LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Page 8

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8 MISSIONS

kirchen). The Bleckmar Mission is the mission agency of the
Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church (SELK—Selbd-
staendige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche), whichis in fellow-
ship with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. The invita-
tion is for entering into partnership with them for meeting the
new challenges of God’s open doors in Botswana, South Africa.

Although Christian mission work has been carried on since
the early 1800s, 65": of the population are still animists. In the
area to which we are being called, very few if any Christian
congregations exist. On the basis of a ‘““Memo of Mutual
Understanding” and an “Agreement for Loaning of Personnel”

between the BFM and the Bleckmar Mission the board has

resolved to recruit and call three missionaries for the following

_ assignments: (1) evangelistic missionary for Khakea, Kalahan
Region of Botswana to reach out to the Tswana and Bushmen
peoples of this area: (2) evangelistic missionary for Jwaneng
and in the surrounding Tswana settlements; (3) evangelistic
missionary to serve as instructor and developer of leadership
training of church leaders at the levels of catechist and
evangelist for the new congregations emerging in Botswana.
We ask God’s blessing upon this opportunity to move Forward
through these new open doors.

Middle East

Since 1980 the Board for Missions has discontinued sending
expatriate missionaries to Lebanon in favor of supporting the
well-developed Middle East Lutheran Ministry (MELM) which
is under the direction of Mr. Moris Jahshan. He also serves as
the Lutheran Hour Branch Manager for that region. The
national staff of MELM consists of eight persons, plus one
part-time worker. “Bringing Christ to the Nations” is broad-
cast over three stations. In addition to a Bible correspondence
program there are cassettes and indigenous religious song
projects for broadcast and distribution.

Europe
France

Population: 53.6 million; population growth rate: 0.3%.

In 1979 The Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of
France and Belgium received a request from a number of young
men in Zaire, Central Africa, to enroll in their seminary at
Chatenay- Malabry, a suburb southwest of Paris. They wanted
to become Lutheran pastors and return as missionaries to their

own country. Excitement and interest ran high through the
leadership and membership of this small partner church. Ina
step of faith two young men were brought up and enrolled in
the seminary. Since that time one more has been enrolled.

Meetings have been held between Professor Kreiss, Pres-
ident Bohy, and the Board for Missions staff, planning how we
can walk together through this door the Lord has opened in
Zaire. A jointly sponsored survey trip will be conducted in
September 1981 to determine among which unreached tribes
work is to begin. One of the students, who will graduate from
the seminary in August 1982, will accompany the survey party.
One of the pastors of The Evangelical Lutheran Church~
Synod of France and Belgium has been given acall to assist in
opening the work in Zaire.

Begun in 1927 The Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod
of France and Belgium today consists of 14 parishes—7 in
Alsace, 4 in Paris and suburbs, 1 in Prailles, 1 in Dunkerque
and 1 in Antwerp—numbering 1,100 souls served by 10 pastors.
An aggressive program of outreach, spurred on by two pastors
attending an evangelism clinic in the U.S., will enable this
church to move forward in spreading the Gospel. Our partner-
ship and support are essential to this Forward thrust.

Denmark

Population: 5.1 million; population growth rate: 0.2%.

Oct. 25 and 26, 1980, were memorable days in the life of the
Evangelical Lutheran Free Church of Denmark. On Saturday,
Oct. 25, this little partner church celebrates its 125th anniver-
sary. Services were held in Martins Church in Copenhagen,
and Dr. Paul Michael, the president and the only pastor of the
church, spoke of the many blessings the Lord has showered on
this little church. He expressed gratitude to The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod forits partnership and support since
1900. On the following day in a two-hour festive service Leif

Jensen was ordained into the holy ministry. Pastor Jensen, the
first pastor ordained in the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church
of Denmark, will assume the pastorate and leadership of the
church upon the retirement of Dr. Michael at the end of 1980.
With evangelistic evening meetings, Bible studies, youth
meetings, posters, tracts, and Sunday School, the Evangelical
Lutheran Free Church of Denmark seeks to continue its
witness to the Gospel of Christ in a land where 93% of the
population are considered to be members of the official state
church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark.

England

Population: 55.8 million; population growth rate: 0.1%.

In acountry where the official growth rate of all churches is
at zero or below, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England
reported a 2.8% annual growth from 1969 to 1978. Dr. E. George
Pearce, the chairman, admits this is below their 30-year
master-plan projections of an annual 10% growth rate, but is
grateful to the Lord for continuing to add members to the small
church body. A concentrated effort for evangelism in all 16
congregations is under way. Plans call for intensive training in
evangelism and witnessing techniques for all pastors and
members. To meet the present shortage of pastors a “twinning”
(dual parish) proposal has been implemented.

One part of the 30-year master plan is on target—to continue
to reduce the reliance uopn The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod for financial assistance. Only the church in Liverpool is
without a permanent church building. Two more churches are
planned for the greater London area. Then the goal of every
person in London being within a 30-minute drive of a Lutheran
church will be realized.

The Polish Lutheran Church in Exile, with headquarters in
London, continues to minister to Polish Lutherans in exile. In
fellowship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England,
Bishop Fierla continues to serve a wide parish with churches in
England, France, Germany, and the United States. Both
churches need our prayers and support as they seek to move
Forward with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Asia
India

Population: 676.2 million; population growth rate: 1.9%.

The India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC), Rev.
P. Philipdhas, president, is the outgrowth of Missouri Synod
mission work begun by missionary Theodore Naether in 1895.
The IELC formally organized in 1958 and was recognized as a
partner church at the 1959 Convention of the Synod in San
Francisco.

Over 80% of India’s population is Hindu. Muslims, scattered
throughout the country, make up 11% of the population.
Christians, numbering 14.2 million, comprise only 3.3% of the
population and live mostly in the southern part of the country.

The part of India in which the IELC is concentrated is the
southernmost section, from the area of Bangalore to the
southern tip, from Madras to Bombay, in three states. In this
region are 70 million people, 800 to the square mile, of whom
97% are not Christian.

It is difficult if not virtually im possible for new evangelistic
missionaries to secure entry into India. As a result the
expatriate missionary staff has been declining in number.
Occasionally missionaries with specialized skills or assign-
ments (medical doctors, nurses, houseparents, teachers for
missionary children) are able to enter.

One special project of outreach evangelism is the Christian
Arts and Communication Service (CACS), located in Madras.
A joint project of the IELC, assisted by the LCMS and the
International Lutheran Laymen’s League, CACS attempts to
reach the masses of India through radio, music, drama,
cinema, and TV. The media center also uses tracts, rallies,
Bible correspondence and cassettes. The IELC also operates a
variety of institutions: educational, medical, and theological.

The IELC has had to face many difficulties such as
economic stringency, caste problems, administrative weak-
nesses, etc. Even so, the Lord has continued to bless the faithful
preaching of the Word and the administration of the sacra-
ments and has continued to add believers to His church.

In keeping with the mission goals and objectives of the