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Part 1: A Brief History of the NCLC
(A Story of Human Failure and God's Mercy)
Initial Contact - In the early 1970's Oscar Erpenstein of St.
Stephen's of San Francisco came into contact with certain Nigerian
students schooling in the USA. He showed them the truth from God's
Word. When they returned to Nigeria, contact did not stop with these
students of the Word. Oscar continued to correspond with them and
their friends in Nigeria on the basic teachings of Christianity. From
this correspondence a request came from Nigeria to come over and
teach us.
January 1974 - In answer to this request, which was forwarded
to the CLC Board of Missions, a visitation team of Pastors Carl
Thurow and Norbert Reim traveled to Nigeria and visited the churches
and individuals that voiced interest in the CLC through Oscar. It was
determined by this visitation that here was a mission field in which
we should work. Very near the outset of our relationship with these
churches, they numbered around 2500 souls in 44 congregations. It
appeared that there was much work to do to train these people in the
pure Word.
April 1974 - Pastor E. E. Essien and several stations that he
served addressed a letter to the CLC inquiring of affiliation. Pastor
Essien had been trained at the old Synodical Conference school at
Obot Idim. It seemed this would be a real doctrinal boost to the
group now calling itself the Nigerian Church of the Lutheran
Confession. None of the preachers or pastors who now made up the NCLC
was trained Lutheran, and only one congregation had been Lutheran
previously. (Synodical Conference)
Late 1974 - Patrick Udo with his wife and infant daughter
arrived in the USA to begin his studies at Immanuel Lutheran College
to prepare for the ministry. He had been chosen by the visitation
team to come to the USA for training. At this time also, it appeared
difficult to get a missionary into Nigeria from our CLC, although
investigation began as to the possibility.
September 1977 - The NCLC had applied for a government
registration number. This was a prerequisite to eventually apply for
overseas missionaries. After much work and time on the part of NCLC
members, the church was incorporated and registered with the Federal Government.
March 1980 - Recognizing that correspondence was not doing
the job of keeping in touch with our sister church, a visitation team
of Pastors Egbert Albrecht and P. F. Nolting visited the churches and
held discussions with the leaders. The number of congregations had
declined to 27. There were serious internal problems in the church.
After assessing the report, the convention of the CLC that year
reaffirmed its desire to continue the work there and to have a
missionary on the scene. The visitation team stressed the importance
of establishing a school for the preachers with two of our men
staffing it. If this were not done, there could be little hope of an
orthodox church there in fellowship with us.
January 1984 - The situation within the Church was not
improving due to several factors, one of which was that no resident
missionary was present. A visitation team of Pastors Norbert Reim and
David Koenig visited the remaining congregations and held discussions
with the leaders. A split within the NCLC was manifest, both before
and after the visitation. (This finally culminated in a separation
between the two groups after the resident missionary arrived.) The
convention of that year, as always, affirmed the importance of a
missionary. The CLC Board of Missions deemed that the India mission
field in Andhra Pradesh State was a better field to enter and a
missionary was to be called there. He would make periodic trips to Nigeria.
January 1985 - Calling a missionary to India began. As
developments proceeded that year, Pastor David Koenig accepted the
call. When it appeared that we would not be able to get the
missionary into India, the Board of Missions decided to send the
missionary to Nigeria instead.
September 1986 - The CLC's first resident missionary arrived
in Nigeria to take up the work. Pastor David Koenig, his wife and
five children located at Efa Anyam, Etinan, Cross River State. The
congregations and preaching stations numbering 12 were visited.
Meeting after meeting was held concerning the split. In early 1987
the Ibeno group clearly were not with the NCLC anymore. Meetings were
held with Patrick Udo to determine his sincerity in serving in the NCLC.
January 1987 - Classes at the Lutheran Bible Institute began.
This school was set up to train pastors for the ministry in the NCLC.
Pastors Essien and Koenig taught with the help of Mr. Patrick Udo. It
was to have one year of preparatory studies followed by a three-year
course of a modified seminary program. Of the 12 students who began,
eight completed the year's studies and were passed into the
three-year program. During this year, two new preaching stations were
started. Students went on weekends to serve these as well as the
other stations.
Easter 1987 - It was determined that Patrick Udo was sincere
in his desire to serve the Lord in the NCLC ministry. The NCLC Board
authorized his ordination, which took place at the Nya congregation.
January 1988 - The Bible Institute began its second year of
operation with three students in the first year (one completed the
course and was passed into the next year) and with eight students in
the second year. During this year, two new preaching stations were started.
December 1988 -- In February of this year, the government
notified the Institute that said state government must approve it. In
December the state government gave notice of its approval.
January 1989 - Ever since the arrival of the resident
missionary, the work with the government was going on to obtain a
church missionary quota number. Without this number, no foreign
missionary could work with the NCLC. The missionary could be required
to leave Nigeria at any time. Finally, all necessary papers were
completed and forwarded to the Federal Capital at Abuja. Now we await
the government's assigning of the number. We await this with prayer.
Once the number is given then the missionary may apply for residency.
After that, work can begin in earnest on a second missionary.
June 1989 - The two evangelists who have served with Pastor
Essien for 14 years and completed part of the Institute program were ordained.
February 1989 - Pastor Norbert Reim, who had served for
fifteen years in Nigeria, and Mr. Lee Krueger carried out a
visitation. At the conclusion of this year we could look back and
praise God that the Missionary/Expatriate Quota Number was granted by
the Nigerian government and that the missionary gained resident status.
November 1990 - Pastor Koenig left the field having resigned
for personal reasons.
January 1991 - Pastor Paul Gurgel, his wife and three
children arrived on the field, having accepted the call. Pastor
Gurgel served for two terms, having been called once and then again
by the Mission Board. During his service, the Bible Institute
graduated the first class to go the five years. Several men also
graduated in the succeeding years. A children's home was started. A
fifty-year lease was signed for a parcel of ground on which to erect
a Bible Institute. Business operations for the students were
attempted of farming and cassava grinding. Kinship began supporting
the children's home in 1998.
December 1996 - Pastor Gurgel ended his term of service. The
Mission Board decided to try to have the mission operate without a
missionary present.
July 1997 - Seminarian Todd Ohlmann and Pastor Koenig carried
out a visitation. They recommended to the Board of Missions that a
resident missionary be again called.
November 1997 - Pastor Koenig accepted the call to Nigeria,
with time also to be spent each year in India.
February 1998 - A preliminary visit was made by Pastor Koenig
to the field to prepare to move there.
February 17, 1999 -- After much Nigerian government red tape
was cleared away by the Lord in His own good time, Pastor and Mrs.
Koenig arrived to take up residency. Resident status was applied for
and granted. The year 1999 saw: outreach started in Badagry, Port
Harcourt, and preliminary work done in Lagos, the Bible Institute
enrollment increase (1998 - 3, 1999 - 6) increased discipline and
instruction carried out among the brethren.
October 1999 - On October 8th a foundation laying ceremony
for a church building was carried out at Badagry. With volunteer
labor, work also began at the new site for the Bible Institute with
the beginning of a student housing building.
Year 2000 - African Mission Work
Statistics --- NCLC of Nigeria - 868 souls, 10 pastors, 1
evangelist. Congregations and Preaching Stations - The first number
is membership and the second number is recent attendance. Efa -
408,121, Ikot Obio - 28, 21, Mbukpo Oduobo - 84,48, Mbukpo Ukokai -
28,28, Ikot Ntan - 9,15, Oyubia - 14,14, Afaha Efiat - 22,15, Afaha
Akpan - 16,7, Ikot Eba - 28,22, Nkana - 138,79, Nya - 54,46, Iton -
13,19, Ikot Inyang - 26,10, Port Harcourt - 10, Lagos and Badagry not
organized yet.
February - A visitation was carried out by Pastor Bruce
Naumann, chairman of the Board of Missions, and BoM member Jack
Mayhew. The BoM members were able to participate in the ordination
ceremony and celebration for the graduate Sunday Aaron.
April - Pastor and Mrs. Koenig made an exploratory trip to
Togo and Kenya. In Togo, contacts Mike and Gideon were met. While
traveling in Togo recently, a CLC member had met and visited Mike. He
was interested in a doctrinal meeting. It was hoped that Gideon could
be trained by us for the ministry. He has had several years of
theological studies at a Protestant school.
April - In Kenya, a visit was made with Pastor Patrick, who
is affiliated with another Lutheran Church. In the past, Patrick had
asked for and received Sunday School material from the CLC. The
differences were discussed with him, and it is in the Lord's hands.
In the Kisii tribe territory, a meeting was held with a group
interested in our synod. They had been members of the Roman Catholic
and 7th Day Adventist churches. They were looking for a church and
had been asking tourists about churches. A friend of a CLC member had
told them about the CLC, and they had written to President Fleischer.
Many teachings were discussed in the areas where there would likely
be differences. Later in the year a congregation was formed at Etago,
calling itself the Etago CLC. The first service was on June 18th.
October - Pastor Essien Michael, who had been trained in our
five-year program in Nigeria but had left us, asked for re-entry.
After doctrinal discussions, he was admitted back into fellowship in
the NCLC. For this and much more, we praise our Lord.
December - Pastor and Mrs. Koenig visited contacts in Togo
(Ghana). Mike evidently would not be joining us. Further discussions
were held with Gideon. We also met with Daniel, the proprietor of a
private school where Gideon was the sole religious instructor. Daniel
asked for assistance with his 350-student school. Work with Gideon
will be carried on by correspondence courses and visits, culminating
in recognizing him as a Lutheran pastor.
Year 2001 - African Work January - The first volunteers for
the NCLC arrived to help in Nigeria. Martin and Larry Hansen worked
for a month, completely remodeling a house for a second missionary.
Up to 18 Nigerian volunteers helped each day.
March - The NCLC Board called, among others: First Missionary
to Lagos - Pastor Bassey Teacher to replace Pastor Essien at the
Bible Institute - Pastor Edwin Missionary to Badagry - Pastor Essien Michael
April 27th - The new buildings of the NCLC at the new site in
Efa were dedicated to the glory of God. The cost was well under $5,000.
April - May - Missionary trip involved: Ghana - Visits,
discussions and giving of theological books to Pastor Gideon and
Daniel (Proprietor of a private school). Togo - Unable to visit new
contact Kossi, at this time. Kenya - Visits, discussions and giving
of books and Bibles to Pastor Samson and people of CLC Etago where 40
were baptized in a service on May 3rd.. (56 members) Doctrinal
discussions with four pastors representing the Ev. Lutheran Church of
East Africa, registered in Tanzania. They have 737 members in 10
parishes. This group had recently written to Immanuel Lutheran
College, asking for information on the CLC. Congo - Visit, discussion
and giving of Bibles to Bishop Muzakuza of the Confessional Lutheran
Church of the Congo (635 members in 19 parishes), with a new
congregation being formed in Kinshasa. Correspondance with Muzakuza
began over two years ago when he got our name from a Bishop in a
Congo church, who had seen our name in a book of church groups.
NCLC has 900 members, 14 workers, and 13 students in the
Bible Institute.
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