“Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.  I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Thessalonians 5:26-28).

Paul was constantly seeking to have the faith be strengthened in every fellowship.  That admonition should not change amongst us either.  We should continue to gather and hear God’s Word, seek wisdom and understanding and live in harmony with one another.  The mark of affection ought to be what covers all that we do.  We need to heed what Paul adjures us to do.

Lord, help me to listen and heed the words You have given in Scripture.  Help me to take them all in.  Let me not be carried away by the insanity of this world but be conformed to the Word which You have already given.  Guide me to live in harmony with the fellowship in which You have placed me.  Let all be covered by Your eternal love which You have richly lavished upon us through Christ.

Lord Jesus, You came as the Incarnate love of God poured out for our sake.  Lead me to practice the love You have given me with those who are around me.  Plant deep into my soul the truth of Your word and guide me according to the will of the Father.  Through all things that come this day, help me to look to You, seeking to be faithful, so that all I do might be pleasing to the Father.  Amen. 

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Ethiopia Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) no longer receives support from the ELCA due to the 2009 ELCA churchwide assembly.  Prior to that point, the ELCA had been among the greatest supporters of the EECMY.  The EECMY is now the largest Lutheran body in the world, growing by over 60,000 per month.

On August 17^th, 2021, an unprecedented flash flood on the campus of the their main seminary destroyed 96 dormitory rooms as well as the homes of 21 families including 5 missionary families.  Damage is in the millions of dollars.  Eight lives were lost from the seminary community.  Here is a link to a video showing damage.  We grieve the loss of our brothers and sisters, yet not as the world grieves (1 Thes. 4:13ff).

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The future of their main seminary is now at risk.  Much of the campus needs to be rebuilt.  Students and faculty no longer have places to stay.  Serious steps are being taken to guarantee such flooding does not take place in the future.

In the words of Bishop Dan Selbo in the September NALC newsletter, “We will also be inviting ‘every pastor, congregation and member to enter into intentional and intensive prayer for Ethiopia’”.  The story needs to be told and retold, as the EECMY has no other full-communion relationship with other bodies in North America.  The NALC has only 500 congregations.

You can help.  Tax-deductible disaster relief contributions are being received by the NALC.  

It is likely that short-term relief efforts will still not adequately rebuild the campus.  Thus, if you feel called to support the seminary in their efforts to recover and achieve long-term self-sustainability, a noteworthy building project on higher ground, untouched by the flooding, has been underway in partnership with Lutheran Bible Translators.  This project provides much needed assistance as well as creating an ongoing revenue stream of $225,000 per year to the seminary.  (Details and how to give are included in a separate handout, “God is on the move in Ethiopia!”)  If 250 congregations, or one from their membership, respond with a $4,000 donation, that project will be completed, generating revenue starting early in 2022.

Both of these opportunities provide much needed assistance to Mekane Yesus Seminary at this critical point in time. 

With a heavy heart for our brothers and sisters in Ethiopia,

John Conrad,

Chair, Mekane Yesus Seminary Advancement Team

Pastor, First Evangelical Lutheran Church, Floresville, TX

[email protected]

Mobile: 830-534-3139