LCEA -- Tanzania & Kenya

Missionary David Koenig writes: "On April 4, 2000 Pastor Jesse Angowi, bishop and head of the church, sent an inquiry letter to the CLC. As the missionary was going to be in Kenya shortly, a meeting was arranged. Four Lutheran pastors from the LCEA in Tanzania met and discussed doctrine with us. There seemed to be agreement. The following year the missionary visited the LCEA congregations and pastors in Tanzania. Based upon this we declared fellowship. The LCEA consists of around 1000 souls in 15 congregations. In May of 2003, with CLC assistance, they started St. Peter's Seminary at Himo, Tanzania. There were nine students the first year of the three-year program offered. The school has served already as an outreach opportunity, since among those nine students there are several who are not of the LCEA, but are interested. It takes a lot of hard work to have a school like this function well. Pray that they can persevere. In outreach they have work among the Masai tribe. Only one in ten of the Masai are Christian. The Muslims are also working to bring the Masai into their religion. The LCEA has several stations where some Masai attend. It is hoped that one or more Masai men can attend the seminary. In the last visit by the missionary there were several new preaching stations. In addition to this, one of their pastors is seeking to establish a congregation in Dar es Salaam, a large and Muslim city. Pray that these brethren go forward with the Gospel trusting in the Lord who said His Word would not return to Him void."

From left to right, Pastors Angowi, Issangya, Massawe, and Ulotu, of the Lutheran Church of East Africa

St. Peter's Lutheran Seminary in Himo, where 7 men are training for the ministry.

A rough church was being built next to the seminary, during one mission helper visit.

Pastor Angowi, in the sem classroom before renovation.

The same classroom, after renovation.

After a church service, under African skies

The LCEA conducts outreach among the Massai tribes

Massai women, meeting under a tree -- their only church "building!"

Kindergartners, with warm smiles for our mission helpers in Himo.

"A group of people from the Kisii area were looking for a new church in 1999. These people had been Roman Catholic and Seventh Day Adventist. They had an individual who lived in an area where many tourists traveled who would approach individuals and ask about foreign churches. One man approached one day encouraged them to try the CLC-USA. The correspondence continued until in April 2000 a meeting was held with interested people in Etago, Gucha, and Kisii, Kenya. There were about 125 people who met with the Koenigs in a pasture. After that more literature was sent. The first worship service was held on June 18, 2000 with Samson O. Nyabine as the preacher. The new congregation numbered 32 adults and 24 children. In 2001 another visit by the missionary saw a service with 70 in attendance with 40 baptized. Catechisms have been sent and purchased to prepare the people for communicant membership. There has been steady growth from the meeting in the pasture. Not all who attended the first meeting became members. In the year 2003 the following progress was made by the ECLC. In January an orphan school was started with two teachers and 80 children. This is a preschool to prepare the children (whose parents have died of AIDS) for regular school. This is held in the mudwaddle church building. A sister congregation was started at Kenuchi. Land has been donated and a roof will soon go up for a church building with 25 members at this time. Doctrinal discussions were held with a Baptist Pastor Fred. It appears at this time that he is willing to become a Lutheran with his congregation. They number about 50 at Chotororo. For a small congregation the pastor, elders and members have worked hard to establish themselves as a true-teaching Lutheran church. Our prayer is that God will continue to bless their efforts."