Rev. Yohannes Mengsteab, field counselor for African immigrant missions in The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) served as missionary-in-residence at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis on Jan. 4-6. The three-day residency program at Concordia Seminary is designed to inform and encourage the Seminary’s students, faculty and staff regarding mission opportunities.

As missionary-in-residence, Rev. Mengsteab served as preacher in the Seminary’s morning chapel service on Tuesday, Jan. 4. He also visited many classes and talked with students concerning mission opportunities, particularly among immigrants in America’s urban areas. On Wednesday, Jan. 5, he delivered a special convocation address, “Missions Have Come Home” to the Seminary community.

Rev. Mengsteab was born in Eritrea, East Africa and is a graduate of Concordia College, Bronxville, New York (1987) and Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (1991). He also received a master of theology degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Mich. (1996). He served as associate pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Holland, Mich. (1991-1995). In addition to his LCMS church-wide mission service, he also currently serves as missionary-at-large for African immigrant ministry in the Washington, DC metropolitan area on behalf of the Southeastern District of the LCMS.

“We are grateful to Rev. Mengsteab for his significant involvement in the life of our Seminary community during these days,” commented Rev. Larry Rockemann, vice president for student life at Concordia. “Programs such as this help all of us retain a strong mission fervor. This is absolutely essential as we teach and as our students prepare to serve in the pastoral ministry.”

For more information on the missionary-in-residence program, contact Rev. Larry Rockemann at Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105; 314-505-7201.