wfn.org | LCMS missionaries safe amid Cote d'Ivoire fighting

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 64
October 11, 2002

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 64
October 11, 2002

LCMS missionaries safe
amid Cote d'Ivoire fighting

Seven LCMS "missionary units" -- individuals and families who serve as 
missionaries -- based in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa, are 
unharmed amid fighting in a military uprising that began there Sept. 19.

Ken Reiner, counselor for missionary care with LCMS World Mission, speaks 
daily with Rev. Tom Brinkley, the mission board's area director for 
French-speaking West Africa, who is in Abidjan.   All the missionaries are 
stationed in -- or have been moved to -- coastal areas in southern Cote 
d'Ivoire.

Although fighting continues in Bouake, in the central part of the country, 
the LCMS missionaries are not believed to be in danger, according to Reiner.

"At this point, we're monitoring the situation very carefully," he 
said.  LCMS World Mission will evacuate the missionaries if it becomes 
necessary, Reiner said.

Currently serving in Cote d'Ivoire are LCMS missionaries Rev. Ron and Lisa 
Mudge, accompanied by their two children; Dr. William Foster, a physician; 
Ron Lange; John and Joanne Hansen; Gary and Stephanie Schulte, with four 
children; Delano and Linda Meyer; and Rev. Tom and Mary Brinkley, with four 
children.  Delano Meyer is area director for English-speaking West and 
Southern Africa.

Rev. Dan and Suzanne Ramsey, who also serve as missionaries in Cote 
d'Ivoire, are on home leave in the United States with their three children.

Staying with LCMS missionaries in southern Cote d'Ivoire are Lutheran Bible 
Translators workers Jim and Susan Kaiser and their three sons.	The Kaiser 
boys were students at the International Christian Academy, an elementary 
school in Bouake that was fired upon by rebels last month.  The boys were 
at home with their parents at the time.

Some 200 students and staff have been evacuated from the school, and 
classes have resumed at a new location in Dakar, Senegal.

****************************************

LCMSNews is published by the News and Information Division, Board for 
Communication Services, of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  Please 
note that subscribers to LCMSNews will not be able to reach anyone by 
hitting the "Reply" button when viewing an LCMSNews release. Such replies 
will be deleted. However, if you have questions or comments about this 
LCMSNews release, contact Joe Isenhower Jr. via e-mail at 
joe.isenhower@lcms.org, or by phone at (314) 996-1231.

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your e-mail address for LCMSNews, 
go to the following Web address: 
http://lists.lcms.org/mailman/listinfo/lcmsnews.

****************************************

Seven LCMS "missionary units" -- individuals and families who serve as 
missionaries -- based in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), West Africa, are 
unharmed amid fighting in a military uprising that began there Sept. 19.

Ken Reiner, counselor for missionary care with LCMS World Mission, speaks 
daily with Rev. Tom Brinkley, the mission board's area director for 
French-speaking West Africa, who is in Abidjan.   All the missionaries are 
stationed in -- or have been moved to -- coastal areas in southern Cote 
d'Ivoire.

Although fighting continues in Bouake, in the central part of the country, 
the LCMS missionaries are not believed to be in danger, according to Reiner.

"At this point, we're monitoring the situation very carefully," he 
said.  LCMS World Mission will evacuate the missionaries if it becomes 
necessary, Reiner said.

Currently serving in Cote d'Ivoire are LCMS missionaries Rev. Ron and Lisa 
Mudge, accompanied by their two children; Dr. William Foster, a physician; 
Ron Lange; John and Joanne Hansen; Gary and Stephanie Schulte, with four 
children; Delano and Linda Meyer; and Rev. Tom and Mary Brinkley, with four 
children.  Delano Meyer is area director for English-speaking West and 
Southern Africa.

Rev. Dan and Suzanne Ramsey, who also serve as missionaries in Cote 
d'Ivoire, are on home leave in the United States with their three children.

Staying with LCMS missionaries in southern Cote d'Ivoire are Lutheran Bible 
Translators workers Jim and Susan Kaiser and their three sons.	The Kaiser 
boys were students at the International Christian Academy, an elementary 
school in Bouake that was fired upon by rebels last month.  The boys were 
at home with their parents at the time.

Some 200 students and staff have been evacuated from the school, and 
classes have resumed at a new location in Dakar, Senegal.

****************************************

LCMSNews is published by the News and Information Division, Board for 
Communication Services, of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.  Please 
note that subscribers to LCMSNews will not be able to reach anyone by 
hitting the "Reply" button when viewing an LCMSNews release. Such replies 
will be deleted. However, if you have questions or comments about this 
LCMSNews release, contact Joe Isenhower Jr. via e-mail at 
joe.isenhower@lcms.org, or by phone at (314) 996-1231.

To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your e-mail address for LCMSNews, 
go to the following Web address: 
http://lists.lcms.org/mailman/listinfo/lcmsnews.

****************************************