The Lutheran School of Theology

Become a Pastor or Teacher Formed in the Lutheran Faith

LST Programs and Admissions (Apply Here)

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And Jesus said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Luke 10:2)

The Need

There Is A Severe Shortage of Trained Pastors In Africa

In Tanzania, for instance, there is on average 1 pastor for every 3,500 members. The Lutheran Church in Tanzania alone has over 10 million members, but the struggle is to provide each congregation with a trained and ordained pastor.
Most Pastors/Evangelists Have Little Or No Theological Training

The average pastor serves 12 parishes but only visits one each Sunday. The other eleven are served by evangelists who have had little or no training. Even those who are trained have few books and limited opportunity for further formal study in the Living Word and doctrinal theology.
On Site Theological Training Seminars Spread Across 20 Different Countries Was Not Sustainable

Each month, Rev. James May, the director of Lutherans In Africa (LIA), was traveling to other African countries to organize training seminars. Over time, several bishops repeated the same comment,

"These seminars are great but they are not long enough to train pastors. You need to come back three of four times a year."

Since Rev. May was already working in 20 countries across the continent, this just was not possible. So the bishops made the motion at the annual board meeting of Lutherans In Africa (LIA) to establish a faithful, sustainable, and accessible seminary in Nairobi, Kenya.

This is how and why the Lutheran School of Theology was founded.

... preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching." (2 Timothy 4:2)

Faithful, Sustainable, and Accessible Theological Training

The Lutheran School of Theology

faithfully teaches God's Word
is centrally located to reduce travel expenses
is united by the Lutheran Confessions
is sustainable and self-sufficient in design
provides longer, in-depth theological training
shows a long term commitment to the community
gathers around historic liturgical practice of the Divine Service
equips students in their service through translation work

... contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. (Jude 2)

About Lutherans In Africa and the Lutheran School of Theology

LST’s mission is “to prepare candidates for various church vocations and leadership in the Lutheran Churches of Africa and to cultivate and advance Lutheran heritage and doctrine for the sake of the Lutheran Church, the wider church, and the African public.

A secondary objective is to equip students as “tentmakers” so that they can provide for their families if a congregational salary is insufficient.”

The Lutheran School of Theology has the support of churches from Africa, the United States, Finland, and Australia.

The governing body of the school, Lutherans In Africa, holds an annual meeting that includes bishops and church leaders from several countries in Africa and receives direction and input from these members to help steer the educational needs around the continent.

Lutherans in Africa Video Series

The LIA media library contains "video logs" with Rev. James May (the executive director of LIA), Dr. Gregory Schulz, and Rev. Paul Arndt. If you would like to know more about the mission of Lutherans In Africa and its Lutheran School of Theology, this is a great place to start.

LIA and the Lutheran School of Theology

https://vimeo.com/941365800?share=copy; The Humble Beginnings of the LST; 4:34; In Africa, most things happen "po-le, po-le" (Swahili for "slowly, slowly"). In Christ Jesus, the Triune God orders all things "slowly, slowly" according to His perfect will and appointed time. Such is the story of the Lutheran School of Theology, the Bible school established by Lutherans in Africa. https://vimeo.com/923700756/100d8f401a?share=copy; The Triune God Provides Land, Water, and Rocks; 3:46; This video provides a tour of the Lutheran School of Theology's campus and gives ample proof and example of how the Triune God provides all gifts needed ... land, water, and rocks ... and more rocks ... and even more rocks. https://vimeo.com/925268165?share=copy; Before We Built It, They Came; 4:12; There is a severe shortage of trained pastors in Africa. The average pastor serves 12 parishes but only visits one each Sunday. Here's a brief video conversation with Rev. James May, the executive director of Lutherans in Africa, and Dr. Gregory Schulz, a visiting professor, explaining how and why the Lutheran School of Theology was created. https://vimeo.com/927821401/df695841ef?share=copy; Teaching the Devil to Death; 10:13; In Africa, the lack of resources available for education, coupled with traditional beliefs and practices, leads to misunderstandings of the Living Word. By God's grace the goal of the school and all of its ministry is to "teach the devil to death" and ... to form African Lutherans to be teachers of the faith. https://vimeo.com/929897795/2bfe4a5518?share=copy; Holy Week on Both Sides of the Equator; 6:09; No matter what hemisphere, the crucified and risen Jesus is Lord of all. Here's a brief video about our recent Holy Week trip across the equator and the mission of Lutherans in Africa beyond the physical campus of the Lutheran School of Theology. https://vimeo.com/931646165/929facdc5e?share=copy; The LST and Co-Operative Plan; 6:03; The location, construction, and co-operative work/study philosophy of the Lutheran School of Theology is strategic. The school is centrally located to reduce travel expenses. It is sustainable and self-sufficient in design. Its co-operative work/study program equips students as “tentmakers” so that they can provide for their families if a congregational salary is insufficient.” https://vimeo.com/932072536/24c1c199da?share=copy; The Church Built On the Rock; 2:06; Part of the site plan for the Lutheran School of Theology is to construct a dedicated church building for the Masai community. Here’s a brief video with Dr. Gregory Schulz and Rev. James May of Lutherans in Africa as they talk about the Church that is built on Jesus Christ, the Rock. https://vimeo.com/934874086/347bd121fc?share=copy; An Architect, the Gospel, and God’s Plans for a Lutheran Bible School in Africa; 4:11; Here’s a brief video with Dr. Gregory Schulz and Rev. James May of Lutherans in Africa as they talk about how, over the years, the Lord has … miraculously ordered and orchestrated times and seasons, people and relationships, churches over multiple continents, faithful pastors, gifted laity, and much needed and timely resources in order to build the Lutheran School of Theology. https://vimeo.com/937728544/4cce5cfe33?share=copy; Absolution, and the Baptismal Life at the Lutheran School of Theology; 3:37; Through the work of the Triune God, confession, absolution, and the living out of the baptismal life are at the heart and center of the Lutheran School of Theology. In this video, you’ll see how the formation of African Lutherans to be teachers of the faith begins, ends, and forever continues with a life of repentance. https://vimeo.com/935811527/225e9ffa2d?share=copy; A Library with 30,000 Books and a Reservoir with 900,000 Liters of Water; 3:48; Besides the saving Gospel of Jesus, Africa’s greatest needs are …the life giving waters that come from the seasonal rains. And second to the rain, is access to education, a well trained faculty, books, and academic resources. In this video, you’ll see how the academic library of the Lutheran School of Theology is designed to hold 30,000 books and how the reservoir that sits beneath the courtyard holds 900,000 liters of water. https://vimeo.com/940884291/8027cfa4bb?share=copy; Daily Bread at the Lutheran School of Theology (and a New Kitchen and Cafeteria); 4:27; In some ways, life at the Lutheran School of Theology (LST) in previous years was like perpetual camping. From 2017 to the fall of 2023, meals for the students and staff at the LST were prepared in a make shift shelter over an open fire. Now, thanks to the generous supporters of Lutherans In Africa, the Lutheran School of Theology has an indoor cafeteria, a fully equipped kitchen with a spacious food preparation area, high-efficiency word-fired brick ovens, an on-site butchery, and store rooms for grains and vegetables from the garden. https://vimeo.com/1025846834/213409c79e?share=copy; From Tent to School in Ten Years; 7:35; The Lutheran School of Theology near Nairobi, founded by Reverend James May over a decade ago, has evolved from humble beginnings in a tent to a fully developed campus with classrooms, a chapel, and a library. Students engage in cooperative farming for self-sustainability, and the school has recently gained accreditation, becoming one of three accredited Lutheran institutions in Africa. In this video we reflect on the school's growth and strength, drawing inspiration from Psalm 46. https://vimeo.com/1027968077/a75511042d?share=copy; All Types of Strange Events; 10:31; At the foot of the Ngong Hills near Nairobi, Pastor Arndt reflects on Isak Dinesen's "Out of Africa," highlighting the region's diverse weather and its impact on the landscape. Drawing parallels between the land's physical and spiritual dryness, he emphasizes the importance of prayer for students and staff at the Lutheran School of Theology. Addressing spiritual challenges, Pastor Arndt teaches on Psalms and Luther's Catechisms, while sharing personal experiences of health issues and the loneliness faced by students. The discussion also touches on the need for creative solutions in building projects and the significance of mutual prayer for protection and support. https://vimeo.com/1030265366/c0a13012f8?share=copy; Morning to Evening at the LST; 7:05; The Lutheran School of Theology's daily schedule is structured around the rhythms of nature, beginning at sunrise with morning prayers and the sign of the cross. Throughout the day students engage in a routine that includes communal meals, farm duties, rigorous study, and prayer. The spiritual rhythm of the day includes morning and evening chapel, scripture readings, hymns, and Luther's Morning and Evening Prayer. https://youtu.be/Z5erC92FU7A?feature=shared; Lutherans In Africa Presentation; 57:10; Here's a presentation by Rev. James May, the executive director of Lutherans In Africa.

LST Programs and Admissions

LST offers two academic programs:

a one-year Certificate in Evangelistic Training (CET)
and a three-year Diploma in Theology (DTh) with one year of vicarage.

Learn More Here

Contact Executive Director

Director
Rev. James May
Contact: +254 710660670
Email: director@lutheransinafrica.com

Contact School Registrar

School Registrar/ Assistant at Lutherans In Africa
Lucy Koisaba
WhatsApp/Call: +254 798454270
Email: assistant@lutheransinafrica.com

Address

Lutheran School of Theology
P.O. BOX 1230- 00208
Ngong Hills, Kenya

Google Map Location (here)

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