# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1983_S5 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MISSIONS, EVANGELISM. AND SOCIAL MINISTRY to begin (Matt. 9:36-38). Becoming well informed of opportuni- ties and needs for the Lord's work is another important step to help us become excited and in faith to respond by supporting and finding ways to do His work. Our world of the ’80s has a population which has already exceeded 4! billion people. and the number is still growing. The predictions are that the population will double again by the year 2020. Accordingly. the awareness we are cultivating and the mission momentum we are developing must increase many times over. This we want to do in joyful obedience to the Lord’s command to preach the Gospel ‘‘to make disciples of all nations.” The 1979 convention of the Synod resolved to adopt the following world mission goals for the ‘80s. 1. To encourage and assist African and European partner churches‘ mission fields to increase membership (1979 Proceedings, p. 88, Res. 1-03A); 2. To encourage and assist Asian partner churches mis- sion fields to increase membership (1979 Proceedings. p. 88, Res. 1-04A): 3. Toencourage and assist partnerchurches mission fields in Latin America to increase membership (1979 Proceed- ings, pp. 88—89, Res. 1-05A); 4. Toencourage and assist partnerchurches mission fields toincrease their mission outreach(1979 Proceedings. pp. 89—90, Res. 1-06A); 5. To establish functioning church extension fund pro- grams in ten partner churches mission fields (1979 Proceedings, p. 90, Res. 1-07); 6. To help develop sound accounting practices in partner churches ‘mission fields (1979 Proceedings, p. 90, Res. 1-08); . To open ten new mission fields overseas in the 1980s (1979 Proceedings. p. 94, Res. 1-18A); 8. To begin literacy and Bible translation work on ten spoken languages not vet reduced to writing (1979 Pro- ceedings, pp. 94—95, Res. 1-19). The Executive Coordinating Committee. which has re- sponsibility for developing a master plan for the Synod, has at this stage in its work incorporated the above world mission goals into its planning as follows: 1. By the end of the decade the Synod will have begun work in 10 unreached areas of the world (one new area each year) in order to share the Gospel of Christ with the 3.1 billion people who do not yet put their trust in Him; 2. By the end of the decade the Synod will have begun language analysis, Bible translation, and literacy work in 10 of the world’s 3,518 unwritten languages (one new language each year); 3. By the end of the decade the Synod will have increased the size of its missionary force of pastors, teachers, and lay people at work in world areas from 148 to 500 workers (approximately 35 additional workers each year) and will have supported partner churches in developing their strategy for recruiting and training national workers in a strong program of theological education; 4. By theend of the decade the Synod, ina servant role, will have supported partner churches in their efforts to establish active mission boards and aggressive programs of outreach with the Gospel of Christ, built upon their own short- and long-range goals and strategies to meet those goals; 5. By 1985 the Synod will have developed, implemented, and tested its plans for keeping each congregation of the Synod adequately informed about opportunities and challenges in witnessing for Christ to people throughout the world. From the world area reports that follow it will be apparent .\, that the Board for Mission Services regards these goals as a mandate from the Synod and a challenge to move ahead under the blessing of God. WORLD AREAS For background information: 1. 1981 Statistical Yearbook, published 1982 a. World Mission Statistics, pages 248-266 b. World Mission Notes, pages 267—274 we 2. Convention Workbooks a. 1979, pages 7—22 b. 1981, pages 6—18 3. The Lutheran Annual 1983 a. Overseas Churches and Missions, pages 370—377 b. Principal Stations in World Areas, pages 516—520 Africa/ Europe/Middle East Botswana “Come to Botswana and help us.” This Macedonian call came from Dr. Jobst Schoene. who represented the Inde- pendent Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany at the 1979 convention of the Synod in St. Louis. He spoke of the tre- mendous challenge from its partner church, the Lutheran Church of Southern Africa in Botswana, related through the German church's Bleckmar Mission. The German church had no resources for further expansion of its work, although village after village was requesting that the Gospel be brought to them. Through a series of events, God opened the door for the LCMS to provide missionaries and resources for new work for the outreach of the Lutheran Church of Southern Africa in Botswana. During 1980 a survey of the proposed unreached areas was made. By 1981 a ‘memo of mutual understanding” was developed and approved by the BFMS and the Bleckmar Mission. Lutheran Church of Southern Africa. In September 1981 the BFMS authorized the release of $101,713 in capital funds from FIR money for building and equipment needed for opening of new work in Botswana. The release of additional funds as needed for the support of three missionaries over a five-year period was also approved (FIR $226,071.35 plus $55,020.65 from the Lutheran Foundation). Since that time two missionaries (experienced LCMS pas- tors) and their families accepted calls from the BFMS. After a six-month program of orientation and language study at UCLA and a one-month period of familiarization with the Bleckmar Mission headquarters in Germany, the Erickson and Bartel families arrived in Botswana. where they continue to study the Tswana language. In July 1983 missionary Robert Bartel is to be assigned to Khakkea for planting churches among the Kalagadi and Bushman peoples. Missionary John Erickson is to be assigned to evangelism among the laborers at the mines in Jwaneng and among the Tswana people in nearby villages. A third LCMS missionary was called at the time of this writing (Jan. 83) for developing leadership training at Kanye in Botswana. As we look ahead there may be another language area in Botswana where the BFMS would be asked to provide a missionary. Participation will depend on the outcome of a thorough survey. Ghana Under the grace and divine protection of God the Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of Ghana continues its work unin- terrupted, though in difficult and uncertain political and economic circumstances in that country. Church attendance has remained steady: contributions have actually increased over the previous years. The ELCG, under the leadership of its president, realizes the need to expand its evangelistic efforts among other tribes of northern Ghana, for example, among the Konkomba and ethnic groups such as Manprussi, Dagomba, and Kussasi. The roads in that area are poor. Gasoline is scarce. A survey could take up to six months. The church, faithful to the Lord, is in need of our prayers. Liberia The Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Liberia is now firmly established, with bases at Vahun among the Mende people and in Monrovia, the capital city. In 1981 it was decided on the basis ofa survey that the mission was ready to extend its work to the Kisi people. Once again, the Lord of the church through His people is making this possible. From Forward in Remem- brance the BFMS in October 1982 approved the funding of $193,049 to support two missionaries for the Kisi church planting project for a period of 36 months.