Leaving All to "Fish" for Jesus

In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for April HERE.

"Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

Immediately they left their nets and followed him. (Matthew 4:19-20)

Simon Peter, Andrew, James and John were successful fishermen by trade. They possessed boats and nets, and even had hired help for the family business. They had homes and relatives, and we know that Peter was married. Yet at the call of Jesus, they left everything and began a 3-year training course led by the master Teacher and Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth. When the Lord called on them to "follow Me," they saw in this their opportunity to gain a better treasure than earthly gain. They may not have realized it at the time, but this path would take them on the the dark road to Jesus' cross, to the bright victory of His resurrection, and to the gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. From there they would embark on careers to "make disciples of all nations," which would take them on their own journey from cross to crown.

This call and journey is shared by the students at Wittenberg seminary who are heeding Jesus' invitation to "follow Me" into service as pastors in Tanzania and Kenya. Some are barely high school graduates, others have wives and children, but all are preparing to take life's journey from cross to crown, in service to the Savior who served them first. God willing, they will cast the net of the Gospel of the crucified and risen Christ in order to "catch" men, women, and children for the kingdom of God. Their net will be the message of God's saving grace, as found in His inspired Holy Scriptures. Please pray for them as they learn of the Savior and His Word in order to cast this net in a lifetime of public ministry!

4 of our 12 students: Felix, Mathayo, Vincent, and Peter

For brief biographies of Wittenberg's future "fishers of men," with photos, click HERE.

Some other recent photos:

Students and faculty of Wittenberg Seminary, April 2026 (absent: faculty member R. Loskira)

Student choir at Ambureni Sunday worship

To see a brief video of singing during Ambureni worship, click HERE.

Loading up the Rav4 to move Robert Loskira's family back to the Maasai village of Mbuyuni (he'll continue to teach at the seminary)

The Loskiras (and some extended family) at their Maasai home

Paula and I are preparing to return to the U.S. for the month of June; we'll visit family and I'll attend the CLC Convention. We're also taking a western trip to give missions presentations at the following CLC churches. If you're in the area, we'll look forward to seeing you!

• Friday, June 5 - Devotion and presentation at Berea, Sioux Falls, SD
• Sunday, June 7 - Preaching and presentation at Good Shepherd, Rapid City, SD
• Sunday, June 14 - Preaching and presentation at Joint Mission Festival hosted by Prince of Peace, Loveland, CO
• Monday, June 15 -  Devotion and presentation at Grace, Valentine, NE
• Saturday/Sunday, June 20-21 - Preaching and presentation at Messiah, Eau Claire, WI

We appreciate your prayers for safe travel and fruitful fellowship, as we share the exciting news of what our Lord is accomplishing here in East Africa!

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE

Easter's Last Laugh

In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for March HERE.

"The last enemy to be destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15:26

To hear the hyena's eerie laugh, click HERE.

In her memoir about life in Africa, author Karen Blixen describes the hyena in this way: "The hyena, Fisi, is the one who has the last laugh. He is the scavenger of the world, and he knows that in the end, everything comes to him. He waits in the shadows of the night, and his laugh is the sound of one who knows the ultimate truth: that all pride, all beauty, and all strength must eventually fall to the earth and be claimed by him." Yes, people often laugh at Fisi's ugly and ungainly looks, but his powerful jaws are always there to crunch the bones of the fallen. In this way he is the same type of symbol that we associate with the Grim Reaper, Death himself.

Death certainly appears to have the last laugh in this world. God told Adam "You are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (Gen. 3:19). Moses wrote in Psalm 90, "The years of our life are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty; yet their span is but toil and trouble; they are soon gone, and we fly away." No doubt Death and the Devil were rejoicing when Jesus, the Son of God, gave up his spirit on Calvary's cross. But Death and the Devil did not laugh last! Jesus came forth bodily from the grave, to live in glory forever. Our own hearts are now filled with sacred laughter, for "Our Savior, Christ Jesus...has abolished death and illuminated the way to life and immortality through the gospel." 2 Timothy 1:10

Your brothers and sisters in Christ here in East Africa share the joy of Jesus' resurrection with you! See the Easter photos below, as well some other updates. Mungu awabariki msimu huu wa Pasaka!- May God bless you this Easter season!

Easter worship in Tanzania (click any photo to enlarge):

Mbuyuni Parish - A Maasai village where Robert Loskira is pastor - banner by Paula

I sang a Swahili version of "Christ is Arisen" to open the service at Ambureni; the video clip is HERE. Translation of final verse: "Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! Sorrow is past! Joy has arrived! Christ is alive!"

Easter worship at Ambureni church, which is attached to Wittenberg Seminary. To see a brief video clip of Pastor Jeremia preaching the Easter sermon, click HERE.

Recent and ongoing improvements to the Seminary facility, made possible through the CLC Mission Development Fund (MDF):

Members of Ambureni Lutheran Church in front of the completed facility wall, funded by the congregation

To see a reenactment of Jesus' Palm Sunday ride into Jerusalem, by the children of Hope Centre Orphanage in Iganga, Uganda, click HERE.

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE

The Word of the LORD Grows

In this blog I write mostly about the work we do. If you'd like to get some insights about our daily life here in Tanzania, see Paula's journal entry for February HERE.

The book of the Bible known as the "Acts of the Apostles" is actually about the acts of the Holy Spirit, through the power of the Word of God. Beginning with the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost and continuing with the growth of the early church, key points are marked by the same idea: "The Word of God spread..." Acts 6:7; "The Word of God grew and multiplied..." Acts 12:24; "The Word of God grew mightily and prevailed..." Acts 19:20. 

We see the same gifts of the Spirit, working through God's Word, in our U.S. and overseas congregations and missions. Here in Tanzania, we have been blessed with sudden growth at Wittenberg seminary, with the expectation that God's Word will be multiplied through the men who are training for the ministry. At our November 2025 graduation there were 6 men enrolled, and now at the beginning of the 2026 term we are instructing 15 students! There are, of course, accompanying growing pains with the need for additional textbooks, meals, dormitory rooms, beds, classroom furnishings, and washrooms. These needs are being met with generous support from the CLC MDF and Kinship sponsorship. 

The new seminary school year began with retired Pastor P.D. Nolting serving as guest professor during my absence due to travel in Kenya (see the previous blog post HERE). Upon my return, the annual TCLC Pastoral Conference was held here in Arusha. About 40 men attended, and we heard presentations by Pastor Nolting, seminary teachers Robert Loskira and Thobias Mbise, and TCLC President Jeremia Issangya. As always, the conference was a great benefit for everyone involved.

Since that time our students have settled into their schedule of classes, Monday through Friday from 8 am to 1:30 pm, with plenty of homework to fill the afternoon and evening hours. We continue to pray that here, as well as wherever the true Gospel of the crucified and Christ is preached, the Word of the Lord will grow and multiply by God's grace!

[Click to enlarge]

TCLC Pastoral Conference attendees, January of 2026

Pastor Paul Nolting, presenting to the conference

Conference Communion worship service

Student body and faculty of Wittenberg Seminary, February 2026

A brief video, introducing most of our students
(with Pastor Nolting) is HERE.

Wittenberg opening devotions

With so many students, the main classroom is now in the church sanctuary (Thobias Mbise teaching)

One additional, special student is Christof Tillmann, a native of Germany whom I met at a local restaurant. He recently returned to the Christian faith and is eager for the Gospel and his studies here.

Occasionally I take the students on an outing. On February 20 we walked about 1.5 miles from the seminary to see Mangalia Falls

I invite your prayers as I prepare to visit our brothers and sisters in the CCRU - Confessional Church of the Reformation in Uganda. God willing I'll be flying to Kampala for a week including pastoral conference and congregational visits there. "Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you." 2 Thessalonians 3:1

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE

First the Blade, Then the Ear, Then the Full Grain

Since Paula and I were with family in the U.S. during December and part of January, her regular, daily-life journal will continue next month.

“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear." Mark 4:26-28

The CLC has been planting Gospel seeds in East Africa for many years, and like the farmer who "sleeps and rises night and day," we have been relying on the LORD to bring about growth and fruit. I was privileged to see many of these fruits on my just-completed visitation to our sister churches of the Kenyan Church of the Lutheran Confession (KCLC), January 9-20, 2026.

The first main stop was in Kisii, where I met with Pastors Fred and Enosh concerning their churches in nearby Etago, as well as St. David's Academy, a Kinship-sponsored K-6 school. On Sunday morning I visited Our Savior's Lutheran Fellowship Church in Kisii. The congregation and Pastor Peter Ombogo became KCLC members last May. That evening the church met again to view the "Jesus Film" in the Swahili language. (click images to enlarge):

Worship at Our Savior's Fellowship, Kisii

Me, Pastors Fred and Enosh, and seminary student Eubank

Pastor Peter Ombogo (light blue suit) and members of Our Savior's

The men from the Kisii area and I traveled together to Moi's Bridge, about 150 miles north, for the annual conference of the KCLC. 22 participants met at Emmaus School, on the same site as Holy Cross Lutheran Church. Over 3 days we heard presentations by myself and Pastor Calvin Luvisha of St. Peter's, Kitale. We also adopted a revised constitution, and were blessed with a Communion worship service. We received 2 graduates of Wittenberg Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania into the KCLC clergy roster. They are Pastor Amos Otieno, who serves Holy Cross, Moi's Bridge, and Pastor Jasper Musacali, who serves St. Paul's Lutheran in Milimani (near Moi's Bridge). St. Paul's was also received as a member congregation. I am so thankful to the LORD to see these fruits of the Gospel seeds we have been planting! 

Roadside lunch on the shuttle ride - roast corn!

Annual Conference of the KCLC, in an Emmaus School classroom

Pastor Calvin Luvisha presented on the meaning a value of Lutheran liturgy. This is his list of essential elements in a worship service (he also agreed that singing hymns was important)

Participants at the KCLC Annual Conference, 2026

Pastors of the KCLC

I spent the day after the conference at Emmaus School, where the students viewed the "Jesus Film." I also met with the school headmistress, KCLC member Mary Sagala, and the two pastors who serve Holy Cross, Henry Nyanumba and Amos Otieno. We discussed enhancing catechetical instruction at the school. 

Some of the children of Emmaus School, Moi's Bridge

The children were blessed with the viewing of the Jesus Film

On Saturday St. Paul's Lutheran in Milimani gathered for worship. I was privileged to preach, as well as to administer Holy Baptism to 10 children and 1 adult. That evening the church gathered once again for the "Jesus Film." 

It was my privilege to baptize 10 children and 1 adult at the service in Milimani

Me, seminary student Dennis, and seminary graduates Amos and Jasper

The Ladies' Society of St. Paul's, Milimani

Sunday I traveled north about 30 miles to Kitale to worship with the members of St. Peter's and their pastor, Calvin Luvisha. Also present were 4 pastors and other visitors from churches who are interested in affiliating with the KCLC. After the service we met with the visitors and answered their questions. I was then invited to Pastor Calvin's home for supper.

Worship service at St. Peter's, Kitale (many more arrived late)

One of the founding matriarchs of St. Peters, Kitale

Members of St. Peter's Lutheran, Kitale

Meeting with pastors and visitors from churches interested in affiliating with the KCLC

During my absence from Wittenberg Seminary, Pastor Paul D. Nolting taught in my place, and will remain for the upcoming TCLC Conference, January 26-28. Thanks, Pastor Nolting!

Pastor P.D. Nolting, teaching at Wittenberg Seminary, Arusha Tanzania

The journey back to to Tanzania by bus was long and satisfying. I was very happy to spend valuable time in fellowship with our Kenyan brothers and sisters. There are 3 young Kenyan men who are now enrolled at Wittenberg Seminary, along with 9 from Tanzania, for a total of 12 students - up from 6 last year! Truly we wait night and day for God to make his harvest grow, in the same way that the Apostle Paul did: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth." 1 Corinthians 3:6 

FOR MORE CLC Foreign Missions News,

See Missionary Todd Ohlmann's blog HERE