A message from Mission Director Edmund Hohls (Bleckmar, Germany)

God’s blessings on the occasion of the inauguration on Whit Monday, 25 May 2026

Dear Mr Siebert, Director of Missions, dear Holger,

“His goodness reigns over us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever.” So we hear in the daily verse from Psalm 117 on Whit Monday. The psalmist marvels at the goodness and faithfulness of God he has experienced and rejoices in them. One can clearly sense from his praise that there is a life experience behind it, which the psalmist does not hide.

Dear Holger, on the day of your induction, when we celebrate in particular God’s will to reach and save all people in this world with His Gospel, we thank Him for the miracles He continues to perform even today. Today you are being inducted into the very important role of Mission Director of our long-established Hermannsburg Mission. We share in your joy and wish you and the Mission Board God’s blessing for all your work and every consideration as to how the ELM can continue to be ‘ambassadors for Christ’ today. In particular, we are delighted about the excellent cooperation with the ELM, for example in the proposed cooperation agreement for the volunteer programme.

Unfortunately, I am unable to be in Hermannsburg and at the Lönsstein on this day, which I very much regret. On Whit Monday, we are holding a mission festival in Berlin-Wilmersdorf with a guest from South Africa: Rev. Mintesinot Birru Hanfato comes from the Mekane Yesus Church, but has been living in South Africa for several years, where he teaches at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane and leads a congregation of our partner church in Soweto. It is also for this reason that the Lutheran Church Mission (Bleckmar Mission) e.V., as a ‘daughter’ of the Hermannsburg Mission, is today deeply connected to you. Rev. Hanfato would like to help bring together the many members of the Mekane Yesus Church who live in South Africa over the coming years.

Dear Holger, may many people encounter Christ through your work.

With warmest regards,
Your
Edmund Hohls