Blog

Summoned before the Roman governor to defend his Christian faith, Paul confessed Jesus Christ—cheerfully (Acts 24:10). *** Several years ago, an Iranian couple fled to Hamburg and applied for asylum. They testified that, if sent back, they would be incarcerated because they had had difficulties with the Iranian government. Sadly, their request for asylum was … Continue reading A Joyful and Authentic Christian

Today’s Gospel lesson is the parable of “The Good Samaritan” in Luke 10. Yesterday I sat down with an Iranian liturgical assistant to go over the service with him. “What is a ‘Samaritan’?” he asked. I replied that Samaritans were unfairly considered among the lowest people in Jewish society because they were descendants of Israelites … Continue reading The Good Samaritan in Hamburg

On the hotel shuttle to Thessaloniki airport ten days ago, I struck up a conversation with our driver: “Lula and I are missionaries. We’re returning to Germany after meeting with our colleagues from all around Eurasia.” No reaction. “Missionaries tell people about Jesus Christ…” After a while, he asked: “What does Jesus Christ *mean*?” Whoa… … Continue reading What does Jesus Christ *mean*?

Preaching and presenting at beautiful Bethlehemgemeinde in Hannover. What a wonderful celebration of missions! Luncheon and fellowship at Dreieinigkeitskirche, Hamburg. Continue reading Finally! Congregations Get Together Again

1 Peter 1:1 speaks of the “dispersion” of Jewish and Gentile Christians scattered around “Asia”—east of the Aegean Sea. We LCMS missionaries serving here in Eurasia recently met for several days west of the Aegean Sea. And Lula and I got to meet real-life Lutherans in today’s “dispersion.” One afternoon over lunch I got to … Continue reading Lutherans in Dispersion

There is an invisible undercurrent to living in Germany in late summer 2022. It is still sunny and warm. People are relaxing in outdoor cafés and bars; dog walkers are out in droves; the kids are back in school. But at the same time, only some 1,200 miles southeast of us, the “biggest war between … Continue reading For those who love God

Last week I met a delightful couple from Iran who moved to Germany a few years ago. “Abbas” and “Maryam” had become Christians in their homeland but kept this secret because conversion from Islam is punished with prison or even death. I asked how they wound up in Germany. Maryam shared her story: “I used … Continue reading The Valley of the Shadow of Death

The other day in new member class at Trinity Lutheran (SELK), Hamburg, we were reading and discussing Romans 4 in a mix of three languages—Persian (Farsi), German, and English. The Iranian catechumens were grasping that God “counted it to Abraham as righteousness” and that he believed God’s promise (Romans 4:3; Genesis 15:1-6). In other words, … Continue reading If It’s All By Faith, What About Abraham’s…

“And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia…” (Acts 2:8-9). This famous passage documents Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit miraculously enabled the Jewish followers of Jesus to speak new tongues to be able to share the Gospel with hitherto … Continue reading The Gospel in Persian

“Mission festival in Hamburg with the Zion and Trinity Churches. We are impressed by the multilingual commitment in Hamburg – today’s sermon was translated into Persian and there is also an English service tonight. May God continue to build bridges between cultures and languages!” – Lisel and Thomas Beneke Continue reading Celebration of Missions in Hamburg