Giving Opportunities

India: India's one billion people are the largest democracy in the world. India has 4,635 people groups and about 6,400 castes. Caste discrimination is illegal, but essential to Hinduism. Hindu extremists made conversion illegal and India closed its doors to foreign missionaries. Hundreds of millions are isolated from the Gospel.

India Church Planters
In the India Evangelical Lutheran Church, seminary graduates serve as probationers for three years after graduation. LCMS World Mission Area Director Dr. Herb Hoefer designed a program offering the graduates a probationary term in church planting instead of service in an established congregation. Most...20 of 21 graduates...accepted this challenge! God richly blessed them, establishing many congregations. Your gift will help keep young pastors growing in skills and love of church planting.

India Concordia Seminary Nagercoil
College graduates in the IELC who want a bachelor's degree level of seminary training must currently go to ecumenical seminaries that are often very liberal in theology. Degree-holding pastors are the most likely future leaders of the church body. The IELC wants them to have a strong confessional Lutheran background. Your gifts will help provide $40,000 in fiscal 2004-05 and $75,000 each of the next two years to help the IELC provide this training in Nagercoil.

India Consultants
Our partner church, the India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC), values and desires LCMS World Mission expertise. At IELC request, and with your helpful gifts, LCMS World Mission provides consultants in the theology, administration and education. LCMS World Mission regularly sends theologians to help lead in-service training, pastoral training and spiritual ministries at the IELC seminary

India In-Service Training
The seminary faculty at Concordia Seminary, Nagercoil regularly gathers all the pastors and evangelists for in-service training, usually led by LCMS theologians. The seminary cannot handle this expense within their regular budget, but LCMS World Mission considers this training essential to maintaining the theological character, evangelistic zeal and fellowship unity of the church. Your gift makes a difference!

India Roofs for Buildings
The India Evangelical Lutheran Church, is growing. It has to expand or renew many church buildings and parsonages or build new ones. LCMS World Mission helps without taking away from the people the responsibility and joy of stewardship. The congregation builds its facility up to the roof and LCMS World Mission tries to provide the roof. Congregation members even in poor villages will contribute one month's salary, beyond their regular tithe, for several years. How much will you contribute?

India School Project
The India Evangelical Lutheran Church has a school system of 82 institutions, founded by LCMS missionaries 50-70 years ago. The buildings also date from that era and many have fallen into disrepair. The government has threatened to withdraw its support and recognition if the buildings are not renewed. In addition to helping with the buildings, your gift will help provide education consultant, Dr. Marlin Schulz, who trains teachers and develops Bible study curricula.

India/Sri Lanka Hoefer Support
Rev. Dr. Herbert Hoefer serves half time with LCMS World Mission as area director for India and Sri Lanka, developing mission strategy in those two countries. He also holds the mission chair at Concordia University, Portland, Ore., teaching and serving as mission consultant for the Northwest District. Herb is married to Carol, and they have three daughters.




If you have questions, please contact the Donor Care Line at 1-888-930-4438.
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