Dear friends in Christ,

FLUEGGE NEWS UPDATE

Visitors help at the LTS: We are in the last week of the third quarter here at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa.  I’ve been busy teaching Greek Grammar, Advanced Greek Readings, and Survey of New Testament to students from all over Africa (South Africa, Sudan, Liberia, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Kenya, etc.). What a blessing it was to have not a few visitors come out and help us from different corners of the world:

1. LCMS World Relief helps the LTS set up a deaconess program. Deaconess Grace Rao, from LCMS World Relief, visited LTS to teach and help set up a program that will eventually train deaconesses for Lutheran churches throughout Africa.  See the attached photo.  In many churches throughout Africa, women are most active members and, hence, form the “backbone” of the congregation. We pray that this deaconess program will continue to develop and become a great blessing to the church in Africa.
2. Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO sends out prof. Dr. William Schumacher joined us for two weeks offering a much needed course on “Luther and the Reformation.” Dr. Schumacher has also been called by LCMS World Mission to work part-time in Africa as “theological education facilitator” helping to coordinate Lutheran theological education throughout the continent.
3. Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN. Dr. Charles Gieschen came out for his first time to teach a course on the Gospel of John using the original Greek text. It was nice to get to know Charles. He left and thirty minutes later we picked up Prof John Pless who led a two-week course for the Advanced Program on “Luther’s Pastoral Theology.” This is John’s third year coming out.  It was nice to see him again.
4. The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Oberusel, Germany. Dr. habil. Werner Klän joined us for seven weeks this time around teaching on Luther and the Formula of Concord. He also taught a course at the University of Pretoria on the Post-Reformation Era of the Church. There is a very real possibility that he will actually move permanently to South Africa to become the Lutheran Chair and full professor at the neighboring University of Pretoria. If this happens (and please pray with us that it will – we are currently awaiting official documents from the University), Lutheran churches all throughout Africa will have a place on the African continent to pursue post-graduate studies in theology.

LCSA Pastors’ Convention. This last week, Aug 31-Sep 2, was the pastors’ convention for the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa – one of the partner churches of the LTS. I attended the conference in order to get to know better the context in which the pastors I train will be doing their ministries. Presenters included Dr. Klan and Prof John Pless. A topic of particular interest to me was the attempt to begin “dealing with the past” – based on a paper presented by Dr. Klan (who was very involved in helping the Lutheran churches in Germany deal with their own past and the atrocities of the Nazi regime). Post-apartheid South Africa is now in the process of reconciliation.  This also goes for the Lutheran churches. For example, the FELSISA is by far a predominantly “white” Lutheran church while the LCSA is a predominantly “black” Lutheran church – they are in fellowship with one another, as well as with the LTS, but exist as completely separate institutions. The hope is to look into the past in order to bring about genuine repentance, forgiveness, and reconciliation for the future. This will take courage for all involved.

2010-2011 academic year begins at the CLET. The Lutheran Center for Theological Studies in Togo, where we formerly worked for ten years, just began their academic year with 21 students from all over French-speaking Africa. I am very much looking forward to joining them in June 2011 to teach a course on “Early Church History.” Please continue to pray for the Dr. Dongo, the staff, and the students.

Post-graduate studies. The pre-preparatory work continues as I spend about 20 hours a week studying Latin (with the brave pastor of our congregation here in Pretoria – thanks Pastor Axel!). Next will be German. Much thanks to Dr. Werner Klan who has continually supported me through my struggles to find a focus. I continue to pray that he becomes the Lutheran chair at the University of Pretoria so he can be my official supervisor. Because our life is not busy enough, Susan has also decided and I’ve supported her decision full-heartedly to pursue a Master in Education from Concordia University Nebraska. You can never learn enough.

Pastor and Mrs. Ebel (Susan’s parents) to come visit the LTS in 2011. I’ve asked and they have accepted the challenge to come out to the LTS for at least six months in 2011. Rev. Ebel will be acting as a sort of “chaplain” for the seminary, as well as doing some teaching. Pray with us that they can raise the necessary funds and complete all of the formalities for an easy transition. It will be nice to have “family” with us for an extended period of time. We really, really, really miss this.   

PLEASE PRAY WITH US:

• Thank God for those whom God has raised up to support our ministry and His work in Africa. God takes care of us through you.
• Thank the Lord for those who came to help us at the LTS. It is such a blessing. Pray for Susan’s parents’ visit in 2011.
• Thank God for the LTS and continue to pray for the staff and the students (see previous updates for list) as we begin the 4^th quarter on Sept 21.
• Pray that Dr. Klan will be the Lutheran Chair at the University of Pretoria.
• Thank the Lord for the important work of that the CLET does and pray for the work of the CLET – for Dr. Dongo, the rest of the staff, and the students and their wives and families during this new academic year.
• Pray for our continued acclimation to our new work and life in South Africa and continued protection from crime (the crime rate is quite high in South Africa).

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 peace of the Lord be with you,

Glenn

LCSA Pastors' Convention

Werner Klan