“Always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15). During our meeting at the LCMS Eurasia Outreach Center in Braşov, Romania, I had a delightful chat with Vicar Jesse Liebman. A student at Concordia Seminary St. Louis, he is currently wrapping up his two-year vicarage in our region. Fluent in Russian, after graduation and ordination Jesse hopes to be accepted into the LCMS missionary program and serve in a place where he would be able put his unique language skills to very good use. Vicar Liebman shared with me that years ago his career choice was the U.S. military, but “life happened” and he had to change plans. I can very well relate to that because I had similar aspirations and also experienced roadblocks back when I was his age. But the Lord always knows best (Romans 8:28), even though when those obstructions occur, we may not realize that the Lord is actually allowing those hindrances to occur in order to guide us in a different direction. Jesse got around here in Eurasia, also visiting the Lutherans in Almaty, Kazakhstan, together with his vicarage supervisor, Rev. Jordon Andreason. There, too, Vicar Liebman put his Russian skills to excellent use, impressing the local pastors. As I understand it, both LCMS representatives faired splendidly, vigorously participating in the various social events that require stamina and rigor (as I experienced a few years ago, when my Riga Luther Academy colleague Rev. Jerry Lawson and I visited Almaty). God bless you, Jesse, as you dive back into the seminary classroom for one more year of study. We look forward to welcoming you back to Eurasia, God willing. In the meantime, keep on making a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you! Next stop on our journey: Rome, where Lula and I very much look forward to meeting with representatives of the Confessional Lutheran Church of Italy.
The Tiews in Germany 