Dear friends of the Ministry,

The scope and potential mission work of Philoxenia/Hospitality Ministry is almost limitless. More and more newcomers who identify as Muslims are arriving in Canada daily and the number of native born Muslims is increasing as well. This means there is a large mission field for our work in almost every area of Canada and within all three regions of the synod.

Here is but a taste of the kinds of mission work we could fund and/or supervise in the future with your prayers and financial support:

Summer Vicarage Funding and Supervision – A summer vicarage is the perfect summer job for a seminary student between the end of classes in the spring and the beginning of classes in the fall. Why work in a secular workplace when you can get more hands-on ministry experience? Summer vicar candidates are students who are finished their first or second year of studies at the seminary. A summer vicarage gives a pastor-to-be a supervised and guided taste of Muslim ministry with an experienced pastor. Even if this seminary student does not have future contact with the Ministry the experience will give him a valuable introduction to Muslim ministry and give him a heart for Muslim ministry and make him a voice for the importance of Muslim ministry in our synod. Past examples of summer vicars sponsored by the Ministry are Rev. David Godkin and Rev. Robin Korsch.

Vicarage Funding and Supervision – Lutheran Church-Canada needs more pastors who have a desire and calling to be engaged in outreach to Muslims. What better way to accomplish this than to support a future pastor’s formation by providing him a vicarage where he can both learn the skills needed to serve a parish but also gain experience and hands-on knowledge talking with Muslims, serving Muslims’ needs in the community and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Muslims. A vicar with a real desire and aptitude for Muslim outreach could also be a candidate to be a Missionary-at-large for the Ministry in the future. A past example of a Vicar sponsored by the Ministry is Rev. Robin Korsch.

Missionary-at-Large (clergy) – As Lutheran Church-Canada’s only listed service organization devoted to evangelism toward Muslims, we are synod’s service organization devoted to sending out ordained pastors to be evangelists to Muslims in Canada. The need is great. The opportunities are endless. Our past Missionaries-at-Large have worked and born much fruit among Muslims as well as non-Muslim newcomers who were the recipients of their evangelization. With your financial support the legacies of our past Missionaries-at-Large, including Rev. Dr. Ernest Hahn, Rev. Gerhard Wilch, Rev. Dr. Harold Ristau and Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann can be continued. The Ministry desires to provide leadership to the synod in Muslim outreach and the best way we can do this is to raise the funds to continually support a Missionary-at-Large in a strategic location. It is the Board of Director’s mandate to ensure our Missionaries-at-Large co-operate in all ways with the synod’s national mission director and national mission strategy, and co-operate with local congregations and pastors.

Education – Many members of Lutheran Church-Canada congregations avoid talking to Muslims for fear of somehow offending them. One key service that the Ministry can provide the church is in-person or online education about Islam and how to relate to your Muslim neighbour. The Ministry also has a limited amount of educational booklets for those who are interested in continued education and can help churches find Bibles in the mother-tongue of their Muslim neighbours.

As you can see, there are many, many potential mission work opportunities for Philoxenia/Hospitality and with your prayers and support the Ministry can build itself up by God’s grace and once again serve the synod and our Muslim neighbours in many salutary ways.