The congregation helps sponsor Pastor Andy Hinderlie, his wife Barbara and their two children Michael and Kristian now based in Madagascar, through the ELCA Division for Global Mission. For more information about the Hinderlies, you can view their website at 
On the weekend of Jan. 15-17, 2010, it was my privilege to be present with my Area Program Director, Benyam Kassahun, at an exciting event, one that began some 3 years ago in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It was a dream of sending missionaries from the Mekana Yesus Church to other countries culminating in the commissioning of three families to follow Jesus’ command in Matthew 28 to “go and make disciples of all nations…” that beautiful and cool Addis Sunday morning.
Joyous participants of the church and guests, some 15,000, walked from the Mekana Yesus Theological Seminary campus center to the field where this event was held. Already a special weekend of worship had been on-going since Friday with special guest, preachers and celebrative music. As these groups made their way to the field, there followed the robed pastors of the church processing behind their President of the EECMY, Rev. Dr. Waksayeum Idossa and the General Secretary, Rev. Dr. Berhanu Ofgaa. Many of the honored guests, including missionaries, General Secretaries of Mission Societies and officials were seated in front of the altar where the commissioning would take place. Once everyone had taken their places, the worship service began with songs, prayers and preaching which then was followed by the commissioning which involved many church leaders who were asked to come forward to the altar. Then each family was called, invited to approach and be recognized by the whole community present, to be asked the questions of commitment as were the congregation as to their support and laying on of hands by those leaders present. The sense of magnitude and solemnity of this occasion could be felt in the air as well as the excitement and joy by those who were being sent and those who were sending. With flags representing both countries that had sent missionaries as well as countries of Africa flapping behind the altar at the other end of the filed, you could feel the Global church and the world and indeed, the Holy Spirit, present. At the end, thanks were expressed for the work of the ELCA and other mission bodies for their accompaniment through missions.
I felt a tingling as I recalled my own ordination when my mother along with Dr. Duane Olson and others lay their hands on me. I also heard my Grandfather Aasgaard’s voice in the back of my head saying to the Norwegian Lutheran Church of America’s National Assemblies, “these are your pastors, your missionaries!” Here in Addis, I felt when the whole community spoke those words of commitment on their part that hey were truly and deeply part of these three families and they would not be without support through thick and thin. They see evangelism not as call alone but purpose for life, as a response to God’s faithfulness to the extent that in 1959 they had about 20,000 members, there are now over 5 million baptized members. Just one of many churches we in the ELCA have had the honor and humbling experience to accompany through “Global Mission.” As Pastor Yonas Yigezu, Director of Mission and Theology, explained to me, “mission is our faithful response to what God has done for us.” A good reminder for us all.
We give thanks for your faithfulness to mission and your missioning within your own communities as missionaries. We keep you in our prayers even as we know you keep us in yours.
The Hinderlies
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