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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #66
February 7, 2005

BAPTISM - We as Lutherans hold to the ancient and Bible teaching of infant baptism.  It is such a blessing to see from children to aged people baptized into God's name with all that that means.  CONGO - Pastor Muzakuza reports that 12 children were baptized in December at Kipushi congregation. At Trinite congregation there were 9 children baptized. KENYA - In Kenya as well as in Tanzania, as reported before in the LCEA, there is a mission effort to work among the Masai tribe.  Pastor Jeremiah of the CLCEA reports that at OleMapina/Taveta on January 1st 60 adults and 20 children of the Masai were baptized.  TOGO - Due to our delay in getting to Lome, the baptism service has been delayed until May on a Sunday when around 20 people will be baptized.

BIBLE DISTRIBUTION BY THE CLC IN 2004 - That Each May Read in His Own Language the Wonderful Works of God.The brethren in the CLC-USA gave the following: 14 Masai and 22 Swahili in Kenya,over 70 Swahili in DRC, 5 Ewe in Ghana, 80 Efik in Nigeria, 1425 Tamil and Telegu in India. In many of these cases a small proportion of the cost is given by an individual who receives a Bible. By far though, the largest share of cost is willingly carried by brothers and sisters in the USA. (continued) 

TO THE EAST, BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH - part 2.   Up to about 100AD. 
In the West - In considering the centuries we will take a glimpse at what happened in the West while under God's direction, while He spread His Word in the East.  The church was spread to Rome in Italy and across north Africa. 
To the East - Very interestingly many of the apostles of our Lord are said by traditions to have gone to the East. The following are according to traditions and can not be considered historically correct in all cases:  James the son of Alphaeus - Syria,Thaddaeus - Edessa, Armenia,  Simon the Zealot - Persia,  Bartholomew - Armenia, North India (old India), Matthew - Parthia, Persia, North India.(from Firth - Indian Church History).  The Syrian Christian tradition has Thomas going to India.  "St. Thomas, after visiting Socotra (an island in the Arabian Sea off the northeast coast of Africa), landed at Cranganore, on the Periyar estuary north of Cochin, in about 52AD.  He is said to have preached to the Jewish colony settled there and to have made converts both among them and among their neighbors.   Travelling in the coastal region southwards he founded churches in seven places,   Maliankara (near Cranganore), Palayur, Parur, Gokamangalam, Niranam, Chayal and Quilon, in four of which places Syrian churches still exist... After this he is said to have crossed over to the east coast and to have travelled eastwards from there...The year of his martyrdom is said to have been about 72AD "On the basis of certain seventh and tenth century writings, which say that St. Bartholomew went to "India Felix", Bartholomew is regarded as "apostle...founder of the Christian community at Kalyan, near Bombay."In a visit to India by Pantaenus, a noted Christian teacher of Alexandria, shortly after AD190, he is said to have found a Gospel of Matthew said to have been left there by Bartholomew.In any case it is correct to say that the apostles heeded very seriously Jesus' command/prophecy to be His witnesses to Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the world.

In Christ,   Pastor Koenig

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #45
February 24, 2005

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

NEWS - Catechism Contest in the Nigerian CLC:  All of you know how hard we have been working in these last years to see that all pastors and then all congregations have the catechism. But of course just having the catechism is not enough. The catechism,"The Little Bible", must be learned.   Last August the NCLC had a 'catechism contest' throughout its 16 stations that were close enough to send students.   Each station was allowed to send three students to compete in the recitation of memorization of the catechism.   The 'winners', that is, those who did the best in memorization and recitation were awarded gifts of money. One of the NCLC members, Martin Essien, underwrote the contest.   This first contest was greeted with much appreciation to work with the children to better learn the catechism. Next year there will again be a 'catechism contest.'   Perhaps some ofour sister churches might think about this approach.   Or if some are trying something else, let us know so we can share it with the brethren.

TO THE EAST BOTH NORTH AND SOUTH   - part 3
We continue to review how God was at work to see that His Gospel was spread throughout the East in the early years and this was excluding through the Eastern Orthodox or the Roman church. In the west up to 400 the Gospel was spreading through France, Germany going to the Burgundians, Goths and Visigoths and to the Franks in the south and the Frisians in the north.
200-300 IN THE EAST: During the third century more than twenty bishoprics were established in Tigris-Euphrates (I hope you have a map that you are using) area including that of Seleucia-Ctesiphon and others further east between the Caspian Sea and the Persian Gulf...Christian communities were already well established in Armenia (the first proclaimed Christian state/kingdom), Arabia and Khurasan (northest Persia)..Christianity thus became a significant minority within the Persian Empire.   Keep a map handy.
400 IN THE EAST: Between 410 and 497, twenty-four new bishops were appointed, so that episcopal oversight was now provided for the region from Armenia to the Persian Gulf, and to the east through Bactria to Baluchistan.   This was eastern independent work separate from the Latin church. It travelled the land routes eastwards from Merv and Samarquand to 'further India' and China from at least as early as the fifth century...early settlements...many were the work of eastern Christians and these centers grew wherever "Persian', 'Arab', or 'Indian' trade became established in central, south or southeast Asia.   We have stories of an amazing missionary endeavor, which saw monks and merchants, travellers, pastors, traders and physicians carrying the 'pearl of the Gospel' across all the trade routes of ancient and 'medieval' Asia to the far north, east and south.   This often meant up to year-long journeys by camel, by ass or even on foot, across the many tracks of the 'Silk Road', or by equally lengthy sea-trips along the many routes of Arab, Persian or Indian traders.   They travelled on foot wearing sandals, a staff in their hands and on their backs a basket filled with copies of Scripture and other religious books. (England - Hidden Christianity)

Praise God for what He did through these ordinary people!
Pastor David Koenig