# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S121
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

2. INTERNATIONAL WITNESS
To Thank God for 125 Years
of International Mission through
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

The resolution was adopted in a rising vote, culminating with
the singing of the Common Doxology and recognition of those
with present and past missionary service.

RESOLUTION 2-01

To Give Thanks to God for the Work
of the Office of International Mission
in the Asia Region

Report R1.2 (CW, 16–71); Overture 2-02 (CW, 392)

WHEREAS, In 1893 the German Evangelical Lutheran
Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States (now known as
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod [LCMS]) in
convention resolved to begin international mission work;
and
WHEREAS, In 1894 Rev. Theodore Naether was called to be
the Synod’s first official missionary (Heather C. Smith,
“Theodore Naether,” The Lutheran Witness, Jan. 2019); and
WHEREAS, In January 1895 Rev. Naether arrived in India,
began preaching, establishing Lutheran schools, and
writing tracts; and
WHEREAS, We are blessed today to continue interacting
with the descendants (natural and theological) of what our
Lord accomplished through Rev. Naether; and
WHEREAS, There are currently approximately 130 fulltime missionaries and about 225 accompanying family
members spread over some 90 nations; and
WHEREAS, The planting of churches and raising up of
pastors and church workers has resulted in the formation
of 35+ partner church bodies; and
WHEREAS, In fiscal year 2019 there were 50 short-term
volunteers and 300+ individuals who served as members of
short-term teams; and
WHEREAS, There are currently 1,900+ congregations of
Synod financially supporting LCMS Office of International
Mission (OIM) missionaries; and
WHEREAS, International mission work through the LCMS
has been blessed for the past 125 years and the Holy Spirit
continues to bless the work of international missionaries;
therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod in convention give thanks to God for
the international missionaries past and present, for the
OIM, and for the Synod’s previous international missionary
sending and supporting agencies; and be it further
Resolved, That all current and former internationally
deployed missionaries in attendance stand and be
recognized; and be it finally
Resolved, That Synod in convention stand and sing the
common doxology in thanksgiving for the past 125 years of
international work.
Action: Adopted (1)

RESOLUTION 2-02
Report R1.2 (CW, 31–32)

WHEREAS, The Great Commission of Matthew 28 has
been and will until the Last Day remain the heart of the
Church’s mission, to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
all nations; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) has been engaged in mission work in the Asia
region since 1895; and
WHEREAS, The Asia region extends from remote villages
in Papua New Guinea to modern metropolises such as Hong
Kong; and
WHEREAS, Many of our partner churches in the Asia
region are the fruit of first-generation LCMS missionary
work; and
WHEREAS, The Office of International Mission (OIM)
currently has 29 full-time missionaries with 75
accompanying family members serving in the Asia region;
and

Committee 2 Chairman Peter Lange
Resolutions

PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 121