In this series, those involved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors.
“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.” (John 10:9 NIV)
Wittenberg Lutheran Seminary in Arusha, Tanzania shares its campus with Ambureni Lutheran Church, our local TCLC congregation. Recent improvements which are funded by the congregation include a new driveway gate and the completion of a wall around the property.
The gate is helpful for the security of the church and the on-site seminary students. It’s also a good reminder, when rolled open wide, of our mission for Christ. He is the “one open gate,” the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6). We welcome all, through this open gate, to weekly worship. We welcome men who wish to prepare for the pastoral ministry to come and train in our four-year seminary program. We trust that, through these efforts, many more souls in Tanzania will be saved by entering through the open gate of faith in Christ.
During the past few months Pastor Jeremia Issangya and Missionary Naumann were able to visit various TCLC congregations in Tanzania. These included the Tanga and Ruvu districts to the southeast of Arusha (September 19-22), the Karatu district to the west (October 10-12), and the Himo area to the east (November 15-16). In each place we presented the “Jesus Film,” the story of the life of Christ according to Luke’s Gospel, using a battery-operated projector and overdubbed in the Swahili language. We also preached the saving Gospel at each congregation during the Sunday worship service.
On November 30, 2025, Wittenberg Seminary opened its gate for our graduation service. One man, Amos Otiendo, graduated from the seminary department and will serve at Holy Cross Lutheran in Moi’s Bridge, Kenya. Three men graduated from our first-year evangelism program, and intend to continue their studies in the seminary this January. We have eight new men who have expressed interest in enrolling next year, and we pray that the LORD will bring them to us.
Meanwhile, work continues in our sister churches in Uganda and Kenya. As of this writing, the Confessional Church of the Reformation in Uganda (CCRU) will have its annual conference in Iganga January 12-14, 2026. The Kenya Church of the Lutheran Confession (KCLC) will meet January 19-21 in Moi’s Bridge. Missionary Naumann plans to attend both. During this time, retired Pastor Paul Nolting will be the guest professor at Wittenberg Seminary, and will also be a participant at the annual TCLC conference January 26-28.
Here in East Africa, we have different locations where we serve, with different languages and customs than the church members and pastors we work with. Yet we have the most important thing in common, namely JESUS, the one open gate. Please pray that our Lord will bring forth many fruits of faith through our seminary and conference studies, and success for His kingdom work, to His glory!
Lango ndiye Yesu Bwana – Wote waingie kwake. Lango, lango, lango! La Mbinguni ni wazi! The gate is Jesus the Lord – let everyone enter into it. The gate, the gate, the gate! The way to heaven is clear!
(You may see the seminary students singing this hymn and additional photos by scanning this QR code.)
New gate at the seminary compound in Arusha
is a CLC Missionary to East Africa. His home is in Arusha, Tanzania