Missionary accepts call to Mozambique
Filed Under: Africa, LCCA, Malawi, Missions, Mozambique, Nebraska, Portugal, World Missions, Zambia
Rev. Jeff Enderle, pastor at Gethsemane, Omaha, Neb., has accepted the call to be part of WELS' first missionary team to Mozambique, Africa. 
Enderle joins Mr. Bill Meier, previously a lay missionary to Malawi, who accepted the call to Mozambique last May. This is the first time since 1998 WELS is sending resident missionaries into a new world mission field.
"Everyone says [Mozambique] is a great mission field and there's a lot of potential," says Enderle. "When we get there next year, we just have to take it person to person and soul to soul. And then as that takes root, God will bless it."
The start of a mission in Mozambique follows WELS exploratory work conducted there last year. Results indicated the potential to reach out to thousands of Mozambicans who fled to Malawi during war and then returned home after coming into contact with the Lutheran Church of Central Africa, WELS' sister synod.
"It's really exciting, to use the work that missionaries have been doing for 40 to 50 years in Malawi and Zambia, as a stepping stone for reaching out in a different country," says Enderle.
Enderle and Meier must first travel to Portugal for several months of language training. It's still not clear exactly when they will travel to Mozambique, but initial outreach will begin in the city of Nampula. "I think of the disciples when they told Jesus, ‘We're leaving everything to follow you,' " Enderle says. "I think this is a good way to put that into practice. We just have to rely on the Lord and trust in his plan."
WELS is able to send this team to Mozambique through redeploying missionary positions. "We try to take advantage of whatever opportunities resources allow, and this is one of them," says Phil Koelpin, chairman of WELS Board for World Missions. "God has given us an open door to reach out to a whole new country of people with the gospel."
