National Offering bears translation fruit

By Cheryl Magness

Each convention cycle, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) designates a specific emphasis under which individuals, congregations and districts are invited to use their gifts to support domestic and international mission work. This emphasis, the National Offering, spans the period between conventions — typically three years.

The 2023 convention theme, “We Preach Christ Crucified,” also provided the basis for the theme of the 2023–2026 National Offering: “We Preach Christ Crucified for All.” The current triennium’s National Offering, which will wrap up next year, has supported efforts to make selected materials and resources available in other languages so that all may hear the Good News of Christ crucified for all.

The fruits of the 2023–2026 National Offering, which has raised approximately $500,000, are now being witnessed in a variety of ways, all thanks to Christ working through the faithful labors of His people across the Synod and around the world. The list of works that have been translated to date range from devotional to catechetical to historical to theological; the languages into which those works have been translated include Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Japanese and close to 10 different African languages.

Here are just a few examples of works that are now available to more of God’s people around the world as a result of the 2023–2026 LCMS National Offering:

Spanish

Cartas a los Pastores Luteranos [Letters to Lutheran Pastors], Vol. 3, by Hermann Sasse

Gracia Sobre Gracia [Grace Upon Grace], by the Rev. Dr. John Kleinig

Antropología Teológica y el Pecado [Theological Anthropology and Sin], Vol. 5, Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics, by the Rev. Dr. Klaus Detlev Schulz

La Sagrada Escritura [Holy Scripture], Vol. 2, Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics, by Dr. Jack Kilcrease

Lutheran Catechesis — Catechist Edition and Catechumen Workbook, by the Rev. Peter Bender

Portuguese

Escatologia [Eschatology], Vol. 13, Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics, by the Rev. Dr. John Stephenson

A Trindade Santa [Holy Trinity], Vol. 3, Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics, by the Rev. Dr. Carl Beckwith

Mandarin

Luther’s Works: Letters I, Letters II and Table Talk, Devotional Writings, and Sacraments and Liturgy, by Martin Luther

Japanese

More than a dozen of the Rev. Dr. Paul E. Kretzmann’s Commentaries, including on the four Gospels, Acts, Romans, First and Second Corinthians, and other epistles.

African languages

Philipp Melancthon’s Apology of the Augsburg Confession has now been translated into the African languages of Kinyarwanda, Rundi, Dholuo, Luba-Lulua and Tshiluba.

The full list of translated works is much longer than the few examples included here.

When the 2023–2026 National Offering was first announced, LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison wrote in a letter to the Synod: “God has blessed us with His Word, readable in our native language. He has granted us the wisdom and abilities to read theology, Christ-centered devotions and even our Lutheran Confessions in our own language. …

“We can quickly forget that God did not reveal Himself in English. Luther did not speak English. Yet our lives are enriched by all the English-language materials and resources we read each day, especially those that bring to us God’s Word. … The need for this translation work is both acute and urgent.”

In 2024, a “translation summit” was held at the LCMS International Center in St. Louis to enable those involved in translation work across the Synod to coordinate efforts, find areas of overlap and discuss how their respective organizations approach translation projects. At the time, Jeffrey Rahn, assistant executive director of the LCMS Recognized Service Organization Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF), noted the meeting’s historic nature: “In [LHF’s] 32-year history, this is the first time we’ve had this kind of forum to come together with other entities. … I hope this is the genesis of an ongoing discussion.”

The Rev. Stephen Heimer, manager of LCMS All Nations Ministry, highlighted both the practical and theological significance of the translation project.

“At this time,” Heimer said, “LCMS churches, schools and Recognized Service Organizations minister to people in more than 40 different languages throughout the United States. ‘Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ’ [Rom. 10:17]. We can be confident that many will come to faith and grow as disciples as our churches use these translations near and far.”

See the full list of translated works, which will be updated as needed.

Posted Dec. 10, 2025