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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #7
April 10, 2003

I Cor. 16:9 "a wide door for effective work has opened...and there are many adversaries."

PRAYER ALERT - As you read this, Bible Institute student at Efa, Patrick Johnny Ekpo, is on a mission exploration trip to the northern part of Nigeria, specifically to Kano, to investigate us doing mission work there.  Keep him in your prayers that he is safe and that he gathers information which will help us make a decision where to begin a station in the north beginning, God-willing, next year.

MISSION HELPERS - Periodically from the CLC-USA volunteers come to our sister church overseas to help in various ways.  Most recently in January and February four men came to Moshi, Tanzania to help in remodeling a building to be used as a seminary.  They sacrificed by coming over and forgoing their work in the USA and being away from their families.  They follow the example of our Lord's sacrifice.  Starting July 15th for about three weeks, three or four mission helper volunteers will come to India.  They will divide their time between helping with VBS in the BELC and working with the orphans in the CLCI.  Our brothers and sisters show in this way, their love for Jesus and for their overseas brothers and sisters in Christ as well as for those not yet in the one true faith.  May God continue to move the hearts of our CLC-USA people to volunteer and support this effort.  And may God move those who are helped and served to be thankful for this sacrificial work in Christ.

SINGULAR TEACHINGS - PREDESTINATION OR ELECTION
We teach that God chose us in Christ before the world was created.  This we draw from several passages, but especially from Eph. 1:4-5 "...he chose us in him before the foundation of the world...he destined us in love to be his sons..."  Both the Greek words for 'predestination' and 'election' are in this reference.  This does not mean that we may not fall from faith through our own evil, willful rebellion.  Peter fell from faith when he denied the Lord.  It does  mean that we will be in faith when the time comes for our upward call in Christ Jesus.  There are those who teach a predestination to both heaven and hell.  There is no predestination to hell taught in Scripture.  It is the product of man's reason.  Some look at Rom. 9:22-23 and say that there predestination to heaven and hell is taught.  That is wrong.  The "vessels of wrath made for destruction"  just indicates there will be those who go to hell.  There will be those who fit the mold.  But they are self-made, putting themselves in that condition, self-condemned.  The vessels of mercy on the other hand are "prepared beforehand for glory" indicating clearly what we read in Eph. 1.  The teaching of predestination/election is of great comfort to Christians, assuring them of God's work for them in time and eternity that they might be with Him forever.  Such great love from God must move us to persevere in the faith and not deny, doubt or fear.  His perfect love from eternity is such that on the last day we will be among the sheep who hear the gentle Shepherds voice beckoning us to come and inherit the Kingdom.

MARTIN LUTHER ON MISSIONARY RESPONSIBILITY - "A Christian does not only have the right and the power to teach the Word of God, but he has an obligation to do so, unless he is willing to forfeit his soul and bring upon himself God's wrath...And when he is in a place where there are no Christians, he needs no other calling but that he is a Christian and inwardly called and anointed by God Himself.  He is obligated to preach and teach the Gospel to the erring heathen or non-Christians out of his duty of brotherly love, even though no man has called him"

In Him, 
Pastor Koenig

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B.A.S.I.C. NEWSLETTER #8
April 24, 2003

I Cor. 16:9 "a wide door for effective work has opened...and there are many adversaries."

NEWS FROM THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF EAST AFRICA - TANZANIA
Pastor Angowi reports that with the beginning of May, the St. Peter's Lutheran Seminary will begin.  There are at least ten men who will start.  Four of the LCEA pastors will teach classes in this three year program.  The normal school year starts in January.  The pastors will have to make up the school year beginning in May.  Pray for them that the Lord gives them the increased strength and wisdom to carry out this venture for the Lord.  It is vitally important that pastors are trained in God's Word in depth to better serve Him and His people.  Pray also for the students that each of them takes very seriously their studies and that their efforts are crowned with increased faith and knowledge of our Lord Jesus.  We pray for the LCEA that this seminary may be a fountain of blessings since Jesus will be ruling there with His grace and love.  As time passes and ways are worked out, we also pray for men to go to study there from Kenya and Congo.Pastor Jeremiah has reported on work among the Maasai in the Rift Valley.  In teaching them, six received the waters of baptism recently.  In May about another 20 will receive the washing of regeneration and renewal in the Holy Spirit.  The 
reason for the delay is that the Maasai of the area where Jeremiah is teaching had to move their cattle to another area to find water.  The Maasai are cattlemen whose life centers on this activity.  There is a drought at this time in their areas also.  There is a real contention for men's souls in the Rift Valley with the Muslims competing with the Christians for the souls of the Maasai.  Only about 10% of the Maasai are Christian.  Earnestly pray this which our Lord commanded in the Great Commission, and praise God for those He has brought into His church through the preaching of the Gospel.

ANSWER TO PRAYER - Pastor Benson of the NCLC, Nigeria was facing a court case that was being dragged out by a wicked man in his village.  Pastor Benson was innocent of the charges.  Just a few days ago the magistrate cancelled the case after the accuser did not appear on two court set dates.  God is in charge.

NEWS FROM THE CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE CONGO (ELCC)
Pastor Muzakuza writes that he has gathered a translation team and when I arrive we will go over the costs of paper, copying, etc.  He has also gone to the capital, Kinshasa, to work on the national registration of the church.  This is necessary to have as the church has expanded beyond the province of Katanga to at least two others.  While registered in Katanga, to have congregations in other areas of Congo requires national registration.  Being in fellowship with the CLC, a duly constituted overseas church, allows him to register for substantially less.  The finalization of this is still to be done, but progress is being made to that end.

NEWS FROM THE BELC IN INDIA
In the regular reports from the lead pastors in the five districts indicate that all pastors, both old and new, are attending the regular meetings.  We have an arrangement that allows for two to three meetings a month while the new pastors are learning of our church and its teachings.  There are also plans being made for Vacation Bible Schools to be held in the villages.  We pray that a video projector can be brought in by the missions helpers who will come to work with our brethren in the BELC in July-August.  The Jesus video in either Telegu or Tamil can also be presented in the villages.  We praise God that our fellowship with these faithful men continued despite the problems of January 2002.  God worked out a blessed settlement and we continue to thank Him for our fellowship relationship.

PASTOR BOHDE indicated in an email that he was swamped with work in Thailand and consequently this interferred with the 
newsletter.

In Him,
Pastor D. Koenig