In this series, those involved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors.
MLBS graduation class 2025
The Berea Evangelical Lutheran Church (BELC) of India currently has 1,074 pastors serving 1,196 congregations and 487 preaching stations, with 25 students studying to be pastors at the Martin Luther Bible School (MLBS) seminary.
The principle focus of our mission work overseas is training pastors and evangelists. The CLC helps establish and fund seminaries around the world, but we don’t stop with graduation. We also support continuing education for the indigenous pastors through periodic pastoral seminars to encourage pastors in the ministry.
The BELC is divided up into twenty-two districts, each under the supervision of one of the seven BELC chairmen. Each district holds monthly meetings, led by the chairman, to encourage and further educate the pastors in those districts. In the first six months of 2025, an average of 675 pastors each month were able to attend these meetings. This training and support are especially important as Christians face growing persecution in India.
District meeting
Leaders’ meeting lunch
The BELC also holds leaders’ meetings three times a year at MLBS for one or two lead pastors from each district. These pastors are akin to the conference visitors that we have in the U.S. for each of our pastoral conferences. These multi-day seminars are an important way to encourage and help leaders, who in turn encourage and help the pastors they work with in their district.
As Christians face increasing persecution in India and around the world, these gatherings become even more necessary. God said, “Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Hebrews 10:24-25) While we usually apply these verses to church attendance, and rightfully so, they apply to our pastors as well; pastors need as much encouragement as any layperson.
Pray for all the pastoral meetings being held around the world, and for the study clubs and pastoral conferences your pastor attends. We are all in this together for the glory of God.
is a full-time foreign missionary for the CLC.