Back in February the two District Presidents of Minnesota North and North Dakota traveled to Kenya and went to some of the Project 24 rescue centers. While there they saw “Bible Clubs” in action. Both were impressed. Children at the centers learn the Small Catechism of Luther by memory and have competitions in singing and putting the words of the Six Chief Parts to music. We would like to get some of our confirmation classes to think about this and perhaps some of our churches could develop Bible Clubs of their own. In the meantime here is an assignment for my confirmation class and for anyone else that would like to follow along.
Scroll down and on the right hand side of this page find the link to the Witness, Mercy, and Life Together Blog – click on it.
Now that you are at Witness, Mercy and Life Together scroll dwon that page and look for the tags section on the right hand side and find Project 24. Click on it.
Read all the articles from the February posts. Listen and watch the videos and then answer the following questions.
How many members belong to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya?
Who is their Bishop or President?
How many boys are living at the Othoro Center?
In the video of the Bible Club can you tell which of the 6 Chief Parts is being recited. It takes a little getting used to but there is a rhythm to the childrens voices.
What are the 6 Chief Parts of Christian doctrine?
In the Pokot area of Kenya who looks to us Lutherans for social care and mercy work?
Project 24 Centers were meant to be built around churches so the children would have a Pastor and Sunday Schools to go to. The Udom center has had a new church develop around it. How many worshipers can the church at Cheparia hold when it is completed?
What is in the center of the Deaconness badge or the emblem that they wear on their arms?
What is written on the Board that Pastor Seter is pointing at in the church at Whema?
What is carved in the Pulpit at Whema?
Explanation of Luther’s Rose
“Grace and peace from the Lord. As you desire to know whether my painted seal, which you sent to me, has hit the mark, I shall answer most amiably and tell you my original thoughts and reason about why my seal is a symbol of my theology.
The first should be a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. For one who believes from the heart will be justified” (Rom. 10:10).
Although it is indeed a black cross, which mortifies and which should also cause pain, it leaves the heart in its natural color. It does not corrupt nature, that is, it does not kill but keeps alive. “The just shall live by faith” (Rom. 1:17) but by faith in the crucified.
Such a heart should stand in the middle of a white rose, to show that faith gives joy, comfort, and peace. In other words, it places the believer into a white, joyous rose, for this faith does not give peace and joy like the world gives (John 14:27). That is why the rose should be white and not red, for white is the color of the spirits and the angels (cf. Matthew 28:3; John 20:12).
Such a rose should stand in a sky-blue field, symbolizing that such joy in spirit and faith is a beginning of the heavenly future joy, which begins already, but is grasped in hope, not yet revealed.
And around this field is a golden ring, symbolizing that such blessedness in Heaven lasts forever and has no end. Such blessedness is exquisite, beyond all joy and goods, just as gold is the most valuable, most precious and best metal.
This is my compendium theoligae [summary of theology]. I have wanted to show it to you in good friendship,hoping for your appreciation.
May Christ, our beloved Lord, be with your spirit until the life hereafter. Amen.”
Martin Luther, Letter to Lazarus Spengler, July 8, 1530.
According to Luther what is white the color off?
Why would people in Africa be interested in Luther’s Rose or seal?
What is the name of the town where Pastor Seter is interviewed? What is going to happen there?
Where does the money for the Project 24 centers or the 1001 Orphan project come from?
Now go back to www.northerncrossingsmercy.org and go to the blog on August 29th. What is the “Brick by Brick” program, or the “One Brick at a Time” program. For extra credit – come up with and idea to have the confirmation class start their own “Brick by Brick” program. How many bricks do you think that you can buy?
Final question – if little children in Africa can learn the catechism by memory WHILE LEARNING TO SPEAK ENGLISH – why do you think it is so hard for you?
