2006 Work

Hello All — The following comes from Missionary David Koenig, who is serving as the CLC on-site missionary in India. Our
CLC mission program is supported primarily from local “mission” offerings to the CLC General Fund, as well as through your congregational contributions to the Mission Development Fund (MDF). — Pastor Bruce Naumann, Mission Board Chairman

March 9, 2006

It Is Hard to Keep Up With Developments in the BELC.

It is hard for me to keep up, and I am here! While the number of pastors of last August was 157, that number will increase to a little over 200 in somewhat over a year.  That is not a prophecy, but a solid estimate based on the men now in study to join. It is true that some drop out, not agreeing with our teachings. It is also true that others drop out for other reasons. Yet for any that we lose so far we have had two or five or ten joining in study.

Ten years ago when I would come to India I could keep up with the names of the BELC men. There were around eighteen. But now approaching ten times that number, I don’t remember names. We are now considering a two year Bible School for young men in the BELC with a starting enrollment estimated at fifteen. I am really praying hard over this as it is a big endeavor that would have to be undertaken with the CLC’s help.  It is hard to keep up with what the Lord is doing. And this brief enews doesn’t even report on the CLCI’s three year school with 32 students.

But there is opposition and reminders of the source of that opposition. While I am not always aware of the program in a congregation when I go there to preach, the devil is. Last Sunday after the car accident we got another car and proceeded to the two services. I was overjoyed to be able to baptize 92 people of all ages that day. At the first service at  Pappanoor Medu it is the only church in ten surrounding villages. The Mission Board is planning to roof the building the congregation has erected for a church. This is  one place where last summer the mission helpers taught literally hundreds of children in VBS. As we were on the road getting into the car a mother and daughter were coming to be baptized. Next time. Due to a sudden death in the area there were others who were not in church. At Salai Nagar the pastor and congregation came out of the pentecostal church to join with us. They are high caste people and not low caste or outcaste like most of our people. The monthly pastor meetings are held here. For the last six months this district has had the best attendance, 100%.

100%, that is what our Lord gave of Himself for us. What a confidence we can have that He is in charge of the Church and of the world about us in the interest of His Church. He knows what He will do and we just try to keep up.  D. Koenig

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April 3, 2006
News from the Brothers in Africa

NCLC (Nigeria) – There are two new students this year in the Bible
Institute.

LCEA (Tanzania & Kenya) – Pastor Malyi who preaches at Mamba and Meru and
Pastor Msuya who preaches at Dodama area have joined the LCEA, with their
members leaving the large ELCT (Lutheran) church, which has become more
liberal. Also Pastor Mduma of Arusha has joined through colloquoy from the
African Inland Mission.

CLCEA (Tanzania & Kenya) – A new parish was started at Nenchumpi among the
Masai. A new evangelist by name Mushi is joining also going over our
teachings.

CLCK Nairobi – While going through our teachings, it appears that a couple
pastors do not accept infant baptism. Unless there is agreement, we cannot
work together. Sixteen children were baptized at Ngong, 8 at Nyahururu and
11 at Muranga. Registration is complete for the church with the government.

CLCK Etago – They are making plans to host the two day pastoral conference
this fall. Work on the third classroom in the aids/orphan school has
started.

EELCT (Togo) – Roofing is going forward on the church site at Segbe. It
appears that one preacher who was going through our teachings is
disappointed in no salary and may not be with us.

Pastor David Koenig

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April 29, 2006

News from the Brethren.

ELCC(Congo) – Pastor Muzakuza reported that on March 26th they had ten people finish the catechist training course. The office of catechist is a practice in the ELCC by which individuals other than the pastor train the children in the catechism. The new catechists are: 5 from Trinity congregation, 2 from Kipushi, 1 from Kalebuka and 2 from the Town Centre.

In the Congo the CLC supports Pastor Muzakuza to travel to train pastors and teach in congregations. He has finished a third trip recently in which he spent a month teaching in Kolwezi. During this trip he also met with interested persons in Likasi who now must make a decision whether to join the ELCC or not. His upcoming trips are to North Katanga and Kasai. Pray for success of the Word as Pastor makes these trips and for Pastor Muzakuza’s good health.

CLCEA(Kenya/Tanzania/Uganda) – As we celebrated recently the resurrection of our Lord yet again, the brothers here also celebrated with baptisms that gave the washing of new birth and renewal in the Holy Spirit. Rejoice over the following report from the parishes of the baptisms, which are not merely numbers, but souls won for Christ by the power of the Gospel: Majengo- 4 children, Taveta- 6 children, Olmapinu-13 ch. & 12 adults, Inkitto-8 ch. & 9 ad., Olchorro-6 ch. & 13 ad., Esukutta-5 ch. & 14 ad., Enkusero-7 ch. & 14 ad., Society-8 ch. & 6 ad., Lenkopito – 9 ch.9 & 14 ad. In addition a new parish was started at Ndoomani with 35 ad. and 19 ch. The Word of God speeds on and triumphs as it is His Word. Praise God that our men are working diligently to bring the true teaching of baptism for all ages.

BELC(India) – In Andhra Pradesh state a new teaching site has started at Kurnool with 12 men attending to see if they find agreement with us on the truth of the Word. Pastor Victor goes there once a month for a two day session.

A new development in the BELC is that recently we have had to limit the number of new men investigating us due to financial considerations especially. Pray that when the new year begins we can open up our classes to the many inquirers about  our ministry. We at this time can give them literature to better understand us, and prayerfully later we can sit down together and study.

Pastor Koenig

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May 12, 2006  –  News from the Brethren

EELCT(Togo) – Pastor Kossi reports that they had an evangelism campaign recently centered on the showing of a film on Jesus’ suffering and death. The response was that 17 adults and children confessed Christ. We pray that these people will join in our local church and work and worship together in His kingdom. In several of our sister churches this approach has been used with wonderful results as here in Lome, Togo.

CLCI(India) – Pastor Jyothi informed us that one of the first year students in the seminary, Ramesh, went to be with the Lord. He was electrocuted. He was 35 years old and leaves a wife of 35, a son 8 and a daughter 10. His loss will be also felt as he was a fine evangelist among Muslims. This is an area that requires special skill as many of our pastors in Muslim areas know. He had passed the catechism examination and was pastoring a small congregation as he went to the school. Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.

BELC(India) – In the Vaniyambadi district I had the joy to recently baptize 92 people of all ages from the very old hobbling up to the babes carried in arms. Our brothers in Vaniyambadi have much work to do in that the catechism has to be taught in detail to many of these people. The brothers here also want to use the Tamil catechism as an outreach tool to give to Hindus. This meant that they requested an additional nearly 1500 copies.While  I could not oblige them for that many,  we did now reprint 800 for them. We pray this outreach effort bears much fruit.

CLCEA(Tanzania/Kenya) – Out of 812 souls in the Takama Dist. Pastor Panpani reports that 262 adults and 241 children are studying the catechism. This is what is necessary for an orthodox Lutheran church to develop. The catechism is basic to then build upon. God bless their studies in the catechism which has been  called the “Little Bible.” We have given Masai catechisms out but still lack the Swahili one for this area. Pray we can get that edition before too long.

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May 20, 2006 – Enews – Pastoral Painting Team

Working with our brothers in the BELC  we have done extensive cooperative efforts to get built permanent church buildings in these last two years.  For twelve of these new buildings in six of the nine BELC districts we have a painting crew of pastors who go around and put on the paint after an initial coat of whitewash. In early June the 12th will be finished. The pastors set an example with this and others then join in at the congregation. Two of our pastors, Meshak and Jechind, are painters by trade and lead the effort. Some observations follow.

At Voddlakuppam, though the people are poor, they provided the meal for the crew. Several boys helped. When we first show up there is a group that observes, though as the temperature rises the observers disappear. Water is brought in large tubs to be used as usually there is not water piped near our church buildings.

At Puducheri I think the village crazy man came to look over things and walked around touching everything. Maybe he wasn’t crazy, but being deaf and dumb accentuated his actions. One does get a bit of the taste of the village when working that day at the church.

At Velakhapuram teacher Venu’s family fed the crew. Venu was a teacher in the former orphan school we supported. He and his family converted to Christianity during that time and were baptized.

At Egua Puttur a faithful couple, upon finding out the day we were coming put off any work in the field, made the meals, brought the water and did anything else we needed. Here one of the helpers to paint is a young man who wants to attend the two year school we want to set up at Nagalapuram for pastoral training.

Alapakkam is a rather large structure, as they go here among our brethren, so that three men of the congregation also helped paint. Pastor D. Paul heads the crew and is obviously in charge. He does a little painting, but is careful as some time back he had heatstroke. The pastor at this congregation is Thangavel, who is also a full-time teacher. He as with most of our pastors puts in all he can in time, money and effort for the church.

Being out among the people for a day in the village allows for talks about different things as well as observations. At one place Pastor Ramesh came over from a nearby village, Netteri, and we talked about him moving his worship to a different nearby village as a another Christian church came in and built a large structure. At Mambakkam in a break we talked with Pastor Sargunam about his desire to get married the following month. He was short of cash, so we made him a loan from our loan fund to allow this joyful event to be brought off.

As people  drop in to introduce themselves or say hello, it is a fun time among the brethren. There is no pressure as we have the day to get the job done. A good time is had by all working for the Lord.

If any potential volunteers are interested, most of our church buildings do not have electricity.

— Missionary David Koenig

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Oct. 1, 2006

Marching in Place or Advancing?

During our recent pastoral conference in Guntur, India,  we heard reports on the work of the Lord in the CLCI and BELC.

It is with joy that we note the CLCI was able to hold seven Gospel meetings last year. These are held in a village that has one of our congregations. It is a couple day program with singing, preaching, distribution of tracts and Bibles. Since our churches are too small for a very large meeting, it is held outdoors with canvass put on the ground for people to sit on. This being done outside also allows Hindu inquirers to hear without going into a Christian church.

The CLCI Seminary has 32 students of whom 12 will graduate next June.

In the BELC Nellore district 20 men are ready to go through a two year Bible course once we can set it up. In the Uthukottai, Koppedu and Vaniyambadi districts a total of 453 people were baptized in the Christian faith. Many men want to join our pastoral studies in Chennai and the thing holding this back is lack of funds. In the Kurnool and Kadapa districts 113 new souls came to the Lord. They would like to start a boy’s hostel for 20 boys from 7 to 16 years of age.  A noble task, but beyond our ability at this time.

Pastor Koenig

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Oct.  17, 2006

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! Ps. 133:1

When we first started the Joint English Pastoral Conference six years ago in India (supported with CLC offerings) it had several purposes. One was to assist in developing a deeper relationship between the two sister churches in India, the CLCI and BELC. That purpose, as well as the others, has certainly been carried out by the Spirit. There is not a hint of jealousy or ill will as the men meet in study of God’s Word. The leaders of both churches know one another far better now that previously. And certainly as all hear reports of the work, there are prayers for the brothers in the ‘other’ synod.

By all means pray that this purpose is fostered also with our Joint Pastoral Conference in East Africa. In this,  the second year we are having it, we have expanded it.  Representatives of the LCEA, CLCEA, and  CLCK of both Nairobi and Etago will be attending.

The BELC leadership in India, working together in the Spirit for Him, is busy getting  the rice paddy project going in the Voddlakuppam area. The 8.2 acres that the CLC purchased and gave to the BELC might produce three crops, two of which could be cash crops to cover all expenses. One crop of rice at least will go for the yearly bag of rice to each pastor. This is a big task as we have 212 pastors serving the 8591 souls of the BELC. If this project proves truly viable, we will be asking for expansion of it so that even more self-support can come forth. In the CLCI previously we had bought 8 acres for the church and it has proven a blessing.

Pastor Koenig

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Oct. 29, 2006

Seven Years is not a Long Time It was nearly seven years ago that around 125 people met on a hillside at Etago, Kenya to consider teachings of our Lutheran church. Now there are six congregations numbering 856 souls and an aids orphan school of 81 children in four grades. This has come about by our Lord’s work as we prayed, gave and worked together in the CLC to reach out. A bit of the’ color’ of the area comes across as you consider that in a recent meeting at Chotororo to hear the Word a goodly number of people were absent due to some cattle rustling. It seems that this village(not too populated, more like a ghost town) is on the border of three tribes who feud and fight. Some cattle had been stolen, so a ‘posse’ went out to retrieve the cows. One of the men in the congregational worship  was one of the constables of the village. He chose to be there to hear the Word. The people gathered to worship at Omotembe as we came to their rude stick structure with scattered palm branches above our heads. The Lord gave us a sprinkle but no shower which allowed us to speak and hear the Word. To get to the village and leave we had two choices. One was to drive to a small river and walk across, while the other was to drive down a steep hill until it was very evident the car should go no farther as we trek by foot. We chose the hill route and a refreshing walk in the delightful hill country of the Kisii area. Out in true Kenya ‘cattle country’ that is Masai cattle country, where wealth is calculated by the number of head, we gathered under the tree to speak together of Him. It is here that we hope with your offerings to put up a roofed structure to worship Him in. They will do all, labor, land, wood, even nails, except that we will supply the metal sheets. May God continue to bless this sister church. Pastor Koenig **************************************************************************************** November 17, 2006 Tanzania Msitu wa Tembo This means ‘forest of elephants’, though there are not more elephants here now. This is a village on the outskirts of a large sugarcane farm where the CLCEA has a small congregation of not more than 60 people. In worship here there are few Bibles, which points up how we can help. They worship in a room that the local government allows them to use. They did worship in a school building, but then other activities interferred like a band coming to practice there. In the congregation after worship I met a lady who was converted from Islam. There are also some of the Masai tribe here. We hope to give the congregation 60 metal sheets for a roof at about $700. They have to do everything else to prepare for the sheets. They do the labor and bring the wood and all. In this way we cooperate as brethren to give them a good separate place of worship on land that has been donated. This congregation was visited several years ago, and finally we will try to honor their request for roofing sheets. A congregation of Christians should be an outpost from which others are reached. They want to do this at Msitu wa Tembo. In the hills above the village a very primitive and scantily clad tribe called the Ndorobo live, some in caves in the hills. When government men come they run off, because they think they will be in trouble for killing the wild animals in the hills. When Christians come trying to reach them they will listen. They are so primitive that if you want to tell someone he is stupid you say , “Are you Ndorobo?” Our pastor in this area, Martin, wants to reach out to these people. The congregation in the past had tried three stations in this area, but had to break off due to travel problems. A bicycle is being given to assist in reaching this area. We are also trying to get more Masai catechisms to distribute and teach from, though of course most of the Ndorobo do not read. By all means pray for this outreach. Maybe next year at this time we can report of new believers , who though Ndorobo are wise in Christ. Pastor David Koenig *************************************************************************************** November 29, 2006 Tanzania and Kenya “Under the Spreading Chestnut Tree” And the poem continues about the village smithy with arms as strong as iron bands. With our brethren in East Africa of the Masai tribe they mostly meet under the spreading branches of trees, not Chestnut though. And the people of this tribe have rather spindly legs and arms. Not much fat among them.Walking the long distances they do and feeding on their meager food sources engender this. Out on the sun-baked cattle grazing lands they herd their wealth on the hoof. In all of our sister churches in East Africa, CLCK, LCEA and CLCEA, there is work among the Masai tribe of whom only one in ten confesses Christ. We recently concluded a seminar with eight evangelists among the Masai who gather their people under trees to worship. The needs among them are obvious: bicycles to reach their people, roofing for worship sites, and above all catechisms and Bibles. Over time, as the men learn what we teach and find agreement by the power of the Spirit, we hope to help more. This is an expanding work. The Kama District of the CLCEA is all Masai with 468 adults and 215 children and it is growing out under the trees. Elephants roam through the area at night and knock over the forlorn trees. The destructive power of satan is also at work. For instance the Muslims also are targeting the Masai for conversion. They often come with their money and set up a building, beginning a Muslim school. We have one small part in this confrontation of Christ with the devil’s henchmen, the Muslims. Pray that His Word will continue to speed on and triumph (II Thess. 3:1). While we naturally are glad when anyone joins our sister churches in East Africa, our eye especially is on the Masai, a most under-evanglized tribe. As time passes more of our resources will likely be used in this wonderful work of reaching them for Him and with Him. Pastor Koenig *************************************************************************************** December 13, 2006 Three Well Spent Days– The CLC recently financed a three day mission trip of Pastors D. Paul and Deepak to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, possessions of India though they are way out in the Indian Ocean. We also sent them with a good supply of Bibles, catechisms and doctrinal printed materials. The following report is from Pastor D. Paul of the BELC. “Nov. 24th At 6pm we visited the congregation at Kamaraj Nagar at Port Blair. Thirty-eight believers gathered in the house thirsty and eager to hear the Word, accepting us with great hospitality. I preached on Jn. 1:12 after which the people knelt for individual prayers. At 8pm we visited a family of six and prayed for one who was brutally injured by an accident. Nov. 25th At 8am we visited a family at Bambooplat, an island 30 minutes away. From 9-12 we visited another island and prayed for a family. At 6pm we had a service at Jungalighat in Port Blair where 29 believers gathered thirsty for the Word and raising questions. I preached on Eph. 2:8-10. Nov. 26th At 8am we preached the Word to a family of seven and I explained our BELC ministry. At 11 we visited another family and prayed for them. At 12 we visited nine families at Bathusbast at Port Blair. After 1pm we visited five families at Pratrapur and I preached, while we also blessed one newborn child and prayed. At Bathubast there is one small church building that Pastor Deepak previously with members had constructed. At 6pm we had 46 believers in attendance when I preached on I Cor. 3:11 ‘Jesus Christ is the Foundation and Cornerstone of our Faith and Confessional Life.’ After worship an engineer’s family cheerfully fed us and we prayed for them. At 9:pm we visited another three families. Conclusion Our heavenly Father has given us a good mission field here. We will be able to make many disciples for our Lord Jesus Christ. They here have many questions on the Trinity, Salvation, the Virgin Mary. We issued them “My Church and Others” in Hindi, the Catechism in Tamil and 24 Hindi Bibles. We thank God that He has showed us a great new mission field where they really need spiritual food, the Truth of God without any mix.” The BELC leaders will be meeting in council in February to make recommendations to the CLC Mission Board on how to work in the islands. Pastor D. Paul is the Acting Chairman of the BELC. Pastor Deepak had worked before in the islands *************************************************************************************** December, 2006 These year end summaries act as a cross reference to the individual reports on the different fields. In these six areas we consider our joint efforts with our overseas brethren, 21,801 souls served by 397 pastors and assistants. While number of assistants is down due to the deletions in Congo and the number of souls in Congo declined, the total souls served overseas still increased by about 400 from last year. Bibles Whereas in the last couple years we have been trying to get catechisms into the hands  of our overseas brethren, this year we shift back to more Bible distribution. Telegu  1100, Tel. NT 400, Tamil 500, Hindi 20, Swahili 50, Luo 10, Kisii 10, English 31, Masai 36, 28 Kikuyu Catechisms Tamil 500, English 255, Kisii 79, Luganda 70 , Masai 200, French 10, 650 Swahili Enchiridion. We plan to buy 200 more Masai for East Africa. Loans/Self-Help In the BELC-India- in ’04-’05(Sept. to Sept.) we made 72 loans for $16,750, in ’05-’06 it was 54 loans for $12,822, in ’06-’07 we will be making loans of $7676 which will then leave 38 pastors in two districts to yet get loans out of 212. Repayments in the six districts allowed us to loan out R. 40,000. In the CLCEA Pastor Jeremiah will have paid off his loan in Jan. ’07 and it will be given to another pastor. In the LCEA-Tanzania- we hope to make loans to 8 graduates from St. Peter’s Seminary in Sept. ’07.The amount as of now is $375 per graduate. In the BELC we purchased 8.2 acres for rice for at least 60 pastors. In the EELCT-Togo- Kossi has paid off most of his $500 loan for sugarcane farming. Five hundred dollars was given to Pastor Gideon(Ghana) to assist him to learn how to be a driver to bring in income for him. The CLCI-India- has had a passel of problems with the loans and things are now at a standstill. Pastoral Training Nidubrolu Seminary -India- 32 are enrolled, 6 graduated last June and 12 will graduate next June Himo St. Peter’s-Tanzania – 15 although a couple are out for sickness and work. Efa Bible Institute -Nigeria- 4 are enrolled TEE – At Etago we continue to give 5 men booklets to study with three new men added in. This also continues to be the approach in the: BELC(for the most part), ELCC, CLCEA. In the BELC-India- we anticipate beginning in Feb. of ’07 a two year evangelist school at Nagalapuram with 15 students. Throughout the BELC all pastors (212) continue to meet to study God’s Word each month. The two most recent districts formed are Chittoor with 26 men and Kurnool with 12. In the ELCC-Congo- with Pastor Povolny now conducting classes with pastors when present we will see a lot of improvement over the years. This also is by the TEE approach. Crown of Glory-Ghana- led by Pastor Gideon is hopeful to send several men to NCLC Bible Institute next year. Building Assistance To the CLCI for three years they are given $1000 extra in support which they can use for prayer shed construction or Gospel meetings. In the BELC in ’04-’05 we gave $12,672, in ’05-’06 it was $12,908, in ’06-’07 we will be helping 14 congregations out of requests from 30 to the tune of $17,368. In the ELCCT we gave for one roof. In the CLCK we are asking for roofing for two congregations and a sheet metal construction for another. Last year we roofed one church. In the CLCEA we gave money for two roofs. We propose to help two Masai stations also with building. In the ELCC last year no roofing assistance was given after the first seven due to us not being able to see the constructions to roof level. Translation Work In the BELC we have Mueller translated into Hindi and we are printing it. Next a catechism will be done in Hindi that can be used broadly in India. In the CLCK we have Mueller  translated into Kisii and it is going to the typesetter. In the CLCEA the individual who was to translate the 14 pamphlets was only  able to do three. Now a translation group of 3-4 men will work on the others. In the LCEA the man who was to do the Mueller translation did not get started  and now another man has volunteered to go through with it. The ELCC has a lot of the 14 pamphlets done in Swahili and in French. Many need to go to the typist and then be printed. In addition they have translated the Augsburg Conf. into their Swahili. Of necessity any items on the NCLC are not included since the trip is postponed until January.

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