Prayers Requested

I received this communication the other day. We are praying for Rev. Elisa - please join us. He is an amazing man and faithful servant of our Saviour.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

You may have heard that Rev. Andrew Elisa, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan (ELCS), has been hospitalized in Jordan.

As many of you know, the Holy Spirit has worked mightily through Rev. Elisa to establish the ELCS. Fifteen years ago, the Lutheran Heritage Foundation sent Andrew Elisa five copies of Luther's Small Catechism and a Book of Concord, and from there, the Lutheran church began in Sudan! 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.

After working tirelessly for the ELCS, today Rev. Elisa needs your help.

Early in October, Rev. Elisa began experiencing difficulties in his balance. After meeting with doctors at St. Paul Lutheran Hospital in Khartoum, he received treatment and returned to Yambio in southern Sudan.

Over the next two weeks, the imbalance continued and an MRI revealed a growing inflammation in the brain. Rev. Elisa and his wife, Linda, traveled to Jordan on Nov. 5 in hopes of better diagnosis and treatment. Physicians there are continuing his treatment and have started physical therapy. Unfortunately, Rev. Elisa's symptoms do not appear to be improving at this time, and the inflammation has started to affect his speech.

Rev. Elisa has requested your prayers for healing, and for the comfort of his wife, Linda, and their children. In addition, Rev. Elisa's medical bills are mounting. The Lutheran Heritage Foundation is coordinating an effort to help cover these costs, which total more than $12,000 so far (not including his room and board).

To send a gift to help cover Rev. Elisa's medical costs, go to the LHF website at www.LHFmissions.org. There, you can donate online using your credit card.

Or, you can send your donation to LHF at 51474 Romeo Plank Rd., Macomb, Michigan 48042. If sending a check, please note "Andrew Elisa Medical Expenses" on the memo line.

Finally, friends, if you would like to receive updates on Rev. Elisa's condition, or if you'd like to receive the latest news on LHF's work around the world, register as a member at the LHF site. Click on "Manage my E-communications," and you can choose to subscribe to several e-mail newsletters, all delivered directly to your e-mail In box.

Yours in Christ,

Rev. Robert Rahn
Executive Director
The Lutheran Heritage Foundation