Did you know that we, the Northern Illinois Synod, are a companion synod to the North Central Diocese of Tanzania and the Arcot Lutheran Church of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India?
Being a companion synod to both the North Central Diocese of Tanzania and Arcot Lutheran Church in India is one of the ways that we are living out being the body of Christ in a global church. Over the years, the Northern Illinois Synod has sent delegations to visit our companion synods, including our last trip in February of 2024 to Tanzania for the consecration and installation of Bishop Godson Abel Mollel. We have also been blessed by hosting delegates from both companion synods during Bishop Stacie Fidlar’s installation.
The Global Mission Subcommittee is excited to share that, at the end of July through September, we will once again host several individuals from the North Central Diocese of Tanzania. Trips like this will help reinvigorate current companion church relations and spark interest in making new connections. Below is some information about our upcoming visitors and places where you will be able to connect with them. Please note that these might change for various reasons; we will update this list when we have more information.
In July, we will be welcoming Daudi and Kellen Msseemmaa. Daudi is the ELCA Regional Representative for East Africa, and Kellen is the founder of Empowered Girls. Both Daudi and Kellen will be with us through July and August and will be joining the congregations of Shepherd of the Prairie in Huntley, Trinity in Moline, and St. John’s in Peru for worship.
In September, we will be welcoming Pastor Seth Sululu, a pastor, musician, and professor at Makurmira University in Arusha, Tanzania. Pastor Sululu will be joining several congregations during his month here, including Bethany in Crystal Lake and First in DeKalb. Part of Pastor Sululu’s time with us will be through gatherings about companionship and developing relationships.
Outside of Daudi and Kellen Msseemmaa and Pastor Seth Sululu, we are hopeful that we will be able to welcome visitors from the Kiutu Parish in August and September.
One of the unique things about these types of visits is that it is truly about partnership, companionship, and walking together as the body of Christ as we open God’s story. At the 2024 Synod Assembly, Bishop Stacie Fidlar introduced the Bishop Jeff Clements Fund for International Partnership. This fund, seeded by a gift from Messiah Lutheran in Galva, will ensure that we will have the resources available to tend to our relationships with our international partners. To make a gift to the Bishop Jeff Clements Fund for International Partnership, please click here.
We are excited to welcome Daudi and Kellen Msseemmaa and Pastor Seth Sululu. We invite your prayers for them as they travel and as we grow in our partnership together. For more information on our Global Mission Subcommittee and companion church relationships, please visit www.nisynod.org/globalmission
2024 Tanzanian Visits
Please note more gatherings will be posted once they are confirmed. A print verison is available for congregations to post at the bottom of this page.
- Sunday, July 21, 2024 – Daudi and Kellen Msseemmaa at Shepherd of the Prairie in Huntley for worship
- Sunday, July 28, 2024 – Daudi and Kellen Msseemmaa at Trinity in Moline for worship
- Sunday, August 18, 2024 – Daudi and Kellen Msseemmaa at St. John’s in Peru for worship
- Wednesday, August 21, 2024 -- Daudi and Kellen Msseemmaa at Salem in Sycamore for a luncheon and presentation
- Sunday, September 8, 2024 – Elizabeth and Mary from the Kiutu Parish at Bethany in Crystal Lake for worship and welcome lunch. Worship is at 9:00 a.m., God's Work. Our Hands. projects at 10:00 a.m., welcome lunch at 11:00 a.m.
- Sunday, September 15, 2024 – Pastor Seth Sululu at First in DeKalb for worship
- Sunday, September 15, 2024 – Elizabeth and Mary from the Kiutu Parish at St. Barnabas in Cary for worship at 9:30 a.m.
- Sunday, September 22, 2024 – Pastor Seth Sululu at Resurrection in Channahon for worship
- Sunday, September 22, 2024 – Elizabeth and Mary from the Kiutu Parish at Living Waters Crystal Lake for worship at 10:00 a.m.
- Tuesday, September 24, 2024 - Pastor Seth Sululu at Our Savior's in Rockford at 2:00 p.m.
- Saturday, September 28, 2024 – Pastor Seth Sululu at First in Geneseo for worship at 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday, September 29, 2024 – Pastor Seth Sululu at Immanuel in Earlville for worship at 9:00 a.m.
