Blog

“But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15). Last week, Saman, one of our Iranian parishioners, contacted me—distraught because his dear grandmother Ashraf had passed away. “Could you hold a memorial service for her?” he asked. “Well, of course,” I replied. … Continue reading The Death of a Persian Relative

“According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). I had asked some of our Lutheran congregants from Iran how they felt about the recent war between Iran and Israel. Another thoughtful reply: “We are … Continue reading Our Hope Does Not Lie in Human Governments

Our mission focus is: “Spread the Gospel. Plant Lutheran churches. Show mercy.” Here in Germany, the Gospel changes the lives of many Iranian and Afghan refugees. They arrive at the doors of our partner churches and ask to learn more about the saving faith in Christ. So we respond by teaching and baptizing as Jesus … Continue reading Dear Friends and Supporters of Our Ministry!

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Here in Hamburg, Lula and I are physically removed from the current struggle between Israel and Iran. At the same time, every day we interact with people who are directly involved. This video, sent to me yesterday, is from our … Continue reading Praying for the People of Iran and Israel

“And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42). Both the Old and New Testaments stress the importance of Christian fellowship—also with believers from other cultures, as the case may be. The above Bible verse describes the lifestyle of Jesus’ followers immediately after … Continue reading Riga Intensives

“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). Serving as a missionary pastor in Germany, I regularly experience the church as kind of fortress, where refugees hope … Continue reading Cosmic Powers Over this Present Darkness

“If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task” (1 Timothy 3:1). A few weeks ago, we noted that a growing number of young persons in the West are discovering historic Christianity for its beauty and faithful propagation of the Word-centered around Jesus Christ. This has been a phenomenon in the … Continue reading New Lutheran Pastors in Rome

For all pastors, the Lenten and Easter seasons are quite busy. For me as a missionary pastor, it is no different. However, one additional—and very joyful—task of mine in recent months was to prepare over a dozen Persians for Holy Baptism. In fact, we have had so many people signing up for baptismal classes recently … Continue reading Dear Friends,

Lula, our daughter Mimi, and I are now back in Hamburg after driving from Michigan (where Mimi graduated from Hope College in Holland), to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where we managed to clear out our house in only one week. Thank you, Lord! Traveling through the central U.S. on our vacation, what struck me particularly, though, was … Continue reading Everything for the Glory of God

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit…?” (1 Corinthians 6:19). Lula and I and several of our adult kids are currently on vacation in our old home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. We have only one week to clear out our house, which we wish to rent out. A tall order … Continue reading But Jesus Drew Me Out of the Pit