Ezekiel saw living spirits in service to God moving on wheels. Somehow this translates into our desire to have our pastors in Nigeria on wheels too. Nothing so complicated as Ezekiel’s vision for our pastors however. Motorbike wheels are far more practical for them. Especially as they navigate the sand trails or muddy ravines in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States of Nigeria.

Special gifts from members of WELS have provided the first motorbikes to our Nigeria pastors since 1998. This year, we were privileged to graduate ten pastoral candidates from Christ the King Lutheran Seminary. Seven of them were ordained and assigned to their congregations of All Saints Lutheran Church of Nigeria in late April. Those seven were also given the cash to secure their motorbikes. These were presented at their ordination and blessed for service in God’s kingdom. The three remaining candidates will be ordained by Christ the King Lutheran Church of Nigeria in December. In January, they too will be equipped to buy their motorbikes. The object is to keep ‘em rollin’ in making contact with their people.[slideshow=61] 

We say “first” motorbike because our gifts provide only that first one. Once provided, the bike belongs to the pastor to keep in good repair or to replace. That’s an expensive item for their salary level. But they depend on the Lord to show them how to keep ‘em rollin’.

This is the first year WELS gifts could equip all the graduates in the same year. That’s because the students and school family of Wisconsin Lutheran High School raised enough money for motorbikes for all ten graduates. This was their spring 2007 mission support effort. Thank you, Wisco!

The Wisco student advisor and students learned of this need by looking in the LWMS Home and World Missions Projects book. Anyone could do the same, and find mission projects at home and around the world, all worthy of support.  See also www.lwms.org then projects, then projects booklet.