From the mission field: The three pillars of LCMS International Mission

The Rev. Dr. David Preus greets attendees following Divine Service at the Confessional Lutheran Church in Romania’s St. Mary’s Lutheran Center in Braşov, Romania, in 2024.

In a recent newsletter, Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Eurasia Regional Director Rev. Dr. David Preus wrote about the “three pillars” of LCMS International Mission as they are currently playing out in the Eurasia region. A slightly edited version of his article is shared below.

By David Preus

The Eurasia region covers all of Europe, the Middle East, the former Soviet countries, Mongolia, Pakistan and Israel.

The region is served by 28 missionary families (up from 25 in 2024), two alliance missionaries, and a growing network of indigenous pastors and deaconesses. They partner with 14 confessional Lutheran church bodies and numerous emerging groups in altar-and-pulpit fellowship.

Our work remains anchored in three enduring pillars: spread the Gospel, plant Lutheran churches and show mercy, with church planting as the central focus — the place where the Word is purely preached, the Sacraments faithfully administered, and mercy naturally flows to the neighbor.

Spreading the Gospel

“I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47).

The Lord is dramatically fulfilling this promise. In recent years, over 2,000 Persian (Iranian and Afghan) converts have been baptized in Germany. One Berlin congregation now has about 1,600 members, with 80% worshiping in Farsi. Full Farsi liturgy, catechism and hymns are available online — even used inside Iran.

Since 2022, more than 1 million Ukrainian refugees have reached Germany alone. They receive Word and Sacrament ministry in Ukrainian and Russian in cities including Wittenberg.

English-language “Expat Project” congregations serve military communities, internationals and locals — especially near U.S. bases in Germany, with new plants continuing to open.

In restricted areas of Central Asia and the Middle East, missionaries share Christ relationally, often through English classes, at personal risk. Translation efforts accelerate, delivering confessional resources in Farsi, Hebrew, Italian, Romanian, Russian, Greek, Czech and many other languages. A software index now catalogs Book of Concord translations across 21 languages.

The Riga Luther Academy trains 44 pastoral candidates from over a dozen countries through its hybrid English-language Bachelor of Theology program. The Old Latin School in Wittenberg hosts regional conferences, missionary orientation and intensives. Annual diaconal and pastoral events, plus publishing projects (including a nearly complete Italian hymnal and Hebrew Book of Concord translation in Tel Aviv), equip believers even in restricted settings.

Planting Lutheran churches

“This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town” (Titus 1:5).

Following the apostolic pattern, we continue planting confessional Lutheran congregations. Active plants and stations now exist in Spain (12-plus congregations and growing), Italy (including Rome and Padua), Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Moldova, Hungary, Israel (Tel Aviv), Ireland, Pakistan and multiple German cities serving Persian, Ukrainian and English-speaking groups. Recent milestones include ordinations in Bulgaria, Moldova, Israel and Italy, plus the commissioning of eight Spanish deaconesses.

Showing mercy

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

Mercy flows from faithful congregations. Persian refugees in Germany receive church asylum, language help and integration support alongside Baptism and catechesis. Across the Eurasia region, medical projects, orphan care, English teaching (ESL), cultural events and refugee support connect people to the Gospel and local churches. Short-term LCMS volunteer teams assist with VBS, clinics, clothing drives and renovations — always tying mercy to Christ crucified and risen.

From the British Isles to Central Asia and the Holy Land, the Lord continues opening doors.

Learn more about the Preus family’s missionary service at lcms.org/preus.

Posted March 23, 2026