Who is LCMS World Mission?
Since The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s beginning in 1847, the Synod has had a heart for mission, including early outreach to immigrants and Native Americans. Only four years after its founding, the Synod’s first mission board was formed in 1851. The first overseas missionary, Rev. Theodore Naether and family, was sent by the Synod in 1895. Today the India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC) has more than 50,000 members and 1,000 congregations and preaching stations…and continues to grow. In 2008, the IELC celebrated the 50th anniversary of its formal organization. Today, LCMS World Mission has active work, or active or historical mission relationships in approximately 88 countries and maintains a total global missionary force of approximately 403 personnel (career, GEO, international educators, spouses, contracted part-time, Ablaze! Alliance Missionaries) an additional 233 military chaplains (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Veteran’s Administration, Civil Air Patrol, Na
