Module 1-Paradigm Shift in Mission

 In the 21st Century, LCMS's mission is not done in one specific way (this is not unique to the LCMS). The era of pioneer missions has been replaced by LCMS's missionaries being sent out for a specific term which can be renewed. They are not engaged in church planting that much anymore but pursue other equally important duties. In contrast to past pioneer missionaries, these term limited, career missionaries are involved in raising their own financial support, hence they are called Network Supported Missionaries (NSM). In addition to the term-limited career missionaries, the LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) also identifies and commissions other short term missionaries (GEO) like teachers, doctors and vicars. Furthermore, congregations are also finding more creative ways to obey Christ's Great Commission overseas by sending their own short term volunteer teams for a short stint as one or two weeks. Thus, at a glance these are the levels of LCMS missionaries' involvement today (though not exhaustive):

1. Level 1: Term limited career missionaries (NSM)
2. Level 2: Short term missionaries (GEO) and mission teams that support and serve in single or multiple short term projects
3. Single congregations short term mission team trips running parallel and separate of LCMS's OIM mission.   

However, in this new paradigm there are many good and many wrong ways of doing mission, just as there were good things and mistakes accompanying pioneer missionaries. This module not only looks at some of the changes in mission and its reasons for making them, it also invites the student to consider a particular mission focus, to take a look at the "official" perspective of our LCMS's mission and finally, to encourage him/her to find his/her personal place in it.