Dear fellow preacher of hope in a changing world!
Greetings to you from Hermannsburg (Germany!)
With these lines I'd like to share with you some exciting news and share with you an upcoming opportunity for fellowship and education.
As of June 1, Dr. Vera Christina Pabst - who was a part of our conference as the leader of the training ministry for lay preachers in the Church of Hanover - has moved into a new position at ELM. She is now responsible for the "Faith in Global Perspective" department of ELM. We are happy to have her here!
Secondly, I would like to forward you the invitation to take part in an upcoming online discussion, co-hosted by fellow member of our "Preaching Hope" conference organizing team, Dr. Joe Lüdemann.
Three times a year, Joe and other ELM staff organize a discussion for the international church around practical themes related to everyday Christian life and ministry.
The next meeting will be held on June 23 at 6.30 pm with the theme: "Please bless my new car, pastor!" ELCSA Pastor Ntuthuko Nkosi and Pastor Ulrich Noetzel from the Church of Hanover will give inputs, followed by discussion.
If you are interested, please register via the link below! I highly recommend it!
Yours in Christ,
Dear friends of ELM,
we would like to invite you to this Online seminar on 23rd June 2026 from 6.30 pm (South African & German time)
In this episode of the ELM online seminar series on elements of a relevant church worldwide, we focus on the practice of “blessing” outside of the church building – blessing of new homes, of cars or other items. These are requested by church members – in some churches and countries more prominently than in others. Is this a wonderful way to connect with God, to ask for his presence in our lives, or is this materialising God’s presence and a harmful expression of a prosperity gospel theology?
Rev. Ntuthuko Nkosi serves as Parish Pastor of the Durban South Parish, of the ELM partner church ELCSA in South Africa, and is especially involved in Youth Work. In his role as a pastor he encounters requests by people of very different walks in life to receive a blessing in diverse settings.
Rev. Ulrich Noetzel is currently working at the St. Peter & Paul Parish in Hermannsburg (Germany). He is passionate about ecumenism - celebrating the different expressions of protestant faith worldwide. The mayoress of Hermannsburg regularly asks him to bless new fire engines.
The event will be in English.
The participation link will be sent via email in advance. You will also find it after your registration.
Please register by 12:00 noon on 19th June via our website:
https://www.elm-mission.net/veranstaltungen/please-bless-my-new-car-pastor
