LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1973, Page 16

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16 MISSIONS

Recently I received a letter from Rev. Indaratana Thero, a
Buddhist monk and friend from Colombo, thanking me for a
parcel of books which I had sent him. He wrote: “I am very
glad for our friendly discussions and faithful friendship. If
anyone can have a good heart he can attract the whole world.”
If attracting the whole world means changing it, turning it up-
side-down, then may God grant to us all ‘the good heart" where
His Spirit dwells and rules.

James Fergin, Missionary

3. The Wabag Lutheran Church (New Guinea)
Major Developments

During 1971—1972 much time and effort has been spent on
us New Guineans assuming the responsibilities for God's work
in this area. To help us become more involved, the New Guinea
Lutheran Mission and the Wabag Lutheran Church have a joint
executive body. All official positions now have New Guinean
men as trainees serving with a missionary. Furthermore, we, as
a church, have committed ourselves to developing a steward-
ship base over the next four years which will allow us to carry
an ever greater share of the financial burden of our work.

To be successful we realize that we must grow continually
in God’s Word. We, therefore, put an emphasis on Scripture
translation, theological and laymen training programs and
studies in life situations. In the latter case we are reevaluating
many of our church taboos (i. e., against traditional New Guinean
cultural practices such as polygamy, youth initiation rites. etc.)
to determine whether they are still valid.

Major Problems

A severe frost in our area destroyed all food supplies for
150,000 people. These people are now totally dependent on
outside aid for survival while they wait for new seedlings and
new crops. We as a church have asked the LCMS to contribute
$100,000 toward this relief program. We have also loaned three
missionaries to the government relief program. They are in
charge of distribution of relief and rehabilitation supplies.

Reasons to Rejoice and Give Thanks

We have been joyful at the willingness and ability of New
Guineans to assume many responsibilities we were always
afraid of. Our Primary ‘“T" schools will be totally localized by
1974. Our high school is fast moving toward this. So is our
medical and evangelism program. We will continue to need
missionary advice and direction for years, but we are growing in
understanding.

Plans and Hopes for the Future

We have expanded our outreach into urban areas where
many Engas have migrated for employment purposes. This will
continue to be a growing area of concern and involvement and
it is an area in which we have had little past experience.

We, as a church, are going to be evaluating how we work in
order to find ways of being most effective. During the next 2
years we will be asking for a changing role for missionaries and
churchmen based upon our changing conditions. A new 5 or 10
year plan will result.

Waema Waesa, President
Wabag Lutheran Church

4. The Japan Lutheran Church
Major Developments

We of the Japan Lutheran Church (JLC) are fully cognizant
that Japan is undergoing great changes in all facets — political,
economic, educational, and social. Into this ever-changing
society we desire to convey the unchanging and eternal truth
of the Gospel. And, so, at the convention in 1970, with the
affirmation of our mission, we made our declaration of self-
government.

Major Problems

In the latter months of the same year we received word from
the Board for Missions of our sister church, the LCMS, that our
subsidy would be decreased. This, together with the revaluation
of the yen, brought us face to face with many financial difficulties.

This problem, however, gave us an opportunity to realize
that our policies, allocation of personnel, and evangelistic plan-

ning had been made on the assumption of aid from the board.
Now our pastors and laymen have renewed their enthusiasm
for our church. Our goal is to achieve maturity, and we shall
become “a supporting church instead of a church that is sup-
ported.”

Reasons to Rejoice and Give Thanks

Statistics for 1971 show that the Japan Lutheran Church had
3,000 active members. Although this may appear small, we must
not forget that many Japanese have been led to accept Christ
as their Savior through the mass-media program of our church.

A distinctive feature revealed by the 1971 statistics is that the
number of infant baptisms is the greatest in the history of our
church. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary in 1973, this un-
precedented increase fills us with joy and hope. In addition, the
percentage increase of communicant members is larger than the
percentage increase of baptized members, and the offering of
active members is on the increase.

Plans and Hopes for the Future

In the past, churches in Japan remained apart from society,
carrying on a unilateral evangelism. However, we have been
inspired by the words of St. Paul (1 Cor. 9:19-23) and have
begun communicating with the secular society with the Gospel
Handbook, a unique monthly periodical. Our two parochial
schools and the Tokyo Lutheran Center English School serve
also to bring the message of salvation to the non-Christian popu-
lation. All of these efforts are in financial difficulty, but we dare
not withdraw nor cease these efforts.

We are utilizing the video-tape-recording method for further-
ing religious education within the church.

As royal priests of His holy kingdom, the Japanese believers
and the missionaries from the United States are working to-
gether to establish one holy Christian church. With the blessed
help of the Holy Spirit, the Japan Lutheran Church is marching
forward with determination and vigor!

Kosaku Nao, D.D., President. JLC

5. Korea Lutheran Church
Major Developments

The Korea Lutheran Church (KLC) understands itself to
be a member of the total community of God’s people who by the
power of the Spirit confess Christ as Savior and Lord and live a
new life in Him. Standing within the theological and liturgical
tradition of the Lutheran Reformation, and working within the
context of the special social, cultural, and political situation of
Korea, the KLC shares with the total Christian church in this
land the distinctive contributions of Lutheran confessional theol-
ogy, with its specific emphasis on Law and Gospel, Word and
Sacraments, and works together with other churches on both
the national and international levels in furthering God’s mission
in the world.

With this understanding of its role, the Korea Lutheran
Church was officially organized in February of 1971. It has been
recognized as a “sister church” by the LCMS. It also sought
membership in the Lutheran World Federation and was ac-
cepted into this worldwide Lutheran family in the summer of
1972.

Plans and Hopes for the Future

The KLC has developed a comprehensive 6-year plan which
calls for the following: giving continued emphasis to the exten-
sive and varied mass communications ministries, including radio,
television, Christian correspondence courses, and other litera-
ture: implementing a long-range nationwide evangelism strategy
which includes establishing new “worshipping fellowships”;
carrying on programs of mercy and service and creating non-
congregational special ministries in local communities; providing
for the Christian education and nurture of all its members
through the preparation of parish education curricula and
through the introduction of the Bethel Series into the life of the
Christian church in Korea; constructing a functional multi-
ministry center in downtown Seoul for carrying out various pro-
grams of worship and fellowship, community service, theological
and lay training, and other ministries.

Won Sang Ji, Chairman. KLC