Blog

One of this month’s highlights was the first real-life get-together of Riga Luther Academy’s students and staff—at a one-week intensive at the Old Latin School and “Kolleg” in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany. After “knowing” one another only from Zoom, it was a joy to finally meet in person. Students and staff from Latvia, Bulgaria, Romania, Italy, … Continue reading Riga Luther Academy Intensive

Lula and I recently had the privilege of visiting with Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens of Trinity Lutheran Church (SELK) in Berlin-Steglitz. Dr. Martens is the sole pastor of what is possibly the largest congregation of Persian-speaking Christians in all of Europe. They have some 1,500 members—1,300 of whom hail from Iran and Afghanistan. In this … Continue reading Largest Persian-Speaking Congregation

Sadly, my eight-month deployment in “K-Town,” Germany—serving as vacancy pastor at Kaiserslautern Evangelical Lutheran Church (KELC)—has ended. Last Sunday, October 17, KELC’s permanent pastor, Rev. Nathaniel Scott Jensen (center, in chasuble) was installed. But also what joy—not only because that loving congregation now has a permanent pastor but also because Rev. Jensen and his wife … Continue reading Farewell Kaiserslautern, Hello Hamburg

A German lady sat down next to me on a recent train ride. Once again, my Persian textbook served as a wonderful ice breaker. “Why are you learning Persian?” she asked. “Because I love the people of Iran and Afghanistan, and want to share Jesus Christ with the immigrants from there.” She noticed my clerical … Continue reading Don’t Look at Christians

Lula and Lilly were recently at a pumpkin market out in the country and took this picture. The first thing we notice is the bright orange harvest crop. Then the crucifix jumps out at us. But look closely: Jesus has only one arm! Is this a damaged family heirloom? Or perhaps the owner of the … Continue reading The One-Armed Jesus

Sometimes the Lord uses secular circumstances—past and present—to draw His chosen people to Himself. Last Sunday I had a fascinating conversation with “Hans,” a young leader in the local German congregation. I mentioned in passing that I would soon be leaving Kaiserslautern to share the Gospel with Afghan and Iranian migrants around Hamburg. “I’ve actually … Continue reading He is My Shepherd

“For I was hungry, and you gave Me food; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you welcomed Me,” says our Lord in Matthew 25:35-36 (ESV). Words that are 2,000 years old—yet with laser precision apply to our time and place in the 21st century. In Sunday School at … Continue reading For I was hungry, and you gave Me food

I recently had a long Internet conversation with a dear friend of mine, Dr. Uwe Siemon-Netto, a renowned Lutheran theologian and journalist. We talked at length about the deplorable situation in Afghanistan and he suggested that we might be entering the Apocalypse. While this term might conjure images of the sky falling and the Earth being … Continue reading The Gospel to Every Tribe and Nation

I am currently back in the States on a 12-day whirlwind tour through the Upper Midwest, networking with several delightful congregations who have asked me to share how the Lord is growing His Kingdom among Persian speakers in Germany and through Riga Luther Academy.My travel plans last week were to take a train from Kaiserslautern … Continue reading Transportation Miracles