The Bible Society is translating the Bible into the Kikagulu language.
It is rare to find someone in Tanzania who does not speak Kiswahili (the national language). Nevertheless, such individuals do exist. The Bible Society does God's work in spreading the Gospel by translating into the languages people can understand.
The widespread use of Kiswalili in Tanzania is the result of efforts by Tanzania's first President, the late Julius K. Nyerere.
Please pray for Bible translators everywhere.
Showing posts with label missionary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label missionary. Show all posts
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
Witnesses to the faith: Grace Ministries International missionaries
GMI missionaries support a vocational school, development center, and medical care to residents of Rukwa Valley in Tanzania.
Please pray for the GMI missionaries and the people of the Rukwa Valley.
Please pray for the GMI missionaries and the people of the Rukwa Valley.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Friday, August 06, 2010
Salvation and the malfunctioning car
Pastor Chicana and Global Partners missionary Jim Pickett wind up stranded in Pemba, Mozambique hours from their destination - and help to lead a Mozambique man and his wife to Christ.
Who says God does not work in mysterious ways? He spoke to Moses through a burning bush, and He used a broken-down car to help spread His word.
Please pray for Pastor Chicana, Jim Pickett and his family, and the husband and wife that became our new brother and sister in Christ.
Who says God does not work in mysterious ways? He spoke to Moses through a burning bush, and He used a broken-down car to help spread His word.
Please pray for Pastor Chicana, Jim Pickett and his family, and the husband and wife that became our new brother and sister in Christ.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Raising Arizona
The debate over the recent Arizona law (SB 1070) that makes it a crime to be in the state illegally has generated a great deal of heat - but not much light. Many of the news stories have been negative (if not openly hostile), but in view of the fact that most of the American media tilts rather openly to the political Left their reporting needs to be treated with some skepticism.
I do not know what is in SB 1070, so I will refrain from either endorsing or opposing the new law. But it is very hard to take seriously the accusations that the bill is an act of racism, and that proponents are xenophobic reactionaries. Much political debate seems never to rise above this kind of hysterical fear mongering, and I have learned to be cautious.
Unfortunately, the dust up in Arizona has attracted the attention of the ELCA. Their denomination may be disintegrating as congregations and members head for the exit, giving is down with no relief in sight, the rest of the Lutheran world is appalled at the rejection of the Gospel, but it seems that the ELCA is not willing to pass on the oportunity to do what it loves best - immerse itself in secular politics.
The ELCA has set up a Facebook page dedicated to immigration and refugee issues. Some of the links on Facebook caught my eye, since they lead to websites like DailyKos and the Huffington Post. Are these really the voices the ELCA wishes to echo? Abandoning the Gospel for political activism is nothing new, and I don't expect the ELCA to provide a forum for points of view they disagree with (name me one political party or lobbying group that gives equal time to its opponents), but it's hard to maintain the illusion you are still a religious organization dedicated to peace, love and tolerance when you ally yourself with voices that do little beyond shrieking how much they hate those they disagree with.
The issue of immigration is of more than passing interest to me. My wife and I have lived through it.
In 1999 I went to Tanzania as an ELCA missionary. The individuals at the Division for Global Mission (DGM) were wonderful. No matter what happened - delays in getting work permits, lost paperwork - they always stood with me, and I never felt abandoned. It was in Tanzania where I met and married my wife, and I owe DGM a deep debt of gratitude. But by the time we left in early 2005 things had changed drastically at DGM - and not for the better.
During my tenure as an ELCA missionary, DGM seemed to undergo a radical change. Many whom I had known either retired or left, and were replaced by others who seemed to have a different concept of mission. Worse still, communication between ELCA missionaries like myself and DGM became less and less frequent, as the new leadership seemed to turn to other matters they found more worthy of their attention.
My wife and I were married in September of 2003, and immediately we began the process of applying for her visa. Working with USCIS is like existing in a kind of purgatory. You are never sure where you are in the process, and always you are made to feels as though you are some guilty of ... something.
Feeling in over our heads, I contacted DGM asking for help. We were ignored - no response whatsoever. We tried again - same (non)response. It was as though we had ceased to exist in the eyes of DGM.
So bad did the situation get that when my wife was hospitalized I never bothered to contact DGM. Why bother? Why would this time be any different? Why would they care now when they didn't before?
My wife's case was so tangled that it took the efforts of two different Members of Congress - one Democrat and one Republican - to finally get her visa and her I-551 ("green card"). There was nothing unusual about her situation (she is not a criminal or otherwise attracted the notice of US authorities), but as a citizen of Tanzania she was considered a major risk. I found out later that what happened to us was not out of the ordinary. Apparently US Embassy staff are so terrified of letting in a potential terrorist through the regular immigration process they will try to throw up one roadblock after another in an effort to discourage applicants.
The ELCA's Lutheran Immigration and Relief Service's website has the following:
One expat told me, "The reason that the ELCA won't help you is that your wife is an immigrant from Africa trying to enter the USA legally. If she came from Central America and was an illegal alien things would be different." At the time that struck me as too cynical. But given the overheated rhetoric on the LIRS Facebook page concerning both the opponents of immigration "reform" and SB 1070 I have come to the conclusion they were probably right.
At any rate, it is hard for me to take seriously the ELCA's claim of compassion with respect to immigrants. I don't believe that the ELCA meant my wife any harm: it's just that we did not fit the preferred political narrative. And it's politics (not the Gospel) that has become the ELCA's true passion.
I do not know what is in SB 1070, so I will refrain from either endorsing or opposing the new law. But it is very hard to take seriously the accusations that the bill is an act of racism, and that proponents are xenophobic reactionaries. Much political debate seems never to rise above this kind of hysterical fear mongering, and I have learned to be cautious.
Unfortunately, the dust up in Arizona has attracted the attention of the ELCA. Their denomination may be disintegrating as congregations and members head for the exit, giving is down with no relief in sight, the rest of the Lutheran world is appalled at the rejection of the Gospel, but it seems that the ELCA is not willing to pass on the oportunity to do what it loves best - immerse itself in secular politics.
The ELCA has set up a Facebook page dedicated to immigration and refugee issues. Some of the links on Facebook caught my eye, since they lead to websites like DailyKos and the Huffington Post. Are these really the voices the ELCA wishes to echo? Abandoning the Gospel for political activism is nothing new, and I don't expect the ELCA to provide a forum for points of view they disagree with (name me one political party or lobbying group that gives equal time to its opponents), but it's hard to maintain the illusion you are still a religious organization dedicated to peace, love and tolerance when you ally yourself with voices that do little beyond shrieking how much they hate those they disagree with.
The issue of immigration is of more than passing interest to me. My wife and I have lived through it.
In 1999 I went to Tanzania as an ELCA missionary. The individuals at the Division for Global Mission (DGM) were wonderful. No matter what happened - delays in getting work permits, lost paperwork - they always stood with me, and I never felt abandoned. It was in Tanzania where I met and married my wife, and I owe DGM a deep debt of gratitude. But by the time we left in early 2005 things had changed drastically at DGM - and not for the better.
During my tenure as an ELCA missionary, DGM seemed to undergo a radical change. Many whom I had known either retired or left, and were replaced by others who seemed to have a different concept of mission. Worse still, communication between ELCA missionaries like myself and DGM became less and less frequent, as the new leadership seemed to turn to other matters they found more worthy of their attention.
My wife and I were married in September of 2003, and immediately we began the process of applying for her visa. Working with USCIS is like existing in a kind of purgatory. You are never sure where you are in the process, and always you are made to feels as though you are some guilty of ... something.
Feeling in over our heads, I contacted DGM asking for help. We were ignored - no response whatsoever. We tried again - same (non)response. It was as though we had ceased to exist in the eyes of DGM.
So bad did the situation get that when my wife was hospitalized I never bothered to contact DGM. Why bother? Why would this time be any different? Why would they care now when they didn't before?
My wife's case was so tangled that it took the efforts of two different Members of Congress - one Democrat and one Republican - to finally get her visa and her I-551 ("green card"). There was nothing unusual about her situation (she is not a criminal or otherwise attracted the notice of US authorities), but as a citizen of Tanzania she was considered a major risk. I found out later that what happened to us was not out of the ordinary. Apparently US Embassy staff are so terrified of letting in a potential terrorist through the regular immigration process they will try to throw up one roadblock after another in an effort to discourage applicants.
The ELCA's Lutheran Immigration and Relief Service's website has the following:
Since 1939 Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has worked to create welcoming communities for newcomers—immigrants and refugees who have been forced to leave their homes and begin anew.
One expat told me, "The reason that the ELCA won't help you is that your wife is an immigrant from Africa trying to enter the USA legally. If she came from Central America and was an illegal alien things would be different." At the time that struck me as too cynical. But given the overheated rhetoric on the LIRS Facebook page concerning both the opponents of immigration "reform" and SB 1070 I have come to the conclusion they were probably right.
At any rate, it is hard for me to take seriously the ELCA's claim of compassion with respect to immigrants. I don't believe that the ELCA meant my wife any harm: it's just that we did not fit the preferred political narrative. And it's politics (not the Gospel) that has become the ELCA's true passion.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The purpose of this blog
In its 2009 Churchwide Assembly in August the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to allow the blessing of gay and lesbian unions. It also agreed to agreed to the ordination of non-celibate gays and lesbians. The ELCA's leadership has measured the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of Moses, the God who led His people out of bondage in Egypt and into the Promised Land, the God who sent His Son to die for our sins - and have found Him wanting.
My wife and I are former ELCA missionaries. In creating its own private god according to political criteria, the ELCA has left no room for Bible-believing Christians such as ourselves. We cannot and will not bow the knee to this new god fashioned and worshiped by the ELCA. Against our will, but bound by the Scriptures, we have become Recovering Lutherans.
The purpose of this blog is not to rehash the issues debated during the Churchwide Assembly. For one thing, the argument in favor of Bible-based Lutheranism has been made elsewhere (see here and here). For another, the ELCA's leadership and the majority who voted for the changes in August have made it perfectly clear that they no longer accept the authority of the Scriptures. Although they profess Jesus as Lord with their lips, they have hardened their hearts against Him.
And where the ELCA would lead us we can no longer follow.
Therefore, the purpose of this blog is to recount our spiritual journey away from the ELCA - where I have been life-long member and my wife joined after we were married - and towards the future. Just what will happen and where we will end up we do not know, but we have chosen to follow where God is leading us.
One thing needs to be made clear. We have chosen to leave the ELCA rather than continue to fight from within. We believe that by its vote in August the ELCA has badly damaged the body of believers who are called Lutherans, and that by continuing to "duke it out" in congregational meetings and synod assemblies we will be providing the ELCA's leadership with what it needs so badly - credibility. We feel that to "agree to disagree" and remain in the ELCA would send a subtle yet strong signal to both Christians and non-Christians that it is o.k. to put the Word of God up for a vote, and that in the end log-rolling and vote-buying are acceptable.
To Lutherans who are reading this blog and who support the ELCA's actions, we urge you to reconsider and repent. Throughout history the Word of God has been laughed at, ridiculed, banned, burned, interpreted, re-interpreted, and re-re-interpreted. Yet it still remains. The Churchwide Assembly's actions will not lead to a new Gospel. On the contrary - it will hasten the decline of the ELCA. Ask the Episcopal Church if their decision to reject the Gospel has brought peace in their denomination.
To Lutherans who are reading this blog and who are horrified by the ELCA's lurch away from the Bible we want you to know that you are not alone. You may agree with us and chose to leave the ELCA, or you may disagree and believe that now is not the time to give up. Just remember that you will have our prayers.
To Christians from other denominations who are watching the growing problems of the ELCA brought on by this vote, we urge you to consider the strange fruits that "inclusiveness" have brought. "Diversity" has turned into divisiveness, which is what will always happen when the words of humans are substituted for the Word of God. Be careful of using the Church to pursue purely political goals (which is what the ELCA has done).
My wife and I are former ELCA missionaries. In creating its own private god according to political criteria, the ELCA has left no room for Bible-believing Christians such as ourselves. We cannot and will not bow the knee to this new god fashioned and worshiped by the ELCA. Against our will, but bound by the Scriptures, we have become Recovering Lutherans.
The purpose of this blog is not to rehash the issues debated during the Churchwide Assembly. For one thing, the argument in favor of Bible-based Lutheranism has been made elsewhere (see here and here). For another, the ELCA's leadership and the majority who voted for the changes in August have made it perfectly clear that they no longer accept the authority of the Scriptures. Although they profess Jesus as Lord with their lips, they have hardened their hearts against Him.
And where the ELCA would lead us we can no longer follow.
Therefore, the purpose of this blog is to recount our spiritual journey away from the ELCA - where I have been life-long member and my wife joined after we were married - and towards the future. Just what will happen and where we will end up we do not know, but we have chosen to follow where God is leading us.
One thing needs to be made clear. We have chosen to leave the ELCA rather than continue to fight from within. We believe that by its vote in August the ELCA has badly damaged the body of believers who are called Lutherans, and that by continuing to "duke it out" in congregational meetings and synod assemblies we will be providing the ELCA's leadership with what it needs so badly - credibility. We feel that to "agree to disagree" and remain in the ELCA would send a subtle yet strong signal to both Christians and non-Christians that it is o.k. to put the Word of God up for a vote, and that in the end log-rolling and vote-buying are acceptable.
To Lutherans who are reading this blog and who support the ELCA's actions, we urge you to reconsider and repent. Throughout history the Word of God has been laughed at, ridiculed, banned, burned, interpreted, re-interpreted, and re-re-interpreted. Yet it still remains. The Churchwide Assembly's actions will not lead to a new Gospel. On the contrary - it will hasten the decline of the ELCA. Ask the Episcopal Church if their decision to reject the Gospel has brought peace in their denomination.
To Lutherans who are reading this blog and who are horrified by the ELCA's lurch away from the Bible we want you to know that you are not alone. You may agree with us and chose to leave the ELCA, or you may disagree and believe that now is not the time to give up. Just remember that you will have our prayers.
To Christians from other denominations who are watching the growing problems of the ELCA brought on by this vote, we urge you to consider the strange fruits that "inclusiveness" have brought. "Diversity" has turned into divisiveness, which is what will always happen when the words of humans are substituted for the Word of God. Be careful of using the Church to pursue purely political goals (which is what the ELCA has done).
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