The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod 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.
The LCMS 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.
The LCMS began work in Kyrgyzstan in 2000, supporting a variety of mercy projects: a medical trailer and equipment, handcraft workshops and an art studio, 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.
