# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_1973_S15 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) MISSIONS 15 And yet in the reports of what has been accomplished and what is being planned for the future, even with so little money available, the consecration and commitment of individual Chris- tians and congregations and mission leaders in your own District, in other North American Districts and in sister churches across the sea, becomes apparent to all. At this convention we truly ask the Lord to “take us” —that is, to accept us, to forgive us, in spite of our failure to give our- selves fully to Him and to His mission. In His acceptance and forgiveness, in the treasure store of the love He constantly pours at our feet, we can pledge ourselves anew —as individuals, as a board, and as a Synod—to be “wholly, wholly, wholly” — “ever, only, all for Him.” BOARD FOR MISSIONS Waldo J. Werning, Chairman William H. Kohn, Executive Secretary APPENDIX A Reports from Overseas Churches and Missions 1. The India Evangelical Lutheran Church Major Problems The IELC is the youngest of all the nine Lutheran churches in India. It started its mission work mostly among the backward communities of the country. The IELC has worked hard to gain increasing strength in membership, leadership, and impact on the surrounding country. There have been strong influences on the life of the church, however, which have made growth difficult and have hindered progress toward our goal of re- sponsible autonomy under the Gospel, such as: 1) The challenge of secularism as it rapidly gains foothold in minds and hearts of Indian youth especially. 2) The attitude of dependence upon Western forms, thought patterns and material aid. 3) Too close an identity with the church in the West has hindered us at times from making a genuine indigenous re- sponse to the Gospel. 4) Government withdrawal of educational and other conces- sions hitherto enjoyed by Christians has placed severe obstacles in the way of those who would be favorably disposed to Chris- tianity. This additional burden on the economy of the average Christian family, together with droughts and failure of monsoon rains, has been a cause of discouragement in the efforts to reach financial autonomy and “self-support” for ministry, especially in rural areas. 5) At this stage we hear of the Government bill on the limitation of foreign money, the attitude of the Government in restricting foreign personnel to serve with the Christian church or community and the Board for Missions’ decreasing subsidy help to the church. The leadership which hitherto rested on the missionaries is to be shouldered by nationals. This is really a challenge to the national church. Reasons to Rejoice and Give Thanks Among the chief reasons for thanks and encouragement in the IELC we can list: 1) Significant blessings in evangelistic endeavors in all three synods. 2) Growing numbers of laymen better equipped through various lay training programs and_ short-term theological training. 3) Increase in the level of education of the common people and also in the number of college graduates and professional people. 4) Increased production of Christian literature for lay train- ing and out-reach purposes— mostly produced by members of the IELC and geared to the needs of the church in India. 5) Opportunities for leadership training in various fields of service—theology, medicine, social work, education, and administration. 6) Membership in the Federation of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in India has brought the IELC into closer fellowship with eight other Lutheran churches in India and has opened up new sharing opportunities for mutual fellowship and cooperation. Plans and Hopes for the Future The IELC looks forward to a period of progress on several fronts. There are various efforts at ongoing evaluation of church life— theological and lay training, socio-economic development projects, ministry of healing, education and literature produc- tion, as well as in the enriching of congregational worship and new efforts at evangelism in areas adjacent to existing con- gregations and in new areas. In an age of growing secularization and materialism, there is a challenge to help youth to relate the power of the Gospel to their daily lives so that they will remain loyal to Christ and help win others. Also to meet the rising cost of church administration and ministry in a country with gigantic economic problems, popula- tion explosion, and social change will require every resource which the IELC can enlist and equip so that every member of the church can face his fellow-Indian citizens with dignity arising out of his or her identity in Christ—and no longer dependent upon Western leadership or direction, but more intimately linked in fellowship and interdependence with fellow Christians faced with common objectives and empowered by the same Holy Spirit. Lazerus Abraham Raj, President. IELC (Rev. G. Thomas Edward is the new President of the IELC, elected in February 1973.) 2. Lutheran Church of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) Major Developments During the past 2 years the highlight of the activities of the Lutheran Church in Sri Lanka was the ordination of two Ceylonese pastors on Feb. 4, 1971. The Lutheran Council of Sri Lanka was formed in the spring of 1971, and these laymen are learning to shoulder their responsibilities. The ground work has been almost completed for the estab- lishment of three new Christian congregations on other planta- tions in the Hatton and Nuwara Eliya Districts. In Colombo Rev. Philipdas has attempted to develop the “church-in-the- home” type ministry, by organizing evening meetings in various areas of this capital city. Major Problems Typical of modern Asia, Sri Lanka is a society in transition and in search of self-identity. There is an unmistakable drift toward a socialist ordering of society. A revolution by violence was attempted by a radical youth movement in the spring of 1971, and the country was under a 3-month curfew with clashes in many districts. Since this outbreak of insurgency, pessimism has flourished: suspicion and mistrust have spread like the plague; the economy of the nation has suffered severely: many capable well-trained agriculturalists and other professional people have left the Island. These problems have had an effect on the Christian’s life of ministry in Sri Lanka. Reasons to Rejoice and Give Thanks The major joy that has been experienced is that in spite of and/or because of the great problems we as Christians are yet enabled to see the God-given opportunities. The unique op- portunity that the Lutheran Church of Sri Lanka has is that she has two young pastors who have come from the tea plantation community, among whom a part of our ministry takes place. These men know from bitter experience the problems and needs of their people. These two men are capable of speaking to and writing for this community. These two men have been called and commissioned for this ministry to the plantation community. Plans and Hopes for the Future Christians in Sri Lanka cannot be content with yesterday’s answers to today’s and tomorrow’s problems. By means of creative flexibility each problem as it arises in the plantation sector or the urban society can be met with a God-pleasing solu- tion. New situations and new opportunities demand new forms of ministry. It is our challenge to wrestle with the Lord of the church and demand new direction and insight from His prom- ised Holy Spirit. The future of the Sri Lanka Lutheran Church is one of expansion and outreach; of experimentation in commend- ing the Gospel of God’s abundant love and forgiveness to people in all walks of life; of lay leadership training programs; of tract writing and planned distribution; and of social service wherever possible with the people rather than for the people.