The First Companionship

Zion is a congregation of faithful, visionary people. This is clear in the story of the genesis of Zion's companionship with Kirangare Lutheran Parish in Tanzania.

This month, we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the companionship. On Sunday, September 13, we will send Zion travelers to celebrate in person with our brothers and sisters. On Sunday, September 20, we will mark the anniversary and commit to a renewed companionship covenant. Throughout, we will tell stories.

I assumed the companionship started from the top, with the bishops here and there. Here, Zion is part of the Southeastern Iowa (SEIA) Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. There, Kirangare Parish is part of the Pare Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. I thought their diocese and our synod connected, bishop-to-bishop, then the bishops invited congregations in.

No. This is not the true story. It's also not how the kingdom of God works. The last shall be first; the first, last. The kingdom is like little seeds that grow big and tiny yeast making the whole bread dough rise.

Our companionship and all the companionships between congregations in our synod and parishes in their diocese started with one Zion person: Joyce Smith. Joyce was not a bishop, not even a pastor. Joyce was a member of Zion; a leader already, I'm sure. God gave Joyce a vision while she read a magazine called The Lutheran. The article told the story of congregation to parish companionships, and Joyce knew Zion needed to be part of one. She rallied other Zion people to this vision. Then that group rallied others in other congregations in our synod.

Now there are dozens of companionships between Pare Diocese parishes and SEIA Synod congregations. Many are dormant, like ours was for a long time. Many are active. But the companionship between Zion and Kirangare Parish is the oldest. Ours was the first. A season of celebrating 25th anniversaries begins here in this corner of Davenport and in the four villages - Kiragare, Mpare, Idaru, and Marindi - where Kirangare Lutheran Parish has preaching points.

Because God did a new thing and chose Joyce and Zion to be the catalyst.

You can hear Joyce tell the story in her own words, in her video message to Kiragare Lutheran Parish. You can see it online or at Zion on September 20. Joyce herself never traveled to Tanzania, but she holds Kiragare people in her heart as deep as anyone.

Zion is a congregation of faithful, visionary people, and it has been for a long time. Even now, our own Bishop Amy Current looks to Zion as a model for other congregations in the synod. Still, we lead, hand in hand with our brothers and sisters in Kiragare Lutheran Parish.

Thanks be to God.

Pastor Clark Olson-Smith