“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. Therefore, take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…” (Ephesians 6:12-13). … Continue reading Something Strange
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ” (1 Cor 12:12). The big news this past month was a strategic gathering in Berlin to kick of the start of The Persian Project, about which I … Continue reading Dear friends and supporters of our ministry to Germany and across Eurasia!
“Let My people go“ (Exodus 8:1). A few days ago, Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens of Trinity Lutheran Church (SELK) in Berlin-Steglitz and some thirty members of their Persian young adult group traveled to Hamburg on their annual field trip. This busload was only a fraction of that church’s young adult group that is about one … Continue reading Let My People Go!
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce” (Jeremiah 29:4-5). Yesterday I was back in the mental health facility to visit my Iranian Lutheran parishioner, Mohammad. He … Continue reading Living in Exile
“And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues” (1 Corinthians 12:28). In the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod we are not only blessed with hundreds of thousands of laywomen who do so much to keep our churches going, but … Continue reading Workers in His Kingdom
“…How are they to believe in Him of Whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Romans 10:14). Last week I shared how our Iranian parishioner Mohammad had witnessed to his fellow hospital patient Javad. Both were discharged last Friday. Mohammad came to church last Sunday, accompanied by Javad … Continue reading How Are They to Believe…
Jesus says, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Gospel to all creation” (Mk 16:15). I recently visited our Iranian congregant Mohammad who is still in a mental facility (see my post from Aug 30, 2024), yet making good use of his time there witnessing to Persian patients. Mohammad introduced me to a young … Continue reading He Has the Words of Eternal Life
“And [Jesus] came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as was His custom, He went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and He stood up to read” (Lk 4:16). I am writing to you from a pastors’ conference in the tiny village of Bleckmar, north Germany, to thank you for all your prayers and support, … Continue reading Dear friends and supporters of our ministry to Germany and across Eurasia!
“The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor 10:16). I recently traveled to a German city to conduct a Divine Service in German and Farsi. This congregation only has … Continue reading The Body and the Blood
Jesus says: “The one who conquers [by Baptism] will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life” (Revelation 3:5). About half a year ago I told you about a homeless lady in our neighborhood with whom I sometimes chat (see my post from April … Continue reading The Book of Life
The Tiews in Germany 