Rebirth through Water and Spirit
Jesus answered Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of…
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Jesus answered Nicodemus, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of…
Making the sign of the cross? “Oh no!” we say, “That’s Catholic.” Or perhaps: “…that’s superstitious.” Whatever it is, it…
Pastor Thomas Beneke, Newcastle God fulfils his mission even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it…
David Weber, Pretoria Who am I? This is a question best not asked out loud, as that may lead to…
Rector Doctor Pastor Heinz Hiestermann, Pretoria In 2021, the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (LTS) applied for accreditation from the…
Angelika Johannes, Panbult During the week from the 18th to 23rd of March 2024, a choir conducting course took place…
Let all that you do be done in love. 1. Corinthians 16:14 Love is an extremely broad concept. For many,…
Pastor Tobias Ahlers, Shelley Beach If God is good, then why does He permit suffering? This often asked question is…
A report from selk_news, reprinted with permission In the festive service on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the…
Part of the series: Former FELSISA pastors abroad Pastor Tiedemann, could you begin by telling us a bit about yourself?…
A report by selk_news / Hinrich Brandt, abridged for BLK From the 23rd to 27th of August, the “5 Tage…
Pastor Andreas Albers, Our Saviour, Wartburg The 51st Song Festival of the FELSISA took place on the 1st of October…
On the 3rd and 4th of November 2023, the annual church councillors’ retreat took place at the FELS-Retreat near Paulpietersburg.…
Ninke Voigts, Greytown St Peter’s Congregation in Greytown celebrated their 50th anniversary on 10 December 2023. Having reached out to…
Pastor Thomas Beneke, Newcastle Although “Go into all the world…” was the theme for this year’s Children’s Camp, the first…
Nicole Meister, Kirchdorf What a wonderful weekend! The annual teen camp was held at Wag-‘n-Bietjie Camp in Pretoria and was…
Imke Böhmer, Pretoria “You are His witness” was the topic for the Youth Retreat in Lüneburg from 12 to 17…
Pastor Mintesinot B. Hanfato At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you…
Christoph Weber, Durban The Lutheran Church in Ballito uses as its profile picture on Facebook a brown cross standing amongst…
Can you tell us more about yourself – your upbringing, your hobbies, your family? Breda is the name of the…
By the St. Paul’s (Fairland) Youth Group What a time to be alive! On Thursday the 13th of July, the…
Lively Word and Sacrament ministry By Stacey Egger Obstacles to partnership Just as partnerships succeed in similar ways, the same…
Gerald Gevers, Lüneburg Under the Watchword: But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of…
“Die Kurve kriegen” is a handy and descriptive German expression. A direct translation would be “getting the curve”. A translation…
Pastor Paul, as a former pastor of FELSISA many readers will know you, but could you say a few words…
By Pastor Dr. Karl Böhmer Gen 1:27+28 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them;…
Preface In the western world, Christianity is facing decline. Our sister church in the USA (Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod)…
From the perspective of Erica du Toit, Cape Town My first thought when hearing that I would be representing St…
From the 21st – 23rd of April 2023 the FELSISA youth members gathered for the annual Youth Retreat at Little…
Peter must have been an astonishing character. He had so much zeal for the Lord, just like a child for…
By Matthew C. Harrison, printed with permission from the ©2022 Reporter (www.reporter.lcms.org), the official newspaper of the LCMS) The LCMS…
Pastor Thomas Beneke, Newcastle How do we deal with trauma? The children’s camp was a traumatic experience for many. Repeated…
In the FELSISA Witness June 2020 edition, I reported on my participation in the Lutheran Leadership Development Program (LLDP) –…
Compiled by Christian Straeuli, Greytown Everything is happening a bit earlier this year. The Bishop is retiring at the end…
Noah Volkmar, SELK (Translated by Rebekka Böhmer, Pretoria) The synodical youth camp in Wittenberg started on Tuesday with a delicious…
During the 4th week of Advent, the synodal teenage camp was held in Hermannsburg (15-18 Dec 2022), attended by about…
Kerstin Gevers (Arcadia Youth) For the first time in 3 years, we finally experienced a winter youth day like before…
Klaus Schirmer, Durban On the 4th and 5th of November over 50 church councillors and pastors gathered at the Fels…
Pastor Christian Straeuli, Greytown In der Mitte des Jahres 2021 wurde Pastor Helmut Paul berufen, seinen Dienst im Weinberg Gottes…
Kristin Straeuli, Greytown Upon the conclusion of the 91st Posaunenfest in Kirchdorf, the FELSISA pastors and their families remained in…
Pastor Andreas Albers, Our Saviour, Wartburg The 42nd pastors’ convention took place at Impalabos (situated in Olifants West Nature Reserve, near…
Dag van herdenking van die Augsburgse Belydenis (van die belydenis van Augsburg) – Angelika Johannes, Panbult “Ook wil ek voor…
This article is taken with permission from the LCMS Stewardship Ministry. Throughout his epistles and his preaching recorded in the…
70 Years Uelzen Church Building Commemoration Pastor Marlon Hiestermann, Uelzen Sometimes we might be tempted to take the existence of…
At the end of June, 30 youth gathered for the annual Lutheran Winter Youth Camp (LWYC), held again at Fort…
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have…
(2.10.1936 – 7.4.2022) A very personal remembrance by Peter Ahlers “The bells ring very differently, when it’s a dear friend…
It was back in 2019 that the Synodical Council of the FELSISA agreed that consultative talks should be held with…
Pastor Martin K. Paul was ordained on the 5th of December 2021 and serves the St. Paul’s Johannesburg Congregation since…
Let me introduce to you Pastor Mintesinot Birru Hanfato, who was recently ordained to help with serving the Diepkloof Congregation…
“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field. Blessed shall be the fruit…
With the COVID restrictions having been lessened, the Synod was able to host its Church Councillor’s Retreat at the beautiful…
Just as in the last stewardship’s message (FELSISA Witness 3/2021), we hear again from God’s Word how we are uniquely…
Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in…
Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2017) “The Bible unmasks the stories…
12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are…
After being postponed from the previous year, the 62nd Synodical Convention of the FELSISA took place in Wittenberg from 19…
After a break of more than 18 months due to COVID-19, the theological task group of the FELSISA and NELCSA…
And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord…
Reverend Provost Manfred Holst, SELK [I would suggest describing the office – it’s unlikely that anyone will know what this…
Kristin Straeuli, FELSISA Stewardship Coordinator Have you ever caught yourself justifying staying home from church on Sunday morning? Especially after…
The aim of the pastors’ convention is to discuss theological issues that have arisen in the FELSISA. With this in…
Vicar W. Straeuli On the weekend of April, the 30th to May the 2nd 2021, the youth of the FELSISA…
Pastor Thomas Beneke, Newcastle Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing…
Pastor George Mabe, born on 7 February 1962, passed away on 23 June 2021 due to COVID-19 complications. Pastor Mabe…
Interview with Dr Martin Luther (Bishop Hans-Jörg Voigt, SELK) The form of a fictional interview does not give a truly…
Stewardship: A shift in the mindset of the giver Pastor Christian Straeuli was ordained on the 16th of Februar 2020…
It is a complicated story. Also at St Martin’s Village. And yet, as many of our certainties shake and cannot…
In this issue of the FELSISA Witness, two articles are reprinted that appeared in the church newsletter of the SELK,…
Seriously, after the year we’ve had! Rejoice?! Don’t you have the feeling that we should have a refund – or…
In these strange times, the Book of Revelation often serves as the go-to text for many Christians with questions about…
“We have never seen anything like this before!” That is how you hear people speak about the current corona crisis.…
Pastors’ Convention at Sitilo Game Farm, Pongola – 5-8 October 2020. Although the coronavirus was still present, we were thankfully…
The Coronavirus and the COVID-19 crisis overshadow the current year 2020 in many respects. People sometimes voice the critical question:…
“8…for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your…
Evil, Suffering, and Scripture: The Origin and Purpose of the Corona Virus Pastor Dr. Karl E. Böhmer, Christ Congregation Kirchdorf…
The significance of the corona crisis for us as Christians. Pastor Dieter Schnackenberg, Cape Town “This calls for patient endurance…
Psalm 103:1 – Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Dear…
A perspective on the racism debate in the USA Rev. Dr. Jacob Corzine, Concordia University Chicago, USA I cannot but…
Who Cares? Although this virus may be unprecedented for us, crises in the life of the Church are not. We…
MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT between the Synodical Council of the Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa (FELSISA) and the Church…
On Sunday Septuagesimae (9 February 2020), Rev. John Nkambule and Dr Heinz Hiestermann were installed as full-time lecturers of the…
“I wish you an enriching experience in this program, but don’t come back too learned for us!” With these words,…
On the occasion of a private visit to Radevormwald (Germany), Bernhard Böhmer, the principal director of the Choir Association of…
Children in the Divine Service or Children’s Service? Pastor Andreas Albers was ordained in Kirchdorf on 28 July 2019 and…
Rejoice! Rejoice, in the midst of suffering! That was the theme of the Sunday Jubilate. To find suffering at the…
It was a wonderful, sunny afternoon on Sunday, the 15th February 2020 at 14:30. Many pastors, family and friends of…
Family Baptism at Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel Congregation Pietermaritzburg. 25 November 2018 was a special day in the Evangelical Lutheran Immanuel…
And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. (Matthew 17:8) In the context of…
On Monday, 15th April 2019, the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris stood in Flames. In his sermon for Good…
God has blessed me too much… …this is how lay-leader Gift Baruti from the south of Malawi described his family…
Megan du Plessis Special Needs Centre is a Partial Care Facility that accepts learners with special educational needs. Children with…
What do we as a church have that we can meaningfully share with our community? We have often asked ourselves…
On 14 January 2020 representatives of the three confessional Lutheran Churches in South Africa met for a first round of…
FELSISA sees itself as a confessional Lutheran Church- a church bound to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. What…
Rev. Peter K. Lange, First Vice-President for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). As originally published in “Life of the Word”…
Christian Apologetics. Why do we hope? Maybe we hope, because we like to keep a positive outlook on life. Maybe…
On Sunday, the 6th of October 2019 at 14:00 a very special service was held in the Our Saviour Evangelical…
All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar,…
“What is important to you in your life?” This is the question with which Dr Frederick Marais – Lecturer of…
“I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance…
Hello there, I am Christian Eugen Straeuli. I come from the St Paul’s congregation (Pretoria) where I was a member…
We Believe, Teach, and Confess – Part 8 | What Do The Lutheran Confessions Say About Baptism? Martin Luther was…
The History of the FELSISA – Part 13: The Term of Office of President Scharlach (1971-1990) Expansion The timespan into…
This year’s Adult Youth Retreat was held at FELS Retreat during the last weekend of April. It may have been…
On 14th November 2015, 18 people came together in Panbult for a workshop organised by the Organists Association of the…
The FELSISA pastors serving in Gauteng come together every two months for a fraternal. At the last get-together, the LCSA…
A semester goes by more quickly than you might think. This semester is nearly over, and it feels especially true…
This year the pastors of the FELSISA were privileged to be able to hold their annual convention at the lovely…
In the midst of all the challenges created for the universities in South Africa, including the University of Pretoria, by…
What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but…
Immanuel Congregation Pietermaritzburg started off as a German congregation for FELSISA members (primarily from Kirchdorf and Shelley Beach) who settled…
Gaudete! Gaudete! (Rejoice! Rejoice!) With this song, the youth choir opened the 73rd Youth Day at the German School in…
An English-language youth camp was held from 9 – 12 July near Pretoria, on the north side of the Magaliesberg…
The History of the FELSISA – Part 14: The Term of Office of President Ernst-August Albers (1990-1994) Lutheran Theological Seminary…
We Believe, Teach, and Confess – Part 9 | What Do The Lutheran Confessions Say About Confession and Absolution? As…
Dear reader, Maybe you know the mixed feelings one has when there is a person in the house (or the…
Dear reader, my name is Andreas Albers (26), a student of theology for the FELSISA. Thank you for allowing me…
Pastor Eckart Georg Schroeder passed away on 23rd May 2016. The circle of readers of the “FELSISA Witness,” who have…
In virtually no other time of the year do we have as many traditions and customs as we do during…
The 2016 Synodical Convention was held from 8th-10th September at the Kirchdorf congregation in Wartburg. The topic of the convention…
We Believe, Teach, and Confess – Part 10 | What Do The Lutheran Confessions Say About The Lord’s Supper? In…
The last year has seen many new developments in our congregation in Newcastle. Our congregation got its own pastor when…
The History of the FELSISA – Part 15: The Term of Office of President Peter Ahlers (1994-2009) Extension In the…
Hello. My name is Martin Kurt Paul, born 25th of February 1989. I am married to Nicola Heidi Paul and…
On the 31st August 2016 Pastor Günter Scharlach, the long-time pastor of the Peter-Paul’s Congregation in Lüneburg and former President…
Reflection | “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8…
The annual Teenager Camp was held at the Heyshope Dam, near Piet Retief, from the 8th to the 11th December…
We Believe, Teach, and Confess – Part 11 | What Do The Lutheran Confessions Say About Good Works? It is…
Once again a successful Synodical Youth Retreat of the FELSISA has come to an end. From 6 – 11 December…
The painting on the second last page (p. 19) is by Lucas Cranach the Younger. He was one of the…
Church music has always played an important role in the Lutheran Church. All the more significant that two congregations of…
After a long summer break, the old students are finally back, and the new ones have arrived too. It’s always…
The annual FELSISA Women’s Retreat took place on 20 and 21 March 2017 at the “FELS Retreat” near Paulpietersburg. The…
On the 4th Sunday after Epiphany the St Paul’s congregation, Pretoria, had the privilege both to celebrate a combined service…
We Believe, Teach, and Confess – Part 12 | Two people hear the same sermon – one believes, the other…
It seems appropriate to take the opportunity with this final “student ministry report” to express my gratitude to the FELSISA,…
Dear readers! My name is Werner Straeuli. My wife and I have been in Germany for just over a year…
Pastor Mateus Sifa, President of the Concordia Lutheran Church in Mozambique (ILCM), moved with his family to the city of…
In 2016 Dr Karl Böhmer published the results of his research in the field of South African Mission History. We…
They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried…
On 8 October 2017, the 47th Choir Festival of the FELSISA took place in the auditorium of the Deutsche Schule…
On 1st October 2017, the new Elsenaar-Organ was dedicated in Lüneburg. It was a memorable occasion for the Lüneburg congregation,…
My name is Philip Jürgen Wortmann and I come from Wartburg, from the Our Saviour Congregation. My parents are Erwin…
Ernst Alfred Wilhelm Weber was a Pentecost-type figure: We each heard him speak in our own language (Acts 2:6). He…
At 18:00 on 3 November, church councillors and pastors from the various congregations met at the FELS-Retreat near Paulpietersburg. The…
Reflection – “I believe in the resurrection of the body” – Apostles’ Creed Easter falls on April 1st this year…
Those familiar with the history of the FELSISA will know that in the distant past, joint conferences were regularly held…
After much thought and prayer, the Our Saviour Congregation (Wartburg) has decided to commence with regular English church services in…
Jesus says, “I am the way and the truth and the life; No one comes to the Father except through…
The Ordination of Vicar Marlon Hiestermann took place on 21 January in Durban-Westville. It was a special day for Vicar…
It was heart-warming to arrive at a packed church in Cape Town on 14 January 2018. The congregation had gathered…
On the 3rd Sunday in Advent, the 2017 Teenager Camp came to an end. We spent a great time together…
“To have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for, to be certain of the things we…
It does not happen often that two installations are held in one service, preceded by a baptism. The date was…
Adult Youth Retreat 2018 – Bioethics – The Beginning and Ending of Human Life What should we as young adults…
38th Pastors’ Convention of the FELSISA – 14-16 May 2018 at Heyshope Dam The pastors who arrived at the Heyshope…
As part of his second theological Exam to become a pastor of our church, Pastor Marlon Hiestermann has written a…
News from the Lutherische Kirchenmission (LKM) – Teaching Luther’s Catechisms in Rwanda From Monday the 16th to Friday the 20th…
Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane – LTS | Ebenezer – A Time of Transition Then Samuel took a stone and set…
75th Youth Day of the FELSISA – Uelzen 2018 Friday Every youth member will be able to testify that singing…
“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is…
“Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Months ahead of this year’s Brass Band…
Most FELSISA pastors were able to attend a workshop at the St Paul’s Congregation, Pretoria, held 13-15 August 2018, under…
Our change in location this year (Luiperdkloof Trout Lodge, Utrecht) was quite a huge hit with the youth, the prospect…
On 20 May 2018, God the Lord called His servant, Pastor emeritus Werner Köhne, home to eternity after an extended…
I, like you, maybe, check the best before dates on food items before I eat them. I have an uncontrollable…
The Installation of Pastor Marlon Hiestermann and Mission Festival at Salem Congregation Uelzen 12th August 2018 was a special day…
From 25th – 28th September the International Lutheran Council (ILC) met in Antwerp, Belgium, for its 26th World Conference. The…
Song Festival 2018 – Healing of Body and Soul On the 7th October 2018 at the Choir Festival in Kirchdorf,…
On the 126th anniversary of the founding of our Synod – 13th September 2018 – 42 delegates and numerous guests…
It’s almost Christmas! And a big part of Christmas is listening to Christmas music – in all manner of styles,…
On 4th September 2018 our brother in Christ, Mr Lutz Kohrs, passed away after a heart operation, which he underwent…
Mission Fest: Pastor John Nkambule (Lutheran Theological Seminary) Pastor Nkambule related why he felt at home amongst the congregation; he…
Reflection – Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence.…
Interview with Dr Heinz Hiestermann about his doctoral thesis entitled “Paul’s use of the Synoptic Jesus Tradition.” In 2016, Dr…
The Joy and Blessing of Giving: A Fundraising Drive of the FELSISA “God is able to make all grace abound…
Children’s Camp – Water of Life “I’ve got peace like a river; I’ve got joy like a fountain; I’ve got…
Once again it was time for the Church Councillors Meeting. It was during the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd…
The Lutheran Theological Seminary (LTS) in Tshwane –Looking Ahead On 3rd December 2018 the Members of the LTS, consisting of…
“I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not…
From 20 – 24 May, the FELSISA pastors met up for the annual Pastors‘ Convention. This time it once again…
It’s the highlight of every month, as well over 30 kids between the ages of 7 and 13 storm into…
Theological Education is a task and a privilege of the Christian church. Jesus told us to “baptize” and to “teach.”…
Mozambique faced two cyclones in last March and April. Especially the second largest city of Mozambique was affected: Beira was…
“How many are your works, LORD! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.” (Psalm…
On the 31st of March Andreas Albers started his second and final examination for the office of the holy ministry.…
After many weeks of preparation, practices and rehearsals the time had finally come. We set out to Lüneburg for the…
The SELK in Germany has decided to adopt the reworked six year lectionary. The Pastors’ Convention of the FELSISA has…
From 5-7 July, 19 youth members of our synod came together at a retreat centre that was named after this Fort for the…
On the 13th of May, Vicar Andreas Albers and I returned to Germany once again to continue our theological studies. Only…
This morning, Thulani – one of the workers of St Martin’s Village – came to the church service for the…
Awesome! That is the word I heard most, and the one word I’d use to describe the 2019 National Youth…
It is post-election South Africa, and with the help of certain political and prominent figures, racial tension in our country…
“What is important to you in your life?” This is the question with which Dr Frederick Marais – Lecturer of…
All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar,…
On Sunday, the 6th of October 2019 at 14:00 a very special service was held in the Our Saviour Evangelical…
Christian Apologetics. Why do we hope? Maybe we hope, because we like to keep a positive outlook on life. Maybe…
Rev. Peter K. Lange, First Vice-President for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). As originally published in “Life of the Word”…
FELSISA sees itself as a confessional Lutheran Church- a church bound to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. What…