|
FLUEGGE NEWS UPDATE 5/15/2010
Greetings from Pretoria, South Africa, where there is endless
rain and colder and colder weather as we approach the winter
month of June (after 11 years next to the HOT desert in West
Africa we are still learning to cope with the cold weather of
South Africa!)
Teaching at Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS).
We are well into the second quarter at LTS. I’m enjoying
teaching Greek, New Testament, Greek readings, and Church
History. The course on Church History (Middle Ages) has been
somewhat of a challenge for all of us in the classroom (prof and
students alike). The book we use is leading us through a study
of “Christian thought,” whereas the students do not yet have the
framework of the story of Christianity upon which to hang the
thoughts. It’s a struggle, but then again, I’m a strong believer
in learning through “struggle.” Please continue to keep the
students in prayer.
Visiting professor from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft.
Wayne, USA.
Dr. John Nordling, from CTS has joined us for three weeks. Dr.
Nordling’s specialty is classical languages (he recently
authored the Concordia Commentary on Philemon). Here at LTS, he
is teaching an intensive course on Romans (all in Greek). It’s a
challenge for the students, but it’s wonderful to see them
wrestling with the Apostle Paul’s thoughts. Several of the
students and I have also asked Dr. Nordling to offer a beginning
course in Latin. And so…we spend an hour/day learning Latin (I
thank the Lord for years spent learning Spanish and French!). I
need a good grasp of Latin for doctoral work.
Doctoral studies at the University of Pretoria. In accepting the Call to
South Africa, it was agreed that I would begin work towards a
PhD degree. My “boss,” Dr. Mike Rodewald, has really pushed me
in this direction, for which I am very grateful. I’ve made some
first contacts with professors at the University of Pretoria, a
nearby university with which the LTS hopes to enter into a
working relationship (there has been some development in this
area already). My preliminary focus is Church History – studying
how theological orientation has effected theological education.
Please pray with us as I begin to delve deeper into doctoral
work while also teaching at LTS, visiting seminaries in
Francophone Africa, and taking care of a family with five kids.
The next couple of years should be exciting (not to mention
exhausting…).
Samuel’s and Abigail’s exams.
Our kids attend a school called Crawford School. They are
adapting well to “school life” after having been homeschooled
for so long. One of the challenges for them has been the heavy
weight put on exams here in South Africa. Samuel often comes
home and tells me he has no homework. Then I have to remind him
that he has to be studying for tests and that’s his homework.
Both of them have mid-year exams coming up the first week of
June. Please keep them in your prayers. Samuel will be moving
on to high school after this year (the school year ends in Dec,
but we already have to apply for high school for him – high
school starts in eighth grade here).
PLEASE PRAY WITH US:
-
Thank God for all of those who have so generously and
sacrificially given to support our ministry and for those
who continue to support us as we be about His work in
Africa.
-
Pray that the Lord guide me as I begin pursuing PhD studies
at the University of Pretoria.
-
Pray that God build up in us an understanding and
appreciation for this new culture as well as a love and
passion for the people among whom we live and those with
whom we will be working.
-
Crime is very high in South Africa. Please pray for God’s
divine protection over us – that he keep us safe from theft,
robbery, hi-jacking, etc.
-
Please pray weekly (or daily!) for the following students –
that God would transform them throughout this year into
faithful and effective pastors for His church (we’ve added a
few):
Upper Class
Beginning Class
Geoffrey Thokane Skosane
(South Africa) Daniel Fitebo (Ethiopia)
Alex Macharia Ambani
(Kenya) Benjamin Kaumba (Zambia)
Boitumelo Magosinyana
(South Africa) Christian Straeuli (South Africa)
Eric Gbotoe
(Liberia) Simon Ishaya
(Nigeria)
Enoch MacBen
(Uganda) Ashenafi Desta
(Ethiopia)
Madara Eboro
(Nigeria) Thulani Hadebe
(South Africa)
Gemah Ballah
(Liberia) Matthew Tokpah
(Liberia)
Peter Anibati Abia
(Sudan) Isaac Madonsela (South
Africa)
Ipeleng Makoka (South
Africa) Christoph Weber (South Africa)
Balihikya Johnson
(Uganda) Dennis Borbor (Liberia)
Odoo James Okello (Uganda) Nokukhanya
Shabalala (South Africa – this girl is part of the deaconess
program)
Peter Maganda (Uganda)
Frank Kainerugaba (Uganda)
Waako York (Uganda)
Will you please post these
names on the fridge, next to the bed, etc., and pray for them
with us?
In addition to these two classes, there are also students in
the “Advanced Program” already out in the field who come back
twice a year to LTS to attend short courses. I don’t have the
names for all of these students, but please also pray for this
program and the students.
-
Please also do not forget to keep praying for the CLET in
Togo – especially for Dr. Dongo, the Director, but also for
the students and staff there.
ABOUT US:
We (along with our five children) have served with LCMS World
Mission since 1998 in Togo, West Africa where I taught at the
Centre Luthérien d’Etudes Théologiques, a seminary that
trains pastors for Lutheran churches throughout French-speaking
Africa. We recently accepted a call to continue serving as
missionaries in South Africa where I currently teach at the
Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Pretoria and work
with Lutheran churches throughout Africa to help develop their
pastoral training programs.
Please visit our websites to learn more
about us:
www.flueggefamily.com or
www.revglennfluegge.com.
SUPPORT US:
Susan and I greatly appreciate your help in making our ministry
in Africa possible. LCMS WM missionaries are now responsible for
raising 100% of our own support. As we begin our life and work
in South Africa, we continue to need your support. There are
many ways to support us:
-
Give a gift easily using the secure
online giving link:
www.lcms.org?7705.
-
Give a gift using the attached “Prayer Card.”
-
Your ongoing support assures of God’s provision on a regular
basis :
-
If you are an individual, please use the attached
“Prayer Card.”
-
For your congregation, school, or a group within the
congregation, please consider a “Together in Mission”
(TIM) partnership – please contact me for an “Adoption
Form”.
The purpose of this update is to keep you informed. We do not
wish to clutter up your inbox. If you receive this email more
than once or wish to no longer receive these updates, kindly
send us a note. Thanks.
The peace of the Lord be with you,
Glenn Fluegge
|
