World Mission Conference
Attendees of the 2008 World Mission Conference were on campus July 28– August 1 as missionaries and representatives from 20 foreign mission fields met with administrators and members of the Boards for Home and World Missions and with representatives of the Ministry of Christian Giving. Under the theme “Tying God’s Resources to God’s Mission” guest presenters addressed the relationship of money to various aspects of mission work.
Loud, joyous praises and resounding prayers were heard as the conference opened with a communion service. Pastor Dan Koelpin, administrator of the Board for World Missions, preached on the theme “The Quest for the Best” based on Matthew 13:45. He reminded us that “Jesus is our pearl of great price” and “while the world knows the price of everything, it knows the value of nothing.”
Presentations of the five-day conference included: The Spiritual Resources God Supplies, Pastor Wayne Mueller, Jefferson, Wisc.; The Relationship of Money to Mission Work, Professor Ken Cherney, Mequon, Wisc.; The Relationship of Money to the Life of the Missionary, Pastor Charles Flunker, Dourados, Brazil; The Relationship of Money to the National Church, Pastor Paul Nitz, Malawi, Africa; and The Relationship of Money to Mission Promotion, Pastor J.D. Liggett and Mr. David Savatsky, Milwaukee, Wisc.
Koelpin commented on the sharp financial focus of this year’s conference, “There are infinite mission outreach opportunities, but only finite resources to meet them. Thus, the matter of making the best use of the resources God has given us for the most effective furthering of his mission is a topic that is always worthy of our attention.” He went on to address the various perspectives necessary to thoroughly examine the impact of mission finance, “from the perspective of those who support the work (people of the synod), those who administer it (administrative committees), those who carry it out (missionaries) and those who are beneficiaries of this work (national Christians). All will need to work together with common understandings and goals so that as much as possible can be achieved. God willing, our World Mission Conference will bring us closer to this goal.”
In attendance at this year’s conference was a young woman named Yvonne Y. who serves as a translator and secretary at Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) in Hong Kong. Yvonne’s role is not that of a traditional missionary but her focus is on winning souls for Christ not only in Hong Kong, but around the world. At ALS she works with translating and producing materials for use in country and for distribution world-wide through the WELS Multi-Language Publications catalog. Prior to the conference Yvonne was travelling and making contacts with Chinese speaking peoples here in the U.S. in an attempt to increase distribution of these gospel oriented materials. Yvonne is just one example of how the seeds we sow on our foreign fields produce an abounding crop as she encourages others to learn about God’s Word.
In addition to the academic and theological discussions, time spent together at the conference offers the opportunity for mutual encouragement and conversation. Pastor Howard Mohlke, Messiah, Nampa, Idaho, is a newly elected member of the world board and also a former missionary to Zambia. Attending his first world mission conference as a board member brought a different perspective. Mohlke was reminded that “we are not in this alone. Though different challenges exist on each mission field, we share the same Lord, the same faith, and the same purpose. This is a great opportunity for missionaries to come together and express not only their zeal, faith, and blessings, but also to share in a unity that is built on the challenges and joys that exist on a foreign mission field. Now, as a world board member and a part of the decision-making team, it is invaluable for me to be able to talk with the men on the field and to have a better sense of their specific needs and situations.”
In addition to regularly hosting the conference, the seminary serves and supports our WELS missions by preparing men who are willing and able to serve in a variety of non-traditional settings, by sending WLS professors to teach in seminaries around the world, and by training national pastors both here on campus and through distance learning.
WELS has over 50 missionaries serving in 24 countries and speaking 28 languages around the world. Other quick facts: there are 77,318 baptized members in worldwide mission fields; there are 674 national workers (national pastors, evangelists, and lay leaders); another 15,000 people are being reached with the gospel through alternate strategies.
World mission fields are funded through the synodical budget – in other words, gifts given through congregations. In addition, some world mission positions and programs are funded through the World Mission Divisional Fund and special funds. Special needs and projects are funded through special funds – or, gifts given directly to synod with a specific purpose. For more information, contact world missions at wmweb@wels.net.