NIGERIA
AFRICANS IN AMERICA
Rev. Dr. Dinku Bato, LHF coordinator for African projects, is touring many African countries, meeting with translation leaders such as Rev. Dr. Nelson Unwene (left) and Rev. Dr. Michael Adoga (right) in Nigeria.
Rev. Robert Rahn (LHF founder) and Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise (LHF executive director) traveled to Lansing, Mich. to provide French and Swahili theology books for immigrant pastors. Also pictured are Rev. Todd Jones (seated, left) of the LCMS Michigan District and Rev. Zerit Yohannes (standing, right), member of the LHF board of directors.
LHF has begun work in a new language of Nigeria,
51474 Romeo Plank Rd. ■ Macomb, MI 48042 1-800-554-0723 ■ info@LHFmissions.org www.LHFmissions.org
LHF “WORD AT WORK” STAFF:
EDITOR: Rev. Dr. Matthew Heise MANAGING EDITOR: Jennifer Bagnall GRAPHIC DESIGN: Jennifer Bagnall “The Word at Work” is the official publication of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Permission is hereby granted to excerpt from this publication for not-for-profit purposes. The Lutheran Heritage Foundation is a Recognized Service Organization of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces confessional Lutheran materials throughout the world so that people can be brought to Christ. LHF is not subsidized by the LCMS or any other church body. It is entirely supported by individual donations and grants.
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LUTHERAN HERITAGE FOUNDATION
BY THE NUMBERS
Hausa. Hausa is spoken predominantly by Muslims in the northern region of the country. “The approach that Nigerian Lutherans are taking toward the evangelization of Muslims is very good, very gentle,” said Rev. Dr. Dinku Bato, LHF’s coordinator for African projects. “Some Christian groups are very aggressive and irritate the already volatile situation by doing things like tearing up a Koran in front of the Muslims. That is not right. We should be reaching out in love and respect, trying to win their ears. Translating and publishing books looks slow, but through relationships and friendship, that is what is most effective and will be most fruitful.” Expanding work in more of Nigeria’s 300 languages is also being explored by working with students at the JEM Lutheran Seminary. Read more at LHFmissions.org
Rev. Zerit Yohannes, a member of the LHF board of directors, is working with the LCMS Michigan District to help better educate pastors from Africa who have immigrated with their people to the United States. Sixteen men from 6 states are taking part in the program. Most lived for many years in African refugee camps before coming to the U.S. For textbooks, “we use the books that LHF has already produced!” explained Rev. Yohannes, their instructor. “These men have not lived lives in stable countries, and many of them have very little theological education. But they come with faith.” Their studies begin with the Small Catechism. “When the people have the Word in their language, they have Jesus!” Rev. Yohannes said. “As their leaders become Lutheran, their people will follow.”
In the past year, LHF has published books in
37 languages, from Akha to Zande.
Printed in the last year: 217,300 books 441,500 pamphlets/tracts TOTAL:
658,800 publications
All publications to date:
1,035 titles in 106 languages!
Luther’s Small Catechism:
90 languages A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories:
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