It won’t be long before my annual mission trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo will commence. On July 2nd, following worship, I will fly to Houston to meet up with my mission partner, Pastor Stéphane Kalonji and we will depart for Africa the next day. Our itinerary for travel will take us from Houston to Newark, NJ, then to Brussels, Belgium, Luanda, Angola, and then finally to Kinshasa, DRC.
Once on the ground in Kinshasa we will visit with the bishop of the Congolese Lutheran Church before taking another flight to Mbuji Mayi in the central part of Congo. This will be new territory for me as I have never traveled this far into the Congo. It is the province where I would have served last year had I been able to make the trip. Still, God is smiling upon Stéphane and I and allowing us to serve together as we planned one year ago.
Even as this will be a new place, the ministry we will share is along the same lines as before. Our chief endeavor will be to lead worship with the Lutherans in Mbuji Mayi and provide continuing education for the pastors of the region. We will also lead Christian education seminars for the women, men, and young adults.
Other staples of our mission will also take place such as feeding orphaned children, providing pastoral care and Bibles for those in such need, and freeing mothers and their newborn babies from the local hospitals and clinics. Of course, none of this can happen without the blessing from God that comes to us through the support of congregations such as St. Jacob’s.
For five years, you have been faithful supporters of the Congo Mission and we are certainly grateful for the opportunity to share this ministry with you. As we travel to the Congo, your love and prayers go with us. The people of Congo are always joyful and thankful for their Christian brothers and sisters of St. Jacob’s in Chapin and St. Paul’s in Rosenberg, TX in that you share so much with them. You share more than simply your gifts and your prayers. You share your pastors as well, in love for so many children of God, people whom you likely will never meet.
God bless you as you continue to support the Congo Mission. As a congregation of the North Ameri can Lutheran Church, this is a very important part of the ministry that defines us as a mission driven church. I thank God for the opportunity to share this work with you. While I am away, Pastor Gary Blobaum will be our supply Pastor on Sundays and Pastor David Tholstrup will provide any needed pastoral care. Thank you all, especially for your prayers as Pastor Kalonji and I serve in Christ’s name. To God be the glory!
In Christ,
Pastor David
NALC Archive
Countdown to Congo
Posted April 10, 2023 By adminCongo Mission Update
Posted March 11, 2023 By adminMy mission trip to the Congo is scheduled for July 3-21. Pastor Kalonji and I have a very ambitious schedule for these 18 days. The mission work we have planned includes the staples of our ministry; preaching and leading worship, providing seminars for Christian education, providing continuing education for pastors and church leaders; feeding orphaned children, freeing babies, and providing Bibles to those who have no access to them. Ministering together in a new area, I have no idea what to expect as far as amenities. All I know is that transportation within Congo will be difficult, and lodging extremely modest. I still have the many pairs of eyeglasses collected from last year so I will not be collecting these again this time around. Please do not bring used glasses for a donation as I do not have room to take them.
As always, the cost of this mission trip is significant. I am ever thankful for your donations and fund raising efforts to support the mission work we do. Truly, even though you will not be with me in Africa, your efforts are central to the ongoing mission and ministry. The people of Congo are always very grateful for the support from their brothers and sisters in Christ in the United States.
God bless you all as we accomplish this important work together.
Announcing! 2023 South Carolina Mission District Men’s Retreat
Posted March 5, 2023 By adminAll St. Jacob’s men are encouraged to participate in the first annual South Carolina Mission District Men’s Retreat. The retreat will take place at Camp Longridge in ridgeway, SC on the weekend of April 14-16. The cost for the weekend is $125.00 per person and includes meals and lodging.
The theme for the retreat is “Becoming Fishers of Men.” St. Jacob’s and St. Peter’s Lutheran Churches in Chapin are the host congregations for the weekend. Registration brochures are available in the narthex.
Fathers and sons are especially encouraged to attend. More information will follow in the St. Jacob’s Newsletter and South Carolina Mission District Facebook page.
Jesus said “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Matthew 4:19
Christmas Greetings from Our Bishop
Posted January 8, 2023 By adminLong ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Hebrews 1:1-2
Greetings in the name of our God — Father, Son and Holy Spirit — as we look forward to the celebration of our Lord’s birth at Christmas and His glorious and victorious return when the Father will call us all home to be with Him forever!
Thank you for your ministry and for your partnership in the work of the Gospel. It is my deepest and most sincere desire and prayer that this Christmas season will be one in which we offer a strong and encouraging word of hope to a world that is in desperate need of what only our Lord Jesus can give. As you know, there are more
personal messages sent during the Christmas season than any other time of the year. More than 2 billion Christmas cards will be sent in North America alone. There is something about Christmas that encourages people to stay in touch with those they love. There’s also a built-in opportunity for us, during the Christmas season, to
share the message of what God has done and accomplished for us in Jesus. The Bible says, “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days He has spoken to us by a Son” (Hebrews 1:1-2). The message of Christmas is a word spoken directly to us from God. It is also a word that offers and promises stability and hope, when so much of the world is hopeless and unstable. It is mind boggling how fast our world is changing.
Many of our college students are studying for jobs that do not yet exist. Not only that, but they are doing so in a world where there is more information at our fingertips than available less than a generation prior. When I was growing up, it was
nothing like it is today. When we needed to know something, we pulled out our encyclopedias and looked it up. Now, you just Google it and there it is. One click on the screen and the information is there. What’s fascinating is that with this advance
in technology we also have access to more relationships with more people than was ever possible. It used to be that your friends were those who lived next door or down the street. You went to the same school or the same church and those were your friends. Today, you can have friends on the other side of the world. You can have relationships with people who live in places you’ve never been and with whom you’ve never met. Do you know what else is fascinating, almost frightening?
In this world where there’s more information available and more relationships accessible than ever before, there’s also a growing number of people — individuals in this connected and “friend-filled” society — who are feeling less connected and more de-friended than they have ever been.
Recent studies have shown that for many people there’s more anxiety over losing a phone than there is over losing a friend. For many, their best friend has become their phone. And their phones are the main and the primary connection they have
with their best friends. It’s not surprising that some of the same studies have also shown that there’s a longing in our society, like never before, for connections and communities that actually care for each other. In this increasingly more electronically-connected world, there’s a longing for true connections.
On that first Christmas, God was careful and intentional in making the connection He did when He sent His Son into our world. And He was personal in doing it because He was doing it in the person of Jesus Christ. He was connecting with us, so we could connect with Him. He was becoming a person with us, so we could begin to see Him and know Him in a personal way.
As challenging as it is to reach the hearts of people in our society for Jesus, let us not forget that the relationship we have with God, in Christ, is the kind of relationship people are longing to find. God came into our world to make an incarnate and
in-person connection with us. It was also the reason, and still is, that God has called us together in the Church. Let us not forget or neglect the importance of gathering together as the Body of Christ.
As you proclaim the name of Jesus this Christmas, and as you bear witness to the relationship God has established with us in His Son, do so with boldness and confidence that the Holy Spirit is working through your proclamation to connect with and draw people to Christ. Do it also with a sincere desire and prayer that God will open new doors for new relationships to be established with those for whom our Lord Jesus was born. Thank you for your faithful witness. Thank you for the work you do and the partnership we share. It continues to be a joy and an honor to serve as your bishop. Know that my prayers are with each of you. Have a blessed and a hope-filled Christmas, [and a joyous New Year] as we celebrate the incarnate relationship that is eternally ours with God in Jesus!
In Christ,
Bishop Dan Selbo
The NALC Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit
Posted December 5, 2022 By adminMany congregations struggle with decline in attendance and income, transitioning neighborhood and context, lack of coherent and appropriate vision for mission. Time and time again congregational leaders make efforts to re-tool and re-shape the congregation’s life and ministry, only to find resistance to change, lack of commitment and little positive result. One of the challenges to renewal and re-formation is our closeness to our congregation’s history, culture and current practices. As with any family system, we can be so involved that we are blinded to the reality of our situation, unable to see clearly God’s will for new direction and transformation.
In ongoing reflection and conversation, leadership of the North American Lutheran Church have been seeking an integrative approach to congregational assessment, evaluation and renewal. Working together, several member’s of the NALC Executive staff have developed such an approach, appropriately titled, the “Fresh Eyes for Mission Summit.
The goal of the summit is to involve appropriate leadership in the NALC, together with congregational pastor and leaders, praying first, “Lord, let our eyes be opened!” We then trust that the Lord will give participants fresh eyes to receive new insight and understanding, all aimed at new or renewed direction for mission and ministry as the congregation seeks to follow Jesus firmly and faithfully.
On Monday evening, November 21st, several members of St. Jacob’s met with Pastor David Wendel, NALC assistant to the bishop for ministry, to explore the prospects of our congregation participating in the “Fresh eyes for Mission Summit.”
One need only look around to see that St. Jacob’s is not the congregation we once were. In these days of declining church attendance and membership, the Fresh Eyes Summit is designed to help congregations such as ours take a critical look at how their ministry is going and what key factors should be addressed. Congregations engaging in the summit look at the community’s growth and other factors, and weigh their giftedness to determine the capacity each church has for mission and ministry.
Several NALC congregations in the Carolinas (including local congregations such as Holy Trinity in Little Mountain) have participated and come away with renewed energy and excitement about their church’s Ministry.
More information will be shared during our Congregation Meeting on December 4th.
The Great Chili Cook-Off
Posted November 2, 2022 By adminWho is the champion chef at St. Jacob’s? We will find the answer to that question as we enjoy a Chili Cook-off after we finish assembling health kits for the NALC Disaster Response Warehouse.
Anyone may enter their favorite pot of Chili, (with beans or without). Matt and his select panel of Judges will crown the 2022 St. Jacob’s Chili Master. Who will take home the trophy? Come and see and be a part of the fun and fellowship.
NALC Disaster Response
Posted October 31, 2022 By adminDue to response to Hurricane Ian, both Carolinas Disaster Response Warehouses are empty and in great need. As such, St. Jacob’s is collecting blankets and assembling Health Kits. A list of items for health kits is provided below.
Men, women, and youth members of St, Jacob’s are encouraged to participate in the assembly of health kits on Sunday, November 6th in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 5:00PM.
DISASTER RESPONSE HEALTH KIT CONTENTS 1 bath towel, 1 wash cloth, 1 travel size shampoo (3 oz), 1 bar bath soap, 1 tooth brush, 1 tube toothpaste (2 if travel size), 1 comb, 1 hairbrush, 1 deodorant, 1 nail clippers (optional), 1 dental floss
ITEMS ALSO NEEDED: Trough November 20th, we will collect Blankets, Adult disposable underwear, And children’s and infant disposable diapers
NALC Disaster Response
Posted October 14, 2022 By adminDue to response to Hurricane Ian, both Carolinas Disaster Response Warehouses are empty and in great need. As such, St. Jacob’s is collecting blankets and assembling Health Kits. A list of items for health kits is provided below. Men, women, and youth members of St, Jacob’s are encouraged to participate in the assembly of health kits on Sunday, November 6th in the Fellowship Hall beginning at 5:00PM. Our Chili Cook-Off will immediately follow.
Disaster Response Health Kit Contents
1 bath towel, 1 wash cloth, 1 travel size shampoo (3 oz), 1 bar bath soap, 1 toothbrush, 1 tube toothpaste (2 if travel size), 1 comb, 1 hairbrush, 1 deodorant, 1 nail clippers (optional), 1 dental floss We will also collect disposable diapers and disposable adult under garments. Blankets and these other items may be dropped off on the stage in the fellowship hall.
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!
