CLMS approves more than $118,000 for LCC mission projects

The CLMS board at work

by James Morgan

Christ Our King Lutheran Church (Missassauga, Ontario) was the location of the 2012 annual meeting of the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS). Held February 11-12, the event saw the election of Rev. Clifford Haberstock as the new president of CLMS, succeeding Terry Goerz. At the meeting, board members also committed to funding a number of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) mission projects. CLMS will be sponsoring more than $118,000 worth of LCC’s mission projects this year. This includes all or part of 18 projects in six different countries.

In Costa Rica, the four projects involve children’s education, teenagers with special needs, rental of space for worship services and Bible study, and assisting a missionary with purchasing a car. Dr. Neitzel notes that taxis in Costa Rica are expensive and bus service between communities is inefficient. Transportation needs exist in Honduras too. CLMS is supporting efforts there to purchase a motorcycle for a missionary, in addition to providing assistance to another missionary in that country.

There are four projects in Ukraine with most of the funding going towards seminary education and the training of six pastors. A sanatorium in Yalta will receive help to pay for basic training materials along with medication and diapers for small children. Another project to help orphans and children whose parents are in jail is being supported, along with summer camps.

One project in Thailand is receiving CLMS support. It will assist LCC missionary Suchat Chujhit with housing costs, transportation, and the rental of worship space. The single Canadian mission project receiving support is an effort to train ethnic pastors serving immigrant congregations.

Nicaragua has seven projects receiving CLMS funding. One covers the cost of school supplies and fees for 60 children whose parents would normally have to pay the equivalent of $125.00 per year. Funding will also be going to Vacation Bible School outreach in Nicaragua, purchasing material for an expanding music ministry, and building a shelter for outdoor worship in the community of Mount Olivet. Other Nicaraguan projects receiving CLMS support include including worship space rental and transportation. 

“It was a joyous meeting,” Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel said about the weekend event in Oakville, adding that LCC is “very grateful and appreciative” for CLMS’ support. Dr. Neitzel is LCC’s executive for missions and social ministry.

“By God’s grace we accomplished a lot, and I’m absolutely sure and confident that our Good Lord will continue providing for His mission as he uses us as His instruments,” said Dr. Neitzel about the partnership between LCC and CLMS.

President Haberstock of CLMS expressed similar sentiments, saying, “CLMS is thankful to God for the generous support for God’s mission by its LCC members.”  He continued: “It is a wonderful privilege to make these projects known to LCC’s members,” he said, “and to give them the opportunity to directly support our shared mission of bringing God’s healing Gospel to people throughout the world.”

President Haberstock noted that one hundred percent of donations given in support of a particular project go to that project. More information on CLMS’ mission work can be found at their website www.concordiamissions.org.

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