Life of theWorldConcordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne

April 2008, Volume Twelve, Number Two

For

the

Out of AfricaRev. Dr Arthur Just

There and Back AgainRev. Prof. Robert Roethemeyer

Starving for the GospelRev. James May

For The LIFE of the World

F E A T U R E S

PRESIDENTRev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe

PUBLISHER EDITORRev. Steven Cholak Rev. John Pless

MANAGING EDITOR ART DIRECTORAdriane Dorr Steve Blakey

EDITORIAL ASSOCIATESRev. James Bushur � Dr. Charles Gieschen

Dr. Naomichi Masaki

For the Life of theWorld is published quarterly by Concordia Theological SeminaryPress, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825. No portion of thispublication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher of Forthe Life of the World. Copyright 2008. Printed in the United States. Postage paidat Huntington, Indiana. For the Life of the World is mailed to all pastors andcongregations of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in the United States andCanada and to anyone interested in the work of Concordia Theological Seminary,Fort Wayne, Indiana.

CONTENTS6 Out of Africa

By The Reverend Dr. Arthur JustThe Concordia Theological Seminary deaconess programhas been privileged to learn and receive mercy from thedeaconesses in the ELCK. One of their leaders, LornaMeeker, studied to be a deaconess at our seminary andnow serves alongside her husband Dennis at a church inthe Kibera slums of Nairobi that suffered much from thepost-election violence.

12 There and Back Again: A Librarian’s TaleBy The Reverend Prof. Robert RoethemeyerDr. Weber wanted this to be an investigative visit. “Come,Robert, and tell me what your eyes see and your mind thinks,”he said. During what was the last two weeks of their summerholiday, I did just that. I sought to understand and then toprovide options and models and solutions for a wide range oflibrary, technology, accreditation, and utilization of space issues.

15 Starving for the GospelBy The Reverend James MayIn the capital of an African country, a white person stands out.Very frequently, people come up and say, “My friend, how areyou?” The questions nearly always lead to, “Who are you, andwhy are you here?” I respond, “I am a Lutheran pastor, and Ihave been sent to teach the Word of God.”

20 God Is Right There in Our MidstBy Adriane DorrIn a country where poverty and deadly diseases are rampant,“what speaks the loudest to the people of Kenya is love. . .acts of love and mercy speak loudly and clearly,” states Meeker.“It becomes an opportunity to proclaim Law andGospel, to introduce them to Baptism, and confirmthem in the gifts of the Eternal Feast of Victory.”

For your free subscription, please send your name, address,city, state, and zip code to: For the Life of the World,6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN 46825. If you would

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Volume Twelve, Number Two

APRIL 2008 3

One of the great prophetic themes of the Old Testament isthe movement of many peoples to God. Typical isIsaiah’s portrait of the Messianic epoch: “Many peoples

will come and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the mountain of theLord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us Hisways, so that we may walk in His paths’” (Isaiah 2:3).In keeping with this vision, Concordia Theological

Seminary forms servants in Jesus Christ to reach the lost. Ourwitness to Christ and our invitation to behold God’s grace andmercy is directed towards all peoples.Our mission to our North American setting is complemented

by our outreach to other cultures and countries. The next issuesof For the Life of the World will spotlight the efforts of facultyand students to reach the lost in foreign cultures. This issuefocuses on Africa.It is noteworthy that Africa has had a pivotal place in

Christian history from the very beginning. The rise of Christianityin Egypt is associated with St. Mark. It is clear that Alexandriabecame a center for Christian reflection and instruction. Asuccession of significant bishops watched the faith spread andflourish: Clement (150–215AD), Origen (185–254AD),Athanasius (328–373AD), and Cyril (412–444AD).The desert fathers of Egypt, Anthony (ca 251–356 AD) and

Pachomius (290–346 AD), founded forms of Monasticism thatattracted many. The Coptic Orthodox Church traces its origin tothe persecution of Emperor Diocletian (284 AD). Similarly,Ethiopia was home to a Christian community from 340 AD andperhaps earlier.Cyprian of Carthage (200–258 AD) was known for his

pastoral guidance concerning those who had fallen away fromthe faith under persecution. St. Augustine (354–430 AD) ofHippo placed his brilliant intellect and heartfelt faith in theservice of Christ and the church.Tragically, the Arab conquest of 641 AD erased organized

and public Christianity from Africa’s northern landscape.Countless Christians were martyred. Today, Islam dominates thenorthern one-third of Africa while Christians are the majority inthe southern two-thirds.The Christian faith is vibrant and growing in Africa. The

Encyclopedia of Christianity reports that about 380 million or47 percent of the population are Christians.The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has a distinguished

history of mission work in many parts of Africa. Concordia

Theological Seminary has been active in training church leadersfrom Africa. Select names include:Michael Adoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NigeriaBerhanu Arsse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .EthiopiaKaindio Godfrey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KenyaAluu Nnali . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .NigeriaSolomon Yadessa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .EthiopiaIsaiah Obare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KenyaGordon Kumi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .GhanaDavid Rakotonirina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MadagascarJoseph Randrianasolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MadagascarOkyo Moses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KenyaSaneta Maiko . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kenya

More recently, our faculty and students have gone to Africanchurches to assist in theological training.Dr. Lawrence Rast . . . . . . . . . . . .Kenya and South AfricaDr. Timothy Quill . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kenya and South AfricaProfessor John Pless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .MadagascarProfessor Robert Roethemeyer . . . . . . . . . . . .South AfricaDr. John Nordling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South AfricaDr. Arthur Just . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .KenyaDr. Detlev Schulz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South AfricaDr. Dean Wenthe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South AfricaProfessor Richard Nuffer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South Africa

It should be noted that the LCMS, in its 2007 Houstonconvention, urged seminaries and universities to place outreachat the center of their mission. It is now our great privilege andpleasure to share our enthusiasm and dedication to hold up Christin Word and action before all the world. Our sister churches andtheir mission fields enrich our conversation and enable us to thinkbeyond the confines of North American culture.So, I invite you to join us in this holy calling and

splendid adventure of proclaiming the crucified Christas Savior of the world.

Yours, in His service,

Rev. Dr. Dean O. WenthePresident, Concordia Theological Seminary

FROM THE

PRESIDENTDear Friends of Concordia Theological Seminary:

“Kakindo Crucifixion,” oil, by Sam J. Ntiro.Contemporary African Art from the Harmon Foundation

4 For the Life of the World

Some years ago, Dr. Timothy Quillwent there while a Malagasy Lutheranstudent, Pastor David Rakotonirina, cameto study at Concordia TheologicalSeminary. Two years later, I, the Dean ofthe Lutheran Graduate School of theMalagasy Lutheran Church, followed himto America.I then invited Dr. Quill and Dr.

William Weinrich to teach intensivecourses at the Graduate School ofTheology in Fianarantsoa, and Dr.Weinrich was able to go twice to teach.Also, Professor John Pless has been

leading a mission of mercy composed ofsix students into the Malagasy LutheranChurch for some years and went again inFebruary of this year. What can thischurch offer Concordia TheologicalSeminary, and what can it do to help theprogress of the Gospel over there?The Malagasy Lutheran Church or

Fiangonana Loterana Malagasy(abbreviated as FLM) is a young church.It was started by the Norwegian MissionSociety (NMS) in 1866. The FLM is well-known for its fast growing pace. Thatgrowth stems from the lay involvement inthe life of the church itself. The spiritualawakening or Fifohazana promotes thislay involvement. The Fifohazana is adepartment in the church. It was started bytwo lay persons and one pastor in the

FLM. The first was started by a mancalled Rainisoalambo at Soatanàna in1894, about forty kilometers fromFianarantsoa. The second was led byanother man, Pastor Daniel Rakotozandry,at Farihimena in 1946. Farihimena is asmall village located about sixtykilometers from Antsirabe. The third onewas initiated by a woman, GermaineVolahavana, known under the nameNenilava or Tall Mother, at Ankaramalazain 1941. Ankaramalaza is a villagesituated about forty kilometers fromManakara. All three leaders of thespiritual awakening have died.They were well known by the works

that God had performed through them. Infact, what is cited and described inRomans 12, I Corinthians 12, andEphesians 4 about spiritual gifts hashappened in the works that God hascarried through them. Following I John4:1–6, the FLM had tested them longbefore accepting them to work in andfor the church. Nenilava is creditedwith starting more than one hundredchurches in Madagascar. She is alsorecorded as the one who started theMalagasy Lutheran Church inFrance (FLM/F). She went toNorway and to the islandssurrounding Madagascar for thesake of the Gospel. She died at

A red island, anchoring off the coast ofAfrica, has beencatching the attention of Concordia TheologicalSeminary since a few years ago. Its name is Madagascar.

The Madagasc

APRIL 2008 5

Ankaramalaza in 1998. I mention her in aparticular way because I had theopportunity to work with her when shewent crisscrossing the country doingevangelism in 1971 and 1972.Unlike some spiritual awakening

happening in the western or in the easternparts of the world, the LutheranFifohazana Malagasy is working in thechurch. The FLM trains laypeople fortwo years to be commissioned asshepherds. They learn basic knowledge ofthe Bible, preaching, evangelism, work ofa catechist, the Small Catechism, andelementary knowledge of a social worker.The Fifohazana is targeting the animistreligion of traditional beliefs as the core ofpaganism in Madagascar. Exorcism andthe laying on of hands are practiced by theshepherds in the animist context of deeptrust in evil spirits.Shepherds work as volunteers for their

local church in certain periods of time thatthey set aside for their church. They doevangelism in their own area or in remotevillages and bring those who want to jointheir church to their pastor. These newpersons are mostly either pagans or non-practicing Christians. Some invest theirtime by weekly cleaning their churchbuilding, others by playing the organduring worship services, by leading theyouth, by teaching Sunday School

children, by going with their pastor forhome visits or hospital visits, or byworking with him to hold healing prayersin their church twice a week. The door ofa Malagasy Lutheran Church is daily openfor activities, and new churches continueto be planted by such activities.A group of shepherds under my

leadership takes care of 253 rural poorstreet children at the Center of the GoodSamaritan. Concordia TheologicalSeminary students, under the leadershipof Professor Pless who visited the Centersome years ago, sent some financial helpfor their schooling and monthly meal thefollowing year. LCMS World Relief andHuman Care even built a kitchen forthem last year. And yet, we hope by thegrace of God that still more can be donefor this Center.The Malagasy Church has much to

offer. We, along with ConcordiaTheological Seminary, will continue toshare our spiritual gifts by learning fromone another and by helping one another asall we have are gifts from the very Giftand Giver Himself, our Lord Jesus.

The Reverend JosephRandrianasolo is currentlyenrolled in the Ph.D.program at ConcordiaTheological Seminary.

The Malagasy Lutheran Church orFiangonana Loterana Malagasy(abbreviated as FLM) is a youngchurch. It was started by theNorwegian Mission Society (NMS)in 1866. The FLM is well-known forits fast growing pace. That growthstems from the lay involvement inthe life of the church itself.

car ConnectionBy The Reverend Joseph Randrianasolo

For the Life of the World6

“I had a farm in Africa.”So begins Karen Blixen’s memories of herlife on the outskirts of Nairobi in Kenya.Many who visit Africa become intoxicatedby its landscape and its people. Africa ishaunting, so real and primal in its simplicity,its humanity, its mystery.Karen Blixen’s story turns tragic, for Africa reflects what

is in all our natures—both mercy and violence, life and death.Kenya’s recent political unrest shows how tenuous life is forthem and for us. The human impulse to react in anger andaggression marks all the children of Adam.President Bush described his recent visit to Africa as a

“mission of mercy.” Many of us might also see ourselveson such a mission. But it was the Lutheran saints of theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK) whoshowed us the true meaning of Christ’s mercy.The Concordia Theological Seminary deaconess program

has been privileged to learn and receive mercy from thedeaconesses in the ELCK. One of their leaders, LornaMeeker, studied to be a deaconess at our seminary andnow serves alongside her husband Dennis at a church inthe Kibera slums of Nairobi that suffered much from thepost-election violence. Dennis and Lorna’s church waspartially burned. Unlike other missionaries, they stayedin Kenya7 as Dennis continues to teach and baptize andcelebrate the Lord’s Supper while Lorna reaches out inmercy by attending to the physical needs of her people.

Widows and orphans are not just a category but a reality inthe Kenyan culture. Most deaconesses in Kenya receive little orno compensation, yet in their home visits to people broken bysin and sickness and death, they always bring a bag of maize asa tangible expression of their love in Christ.Pastor David Chuchu, a former student of our seminary,

directs “Diakonia Compassionate Ministries” (DCM) for theELCK. The motto of DCM is “Bringing Hope to the Hopeless,”a reality we saw embodied in the deaconesses in the ELCK.Perhaps what struck us the most was the singing of thedeaconesses. The rhythm of the music and the emotion in theirvoices proclaimed their joy in the midst of the suffering inwhich they work and live. At Ogongo Deaconess College, thefinal song they sang for us was about Jerusalem, their heavenlyhome. They knew that in Christ they are already now inJerusalem, for all around them Christ is present in the sufferingof the saints they serve.

Dr.Arthur Just is a Professor ofExegetical Theology and Director ofDeaconess Studies at ConcordiaTheological Seminary.

By The Reverend Dr. Arthur A. Just

OutofAfrica

L-R Persilla (an ELCK Othoro Rescue Center Worker), anddeaconesses Lorna Meeker, Monica, Elizabeth, and Eunita

Jazz4Life

It’s no fun asking for money, even if it has to be done. Soinstead of planning a staid night of yawn-inducing pleas forfunding and desperate handwringing, Maggie Karner, of

Lutheran World Relief and Human Care’s Life Ministries,decided to do something a little different.“I love jazz music,” she says. “So I went to a group I gig

with in Muncie, Indiana, and they offered to donate their time.So we sang and played and ate, and in the middle, we stoppedand gave our presentation. We need to raise money, but wewere going to have fun doing it.”And have fun they did. During Concordia Theological

Seminary’s 2008 annual symposia, WRHC hosted Jazz4Life, afundraising event to aid in the formation of crisis pregnancycenters in Asia. Over fifty million abortions occur each year, sothe need for help is great.This project is near and dear to Karner’s heart, and she is

dedicated to making it work. A few years ago, she wasinstrumental in starting a crisis pregnancy center in Russia,where women have between six and eight abortions on averagein their lifetime. It is a global crisis, but Karner is happy toreport positive feedback on the work being done in Russia.Now it is her hope to do the same in Asia. “We work with

partners on the ground,” she states. “We look for a churchwhere diaconal work is already going on. We look for peoplewho have fire in their bellies for life issues. We also look foran area that has support from the bishop in this project.”Right now, that area is Taiwan. “There’s a place there with

an orphanage, adoption services, and a small crisis pregnancycenter. We’re looking at what their model is and seeing if itworks. The next step is funding.”The task of raising money won’t be easy, she admits. “At

WRHC, we are completely dependant on donordollars. If we’re going to make it happen, wehave to make the money. That’s what this

event was all about.” For thoseinterested in contributing tofunding crisis pregnancycenters in Asia, go to

www.jazz4life.org. A video discussing thecurrent need is available for viewing aswell as a Give Now button. “Our goal,”says Karner, “is to open one center rightnow, which costs $24,000 a year. If youanticipate that we’ll see as many women each year as we do inSt. Petersburg (thirteen hundred), that’s just sixty bucks aperson to help a woman and her child.”Karner herself is now enrolled in the deaconess program at

CTS, learning more about compassion and charity each day. “Iwant a solid theological background to back up everything Ido,” she says. “The whole aspect of servanthood is a natural fitwith acts of mercy and Life Ministries. Everything we do isabout caring in connection with Word and Sacrament.Jazz4Life fits in this mission, and I’m thrilled that we wereallowed to do this fundraiser at CTS. It’s such a blessing.”Asking for money isn’t always fun, but with a

passion for life issues and a little jazz music,Maggie Karner is confident that the work ofhelping women and children can continue. “Ourgoal,” she says, “is just saving one baby at a time.”

APRIL 2008 7

Maggie Karner (left) and Ya-Fen Szczesny,an LCMS pastor's wife, nurse, and nativeof Taiwan, presented the need for pro-lifeoutreach in Asia at the Jazz4Life event.

8 For the Life of the World

Seminarians Jacob Corzine and Sam Schuldheisz withMalagasy Lutheran Sunday School Children

As one of six students now returning from the Mercy MissionExpedition to Madagascar sponsored by LCMSWorldRelief and Human Care, I have been given much to reflect

upon. The Malagasy Lutheran Church and its people have left meamazed at the work of the Gospel in another part of the world,humbled by the way these Christian people bear up under tryingconditions, and both excited about and concerned for thecontinued work of preaching the pure Gospel in Madagascar.The Holy Spirit’s work through preaching

the Gospel truly is amazing. Even though theScripture promises us that it will be effective,we have seen enough hardened hearts to knowhow difficult the task is. This work is easy tosee in Madagascar and that much moreremarkable since the Lutheran Church there,even though younger than the LCMS andcomposed of converts rather than immigrants,is still much larger than the LCMS.

I was also struck by the presence of thespecifically Lutheran Church in Africa. Ialready knew of the many non-westerncountries that have Lutheran churches, butthis was really my first time seeing one formyself. Hearing them sing the hymns thatwe sing, pray the prayers that we pray, andconfess the creeds that we confess remindus that the Gospel is not in need ofembellishment or contextualization—

MercyMissionExpedition toMadagascar:A Student’s Reflectionby Jacob Corzine

LCMS World Relief and HumanCare sponsored the thirdannual Mercy MissionExpedition to Madagascar forsix Concordia TheologicalSeminary students under theleadership of Prof. John T.Pless over spring break. Thefollowing article is thereflection of one of thestudents who participated inthis year’s trip.

9

APRIL 2008

Seminarians Sam Janssen andDan Pezzica with cows purchased

for Malagasy seminary students withfunds raised by CTS students

Prof. Pless presents books forregional seminary library to

President David Rakotonirina

Seminarians Sam Schuldheisz andMichael Meyer with Prof. Pless at

Good Samaritan Center kitchen builtby funds raised by CTS students

the message of thecross is the same forall people.Still, the Malagasy

Christians do live in acompletely differentworld. They are poor toan extent that is trulydifficult for us toconceive. This hit homefor me once in particularas I saw the home of aseminary family of four,about the size of my dorm room atConcordia Theological Seminary. Thekitchen and bathroom are both outside.I do not mention this apartment to

suggest that we try to be more frugal orbecause of a newfound appreciation forAmerican luxuries; rather, because I metpeople, the source of whose hope, comfort,and joy is the Gospel. Less than two weeksbefore we were in his home, that student’smother died suddenly. Of course, he wasmourning, but his joy in the resurrection isthe same as our own, grounded in theknowledge that since Jesus rose from thedead, we will also do the same. So I wasreminded that hardships in this life arenothing compared with the joy set before us.I believe that it is a result of this joy

that gave cause to our trip in the first place.The Malagasy Lutherans know where tofind their joy in spite of hardship, and theygo to great lengths to share that withothers. They provide hospitals,schools for the blind and deaf,vocational training, orphanages, andlong-term care for the sick of allsorts in places called tobys(encampments of mercy), andthey do this in the context ofsharing the Gospel with allof these people. For them,the work of mercy stemsfrom the Gospel but neverbecomes separated from it.Finally, I noted above my

excitement and concern for thepreaching of the Gospel inMadagascar. The first, I havealready explained. The Malagasypeople are eager to train pastorsand preach the Gospel and share it

individually. For the mostpart, they are also eagerto do this in a wayconsistent with the pureGospel. But even so,there are someexceptions, and the trueconfession comes with across. They need ourprayers and support asfellow confessionalLutherans that theymay be encouraged

and strengthened in the true confessionand the cross it brings.As part of our trip, we were able to

select a project to help support in theMalagasy Church. After some longdiscussions, we decided to support aLutheran nursing school in Antsirabe.This first phase of their project is themove from rental property onto land, whichthey already own, near the local LutheranHospital. Later phases have to do withexpansion. The school trains around thirtystudents every three years and sends themall over Madagascar to serve. They receiveprofessional training adequate to pass agovernmental exam and teaching in theScriptures from local Lutheran pastors. It isour prayer that through our support theywill be better equipped to aid the continuedwork of mercy in Madagascar.I speak without reserve, and I believe

on behalf of my fellow students, whenI thank LCMS World Relief andHuman Care for making our trippossible. It was a learning experience

that will make us better able toserve in the LCMS as pastors,and I pray that God grantthat this be a service not

to us as individualsbut much moreto Christ’s

whole Church.

Jacob Corzineis a fourth-year

student at ConcordiaTheological Seminarywho plans to pursuedoctoral studies inGermany next year.

CTS students with Prof. Pless

The Malagasy Lutherans knowwhere to find their joy in spiteof hardship, and they go togreat lengths to share thatwith others. They providehospitals, schools for theblind and deaf, vocationaltraining, orphanages, andlong-term care for the sick ofall sorts in places called tobys(encampments of mercy), andthey do this in the context ofsharing the Gospel with all ofthese people.

Opportunities to Refresh and Renew at CTSApril 4-5 Real Men Follow JesusThis men’s retreat, led by Dr. GaryW. Zieroth of St.Paul’s Lutheran Church, Kingsville, Maryland, isdesigned to re-engage men in their local congregations.Today’s churches, without even realizing it, may createan environment where women and tots thrive but menfeel hesitant and restrained. Can the local church be aplace where the average guy can connect with God?This retreat will focus on God’sWord regarding suchtopics as masculinity, spiritual leadership, and thefuture of men in the church. In addition to the meatyBible Study, we’ll have basketball (3 on 3, if you’re upfor that, and on the big screen—it is NCAAFinal Fourweekend, after all!), burgers, brats, and Lutheranbeverage. Retreat Fee: $100 (includes Friday eveningand Saturday meals and on-campus housing on Fridaynight). Saturday night lodging is available for $25.

April 18 LutherfestJoin fellowLutherans on campus for a wonderfulGerman dinner! Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 forchildren 12 and under.A“History of the Seminary”presentationwill follow.

April 19 Christians andthe Challenge of IslamMark your calendars! On Saturday, April 19,a team of internationally recognized scholars andmissionaries will converge on the seminary campusfor a day-seminar on the theme: Christians and theChallenge of Islam. Formal information sessions willcover a wide array of topics such as the history andtheology of Islam, contemporary Islamic movements,

and Christian approaches to Muslims. In addition,there will be several opportunities to interactpersonally with our panel of experts as we all cometogether to think through the challenge of Islam. Youwon’t want to miss this unique opportunity. SeminarFee: $50 (includes lunch and refreshments).

April 25-27 Confirmation RetreatThe Lord’s Prayer: What in the WorldAre We Praying For?Because Jesus gave us this prayer, it must be veryimportant and, of course, it is. But do we reallyknow what we are praying for? Some things in theLord’s Prayer are clear ... but other things ... well,maybe they are not so clear. In this catechismretreat we will be talking about the importance ofprayer and specifically what we are praying for inthe Lord’s Prayer. Might be a few surprises alongthe way! Come and join us as we talk about an oftenneglected part of our lives: prayer ... and especiallythe Lord’s Prayer. This Confirmation Retreat, ledby the Reverend Ernie Lassman of MessiahLutheran Church, Seattle, Washington, is designedfor youth who are currently receiving Confirmationinstruction in their home parish. As with all ourConfirmation retreats, there will be time to enjoyworship in Kramer Chapel, a scavenger hunt, andrecreation time in the campus gymnasium. RetreatFee: $100 (includes on-campus housing and meals).

For additional information concerning CTSretreats, please go online to www.ctsfw.edu/events/retreat or phone 1-877-287-4338, ext. 2266.

2008 CTS Retreat Registration FormRetreat Name and Date:_________________________________________Name(s):_____________________________________________________Address: _____________________________________________________City/State/Zip: ________________________________________________Phone: ______________________________________________________E-mail: ______________________________________________________

Occupancy: �� Single �� Double(Note: Dorms are air conditioned.)

Register early to ensure your spot! Mailreservations to the following address: RetreatCoordinator, Concordia Theological Seminary,6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN 46825. Topay by credit card, please phone 260-452-2266.

2 0 0 8

6600 N. Clinton St. � Fort Wayne, IN 46825

10 For the Life of the World

11APRIL 2008

The church has extended her missionwork to all parts of Kenya. The missionwork is manned by one hundred fortypastors, over three hundred evangelists,and sixty deaconesses.Following the founding mission

society, ELCK is among the few Africanchurches that still remain friend to theScripture and among few Lutheranchurches on the continent that still strivesto remain confessional. The call to reachmany parts of Kenya with the Gospel isenormous, but the capacity to meet thecall is a challenge.

Our mission is holistic as we sponsorschools and medical clinics and showcare to the orphaned children left behinddue the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Thecatastrophe that befell Kenya due to theDecember 2007 elections, which has leftover one thousand people dead and oversix hundred thousand people homeless,has affected many of our members. They have lost their family members,property, possessions, and much moreproperties. ELCK is involved in reliefand human care to the affected across theethnic and religious divide. The problem

has increased the need for the Gospel.Regrettably, the fracas over the

president election has also seen eight ofour churches burned as well as a clinicin Kibera and a number of schools. Inspite of all this, we see the church ofGod growing, and many souls areconverted to Christ. The church inKenya is heartened by her Lord’s giftsas she sees herself reflected in Scripture:“And day by day, attending the templetogether and breaking bread in theirhomes, they received their food withglad and generous hearts, praising Godand having favor with all the people.And the Lord added to their number dayby day those who were being saved”(Acts 2:46–47).

The Reverend Walter Obare is Bishop of the Evangelical LutheranChurch in Kenya.

Four leaders ofLutheran churchesin Africa, all partnerchurches to theLCMS. From left toright: Bishop Obare(Kenya), PresidentEssiong E. Ekanem(Nigeria), PresidentKofi Finn (Ghana),and Bishop Tswaedi(South Africa)

Heartened by the

Lord’sGiftsBy The Reverend Walter Obare

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK),founded by a revival mission society from Swedencalled Bibel Trogna Vana (Bible True Friends), was

founded in 1948 in a distant part of western Kenya in Kisii.As a mission field, the work continued until 1963 when itwas registered as a church body in Kenya.

12 For the Life of the World

Chronos! Kairos! These are two Greek wordsfor time. The former means time as “the actual passage of time,”while the latter means time in the sense of the “right time.”

The original request to visit Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane,South Africa, came in May 2005 when its rector, Reverend Dr. WilhelmWeber, visited the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary. I suggestedthat January or February might be a good time in my schedule. January 2006came. January 2007 went. Time (chronos) continued to pass; would thereever be a right time (kairos) in my calendar?

The answer began with a visit in March 2007 from ourPh.D. in Missiology student and LTS’s Old Testamentinstructor, Eliot Sithole, seeking books for the library andechoing the plea of the rector for me to visit. Our springbook sale provided us with funds to ship eight m-bags ofbooks to LTS, including thirty Hebrew grammars andlexicons for the students there.Then a personal request came during a second visit by

Dr. Weber to Fort Wayne in September 2007. With thesupport of a visiting professor grant from LCMS WorldMission, the blessing of my President and Academic Dean,and the prayerful persistence and able assistance of myhelpmate, I began the nine-thousand-mile journey toPretoria, South Africa, on January 21. Another Januarywould not pass!

Dr. Weber wanted this to be an investigative visit. “Come, Robert, andtell me what your eyes see and your mind thinks,” he said. During what wasthe last two weeks of their summer holiday, I did just that. I sought tounderstand and then to provide options and models and solutions for a widerange of library, technology, accreditation, and utilization of space issues. At the beginning of the second week, we transformed the large room

used for Sunday worship services and weekday chapel services into a spacethat could serve during the week both as an electronic classroom seatingthirty and a chapel seating sixty. The classroom space incorporated largetables arranged in a U-shape for the students, a teaching table for theinstructor, a portable white board, a video projector mounted on the ceiling,a screen mounted on the wall, and excellent access to the new wirelessInternet signal. Even before classes started, students were using the largetables as a place to study and, for those with laptops, a place to connect bothto the wireless Internet and to the ample electrical outlets around the room.As the week unfolded, Dr. Weber arranged for a tour of the library at the

neighboring University of Pretoria. There I thought about how to coordinate

ThereandBack Again:

A Librarian’s Tale By The Reverend Prof. Robert Roethemeyer

The faculty present for the opening quarter of the eighthacademic year at Lutheran Theological Seminary

included (from left to right): Dr. Timothy Quill (FortWayne, Homiletics); Prof. Roethemeyer (Fort Wayne,Library and Research); Dr. Anssi Simojoki (Kenya,

Galatians and Reformation Church); Dr. Wilhelm Weber(Rector, Symbolics and Systematics); Rev. Günther Hohls(Greek, Greek Lectio Continuo); Bishop David Tswaedi(Catechetics; Baptism, Confession, and Absolution); and

Rev. Nathan Mntambo (Hebrew; Hebrew LectioContinuo, O.T. Intro, Tradition Religions in Africa).

APRIL 2008 13

library resources between the seminary and the university and how to use theseminary library as a stepping stone to the university library. I also wentshopping for books at Protea Book Store, seeking to bring back booksdocumenting African Christianity and Lutheranism in Africa for the WaltherLibrary collection.Then as we geared up for the opening of the eighth academic year of LTS

on Tuesday, February 5, I interviewed three students: Phenyo Mokgaimena, athird-year student from Botswana; Boss Sebeelo, a fifth-year student fromBotswana who is just beginning his Theology Honours post-graduate programat the University of Pretoria while continuing with a practical internship at theseminary; and Vincent Cane from South Africa, who has completed both hisB.A. Honours in Theology and his M.A. in Theology at the University ofPretoria. Again, I sought to understand how they used the resources of theseminary library, how well they transitioned to the much larger universitylibrary, and what instruction they received in the use of libraries, libraryresources, and the vast electronic resources available at the university.With those interviews fresh in mind, I taught a version of my

“Bibliography and Technology for Students of Theology” course intensivelyfrom February 5–8 in the electronic classroom. As students learned about theDewey Decimal Classification system, I watched them transition frombrowsing the shelves of the four thousand volume seminary library, hopingto find a resource on their topic, to coming in and seeking materials on aspecific topic that should be shelved together under a specific Deweynumber, and were!The rhythm of the seminary day is marked there by Matins at 10 in the

morning and Vespers at 6 in the evening. I took my place in the preachingcycle, preaching in Matins on Friday, February 8. Finally, on the last weekend, with the help of students and volunteers, we

totally rearranged the library, creating a continuous run of shelving for thebooks and preparing for the arrival of three computer workstations. OnSunday evening, I held a cataloging camp with Jacob Mueller, whograduated in December from Concordia Ann Arbor and is studying at LTSuntil June. I repeated the training on Monday morning with Pat and BarbaraHoffmeier, sisters-in-law volunteering here with their husbands, Lee andWillis, for six months and three months respectively. They have seven weeksto work on creating a web catalog using LibraryThing, an online service forcataloging books easily and creating a catalog that can be accessed fromanywhere. They also will create new, consistent spine labels for all the books

Prof. Roethemeyer giving a Logos Library System tutorial to (from left toright): Silas Mogale (South Africa/3rd year); Moses Mokopanele (South

Africa/4th year); Bongani Dlamini (South Africa/4th year); PhenyoMokgaimena (Botswana/3rd year); and Jacob Mueller (Illinois USA/1st year).

CTS ProfessorsSupplement LTSInternational Team of Teachers

The Lutheran Theological Seminary inTshwane (LTS) has trained more than ahundred pastors over the past decades for

service in the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa(LCSA). Since 2000, it has been situated inArcadia, which is a suburb of the national capitalcity, Tshwane (Pretoria), which is in closeproximity to the University of Pretoria.With requests from various Lutheran churches

through sub-Saharan Africa, it has enrolled youngmen from various regions to address the growingneed for well-trained pastors. Presently, nearlyforty young men from Sudan, Kenya, Liberia,Ghana, Uganda, Botswana, and South Africa areenrolled at LTS. Further applications from Congo, Rwanda,

Zambia, and Zimbabwe are on the table. But dueto facility constraints and funding limitations, toomany of these have been turned down. Hopefully,the new plans for extension will enable LTS toaccommodate more suitable applications.Lutheran Theological Seminary develops

Christian values, pastoral skills, and theologicalknowledge as its students practice a Lutheran wayof communal life in preparation for the ordainedministry in the Lutheran Church throughout Africa.The curriculum is divided into three stages of twoyears each: bridging course (juniors), theologyproper (seniors), and post-graduate (vicar). Confessional teachers from Germany, Kenya,

Finland, Sudan, and the United Statescomplement the permanent staff. During the firstsemester of 2008, five professors—ProfessorRobert Roethemeyer, Dr. Tim Quill, Dr. LarryRast, Dr. John Nordling, and Dr. Arthur Just—from Concordia Theological Seminarysupplemented this international and confessionalteam at LTS. Volunteers from many different partsof the world help to cope further with the growingworkload of running the seminary. In February,eighteen studentsfrom ConcordiaTheologicalSeminary came tovisit and help theseminary in anyway they could.

Dr. Wilhelm Weber is rector of LutheranTheological Seminary in Tshwane.

� The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synodbegan work in South Africa in 1981.

� The Free Evangelical —Lutheran Synod inSouth Africa (FELSISA):• Was founded in 1892 by German colonistswho left Germany over unionistic issues;

• Today has 17 congregations, 2,646 baptizedmembers, 2,067 communicant members,and 15 active pastors;

• Is headquartered at St. Paul’s congregationin Arcadia.

� The Lutheran Church in South Africa (LCSA):• Grew out of German mission work,becoming an autonomous church in 1967;

• Today has 51 parishes, 204 congregations,20,000 baptized members, 10,000communicant members, and 36 active pastors;

• Is headquartered in Soweto, the largestblack settlement in South Africa;

• Became partner church of the LCMS in 1995.� Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) hastrained more than a hundred pastors forservice in the LCSA. Over time it movedfrom Madola to Salem (Mpumalanga) andthen to Enhlanhleni (KwaZulu/Natal) beforelocating to Arcadia, an eastern suburb of thenational capital, Pretoria (Tshwane), at theend of 2000.

� Since then it has consciously enrolledstudents from the rest of Africa to address thegrowing need for well trained pastorsthroughout the continent. Current students arefrom South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Liberia,Sudan, and Uganda.

� LTS instructors, Nathan Mntambo and EliotSithole, earned their S.T.M. degrees at CTS.Rev. Sithole is now pursuing his PhD inMissiology here.

14

Prof. Roethemeyer giving aLibraryThing catalogingworkshop to sisters-in-law

Barbara Hoffmeier (Northville,MI) and Pat Hoffmeier

(Collinsville, IL). Dr. AnssiSimojoki browsing a table ofuncataloged materials received

from CTS in Fort Wayne and Concordia Publishing

House in Saint Louis.

so that they can be found easily. I’m able to see and edit their work on thecatalog via the Web and to answer their questions via e-mail.On February 12, as I boarded the plane for the journey home, I knew

indeed that this had been the right time (kairos). We had created teachingand learning spaces that would be utilized by my colleagues Drs. Tim Quill,Larry Rast, John Nordling, and Arthur Just, as they each take a turn teachingat LTS this year, including one space large enough to accommodate theadditional sixteen students from Concordia Theological Seminary who willbe at LTS during a study abroad trip. We had LibraryThing, an inexpensiveWeb-centric solution to the need for a sustainable library catalog. It wasn’tlaunched until August 29, 2005! We had volunteers who could carry out thecataloging and labeling activities. I had an appreciation of theologicaleducation on a blessed continent ripe for the proclamation of the Word.Kairos indeed!To learn more about Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane and the

training of pastors for Africa, go to http://www.lts.org.za. There you will learnhow you may support LTS in its mission to provide a great theologicaleducation for students from all over the African continent and its vision toexpand its physical facility to handle sixty pastoral and twenty diaconal students.

Schole is another Greek word for time. This word means time as“leisure” or “spare time.” In Southern Africa, that means a trip to a gamereserve, such as Pilanesberg National Park or to the National ZoologicalGardens of South Africa. But that is another article, or better yet, slideshow!

The Reverend Prof. Robert V. Roethemeyer isDirector of Library and Information Services, anAssociate Professor of Pastoral Ministry andMissions, and Executive Assistant to the Presidentfor Strategic Planning at Concordia TheologicalSeminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The Reverend Eliot Sithole(center) worked in WaltherLibrary while he earned his

S.T.M. from ConcordiaTheological Seminary.

Originally from the KwaZu-Natal region of South Africa,

Rev. Sithole teaches OldTestament at Lutheran

Theological Seminary and hasreturned to Fort Wayne to

pursue the Ph.D. in Missiologydegree. Here he is pictured

with Walther Library staff asthree carts of books wereprepared for shipment to LTS from CTS last May!

For the Life of the World

The largest religion is folk Islam,which mixes the Islamic tenants withtraditional animistic practices. After this,there are many who still adhere totraditional practices that made their wayover to America under the name ofvoodoo. The remaining 15–20 percent ofthe population claims affiliation witheither the Catholic Church or theAssemblies of God.

The Catholic Church is very strongin French-speaking West Africa becauseit was the religion of the Frenchcolonists. It is also very attractive due toits grand cathedrals, excellent schools,and belief in sacred rituals. Ironically, themajority of well-to-do imams send theirchildren to Catholic schools because theeducation level is higher there than at the

private Muslim schools. The Assemblies of God has been in

Burkina Faso since the early decades inthe twentieth century and is also wellestablished. Charismatic churches arevery popular in West Africa. It may be aresult of the fact that the emphasis onmiracles and manifestations of power arevery similar to the emphasis in theirtraditional beliefs.As far as I know, there have not been

any Lutheran missionaries ever sent toplant churches in Burkina Faso, acountry of nearly fourteen millioninhabitants. If there has been a Lutheranmission, it was not successful because noother presence has yet been found. Itshould be noted that the Lutheran WorldFederation does have an office in

Our family arrived inWest Africa in the fallof 2006. We expected

there would be manychallenges and things to getused to, and we were awarethat culture shock wouldstrike. Yet the uncalculateddifficulty was surviving in a country without a churchcommunity. There was notone Lutheran church in thecapital, Ouagadougou;neither would one be foundin the entire country ofBurkina Faso.APRIL 2008 15

In the capital of an Africancountry, a white person standsout. Very frequently, people comeup and say, “My friend, how areyou?” The questions nearlyalways lead to, “Who are you, andwhy are you here?” I respond, “Iam a Lutheran pastor, and I have been sent to teach the Word of God.”

Starving for the

GospelBy The Reverend James May

“Christ in the Manger,”oil, by Francis Musango. Contemporary African Art from the Harmon Foundation

For the Life of the World16

There are people who are starvingfor the Gospel and need help.They need good theologicalresources in their native andnational languages. They needservants to bring the news tothose who have never heard(Romans 10:17). They want tounderstand, but how can theyunless someone guides them?

Ouagadougou; in fact, it is their WestAfrican headquarters, but its stated goalis social projects and not church plants.The goal of a missionary should be to

proclaim God’s Word, and in time,churches should take root. One mightask, “So what has proven successful?What evangelical tricks work in thisenvironment?” There are many methods,perhaps too many. Sometimes they arenot even necessary. The church startedhere in Ouagadougou apart from theintention of my efforts.

One day, I was in the city runningerrands. In the capital of an Africancountry, a white person stands out. Veryfrequently, people come up and say, “Myfriend, how are you?” The questionsnearly always lead to, “Who are you, andwhy are you here?” I respond, “I am aLutheran pastor, and I have been sent toteach the Word of God.” Since there areno Lutherans in this country and veryfew in francophone Africa, the nextquestion is, “Lutheran? Is that fromMartin Luther King?” My response:“It is very similar. Martin Luther Kingwas a pastor who fought for the rights of African Americans in the 1960s. But his namesake is Martin Luther fromGermany who was born in 1483. Hefought for the rights of the commonpeople.” I explain the history ofindulgences and how John Tetzel wasselling the forgiveness of sins and howLuther confronted this practice andpreached the free forgiveness of sins won by Jesus Christ. I have had this discussion dozens

(possibly hundreds) of times. Thehistory lesson and free forgiveness of sins is so interesting that theyundoubtedly want to hear more. Isuggest that maybe we could sit down in a group with some of their friends and talk about it and read God’s Wordtogether. This is how it all started. Theteaching is unlike what they have heard,and they want to hear more. Honestly,there is more work than ten missionariescould do just in this in one city.Locals have found Lutheranism to

be very different from the religions intheir country. Islam is Law-oriented,but Lutheranism is Gospel-oriented.Animism has many inferior gods, butLutheranism proclaims the power of the

almighty God. Charismatic churches arefocused on temporary miracles, butLutheranism brings the miracle of eternalsalvation. The Catholic Church chargesfor baptisms and their other sacraments,but the Lutheran Church gives freely.These are conclusions the people

have drawn after studying Luther’sSmall Catechism and Bible studiesincluded in Good News magazines. The Bible is a big book and, at times,complicated. In fact, in the Bible, Philip asked an African if he understoodwhat he was reading. The Ethiopianresponded, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” (Acts 8:30–31).Many Lutherans from all over the

world have responded to this call andhave sent missionaries, but there is aproblem. There are large disparitiesamong the Lutheran Church in English-speaking countries compared to French-speaking countries. Anglophone Africancountries such as Kenya, South Africa,Nigeria, Liberia, and Ghana have strongand growing Lutheran churches. This isin contrast to the francophone countries.The strongest Lutheran Church inFrench-speaking West Africa might beTogo, and this church, established in themid-1908s, is still very young. Manycountries have never been reached. Thereis a lack of missionaries and a lack ofresources. The problem is coupled by thefact that there are relatively few Lutheranresources in French.These obstacles are not

insurmountable. This is not to take awayfrom East Africa and in no way shouldthis take away from the needs in EastAfrica. Rather, it is imperative to bring toyour attention the need for your prayersand support to bring the message ofsalvation by the death and resurrection ofJesus Christ to those who have neverheard. There are people who are starvingfor the Gospel and need help. They needgood theological resources in their nativeand national languages. They needservants to bring the news to those whohave never heard (Romans 10:17). Theywant to understand, but how can theyunless someone guides them?

The Reverend James May is currentlyserving in Burkina Faso, Africa. To learnmore, visit www.mayfamilyintogo.com

17APRIL 2008

For the Life of the World

I entered this season of my lifelate by some standards. But becoming a deaconess at thisage is actually when the early church enrolled women asdeaconesses—later in life. So I wasn’t late. Not really.

But the mission work I enjoy is in Sudan—aplace that is on everyone’s radar screen—and it iswith a small emerging confessional Lutheranchurch called the ELCS. Because of the Muslimgenocide in Darfur, I am often asked, “Why Sudan?Why would you go by yourself to such adangerous, war-torn country? Why do you leavethe comforts of American life to use pit toiletscovered with flies, eat cassava and rice at everymeal, risk malaria, and put up with one hundreddegree heat and humidity day and night?”I am sure that some even ask silently, “Why at

this stage of your life, especially when peers haveempty nests and travel plans to exotic places?”Why, I sometimes ask myself. But the answer

always comes back: the Lord calls His people.I knew He was calling when He opened my

eyes as I held the stumps of Maria, a womanaffected by leprosy; she was left hand-less andfoot-less but with a faith in her risen Lord thatcould only have been a gift. He opened my eyes when I first came to know

Simon whose club feet went uncorrected and lefthim to creep on the ground, dragging his bodythrough red dirt or sticky mud by his hands, cladonly in flip flops. He opened my eyes when I delivered a bright

red quilt from Texas to a woman lying contracted ina dark, windowless hut, refusing to be bathedbecause her body was riddled with sores too painfulto be cleaned. I spoon fed her Tylenol from our firstaid kits and rested her head on that quilt the daybefore Jesus came to usher her into His presence.The Lord calls us—each and every one of us

who believes in His Son—into some vocation,whether it is sitting in front of a computer screen,changing diapers, leading a nation, or pastoring a

flock of sheep. He has called us to witness to thelove He has for us and for the redemption Jesuswon on the cross. We are to witness that to ourneighbor next door or across the ocean. He has called me to witness that to people who

have been marginalized by society because of theirdisability. In Sudan, they are the people who beg inthe village or go hungry because they cannotphysically work the fields. Many are withoutfamily due to the ravages of twenty-five years ofcivil war. All of them are without hope, except forthe hope that lies with Jesus Christ.So why a missionary? Why Sudan?It is because the Lord called and opened my

eyes, and I could not remain the same.But also because the Lord draws me to Africa,

strips me of all the distractions of this life—offamily, of comfort, of identity—and takes me to aplace where He can teach me His ways, simply andpowerfully. The many times of loneliness andstruggle are times when He draws me close,clinging to Him like the waist band to the waist. Iam being conformed in ways that are lost to thebusyness and clamor of life in America.And lastly, I go to Africa because the simplicity

of the Gospel draws me. When life and death are infront of you, when clean water or learning to readis the primary need of your life, then the Gospel issimple, unadorned, and life-giving.The “why” of going into all the world is so

much more than putting up with pit toilets, flies,and filth. It is the Lord calling me to Himself, tolearn His ways and to speak His words of hope to ahurting little part of the world.

Mrs. Pat Nuffer is a deaconess and the wifeof Concordia Theological Seminary professorRichard Nuffer.

18

Why?By Deaconess Pat Nuffer

Deaconess Pat Nuffer in Sudan

Hosted by Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Grand Ol’e Lutheran Fellowship (G.O.L.F.) OutingJune 28, 2008Last call to help support the creation of a playscape for the community! If you cannot attend the G.O.L.F. Outing but would still like to contribute toward this mission project, please contact us.For more information contact:Nancy Embler, 260-452-2162 or Annette Gard, 260- 452-2249You can now register online at www.ctsfw.edu!

Deer Track Golf Course

1:00 p.m. Shotgun Start$85.00 per golfer

April 4–5, 2008Real Man Retreat

April 11–13, 2008Huntington Woods Men’s Retreat

April 18, 2008Lutherfest

April 19, 2008Seminar on Islam

April 21, 2008Vicarage Assignment 7:00 p.m.

April 22, 2008Candidate Call Service 7:00 p.m.

April 25–27, 2008Confirmation Retreat

May 4, 2008Sunday Brunch 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

May 16, 2008Graduation 6:00 p.m.

June 1, 2008Sunday Brunch 11:00a.m.–1:30 p.m.

June 28, 2008G.O.L.F. Outing

August 24, 2008Alaskan Cruise

September 7, 2008Opening Service7:00 p.m.

September 29–October 1, 2008Cranach Seminar

October 3–5, 2008Lay Leader Retreat

October 10–11, 2008Altar Guild Retreat

October 13-24, 2008Highlights of Italy Tour

October 17–19, 2008Confirmation Retreat

October 28–November 1, 2008Lutherhostel

November 2–4, 2008Good Shepherd Institute

CONCORDIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Calendar of Events 2008

APRIL 2008 19

The Reverend Dennis Meeker (CTS 2007) arrived in FortWayne in 2001, pursuing seminary training. One of his firstacquaintances on campus was a pastor from Kisumu, Kenya,who introduced Rev. Meeker to one of his members from backhome, Lorna Olack. After completing summer Greek in 2003,Rev. Meeker took a short reprieve from school, packed his bagsfor Kenya, married Lorna, and brought her back with him to FortWayne. She joined the deaconess program, and he continued withhis seminary studies. In the spring of 2007, he received a call toSprings of Life Lutheran Church in Kenya.

Now living in Kibera, a slum of roughly one million peoplejust outside Nairobi, the Meekers have settled into a routine. “Myday usually starts at 6:00 a.m. with devotions and a study of theweek’s Scripture readings,” Rev. Meeker says. “Daily, I go toKibera at about 9:00 a.m. and tend to any needs that exist. Thereare always people waiting to visit the pastor.”But his work and congregation vary a bit from the standard in

the United States. “What lies behind all I do in my call is the HIVvirus and AIDS. AIDS orphans are everywhere and are cared forby everyone who is still healthy.” Realizing the great need to carefor the afflicted, Rev. Meeker has started several meetings a weekfor people specifically suffering from HIV/AIDS.In a country where poverty and deadly diseases are rampant,

“what speaks the loudest to the people of Kenya is love. . . actsof love and mercy speak loudly and clearly,” states Meeker. “Itbecomes an opportunity to proclaim Law and Gospel, tointroduce them to Baptism, and confirm them in the gifts of theEternal Feast of Victory.”But the struggles are numerous. And as if sickness and

shortages of food and money were not enough, the presidentialelections of December 27, 2007, caused even more turmoil.Tensions rose, and protesting grew. The newly elected presidentwas accused of cheating, and as a result, looting, burning, andrioting began to spread across the country.

For the Life of the World20

His story sounds like an intriguing novel.A good, old-fashioned Iowa boy meetsan exotic woman from a foreign

country and falls in love. But it gets evenbetter. This story has a Lutheran twist.

GodIs Right There

inOurMidst(In the Field by Adriane Dorr)

In a country where poverty anddeadly diseases are rampant,“what speaks the loudest to thepeople of Kenya is love. . . acts oflove and mercy speak loudly andclearly,” states Meeker. “Itbecomes an opportunity toproclaim Law and Gospel, tointroduce them to Baptism, andconfirm them in the gifts of theEternal Feast of Victory.”

“Head of Christ,” oil, by Elimo P. Njau. Contemporary African Art from the Harmon Foundation

Rev. Meeker’s church, Springs of Life, quickly came intodirect contact with angry protesters. “One of the elders calledme,” he remembers, “and asked us to make phone calls to getpeople to the church because a large crowd was gathering onthe street by the church. They pleaded with the mob not to burnthe church. Sadly, they were overpowered and had to run forsafety. Caleb, one of our elders, called and told us that thechurch was on fire. Lorna and I wept bitterly. ‘God, forgivethem for they know not what they do,’ is all that kept runningthrough my mind. Jesus spoke the truth.” But the horror was notyet over. “The gangs destroyed the pastor’s house, first lootingit and then burning it.” The church’s medical clinic and schoolwere burned as well.

In the face of fear and danger, the Meekers have remained inKenya, refusing to leave the people of their church. “The Lordis using the fires of the riots to purify His church. God is rightthere in our midst, sustaining and forgiving us day by day. Wepray for our enemies and those responsible for the damage toour compound, that our Almighty God may call them to be Hisown,” says Rev. Meeker. And yet, even in the face of such horror, Rev. Meeker has,

by God’s grace, found it “easy to preach words of comfort andpeace. That is His nature. Springs of Life Lutheran

Church–Kibera is in the body of Christ, which can never bedestroyed. God loves Kibera, God loves the world in His Son,and by His grace, we will continue to serve Him in this place. Itis,” he says humbly, “simply the same theology of the cross thatevery pastor throughout the world suffers, endures, and takescomfort in.”Despite the risk, Springs of Life is still full on Sunday

mornings. Even though they must worship at a charred altar andthe children must attend Sunday School in a burned-outbuilding, all is not lost. “The altar of God still brings us mercyand strength in order to march on in our daily vocations to loveand bring mercy to the world.” “It is our prayer,” he continues, “that we would one day be

able to rebuild our church, medical clinic, parsonage, andschool. Thousands and thousands of people were loved throughthe medical clinic . . . Hundreds of children were loved andevangelized in the preschool. These were how we reached andmercifully served the community, which always led people backto the altar of Christ.”There is much that Lutherans in America can do to help the

Meekers and their fellow church members in Kenya. First, pray.“We are one in Christ. When you are reclined at the table, we arethere with you. When we are reclined at the table, you are withus. I can not put into words just how much we appreciate yourprayers and kindness. We continue to ask you to join with us in

prayer that the ELCK and Springs of Liferemain faithful to the Word of the Lord andproperly administer the Holy Things ofChrist. . . . When pastors and parishionersof the LCMS are faithful Lutherans,upholding the confessions in the States,then the body of Christ is strengthened bythe peace and mercy that flows from theScriptures,” says Rev. Meeker.

But there is a practical need as well. “The truth is, afterfaithfulness to God’s Word and prayers, we need funds. The U.S.dollar goes a long way in Kenya. We can purchase what weneed, but our members earn about one dollar a day. It will be along—no, a very long—time before we can rebuild. The soonerwe can serve the sick, love the orphans, and teach the children,the sooner we have a bridge of love to the people in Kibera.” Kenya is a far cry from the fields of Iowa, and deadly

elections are nothing like stable presidential races. But Rev.Dennis Meeker carries on, for “The Lord cares for His people . . .We put everything into the hands of God with confidence andpeace. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

To help the Meekers and Springsof Life Lutheran Church, sendgifts to Friends of Mercy, 546Stoddards Mill Drive, Ballwin,MO 63011 (earmarking yourdonation “Kenya Work”) or go towww.thefriendsofmercy.org andclick on Donations.

APRIL 2008 21

Photos courtesy of www.TheFriendsO

fMercy.org; permission granted.

Yes! I want to be a part of the wonderful things God is doing at Concordia Theological Seminary!

Name: ________________________________________________________Address: ______________________________________________________City: _______________________________ State: ____ Zip:____________Telephone:________________ E-mail address: _______________________

Please contact me about:�� giving a gift annuity (traditional or flexible deferred).

�� other types of planned gifts.�� making an immediate gift to the seminary.

John and Mary have heard about gift annuities, and they knew that they if they gave a gift annuity to ConcordiaTheological Seminary, they would receivea significant tax deduction and receiveincome for the rest of their lives. But they don’t need more income now.Furthermore, they’re not sure when theywill retire and could use additional income.Many donors have heard of gift

annuities, and Concordia TheologicalSeminary has been given a grant byThrivent Financial for Lutherans topromote a gift annuity initiative.A gift annuity essentially is an

instrument that is part gift and partannuity. Thus, it provides charitabledeductions on the donor’s income tax aswell as lifetime income at a set paymentrate, some of which is tax free.But for people like John and Mary,

gift annuities didn’t make a lot of senseuntil now, mainly because they didn’tneed more income now, but they will atsome later time. A new type of giftannuity, called a flexible deferred giftannuity, is now available. The donor cangive now and decide at a later time whenthey want the gift annuity to beginproviding payments to them. The donorreceives the tax deduction when the giftannuity is given, and the longer he waitsto begin the annuity, the higher thepayment becomes.As an example, John and Mary, at

their current youthful age, could give a

18

Please detach, fill out, and mail back to:

Flexible Plan for Gifts and IncomeBy The Reverend Ralph G. Schmidt, Vice President for Institutional Advancement

John and Mary are sixty years old and still working. Theyhave substantial income and maximize the retirementplans available to them. But because they started saving

for retirement fairly late, their retirement plans are not wherethey would like them to be. They are also in a very highincome tax bracket and would like to have more tax relief.

6600 N. Clinton St. � Fort Wayne, IN 46825877-287-4338 Ext. 2212 For the Life of the World

23

gift annuity of $10,000 and wouldreceive annual payments of 5.4 percentor $540 per year. But if they gave thegift annuity now and waited until theywere seventy to begin receivingpayments, their annual rate would be9.8 percent or $980 per year for the restof their lives. They would receive animmediate charitable deduction of$3,586, and $312 of their $980 annualpayment would be tax-free.But perhaps the best thing is that

John and Mary do not have to make adecision about when to begin receivingtheir payments until that time comes. And they know that the longer they wait, they higher their payment will be.Who are the best candidates for

flexible deferred gift annuities? Thefirst are donors who are maximizingtheir current retirement plans andwould like to put more aside forretirement in a way that saves taxes.Second are donors who love theseminary, those who would like tomake a gift and receive a deduction butaren’t sure whether they may or maynot need more income at a later date.They can give the gift annuity, and ifthey need more income later on, theycan begin to receive payments.However, if they don’t need moreincome, they need never beginreceiving payments and let theseminary receive the entire gift plusaccumulated earnings.Gift annuities are a wonderful way

of giving, and the flexible deferred giftannuity adds another dimension toconsider. If you would like furtherinformation about either flexibledeferred gift annuities or traditionalgift annuities, please fill out thecoupon and send it to Rev. Ralph G.Schmidt, Vice President forInstitutional Advancement, ConcordiaTheological Seminary, 6600 N. ClintonStreet, Fort Wayne, IN, 46825.

APRIL 2008

Rev. Timothy PulsAppointed to ChurchRelations Post

President Dean Wenthe is pleased to announcethe appointment of the Reverend TimothyPuls to the position of Assistant Vice

President of Church Relations for ConcordiaTheological Seminary.Previously serving as Dean of Students for the past ten years, Rev. Puls

will now be involved with cultivating relationships with the church’smembers, her leaders, and with people in the surrounding community, all the while sharing the seminary’s goals, values, and resources.President Wenthe also noted, “Rev. Puls will communicate with

multiple entities: The International Center of the LCMS, district offices,congregations of the synod, the Commission on Ministerial Growth andSupport, and Recognized Service Organizations of Synod, such as LutheranWomen’s Missionary League and Lutheran Laymen’s Leagues. ReverendPuls will also work locally to partner more fully with the Indiana District,Concordia Lutheran High School, local congregations, and with the FortWayne community.”To that end, the seminary hopes to receive a larger amount of exposure

that will enable it to, in turn, share its mission: “Concordia TheologicalSeminary forms servants in Jesus Christ to teach the faithful, to reach thelost, and to care for all.”

CTS Faculty In Print

Due to a felicitous arrangement of thestars, several writings of seminaryprofessor Dr. David P. Scaer have

appeared in print in close proximity. The first is Law and the Gospel and the

Means of Grace. Begun over twenty years agoby former seminary president Dr. Robert D.Preus, the Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics

series was intended to give a contemporary expression of Lutheran theology.Scaer already authored volumes on Christology and Baptism. A second volume is found in In Christ, a series of books intended to

make Scaer’s writings available to a wider audience, and bears the subtitlePopular Articles—Christ is All in All. Over the last forty years, Scaer haswritten articles intended to make theology for lay people. These are nowarranged according to topics, such as “Christ and His Person” and “Christand His Divine Service.” In Understanding Four Views on the Lord’sSupper, Scaer represents the Lutheran position with those presenting theviews of Zwingli, Calvin, and the Catholics. Questions for discussing eachchapter make this book very useful not only for college and seminarycourses but particularly for congregational study.

Dr. David P. Scaer has been at the seminary since 1966 and holds thechair named for him.

Alaskan Cruise!

Come explore The Splendor of God’s Creation withPresident and Mrs. Dean O. Wenthe and Rev. andMrs. Wayne E. Graumann, Chairman of the Board of

Regents, aboard Holland America’s cruise ship, ms Westerdam.Take in the breathtaking natural wonders of Alaska: soaringeagles…breaching whales…shimmering glaciers. Enjoy, too, the charming coastal towns and fascinating glimpses of native culture. While at sea, there will be severalopportunities to join the Wenthes and other fellow Lutherans for Bible study and reflection on God’s creation.

Sunday, August 24 – Depart Seattle, WA – Sceniccruising of Puget Sound

Monday, August 25 – At sea – Enjoy the beautifulviews and all that the cruise ship has to offer

Tuesday, August 26 – Scenic cruising and Glacier BayNational Park

Wednesday, August 27 – Juneau, AKThursday, August 28 – Sitka, AKFriday, August 29 – Ketchikan, AKSaturday, August 30 – Scenic cruising of VancouverIsland, then an evening in Victoria, British Columbia

Sunday, August 31 – Return to Seattle, WA

Whether you are looking for adventure and want topartake in some of the myriad onshore excursionsavailable, or whether you are looking to get away from itall and want simply to relax, this cruise has it all!

Prices begin at $1229 per person!(based on double occupancy)

If you’ve ever wanted to cruise to Alaska, now is thetime to do it! Not only can you take advantage of thegroup rate, but Holland America will give $50 toConcordia Theological Seminary for each cabin booked.For more information, check our website at

www.ctsfw.edu/tours/alaska/index.php, call 260-452-2266,or e-mail retreats@ctsfw.edu.

August 24-31, 2008

ApplicationPlease type or print in ink. The form must be completed in every detail. Answer “N/A”for all items that do not apply to you.Personal Information

Name _____________________________________________________First Middle Last

Permanent Address ___________________________________________Street, Route, Box #

City _____________________________ State _____ Zip ___________Phone ________________ E-Mail Address________________________Date of Birth __________ Year of High School Graduation___________T-Shirt Size____________ Musical Experience_____________________Do you play an instrument?______ What instrument?________________

Church Membership Information

Home Congregation __________________________________________Church Address ______________________________________________City _____________________________ State _____ Zip ___________Church Phone _________________ Year of Baptism________________Year of Confirmation_____________ Years as LCMS Member_________Pastor’s Name _______________________ LCMS District _________“I, (Pastor):____________________________, give my recommendation and approval for (Student):__________________________ to attend the Christ Academy at Concordia Theological Seminary. He has shown interest in the Academy and in learning more about theology and the Holy Ministry.”Signed: Rev._________________________________ Date __________

On a separate sheet of paper, please answer the following questions: (Please mail with application.)1. What is the Gospel?2. What is the mission of the church?3. Why do you seek to attend Christ Academy?

Please return this form to:Admission/Christ Academy Registration, Concordia Theological

Seminary, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825-4996

For the Life of the World

�

24

June 15-28, 2008

For more information, please call: 1-800-481-2155

www.ctsfw.edu � christacademy@ctsfw.edu

10th

ann

ual

APRIL 2008 25

Nearly a century and a half ago, when Lutheranmissionaries came from Norway to Madagascar, theypreached the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the

church was planted. These hearty Norwegians were notsilent about the forgiveness of sins won by Christ Jesus. Inthat culture dominated by animistic beliefs, they proclaimedGod’s undying mercy for sinners in the death of His Son.The mercy they confessed with their lips was demonstratedby their care for the poor and the sick, the orphaned anddispossessed, the blind and the deaf. Today over thirtyLutheran hospitals and nearly two hundred tobys (literally“encampments of mercy”) stand as an ongoing legacy tothese adventurous Lutherans who dared to sacrifice that theMalagasy people might know the benefits of Christ andwalk in the freedom of His Gospel. Mission and mercy go together. We clearly see this in

Madagascar. The church’s corporate life of mercy is notmerely bait that missionaries would use to snare needyprospective converts. Mercy is a fruit of the preaching of thecrucified Christ. The mercy of God that flows from sermonand Sacrament touches those within the household of faithand through them moves out into the world to those whoselives are twisted and broken. Faith is active in love, seekingand serving in the name of Jesus.Just as there has been an unfortunate and

unbiblical tendency to pit missionagainst doctrine, so there has been atemptation to see the church’s calling topreach in contrast to her calling to exhibitthe compassion of Christ to those whosuffer bodily. Perhaps this is a reactionagainst the evangelically sterile socialGospel of a previous era or contemporaryembodiments of liberationist theologies.Confessional Lutherans have a better way, away that does not tear apart what God hasjoined together. This has nowhere been betterarticulated then in a new book by Matthew C.Harrison entitled Christ Have Mercy: How toPut Your Faith in Action. Pastor Harrison, for many years a pastor in

rural Iowa and urban Indiana and for the last seven years theExecutive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care,has written a book that keeps together doctrine and mission,confession and mercy. Drawing on his ready knowledge of

the Holy Scriptures and the Book of Concord, he gives usvivid glimpses into the Lutheran past while holding out alively vision of what our future might look like if we havethe nerve to confess the faith with boldness and clarity andallow that confession to move us out in merciful love for adying world. He sees the church as Christ’s holy peoplesteadfast in the apostles’ teaching, confessing withoutcompromise or rancor, and always in motion, attracted tothose on the margins of life and death. Mercy received from Christ Jesus through faith in His

promises is handed on in love as those whose lives groan inthe travail of this fallen world are shown mercy. The LordChrist clothes sinners with the dignity of His blood-boughtrighteousness and these sinner/saints are agents, individuallyand corporately, to restore human dignity to fellow humanbeings whose lives are deemed worthless by the world.Mercy extends from the newly-conceived child to those forwhom death is only minutes away. Mercy embraces thenearest neighbor as well as those whose lives are hidden inthe jungles of Indonesia or the slums of Nairobi. There is notriumphalism in Christ Have Mercy; it is a theology of thecross straight up as God serves us in the humility of Hiscross, and with cruciform mercy, we address the plight of

Christ hidden behind the mask of suffering.Christ Have Mercy demonstrates that

confession and compassion are not mismatched.With prophetic clarity, Pastor Harrison pinpointsthe tremendous threat to historic Lutheranism inMadagascar and other parts of Africa as the heavyhand of the Lutheran World Federation isunrelenting in applying economic pressures onAfrican churches to forsake biblical teachingand ordain women to the pastoral office. Now isnot the season to retreat or stand silently by butto put faith into action by proclaiming the truthof the Scripture and embodying the mercy ofChrist in the world. Christ Have Mercyshows us the way. I think that thosenineteenth-century Norwegians who sailed

for Madagascar would resonate to its message.

The Reverend John T. Pless is an Assistant Professorof Pastoral Ministry and Missions at ConcordiaTheological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Editor of For the Life of the World.

Confession and Mercy in Africa

What Does This

MEAN?What Does This

MEAN?

�� Please contact me with more information.

�� We have enclosed our yearly $25.00 check for our group to be an Affiliate Guild.

�� I have enclosed my yearly $10.00 check to be an individual affiliate member.

�� Donation Day gift.

�� Yes, we are interested in becoming an Affiliate Guild. Please send more information to:Name: __________________________________________________________________Organization: ____________________________________________________________Address: _______________________________________________________________City: ________________________________ State: ________ Zip: _________________

�� We are enclosing a donation payable to Concordia Theological Seminary Guild, C/O Delores Scheumann, 413 Bittersweet Ln, Ossian, IN. 46777.

The mission of the Fort Wayne Concordia Theological Seminary Guildis to serve God by communicating the needs and encouraging supportof the seminary and its students. The Guild strives to be inclusive of

ladies of all ages, professions, and cultures. In doing so, we reflect ourstudent body where men, and now women, of all ages, different professionalbackgrounds, and diverse ethnicity study together in order to becomeservants of the Lord as pastors or deaconesses. We invite and encourageindividuals and groups from our LCMS congregations to participate with usin this service. For additional information about the Seminary Guild, go towww.csfw.edu, select About CTS, and then select Seminary Guild.3rd ANNUAL “LUTHERFEST”Sponsored by Concordia Theological Seminary GuildFriday, April 18, 20085:00-6:45 p.m. German Meal7:00 p.m. History of the Seminary (Sihler Auditorium)Adults $7.00Children (12 and under) $3.00

Fundraiser topurchase materials tocreate a timeline ofthe history of theseminary(Supplementalfunds will be provided fromThriventFinancial)

Birthday Cakes for Single SeminariansOne of the special ways that the Seminary Guild

supports students on campus is by making sure thatsingle students are celebrated on their birthdays.Single students enjoy receiving homemade cakes,cookies, or brownies for their birthday while they

are away from home. Members of theSeminary Guild contact the families

of each single student to find outwhat kind of cake or treattheir student would wantfor his/her birthday.Then when a birthdayarrives, a member ofthe Seminary Guildbakes anddecorates thespecial treat andthen delivers it tocampus for thebirthday student topick up and enjoy!

Reasons to Celebrate

26 For the Life of the World

A f f i l i a t e G u i l d R e g i s t r a t i o n

APRIL 2008 27

Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz has traveled the world. Not onlydid he grow up in the midst of a South African missionstation, but he has also served as a missionary in

Botswana, South Africa, and studied theology under well-known theologians in Germany. And yet he still considershimself “proud and privileged” to be a professor at ConcordiaTheological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA. Born in Dundee, South Africa, Dr. Schulz grew up among

the Zulu tribe where his father was a missionary. His father wasalso bishop of the Lutheran Church of Southern Africa at thattime. Due to the lack of schools available nearby, Dr. Schulzattended a boarding school from age six through eighteen.This didn’t keep him from experiencing life among the

bushmen, however. Dr. Schulz made friends with the Zuluchildren, learning to speak fluent Zulu. There were no roads orelectricity in the village, but “We got our first TV when I wassixteen,” he said. “I remember that we would sit and stare at thescreen.” It didn’t seem to matter much that nothing was beingbroadcast yet, he joked. Dr. Schulz also attended school in Germany during his

father’s furloughs from his mission. “School in Germany wassomewhat different and lacked the English ‘civility’ anddiscipline,” he said. But he went on to obtain his B.A. from theUniversity of Natal and then attended the SELK seminary inOberusel. He also studied under linguist Barbara Aland andexegetical professors Karl Heinrich Rengstorf, Willi Marxsen,and Luther scholar Martin Brecht at the University of Munster.All of these individuals were instrumental in shaping hisknowledge and understanding of Lutheran theology.Dr. Schulz’s father was acquainted with Dr. Robert Preus,

former Concordia Theological Seminary president, so he electedto attend the school from 1989–1990 and went on to complete hisS.T.M. Following a vicarage, he completed his Ph.D. inSystematic Theology at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis in 1994.Following that, he was assigned to be a missionary in

Botswana, serving the LCSA in a small village called Serowe.Moving to this remote place with his wife Cornelia and twoyoung daughters was an adventure, although it was not aparticularly “dangerous place,” he said. The difficulty, however,was the lack of fresh food and the absence of usable roads. Hisfamily lived in a house made of asbestos and slept undermosquito netting in the fierce African heat. Encounters withsnakes and scorpions were also typical, and the family had noaccess to a telephone for the first few years, he said.Schulz struggled to obtain land for the churches he hoped to

start there but eventually was able to plant two churches. He

found success in learning the native language and educating thepeople about Christianity, baptizing many individuals andappreciating the humbling experience of adult conversion. Hestill remembers fondly the conversion of non-Christians intoLutherans as “the most amazing thing” he encountered inBotswana.Sadly, the AIDS epidemic was imminent, and he recalled

burying a sixteen-year-old girl who died suddenly as one of thevillage’s first victims. “There was much ignorance surroundingAIDS, and many people died during that time. The villagecemetery increased three times in size while I was there,” he said.Years later, in 1998, Dr. Schulz was called to teach at the

seminary, and one of the first things his family appreciatedabout Fort Wayne was that, for once, they had a “driveway toour home.” Little things like the cooler weather and ability toobtain fresh produce were also quickly noted and enjoyed. After ten years at the seminary, Dr. Schulz still enjoys

teaching and preparing his students and is thankful for his roleas professor and pastor. “I have great respect for our students,coming here and often sacrificing a lot to become pastors,” hesaid. Although he has the opportunity to teach and share withthose studying around the world, he enjoys the “one-on-one” ofthe Fort Wayne experience and believes it to be an invaluablecomponent of seminary training.In addition, he is convinced that “we have a lot to share with

the world. We must teach the Lord and do so with clarity andconviction,” he said. “There is a vast interest in our Lutherantheology; others are seeking out our knowledge, and we have anobligation to hold fast to our confessions and beliefs anddialogue with the world.”

Spotlight on the

FACULTY

Helping OurChaplains

Concordia Theological Seminarysupports our military by sendingcare packages to service men and

women. Once those boxes are in thechaplains’ hands, they are able to reachout to many in the military, not only toLutherans but also to those who may ornot be Christians. Such a little thinggives chaplains the opportunity to bringGod’s Word to people in dangerous anddeadly areas and hope that when theycome home they will continue to hearGod’s Word.Due to the encouraging responses

and reflection of how much appreciationthe troops have for our efforts, we arewelcoming the continued expansion ofour project by sending even more itemsto our chaplains. One chaplain wrote,“Thank you for all the wonderful thingsyou’ve done for me and all those I serve.. . . We have been very blessed by yourthoughtfulness!” Another said, “Thankyou so much for remembering myselfand the 384th MP BN (IR) during theChristmas season. . . . It is people likeyou who bring a little bit of home backto us here.”Monetary donations should be

mailed to Concordia TheologicalSeminary, Attention: Military ProjectCoordinator, 6600 N. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN, 46825. All checksshould be made payable to the CTSMilitary Project. For further information on how to set

up a military project, contact ReneeMoshier at militaryproject@ctsfw.edu orcall 492-8739.

Captain Michael Frese (CTS 2002) is currently serving as a chaplain in Baghdad.

For the Life of the World

October 13 - 24, 2008

$3629 $3779from Chicago from St. Louis

per person/double occupancy

Have you ever longed to see the greatsights of Christian history? Rome,where St. Paul and St. Peter were

martyred for their witness to Christ; TheVatican Museums and the Sistine Chapelwhere Michelangelo placed his genius inservice to Christ; The Colosseum and RomanForum where Christians gave their lives forChrist; Florence, Assisi, Ravenna, Venice –where architects and artists createdmasterpieces of Christian art and constructedcaptivating churches.We invite you to enjoy all these sights

with knowledgeable guides and commentaryby your three hosts: Dr. Dale A. Meyer,President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis,Missouri; Dr. L. Dean Hempelmann,Emeritus Executive Director of the Board forPastoral Education; and Dr. Dean O. Wenthe,President of Concordia Theological Seminary,Fort Wayne, Indiana.The Tour Cost Includes:•Round trip airfare from Chicago or St. Louis.•First class/Select hotels (including one nightin a Villa) with twin beds and private baths.•Continental breakfast daily plus a total ofeight evening dinners.•Comprehensive daily sightseeing by privatemotor coach.•Qualified driver and professional tour guide.•All admission fees and hotel taxes.•Automatic $100,000 flight insurance policy.

The 12 Day Itinerary Includes:•Venice •Rome•Ravenna •Vatican City•Florence •Pisa•Assisi •Sorrento•Pompeii

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, present

Highlights of ItalyHosted by Dr. and Mrs. L. Dean Hempelmann,

Dr. and Mrs. Dale A. Meyer, and Dr. and Mrs. Dean O. Wenthe

Join us for the experience of a lifetime.

1-877-287-4338 x2241For a Tour Brochure and Registration Application, please complete this form and return it to: Katherine E. Ritter • Concordia Theological Seminary • 6600 N.Clinton St. • Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825 or visit www.ctsfw.edu/italy.

Name: ___________________________________________________________Address: _________________________________________________________ City: ____________________________ State: ______ Zip: ________________Phone Number: ____________________________________________________E-mail: ___________________________________________________________Hig

hlights

of

Italy

Tour

APRIL 2008 29

Concordia Theological Seminary Names Mosemann as Dean of Students

Concordia Theological Seminaryrecently announced that Rev. BrianMosemann has been named the

new Dean of Students. Mosemann bringsyears of pastoral experience to theposition and will, among other tasks,oversee student services, such as socialand cultural activities, athletics, studentgovernment, and campus housing.President Dean O.

Wenthe noted, “It is a greatdelight and blessing for ourseminary that the Rev.Brian Mosemann hasaccepted our call to serveas Dean of Students. Rev.Mosemann distinguishedhimself as a pastor andtheologian at ConcordiaUniversity Chicago

(1999–2004) and Concordia UniversityAustin (2004–2006). His rapport withstudents and faculty equip him perfectlyfor the task of forming and mentoringfuture pastors.”A native of South Dakota, Mosemann

has served as a parish pastor at a numberof churches. He has also worked as atheology teacher at the aforementioned

Concordia Universities andis currently teaching atWestfield House inCambridge, England. Heholds both an M.Div. andS.T.M. and is currentlyworking on a Ph.D. fromConcordia Seminary in St. Louis.Students are excited to

see Mosemann on campus

as well. “Reverend Mosemann will bean asset to our seminary communityboth as an administrator and as an expertcounsel for the student body,” explainedDave Miller, a second-year seminarian.“As one of his students at Concordia inRiver Forest, I had the opportunity towitness his pastoral manner and insight,theological experience and genuine carefor the well-being of the students. Hisability to take action when needed andmake sure student needs are addressedand met will make Reverend Mosemannan incredible addition to our campus,and I look forward to his leadership and guidance.”Mosemann will finish out his term as

tutor at Westfield House before beginninghis new role at the seminary in July.

Pastoral Education Month

May is once again Pastoral Education Month in TheLutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Designated as suchby the synod’s Board of Directors, this time has been

set aside to help congregations, pastors, andprospective seminary student figure out andthen utilize materials to help them furthertheir education, whether it be still in theparish, at the seminary, or out in the field.According to Rev. Dr. L. Dean

Hempelmann, the former ExecutiveDirector of the LCMS Board for PastoralEducation, this special month is dedicatedto the following: “Identify, inform andencourage prospective seminary students,Emphasize the pastoral ministry in worshipand Bible study, Encourage prayer for ourseminaries, Encourage financial support ofour seminaries, Encourage continuingeducation for our pastors, Encourage

physical, emotional and fiscal health for our pastors, Utilizetheological resources provided by our seminary faculties.”If you are interested in Pastoral Education Month, please go

to the synod’s Web page. The site offersseveral resources that can be of service tocongregations who are interested incelebrating this special month

(www.lcms.org/pastoraleducation) and

ways in whicheducation can be encouragedthroughout theyear.

For the Life of the World30

Wheaton, ILMay 6-8SCRIPTURE ANDSACRAMENTALITYDean O. Wenthe, Ph.D.Rev. Joshua GenigSt. John Lutheran Church125 E. Seminary Ave.Wheaton, IL 60187-5308630-668-0701, ext. 424jgenig@stjohnwheaton.org______Fort Wayne, INMay 12-14EZEKIELHorace D. Hummel, Ph.D.Carrie O’Donnell + ConcordiaTheological Seminary6600 N. Clinton St.Fort Wayne, IN 46825260-452-2241continuinged@ctsfw.edu______St. Cloud, MNMay 19-22THEOLOGY OF MARTYRDOMJames G. Bushur, S.T.M.Barb Hertling, DCELutheran Student Fellowship201 Fourth St.St. Cloud, MN 56301320-259-1577lsf@stcloudstate.edu______Houston, TXJune 2-4HISTORY AND THEOLOGY OFTHE LUTHERAN CHURCH—MISSOURI SYNODLawrence R. Rast, Ph.D.Annette WagenknechtGloria Dei Lutheran Church 18220 Upper Bay RdHouston, TX 77058-4198281-333-4535awagenknecht@gdlc.org______Jackson, WYJune 2-4THE THEOLOGY OF THE CROSSJohn T. Pless, M.Div.Rev. Terry Wiley + ChristLutheran ChurchP.O. Box 397Rawlins, WY 82301307-324-4168kidwiley@hotmail.com______

Camp Okoboji, IAJune 2-5THE JOSEPH NARRATIVES IN GENESIS 37-50: A TALEOF TWO BROTHERSJeffrey H. Pulse, S.T.M.Lori Gamble, DCECamp Okoboji1531 Edgewood DriveMilford, IA 51351712-337-3325lori.camp@1idwlcms.org______Hickory, NCJune 2-6CHRISTIAN INITIATION AND CATECHETICSArthur A. Just, Ph.D.Rev. Ray OhlendorfSalem Lutheran Church4046 NC Hwy. 16NTaylorsville, NC 28681828-632-4863revxpistos@charter.net______Kearney, NEJune 2-6THEOLOGY OF THE PSALMSWalter A. Maier III, Ph.D.Rev. North P. Sherrill + ZionLutheran Church2421 Ave. CKearney, NE 68847308-234-3410pastorsherrill@zelcs.org______Concordia, MOJune 9-11CONTENDING FOR THE FAITHIN THE 21ST CENTURYAdam S. Francisco, D.Phil.Rev. Lee HaganSaint Paul Lutheran ChurchP.O. Box 60Concordia, MO 64020-0060660-463-2291haganlee@aol.com______Bishop, CAJune 9-12LAW AND GOSPEL FOREVERY DAYCarl C. Fickenscher, Ph.D.Rev. Kenton A. PulsGrace Lutheran Church711 N. Fowler St.Bishop, CA 93514-2617760-872-9791glcbishopca@schat.com______

Boulder, COJune 16-19HE RESTORES MY SOUL!RESTORING THE WHOLESERVANT OF GOD” PS. 23:3Timothy R. Puls, S.T.M.Rev. Daniel BurhopUniversity Lutheran Chapel1202 Folsom St.Boulder, CO 80302303-443-8720pastor@ulcboulder.org______Ann Arbor, MIJune 17-19THE PASTORAL MINISTRYAND THE AMERICAN LEGAL SYSTEMRichard T. Nuffer, J.D., M.Div.Dcs. Deborah RockrohrConcordia University4090 Geddes RoadAnn Arbor, MI 48105-2797734-995-7586 +rockrd@cuaa.edu______East Moline, ILJune 23-25LAW, LIFE, AND THE LIVING GODScott R. Murray, Ph.D.Rev. Gary WrightZion Lutheran Church17628 Hubbard RdEast Moline, IL 61244-9782 309-496-2186revgawright@juno.com______Norwalk, CTJune 23-26C. F. W. WALTHER ONCHURCH AND MINISTRYLawrence R. Rast, Ph.D.Rev. Robert BeinkeSt. Peter Lutheran Church208 Newtown Ave.Norwalk, CT 06851203-847-1252stpeterlcpastor@yahoo.com______

Seattle, WAJune 23-27THE DOCTRINE OF CHURCHAND FELLOWSHIPKlaus Detlev Schulz, Th.D.Rev. Ernie LassmanMessiah Lutheran Church7050 35th Ave., NESeattle, WA 98115-5917206-524-0024elassman@aol.com______Shawano, WIJune 24-26LUTHER AS PASTORAL THEOLOGIANJohn T. Pless, M.Div.Rev. Ron RaddatzSt. James Lutheran Church324 S. Andrews St.Shawano, WI 54166-2406715-524-4815rraddatz@charter.net______Madison, WIJune 30-July 3EPHESIANSThomas M. Winger, Th.D.Rev. Christopher SeifferleinEmmanuel Lutheran Church402 Center AveAdell, WI 53001 920-994-8200propitiated@yahoo.com______San Jose, CAJuly 14-18THEOLOGY OF THE SECOND CENTURYJames G. Bushur, S.T.M.Rev. Robert WellerShepherd of the Valley LutheranChurch1281 Redmond Ave.San Jose, CA 95120408-997-4848pastor@sanjoselutheran.org______Irvine, CAJuly 16-18“WILL THE REAL ISLAMPLEASE STAND UP?” ANESSENTIAL HISTORY ANDTHEOLOGY OF ISLAMAdam S. Francisco, D.Phil.Dr. Steven P. Mueller +Concordia University1530 Concordia West + Irvine,CA 92612-3299949-854-8002 x1756 +steve.mueller@cui.edu______

Continuing Education Benefits You and Your Congregation!

CTS’s Regional Continuing Education Programs for parish pastors and professionalchurch workers bring the best of the seminary to you. Through these specializedcourses you will grow in your knowledge and understanding of biblical and

theological matters; join with other pastors and professional church workers who, like you, aresearching for biblical insights into challenges faced in the parish; and return to your congregationarmed with new information after a relaxed, informal retreat to the study of God’s Word.

For more information, contact the Continuing Education Office at (260) 452-2266

or e-mail odonnellcm@ctsfw.edu

31APRIL 2008

Deaconess LornaOlack Meeker is abusy lady. She’s a

pastor’s wife, a deaconess,a friend, a counselor, aleader, and a helper. She isno ordinary woman, andneither is her story.

Originally from Kenya, Dcs. Meekerworked for the Evangelical LutheranChurch in Kenya (ELCK) at a youthtraining center, helping underprivilegedchildren develop their skills for theworkforce. She also served as the chairperson for Diakonia CompassionateMinistry as well as caring for orphansand widows in a group called Hope forthe Destitute. It was through her workwith these organizations that she met the Reverend Dr. Joseph Ochola Omolo,a student at Concordia TheologicalSeminary, and through him she met her future husband, the Reverend Dennis Meeker.She joined Dennis at the seminary

and, at her husband’s prodding, began toconsider the deaconess program. Afterall, he pointed out, much of the work shewas doing in Kenya was alreadydiakonal in nature. In the fall of 2004,she finally joined the program.“Concordia Theological Seminary, in itssound Lutheran doctrine of the theologyof the cross, prepared me so well for thefield,” she says. “We only share what wereceive in Word and Sacrament. The lifeof a deaconess is that which responds tolife’s circumstances in light of these giftsthrough acts of mercy.”In 2007, Lorna’s husband received a

call to Kenya, where she now works“alongside ELCK deaconesses inempowerment programs such as trainingwomen on vocations that are geared tomaking them self-reliant.” But, she notes,“my favorite role as a deaconess inKenya is that of counseling personsliving with HIV/AIDS. Sharing the Wordof God and praying with them reallyencourages all of us to recognize our sin,and through repentance, the Gospel cando its work.”Along with her husband, Dcs. Meeker

was greatly affected by the recentpolitical turmoil in Kenya. Following atenuous presidential election, unrest, andlooting, “one of the church elders calledme, asking me to make phone calls togather as many women as possible to thechurch compound to plead with criminalsnot to destroy our church,” sheremembers. “I feared for the life of thewomen so I called men instead. [Butthen] I received a second call . . . sayingthere was smoke coming from thechurch.” It was too late. Rioters hadalready set the church on fire. “Very littlewas said after that even though we hadover forty-eight people (mostly womenand children) who had fled the violenceand were staying with us in the house.Even the children were silent.”Despite this, “It is very easy for me to

show acts of mercy in times such as thesebecause Christ has placed His love withinme by His ultimate acts of mercy andgrace in the forgiveness won for me byHis going to the cross as my substitute.”It is by Christ alone, she confesses, thatshe is able to show love to her neighbors.Dcs. Meeker shows mercy because

she has been shown mercy by her Fatherin heaven. She loves because she is lovedby Him. She cares because He cares forher. “Since God became man, HeHimself is defending the immense valueof life lived out in the sick, the elderly,orphans, widows, and those suffering inanguish. ‘The King will reply, “I tell youthe truth, whatever you did for one of theleast of these brothers of mine, you didfor me”’ (Matthew 25:40). By faith, weare able to see only Christ in thesuffering ones.”

We See Christ in the Suffering Ones

To register online visitwww.ctsfw.edu.

Austin, TXJuly 28-31HERMANN SASSE ASPASTORAL THEOLOGIANJohn T. Pless, M.Div.Rev. Bryan Sullivan + GraceLutheran Church801 W. 11th St. + Elgin, TX78621-2006512-281-3367 +graceelgin@totalaccess.net______Albuquerque, NMJuly 28-August 1WHO IS JESUS?CONFRONTING CURRENTCHRISTOLOGICALCONTROVERSYCharles A. Gieschen, Ph.D.Rev. Warren GraffGrace Lutheran Church7550 Eubank Blvd., NEAlbuquerque, NM 87122505-823-9100wwgraff@juno.com______Fairhope, ALAugust 4-6LUTHER, ISLAM AND THE WESTAdam S. Francisco, D.Phil.Rev. Ross JohnsonRedeemer Lutheran ChurchP.O. Box 411Fairhope, AL 36533251-928-8397pastor.johnson@hotmail.com______Flathead Lake, MTAugust 4-8RESTORE THE ROAR:STUDIES IN THE BOOK OF AMOSR. Reed Lessing, Ph.D.Rev. George Putnam4140 Sandy WayTillamook, OR 97141503-842-7740putnamgt@yahoo.com______Port Charlotte, FLAugust 11-13EQUIPPED TO SERVEHarold L. Senkbeil, S.T.M.,D.D.Rev. Kenneth RedmannLutheran Church of the Cross2300 Luther Rd.Punta Gorda, FL 33983-2611941-627-6060pastor@lccross.org______

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