International Student Bios

Rev. Akila Dyeri Adamu is an MA student focused on the Bible from Plateau state, Nigeria. He is a pastor with the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) and has 21 years pastoral experience. He was involved in discipleship and training leaders and laymen on how to be involved in the work of ministry. Upon completion of his degree, he plans to engage in training leaders for the church and the society and in that way, build a healthier church and society.

Akila speaks Kagoma, English, Jaba and Hausa. He likes soccer, volleyball, reading, recreation and travelling for tourism purposes. He is available to talk on any topic related to discipleship.

Martha Ernest Ambarang’u is a MA student in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry from the Shinyanga region of Tanzania. She is from the South-East of Lake Victoria diocese of the ELCT and was recently working as a Diocesan director of women and children, Diaconia department and as Director of Right to Live with Albinism and Legal aid desk. Upon graduation, she plans to work in the women, children, and diacony department, and in albinism projects dealing with children and families.

Martha is being jointly sponsored by the ELCA Global Mission and Luther Seminary. She speaks Swahili, Nyaturu, and English and enjoys singing, watching movies, dancing, traveling and reading. She is available to speak on domestic violence, sexual abuse, gender issues, and women’s ordination.

Rev. Innocent Webinumen Anthony is an M.Th. student in Mission and World Religions from Adamawa State, Nigeria. He is a pastor with the Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria and was serving as a secretary of one of the synods. Upon completion of his studies, he plans to work with the church in strategizing how to do effective mission in the 21^st century and mobilizing resources for mission work.

Innocent speaks Chamba, English, and Hausa. He likes athletics, football, making new friends, and travelling. He is available to talk on topics related to mission and discipleship.

Seth Ahmetmu Biwul is an M.A. student in Systematic Theology from Plateau state, Nigeria. He is a member of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA).  Prior to coming to Luther, he volunteered and served as a junior pastor. Upon completion, he plans to either get fully involved with the church or teach at a seminary.

Seth speaks Miship (Chip), English, and Hausa. He likes listening to music, playing the guiter, traveling, reading, writing, and engaging in theological conversations. He is open to speaking on any topic provided he has a good knowledge of the topic.

Rev. Rhoda Emmanuel Chamshama is a Ph.D. student from the Morogoro region of Tanzania. She is a Lutheran pastor studying Children, Youth, and Family Ministry and has a Master of Philosophy degree from the University of Oslo. Before coming to Luther, she was working as a director of children and youth ministry of her synod and was also a parish pastor. Upon completion of her studies, she plans to engage in the ministry of children, youth and family.

Rhoda is being jointly sponsored by the ELCA Global Mission and Luther Seminary. She speaks Swahili and English and likes singing, reading, walking, and playing with kids.

Linqing (Sue) Chu  comes from the Protestant Church in China. Sue came to Luther to for the M.A. degree in Congregational Community Care and has since decided to pursue the Master of Divinity degree.

Before coming to Luther Seminary, Sue had a major in Public Relations and Advertising as an undergraduate student. She looks forward to the growth in knowledge and spiritual life she will experience during her studies at Luther. For fun, Sue enjoys badminton, traveling, and photography.

When she returns to China, Sue hopes to work with the elderly, especially those who have lost their one and only child. She is available to speak about her work with and care services for the elderly.

Rev. Oretha Miller Davis is an M.Th. student from Liberia with a concentration in Congregational Mission and Leadership. Since the formation of a District in her home church, the Lutheran Church in Liberia, she served as the first female Dean. She is also one of five ordained female pastors in the church. Oretha has worked as a senior pastor, counselor, and educator. She plans to continue with her pastoral ministry in leading, counseling and teaching, after completing her degree.

Oretha is being jointly sponsored by the ELCA Global Mission and Luther Seminary. She speaks Lorma and English. She likes music, praying, and dancing. She is interested in speaking about the prospects and challenges women in ministry face from an African perspective.

Bawi Dua is an M.Th. student in the History of Christianity from the Sagaing region of Myanmar. He is Baptist and was pastoring before coming to Luther. Upon graduation, he plans to continue with the pastoral ministry and hopes to become a seminary professor and a writer.

Bawi speaks Lautu, Hakha-chin, Burmese and English. He enjoys reading, writing and traveling and is interested in speaking on topics related to rural ministry or small churches.

Tsuwainla "Aien" Jamir is from Nagaland, India and speaks the Ao dialect. She is a member of the Nagaland Baptist Church Council and was managing Council events prior to attending Luther Seminary. Aien completed her M.A. in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry in December 2016 and is now pursuing the M.Th.

Aien enjoys gardening, listening to music, and reading. She is excited to study and learn from different communities while at Luther and hopes to return to work with young people and be involved in children's ministry.

Khin Win Kyi (Dawi Cia) is an M.Th. student in Old Testament from Kalaymyo, Sagaing Division of Myanmar. Her church affiliation is Baptist. Before coming to Luther, she was engaged in pastoral ministry especially among the youth and children in the church. After completing her studies, she plans to resume her office as a pastor and to actively involve herself in whatever ministry God calls her to do.

Dawt speaks Hakha (Chin), Burmese, and English. She likes music and reading and is available to talk on topics related to the church and its missions.

Joan Moraa Machoka is an MA student in Christian Ministry from Kenya. She is Seventh-Day Adventist and served as a chaplain in the church’s girl’s school the year prior to joining Luther. Upon completion, she plans to empower youths, especially girls, physically, mentally and spiritually. She also plans to work with women on ways of parenting children.

Joan speaks Kisii, Kalenjin, Luo, Kiswahili and English. She likes praying, preaching, listening to Gospel music and going for hikes. She is available to speak on church growth and conduct a Bible study.

Rev. Kishe Dismas Mhando is a MA student from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania focusing on Leadership and Innovation for Ministry. He was working as a pastor in charge and an evangelist in the Eastern Coastal diocese of the ELCT prior to coming to Luther. Upon completion, he would like to mentor others as they develop their leadership roles and educate youth on important issues confronting the church.

Kishe is being jointly sponsored by the ELCA Global Mission and Luther Seminary. He speaks Swahili and English and likes teaching, building new relationships, reading the Bible, novels, and sports. He is a good listener and enjoys motivating and training others. He is available to speak on topics related to conflict in relationships, conflict resolution, church growth, church and state, and youth and good governance.

Simeon Momanyi is an M.Th. student from the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He is originally from Nairobi, Kenya, but has spent time as a missionary in the Philippines and studying peace and conflict transformation in Norway. Simeon speaks Kisii, Kikuyu, Exegusii, Tagalog, and Norwegian in addition to English. In his free time Simeon likes listening to music, hiking, reading, and playing sports. He is available to speak to groups about bible study, children and youth ministries, and preaching.

Lidixe Montoyo is an M.A. student in Leadership and Innovation for Ministry from El Salvador. She is  Lutheran and has a bachelor degree in human resource management with a minor in public health. She plans to support the ministries of the Salvadorian Lutheran Church upon completion of her degree.

Lidixe speaks Spanish and English.  She likes reading, cooking, and travelling. She is available to talk on El Salvador and Lidice.

Rev. Kaanasia Geofrey Msangi is a MA student in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. She is an ordained pastor in the Eastern Coastal diocese of the ELCT and was working as a Pastor in charge at Mwenge Lutheran Parish and as a women and children coordinator before coming to Luther.

Kaanasia is being jointly sponsored by the ELCA Global Mission and Luther Seminary. She speaks Chagga, Swahili, and English. She enjoys preaching, teaching and singing and speaking about prayer.

Htu Nan is an M.Th. student in New Testament from the Kachin region of Myanmar. She is Baptist and was teaching at Lisu Biblical School for the past two years. After completing her studies, she plans to return to teach at the school.

Htu speaks Lisu, Burmese, and English. She enjoys listening to music and used to play football (soccer, in the U.S.).  She is interested in speaking about the beauty of different cultures.

Olushola “Ola” Oloruntola is an M.A. student in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry from Lagos State, Nigeria. He was a banker in Nigeria and is affiliated with the Redeemed Christian Church of God. Ola plans to establish a church upon completion of his studies and use his knowledge to impact his community and country at large.

Ola speaks English and Yoruba and likes basketball. He is available to talk on topics related to the death, burial, and resurrection Jesus Christ.

Per Christian Olsen is a Lutheran student from Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. He plans to complete his theological studies in Germany and be ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran of Northern Germany.

Per is being jointly sponsored by the ELCA Global Mission and Luther Seminary. Per speaks German and English and likes rowing, basketball, Christian scout group, and music (guitar). He is interested in talking about how Lutherans all over the world can share their faith and church resources in new ways.

Gloria Osemenam is a MA student from the Anambra region of Nigeria focusing in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry. She is a member of the Word Aflame Family Church and was involved in children and youth ministry and church administration prior to joining Luther. Upon completion, she plans to continue in the children and youth ministry department and hopes to start a non-profit organization that will cater to children and youths in her community.

Gloria speaks Igbo, Yoruba and English. She likes singing, reading, and building new relationships. She is available to talk on church administration, relational ministry, raising Godly children and engaging youth in Godly activities.

Norolala Randriamampiamna is a MA student in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry from Madagascar. She is Lutheran and was working as a family counselor before coming to Luther. She plans to be a writer and help youth and families in their faith formation, upon completion.

Norolala is being jointly sponsored by the ELCA Global Mission and Luther Seminary. She speaks Malagasy, French and English. She likes singing, traveling and watching movies and is available to speak on family relationships.

Rev. Venicious F. Reeves is an MA student with a concentration in Systematic Theology. He is from the Lofa County region of Liberia and is an Interdenominational ordained pastor. He was a teacher, pastor, seminar speaker, and event organizer before coming to Luther. Upon completion of his studies, he plans to continue with teaching and training church leaders, as well providing national Christian public leadership.

Venicious speaks Kisi and English. He likes watching soccer, basketball, reading, singing and listening to Gospel music. He is available to speak on doing Christian theology in an African context, African traditional religion, and preaching and teaching using the mind, concept and context of an African.

Deomie Lynn Perez Rivamonte is a MA student in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry from Quezon City, Metro Manila region of Philippines. She is a Seventh Day Adventist and has ten years of experience as an English /literature teacher and K-12 educator in various countries including Indonesia, Kenya and Norway. She also served as an editor in chief of a university publication for two years and editorial staff for about two years in a church-owned publishing company in the Philippines. Upon completion, she hopes to build a school and train other educators in building curriculum grounded in faith formation.

Lynn speaks English, Filipino, Bahasa Indonesia and Norwegian (Nynorsk). She likes singing, reading and writing Christian-themed articles and stories, storytelling, planning of church events, cooking different dishes from various countries visited, visiting galleries and museums around the city, watching historical documentaries, teaching and preparing programs, and writing curriculum for the use of teens in school and church. She is available to speak on topics related to scriptwriting for the church, non-formal education programs in churches, using family literacy in church settings, linguistics in the Bible, literature and the Bible.

Esther Sianipar is an M.A. student in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry from Indonesia. Her church affiliation is Huria Kristen Batak Protestant Church (HKBP). She taught Sunday school grades 2, 3 and 4 and was also part of the small group of discipleship, a community fellowship group, and prayer/Bible study. She plans to apply her knowledge, experience, and continuance of faith in the Lord to becoming his follower in any setting.

Esther speaks Indonesian and English and has studied in the U.S. previously; her son is here with her. She likes singing, reading, traveling, counselling, and storytelling. She is available to talk on God’s presence and love, justice, poor of the poorest, children and youth development, diversity, and walking with the Lord (journey of faith and confessing publically).

Rev. Agony Siwela is a Ph.D. student from Zimbabwe and is an ordained pastor with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ). He has a ministerial training from United Theological College (Harare) where he later became a lecturer. He plans to teach at the United Theological College or serve at the University of Zimbabwe after completing his studies.

Agony speaks Ndebele, Shona, Zulu, Uenda, Sotho, and English. He likes singing, drumming and learning the piano. He is available to talk on African Traditional Religion/culture, Muslim and Christian dialogue, and church history.

Rev. Catherine Hawa Wlue is a MA student in Leadership and Innovation for Ministry from Maryland County, Liberia. She is an ordained Pentecostal pastor from the Harvest Christian Center. In addition to serving as a pastor, she worked with a non-profit organization as an administrator/logistics mentor and as a teacher. Upon completion of her studies, she plans to serve as Director of the Masterbuilder Institute, which is the leadership development and church planting arm of her church .

Catherine speaks English and likes music and teaching. She is available to speak on women in Christian ministry and the role of women in home and church.

Jin “Rebecca” Yang is a M.Th. student in New Testament from the Hubei province of China. Prior to beginning her studies at Luther, Rebecca was teaching at the Zhongnan Seminary. Upon finishing her degree, she hopes to return to China and be involved with Christian social services in addition to obtaining further theological education.

Rebecca speaks Mandarin in addition to the Hubei and Yichang dialects. In her free time, she likes to cook, sing, dance, and is interested in exploring the Twin Cities. She is available to speak to groups about travel.