LCMS World Mission began work in Kyrgyzstan in 1998. Concordia Lutheran Church, Bishkek, was founded with 14 confirmed members and registered as a religious entity, the Lutheran Church Concordia, in 2001. The first pastor was ordained in 2004, and the first ethnically Kyrgyz pastors were ordained in 2007 and 2008. In 2008, the church body called Pastor Kenjebek Botabaev to serve as its bishop.

The church in Kyrgyzstan includes 35 groups and congregations, more than 600 confirmed members, six ordained pastors, three student/preachers and 11 evangelists.  The Lutheran Church Concordia is active in its witness and service in Kyrgyzstan, as it seeks through its numerous ministries to serve others and to proclaim Christ’s love.

LCMS World Mission currently supports the Lutheran Church Concordia’s work to expand its presence in Kyrgyzstan, through projects that seek to increase its capacity,  promote evangelism and outreach,  disciple and train leaders and provide humanitarian care.

LCMS World Relief and Human Care began work in Kyrgyzstan in 2000, supporting a variety of mercy projects: a medical trailer and equipment, handcraft workshops and an art studio and a greenhouse/nursery to assist the elderly and single parents, orphanage work, community health training and other medical initiatives.

Other LCMS groups to work in Kyrgyzstan include: Concordia Mission Society, Pastoral Leadership Institute, MOST (Mission Opportunities Short-Term) Ministry, Lutherans in Medical Mission, Hope Seed, individual short-term teams, Orphan Grain Train  LWML (Lutheran Women’s Missionary League. Concordia Seminary also assists with the development of the Central Asian Lutheran Seminary.

Eyeglass Clinic Program 2010
There is a high poverty rate in Kyrgyzstan, and many villagers don’t have access to eye care or the Gospel. LCMS World Relief and Human Care awarded grant funds to social fund “Compassion” in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, to combine evangelism efforts in these villages with vision clinics. The goal is to plan churches in the communities the ministry serves.

For more information on mercy work in the LCMS, contact us at infocenter@lcms.org or by calling 888-THE-LCMS (843-5267).

The LCMS also works with Lutheran Church Concordia in Kyrgyzstan (LCC-Kyrgyzstan), the LCMS’ emerging partner in Kyrgyzstan, and other Lutheran and public sector partners in making God’s love known in word and deed. Project funding supports...

Reaching those in need:
Funded by Concordia Mission Society, the mobile medical van ministry in Kyrgyzstan has served local women and children with medical and dental care and testing for more than 10 years! Additionally, eyeglass clinics for community members often accompany the van to its rural locations. Thousands have been served and many more are continuing to be shown God’s love through this ministry.

Providing assistance for discipleship training and theological education:
The LLC-Kyrgyzstan’s training the trainer program seeks to train and prepare members of the Lutheran church in Kyrgyzstan in how to witness their faith, to grow their lives of faith in their congregations, and to expand the church through their witness. This kind of training is meant not only for pastors, but for all members of congregations. New believers will be trained in how to share Christ with family, friends and neighbors. Older believers will be trained in how to plant new churches in their own villages and in neighboring villages. And, all believers will be trained in living a victorious Christian life so that their witness will be credible. Everyone will be trained in how to pray for the needs of others. Additionally, every person who is trained in these aspects of the Christian life will then go on to train others in what they have learned. Furthermore, those leaders who have been most active in the project, who have shown the most dedication and commitment to the project, will receive extra, specialized training and resources.

Providing support for new church starts:
The emerging Kyrgyz church, the LLC-Kyrgyzstan, seeks to target ministry efforts to witness the faith, establish new preaching stations and provide ministries that share the love of God in the larger society. Through church members, pastors and evangelists, humanitarian aid, ministries to orphanages, ministries to the poor and elderly, Bible classes, Confirmation classes, evangelism training, women’s training, Sunday school, eyeglass clinics and other activities, the church will actively seek to engage its culture in relevant ways. Additionally, the local church leadership has identified promising opportunities to spread the proclamation of the Gospel in Kyrgyzstan:  puppet ministry and a course on the basics of the Christian faith, designed for non-believers.  Through these efforts, the LLC-Kyrgyzstan will be a witness to the love of God in the world as they engage their culture in appropriate and relevant ways.

Supporting personnel and partners in Kyrgyzstan:
The Kyrgyzstan business office serves the LLC Kyrgyzstan, Center Unity and Concord and the Social Charity Fund Compassion. The office is the vital nerve and heart center for the ongoing success of church planting, leadership formation and medical ministries. Office activities include translators, diaconal workers, accountants, program directors and support staff who provide workers with visas, transportation and other logistical support.