While Pastor David is in the Congo, we will not be having a Wednesday Evening Service on August 3rd, 10th, or 17th. We will start back on August 24th. Please mark your calendars.
Missions Archive
Wednesday Services
Posted July 28, 2022 By adminCountdown to Congo
Posted June 10, 2022 By adminLooking at the calendar, it’s hard to believe that my mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo is but a month away. I want to thank all who have donated used pairs of eyeglasses for me to take to the people of Congo who have such need but do not have access to eyecare. We have collected plenty of glasses, and I have no more room for additional donations. Everything that has been donated must fit into my luggage, along with clothes for three weeks, Bibles to be distributed in churches, and donated clergy attire for pastors in the Congolese Church.
This trip will be unlike those I have made previously. My mission partner, Pastor Kalonji and I will travel to a region in the Congo where I have never been before. It is somewhat exciting to imagine seeing new places and experiencing new customs as we minister to the people of God. The congregations where we will accomplish the bulk of our mission work are unique in that they do not have any church buildings. These congregations gather outside all year round. No matter the weather, the gospel of Christ is preached to all who would hear it.
I am looking forward to seeing several of the friends that I have made over the years, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic prevented me from making my regularly scheduled trip last year. It has been three long years since my last visit and much has changed within the church. Still, the mission is the same. We will preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, minister to men, women, and children, feed orphans, and free mothers with their newborn babies from hospitals where they cannot afford to pay their out-standing balance due.
Pastor Kalonji and I ask for your prayers as we travel to this far off place. We ask your prayers for safety in travel and for success in our mission work. More than that, we ask that we would bring glory to God’s name as we share this important mission work with you and so many others who have supported us through the years.
Carolinas Mission Region Mission Event Are You Going?
Posted May 8, 2022 By adminEveryone at St. Jacob’s is invited to attend a special Fellowship and Mission Event of the Carolinas Mission Region at the NALC Disaster Response Warehouse in Kings Mountain, NC. The event takes place on Saturday, May 21st. The plan is for congregations to collect items to assemble Disaster Response Hygiene Kits to resupply the warehouse before hurricane season. This event is perfect for Youth groups, Men’s groups, Women’s groups and Senior’s. ALL ARE INVITED! There will be plenty of food and fellowship provided by Advent Lutheran Church in Kings Mountain. As a part of this project, St. Jacob’s has been collecting travel size bottles of shampoo and nail clippers. The response has been wonderful and generous. Thank you to all who have donated to this project. Now we simply need your presence to help assemble the hygiene kits. See you on May 21st!
Countdown To Congo
Posted April 29, 2022 By adminBy: Pastor David
There are only three full months until my trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This trip will be quite unique as Pastor Kalonji and I will travel to a region where I have not been in the past. Still, there will be opportunity to minister to some congregations that I am familiar with and I’m looking forward to seeing those pastors again and hearing their stories and experiences since I saw them last.
Of course, the opportunity to preach the Gospel of Jesus will be the main highlight of our trip. God is so gracious as to allow Pastor Kalonji and I to travel and share the good news of Jesus with others. Upon my return, I will provide plenty of photos and stories with you so that you can see the many ways through which St. Jacob’s comes to the aid of our neighbors across the ocean. They certainly live a different way of life than we do, but it is the same God who provides all they need. It is also the same God who sent his Son Jesus Christ into the world so that our sins will be forgiven. We are all united in Christ Jesus, the people of St. Jacob’s, the people of God in the Congo, and all Christians around the globe. To God be the glory now and forever!
More About the Congo Mission
Posted August 30, 2021 By adminBy the time this newsletter is published and sent out, my mission partner and good friend Pastor Stéphane Kalonji will have returned from this year’s Congo Mission trip. With his return, the countdown to next mission trip has begun. Next July, as the Lord wills it, I will travel with my friend and brother in Christ to Kinshasa and embark on a three-week mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ and minister to the people of the Bas-Congo region.
I am most anxious to return and see my friends in the cities of Boma, Tshela, and Matadi. These are people who have taken me in and treated me as one of their own. We share meals together, fellowship and a fairly good amount of laughter as we do the work of the gospel together.
One more aspect of next year’s trip is that Pastor Kaonji and I have invited someone new to go along with us. St. Jacob’s newest friend, Pastor Mathew Magera, who visited us with his youth group in July is prayerfully discerning our invitation to accompany us to Congo and work along side us as we engage Jesus’s Great Commission to make disciples. As a part of this invitation, I hope to travel to Zion Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh to provide information for his congregation. I expect this trip will occur in early September, perhaps as early as Labor Day Weekend.
Please pray for Pastor Mathew as he considers becoming one of our Congo Mission International Missionaries. I can truly attest to the fact that once one has met the people of the Bas-Congo region and shared life together with them, they will be a part of that person’s life forever.
In the coming months, I will ask our church family, our auxiliaries, and friends to once again support our missional effort by hosting fund raising events and sharing information concerning the Congo Mission within the greater Chapin community. The amount of funding it takes to complete our mission efforts each year can seem somewhat daunting, but God has and always will provide the means for his missionaries to extend the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world. Until then, thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support on behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ who live in a land so far away. I assure you; they pray for us continually that God would bless us in our ministry and proclamation of the Gospel. To God be the glory, Pastor David
Youth Group Visit
Posted July 29, 2021 By adminOn Saturday, July 17th, St. Jacob’s welcomed Pastor Mathew Magera, his wife Lane and the youth members of Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA. These fine young church members were on their way to Charleston for their annual summer mission trip and needed a place to rest. Our guests were so appreciative of the “Southern Hospitality” they encountered. Thank you to Billy, Davis, Sandra, Gerald and Frances for preparing breakfast for our guests. To show their appreciation, Pastor Mathew assisted with the distribution of Holy Communion and the youth group sang a wonderful anthem during our worship service.
The Congo Mission
Posted June 30, 2021 By adminOn July 6th, my mission partner to the Congo will depart on this year’s Congo Mission trip. Pastor Stephan Kalonji, whom several of you have met, will leave his family and congregation and fly to Kinshasa, arriving there on July 7th. This will be a very important trip as he and I resume our missional efforts to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of such humble means.
Of course, last year we did not make a mission trip to the Congo due to COVID-19. Normally, this would have been the year I would travel with Pastor Kalonji and serve with him. With this year’s trip, the countdown for my next mission trip commences. Plans are already in the works for our 2022 Mission trip next July. In the coming weeks and months, I will highlight the work we do in the name of Jesus. The Congo Mission is a very important part of my overall ministry and I am so grateful to God and to those who offer their prayers and support. Please keep Pastor Kalonji and his family in your prayers while he is serving in Africa.
Welcome Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Posted June 30, 2021 By adminSunday July 18th is going to be a very special day here at St. Jacob’s. Not only will we welcome the President of the NALC’s seminary, but we will also play host to Pastor David’s friend Pastor Mathew Magera and the Youth of Zion Lutheran Church from
Pittsburg. Pastor Magera and Zion’s youth group will be making their way to Charleston for their summer mission trip and will make a pit stop at St. Jacob’s on Saturday, July 17th to rest from their travels. Members of Zion will spend the night, lock-in style in our Sunday school wing. Volunteers from our Men’s group will provide breakfast for our guests, and they will be joining us for worship Sunday morning. Please welcome our guests warmly as they travel to Charleston to do the work of the Gospel.
Six-Point Vision Update
Posted May 28, 2021 By adminIn the March newsletter, I provided a six point vision for our near future ministries here at St. Jacob’s. This month, I would like to update the congregation concerning each of these ministry vision points.
Create an Intentional Disciple Making Culture
I have met with our Discipleship Ministry Team leader Lynn Shealy, and we are working on a congregational activity to help us begin growing a culture of discipleship and mission. We hope to invite the congregation to be a part of this at some point during the summer.
Growing the Christin Education Ministries of our Congregation
The goal of this vision point is to enhance our Christian Education Ministry for all ages. The beginning steps are working with the children. Progress toward this goal is happening through the efforts of Angela Nuottila and Rachel Shelton and their plan for Musical Mondays. Children will learn what it means to praise God throughout their life. I am also dedicated to continue posting daily morning devotions and conducting Bible studies using our St. Jacob’s Online Campus on Zoom.com.
Raising up Leaders for the Church I have had an initial meeting with a small group of church family members to help in discernment concerning St. Jacob’s as an NALC internship site. The cost of internship is steep, but there is assistance available through the Carolinas Mission Region. We will continue to meet and discuss the possibilities of hosting an NALC intern in the future. I am also in the process of inviting the president of the North American Lutheran Seminary to come visit with our congregation and provide more insight concerning the need to raise up candidates for ordained ministry within the NALC. Team members for discernment are: Susan, Judy, Michael, Danny, John.
Grow in our Focus on Mission and Outreach
In May, Rachel and I took a tour of the NALC Disaster Warehouse and spoke with the administrators and our NALC Bishop. We will be planning ways for our congregation to become greater supporters of this ministry as the need continues to grow.
Develop a Welcoming and Inviting Culture
This is something that St. Jacob’s has been good at throughout the years, but we need to remain very intentional in inviting others to join us for worship and to become a part of our life together. I hope to meet with the Worship and Music Team soon so, we can plan an “Invite a Friend Sunday” when we welcome friends and extended family members to come worship with us.
Grow our Sense of Christian Fellowship
Perhaps the greatest challenge for us is to overcome the sense of social distance following the COVID-19 pandemic. As restrictions are eased and more people are vaccinated against the virus, we are able to open up our congregation to more activities. I am hoping that our auxiliaries (Men, Women, Up and Going, Youth) will resume monthly meetings and enjoy time together.
The Congo Mission
Posted March 31, 2021 By adminInitially, July 2021 was the scheduled date for my next Mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Sadly, as it has disrupted so much throughout the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced a change in schedule for my mission partner Pastor Kalonji and me. I will not be accompanying him to Congo this summer. Every other year, Pastor Kalonji travels to a region in Congo where we recognize, that due to many circumstances, it might not be wise for me to go. So Pastor Kalonji will make this year’s trip alone, according to our previous protocols.
Still, I will be active in the mission of the Gospel for the sake of the Christian people in Congo. My chief role continues to be that of raising awareness of this ministry and raising funds through partnerships with other congregations of the NALC. We have set a very ambitious itinerary for Pastor Kalonji’s trip in July. One that includes purchasing motorcycles for two pastors who serve on the Bishop’s staff in Congo. Transportation is extremely difficult in Congo and these two pastors must travel throughout the countryside in order to visit congregations under their charge. As we provide reliable transportation for them, they will be more effective in their mission and ministry.
Pastor Kalonji will also engage in the more regular aspects of our shared mission, namely, providing education for pastors and lay people, feeding orphaned children, and freeing mothers and their newly born babies from detention in hospitals due to lack of payment. This ministry is one that I am convinced God has called me to be a part of and I do so with joy. I also invite everyone at St. Jacob’s to participate with me in this mission through your donations and prayerful support.
Our goal for 2022 is to continue supplying food for children throughout the year as we have been doing. We also hope to bring two pastors from the Congo to the United States so they can visit with the congregations who have supported them for the past ten years of this mission. I am truly looking forward to introducing St. Jacob’s to my friends from the Congo; and I pray that you will help make this dream a reality. Thank you all again for your prayers and support for those brothers and sisters in Christ who are so far away.
