May 27, 2008

CHICAGO – The South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is planning to welcome a professor of systematic theology from the Republic of Cameroon to teach pastors and lay leaders in the synod about evangelism. The Rev. Joseph Ngah, Lutheran Institute of Theology at Meiganga, is expected to visit the synod in September, said the Rev. David B. Zellmer, bishop of the ELCA South Dakota Synod, in the current issue of the synod's newsletter.

Ngah's visit is the result of an experience earlier this year in which Zellmer witnessed the dedication of the Millennium Church in Ngaoundere, Cameroon. The church was one of three new Lutheran church buildings in Ngaoundere dedicated in February.

The other new buildings were Bethel Lutheran Church and University Lutheran Church, said James Noss, who with his wife Karen serves as ELCA Global Mission staff in Cameroon. The Bethel construction project was funded by the Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran churches in Norway and private donations, Noss said. University's new building was funded by gifts from one former Norwegian missionary, he said. In both cases, 2,000 to 3,000 people attended the dedication and worship services.

"As we look back at these very special days, we cannot help but think of the sacrifice, perseverance and dedication of all who answered the call to be part of the Lord's ministry here in Cameroon," James Noss said.

Zellmer and Susan Marone, associate in ministry and associate to the bishop, attended the dedication at the invitation of the Rev. Thomas Nyiwe, president, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon (ELCC). Nyiwe was present in Sioux Falls, S.D., when Zellmer was installed as bishop in 2007. The synod and the ELCC share a "companion synod" relationship, in which the churches support and pray for each other, share resources, and exchange visits and personnel.

"We've had a lively exchange of people, and it's really been a blessing I think for both," Zellmer said of the relationship between the ELCA South Dakota Synod and ELCC. "We're hoping to continue that. In one of the meetings I had with President Nyiwe, I said that we would want their very best evangelist to come over and do some work with our pastors and lay leaders." The result is Ngah's planned visit.

The Millennium Church – made of porous laterite rock, each one hand-shaped, and with a roof line shaped like a flying bird, Zellmer said – has a seating capacity of 1,500 and was dedicated Feb. 24. As many as 12,000 were present for an "amazing" five- hour worship service and dedication, he said. Also present for the dedication were other Lutherans from North America and Europe, including about 175 Norwegians who chartered a plane to be there, Zellmer said.

The Millennium Church was funded through gifts from Our Savior Lutheran Church, Menomonie, Wis., from churches in France and Norway, and from local contributions. The new building replaced a structure that seated about 300 people and was built in the 1930s.

Part of the dedication service was a "thank-you" to James and Karen Noss for their more than 30 years of service in Cameroon, Zellmer said. A representative of the government of Cameroon presented medals to the two ELCA missionaries, and the provincial governor praised them for their work, he said. The South Dakotans gave a cross as a gift to the church in honor of the Nosses.

In addition the synod earmarked part of the proceeds from the sale of property given to it as a gift to establish a scholarship fund at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., to honor James and Karen Noss. Luther is one of eight ELCA seminaries.

"We also took a portion of the proceeds to establish an endowment for ‘Train Up a Child' in Cameroon," Zellmer said. Every year those funds will be sent to Cameroon to help children attend school, he said, a project that he described as being "a gift" for the South Dakota Synod.

"We definitely want to continue the exchange of people where we have the opportunity to have people come from Cameroon to sit down with folks from South Dakota and have conversation about how we ‘do' church," Zellmer said.

The synod and the ELCC have shared many other projects, Zellmer said, including a long history in which the synod has sent people to Cameroon to help put roofs on church buildings.

The new church buildings in Cameroon are an indication of just how fast the ELCC is growing, Zellmer added. Its total membership is now more than 215,000, according to 2007 figures from the Lutheran World Federation.

Audio comments from Bishop David Zellmer are on the ELCA Web site at: http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080514a.mp3, and http://media.ELCA.org/audionews/080514b.mp3.

Information about the ELCA South Dakota Synod is at http://www.augie.edu/related/synod/, on the Web.

Information about the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cameroon is at http://archive.ELCA.org/countrypackets/cameroon/church.html, on the ELCA Web site.

ELCA News Service