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ELCA NEWS SERVICE NEWS BRIEF

August 8, 1997

ELCA MISSIONARIES MEET 

About 30 missionaries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America met July 20-24 at Texas Lutheran University, Seguin, Texas, for a conference on Lutheran missionary efforts in Latin America and the Caribbean.  Participants engaged in Bible study, shared information about international ministry, compared work styles and told stories.  Harold T. Hanson, ELCA director for international personnel said, *Together with national Lutheran churches we determine what work will be done in that particular country.*  Missionaries are scattered throughout Latin America; not very many serve in each particular country.  *All missionaries are part of a larger community.  We need to alleviate the sense of being isolated, which is why this gathering is so important,* he said.  *Here, missionaries came together for the first time as a family and built community,* said the Rev. Rafael Malpica-Padilla, ELCA program director for Latin America and the Caribbean.  Missionaries discussed involvment in local politics, adopting a modest lifestyle, language, culture and Christian faith and practice.  Missionaries *need to accept their identity as foreigners and guests in the host country and church,* said Hanson.  ELCA missionaries currently serve in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.  

For information contact: 
Ann Hafften, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html