The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

Giving Opportunities

Kazakhstan: LCMS World Mission began work in Kazakhstan in 1993. In a few short years, a church body formed called the Evangelical Lutheran Center (ELC). It now has six congregations and operates the People of God Evangelical Lutheran Seminary, training men as pastors or deacons.

Kazakhstan Baker Support David and Rachel (Selle) Baker serve the Lord and the LCMS in Kazakhstan. David is currently serving his vicarage in Kazakhstan and will convert to a full-time, career missionary upon his ordination. His responsibilities include leading Bible studies, discipling new Christians, training group leaders and pastoral candidates, and helping develop Christian resources in the Kazakh language. Help the Bakers serve you, the people of Kazakhstan and God.

Kazakhstan Business Office The business office in Kazakhstan enables ministry in the program areas to function effectively. Your gift here benefits all the missionaries and nationals through support of personnel and projects. The business manager and accountant help missionaries and national staff complete their ministries.

Kazakhstan Christian Resource Materials Your gift helps Russians and Kazakhs in the cities and villages hear and study God�s Word, grow in their faith and share the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ with others. Deacons and pastors are being trained in the Word through theological education materials, while children are being taught the basics with Sunday school materials. All the missionaries, national staff and leaders use the materials produced through this project.

Kazakhstan Church Development Your gift helps outreach ministries, in the form of Block Grants or matching funds, for congregations, small groups and unregistered congregations of both Russian and Kazakh ministries. Your gift encourages them to actively take part in outreach, with ownership of outreach programs, events and activities. Your gift increases these outreach activities without causing dependency on the mission.

Kazakhstan Kashenov Support Amy (Hartwig) Kashenov serves in Almaty, Kazakhstan as director of rural evangelization, working primarily with Kazakh villagers in their native language. She coordinates translation of Christian materials into the Kazakh language. Amy also offers evangelism and leadership seminars to help new believers grow in their and share the Good News. Amy is married to Marat, president of the Lutheran Church of Christ the Savior. Help Amy share the Good News with those who need to hear.

Kazakhstan Mission Education Center Kazakh and Russian ministries use the Mission Education Center for training spiritual leaders from existing congregations and emerging worship groups. The Center also provides housing for the students in distance education, weekend seminars, congregational retreats, group activities, etc. The facility also is used for youth ministry and hosts one congregation for worship services. Your gift makes many parts of the LCMS mission strategy in Kazakhstan possible.

Kazakhstan Mission Starts Your gift will help form new preaching stations in the Kazakh ministry and new congregations in the Russian language ministry. Follow up on contacts of outreach ministries, programs and events produces small groups that form into congregations. These small groups and then congregations receive the initial assistance they need for materials, etc. As many as four new congregations are started each year.

Kazakhstan Music and Worship Resources Help nationals develop �culturally appropriate� worship resources in the Russian and Kazakh languages, to add to existing translated hymns, liturgies, praise songs, etc. Included in this project are worship, youth, and children�s song book projects, recording of accompaniment CDs for each type of songbook and projects to encourage locals to write new, meaningful hymns in their nationality�s language and musical style.

Kazakhstan Phil and Kerri Schielke Support Phil and Kerri Schielke serve the Lord in Kazakhstan where Phil fulfills his vicarage. Phil works with the other LCMS personnel in evangelism, pastoral training and social ministries among the people of the former Soviet Union. After the spiritual darkness during the years of communist rule, many are in need of hearing God�s saving Gospel. Your gift makes God�s continued work in Kyrgyzstan possible through the Schielkes and other missionaries.

Kazakhstan Seth Hoeppner Support Seth Hoeppner serves in Kazakhstan as a long-term volunteer, where he teaches English as a Foreign Language (EFL) and seeks to build relationships with his students in order to share God's love with them. EFL classes taught by volunteers are one of the many ministry methods used in Kazakhstan, where LCMS World Mission began work in 1993. Give today to support Seth's work in Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan Theological Education by Extension People of God Evangelical Lutheran Seminary (POGELS) received official registration with the Government of Kazakhstan in 1998 and is staffed by three national instructors and one expatriate instructor. The seminary curriculum is comprised of a two-year program, conducted in the Russian language. Plans are underway to expand the Russian curriculum and add courses in the Kazakh language. You can help with this important work!

Kazakhstan Volunteers Each fiscal year there are two or three volunteer missionaries serving with the Kazakhstan mission team. In recent years, the volunteers have included a theological educator, a Director of Christian Education and a Director of Christian Outreach. The volunteers work with the existing congregations as well as emerging worship communities to provide training in whatever area of expertise they have. Your gift supplements volunteer rent, utilities and visas.

Kazakhstan Youth Ministry Spiritual development of today�s youth is foundational in the growth of the church in Kazakhstan. Help provide training for nationals, equipping them to develop, lead and train others to lead: Sunday school programs, vacation Bible schools, Bible camps, mid-week youth programs, Christmas programs, etc. Your gift helps local congregations develop suitable youth programs and develop materials in the Russian and Kazakh languages.

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

Click on a Ministry (left) to see more giving opportunities.