The Synod’s first-ever missionary-alumni reunion will be held July 8-12 in St. Louis, in conjunction with the Synod convention. More than 200 people are expected to attend, including active and retired missionaries and long-term volunteer missionaries, past and current LCMS World Mission staff and board members, and chairpersons of mission societies that have a partnership agreement with the Synod’s mission board.
Coordinated with Synod convention events and other activities sponsored by LCMS World Mission, the gathering is designed to rekindle friendships, as well as inform, encourage and equip former and current missionaries to serve as leaders in the Ablaze! initiative.
The convention will mark the official launch of Ablaze!, a worldwide Lutheran movement to share the Gospel with 100 million “unreached or uncommitted” people by 2017, the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.
The convention’s opening session on July 10 will celebrate the Synod’s past, present and future mission endeavors, and will be followed by a multi-cultural mission festival on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Eight LCMS missionary-alumni couples will be honored for their service during a luncheon July 11, and LCMS World Mission will host a reception that evening.
Other events coinciding with the missionary-alumni gathering include the Ablaze! International Conference for LCMS partner-church representatives, and a celebration of the Pentecost 2000+ cross-cultural mission initiative, which concludes this year.
Active and retired LCMS missionaries who have not received information about the reunion or those who would like to update mailing addresses for themselves or their children may contact LCMS World Mission at (800) 433-3954, Ext. 1316.
January 2004
