“‘I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.’ So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace” (Romans 11:4-5). You may recall that a few days ago I commented on the sorry state of affairs in Germany’s Protestant “state church,” which is known … Continue reading The Remnant
Last week, Lula and I attended a Lenten service at Hamburg’s St. Michaelis, which was built in 1647 and now belongs to the Protestant “state church” (EKD). As we stepped into the beautiful edifice, some 150 feet long and 130 feet wide, a sign read: “Lenten service in the chancel.” We proceeded through the cavernous … Continue reading Hymns Full of Grace
Wrapping up our baptismal preparation class at Zion Lutheran Church (SELK) in Hamburg last Thursday, we met in the children’s Sunday school room, which is well-stocked with Legos, building blocks, and other toys. We discussed the ending of the Second Article of the Creed in the Small Catechism (Farsi translation): “From thence He will come … Continue reading What Would We Do Without Jesus?
As we approach the end of Lententide, it is with great joy that I greet you all once again from Germany. God has been faithful to us and has guided us through the ups and downs of missionary life. His grace has sustained us and His love has never failed. In this newsletter, we share … Continue reading Dear beloved friends and supporters,
I was recently helping an Iranian lady prepare for her asylum court hearing and asked her a question that sometimes comes up: “How often do you pray?” She replied that she prays many times a day—for her family, her personal circumstances, and for the political situation in Iran. But she also shared that she was … Continue reading Paying for Prayers
Every second Sunday of the month, I take the train from Hamburg to Wolfsburg (the home of Volkswagen) to fulfill a dual role: to conduct a Farsi/German Divine Service in the local SELK congregation, which is blessed with numerous Iranian members but who are currently without a pastor able to do Persian ministry. My other … Continue reading Iranian Lutheran Pastors
Last Sunday, I had the privilege of baptizing two Iranian siblings–one eight months old, the other six years old. This was a particularly joyful occasion because, while the father has been a Christian for years, the mother is still Muslim but told me only a few weeks ago that she too wishes to be baptized. … Continue reading Coming Home to Jesus
As we were sitting down to a Bible study recently, when one of my Iranian parishioners declared, “Pastor, could you please pray that all the mullahs in Iran will go to hell?” His wife rolled her eyes at his comment. “Here we go again,” I thought… I have so often explained to this man and … Continue reading Prayers for the Mullahs
We are now in the season of Lent, the period between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday during which we spiritually walk alongside our Lord journeying to the Cross—fearful for Good Friday yet trusting in the glory of Easter Sunday that would follow on the third day. Many of our Iranian Lutherans here in Germany are … Continue reading Dear friends and supporters,
One of the most common questions people ask pastors is: “Why does God allow evil in the world?” There seem to be only two answers: either God is powerless to stop evil, or He doesn’t care. In last week’s Baptismal preparation class, the catechumens raised this issue, complaining that in the court hearings to determine … Continue reading Doesn’t Jesus Care?
The Tiews in Germany 