September has been an extremely busy month. I have only been able to serve my Persian congregation at Zion Hamburg one Sunday (my colleague Rev. Pasi Palmu graciously filled in for me the other Sundays) because I was requested to teach and preach all over northern Europe. In early September I was in Denmark, as reported, and on the following weekends I preached and taught in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, then in Braunschweig, and I am writing this message to you from Eisenach, Germany, reporting from our fantastic Germany 2026 FORO, which is attended by mission partners from the Illinois, Iowa, and the South Wisconsin District. (Let us know whether you are interested in joining us next year!)
But the message is always the same: we LCMS missionaries proclaim the love of Jesus Christ for you in His Word and Sacrament and which we missionaries convey by spreading the Gospel, planting Lutheran churches, and showing mercy.
The opportunities presented to us here in Eurasia are extraordinary. Even though two wars are raging in our region (Ukraine and Iran), there are so ways in which we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ. In fact, God in His wisdom sometime allows us to suffer difficulties so that He can strengthen our faith (Romans 8:28; 1 Corinthians 12).
Perhaps you too are experiencing a crisis—health-wise, or a difficult relationship, or even financial difficulties. May the Lord use this difficulty in your life so that you would cling all the more to your Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, much as a drowning person clings to a piece of wood floating by. That piece of wood is the cross of Calvary, on which our Lord not only paid the price for your sins and mine but also demonstrated that He prays for us, suffers along with us, and is always with us in our tribulations–in His Word and His true body and blood.
It is a privilege to serve on your behalf here in Eurasia, and Lula and I thank you so much for your continued love and support, which makes all this possible.
God bless you all!
Pastor Tiews and Lula
What is a Germany FORO?
A group of over 20 partners in the Gospel are embarking on a journey to the very birthplace of the Reformation and the spiritual homeland of our Lutheran heritage.
Germany offers both profound historical connections to our faith and fascinating insights into a new and perhaps unlikely movement of Christian brothers and sisters – the Persians from Iran and Afghanistan, English-speaking Expats, and refugees from Ukraine.
This adventure will take them to important sights, but also provide a deeper understanding of the spiritual condition of the “new Germany.”
They will pray in the Wartburg in Eisenach, where Martin Luther hid and translated the New Testament into German, meet Persian-speaking immigrants in Leipzig and hear about the mission work being done, witness Rev. Martens’ services with asylum-seekers in Berlin, experience a stay in the Eurasia Center for Spreading the Gospel in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, and learn about ministry to English- and Ukrainian-speaking Expats.
Let us know if you are interested in joining a FORO in Eurasia – the one coming up next will be in Romania, Wednesday, 20th of January 2027 to Tuesday, 26 of January.
