LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1983, Page 5

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MISSIONS, EVANGELISM. AND SOCIAL MINISTRY

to begin (Matt. 9:36-38). Becoming well informed of opportuni-
ties and needs for the Lord's work is another important step to
help us become excited and in faith to respond by supporting
and finding ways to do His work.

Our world of the ’80s has a population which has already
exceeded 4! billion people. and the number is still growing.
The predictions are that the population will double again by
the year 2020. Accordingly. the awareness we are cultivating
and the mission momentum we are developing must increase
many times over. This we want to do in joyful obedience to the
Lord’s command to preach the Gospel ‘‘to make disciples of all
nations.”

The 1979 convention of the Synod resolved to adopt the
following world mission goals for the ‘80s.

1. To encourage and assist African and European partner
churches‘ mission fields to increase membership (1979
Proceedings, p. 88, Res. 1-03A);

2. To encourage and assist Asian partner churches mis-
sion fields to increase membership (1979 Proceedings. p.
88, Res. 1-04A):

3. Toencourage and assist partnerchurches mission fields
in Latin America to increase membership (1979 Proceed-
ings, pp. 88—89, Res. 1-05A);

4. Toencourage and assist partnerchurches mission fields
toincrease their mission outreach(1979 Proceedings. pp.
89—90, Res. 1-06A);

5. To establish functioning church extension fund pro-
grams in ten partner churches mission fields (1979
Proceedings, p. 90, Res. 1-07);

6. To help develop sound accounting practices in partner
churches ‘mission fields (1979 Proceedings, p. 90, Res.
1-08);

. To open ten new mission fields overseas in the 1980s
(1979 Proceedings. p. 94, Res. 1-18A);

8. To begin literacy and Bible translation work on ten

spoken languages not vet reduced to writing (1979 Pro-
ceedings, pp. 94—95, Res. 1-19).

The Executive Coordinating Committee. which has re-
sponsibility for developing a master plan for the Synod, has at
this stage in its work incorporated the above world mission
goals into its planning as follows:

1. By the end of the decade the Synod will have begun work
in 10 unreached areas of the world (one new area each year) in
order to share the Gospel of Christ with the 3.1 billion people
who do not yet put their trust in Him;

2. By the end of the decade the Synod will have begun
language analysis, Bible translation, and literacy work in 10 of
the world’s 3,518 unwritten languages (one new language each
year);

3. By the end of the decade the Synod will have increased
the size of its missionary force of pastors, teachers, and lay
people at work in world areas from 148 to 500 workers
(approximately 35 additional workers each year) and will have
supported partner churches in developing their strategy for
recruiting and training national workers in a strong program
of theological education;

4. By theend of the decade the Synod, ina servant role, will
have supported partner churches in their efforts to establish
active mission boards and aggressive programs of outreach
with the Gospel of Christ, built upon their own short- and
long-range goals and strategies to meet those goals;

5. By 1985 the Synod will have developed, implemented,
and tested its plans for keeping each congregation of the Synod
adequately informed about opportunities and challenges in
witnessing for Christ to people throughout the world.

From the world area reports that follow it will be apparent

.\, that the Board for Mission Services regards these goals as a

mandate from the Synod and a challenge to move ahead under
the blessing of God.

WORLD AREAS

For background information:
1. 1981 Statistical Yearbook, published 1982
a. World Mission Statistics, pages 248-266
b. World Mission Notes, pages 267—274

we

2. Convention Workbooks
a. 1979, pages 7—22
b. 1981, pages 6—18
3. The Lutheran Annual 1983
a. Overseas Churches and Missions, pages 370—377
b. Principal Stations in World Areas, pages 516—520

Africa/ Europe/Middle East
Botswana

“Come to Botswana and help us.” This Macedonian call
came from Dr. Jobst Schoene. who represented the Inde-
pendent Evangelical Lutheran Church of Germany at the 1979
convention of the Synod in St. Louis. He spoke of the tre-
mendous challenge from its partner church, the Lutheran
Church of Southern Africa in Botswana, related through the
German church's Bleckmar Mission. The German church had
no resources for further expansion of its work, although village
after village was requesting that the Gospel be brought to
them.

Through a series of events, God opened the door for the
LCMS to provide missionaries and resources for new work for
the outreach of the Lutheran Church of Southern Africa in
Botswana. During 1980 a survey of the proposed unreached
areas was made. By 1981 a ‘memo of mutual understanding”
was developed and approved by the BFMS and the Bleckmar
Mission. Lutheran Church of Southern Africa. In September
1981 the BFMS authorized the release of $101,713 in capital
funds from FIR money for building and equipment needed for
opening of new work in Botswana. The release of additional
funds as needed for the support of three missionaries over a
five-year period was also approved (FIR $226,071.35 plus
$55,020.65 from the Lutheran Foundation).

Since that time two missionaries (experienced LCMS pas-
tors) and their families accepted calls from the BFMS. After a
six-month program of orientation and language study at
UCLA and a one-month period of familiarization with the
Bleckmar Mission headquarters in Germany, the Erickson and
Bartel families arrived in Botswana. where they continue to
study the Tswana language.

In July 1983 missionary Robert Bartel is to be assigned to
Khakkea for planting churches among the Kalagadi and
Bushman peoples. Missionary John Erickson is to be assigned
to evangelism among the laborers at the mines in Jwaneng
and among the Tswana people in nearby villages.

A third LCMS missionary was called at the time of this
writing (Jan. 83) for developing leadership training at Kanye
in Botswana.

As we look ahead there may be another language area in
Botswana where the BFMS would be asked to provide a
missionary. Participation will depend on the outcome of a
thorough survey.

Ghana

Under the grace and divine protection of God the Evan-
gelical Lutheran Church of Ghana continues its work unin-
terrupted, though in difficult and uncertain political and
economic circumstances in that country. Church attendance
has remained steady: contributions have actually increased
over the previous years. The ELCG, under the leadership of its
president, realizes the need to expand its evangelistic efforts
among other tribes of northern Ghana, for example, among the
Konkomba and ethnic groups such as Manprussi, Dagomba,
and Kussasi. The roads in that area are poor. Gasoline is
scarce. A survey could take up to six months. The church,
faithful to the Lord, is in need of our prayers.

Liberia

The Evangelical Lutheran Mission in Liberia is now firmly
established, with bases at Vahun among the Mende people and
in Monrovia, the capital city. In 1981 it was decided on the
basis ofa survey that the mission was ready to extend its work
to the Kisi people. Once again, the Lord of the church through
His people is making this possible. From Forward in Remem-
brance the BFMS in October 1982 approved the funding of
$193,049 to support two missionaries for the Kisi church
planting project for a period of 36 months.