Pr. Fisk has a hilarious video
here, asking for support for Pr. James May mission in Africa. The new
french hymnal is one that a friend asked me to write about some time back, but I've still not had opportunity to pick one up and check it out. By all
accounts it is a wonderful resource! Do check out Pr. Fisk's video and if so inclined support Pr. May's work.
It is a great video, and I wish I could help with his fundraising.
ReplyDeleteI've asked several people if they want to submit material from the French hymnal to Time Out I'd love to put some of that stuff up.
Quelqu'un peut-il chanter en français?
You do and you clean it up.
ReplyDeleteI've love to try, but I don't know much French beyond laissez-faire, laissez les bon temps rouler, and merci beaucoup. I would need some help.
ReplyDeleteI haven't watched the video yet, but I know James very well indeed, and am quite familiar with the work to he has been called.
ReplyDeleteTo put it briefly and bluntly, there are few better mission projects to support!
Over the past decade-and-a-half, LHF Africa has printed and distributed hundreds of thousands of catechisms, and much more besides, is about to publish the first-ever Swahili Book of Concord (Swahili is spoken by a 100 million people, and millions of them are Lutherans), and taught thousands of people from bishops and pastors to Muslim converts.
If you & your congregation can give to this, please do. And spread the word!
Right, have now watched the video. Very entertaining!
ReplyDeleteIf anything, Pr. Fisk undersells Pr. May's work. Please support if you can.
In the meantime, visit the LHF Africa website.
*Plug over*
I thought I read somewhere that Pr. Mays left LHF after about 18 mos.
ReplyDeleteWas that incorrect information?
--helen
Helen,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure of the circumstances. Perhaps Pr. Simojoki knows?
Pastor May is still serving in Africa, though financial circumstances led to his leaving Lutheran Heritage Foundation since they could no longer afford to pay his salary and he wanted to remain in Africa as a preaching/teaching missionary who helps trains pastors and all Christians to better understand the faith and how to use the books that are being translated.
ReplyDeleteYou can read about Lutherans in Africa and his work here:
http://www.lutheransinafrica.com/LIA/Welcome.html
Greetings,
ReplyDeleteThank you for the plug!
This is from Pastor May's most recent newsletter (05/10):
"As of December of last year...Due to the economic circumstances, LHF's need to cut the budget, and our desire to stay here in Africa, my salary is no longer being funded by LHF. As a result we have become independent missionaries relying on your support. For now you can send support to our home congregation, Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 7500 State Road, Parma, OH 44134-6102 (indicate “support Lutherans in Africa”)"
The info posted by Myrtle and Pr. Fisk is correct. I would just add the following:
ReplyDeleteLHF-Africa is a legally independent organisation, which was formed in order to make the work in Africa easier to administer. This was done several years ago, well before Pr. May was called by LHF. Pr. May remains at LHF-Africa but resigned his call from LHF at the start of this year (not 18 months ago) for the reasons stated above.
LHF-Africa still does exactly the same work as before (except insofar as they are constrained financially). Moreover, LHF is still far and away the largest source of funding to LHF-Africa, but they no longer pay Pr. May's salary or cover his family's living expenses. Hence the request for support.
I hope this clarifies the situation.
Thank you for the update.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry to hear that LHF is having to cut back. They are one of the more worthwhile causes in the Lutheran world.
--helen