Ablaze! in the Northern Illinois District

The adventure continues! Ed and Wilma Rupprecht are on their 'Second Missionary Journey,' having returned to the mission field where they had worked earlier over 26 years ago - in Nigeria. The passion to bring the Scriptures to the Ogoja region of

Nigeria

draws them to the ministry which was so much part of their early years together. Currently they are working in four Nigerian languages, Bokyi, Yala, Mbe and Kukele, to help create self determining and self-sustaining ministries.

Ed and Wilma first met while attending the Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) in Norman, Oklahoma, in the summer of 1968. Ed was home on furlough from

Nigeria

where he was serving with the LCMS Mission Board. Wilma had returned from

Mexico

where she had served as a short-term missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators. They were married in February 1969 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, N. Ukele, Nigeria.

Ed grew up in Richville, Michigan. At a young age, he felt God calling him to mission service. After attending Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan, he attended Concordia College in River Forest, Illinois. His call took him to

Nigeria

to work among the Ukele people where he served for 18 years. Ed was part of a team that translated the New Testament into the Kukele language. Ed's role was literacy and education.

Wilma was born in Montana where her dad was the pastor of a small Indian mission church. Mission work has always been a part of her life. After attending Grace University in Omaha, she went to California to work. While there she heard about the need for typists in Mexico City with Wycliffe Bible Translators. Her experience in

Mexico

made her realize that God wanted her to go to SIL for further training.

In Nigeria, Ed and Wilma served together for over 13 years in literacy, adult education and rural development. In 1982 they returned to the United States. Ed received his Master's Degree from Concordia, River Forest, in 1983. He has taught in Lutheran schools, congregations and organizations and worked in development, mobilizing others for the Great Commission, all in Northern Illinois - 44 years in Christ's service, 21 years on the mission field.

Wilma has served by using her gifts in various church activities: LWML, choir and Stephen Ministry. She has worked in the corporate world as an Administrative Assistant and at the Lutheran Bible Translators Service Center in Aurora, Illinois.

The Rupprechts have two children, both born in

Nigeria

, and five grandchildren. Paul and his wife Noel of New York are the parents of Brittany and Rebekah. Kim and her husband Paul Klomhaus are the parents of Aaron, Nathan and Holly and live in Wisconsin.

God is never done! Ed and Wilma heeded the call from God to return to the mission field. Your prayers are cherished and welcome in a special partnership in this ministry.