Asia Lutheran Seminary

Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) trains Christians for leadership by equipping students to reach out, disciple believers, train leaders, and multiply groups for the advancing of God’s kingdom in Asia. To accomplish this, they offer a complete evangelist and pastoral training program from Christian Studies certificate to Master of Divinity and provides training to equip the laity for service in the church in Asia.

Asia Lutheran Seminary is served by four full-time professors and additional adjunct faculty. They specialize in teaching the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek and use like-minded Chinese theologians to assist with teaching in the classroom, especially in practical theology. Professors also offer support to South Asia Lutheran Evangelical Mission (SALEM), WELS’ sister church and mission partner in Hong Kong.

Dr. Jon Bare accepted the call to become the new president of Asia Lutheran Seminary, replacing Dr. Steve Witte who will be stepping down as president in June 2023. God has used the unique gifts of both men to bless the kingdom in many parts of the globe. Travel in this part of the world has been limited, but God has opened doors to reach his people through online recruitment, which has been bearing fruit in ways never considered in previous years.

Fast Facts

  • Asia Lutheran Seminary currently serves 116 students in five different program levels (single subject, leadership certificate, associate, bachelor, master).
  • There 53 full-time church leaders trained by Asia Lutheran Seminary serving in East Asia.
  • 38 current Asia Lutheran Seminary students are serving in East Asia.
  • Over 1,300 students have taken Asia Lutheran Seminary short courses online.
  • Asia Lutheran Seminary graduates in Hong Kong now serve 11 local churches of the South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission (SALEM), WELS’ sister church, with a combined membership of over 2,100 souls.

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Praying for Asia Lutheran Seminary

Dear God, Lord of the Harvest, we thank you for growing your church and bringing the message of salvation to your people regardless of whatever worldly circumstances seek to threaten. We pray for our students and graduates in East Asia. We ask that you bless them with the peace of their redemption, a peace which this world cannot give. Provide them with whatever means necessary to continue serving your people. We thank you for our partnership with them in the gospel. They are a blessing to us just as they are a blessing to the souls you have given them to serve. Amen.