# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S18 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 18 SYNODICAL REPORTS Our missionaries know that in taking the Gospel out into the various regions of the world they can expect to encounter a whole range of disagreement with God’s message of salvation—whether that be atheism, agnosticism, Islam, Buddhism, animism, or an- other religion, or an “anything goes” indifference in a sometimes tolerant, sometimes not so tolerant, pluralistic society. Christians don’t need to go far from home to experience the var- ied religious climate of today. Just consider the growing number of immigrants to the United States and the wide variety of lan- guages and cultures from which they come to “small-town USA” as well as to the major urban areas of our country. At least 250 languages are now spoken in the United States as a result of recent immigration. The task may seem overwhelming. The Lord of the church would have us look at it not as “mission impossible,” but as “mission do-able,” mission—now! The challenge is great. The task is urgent. But with the Lord’s help, LCMS World Mission can rise to the occasion and continue to do its share. His promise is for real: “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:20b). Your Missionary People The Synod can thank the Lord for the more than 400 missionary adults and 130 missionary children who respond to the Board’s call for service overseas with the confidence of St. Paul: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the sal- vation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gen- tile’ (Rom. 1:16). The increased mobility and flexibility of our fast-paced society today has changed the availability of people qualified for mission- ary service. As a result, seven types of service have been designed to accommodate different categories of missionaries: career mis- sionary; short-term missionary; vicars; Volunteer Youth Ministry (VYM),; international educator; long-term volunteer (six plus months) and short-term volunteer (up to six months). Their assignments range from cross-cultural evangelism in the language of the people to training national leaders chosen locally by their own people to serve as a Christian witness with special tal- ents and skills to share. This may include teaching English, training or helping in the area of agriculture, health care, mission business management, etc, Each missionary, as the Holy Spirit enables, is determined to make known God’s love, forgiveness, and salvation in Christ Jesus. 223 |. Asia 69 Europe & Central Asia 52 Latin America 6 North America This chart represents missionaries serving with LCMS World Mission in 200]. The number reflects the total of the seven types of missionaries previously listed. “ For more information—Prayer cards for LCMS missionar- ies may be downloaded at www.Icmsworldmission.org. 2001 Convention Workbook To the Ends of the Earth At the time of this report, LCMS World Mission is working in 67 countries, including North America. There are four types of “Relationship Status” between LCMS World Mission and coun- tries in which it works. Status | Denotes current direct work by missionaries of LCMS World Mission and trained national workers in 23 countries, including the United States, listed as follows with the year the work was begun. United States (1847); Sr Lanka (1927); Panama (1941); Guatemala (1947); Lebanon (1950); Venezuela (1951); Honduras (1961); Liberia (1978); Togo (1980); Sierra Leone (1983); Thailand (1986); Macau (1988); Céte d'Ivoire (1991); Russia (1992); Haiti (1993); Jamaica (1993); Kazakhstan (1993); Puerto Rico (1993); Vietnam (1995); Guinea (1996); Kyrgyzstan (1998); Laos (1999); Myanmar (1999) Status 2 Denotes work carried on with a partner church, that is, with a church body that has a mutually-agreed formal relationship with LCMS World Mission (also 23 countries). Denmark (1882); India (1895); United Kingdom (1896); Brazil (1900); Argentina (1905); France/Belgium (1927); Finland (1928); Nigeria (1936); Paraguay (1938); Mexico (1940); Philippines (1946); Papua New Guinea (1948); Japan (1948); Hong Kong (1950); Taiwan (ROC) (1951); Ghana (1958); South Korea (1958); Chile (1960); Germany (1972); Botswana (1981); South Africa (1981); Canada (1986)