‘Pray for the churches’: Join international church bodies in year of prayer

Attendees of the International Church Relations Conference are welcomed by the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, LCMS president, during the 69th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Phoenix on Tuesday, July 21. (LCMS/Erik M. Lunsford)

By Mary Henrichs

Although it may be tempting for confessional Lutherans to feel isolated, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) has ecclesiastical relations with 103 church bodies in 73 countries across the globe, representing 22 million people.

Forty-three are sister church bodies, with whom the LCMS shares full altar and pulpit fellowship. Thirty-eight are associate church bodies, with whom the LCMS “is working toward and praying for altar and pulpit fellowship.” Twenty-two others are church bodies with whom the LCMS is working toward faithful ecumenism.

Many leaders of these church bodies gave their greetings to the LCMS at the 2026 convention in person (48) and in writing (35). Their letters — many of which request prayers — can be found in Today’s Business Issue 2A, which was distributed to delegates on July 19. (Excerpts are included below.)

The Rev. Dr. Jonathan E. Shaw, director of LCMS Church Relations, urges congregations: “Our Lord teaches us to pray for His church. Pray for the churches. Begin now. Pray for God’s promised blessings in Christ.”

LCMS Church Relations has created a yearlong schedule of prayer petitions for congregations to include in every Sunday’s Prayer of the Church, praying for two church bodies by name each week. Individuals are also encouraged to pray at home along with the schedule, which can be found here, at the link above or on Pages 13–15 of the Convention Workbook.

On Aug. 2, the LCMS sister, associate and other churches will begin praying for each other using this two-churches-per-week schedule, starting with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium. LCMS congregations and individuals are encouraged to join in on Aug. 2 but can also start praying the schedule at any point.

Greetings are from sister church bodies unless marked by an asterisk, in which case they are from associate or other church bodies. Some quotes are lightly edited to amend minor errors.

International greetings

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Argentina, IELA

“This is a very special year for us. It marks the 40th anniversary of the decision to become a ‘Sister Church’ of the Missouri Synod.”

Rev. Arturo E. Truenow, president, IELA

*Lutheran Mission—Australia, LM—A

“Like many confessional churches around the world, [LM—A] would not be where we are today without the incredible support and undeserved blessings that have flowed to us through the LCMS.” Read more.

Rev. Dr. Matt Anker, president, LM—A

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Belgium, ELKB

“We are small, but situated in the heart of Europe with a view to the world. … We experience time and again how the Gospel of Jesus Christ and faith know no boundaries, but unite people across all differences into one family.”

Rt. Rev. Johannes Reitze-Landau, president, ELKB

*Lutheran Church in Africa—Synod of Benin, ELA—SBe

“On behalf of all the saints in Benin, I … express our gratitude to you all. … We would ask you to keep praying for our young church body in Benin.”

Rev. Abona Legue Koumbi, president, ELA—SBe

Christian Evangelical Lutheran Church of Bolivia, ICEL

“We offer prayers of thanksgiving for the LCMS and all the work it carries out worldwide — proclaiming the Gospel and supporting local churches in every country where it serves.” Read more.

Rev. Limberth Fernández Coronado, president, ICEL, translated with Google Translate

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Brazil, IELB

“At the 1899 [LCMS] Convention, the decision was made to send a missionary to Brazil. … Today, by the grace of God, the IELB is present throughout the entire Brazilian territory, with more than 1,500 congregations, around 940 pastors, and over 240,000 members. … We also have the joy of participating in the mission, sending more than 50 pastors to support Christ’s work in other parts of the world, always in partnership with sister churches.”

Rev. Geraldo Walmir Schüler, president, IELB

Lutheran Church—Canada, LCC

“Although the challenges facing us up here in Canada are unique … our task and mission is the same — to be ‘Together One’ in teaching and practice.”

Rev. Dr. Timothy Teuscher, president, LCC

Confessional Lutheran Church of Chile, ILCC

“We give thanks to God for churches that faithfully watch over and preserve the pure doctrine of salvation according to the Holy Scriptures as we … confess it in our Lutheran confessions.”

Rev. Gerardo Omar Kinas, bishop/president, ILCC

Evangelical Lutheran Free Church in Denmark, ELFCD

“The right hand of any church worker and of the entire Synod is in the hand of the Lord! What a comfort to any pastor who has the load of a pastoral call. What a comfort to any board member and president. And what a comfort for any Christian.”

Rev. Leif G. Jensen, president, ELFCD

Evangelical Lutheran Mission Diocese of Finland, ELMDF

“Because Christ has risen from the dead, what could take away from us — our sins forgiven and our consciences cleansed — the joy, peace and courage to serve together in His Church and to build congregations for future generations both near and far?”

Rev. Dr. Juhana Pohjola, bishop, ELMDF

Evangelical Lutheran Church—Synod of France, EELSF

“For more than a century, our churches have shared bonds of confession, mission, theological support, and fraternal encouragement. Today, these ties remain precious, and we give thanks especially for the common projects currently being discussed … in support of mission in our own country and of theological education for French-speaking churches around the world.”

Rev. Dr. Gleisson R. Schmidt, president, EELSF

Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church, SELK (Germany)

“When our Savior died on the cross, it seemed as though He had been defeated: Christ defeated! But with His bodily and true resurrection, it is clear: Christ defeated the enemies of life — sin, death, and the devil! … Many of you are concerned about the spiritual condition of your sister church in Germany. … I share [those concerns, but] more and more young pastors in my church are clearly on the side of the biblical message regarding the question of Women’s Ordination. The last General Pastors’ Convention took a strong stance on this issue. … I warmly greet you at your Synod with the cry ‘Christ has defeated the enemy’ or with the words of your theme: ‘Christ Is Risen Indeed!’”

Rev. Dr. Hans-Jörg Voigt, bishop, SELK

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ghana, ELCG

“We especially thank the Lord for the LCMS’s unwavering faithfulness to Holy Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions. Your commitment to the truth of God’s Word has been a source of strength and inspiration not only within your own context but also for partner churches like ours.”

Rev. John Shadrack Donkoh, president, ELCG

Lutheran Church of Guatemala, ILG

“We are united at the Altar and Pulpit to receive forgiveness through the means of grace, tangibly, through the proclamation of the Gospel and in eating His body and drinking His blood in the real presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Rev. Luis Alberto Jasinto, president, ILG

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Almaty, ELCA (Kazakhstan)

“Christ has gathered us from all the continents of the world that we, in the unity of the Spirit … [would] be able to deliver to all nations the Good News of the Lord’s Resurrection.”

Rev. Alexander Burtsev, bishop, ELCA (Kazakhstan)

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya, ELCK

“We give thanks that [we] stand together on the Holy Scriptures — the only source and norm of doctrine, and on the Lutheran Confessions, the true exposition of that doctrine, united in ‘one Lord, one faith, and one baptism’ (Eph. 4:5).”

Rev. Dr. Joseph Ochola Omolo, archbishop, ELCK

Lutheran Church in Korea, LCK

“The Lutheran Church in Korea … aspires to stand ever more firmly upon this same confessional foundation, and we earnestly hope that the fellowship and cooperation between churches united in a common confession of faith will continue to deepen and flourish. … We sincerely hope for expanded and fruitful cooperation in the formation of future pastors and in theological education.”

Rev. Jong Ho Won, president, LCK

*Malagasy Lutheran Church, FLM (Madagascar)

“We give thanks to God for the longstanding partnership that unites our churches in a shared confession of the Gospel, grounded in the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and authoritative Word of God and faithfully confessed in our Lutheran confessions.”

Rev. Dr. Denis Rakotozafy, president, FLM

*Confessional Lutheran Church—Malawi Synod, CLC—MS

“Our strength and mutual partnership in the Gospel of Jesus Christ is growing more and more. Christ is Risen indeed! We are no longer under the bondage of sin, death, and the power of the devil. Christ has conquered all three of these enemies.”

Rev. Davis Robert Wowa, bishop-elect, Northern Diocese-CLC-MS

Lutheran Synod of Mexico, SLM

“My grandmother and my mother came to know Christ through the LCMS mission in Mexico, and I was born and raised in a church planted by Lutheran missionaries on the Mexican border 50 years ago.”

Rev. Omar Marín Garza Martínez, president, SLM

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Paraguay, IELPA

“We [pray] God’s blessings … for the growth of God’s church in the United States, as well as in its international missions.”

Rev. Alceu Alton Figur, president, IELPA

Portuguese Evangelical Lutheran Church, IELP

“Work is always before us, and therefore we seek guidance from on High and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate our steps and keep us on the path.”

Rev. Adalberto Hiller, president, IELP

Siberian Evangelical Lutheran Church, SELC

“Every Sunday Divine Service is a little ‘Pascha’ to us. Likewise, to be a Christian is to be a ‘little Christ.’ All Christian life then is a struggle between the old Adam and the new man in Christ.”

Rev. Vsevolod Lytkin, bishop, SELC

*Lutheran Mission in Africa—Synod of Thousand Hills, LMA—STH (Rwanda)

“Unceasing prayers and visits by [the] LCMS Africa team … have been a helping hand and supportive in many ways … We always value your prayers and support.”

Rev. Seburikoko M. Selestine, bishop, LMA-STH

*Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church—Sierra Leone, CELC—SL

“I want to thank you very much for remembering the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church of Sierra Leone.”

Rev. John Kangba Bundor, national president, CELC-SL

Free Evangelical Lutheran Synod in South Africa, FELSISA

“‘Christ is Risen Indeed’ is not merely a seasonal acclamation … It is the living and enduring reality that gives meaning to all the Church’s work. It is the inconceivable hope that has been given to us: death is defeated, sin is forgiven, new life has begun in Christ.”

Rev. Helmut Paul, bishop, FELSISA

Evangelical Lutheran Church in South Sudan, Sudan (ELCSS/S)

“In South Sudan and Sudan, we remain grateful for your prayers, accompaniment, and support amid the challenges we face. We are reminded that we are one body in Christ, called to bear one another’s burdens and so rejoice together in hope.”

Rev. Peter Anibati Abia, presiding bishop, ELCSS/S

China Evangelical Lutheran Church, CELC (Taiwan)

“We have truly been blessed the past fifteen years through our increased partnership with you, especially in the area of theological education. … As we seek to expand our small nascent seminary, Concordia Theologica Seminary, Taiwan, we look forward to continued collaboration and mutual encouragement.”

Rev. Andrew Miao, president, CELC

*Mwanga Diocese, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, ELCT

“I am writing to express sincere gratitude for the relationship we have just started in 2025. For us [in the] Mwanga Diocese this relationship is a great opportunity to learn Lutheran Confessional Theology, praying for one another and remain[ing] faithful to the Word of God in the changing world.”

Rev. Dr. Daniel Henry Mono, bishop, ELCT — Mwanga Diocese

Lutheran Church of Togo, ELT

“We give thanks to God for His continued faithfulness in guiding the Synod through seasons of growth, service, and witness.”

Rev. Kolani Lambon Lare, president, ELT

Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ukraine, ELCU

“For us in Ukraine, the joy of the resurrection is confessed in the shadow of suffering and war. Yet even there, the light of the risen Christ is not overcome. He remains the Lord of His Church, granting the forgiveness of sins, sustaining His people, and strengthening us to bear witness to His Gospel. In weakness, His strength is made perfect; in darkness, His light shines all the more brightly.”

Rev. Serge Maschewski, bishop, ELCU

Lutheran Church of Venezuela, ILV

“We are deeply grateful for the constant support the LCMS provides to our church in Venezuela and for the prayers offered on our behalf by each of the congregations in this Synod.”

Rev. Eduardo Flores, president, ILV

National greetings

*Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS)

“For many of us in the ELS your synod holds a special place in our hearts and you are included often in our prayers.”

Rev. Glenn R. Obenberger, president, ELS

*Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)

“We thank God for your bold stand on the Lutheran Confessions in a world where that stand is not appreciated and is actively opposed. We respect and appreciate your readiness to confess unchanging biblical truths and principles in a world that all too often rejects them.” Read more.

Rev. Mark Schroeder, president, WELS

*North American Lutheran Church (NALC)

“All of life — past, present, and future — finds its meaning and purpose in the cross and resurrection of Christ. We applaud you for your unwavering commitment to proclaim that message to the world and to stand firm in your witness to that which, as the apostle Paul says, is of ‘first importance’ (1 Cor. 15:3–4).”

Rev. Dr. Daniel W. Selbo, bishop, NALC

Read the full letters in Today’s Business Issue 2A .

Find prayers and prayer schedule here or on Pages 13–15 of the Convention Workbook.

Posted July 31, 2026