CLMS supports LCC missions in 2014

The 2014 CLMS Board. Back, left to right: Rev. Roland Syens, Jon Oberholzer, Rev. Karl Keller, Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan (advisor), Marilyn Witte. Front, left to right: June Barlund, Barbara Fooks, Rev. Cliff Haberstock, Reg Zotzman.

EDMONTON — The Board of Directors of the Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS) met January 30-February 2 in Edmonton to plan for the coming year. The major focus of the meeting was on selecting mission projects CLMS would commit to support throughout 2014. President Cliff Haberstock said to the board, “We do have a partnership in the Gospel. We are partners in mission.”

“I don’t only mean that for the ten of us on the board,” he continued. “We are partners in mission with all who pray with us and give their gifts of finances and time and talents. Without them and their response to the grace of God in their lives, we would have no purpose for existing as a board. But also without us, they would not have the opportunity to give to missions in the specific ways we provide. So it is not just about us; it is about all of the partners:  board and donor members working together in God’s mission to save the world.”

With that in mind, CLMS committed to raise $135,000 over the coming year for 27 projects in six different countries, including Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Ukraine, Thailand, and Canada. $16,000 of that goal will go to complete three projects carried over from 2013, because the board is committed to completing every adopted project even if it means extending fund raising into the following year.

CLMS will be supporting 24 new projects including Vacation Bible Schools, summer camps, and Children’s Christian Education programs, motorbikes for deaconesses in Thailand, the seminary program in Ukraine, temporary shelter for a new mission in Nicaragua, missionary and deaconess support in Central America and Thailand, ministry to prisoners, university students and athletes, a medical and dental clinic, and other challenging needs on the mission field. The mission society will also support Lutheran theological training for one of the leader on our mission field (likely from Ukraine).

The board at work.

Rev. Roland Syens, board member and former missionary to Ukraine, preached at a Mission Festival on February 2. The mission offering received at that event nearly provided full funds for outreach to university students in Odessa. When deliberations were complete, the board enjoyed a tasty dinner of Central American food and fellowship in the Haberstock home.

CLMS is an Auxiliary organization of Lutheran Church–Canada and helps fund many of its mission projects. For further information on the projects CLMS has committed to support in 2014, see the Concordia Mission Advocate supplement in the March/April issue of The Canadian Lutheran. For more information on CLMS, visit www.concordiamissions.org.

“All thanks and praise belongs to God for our faithful partners in mission who continue to support CLMS mission projects with their gifts and prayers,” said President Haberstock. “We have an exciting year ahead with the gifted people God has brought together on our Board.”

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