For more than fifty years WELS has been sharing the gospel in East Asia. Though the team is located throughout East Asia, the East Asia mission team continues to seek and train servant leaders with godly character and a passion to reach the lost. More than 30 national leaders, trained through Asia Lutheran Seminary, remain in East Asia sharing the gospel message with more than 2,300 people each week. The East Asia mission team continues to recruit, train, and mentor these servant leaders through the Internet. Asia Lutheran Seminary, located in Hong Kong, continues to play an important role in recruiting and training new Christian leaders for service in East Asia. Our missionaries and national leaders regularly mentor 23 church leaders and leaders in training. 27 people have completed mentor training to be able to mentor even more leaders.

The East Asia mission team continues to recruit, train, and mentor leaders while meeting challenges. The recruitment team uses a variety of strategies to reach students on the internet and through social media. Instructors and professors have tailored their classes for an online environment so students can learn while serving where they live. Mentors meet online with students located throughout East Asia. And through every step of the way, the East Asia mission team trains and collaborates with a national Christian so that the work can continue, and the people of East Asia can be empowered to serve.

Fast Facts

• Nine WELS missionaries serve on the East Asia mission team.
• There are currently 20 congregations comprised of 57 different groups in East Asia.
• 2,300 people are served with the gospel each week in East Asia.
• In 2022, 64 people were baptized in East Asia.