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    Lutheranism is NOT new in Madagascar

    November 30th, 2010

    I’m used to working in places such at Togo, where the Lutheran church is 25-30 years old (started around 1980). Well, that’s just simply not the case here. Yesterday, the wife of our host (she’s also a fourth year student and she says her husband, who is the director of the seminary, is a hard teacher!) took us to see a church in Betafu. Betafu is about 20 km West of Antsirabe, where we have been staying in a hotel.

    We saw, in that relatively small village, the first Lutheran Church to have been planted by Lutheran Norwegian missionaries in 1867!!!!  Do you realize that that is only a scant few decades after the LCMS was started. The church here is roughly the same age as the LCMS. Puts things in perspective. This church is also bigger than the LCMS, with some 3 million members (on an island that only has about 20 million people). I’ve attached some pictures.  You can see the Norwegianness in the buildings.

    Teaching continues. We are nearing the end and, as always, there is not enough time. The 90 students are divided in 13 groups and take quizzes every day – first individually and then in their groups. I love to see them working things out in group. I think more learning goes on in those groups then during any of the time I am up talking.

    Please pray for continued health and a safe trip back on Friday and Saturday.

    Blessings,

    Glenn

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    Serving through teaching in Madagascar

    November 26th, 2010

    Dear friends in Christ,

    I am thoroughly enjoying my time with these students – so much so that I got caught up in the moment and completely forgot that yesterday was Thanksgiving (sorry to Mike, my traveling comrade!). I did find “dinde” (turkey) on the menu of the restaurant that I happened to walk into to and so had “Turkey au Mushroom” on a bed of rice…with a beer. There were no mashed potatoes, apple pie, or family…but there was turkey and that’s good enough…for a missionary in a foreign land.

    It is all worth it however. What a privilege it is to teach some 100 Malagasy students the theology of Paul!  I think I’ve come to the conclusion that I love teaching…or, to be more exact, let me add an important precision: I love helping people learn (from my experience, there seems to be a difference between the two!).

    This teaching experience has, by far, been one of the most challenging of my career as a teacher.  And I love it!  I have about 100 students. They speak perfect Malagasy and I now speak only four words (still have a ways to go!). The level of French among the students varies from high to almost none. And I’m teaching in French! Some speak English better than French. Some have taken Greek and others have never encountered it. Half are fourth years and other other half are second year students. The great variety is keeping me on my toes. I’ve changed directions several times already in my teaching….and changed today again.

    And I love it! The students are extremely kind, respectful, and forgiving to both Mike and me – white guys from another continent who have no clue about Malagasy culture.

    I’ve attached some more photos of students and the seminary.  Enjoy!

    Christ’s slave and your brother,

    Glenn

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    Pictures of Lutheran Revival in Madagascar

    November 25th, 2010

    Shepherd praying over baby

    Lutheran Church where revival mtg took place

    Commissioning of some 100 new shepherds

    Some of the 25 or so full offering baskets collected

    Dear friends in Christ,

    Greetings once again from Madagascar. I am finally up online and able to post blogs directly…rather than having to pass through Susan. Here are some photos from the Malagasy Lutheran Church revival that we attended. The pictures don’t seem to do it justice (you can’t capture the grandeur of something with a small camera!), but perhaps it will give you an idea.

    Blessings,

    Glenn

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    Prayer Request!

    November 19th, 2010

    Dear friends in Christ,

    I need to ask for your prayers.  In less than 24 hours I’ll be traveling to Madagascar to teach at one of their Lutheran seminaries. We just received news of a coup attempt this last Wednesday in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar (where we will be staying for the first three days of our visit). It seems that the coup attempt failed and order still prevails, so we still plan on making the trip.

    Please pray with us for political stability, peace, and calm during our visit to Madagascar. Pray that God would protect us from all harm, danger, and sickness. Pray that God would grant us safe travel with no canceled flights and no problems at airports (flights are basically the only way in and out from this island).

    I will also be teaching some 100 students and leading them in a study of the theology of St. Paul (of which I am admittedly no expert). I’ve decided to use an adapted form of “team-based learning,” which I’ve only done once before. All of this will be in French, which I haven’t spoken for the last year. So, please also pray that God would help me in teaching, that He would grant me a deep understanding of Paul and the words to speak to the class, that he would give me the ability to form good relationships with the students, and that they would learn and grow through this class (I know I will!).

    Your prayers for me and Mike (a friend from church with whom I’m traveling) are very much appreciated at this time.

    By the way, I will be trying to post regularly on our website (www.flueggefamily.com) during my time in Madagascar (I hope I have a reliable connection to do so). In this way, you can follow us, if you so wish.

    Christ’s servant and your brother,

    Glenn

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    Seminary or University?

    November 3rd, 2010

    I just finished reading a book by Karin Maag – Seminary or University? The Genevan Academy and Reformed Higher Education, 1560-1620.

    It is surprising how great an effect this small institution had all throughout Europe. Calvin was the impetus behind this academy which was up and running (albeit somewhat haltingly…) by 1559. Two things struck me as I read this study:

    First, life went on back then much the same as it goes on today. Maag’s study is a “first” in that she uses primary resources that have never really been looked at – personal letters (to/from students, parents, profs), correspondence with other much larger universities, school records, etc. What emerges is a real, life-size picture of the Genevan Academy – warts and all. When the sons of nobles (whom the Genevans wanted to attract to the Academy because of the money they would bring in) would cause a ruckus in the small town of Geneva insisting on the right to party, well, it makes you want to smile. Or when students sponsored by churches in France to study at the Academy refused to return back to the sponsoring church to be their pastor, well, I know the feeling. Having been the director of a small seminary for some ten years, I would find myself often chuckling and whispering to myself, “Yeah, I know what you mean….” In the end, I found the book hopeful because I saw a comparatively small and struggling institution, warts and all, make a tremendous impact on the Christian scene in Europe (and around the world!). I am praying for a confessional Lutheran “Genevan Academy” to emerge in Africa.

    The second thing that struck me about this book was that the Genevan Academy, small and poor though she be, played a significant role precisely because it offered something unique to an emerging reformed Church in Europe. That uniqueness was it’s ability (and insistence) to train students academically AND ALSO PRACTICALLY. Other universities were well situated to train academically. The Genevan Academy had the advantaged that it was partially governed by a “company of pastors” who provided ample opportunity for students to practice what was taught.  This included not just preaching and the like, but also a certain pastoral discipline. In this regard, this Academy was, in many ways, a seminary whose goal was to train pastors, and not just produce academically astute theologians (though the two do go hand-in-hand). Again, the Lutheran churches in Africa need such an institution – a seminary that is known for its academic vigor, but also wholly focused on the end goal, which is none other than being a faithful Lutheran pastor in Africa!

    Are we up to the task? I pray so….

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    FLUEGGE NEWS UPDATE (Oct 25, 2010)

    October 25th, 2010

    Dear friends in Christ,

    FLUEGGE NEWS UPDATE

    Trip to Madagascar. Please join me in praying for a trip to visit and teach at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Atsimoniavoko, Madagascar from Nov 20 – Dec 4! I’ve been invited to teach a two week intensive on the “Theology of St. Paul” to about 93 students. This is an exciting opportunity, not just because this is the first time I’ll be teaching in Madagascar, but also because this may lead to developing a relationship between this seminary and the CLET in Togo – possibly leading to an exchange of professors. The Lutheran Malagasy Church has some three million members, five regional seminaries (offering the BTh), and one central seminary (offering the MTh and PhD). I’ll be traveling with a church member from here in Pretoria. Pray for class preparation (what do to with so many students?!), for safe travel, and a good learning experience for both me and the students.

    LTS year almost over. The 2010 academic year is almost over at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, where I am currently teaching Post-Reformation History, Greek II, and Survey of New Testament. The students are, of course, eager for the end to come.  Many of them have not seen their families for a long time and are anxious to get back home. Thanks for you prayers for the LTS throughout this year.

    Rev. & Mrs. Alfred Ebel to join us for six months. Susan’s parents will be joining us here in South Africa for six months. Susan’s father, a retired LCMS pastor, will be helping out the FELSISA (one of the Lutheran Churches here in South Africa that is in fellowship with the LCMS) by filling in a vacancy during the six months that he is here. He will also be working to build up the English speaking churches of the FELSISA. Most of the congregations of the FELSISA use German as their primary language. In fact, it was only this year that the FELSISA convention was done in English. In post-apartheid South Africa, there is a growing need and importance for English speaking congregations.

    Post-graduate studies. My preparatory work on a PhD in the history of “theological education” continues. This is opening my eyes to why seminary is done the way it is done. There are striking differences between how TE was done in Germany and how it started in the states – and both have deeply affected TE models in Africa. Susan has also enrolled and will soon start a Master in Education from Concordia University Nebraska. Thanks for your prayers as this entails a lot of time and work.

    Trip to CLET in Togo. In June 2011, I’ll be traveling to Togo to lead an intensive course at the CLET on “Early Church History.” We were stationed in Togo for ten years where I was director of this seminary. It will be nice to get back into the CLET classroom and work again with former comrades. We are hoping that a team from the states can join us to experience Togo and the life of the seminary. This is still in the preliminary stages.

    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 God the opportunity to visit/teach at the seminary in Madagascar. Pray that the Lord guide my preparation and teaching, grant us safe travel, and keep us healthy during the trip.
    • Thank God for the LTS and continue to pray for the staff and the students (see previous updates for list) as we finish the year. Graduation is scheduled for Nov 25.
    • Pray for Susan’s parents’ visit in 2011. Thank the Lord that He will use Pastor Ebel to fill a pressing need in the FELSISA. May He now help us with the preparations (visas, finding lodging, etc.)
    • Continue to pray for Susan and my post-graduate work.
    • 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.
    • 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 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

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    Seminary Education – The “Paideia” of the Lord? Or not?

    October 22nd, 2010

    I’m naturally intrigued by anything that smacks of “Theological Education” or “how to train pastors” in responsible and effective ways. We far to often do it “this way” because it was always done that way – which, by the way, is completely false since our “way” of training pastors has been shaped greatly by the “arch-enemies of orthodox Lutheranism,” namely,  Rationalism and Pietism (cf. Farley, The Fragmentation and Unity of Theological Education, 2001).

    And so, when I saw the recently published article in Logia by Prof. John Nordling I was intrigued: “The Paideia of the Lord: Teaching the Person, Not just the Mind.” “Paideia” comes from that Greek word denoting the “upbringing and handling of the child which is growing up to maturity…and thus needs direction, teaching, instruction and a certain…discipline or even chastisement.” The word is used, for instance, in Heb 12 to show that the sufferings that a Christian endures for her faith are part of the “paideia” from the Lord. Nordling makes the point that such spiritual “formation” is rather severe in nature (Pilate’s scourging of Jesus in Luke is described as a “paideia!”).

    This talk of “paideia” reminds me of Luther’s talk of the third ingredient for the making of the theologian – Tentatio or “Anfechtung.” In his “Preface to the Wittenberg Edition of Luther’s German Writings” Luther describes the “correct way to study theology” derived from his study of Psalm 119: Oratio (prayer), Meditatio (deep study of Scripture), and Tentatio (enduring everyday trials and temptations…and wrestling with God through them). Tentatio, I believe, is in many ways similar to the paideia that Nordling talks about. It drives back into the deep – not superfluous for the passing of a test – study of God’s Word where we find our Lord who gives us rest.

    Here’s my question – Why do we not see this at the seminary? Oh, I suppose one could argue that some tentatio/paideia is present at any seminary campus, but surely it is limited and scarcely heeded. I think it safe to say that it is by no means an intentional part of the seminary curriculum (think “curriculum” in the wide sense of the word – not just a list of courses -as everything that brings about change in a student). For the most part, we lecture in class, exam the students, and then expect the tentatio to come afterwards when they are in the parish. And it does attack them! But Luther’s intention is not that this be some sort of chronologically linear process. Rather, it is a spiral curriculum. The tentatio is happening as one is praying and studying Scripture. The paideia is happening throughout the formation of the young lad. In other words, no tentatio, no spiritual development.

    And, as an extension of this question, how can we insert certain aspects of “paideia” or “tentatio” into our training of the next generation of pastors? I’m not sure I have the answer, but one thing seems clear, it behooves us as theological educators to think about this question and intentionally explore ways to include “paideia” in the training of our student-pastors. It’s simply not enough to get up everyday and read lecture notes that students, with eyes glazed over, attempt to copy into their notebooks. We can and must do better.

    Pax.

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    Committed to connecting you to God’s work in Africa

    September 20th, 2010

    Dear friends in Christ,

    We think it’s important to stay “connected” with you and we are committed to “connecting” you to what God is doing throughout Africa. We have not always done this well enough and are trying to do better at it.  Here are a few ways that you can stay “connected” with us and our ministry:

    1. Website/blog: Please check out our new website/blog at www.flueggefamily.com or www.revglennfluegge.com. We try our best to post updates on the blog each week. Some are about our ministry and work.  Others are about family stuff.  Our kids also try to post blogs now and again so that you can get their points of view. You can “subscribe” to our blog to know when certain updates are posted. We’ve also tried to put on this website helpful information that will tell who we are and what we do. The website’s a work in progress, so please give suggestions for how to improve it.
    2. Facebook: We are now on Facebook!  Blog updates posted to our website will also automatically be posted on our Facebook page: “Fluegge Family in Africa”. If you do Facebook, this is a great way to follow us. The easiest way to get to our Facebook page is to go to our website (www.flueggefamily.com) and click on the “f” (Facebook) sign on the left hand side. It will take you right there and you can become a friend.
    3. Fluegge News Updates: If you are not already, please sign up for this email update that I send out a few times throughout the month. I (Glenn) am the one who writes this update. It is mostly focused on our work. It aims to give you a glimpse of what’s happening in our ministry and in the churches and seminaries with which we work. This update is also posted on our website. To sign up for this, please send me a note at glenn.fluegge@lcms.org.
    4. Fluegge Family Letter: Susan writes this e-letter which focuses especially on our family. She tries to write it a few times throughout the month. If you want to follow us from a more personal, family point of view, please sign up for Susan’s e-letter by sending her a note at susanfluegge@me.com. This e-letter is also posted on our website.
    5. Online Photo/Video Album: You want photos? Videos? Our entire photo album (from Togo, South Africa, and elsewhere) is now online. Check it out at:  http://gallery.me.com/susanfluegge#gallery. You will find photos and videos of both our ministry and family in this “photo gallery.” Photos are at the top of the page and videos on the bottom. There is a lot of stuff in this gallery. If you need help finding a particular photo/video, just email Susan at susanfluegge@me.com.
    6. YouTube: You can also access some videos of our ministry and family on YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/fluegges. The collection here is not as complete as on our Online Photo Album, but there’s still some good stuff here.
    7. Flickr: Take a look at our photos posted on Flickr. Susan has begun, little by little, to transfer all of our photos from our Online Photo Album to Flickr (we think it’s a bit better organized…not to mention, cheaper). The easiest way to access our Flickr account is to go to our website www.flueggefamily.com
    8. Twitter: And, of course, you can also follow us on twitter. Just go to our website and click on the button on the left hand side.

    If you have any questions, please email us.  If you have suggestions on what we can do better, please tell us. We really do want to hear from you.  Thanks.

    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 website to learn more about us:  www.flueggefamily.com or   www.revglennfluegge.com.

    The peace of the Lord be with you,

    Glenn

    1 Comment "

    September 5th, 2010

    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 4th 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

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    LCMS World Relief helps LTS set up Deaconess Program

    August 29th, 2010

    Deaconess Grace Rao, from LCMS World Relief, has been visiting us at LTS teaching an intensive course in the developing Deaconess Program. It has been the dream of LTS for quite some time to train deaconesses for its partner churches – especially the Lutheran Church of Southern Africa. Deaconess Rao has been helping us set up this program. We pray it continues to grow and develop into a full-fledged program that will prove to be a real blessing to the African Lutheran Churches.

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