# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2019_S123
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

2. INTERNATIONAL WITNESS
WHEREAS, The Office of International Mission (OIM)
currently has 26 full-time missionaries with 21
accompanying family members as well as one alliance
missionary serving in the Eurasia region; and
WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) sponsors many joint theological workshops for
clergy and laity of partner and emerging partner church
bodies throughout the region; and
WHEREAS, These workshops are vital for the mutual
consolation of our brethren in this highly secular region in
the world; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS has two missionaries and two
theological educator missionaries working in cooperation
with the seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Ingria in Russia; and
WHEREAS, In Germany, OIM is involved with strategic
mercy work among refugees alongside our partner church,
the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK), and
oversees with the spiritual care of deployed U.S. Military
personnel and expatriates; and
WHEREAS, The region is collaborating with LCMS
districts and congregations and partner churches to
provide pastoral formation for Middle Eastern Lutherans in
closed countries; and
WHEREAS, The OIM recognizes the significant challenge
of missionary work in Eurasia, the birthplace of the
Reformation, and is working to reconnect a post-Christian
people to their Christian heritage; therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod commend the OIM for its continued
work in the Eurasia region; and be it further
Resolved, That Synod in convention give thanks to God for
the Eurasia region missionaries, their families, supporters,
and regional director Rev. James Krikava.
Action: Adopted (5)
Without discussion, the resolution was adopted [Yes: 744; No: 1].

To Give Thanks to God for the Work
of the Office of International Mission
in the Africa Region
RESOLUTION 2-05
Report R1.2 (CW, 16–37)

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, In 1928 Jonathan Ekong came to the United
States seeking a church that would teach the Word of God
in its purity and also help establish good schools in Nigeria;
and
Resolutions

WHEREAS, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) is active in 25 African nations, working with seven
partner churches, 29 full-time missionaries deployed by the
Office of International Mission (OIM) with 46
accompanying family members; and
WHEREAS, The OIM has deployed five mercy medical
teams in fiscal year 2019, engaging in both wellness and
general health awareness as well as spiritual care; and
WHEREAS, The African region of the OIM has partnered
with LCMS congregations to send short-term teams to
Africa resulting in long-term relationships; and
WHEREAS, Numerous African church bodies, both
English- and French-speaking, have requested fellowship
with the LCMS; and
WHEREAS, Theological education remains a priority in the
Africa region through numerous seminaries and Bible
institutes for pastoral, deaconess, and evangelist
formation; and
WHEREAS, The LCMS has worked for many years to create
theological literature and hymnals in multiple countries
and languages; and
WHEREAS, The OIM is dedicated to spreading the Gospel
far and wide and planting churches by the leading of the
Holy Spirit in His Word; therefore be it
Resolved, That Synod commend the OIM for its continued
work in the Africa region; and be it further
Resolved, That Synod in convention give thanks to God for
the Africa region missionaries, their families, supporters,
and the region’s directors Rev. Gary Schulte and Rev.
Shauen Trump.
Action: Adopted (8)
The resolution was adopted, without discussion and
unanimously, by a rising voice vote.

To Encourage Support of Short-Term
International Mission Activities
RESOLUTION 2-06
Overtures 2-02–08 (CW, 392–97)

WHEREAS, The congregations of the Synod have shown
great zeal in sending short-term teams; and
WHEREAS, Short-term mission often serves as a positive
influence in the mission field; and
WHEREAS, The Commission on Constitutional Matters
(CCM) has addressed short-term mission in a 2015 opinion:
“The Synod itself, in keeping with its foreign missions
jurisdiction, has addressed matters related to short-term
mission efforts by requiring the creation of the short-term
missions document [2013 Res. 1-08, “To Work Together in
Mission,” Proceedings, p. 103]. Hence, … the Synod itself has
already made this distinction between short- and longPROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 123