January Partner Visits

Bishop Azar and ELCJHL Education staff met with Revered Erik Schumacher, Head of the Middle East Desk of Christian World Communications for the Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD) and gave Rev. Erik a tour of a few ELCJHL Schools. Bishop Azar also met with Bishop Marianne Christiansen, Bishop over Haderslev Stift in Denmark. Bishop Marianne participated in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity service at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Jerusalem, and worshipped with the Arabic congregation in Jerusalem yesterday.

A small group from Germany led by Pastor Andreas Goetze also joined us in Jerusalem for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

During the last week of the month, the ELCJHL welcomed Bishop Heike Springhart of Baden, also part of the EKD. Bishop Heike met with the ELCJHL Pastors and Ministry Directors, visited Talitha Kumi to hear from students there, and met with some of our local interfaith partners in Jerusalem. She also shared greetings from her and the German church at worship with the Arabic congregation in Jerusalem at worship on Sunday.

We are grateful for our global Lutheran partnerships, and we continue to hold one another in prayer and mutual support.