# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1998_S16
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

16 SYNODICAL REPORTS

Proclaiming the Word in the first languages of new people
groups requires the work of dedicated servants like those at
Lutheran Bible Translators and the American Bible Society. LCMS

1996 1997 1998
Number of ALMA members by year

The Association of Lutheran Mission Agencies (ALMA) was
begun in 1996 to help LCMS related mission groups network
and coordinate their mission efforts with each other and LCMS
World Mission. . :

World Mission cooperates with these partners in ministry so the
Word of the Gospel may be heard and read to the ends of the earth.

Mission Strategies

LCMS World Mission personnel work from mission strategies
that have been carefully developed for each field. These strategies
include a purpose statement, a list of key impact points, a historical
review of work in the area, a vision for the future, and statements of
current and proposed methodology. Mission strategies are regularly
reviewed, evaluated and updated.

Personnel

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?
And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?
And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And
how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How

150- 74

120

60+ —

30F

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997

WHE Long-term volunteers

| Countries where volunteers serve

beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” (Rom.

10:14-15).

QO Career missionaries: One hundred sixty-three church planters,
leadership trainers, teachers, international educators, translators,
business managers, medical, and support personnel serve God
through LCMS World Mission.

Q Volunteers: In recent years the largest increase in the mission
work force has come from volunteers. Today, more than 130
long-term volunteers work in 29 countries. Thirty-eight Volun-
teer Youth Ministry workers serve in Taiwanese and Japanese
schools and churches. In addition, every year more than 130
short-term workers serve from two weeks to six months in loca-
tions around the world. ,

QO International Center staff: Twenty-seven executive full-time and
four part-time executive staff at the International Center remain
a relatively small number for the work involved.

Yet there is more to be done. There are 25 additional career
missionary positions to be filled, 60 positions in international
schools, and an ever-increasing number of volunteer positions.

Financial Support

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit
down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to com-
plete it?” (Luke 14:28).

The total 1997-98 Board for Mission Services (BFMS) budget
is $30,432,221, of which $5,006,000 represents the estimated value
of time donated by volunteers. Weekly offerings in LCMS congre-

Growth in Financial Support
for LCMS World Mission

25
20
15

10

in Millions

91-92

94-95

© Weekly Offerings @ Direct Gifts

gations provide 33 percent of the budget. The remaining 67 per-
cent is provided by direct gifts and legacies.