Tanzania
Hagemans in Africa
The Rev. Michael and Shanna Hageman serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as missionaries in Tanzania. Michael is a theological educator at a new seminary in Shinyanga, Tanzania, where he teaches classes and assists in forming pastors for service in Africa. Shanna is a director of Christian education (DCE), and she teaches English as a Second Language (ESL) to non-native English speakers. These ESL classes provide practical assistance while also serving as a vehicle for the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Michael was born in Lyons, Kan., and considers Abilene, Kan., to be his home. The family’s home congregation is Trinity Lutheran Church, Garden City, Kan. Michael has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb., and a Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He has served as pastor at churches in Ohio, Florida and Kansas. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, running, hunting and working on home improvement projects.
Shanna was born in Kirksville, Mo., and grew up in Manhattan, Kan. She has a bachelor’s degree in theology and DCE certification from Concordia University, Nebraska. During her career, she has served as a DCE, worked as an ESL teacher, and owned and operated her own business. In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking and traveling. She and Michael have two adult daughters: Selah and Kiera.
Pray for Michael and Shanna as they serve in Tanzania. Ask God to be with them as they adjust to life in a new country and learn a new language. Pray also for the students and people they will meet, that God would open their hearts to the Gospel. Give thanks to God that the Hagemans are serving His people in this part of the world.
Raising up Pastors
Rev. Michael Hageman will be assisting in the raising up of Lutheran pastors in Shinyanga, Tanzania. He will be providing pastoral training and resources, with the goal of preparing pastors to serve growing Lutheran churches. Almost every Confessional Lutheran church body in the Africa Region is growing substantially. Many are growing as much as 15% a year. Those churches are constantly playing a game of catch-up: trying to catch up with newly planted congregations in need of pastors, trying to catch up with new member classes, trying to catch up with the astounding work of the Holy Spirit and carry out the work of the church as it grows. The work can be overwhelming as most pastors are overseeing up to 15 congregations. This is a wonderful and challenging opportunity in which we pray the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers to teach and preach.
Starting an English School
Director of Christian Education (DCE) Shanna Hageman will be assisting in the raising up of church workers by working with the partnering church body to start an English school and teach English as a second language. As Shanna seeks to joyously participate in God’s Mission, her primary goal will be to equip, enable, and encourage the church partner, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania—South-East of Lake Victoria Diocese (SELVD), in the work God has put before them to share the Gospel and build the Church. By teaching English as a Second Language She will be preparing future pastors and deaconesses to be faithful church workers. Once trained, the future church workers will be equipped to share the Gospel in their own villages to the glory of God.
“Let the understanding and will for global mission grow. And so far as the Lord of the church gives us strength, let us put this sense and will into action — both at home and abroad.”
— Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison