Asia

Holistic Mission, Proclamation, Diaconal service and Advocacy

Opportunities and challenges for holistic mission 

Member churches in the Lutheran communion in Asia move towards a holistic understanding of Lutheran identity in a religious and culturally diverse society while responding to the needs of community amid an imbalanced socioeconomic climate.  

Communion relations

The Lutheran communion in Asia is strengthened in its collaborative holistic mission efforts by learning from each other. The common search for and development of an Asian Lutheran identity has forged strong ties between member churches, which has further developed the communion into a close-knit fellowship.  

Minority church context 

There are minority churches across the region in tribal settings, mainly in India among the Dalits and Adivasi, and in the Mekong region of Myanmar.  

Participants in the LWF Peace Messenger Training tour the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Friday September 22, 2017 while visiting holy sites in the Old City. Photo: ELCJHL/Ben Gray

Participants in the LWF Peace Messenger Training tour the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on Friday September 22, 2017 while visiting holy sites in the Old City. Photo: ELCJHL/Ben Gray

Churches are responding to the devastation following the 11 November typhoon in the Philippines. Photo: REUTERS/Zander Casas courtesy of Thomson Reuters Foundation

Churches are responding to the devastation following the 11 November typhoon in the Philippines. Photo: REUTERS/Zander Casas courtesy of Thomson Reuters Foundation

As a symbol of close ties between the ELCJHL and the LWF a delegation of the GNC/LWF planted an olive tree in Jerusalem. Photo: epd/Debbie Hill

As a symbol of close ties between the ELCJHL and the LWF a delegation of the GNC/LWF planted an olive tree in Jerusalem. Photo: epd/Debbie Hill

Networks & Partnerships

Networks facilitate mutual accompaniment, especially for smaller churches.  

Asia Church Leadership Conference, Network of Lutheran Theological Institutes of Asia, Mekong Mission Forum (MMF), Network of West Asia Lutheran Churches

Partners

These partners have heavily invested in building the capacity of member churches in the Lutheran communion in Asia, particularly in the Mekong region, in holistic mission and theological formation and reflection

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bavaria/Mission Oneworld, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America/Global Mission, Finland Evangelical Lutheran Mission

Ben Chun Wa Chang of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong, LWF vice-president for Asia. Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert

Bishop Chun Wa Chang

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hong Kong
Rev. Dr Philip Lok Oi Peng, Regional Secretary for Asia. Photo: LWF/S. Gallay

Rev. Dr Philip Lok Oi Peng

55
Member Churches
Fifty-five of LWF’s 150 member churches are in Asia
12.4m
Christians
12.4 million Christians are members of Asia region member churches
17
Countries
Member churches are in 17 countries in Asia