Missionary Timeline - Infographic - The Lutheran Church—Missouri

Career Missionaries Again on the Rise
300
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana
Lutheran Church in Korea
Gutnius Lutheran Church, Papua New Guinea
The Lutheran Church in the Philippines
225
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina
The Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Paraguay
Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Ingria in Russia
KEY
200
175
Career missionaries
The Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Haiti
Lanka Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Latvia
Evangelical Lutheran Church
of Lithuania
Partner churches
150
125
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
founded 1847
100
India Evangelical Lutheran Church
75
Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of France
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium
50
25
Evangelical Lutheran Free
Church in Denmark
Confessional Lutheran
Church of Chile
The Lutheran Church of Nigeria
2014
2004
1994
1984
1974
1964
1954
1944
1934
1924
1914
1904
1894
1884
1874
1864
1854
0
1844
NUMBER OF MISSIONARIES IN THE FIELD
The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod
Lutheran Synod of Mexico
250
Matthew C. Harrison
Japan Lutheran Church
China Evangelical Lutheran Church, Taiwan ROC
275
Robert T. Kuhn
Gerald B. Kieschnick
A.L. Barry
Ralph A. Bohlmann
J.A.O. Preus II
Oliver R. Harms
J.W. Behnken
F. Pfotenhauer
Franz Pieper
H.C. Schwan
C.F.W. Walther
F.C.D. Wyneken
C.F.W. Walther
For more than 100 years, the LCMS has carried out international mission work. Nearly every Synod convention since 1974
resolved to grow the number of career missionaries serving overseas. In 2013, the Synod convention adopted Res. 1-11,
“To Recruit and Place More Career Missionaries,” which called for the doubling of career missionaries. Today, indicators
show that the Synod is on track to meet this mandate, doubling the 68 career missionaries in 2013 to an anticipated 136
by the next convention in 2016. The Lord indeed sends laborers to the harvest, and the Synod’s prayer is that He would
send even more laborers so that the Gospel of Christ is proclaimed to all the world.
Lutheran Church of Togo
Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Liberia
Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Brazil
Evangelical Lutheran
Church in Kenya
Siberian Evangelical
Lutheran Church
Notes on Career Missionary Numbers
The career missionary numbers are primarily taken from the Proceedings of the Synodical Convention from the Board for Foreign Missions (other Synod mission boards were not
counted). In 1965, the Synod in convention voted to merge the various mission boards into a unified mission board. Despite this change, the number of career missionaries was
not significantly affected — in fact, the number declined by 49. Not every Synod convention reported career missionary numbers. Between 1969–81, when J.A.O. Preus II was
president; between 1981–92, when Ralph Bohlmann was president; and between 2001-10, when Gerald Kieschnick was president, the Synod in convention did not report career
missionary numbers. The most significant decline in career missionaries occurred after Seminex when the “majority of missionaries walked off the field” (1974-81). In 1981, the
Synod adopted a resolution to increase the number of career missionaries to 600 by 1990. The second-largest drop in career missionaries occurred between 2001-09. Career
missionary numbers from 2001–14 were obtained from the records of the Board for Missionary Services and the Office of International Mission. These numbers do not include
people who served in “Home Missions in Foreign Lands” — which would include pastors and professors who served primarily German-speaking people in Europe and South
America. The numbers only include people counted as missionaries to “Foreign Lands.” The Synod did not begin using the category “volunteer” or “GEO” until the 1990s. These
are not career missionaries and are not included in the tabulation.
Rev. Dr. Albert B. Collver III
Director of Church Relations and Regional Operations
Missionaries By the Numbers
131
92
39
47
65
155
total missionaries
career missionaries
Globally Engaged in Outreach (GEO) missionaries
new career missionaries in 2014
percent projected increase in career missionaries by February 2015
additional missionaries desired
Latin America and the Caribbean
The LCMS began work in Latin America and the
Caribbean in 1900 at the request of German immigrants
who were living in Brazil. Since that time, the LCMS
has expanded its witness and mercy work to many
other countries in the region. Current LCMS projects in
the region include providing scholarships for seminarians from six countries to study at Concordia Seminary,
Buenos Aires, Argentina, and church planting in eight
countries with mercy houses alongside.
30 current missionaries
11 additional missionaries desired
Eurasia
The Synod’s work in Eurasia is focused on connecting
the people of the region to the resources of the LCMS
so they might hear the saving Word of God. The
missionaries’ work is focused on those who have never
heard of Christ and those who have heard but do not
yet know Christ as their Savior. Missionaries are
involved with church planting, theological education,
music instruction, agriculture, human-care needs and
prison ministry.
26 current missionaries
14 additional missionaries desired
Africa
From the earliest days of the LCMS’ mission
work in Nigeria in 1936, church planting and
evangelism in Africa remain top priorities.
As the Lutheran Church in Africa has grown,
the churches established by missionaries
have planted new congregations. These
African-initiated Lutheran churches are
emerging all over the region and provide a
great opportunity for theological education
and partnership with the LCMS.
21 current missionaries
68 additional missionaries desired
Asia Pacific
The Synod’s mission work in the Asia Pacific region
began in China in 1913 and escalated following World
War II. During the last 60 years, the LCMS has been
involved in many acts of witness and mercy in diverse
areas of the region, from remote villages in Thailand to
the modern metropolis of Hong Kong. The LCMS, whose
rich heritage includes a strong emphasis on education,
also has helped start Lutheran schools in many countries.
40 current missionaries
39 additional missionaries desired
Southern Asia and Oceania
The Southern Asia and Oceania region is home to 1.5
billion people. It also is the site of the earliest LCMS
mission field (India, 1895) and some areas where
Lutheran groups are just starting to emerge. Through a
renewed commitment in this region, the LCMS plans to
provide the guidance and support necessary to help
fellow Lutherans in Southern Asia and Oceania
overcome obstacles and become strong witnesses for
the Gospel. A critical priority for future work in this
region is the recruitment and sending of missionaries to
work alongside indigenous pastors and church leaders.
14 current missionaries
23 additional missionaries desired
Supporting Your Missionaries
The Synod’s missionaries treasure your prayers and financial support
to help tell others about Jesus. Learn more about how you, too,
can get involved in the Lord’s mission.
Together In Mission
A network of congregations, organizations and groups
lcms.org/togetherinmission
Mission Senders
A network of individuals and families
lcms.org/missionsenders
Mission Central
A special place in Iowa’s famland
missioncentral.us