# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S14
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

14 SYNODICAL REPORTS

Asia

South Korea

Vietnam

Asia

Work in Asia is coordinated with partner churches whenever
possible. In addition to planting churches through national leaders,
the Asia mission team
* works with partner churches to develop new methods for min-
istry:
concentrates ministry resources in Asia’s urban centers;

provides diversified ministries in closed or closing countries. By
providing trained professionals and humanitarian assistance pro-
grams, LCMS World Mission gains the opportunity to provide
assistance and spiritual guidance to those in need.

Each summer. 35-40 short-term volunteers teach English as a
Second Language (ESL) in China. Five long-term teachers serve
in Chinese universities.

Latin America

Haiti
C4 Puerto Rico

NEE Jamaica

Venezuela

Honduras R
Republic of Panama i

Paraguay

Uruguay

Argentina

Latin America

Large cities pose a tremendous challenge and opportunity in
Latin America. Mexico City has 25 million people; S40 Paulo, 17.5
million; Buenos Aires, 14 million; and Rio de Janeiro, 15 million.
Current strategies for penetrating cities include using radio and
other media, schools, and human-care ministry.

Another challenge comes from the increasing popularity of
cults, voodoo. animism, and Eastern religions in Latin America.

LCMS missionaries work directly in Panama, Guatemala, Mex-
ico, Venezuela, Jamaica, and Puerto Rico, and with Lutheran
churches in Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Chile, El Salvador, Haiti,
Honduras, and Paraguay.

LCMS World Mission also provides resources for partner
churches that send missionaries. For example, pastors from the
Brazil church serve in eight countries.

Europe/Central Asia

-—

Hungary

Europe/Central Asia

LCMS World Mission works with Lutheran churches in Europe
and Central Asia that have existed since the Reformation.

Five career missionaries serve in Kazakstan. One works with
the German house churches that survived decades of Marxist op-
pression. Four have started work among largely unchurched Russ-
ian and Kazak people. Short-term volunteer medical personnel help
staff a medical van in Kazakstan. Four volunteer ESL teachers
serve there now and 10 more are urgently needed.

Work in Russia is centered around Moscow, St. Petersburg,
Novosibirsk, and Nizhniy-Novgorod. Activities include the fol-
lowing:

* Teaching ESL and organizing Bible study groups in schools and
at Moscow State University. Five volunteers are involved in this
activity. Fifteen are needed.

¢ Distributing Bibles and other Christian literature.

Teaching theology in the seminaries of the Ingrian Lutheran
Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Russia and
Other States. Theological professors also are provided for the
newly formed seminary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of
Latvia.

* Publishing materials in both Russian and Kazak, including
Luther's Small Catechism, CPH Sunday school materials and a
Lutheran hymnal.

In Poland. Hungary, and the Slovak Republic, LCMS World

Mission

* provides 12 volunteers to teach ESL at Lutheran high schools;

¢ helps the church staff a home for disabled children;

* helps the church develop programs that train congregational
youth leaders;
* translates Christian materials and provides training so churches
can produce their own materials:
Hungary, Poland, and Romania are requesting additional vol-
unteer missionaries.

—w