# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2007_S45
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

SYNOD REPORTS 45

Mission began work in Vietnam as a nongovernmental organization
(NGO) in 1995 in partnership with LCMS World Relief/Human Care,
as well as with Vietnamese institutions beginning work on the design
and implementation of projects to improve the standard of living, nu-
trition, health, and education for Vietnamese communities in Hanoi
and Phu Tho. As part of the celebrations, LCMS World Mission per-
sonnel received prestigious recognition and awards from the Viet-
namese government for “service toward the economy and society of
the province” and “service to the Vietnamese people in the area of
health and nutrition improvement.’”” LCMS World Mission’s work has
not gone unnoticed, and many have learned what the LCMS means
and whom we represent.

New Era in Cambodia Outreach Begins—For the first time,
LCMS resident missionaries were placed in Cambodia. Two career
missionaries, involved in mentoring pastors, evangelists, and teach-
ers; a long-term volunteer missionary; and an outreach intern each
began their service in Cambodia in 2005, 2006, and 2007, respec-
tively. New statistics reveal that Christianity has risen from | per-
cent to 2 percent in Buddhist Cambodia. The Holy Spirit is
inspiring many churches and individuals to share the hope of the
salvation of our Living Lord. In one village, LCMS missionaries
shared God’s Word with more than 200 unreached people. Open
Gate Christian Fellowship, an LCMS World Mission mission part-
ner, reported that from October to December 2005, 6,087 Cambo-
dians heard the Good News message. Of that number, 531 people
were touched by the Holy Spirit and became believers!

Indonesia Opportunities—Since the 2004 tsunami in South
Asia, doors opened for LCMS World Mission to meet the long-
term education and human care needs of the people of Aceh, In-
donesia. A career education and human care worker is building
relationships and coordinating efforts in the region. Long-term and
short-term individuals, as well as short-term teams have regularly
served the area providing a series of English teacher workshops,
ongoing English, science, and music teacher training, sports clinics,
and more. As relationships have developed, so have opportunities
to share God’s love.

Luther Institute of Southeast Asia—In November 2006, at
Into Light Lutheran Church, Bangkok, Thailand, Rev. Dr. Leonard
Harms was installed as the executive director of the Luther Institute
of Southeast Asia (LISA) and Rev. Sampong Harnpradit was in-
stalled as the coordinator of LISA. LISA is involved in theologi-
cal education in Thailand, Cambodia, and other southeast Asian
countries. Dr. Harms had served as the executive director of the
mission board of the Lutheran Church—Canada. Rev. Harnpradit
is a Thai native and serves in the local church.

Districts Affirm Ablaze! and Set Their Own Ablaze! Goals—
LCMS World Mission and World Mission Support staff provided
an Ablaze! presence at all 35 LCMS district conventions in the
spring and summer of 2006. A few highlights include:
¢ New England District theme was “Outreach New England:

Ablaze! in Jesus,” and delegates voted to set the goal of 500,000
critical events by 2017.

* Florida-Georgia District delegates voted to commit to the Synod’s
Ablaze! movement by sharing the Gospel with 2 million people,
Starting at least 200 missions, and recruiting at least 22 congre-
gations to become more “mission-driven” by 2017.

* South Wisconsin District theme was “Ablazing Grace from an
Amazing God—Developing People and Places of Purpose.” Del-
egates voted to affirm the urgency of the Synod’s Ablaze! move-
ment and set a district goal of sharing the Gospel with 1.5 million
unreached or uncommitted people in Wisconsin.

¢ Rocky Mountain District theme was “Igniting Church and Cul-
ture for Christ” and delegates voted to support Ablaze!, accept-
ing a challenge to reach | million unreached or uncommitted
people by 2017.

In the Northern Illinois District, more than 3,500 Lutherans met
in DeKalb, Illinois, for “Ignite the Fire!” in September 2006 to
launch Ablaze! and GroupsAblaze! throughout the district. The
NID also set up the People Ablaze! Web site and Sparks newsletter
to share Ablaze! news, ideas, resources, and more.

Asia Ablaze! Summit—Approximately half of the world’s pop-
ulation lives in Asia, including three of the four most populous na-
tions—China, India, and Indonesia. More than 280 Lutheran
workers—expatriate missionaries and national leaders—from these
and 11 other Asian nations, as well as the United States and Ger-
many, met Nov. 25-27, 2005, in Hong Kong at the Asia Ablaze!
Summit. The history-making gathering was initiated by the LCMS
World Mission Asia Management Team in collaboration with The
Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod and the Asia International
Lutheran Council to motivate, embolden, and better equip Luther-
ans working in Asia. The impact of such a diverse and eclectic
gathering was felt by participants during small-group discussions
and individual conversations.

The Asia Management Team made this assessment, “Already
our partner churches, missionaries, volunteers, and individuals are
planning ways to engage laypeople and professionals in new ‘will
share’ strategies and building new relationships as never before to
multiply the ministry of the Gospel in Asia. Asia Lutherans are
picking up the mantle of global outreach igniting the world with
the love of Christ.”

The Wittenberg Project—Since summer 2006, LCMS World
Mission has been part of a partnership to reestablish a Lutheran
congregation in Wittenberg, Germany, where there is none now
and where no more than 10 percent of the population is Christian.
Our partners in this endeavor—it also will provide hospitality to
Lutherans and others who visit this city most associated with Mar-
tin Luther—are LCMS World Relief and Human Care, Concordia
Publishing House, and the Independent Evangelical Lutheran
Church (SELK), our partner church in Germany.

LCMS World Mission Receives Globe Award from Ameri-
can Bible Society—The New York-based American Bible Society
(ABS) presented its Globe Award in December 2005 to LCMS
World Mission for “significant support of the Bible cause.” ABS
President Paul G. Irwin said, “LCMS World Mission, as our part-
ner, has enabled the Bible Society to pursue the mission of reaching
all people everywhere so that everyone will have the opportunity to
experience the life-changing message of the Bible.”

Kermit Almstedt, Chairman
Robert Roegner, Executive Director

2007 Convention Workbook