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Over the Christmas break I had a chance to re-connect with some old friends. Carl and Debbie Rockrohr were missionaries in Northern Ghana in the 90s, and my wife Angie and I were in southern Ghana for my vicarage at the same time. Since those missionary days in Ghana, the Rockrohrs have served the Lord in several parish ministry settings, including at Oklahoma Avenue Lutheran Church here in Milwaukee. Carl has also taught at Concordia-Ann Arbor, at our sister seminary in Pretoria, South Africa, and most recently he has accepted a position as the Dean of the Theological School at the Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Debbie is a deaconess, and also recently finished her doctorate in education.

 

The Ethiopian Evangelical Mekane Yesus (EEMY) is one of the largest Lutheran church bodies in the world, with nearly 6 million members. Yes, 6 million. In the past, this Lutheran church body relied heavily on the Lutheran World Federation and some of the liberal European state churches. However, their General Assembly broke fellowship with both the Church of Sweden and the ELCA in early 2013 because the acceptance of homosexual clergy. Recently, they asked the LCMS for help. The Rockrohrs moved to Addis Ababa just a few months ago so Carl could begin his work at the Seminary there. One of his tasks is to develop the graduate school so there is a larger pool of Ethiopian scholars to teach the next generation of Lutheran pastors and church leaders. The EEMY is growing tremendously, and needs all the help it can get to train pastors and leaders.

If your congregation doesn't support an LCMS missionary, consider the Rockrohrs! You can find out more about them at their website: www.rockrohr.net. We are thrilled that the LCMS is has been given this opportunity to form and train Lutheran pastors, and pray that the relationship between our two church bodies will become even stronger.

 

Maybe you've heard of this Lutheran Hour Ministries witnessing training program. If not, take some time to peruse their website: www.whatsmissionu.com 

 

 

One in four American teens and young adults claim no religious connection whatsoever. How will they hear the message of salvation through Jesus Christ if no one reaches them? As a follower of Jesus, you have been commissioned to make disciples of all nations. Become equipped through MISSION U to help you fulfill your mission with boldness to the diverse mission field around you.  

 

MISSION U is Lutheran Hour Ministries' new witnessing training program. It is designed to give you the tools and training to confidently accept your mission: reaching people with the real news of Jesus Christ. MISSION U provides multiple course options addressing topics that meet your congregation's specific witnessing-training needs. By participating in MISSION U courses, your church will gain tools that sharpen and enhance your witnessing efforts to reach people of all ages and backgrounds.  

 

The style and format of MISSION U mirrors a 21st-century university classroom - sequential yet flexible that offers personal training from speakers and additional online instruction.

At MISSION U the focus is equipping you, God's chosen ambassador, to carry His message of hope and salvation into a world urgently in need of good news.

After serving Holy Ghost Lutheran Church as vacancy pastor, Rev. Ndon will soon be installed as their pastor on Sunday, February 16, at 3:00 p.m. The Rev. Christian Ekong, President of the Lutheran Church of Nigeria, will preach at this service. A reception will follow the service. All are invited to attend.

Clergy are encouraged to attend and wear their red stoles for participation in the rite of installation.

Rev. Peter Kelm
414.464.8101

swd.lcms.org

In a constantly changing world, the South Wisconsin District discovers, celebrates and advances vibrant models for growing discipleship, missional leaders and church worker wholeness.