LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 38

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38

OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS

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Russian is tolerated, the use of Kazakh for mission work is seen as an
affront to Islam. The work in Kazakh has moved to Mongolia where
Kazakhs are a large minority.
Central Europe—We have GEO missionaries in Hungary, Slovakia,
and Silesia. They are all working in situations where churches of our
fellowship are unavailable and are now being ministered to by an area
chaplain. In addition, we have made new contacts with confessional
Lutherans from Poland and Romania through some of our Lutheran
theological conferences in the area. In the Czech Republic, in addition to my RD duties, I am currently serving as the vacancy pastor for
St. Michael’s Lutheran Congregation in Prague.
Western Europe—While we have a number of projects in this area,
our biggest project in Western Europe is our recent assistance with the
refugee project in cooperation with SELK in Germany. We have met
with the bishop of SELK and several of his pastors involved in refugee outreach. Their work is exemplary, and the Lord has blessed their
efforts. We are currently helping them in a financial way, but more
help is needed, and, at their request, we are preparing our men to join
them in the effort. While the Islamic homelands of the refugees are
often closed to us, through the flight of these refugees, a door is opening to preach the Gospel to multitudes from these same countries. The
potential for evangelism among them no doubt will be expanded for
years to come.

Future Plans: The Synod mandate to double the number of career
missionaries (2013 Res. 1-11) is having a salutary effect in Eurasia.
First, interest in foreign missions is on the rise and the level of applicants is encouraging. This is allowing us to make plans for specific
work in the region. Plans for the future include the following:
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Providing theological educators for requesting church partners
(Baltics, Russia, Central Asia)
Providing a regional chaplaincy, not only for GEOs but for LCMS
military personnel and communities around military bases where
LCMS military chaplains have been pulled out due to US downsizing
in Europe
Starting a mission in Romania. Contact has been made with a few
confessional Lutherans in Bucharest who would like our assistance in
forming a Romanian Lutheran Church using the Romanian language
Establishing one or more preaching stations in the Czech Republic
Exploring possibilities with contacts in Poland where Lutherans are
now being pressured by the LWF to ordain women pastor and embrace
the homosexual agenda
Having a full-time communications director to work in media-based
ministry, cover regional events, and communicate them to the region
and our donors

Regional Challenges: Thus far, our regional infrastructure and
budget have been able to keep up with increases in missionaries on
the field. I believe this will continue to be the case because of the
restructuring we are currently involved in.
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Restructuring: The LCMS established a number of area NGOs in
Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Germany (for work in Turkey)
for the support of LCMS missionaries in these places. The offices for
these NGOs has been quite expensive. Now that LCMS missionaries have turned the work over to indigenous churches and no longer
need such institutions as church bodies have been established, the new
restructuring will allow us to close many of these institutions and work
directly with legal church bodies and entities. With the money we will
save by this, we will be able to budget funds for new mission work in
the region.
Cooperating with the Office of Church Relations (OCR) and the
Global Seminary Initiative (GSI). It is important to note that OIM’s
Eurasia work in the refugee work in Germany and theological education throughout the region is closely tied to OCR and GSI. Plans must
be coordinated between OIM and OCR and GSI. This requires good
communication and coordination between the agencies so that we are
all on the same page. We are thankful for this cooperation.

2016 Convention Workbook

In Summary: The work of OIM Eurasia is a labor of love as is the
preaching of the Gospel throughout the world. Please pray for our
efforts as we move forward in our region. There is still much to be
done and by the grace of God we will continue to press on with the
work we have been given to do.
Reports by Program Ministries
Deaconess Ministry—Deaconess Grace Rao, Director

The OIM encourages and supports the deaconess ministry—
women who are called and commissioned by the church to provide
diaconal care. Deaconesses serve through works of mercy, spiritual
care, and teaching the faith while focusing on Word and Sacrament.
Echoing “Upon This Rock,” deaconesses serve as a channel for the
love and compassion within our church body and with LCMS partner churches and non-partner churches.
The Director of Deaconess Ministry engages and informs the
Synod’s districts, congregations, and partner church bodies of the
LCMS’s work of mercy, thus increasing the awareness of diaconal
needs and deaconess ministry of LCMS mercy programs. Also, the
position serves as a catalyst in identifying, directing, and supporting
educational and diaconal needs internationally. The ministry promotes
deaconesses through different forms of media and speaking engagements. Over the past decade and a half, OIM Mercy Operations has
awarded $400,000 in grants to enhance deaconess programs, supporting scholarships and women’s seminars. Additional scholarships have
been provided for international deaconesses to take part in theological conferences as well.
Past Triennium Major Accomplishments:
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The highlight of 2015 was the commissioning of the first 10 deaconesses for the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia in the history of
the church.
Exciting and good news is that the Lutheran Church of Philippines
decided introducing full-time deaconess studies at their Lutheran
Theological Seminary in Baguio City in June 2015. Glory be to God!
Prior to this, an advanced deaconess program started in 2012.
We initiated contact in the areas of international outreach to partner
churches with Lithuania and Nigeria and to non-partner churches of
Silesian Lutheran Church, Czech Republic, and Madagascar organizing women’s seminar to understand the “Role of Women in the
Church,” which will pave the way to consider implementing deaconess program.
By God’s grace, Lithuania and Nigeria have considered incepting the
deaconess program in building up the ministry, thereby encouraging
the women of the church to serve the Lord in various vocations, and
in particular as a deaconess. The studies will commence in April 2016
and August 2016.
Dr. Albert Collver established relationship with the Silesian Lutheran
Church of Augsburg convention in Cesky Tesin, and Silesian Diakonia
in Czech Republic. The Diakonia leader Dr. Mrs. Zuzana Filipkova
invited us to speak at their “spiritual conference” and “women’s seminar” in December 2014. Later, the relationships have strengthened
that we were invited to participate at their 25th anniversary celebrations in October 2015. Also, they are translating the book Christ Have
Mercy, authored by Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, for their pastors, spiritual leaders, and lay leaders. The LCMS funded the project.
A big thank-you to LWML for their continued support and encouragement toward deaconess ministry. OIM received a grant of $50,000.
We continue to support teaching deaconess studies in 11 countries—
India, Indonesia, Latvia, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malaysia,
Nigeria, Philippines, and South Africa.
Financial assistance was granted for the training of five Tanzanian deaconesses in Kenya to study at ELCK seminary.