Missionary Alumni blog

Rev. Andrew Mbugo Elisa, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan (ELCS), was called to eternal glory on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008. Rev. Elisa would have been 43 years old on Jan. 1, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Linda, and their four children: Hipai, 19; Nako, 17; Zereda, 15; and Zaniwe, 8.

Rev. Elisa’s service took place on Friday, Jan. 9 in the afternoon at the Lutheran church in Yambio, Sudan. Rev. Dr. Anssi Simojoki, vice president for the Lutheran Heritage Foundation – Africa, delivered the sermon.

Liturgists and lectors included Rev. Claude Houge, area facilitator for LCMS World Mission in East Africa; Rev. Japhet Dachi, rector of the Concordia Lutheran Institute for the Holy Ministry; Rev. Edward Sunge Nzeme, ELCS general secretary; and Rev. Nicholas Kumbo Louis, pastor of the Yambio Lutheran Church and dean of the seminary. Fifteen pastors who serve ELCS congregations will make up a special honor guard.

The Holy Spirit worked mightily through Rev. Elisa to establish the ELCS. Fifteen years ago, Andrew Elisa received five copies of Luther’s Small Catechism and the Book of Concord. Excited by what he read, Andrew eagerly shared this Christian doctrine with everyone he met.

Today, there are more than 80 Lutheran churches, five Lutheran elementary schools and two kindergartens located throughout Sudan, attended by more than 15,000 baptized Lutherans. More than a dozen men attend the seminary in Baguga, studying to become the faithful shepherds of these people.

“I’ve always been led by faith, full of optimism,” said Rev. Elisa in a 2005 interview, as he reflected on the incredible growth of the ELCS. “If I think of something, I just want to do it, and I do it. I don’t doubt. Some elements of pastoral practice were central in my thinking: 1. How do I shepherd the flock of God? 2. How do I reconcile the people of God? 3. How do I evangelize the people of God? 4. How do I show love to these people? Our success would be based only on our commitment to the Word of God. It’s God’s doing.”

Rev. Elisa first fell ill in October. After consulting with several doctors over the next few weeks, he was diagnosed with an aggressive glioma (tumor) in the brain stem.

In a Dec. 31 letter to Bishop Elisa’s family, LCMS President Dr. Gerald Kieschnick wrote, “We thank and praise God for all that Bishop Elisa accomplished in his short life and for the blessing that he was to so many people. We share with you the human grief associated with his passing. At the same time, we rejoice in the victory that is now his in Christ. How thankful we are that God gave Andrew the eyes of faith so that he could see the salvation that God has prepared in the presence of all peoples.”

Rev. Claude and Rhoda Houge, LCMS missionaries based in Kenya, wrote, “We thank God for Bishop Andrew’s leadership. He has been the head of the ELCS since it began in 1993. He traveled to the United States many times, studying at Concordia Theological Seminary in Ft. Wayne, Ind., and making other contacts, so he is well-known throughout the LCMS.”

“Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on! Yes, says the Spirit, let them rest from their hard work, for what they have done accompanies them” (Rev. 14:13).