LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2007, Page 44

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44 SYNOD REPORTS

¢ “Ends of the earth” (international)—Adding new missionaries,
$15.75 million; new ministry starts, leadership training centers,
and schools, $7 million; and new/upgraded seminary facilities,
$3.5 million.

¢ Projects that impact “Samaria” and “ends of the earth’—The
Ablaze! Connection, $5 million, and the Ablaze/ mission fund,
$20 million. The Ablaze! Connection uses a “virtual university”
model to assist members in becoming Christ-centered missionar-
ies in their homes, occupations, congregations, and communities.
The Ablaze! Mission Fund will allow LCMS World Mission to
respond rapidly to mission opportunities and worldwide emer-
gencies.

¢ Estimated costs associated with the campaign, $10 million.

Today, at least one-third of LCMS congregations across the
country are Ablaze! with formal outreach and evangelism activities
in order to reach 100 million people around the world with a per-
sonal Gospel presentation by 2017. Many more will join them in
the near future. At the same time, congregations in districts partic-
ipating in Fan Into Flame are finding members highly responsive
to the call to support campaign projects at all levels.

Timetable

Unlike the Alive in Christ and Forward in Remembrance na-
tional campaigns, which were conducted synodwide at one time,
Fan Into Flame is being carried out district by district. Within dis-
tricts, congregations are being approached in phases.

Progress

In 2006, the Texas District was the first district to participate in
Fan Into Flame. Four geographic regions in the district began the
campaign at different times. Congregations in some areas are fin-
ishing their local appeals, while others are in various stages. Other
districts that began campaigns in 2006 include South Wisconsin
and Southeastern. As many as a dozen districts will be involved in
conducting Fan Into Flame by the end of 2007. A more detailed
report of district participation and results to date will be presented
on the convention floor.

Fan Into Flame is different in another important way: Con-
tributed gifts are distributed for mission outreach each quarter. Fan
Into Flame is already funding projects in congregations, districts,
national and international missions. Through the generosity of mis-
sion-minded donors, outreach ministries in every area are already
benefiting from additional financial support.

A comprehensive interim report on the status of the campaign
will be made to the convention assembly. A final report is due at
the 2010 convention. In the interim, current campaign news and in-
formation can be found at the Fan Into Flame Web site at
www.fanintoflamelcms.org.

Highlights of Triennium

Seminary Expansion in Central Asia—People of God Evan-
gelical Lutheran Seminary in the capital of Almaty, Kazakhstan,
trains men and women for spiritual leadership roles. In an exciting
new development in partnership with Concordia Seminary, St.
Louis, it is now expanding with Lutherans in Kyrgyzstan to be-
come the Central Asian Lutheran Seminary. Kyrgyzstan mission-
ary Bob Pfeil serves as the associate director. The seminary will
receive its first international student from Mongolia in the fall of
2007.

East Africa Leadership Development—Mission Training
Centers (MTCs) are the main focus of the work in East Africa. By
establishing MTCs, the national church can grow tremendously
with trained leaders. It is more of a “grassroots” approach to min-
istry. One MTC trains about 10 to 12 men, each of whom goes out
to a new area, reaching from five to 50 people, depending on the

2007 Convention Workbook

leading of the Holy Spirit. Currently, there are 22 MTCs in Kenya
and six in Sudan, 10 in Tanzania, and six in Uganda. The national
churches are requesting additional training centers in new areas of
outreach.

In January 2006, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya Pas-
tor Titus Okodo began work as the MTC coordinator for Kenya.
He is visiting the training centers regularly and encouraging them
in their work. Although support will continue, an LCMS mission-
ary will not be directly in charge of the MTCs. All involved see
this as a positive move. Four ELCK pastors have been seconded to
help with MTC work in Sudan and Kenya. In 2006, the MTCs in
Sudan were in the process of being turned over to the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of Sudan.

Ministry to the Armed Forces—The new Doctor of Ministry
with Military Concentration degree was approved at both seminar-
ies in 2005 and kicked off in January 2006. Eight chaplains are cur-
rently enrolled in the degree program. This degree program allows
each chaplain, active and reserve, to acquire an advanced, profes-
sional degree while remaining on active duty. The degree can be
completed within a four- to six-year time frame. The degree pro-
gram guides chaplains in critical reflection on the theology, theory,
and practice of ministering to and serving God’s people with the
Gospel who serve in the Armed Forces. The degree will also en-
hance the chaplain’s opportunities to serve in the church-at-large
and in a variety of teaching venues. An endowment fund has now
been established to assist our chaplains in easing the financial bur-
den of acquiring the degree.

Church Planting in Kyrgyzstan—The Kyrgyzstan field
opened in 1997 in partnership with Concordia Mission Society. By
July 2004, 15 congregations were planted, and several national
Christians were working as evangelists and being trained as church
leaders. During this triennium, missionaries report 76,500 Gospel
touches, 275 baptisms, 387 confirmations, and 52 church plants and
small groups. More than 1,100 people attend the churches and
small groups, including children in Sunday School. In December
2004, the first Russian-descent pastor was ordained in Bishkek, and
in February 2007, the first Kyrgyz pastor was ordained.

Church Development Partners—This organization gives the
LCMS hope for procuring new mission sites in all areas of the
country. Church Development Partners is made up of experienced
land development professionals who have chosen to give their
skills for the purchase of new church properties—all at no or little
cost to the new mission. Already, several new missions have re-
ceived land for their new church for free with profits realized from
the development of excess land that was purchased.

Puerto Rico Church Dedication—The LCMS began its mis-
sion work in Puerto Rico about 11 years ago, and, for most of those
years, the group of Christians and missionaries faithfully worshiped
under tents on a parking lot. They had a dream, which slowly
turned into a plan: to plant a church in the city of Mayagiiez. Their
goal was to build a church and preschool. As time passed, the gifts
coming from LCMS members arrived through many different
sources—prayer commitments, financial support for the mission-
aries and the local church, the work done by the volunteer groups—
and the goal turned into a reality. In December 2005, the members
from Prince of Peace Lutheran Church celebrated the dedication of
their temple and educational center. The worship service gathered

_65 people with celebration of the Word, celebration of Jesus among

His people, and hearts Ablaze!

Celebrating 10 Years of Work in Vietnam—In December 2005,
more than 100 people from the government and partner institutions
and a representative from the American Embassy joined to celebrate
10 years of LCMS World Mission’s work in Vietnam. LCMS World