I recently had the pleasure of having breakfast and lunch with Archbishop Ekong of Nigeria. He is the head of our partner church there and came to visit and address the Board for International Missions. We had asked him about the effects of the terrorists Bokol Haram and Ebola on his church and at that time he was optimistic that things were under control but that “Terrorism is strong in some areas,” but the NLC (Nigerian Lutheran Church)would not bring a missionary, to areas where there is trouble. He was anxious that the partnership between his church and the LCMS continue and flourish. Regarding the LCMS push to double the number of missionaries in the next couple of years he said, “If anyone is ready to serve as a missionary in Nigeria,” “I am ready.”
The Archbishop is one of those that I pray for regularly. Our partners in Africa struggle with so many issues from terrorism to famine to pestilence and disease. We want to get more missionaries as educators to Africa. When the call goes out we get news like this mornings from the BBC –
“At least 46 students have been killed by a suicide bomber at a school assembly in the north-eastern Nigerian town of Potiskum, police have said. The explosion at a boys’ school in the town is believed to have been caused by a suicide bomber dressed as a student.”
If you are interested in being a missionary to Africa call the LCMS at 314-996-1341. We encourage LCMS pastors, deaconesses, teachers, DCEs, DCOs, lay ministers and laypeople — including administrators and health workers — to consider whether or not God may be calling them to such service, particularly in Africa where the Synod is hoping to place at least 45 new missionaries by summer 2015.
