Pres. Golike and Bishop Rindy
Andre Golike, President
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic,
visits Eastern North Dakota Companion Synod
During the week of February 10-15, 2010 President Golike visited eastern North Dakota including Dacotah O’Yate, Park River Bible Camp (external link), Christus Rex campus ministry (external link), rural and city churches. It was a blessing to welcome him to our part of the world.
Download the following PowerPoint presentation or pdf for a few photo highlights from his visit. Please feel free to share this presentation and article with your congregation.
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During the week of February 10-15 President Andre Golike experienced snow (and lots of it), cold temperatures, ice fishing, and snowmobiling during his first visit to America. He spent time in frozen eastern North Dakota, but expressed how he felt the welcoming warmth of the people he met. Golike, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic, visited his companion synods, Western North Dakota and Eastern North Dakota, meeting many people across the state where more than 1/3 of the population is Lutheran . He also visited a third companion synod, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Synod.
In the Central African Republic (C.A.R.) there are about 70,000 Lutherans, only 1.5% of the 4.4 million people. In the midst of severe poverty, corrupt government and civil unrest, the Lutheran church is growing – doubling in membership the past 20 years! There are 67 pastors in the C.A.R., many of them serving 10 to 15 congregations, walking between villages and churches!
Noel Tade, who grew up with President Golike in the C.A.R., accompanied him around the synod; they both speak four languages including French, English, Sangho and Baya. Noel is married to Sarah Larson-Tade, pastor of Shepherd of the Prairie parish, Walcott.
President Golike experienced a “oneness in Christ” while visiting Dacotah O’Yate, Park River Bible Camp, Christus Rex campus ministry, a Grand Forks homeless shelter and a Rural Medicine program and more. He also participated in worship and enjoyed food and fellowship in several EaND Synod congregations, both rural and city. In addition to preaching at Messiah and Hope Lutheran churches in Fargo, he preached and baptized a new child of God at Faith in West Fargo!
Before he departed for home, he stopped by the EaND Synod office for “coffee.” Bishop Rindy presented him with a handmade stole, created by Sandy Branstiter, complete with North Dakota symbols of wheat and sunflowers!
The Synod Council voted to share $12,000 of a generous bequest from the estate of Melvin Olson with the church in the C.A.R.; it will be used for ministries as President Golike sees fit. In addition, he flew home with a gift of a new laptop computer to assist in God’s work.
It was a blessing to all who met and shared Christ’s love with our partner in mission, President Andre Golike. Remember to hold him and the church in the Central African Republic in prayer and support.
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