TOGETHER IN MISSION
Partnership with Pastor David Erber

Rev. David and Joyce Erber serve with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Africa, living in Ghana, West Africa. As the LCMS area director for West and Central Africa, David is responsible for ministering to other LCMS personnel serving in these parts of Africa. He leads a team of seminary instructors and church planters who serve Lutheran churches in Benin, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Togo. He also coordinates outreach strategies and cultivates relationships with the leaders of partner churches. Joyce serves as the business manager for the Africa region. She is responsible for managing the LCMS personnel and ministry financial dynamics throughout Africa.

 The Erbers have served in Africa since 1986. They first served among the Bokyi people in the rainforest of Northern Cross River State, Nigeria. They arrived there shortly after the Bokyi Bible had been dedicated. David’s role was to work with Bokyi believers to proclaim the Gospel and establish Lutheran congregations in communities throughout Bokyiland. David also taught at the Lutheran seminary in Nigeria and served as area facilitator for English-speaking West Africa caring for LCMS personnel serving there and supervising LCMS-sponsored programs in Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. 

Before serving in Africa, David graduated from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. Joyce graduated from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind. In addition, during their time serving in Africa, David received his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Missiology degree from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, and Joyce received a master’s degree in teaching English to speakers of other languages from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Va. Together, the Erbers studied linguistics in Grand Forks, N.D., and Dallas. The Erber’s three grown children, Luke, Jonathan and Naomi, were born in Africa and presently go to school and work in the United States.