# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1981_S13 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MISSIONS and yet in one way it is still the same. Fallen mankind is born in sin, doomed to die, and in need of God’s rescue from eternal damnation. This rescue is possible only by the atoning work of His Son Jesus Christ. In God’s plan of salvation this Good News is to be proclaimed as a gift of God’s free grace. That is why St. Paul’s words to the Christians at Rome are still relevant today: ‘‘But how are men to call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? And how can men preach unless they are sent?” (Rom. 10:14-15a). Missionary people sent as Christ’s messengers with the message of salvation—this is ultimately the most important aspect of the work of the Board for Missions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. All other work of the board—its prayers, planning, strategizing, policy setting, calling, train- ing, enabling, sending, supporting, etc.—is contributory to the fulfillment of Christ’s command that people go into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature. But how can they go unless they are sent? We cannot talk about the “people part” of moving forward through open doors in mission without talking about what it takes: money for their training and support; money for their program of work; money for facilities; and money to assist churches that come into being and into partnerships as a result of missionary work. In the paragraphs which follow we shall share information (1) about missionary personnel needs; (2) the costs of maintain- ing a worldwide mission program; and (3) some challenging projections for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to consider in its commitment to go forward in the Savior’s name. Current Missionary Personnel The following table will indicate different types of mis- sionaries according to profession or kind of work for which they have been sent. After studying this table, look at the Missionary Personnel Needs Listing for 1981. This is a clear indication of the challenge which the Lord is placing before our church. Moving forward means recruiting, training, and send- ing more people, qualified and equipped to do the task for which partner churches/mission fields have requested their help. 1981 MISSIONARY PERSONNEL STATISTICS Based on “PRAY FOR US,” Directory of Missionary Personnel Teach- Med. Chil- Field Ordained ers Drs. Nurses Lay Wives dren Total Brazil .............. 2 - - - = 2 — 4 Ghana ............. 2 - - = 1 3 3 9 Guatemala ......... *3 - - = 1 4 7 15 Hong Kong ........ 2 41 o- = 2 2 6 13 18 -—- —- = 15 34 67 5 2 —- 3 2 8 9 29 2 1220 -—- -— — 2 3 29 2 _ - - 2 5 9 3 - - - = 3 5 11 1 - - 1 1 _— 3 {4 —- - = = 4 3 11 9 3 1 1 3 13 28 58 *2 - - - - 1 3 6 Papua New Guinea . 6 5 = 2 6 17 37 73 Philippines ........ 13 - - - - 13 31 57 Taiwan ............ 2 §s& - -—- — 3 6 17 Togo ..... cee eee 1 - - =- 1 2 3 7 Venezuela ......... 7 1 -—- — 1 8 12 29 Totals ......... 66 58 1 6 18 103 195 447 Total Missionary Units Ordainedt ................ 64 Medical Doctors ........... 1 Teachers ................., 30 Nurses .................... 6 VYM-Hong Kong ......... 1 Lay Workers .............. 18 VYM-Japan 22 =Vicars ......... eee. 2 VYM-Taiwan 5 Total Units ........... 152 * Including one vicar. + VYM t Includes an LCMS pastor in Mexico City English work not called by the Board for Missions. § Includes 5 VYM's January 1981 MISSIONARY PERSONNEL NEEDS—1981 West Africa Botswana Evangelistic Missionary ............. Evangelistic Missionary ............. Jwaneng........... Instructor—leadership training ...... Kanye ............. Ghana Evangelistic Missionary ............. Konkomba ......... Agriculturalist ...................... Bimoba ............ Liberia Evangelistic Missionary ............. Mende ............. Evangelistic Missionary ............. Bandi .............. Business Manager ................... Monrovia .......... Nigeria High School English Teacher ........ Evangelistic Missionary ............. Evangelistic Missionary ........... . Ophthalmologist Literacy Worker ..................... Seminary Professor Total West Africa Hillcrest School, Jos Rivers Region Eket Hospital Hong Kong Seminary Professor ......00 0... ccc ccc Seminary Professor ..........0..0..0 0.00 ccc e eee Hong Kong International School 1981 Requests Japan Volunteer Youth Ministry (VYM) .................0....0005- Korea Evangelistic Missionary Philippines Evangelistic Missionaries ................... 0000 c eeu ee eeee Taiwan Volunteer Youth Ministry (VYM) ............0..........22.. Total East Asia 200.000... eee eee South Asia India Lay Missionary for “Development” .......................5. Ordained Missionary for Theological Education Houseparents (Experienced Pastor and wife) ................ Sri Lanka Evangelistic Missionary Replacement ...................... Evangelistic Missionary Papua New Guinea Bible Translator .......00 0000.0 ccc ccc cc ete eee ee Region Pastor’ Teacher Medical Doctor Region Pastor Women’s Worker ... 00.0... 0.0 ccc cece tte e ee Total South Asia «662.00 Latin America Costa Rica Evangelistic Missionary Guatemala Venezuela ViC aT teens Evangelistic Missionary Evangelistic Missionary Evangelistic Missionary Urban Ministry se Ogoja ..... 0.02... Obot Idim Sem ..... 13 bees 10