I recently returned from a trip to Chad and Cameroon. It was encouraging to see the continuity of the mission work enhanced by innovations of an interdependent partnership between Lutheran Brethren International Mission and the Chad Lutheran Brethren Church.

Today marks the 14th anniversary of the 3/11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in northern Japan. We turned on the 7 o’clock news this morning and watched people standing by the ocean at sunrise, praying for the souls of those lost in the huge tsunami waves.

With the success of a first school, Gethsemane de Meube, established in a village in Chad, there has been an increasing desire for more schools in other villages. In response, the CLB has started a second school: Gethsemane de N’Djamena-Bousso.

Dr. Joel Christenson (Lutheran Brethren Seminary) and I had the privilege to experience this when we participated in the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, held in Seoul, South Korea, September 22-28, 2024.

In early October, a new chapter began for the Gethsemané de Meube school in Chad. The school held its first week of classes for the brand-new junior high class.

On the weekend of September 6-8, Lutheran Brethren International Mission (LBIM) hosted a retreat for former missionary kids at Inspiration Point Christian Camp & Retreat Center in Vining, Minnesota. This time away was meant for those who had spent a portion of their childhood as children of missionaries serving with the Church of the Lutheran Brethren.

The Glimpse Project is a resource that gives you the ability to peek into the life and ministry of our Lutheran Brethren missionaries. New Glimpse Projects of Taiwan and Japan were released this year, along with companion study guides for each series.

When planning began for this year’s biennial convention of the Church of the Lutheran Brethren of America—themed “Partner in Mission”—it seemed very appropriate to invite the synodical presidents of our international LB synods with which we remain active in mission partnership.

It is Sunday, March 17th, day one of the centennial celebration of the Lutheran Brethren Church of Cameroon. It seems I am dreaming, having just crossed the Logone river this morning from Chad in a wooden canoe.

As the air ambulance landed on the tarmac in Paris, France, I was placed on a gurney and rushed to a major hospital in downtown Paris. The icy February air bit at my cheeks, so different from the balmy warm air of Bokoro, Chad, where I’d been just a few days earlier.

In late 2023, LBIM was blessed to facilitate, for the first time ever, a global LBIM missionary retreat. Our missionary families from Chad, Japan, and Taiwan made their way to the Suan Bua resort outside of Chiang Mai, Thailand.

When God sent his Son to dwell among us, Jesus not only stepped into our world as God incarnate, but humbled himself to a position where others were invited to step into his world. The baby Jesus grew up learning how to live like the people around him—how to speak, eat, walk, laugh, and pray like they did.

When we followed God’s direction to move to Taichung City and work alongside Taichung Victory Church, our desire was to help a struggling church.

In the past five months, we’ve both finished another semester of theological studies, both made long journeys to other countries to search out the future, both received and responded to a call to serve with Lutheran Brethren International Mission in Chad… and, oh yeah, we also got engaged!

LBIM is a mission committed to serving in unreached places and among unreached people. As such, we are entering into a new partnership with our Japanese brothers and sisters for a renewed mission focus in Japan. Rather than shrinking back from the challenge, we are choosing to lean into it, for the sake of the gospel going forth in Japan, by God’s grace and for his glory.

What a blessing is a church willing to take a risk and invest their time and love into those who may be with them only for a short time! I am forever grateful for our experiences here at Rock of Ages and with the other churches, small groups of believers, our families and many more who impacted us and have played a part in God equipping us for what is ahead.

Jesus is endowed with all the authority of heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18). And it is in and because of this authority that he calls us, commissions us—yes, commands us—his Church, to “go into all the world and make new disciples.” As such, we consider ourselves a Disciple Making Church, and we seek to multiply new disciples.

"So, how were you called?” During this past year and a half of studying at Lutheran Brethren Seminary in preparation for mission work in Chad, I’ve been asked that question more than a couple of times. What does it mean to be called