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Completing the circle
A field visit to Nigeria will give four LWMS women an opportunity to celebrate, share, and worship with their Nigerian sisters.
Author: Douglas Weiser
It’s early in the morning. Dawn is still an hour away. Women pad along a spider’s web of trails past houses and gardens. Three mornings a week they meet together with the men at their church. The church bell has called them, ringing 50 times or more. The women wrap their shawls against the cool morning air. They cover their heads to enter God’s house. It’s time for morning devotions in Christ the King Lutheran and All Saints Lutheran congregations. It’s time for catechism class, Bible stories, songs, dancing, offerings, and prayers.
You should hear the prayers, when all speak at once, each voicing their own conversation with God. Some sit, some stand with arms folded or arms uplifted to God, and some kneel. How they talk with the Lord of gracious love, praising him, pleading with him, and always turning to him in every need! After an hour and a half of morning devotions, they go home to start their busy work days.
But some men and women stay. Ten to 15 Christian sisters stand between the pews and the communion railing. They form a circle. One, two, maybe five individuals come to the women’s leader with quiet indications of their needs. One brings a sick baby. Another tells of his sick wife. Another is leaving home to start school. The leader acknowledges their needs, and the supplicants take the center of the circle. They sink to the floor, some with their faces to the floor, cupped in their hands. The prayers begin, buzzing around the circle like electric power surging through a wire circuit.
Prayers said aloud all at once. Prayers led by the leader, or by another woman she might designate. The ladies’ prayer circle storms God’s throne of grace. “Help, Lord. Bless! Make right! Sustain! Cure!” The supplicants rise and peel away as their needs are prayed over. Finally just the prayer circle remains. After about 15 minutes more it’s done, and they leave for their day’s work too.
The women’s prayer circle is an awesome spiritual phenomenon—and now WELS sisters will be able to participate. Four LWMS women will travel to Nigeria in April.
The theme of this field visit is “Sisters Serving Jesus.” The goal is to complete the circle with the Nigerian sisters, sharing with them and learning from them so all may serve Jesus refreshed and eager.
While there, the WELS sisters will help celebrate at seminary graduation and join in worship when seven new pastors are ordained. But above all, the visiting WELS sisters will complete the circle by participating in six area women’s conferences with the women of our two sister synods.
Pray for the LWMS field visit. In June you can also join the circle by taking the hand of these LWMS sisters at the 45th annual LWMS convention in Tucson, when they will share the joy of meeting our Nigerian sisters.
Douglas Weiser, pastor at Calvary, Bellevue, Wash., is WELS’ liaison to Nigeria.
Volume Spring 2008, Category: BWM LWMS
Copyrighted by WELS Mission Connection © 2008
Permission is granted for a single personal copy of an article.
Contact Robert Adrian at 414-454-2112 or adrianb@nph.wels.net regarding any other use.
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