by saying we were selfish for hiding these good news”. These questions made us to sit down and start crying in the heart because many preachers in Zambia forget this area by the gospel. They like to preach in the town and like having nice cars.

We shared with them the word of God and having discussion for two days and we returned back to the place where we stayed to collect more power to visit them again for a seminar one week on this month or December this year(2011) . We can say that this people are really hungry for the word of God but few people sacrifice their lives to preach to them. This is because of the distance from the town. This tribe is living in Southern part of Zambia. You need to drive almost three to four hours from town.

Please keep this tribe in your prayer and our effort to reach them. Also we will need your help while we are arranging the seminar for them. I need to spend time with them and to plant a CLC congregation there.

May the Lord bless you as you share with others about this mail. Thanks. From Zambia (Central Africa).

Pastor Ibrahim karioki

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #213

Mary Koenig — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:29:47 +0000

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #213

I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’

March 30, 2012

Pastor Ude reports: TOGO

As was the plan I did not go to Togo or Ghana, but I did meet with Pastor Kossi 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. Besides these four places there is apparently a man in Togo who gave some land to Kossi asking him to come start a church there. He actually gave two plots one in Cotonou (Benin)and further north in Natitingou. Kossi hasn’t explored these areas yet, but said he was going to be signing the land deal with this man on his return. 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.

GHANA

Unfortunately Pastor Gideon was not able to come to the recent conference. I did however speak to him on the phone. He has returned to a driving job. His congregation remains the same about 16 adults. They were expelled from the land they had been using. The congregation’s primary focus currently is on finding a place to worship. This seems to me to be the most pressing need of this kind in West Africa. Martin Essien from Nigeria is going to visit Ghana and report back to me on possibility of buying some land for Gideon. Joseph Kofi Ackah did make it from Ghana. He was quite eager to start at the Bible Institute which begins classes the 23rd of January. I didn’t see any reason not to start him immediately. I just recently received a report from Joseph that he was not able to make it to Efa for the start of the new school year. However he is working with Pastor Patrick Udo towards the possibility of starting later this year.

Encounters of a Spiritual Kind

Looking in All the Wrong Places – Mt. 19:16-24

There were those on the Areopagus who sought the answers to life in their philosophy, speculation and reasoning. It was clear on that mount that they contemplated the products of the human mind. But for those who seek to justify themselves in our Lord’s day or in ours, they appeal to God for their work-righteousness. They would use the Ten Commandments, which they say God gave, as the means for reward after this life. That was the approach of this rich young ruler, “Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?”

To us this is so pathetic. Yet it is the way of the prestigious lodges. This is not just an aberration of the Jews of Jesus’ day. This ‘works’ religion is basic to the largest visible Christian church, the church of the Antichrist. Even among numerous Protestant denominations it has established a beachhead.

The Lord is gentle with this fellow. He is looking for the answer to the question and not just trying to test Jesus or trip Him up. When Jesus refers him to the commandments, the ruler states he has kept them. Jesus does not point out he has not, but moves on to requirement that would show whether the man really wanted eternal life. “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” Oh, oh! Where your treasure is there will your heart be

also. The man went away sorrowing because he had great possessions. The immense wealth and prosperity of our society is both a blessing and a curse. We, Christians, have more to give for our Lord’s work. The technology of our society can be harnessed for His purposes. But for so very many wealth is a trap. They fall in and are taken hook, line and sinker. To this materialist we want to speak.

When we do, we must make a clear dichotomy between: Christ ruling life or mammon dictating in effect disaster, eternal life or eternal death, forgiveness from above or work righteousness from man. We don’t want to mince words that one can get the wrong idea so as to serve Christ and mammon. We shouldn’t be daunted if our prospect goes away sorrowing. Conversion can yet happen by the power of the Word.

But with the prospect we should offer the opportunity to decide before we depart the encounter. He doesn’t have to. But why not give him the chance? We may have been overly cautious in this due to the error of the Reformed in their ‘decision theology.’ At least we want to leave the prospect with the idea that it is either or. There are so many passages warning us against materialism. Lay not up…the camel and the eye of the needle…into temptation, into a snare…

To his original workrighteous question of “what good deed must I do?” we also have ample passages. “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of your own doing, it is the gift of God—not because of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph. 2:8-9 All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…there’s none that does good, no not one…by works of the law shall no one be saved. Jesus sought to show the man that his own righteousness was not so perfect as he thought because he would not ‘do good’ by giving up his wealth and following the Teacher.

Wrong Loyalties Jn.3:1-21

While the rich young ruler went away sorrowing, and we do not know the final outcome of his life, with Nicodemus we are certain. Nicodemus also at first went away and did not follow the Lord. Later, we see his faith demonstrated in his work at the burial of our Lord. This example should give us great encouragement in that we may not see the results at first, though over time and out of our sight the Lord can work.

Nicodemus had been brought up in the workrighteousness and hypocrisy of Judaism. This has to account for his not understanding our Lord. But our Lord planted the seeds that the Spirit might later sprout in Nicodemus’ heart. On being born again or anew of water and the Spirit he asks, “How can this be?” He does not at this point see that a break must be made with his past.

The Lord explains how the bronze serpent prefigured the Christ’s sacrifice. This is one of the many Old Testament pictures of the Redeemer. To a man like Nicodemus high in Judaism and therefore familiar with the Word this had to leave an impression. Over and

over again in the New Testament record we read of how what Christ said or did was to fulfill Scripture. Even if the person we are witnessing to is not familiar with Scripture, unlike Nicodemus, we can still use the prophetic fulfillments in Christ to point out how He was the Messiah, the Savior. God promised. God fulfilled.

The Lord gives a warning to Nicodemus not to join in with those who reject the Son, the Light. And it is here that we have that best known passage of the Gospel, Jn.3:16. Jesus does give Nicodemus the Gospel deeming him an inquirer and not one of those who came to test or entrap. We have to make a similar determination with our prospect. And we will know by how they received our witness. One honestly questioning should have the Gospel left with him.

There are many who have loyalty to the wrong thing or person. Nicodemus’ was to Judaism and the Sanhedrin. Paul in witnessing to Felix, Acts 24:22f., came across a man who had a head knowledge of the Way, while his loyalty was to Rome, power and money. Paul tried mightily to show Agrippa the truth of Jesus and forgiveness of sins, Acts 26:1f., only to have the king fall back on his power and the Jewish people who had him for king. It is a matter of Christ or… So very, very often many pick…

Conclusion

With these examples of spiritual encounters we see there is so much to learn about witnessing to our Lord. Yet one thing comes out starkly, we must witness.Like the apostles we cannot but speak. Like the untimely born, woe to me if I don’t. Our conscience should stab us. Necessity is laid upon us. But it is not a necessity driven from without, rather from within. We now love Him, because He first loved us and suffered and died for us. So we speak about Him. There is the inner compulsion.

This propounds in no way to be exhaustive in the study of one on one witnessing encounters in the Gospels and Acts. But for what is here may it serve to stimulate practically. Just to review, consider the following pointers drawn from the studied encounters.

Make a healthy part of the purpose of your daily life to witness.

Really reach out with the Word to those beyond the ones who love you and in turn you love.

Pay attention to people and be interested.

Depending on the situation try to use the oblique approach.

Leave a clear witness with something to think about.

Study the Word and consider illustrations to get your points across.

Try to establish a common ground for a relationship and a willing ear.

End your witness on a positive note if at all possible.

When condemning hypocrisy, don’t be hypocritical yourself.

Demonstrate your love in words and in deeds.

Work to change the conversation from the mundane to the spiritual.

Speak the law to convict of sin, and the Gospel to convince of salvation.

Build on the religious knowledge that the prospect has.

To the impenitent leave the law with its barbs.

Be clear in presenting the contrasts of Christ and mammon, etc.

Be patient knowing the Spirit will work in His own time.

And pray about the encounter, being specific, before, during and after the encounter.

Only one life ‘twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Pastor Koenig

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #212

Mary Koenig — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:39:47 +0000

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #212
I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’

March 15, 2012

Annual Report of BELC India Districts -Uthukottai, Chennai, Tiruvallure, Tiruttani, Vaniyampadi, Sri Kalahasti, Koppedu, Chittoor

These are excerpts. – Number of Pastors Serving – 261, Number of Baptisms – 161 Pastor D. Paul gave us at our recent joint conference in Chennai a report on the work. Among other things he told: Spiritual Counseling – Spiritual counseling is concerned with helping otherwise healthy functioning individuals identify, strategize, and solve problems in the daily living environments of family, work, community and spirituality. It is concerned with problems and challenges of everyday living. We are not a problem solver. Our Lord only solves all our problems. Our BELC is educating the youths about marriage and responsibilities associated with running a family. Our Savior made peace between God and men. He is the peace of God and the Prince of Peace. Through Him and His Gospel words, we are trying to make peace and solve the problems. Film Ministry – We have been doing the film ministry since 2000 and the Jesus film ministry program is a very great tool for outreach ministry. The local pastor or supervisor of the film ministry delivers a very good introduction address about the film and the purpose of the film showing. This year the film was shown: Chennai Dist. – 8 areas, Koppedu Dist. – 9 areas, Tiruttani Dist. – 5 areas, Chittoor and Sri Kalahasti Districts – 11 areas, Uthukottai Dist. – 9 areas. Gospel Meetings – We have been conducting the open air Gospel meetings in several places of our districts. The Scripture of John’s Gospel and New Testaments were distributed. In one area over 2500 people participated, while in two others over 300 people each. Health Camps – The BELC conducted two medical health camps during the year. Tuition Centres – These are conducted in five places. Children after school are helped with lessons, and Bible stories are also taught.

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Pastor Ude reports from visits in January ’12:

ELCC The ELCC is currently working in 5 districts with a total of 31 called workers. The amount of money we are currently sending allows Muzukuza to visit two districts a year. It is my hope that when I go I will also be able to visit one district with him. This would mean he would get to visit three districts a year. It would be ideal if he could visit all four. Pastor Muzukuza also asked about a couple of other projects including the building of a school in Nyunzu east of Katanga. We also talked about sending Hubert, Muzakuza’s son, to one of our Bible Schools in Africa. Hopefully the school in East Africa will be up and running by the end of this year, in which case it is our hope that Hubert could attend starting next year. If however the east Africa school isn’t back up by the end of the year, perhaps we could send Hubert to Nigeria.

CCLC Pastor Yumba reported orally on the work. He has a few congregations in the Lubumbashi area and a few outside as well. He wants me to come visit these congregations when I am there next year, hopefully I will be able to do this. He is currently working across the border with some men from Zambia as well. In Zambia across the border we met with representatives from about eight congregations. There were definitely some surprises here in Zambia. The one congregation we went to visit had an exorcism for us. Yumba and the other men from the CCLC were just as surprised and doubtful of the show as Todd and I were. But the men were more than willing to listen and learn in the conference. Clearly there is a lot of teaching that needs to be done here. Thank the Lord for Yumba and men like him who are there and can provide solid biblical training throughout the year.

ZAMBIA Pastor Ibrahim is working with about 6 men in and around Lusaka, Zambia. Pastor Ibrahim is obviously very dedicated and very capable. He showed us around some of his evangelism opportunities, devotions at an Aids hospital and villages. You can read more about this on my blog http://paroikos.lutheranmissions.org or Todd Ohlmann’s. We only spent a couple days with these men. We went through the statement of faith and purpose. More thorough training will continue to be given to these men by Ibrahim. We wait to see how that training progresses. If the men in Lusaka prove to be dedicated servants, it will certainly be worth the effort to help Ibrahim permanently relocate to Lusaka, not only for the sake of Lusaka but also Zimbabwe and Congo. Ibrahim seems an excellent man to have on hand to help oversee the work in this area of Africa. Currently his family is back in Tanzania.

ZIMBABWE The situation in Zimbabwe is about the same as that in Zambia. Here we have a group of about 15 men who seem to be dedicated, willing and ready to learn and grow in true Christian doctrine. We met with the men and went through the Statement of Faith and Purpose. They brought up some serious points about the work and gifts of the Holy Spirit. But their objections and questions seemed to be more motivated by a desire to learn and by questions they face rather than because they thought we were wrong.

News From the Nigerian CLC Pastor Ude reports that in 2010 there was one graduate from the Bible Institute, and in 2011 there were two. All three have been assigned churches. This year there is the possibility of three new students, one of whom is from Ghana. When he completes his studies, it is his intent to return to Ghana. At the recent West African Conference Pastor Ude baptized this Ghanian. We pray for the young man’s intent to be fulfilled.

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Encounters of a Spiritual Kind

The Manifestly Impenitent – Lk.11:45-52

It is a mark of this wicked world that not all who we encounter will be like Sergius, seeking to hear the Word. John the baptizer reproved Herod for his sin, and we know what happened to John. Yet it must be done. Our goal is that expressed by Peter to Simon Magus in reproving him, “Repent therefore of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Acts 8:22

We notice first of all in Luke eleven that this man has not the same attitude as the one in Mark twelve. The impenitent may argue over and at least resent your words. The lawyer would defend the integrity of his fellows. Defend hypocrisy? The Lord of course could read the man’s heart and knew his was no innocent and merely misguided question. While we do not have that ability, we must judge by what the person says and does. There are those manifestly impenitent to whom we, like our Lord here, only speak the law. An early Lutheran circuit rider in the USA by the name of Wyneken once came upon a wicked blasphemer who just would not listen. So Wyneken mounted his horse and left the man with the words, “Then go to hell.” The story goes on that the man was so upset that a pastor would say this to him, that he rode after him with a good result of repentance.

That is our goal also. Our Lord’s words here pin the lawyer to the wall. “You load men with burdens hard to bear and you yourselves do not touch the burdens with one of your fingers.” We have no way of knowing how long such an encounter for us will last and so want to peg the sin clearly for the person to think about. Here it is hypocrisy. The Lord points out how they operate with such an unfair double standard.

“Abel…Zechariah…the prophets” Our Lord speaks from His perfect acquaintance with the Word. Ours is not so perfect and has to be worked on, so that we too might speak words readily applicable.

At the end of the narrative the Lord lays upon him the guilt of hindering others. No man is an island. Each influences others. And especially would the respected lawyer be an influence. “You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering. ”Perhaps this would have some weight with one who prided himself on his influence among the people. We could also take this tack depending on the encounter.

But basically it is only law that we speak to those who exhibit impenitence. Such are not prepared for the Gospel. Our witness of the Gospel to such could result in casting pearls before swine who could tear and rend in mockery of the Word.

Pastor Koenig

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #211

Mary Koenig — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 13:56:37 +0000

B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #211

I Cor.. 16:9 ‘For a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.’

March 2, 2012

Greetings from teacher Ibrahim (A preacher in southern part of Zambia).

I am very happy to write to you this mail because in the Christ we are one therefore we need to know each other in spiritual life and physical as well.

The following is the testimony which I faced last week when we reached one tribe in Zambia called Tonga Lea (Tonga) Most of this tribe lives out of developments and most of them are living in houses which are built with grass from foundation of the house up to the roof (But others are living in town and they are rich). Most of them don’t know things called good house, good food, good clothes, Television etc. We remember we were with evangelist Peter Mwerwa, the one who is working as a Timothy and with two brothers in that area. We approached some families but it was difficult because whatever we spoke needed to be translated. But we thank God for those two brothers to help us to translate (the people can’t speak English well, especially the old people).

May the Lord bless you as you share with others about this mail. Thanks.

From Zambia (Central Africa).

Pastor Ibrahim karioki

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The following is a report from Pastor Nolting on CLC work in Peru. Read with prayer of thanks. Regarding the work in Peru. Daniel Pfeiffer(member of CLC Mankato, Mn.) is back in Lima until Thanksgiving. He will be working full-time in mission outreach and teaching. He had begun the instruction of about 20 adults before coming back last October. He has an additional ten or so that were interested in starting, so he should have about 30 adults in class. He will also be instructing the elementary students at Stella Maris School, owned and operated by Dimas Vivanco and his wife, Blanca. There were about 35 children last year and it looks like the enrollment may be up to about 45 this year. He will be instructing the students in Religion and English. I will be making a twelve day trip down to Lima in April. It is hoped that the weekly Bible Study of last year will be turned into a weekly worship service this year. Dimas would like to plan a conference for the summer of 2013, in which a number of people from the US would come to present various Biblical topics. I have talked to four or five people with some Spanish fluency to participate in such a conference, but we will have to wait and see whether the Lord permits it to develop and proceed.

Encounters of a Spiritual Kind

The Third Party-Acts 13:5-12

I can remember discussions in college in small groups when I would have to refute a Mormon in the discussion to get through to another listening.

The beauty of this encounter of Paul and Sergius is that the proconsul did believe, “astonished at the teaching of the Lord.” It was the Gospel that Paul then preached that won him over after the interference was eliminated.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————It is not death to die in the Lord.

In the BELC – Pastor Anand Rao of the Chenna Dist. went to be with the Lord in Nov. He had joined us in ’09.

In the NCLC – I have just learned that Pastor Antai’s spirit returned home very recently. This brother was with us from the beginning of our work in Nigeria with Pastor Essien’s group back over 30 years. He was a pharmacist and upon retiring attended our Bible Institute for five years and became pastor in Mbokpu Oduobo where he had started a congregation.

Both of these men whether with us for a long time or a short time we rejoice over, that we could work together for Him. Blessed(happy) are the dead who die in the Lord.

SHOULD WE

by Waltraud

Should we find it hard to sleep tonight, just remember the homeless family who has no bed to be in!

Should we have a bad day at work, think of the man who has been out of work for the last three months!

Should we despair over a relationship gone bad, think of the person who has never known what it is like to love and be loved in return! Should we grieve the passing of another weekend, think of the person in dire straight working twelve hours a day, seven days each week for $ 15 a day just to feed the family!

Should our car break down, leaving us miles away from assistance, think of the paraplegic who would love the opportunity to take that walk! Should we notice a new gray hair in the mirror, think of the cancer patient in chemo who wishes she had hair to examine!

Should we find ourselves the victims of other people’s bitterness, ignorance, smallness or insecurities, re- member things could be worse — we could be them! And finally, should we be treated like an outcast, think of Jesus who loved us even to the death at the cross—He came as a servant, can we do less?

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Pastor Koenig