Concordia Lutheran Mission Society | Ministry and Projects Report 2009

All 2008 mission projects were fully funded.

2009 Adopted Mission Projects

0901: Seminary/Mission Centre, Ukraine
0902: Outreach to Women and Children, Cambodia
0903: Children's Outreach, Thailand
0904: Vacation Bible School, Nicaragua
0905: Children's Christian Education, Nicaragua
0906: Deaconess Support, Nicaragua
0907: Theological Education, Southeast Asia
0908: Seminary/Mission Centre, Ukraine, Supplemental Grant
0909: Worship Centre Renovations, Otscharetnja, Ukraine
0910: Mission Start, Kapong, Thailand
0911: Orphanage Ministry, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine
0912: Mission Facilities Rental, Costa Rica
0913: Mission Property, Granada, Nicaragua
0914: Summer Camp, Ukraine

0901 � Seminary/Mission Centre, Ukraine � $20,000

Since 2002, a seminary/mission centre has been under construction in Osatova, a village suburb of Odessa, with the support of annual grants from the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society. Inflation which Ukraine has experienced since that time has, however, drastically increased the cost of the project and delayed its completion. Currently it is projected that an additional US$100,000 would be needed to complete the project. A somewhat lesser amount could complete the second and third floors which would suffice to enable the building to be occupied. Since the seminary program is at a stand-still, as are other anticipated uses of the building, it is crucial that this facility be completed. A grant of CAN$20,000 in 2009 will help move the construction of the building toward its goal. This project is open-ended to allow congregations and groups to donate beyond the level of the grant in hopes of completing the project as soon as possible to avoid further cost increases on account of inflation.

0902 � Outreach to Women and Children, Cambodia � $15,000

The deaconesses who are enrolled in the theological program of Luther Institute Southeast Asia in Cambodia have shown themselves to be phenomenal evangelists, on occasion even having risked their lives for the sake of the Gospel in this Buddhist country. In 2008 a number of deaconesses proposed a project to the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society which would provide them with supplies for their work which would otherwise not be available to them. The funds encouraged the women to do their work in very difficult circumstances. As they have used them, the women have also learned how to plan, budget and report on how funds were spent. A grant of $15,000 will permit the women to continue their work in 2009.

0903 � Children's Outreach, Thailand � $10,000

Four hours travel northeast of Bangkok, Satit and Rattana Kantatiam devote all of their energy and profits from a family food packaging company to reaching out to neglected and malnourished children in Phum Sa Tueng Village and Ban-Choke-Nia Village near Surin. Their outreach also involves young girls who would normally drop out of school and be sent by their parents to earn money in the sex trade. At present 40 children are provided with meals and taught the Christian faith by Rattana's sister, a deaconess in the theological program taught by Canadian Lutheran professors in Bangkok. Three girls are also supported with accommodations at a Christian boarding school and thereby rescued from a life of prostitution. A grant of $10,000 will continue to support this vital work in 2009.

0904 � Vacation Bible School, Nicaragua � $6,000

Each year for the past several years, the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society has provided funds to enable congregations and preaching stations throughout Nicaragua to conduct Vacation Bible Schools. $1.50 provides all the materials and the teacher for one child. A grant of $6,000 will provide the benefits of Vacation Bible School for 4,000 children in 2009.

0905 � Children's Christian Education, Nicaragua � $7,500

The congregations and mission stations in Nicaragua make very effective use of Christian Education programs as a service to their own people and as a means of outreach to their communities. $125 provides for everything that a child needs to attend school for one year, including tuition and tutoring by a Lutheran deaconess or teacher so that the child can move quickly through the grades he or she has missed. A grant of $7,500 will cover the cost of 60 children.

0906 � Deaconess Support, Nicaragua � $4,500

Iglesia Luterana Sinodo de Nicaragua is a very poor church. While Lutheran Church-Canada assists the emerging church by providing small stipends to the pastors and missionaries, similar grants have not been offered to deaconesses. This creates an extremely difficult situation where a deaconess is asked by the mission or the church to move from their homes to serve in another location. A grant of $4,500 will provide small stipends for those deaconesses who need them, as well as cover some transportation costs, food and lodging away from home, etc.

0907 � Theological Education, Southeast Asia � $13,300

Two years ago, Luther Institute Southeast Asia (LISA) was formed in Bangkok as a vehicle to provide theological education for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar (Burma). Dr. Leonard Harms was called to be the director and Canadian professors along with some from the U.S.A. have taught classes under this Institute. A grant of $10,000 will enable four Canadian professors to travel to Southeast Asia to teach in this program in 2009.

0908 � Seminary/Mission Centre, Ukraine, Supplemental Grant � $20,000

Because of the great need to complete the Seminary/Mission Centre in Osatova near Odessa, the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society has determined that it will provide supplemental grant of $20,000 for this purpose in 2009.

0909 � Worship Centre Renovations, Otscharetnja, Ukraine � $3,000

This congregation began as a preaching station in 2001. It is situated in the village of Otscharetnja, about a half hour drive from the town of Savran. (Savran is located half way between Odessa and Kiev.) Initially services were held in homes. Then an older home was purchased which has served as a worship centre. In 2008, the congregation undertook badly needed renovations in the house. It raised $2,000 but was unable to raise the remaining $3,000 needed to complete the project. A grant of $3,000 will help complete the renovations, i.e. new floors, painting, replacing windows, etc.

0910 � Mission Start, Kapong, Thailand � $15,000

Two members of the Sahatay church in south Thailand moved to the community of Kapong about 30 km away which did not have a Christian Church. An ideal building and location from which to carry out a mission has been secured and the two members are both anxious and willing to volunteer and assist Missionary Chujait and Pastor Srikakahn to initiate a Gospel outreach in their new community. A grant of $4,000 will pay for the rental of the facility, as well as purchase material resources such as chairs, tables, bibles, etc.

0911 � Orphanage Ministry, Dnepropetrovsk, Ukraine � $3,000

Reaching out to orphans to help them know Jesus is very important. The windows of opportunity to do so are not always available. When they are, we need to act. Jenya Klus in Dnepropetrovsk, where our missionary Alexei Novrotsky serves, has an opportunity to share Christ among the orphans in Orphanage #1 in his city. Orphans range from 6 to 17 years. A grant of $3,000 will cover the cost of transportation, craft supplies, and special materials for special outreach events at the orphanage in 2009.

0912 � Mission Facilities Rental, Costa Rica � $7,000

Four years ago, Rev. Pedro Adolfo Quintero was called to share the Gospel in the Heredia area a short distance north-west of the Capital city of San Jose. Since that time his ministry has reached out to four other communities including San Miquel where the missionary lives and where a growing number of believers have been gathered. The mission now rents a facility for worship and study. A grant of $7,000 will pay the rent and utilities for this facility from which the missionary can work and where the emerging congregation gathers for worship and study.

0913 � Mission Property, Granada, Nicaragua � $6,000

Rev. Rufino Laines and his deaconess wife, Marianna, began an outreach ministry in Granada in 2005. God has richly blessed this ministry both within the city and in some of the villages outside of the city. Two years ago the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society approved a rental grant for a facility so that this growing community of believers would have a place to gather for worship. Upon investigation it was discovered that land could be purchased in the central part of the city for the price of renting the facility for four years. The rental grant became a down payment and the rest borrowed over the next four years. A church has now been built on this property. A grant of $6,000 will pay off the land.

0914 � Summer Camp, Ukraine � $4,000

Helping young people and adults get a clearer understanding of the Christian message and life is very difficult when they are surrounded by an anti-Christian environment. Christian summer camps are an important opportunity for these young people and adults to get away from their regular routines and be part of an environment with Christian teaching, fellowship and fun for a period of time. A grant of $4,000 will enable poor children and orphans identified by our missionary as well as the families of Lutheran pastors from Ukraine to be refreshed by study and rest by a time away from the demands of ministry.

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