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 … Continue reading Dear friends and supporters of our ministry to Germany and across Eurasia!
“As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And [Matthew] rose and followed Him” (Matthew 9:9). The Scriptures are full of stories like this—ordinary people called by the gracious voice of Christ and led by the Holy Spirit to … Continue reading The Deep Privilege of Walking Beside Brothers
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling” (Psalm 46:1-3). You are looking at a small and … Continue reading Misson Work in Hamburg’s 9/11 Cell Neighborhood
The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). I wrote this post riding a train from Denmark to Hamburg. At the kind invitation of Rev. Leif Jensen, the President of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Denmark, I traveled to Aarhus last Thursday. … Continue reading The Great Jensens!
In this very difficult time for all Iranians and Afghans, in which the Iranian and Afghan governments, hated by the vast majority of the population, are still clinging to power, it is not surprising that a sense of hopelessness is also affecting our Persian congregants here in Hamburg. As such, from late spring into early … Continue reading Dear friends and supporters of our ministry to Germany and across Eurasia!
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but … Continue reading My Word Shall Not Return Empty
… 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). Last week, Lula and I were near Helsinki, Finland, attending our annual retreat of LCMS missionaries in Eurasia. Finns are very friendly, … Continue reading Always Be Prepared to Make a Defense for the Hope
“… in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, 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 3:15-16). Ben and Ella Goehring are LCMS career missionaries based in Brašov, Romania. Originally … Continue reading Tell about Jesus Christ—the Way, the Truth, and the Life
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Heb 10:22). For several decades, Western Europe has been experiencing a clash of civilizations. Case in point, a few weeks ago one of our Iranian parishioners … Continue reading Let us Draw Near with a True Heart
July’s highlight was traveling to Turku, Finland (about two hours west of Helsinki) to give a three-part-presentation on “Six-Day Creation: The Biblical and Scientific Arguments” at the Corpus Christi conference for young adults. This annual conference is a unique event, offering Confessional Lutherans in their 20s and 30s mainly from Northern Europe (but increasingly also … Continue reading Dear friends and supporters of our ministry to Germany and across Eurasia!
