The following is part of Pastor Jotham’s report to the CAME Board:

Executive Director’s Report to the CAME Board -  June 10, 2009

Grace and Peace to you from Christ our Lord!  In these challenging times, we are reminded of Jesus Christ’s response to temptation, “It is written…”  Indeed, it is written that if he so arrays the lilies of the fields, who can be against us?  It is written that He is always working for the good of those who love Him.  And it is written that He will always be with us, even to the end of the age. 

These past few years have been an extremely trying time for me, emotionally, professionally and spiritually.  Thanks be to God that my blood pressure is under control – exercise, care of diet and vitamin and mineral supplements have helped.  My sister is now remarried (thanks for your prayers following the passing on into God’s glory of my brother-in-law) and my nieces and nephew have a wonderful new dad.  Kim and I (and occasionally Jane and Jack) have settled in well at the new campus of St. Andrew and are developing good relationships here.  Thanks again to Rev. Andy Dzurovcik, Vice-Chair of the CAME Board (and First Vice President of the SELC District) for attending and participating at the dedication of the campus last year.

The work of CAME - to Equip and Empower congregations, reaching out with the Gospel to the 95% of Asians who are unchurched – progresses wonderfully, by the grace of God.  Notice that the percentage of unchurched has decreased from 97%, as our surveys indicate.  We are conducting additional surveys right now to see if the numbers of Asians who are Christian have increased as well.  Early indications are that those numbers will be up.  Thanks be to our Lord! 

So, looking at the big picture, the work of CAME, her partners and of course, workers from other denominations as well, are yielding fruit.  What is even more encouraging is the growing number of lay missionaries, evangelists and Barnabuses in the field.  Years of countless demographic presentations, consultations, workshops, seminars, conferences, summits, board visits to the field, etc., have been laying down an organic structure, a strong and systemic root system with footprints.  Although, as the economy has hindered much church and mission planting over the past few years, the sharing of the Gospel from current Asian mission stations and churches as well as from “mainstream” congregations have picked up.  Those volunteers we have trained, mentored, cajoled, persuaded, equipped and empowered over the past 11 years are rising up and hearing the call to share the Gospel.

As of today CAME and her partners have helped to start 105 Asian churches/missions  (total – 207 churches/missions in LCMS).  Several more are in the “pipeline”.  We are conducting a survey to estimate the number of Asian members in the LCMS.  Besides White-Anglo and Black membership, Asian membership is now the largest macro group and are rapidly closing in to parallel the number of Blacks in our church body (not that this is a totally good phenomenon).

I have had to make some tough decisions over the past year.  Our ethnic ministry facilitators in the field have all transitioned from part-time to volunteer status.  Grants to new missions have been put on moratorium.  Travel and conferences have been significantly reduced. 

On the other hand, we have significantly invested time, effort and dollars in communications.  Our days are filled with video conferences, conference calls, internet chats, instant emails, electronic file sharing and distribution, etc.  Because of diminished face-to-face time, our volunteers in the field are stepping up significantly in leadership and responsibility.  Our role has gone from mostly facilitating, to more coaching and consulting.  We are receiving numerous phone calls and emails from the field asking for “intelligence”, research, trends, etc. in Asian outreach. 

Here is a detailed layout of the events/gathings/training/visits covering our four main areas of work:

1. Help Raise Awareness and Facilitate Initiation of New Outreach

Although we have reduced staff and the number of visits into the field for raising awareness and facilitating new mission starts has decreased, these visits have been replaced by the work of many volunteers in the field.  Over the years, we have trained numerous volunteers in the field at our workshops and seminars and that training is yielding fruit.  Over the past five months, these volunteers or I have made these visits/presentations/gatherings:
3 demographic information gatherings; 3 site identification of specific communities; 5 training presentations for congregations/circuits; 4 visits to congregations for preaching/bible studies; 4 visits to districts for consultation re. transitioning communities.

2. Help Identify, Recruit, Assess and Support Indigenous Leaders/Workers

Volunteers and/or I have made 5 visits to identify, recruit, and assess new leaders or     missionary/evangelist prospects; 3 on site visits to train prospective host congregations;  5 conference calls to help district officials assess prospective leaders; help to fund/organize several ethnic ministry conferences (Chinese Leaders In Mission Building,  Japanese Ministry Association, Hmong Ministry Conference, etc.) and working to resurrect the Korean Ministry Conference.

3. Help Establish and develop strong training programs for ethnic ministers

       Volunteers and I conducted 12 referrals and overall coordination with Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology; 5 CAME Workshops and  Seminars held; consulting to Heritage Foundation, Concordia Publishing House and Lutheran Hour Ministries re. Asian language resources.

4. Help Provide Networking and Coordination

Assisted and consulted on 8 placement/call process for church workers (w/District President’s and seminaries); chaired National Mission Affiliates meetings;  working with Concordia Seminary, St. Louis on the next multi-ethnic symposium to be held in January 2010; serving on various boards – last term with Wheat Ridge as Chair and also on the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services and Lutheran Campus Mission Association.

I thank you for your dedication, faithfulness and partnership to reach out with the lost among the millions of Asian peoples who are unchurched!

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