European CELC Meets in Latvia

From April 30th to May 2nd the Confessional Lutheran Church of Latvia (CLCL) hosted the Europe Regional Conference of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). The Conference was held in Saulkrasti, a town on the Baltic Sea coast not far from Riga. There were 26 representatives from various Europe region churches including Latvia, Czech Republic, Germany, Portugal and Russia. The theme for the Conference was “Thy Will be Done.”

In five papers presenters from our sister churches addressed the issue how the will of the Lord is exercised. The essays were well prepared and also demonstrated an original approach to the theme how God generously provides for both the spiritual and the material needs of the world and of His believers. Particularly, the ever-growing request for wealth and comfort was
discussed from a critical perspective as opposed to the words from the Bible that encourage modesty and content.

There were also discussions on the stewardship of the Word and the Means of Grace with regard to mission outreach for the Christian church. The power and self-sufficiency of the Word of God was emphasized as opposed to methodology. The world today is preoccupied with economy problems. Interest of the society in which our churches live is not in the Christian message. Even so, the overall spirit of the Conference was quite optimistic. The Lord has not promised that there will always be a rich harvest in terms of numbers. But, what is required from our churches, as well as from every church, is faithfulness to the Gospel message.

Thoughts of Faith Board of Directors

Board of Directors – Thoughts of Faith - April 3, 2009
Pictured here are, from left: (back row) Rev. Wayne Borgwardt, Leroy Meyer, Dan Browning, Mark Schwan; (middle) Dave Ewert, Tom Conzelman, Keith Wiederhoeft, Kermit Traska; (front) Rev. John Petersen, Paul Fick, Rev. George Orvick, Rev. Paul Schneider, and Rev. Erwin Ekhoff.

The Thoughts of Faith (ToF) Board of Directors meets three times a year to review, discuss and direct the administrative and mission activities in Central and Eastern Europe. We thank these men for faithfully serving ToF and its missions.

Easter in Sevastopol Ukraine

Little Angels with real Ukrainian Easter Eggs



The members of the congregation from the Ukrainian Lutheran Church in Sevastopol took time to pose for a picture on the front steps of their church after the Easter service on April 19th. The Ukrainian Lutheran Church follows the Eastern calendar resulting in Easter for 2009 being one week later than we celebrated in America. Pastor Viktor Pashchenko, in white robe, serves the congregation in Sevastopol.

Special Graduation at St. Sophia Seminary

(Left to Right) Rev. Oleh Yukhymenko, Prof. Kenneth Cherney, Rev. Andriy Honcharuk, Prof. John Vogt

Seven years of postgraduate study received their reward on March 25 at St. Sophia Seminary. Andriy Honcharuk, who has served the ULC as pastor and currently is teaching part-time at the seminary, was granted the Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degree from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS). Professor Kenneth Cherney of WLS presented the diploma.

In his remarks at the presentation ceremony, Prof. Cherney said that this day was also a milestone for the Ukrainian Lutheran Church. The ULC looks forward, Prof. Cherney commented, to the day when it stands on its own feet and is no longer dependent on help from sister churches in other parts of the world. Honcharuk’s STM degree is a step toward that goal. It signals to sister churches in our worldwide CELC fellowship that the ULC has gained another man who has the education and degree to teach theological courses on the seminary level.

Pastor Honcharuk’s credits for this degree were earned through several trips to the U.S. to attend summer quarter classes at WLS. Credits toward such a degree can also be earned through courses in St. Sophia Seminary’s summer quarter each June. In June 2008, a total of 27 pastors and theological students from throughout Central and Eastern Europe and Scandinavia attended St. Sophia’s summer quarter.

Thank You Pastor Mack

(Left to Right) Kermit Traska, Pastor Mack, Pam Schultz

For the past several years, Pastor William Mack has come to the ToF office in Oregon, Wisconsin to lead a devotion on Wednesday mornings. He has recently accepted a call from a congregation in Illinois to serve a mission congregation in Carlsbad, CA. Pastor Mack was presented with a handmade cross from the Carpathian region of Ukraine. We thank Pastor Mack for his interest in and service to Thoughts of Faith.

Work Day in Milwaukee at Two Tunics

"The man with two tunics should share with him who has none, and the one who has food should do the same." Luke 3:11

This verse comes from Two Tunics organization in Milwaukee where companies in America donate overstock items to be distributed through nonprofit organizations. On Monday February 16, 2009, workers from Trinity Lutheran in Waukesha and Oregon met at the Corp Care warehouse and spent three hours processing the donated clothing in anticipation of the April material aid shipment to Ukraine. The workers processed more than 3,000 articles of clothing in approximately 90 boxes. Items included a variety of infant, youth and adult clothing. "Many hands make light work" exemplifies the hard work put in by the volunteers. Thank you very much.

Prepared for Thoughts of Faith.

Processing the clothing.


Every piece had to be handled carefully.


Lots of new socks.


Ready for boxing.


Adding up all of the pieces.


The work crew. Thank you very much!!

From Ruins to Worship in Jelgava Latvia

The Jelgava congregation of the Confessional Lutheran Church in Latvia has been remodeling its worship facilities for several years as money is available. The cold weather has caught up with us in Jelgava, Latvia too. This Sunday it was rather cold also at church, but we survived all right. We have been holding services in the Fellowship Hall because of replacing the roof over the sanctuary. From the pictures you will see that the new roof is on as well as two brand new chimneys. Items that need to be done: pay workers for completed work; finish the end of the building where we had planned to have the church tower; put on the gutters; insulate the ceiling in the sanctuary; replace the entrance door on the street side; and replace the rest of the windows. Our congregation volunteers have completed much of the work and thank you for financial support for remodeling from Thoughts of Faith.

Rev. Ivo Sildegs, Jelgava Congregation


Jelgava Church building roof replacement from the backyard.


Original front of the Jelgava Church building.


New siding, shutters and roof for the Jelgava Church building.


Jelgava worship service in the Fellowship area.