STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Greetings!
Student of the Month
This month our student spotlight focuses on Adelino. Adelino used to work as a nurse with Red Cross in South-Sudan. Due to war and insecurity in his home country he came to seek refuge in Kenya. He then relocated to Kakuma refugee camp in Northern Kenya. Adelino recounts, “After moving to a Kenyan refugee camp from South-Sudan, I joined a newly formed Lutheran congregation. There I found booklets sent form the Lutheran School of Theology and met Bravo who had already been studying there. I started to read the Small Catechism and became so much interested. I had some knowledge of the Bible but not really to the extent that I could preach, yet the congregation selected me to be the chairman. Then the news came through Bravo that there was a new intake of students at the LST, and the congregation wanted to send me and my friend Anjelo. I was little hesitant and questioned if I deserved to be selected, because I was a newcomer, but people encouraged me to go, and I accepted. It felt good to be called. My own plan was to continue study medicine, but I felt that God was calling me to take another path.
I have gained a lot of knowledge in theology. I was baptized in 1999, but I never understood the importance of the baptism. I did not understand that even infants can be baptized. I always looked at children as innocent and without sin, but now I came to realize that there is original sin. Even right from birth you have it. I have been able to study the Small Catechism and I finished the course. Right now I am able to teach it without any difficulty. Still, I need more knowledge. I really want to go farther in my studies so that I become a teacher like Pastor May who taught us. And my thanks goes also to our other professor, Pastor Mike Schleider, who taught us the book of Jeremiah. I never knew that Jeremiah was the prophet of all nations, but now I do, and that is a great advantage to me.”
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:1-7
You can see and hear Adelino on these videos:
What is Pastor May doing in Canada?
The autumn is turning into winter and the May family’s time in Canada is at mid point. Likewise, St. Catharines seminary had midterms, and Pastor May’s students gave their first presentations. For these presentations they had done research on different church bodies in Canada. The students will be able to use the material for bible studies at their future congregations. They have found their course study very helpful, because Pastor May’s teaching draws from being a missionary and from the experience of teaching people on wide spectrum of academic levels. The students commend that the course is equipping them to teach at the level that parishioners will understand.
PhD work is getting heavier with lots more research, reading, and writing to do. Pastor May values the program for its practice-led research method. This special type of method engages the study of practice instead just theoretical research. He appreciates this, because his thesis topic discusses how to better prepare pastors for their work in Africa. An improved understanding of the practice will be more useful than theoretical results would be.

Wonderful opportunities for preaching and presentations have turned up in churches and in other gatherings around Ontario. People in Canada have regarded the work of Lutherans in Africa with favor. Some interest has been voiced to come to the Lutheran School of Theology as volunteer workers either to teach a course or to do manual labor. We rejoice in welcoming many Canadians into our volunteer teams!
Naturally, trying to press through teaching at the seminary, pursuing his PhD, preparing sermons, and attending events to raise awareness of LIA, Pastor May’s working hours stretch into dark hours of night. It is undeniably tough, but he considers the doctor’s degree with the utmost importance. Not because of personal gain to himself, but because in order for the LST to become an accredited institution, it needs professors with doctor diplomas. Also the relationships that are being formed with the Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary and with pastors and congregations of the Lutheran Church of Canada are invaluable. Please pray for strength to Pastor May to carry on and especially pray for sweet moments of rest and enjoyment in every possible between!
Support the work of Lutherans in Africa
To give a gift go to www.lutheransinafrica.com and select either the Paypal button or the Donor Perfect button. Checks may be sent to Lutherans in Africa, PO Box 121, Ocean Shores, WA 98569