New Year's Edition

e-Connector
Keeping the members of CALC connected.

January 16, 2022

Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations (CALC)

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New Year's Greeting from the President

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Do you recognize this building? This is the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas. It was founded in the 17^th century as a mission church. In the war for Texas’ independence it became a famous battle site and battle cry: “Remember the Alamo!” It was the place at which Jim Bowie and Davey Crockett were killed. But the Alamo can stand also as a spiritual metaphor.

The Alamo is the church that forgets the gospel:

It starts out as a mission.
It becomes a battlefield.
It ends up a museum.

A living church is not one that enshrines the glory days of the past but lives out the Kingdom in the present.

So, “Remember the Alamo!”—in its first incarnation.

Pastor Jim Bredeson, President

(Special thanks to Eric Schumacher @emschumacher on Twitter)

A Letter from the President of the Reformed Lutheran Church of Rwanda

Dear Rev. James Bredeson,
President of CALC
Senior Pastor of the Victory Lutheran Church.

God's peace and His grace be with you!

Reverend, when you are in prayers before God, please, we request you to remember:

1). Our RLCR needs the Kinyarwanda Bibles to be given to our new believers. The price/cost of one Kinyarwanda Bible is now $7 USD. We would like to distribute 1,000 Kinyarwanda Bibles to our believers so that they can be able to read the Word of God every day and Have the Bible in their homes.

The RLCR decided this, after we found out many families are not able to buy the Bibles themselves, and that many believers of the church do not have the Bible (Word of God). They hear the Word of God on Sunday and hear it again when they return again to the church.

2). Our church RLCR needs to train more believers on the Catechism (Adults and Youth). We are willing to start with leaders who represent others in our congregations, then to a group of men, a group of women (we mean widows) and a group of families (husbands and their wives) and to a group of youth and finally to children. The church does not have the funds for this work.

3) Our church RLCR needs to support our Christian families who were affected by COVID-19. They need the food. Our Humanitarian Aid Committee needs the funds to buy food for these Christian families. In 2021 many local regions have had the lock-down, and these affected people's lives.

4) Our RLCR needs to build the Church building for the Congregation of Rwempasha and the Congregation of Ntoma. And the church does not have funds to do this hard work. And the believers of these congregations are poor. We need God's grace.

God bless you and God bless your Family and God bless the work of Victory Lutheran Church and the CALC.

In His Services!

Pastor Jean Claude MANIRAGABA
Church President
Reformed Lutheran Church of Rwanda.