World Mission Prayer League
Encyclopedia
The World Mission Prayer League (WMPL) is an American pan-Lutheran mission
organization.
The World Mission Prayer League is a Lutheran community in the mission of God. Members are committed to some very simple ideas: the power of Christian community, the essential ministry of prayer, the adventure of pursuing a simplified lifestyle...and the urgent challenge of sharing in all the world the wonderful news about Jesus. WMPL includes some 6,000 praying members across the United States and Canada, and serves in nineteen countries around the world. Approximately 120 serve as full-time workers in pioneering service and outreach ministries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as the United States and Canada.
By the mid-1930s, a band of students, pastors and friends in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area joined together in prayer that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers into His harvest field (Luke 10:2). Soon some of them felt called to join the harvest themselves.
Volunteers approached the foreign mission boards of the existing Lutheran synods, but they found no budget for new outreach. In 1937 they organized themselves along simple lines to accept missionary volunteers and send them into areas of special concern. They were committed to finding a way to send and go in mission, without the constraint of budgetary limitations. They were committed to providing a way for lay participation in mission, without the requirement of ordination. They were committed as well to complement the regular work of the Lutheran synods, without diverting means or personnel from their programs.
The Mission began as the South American Mission Prayer League, and was organized on May 25, l937. Its first two missionaries left the next year for Bolivia. Soon other volunteers were sent to Central Asia, and eventually to Africa, and Eastern Europe. In 1939 the Mission adopted its present name, the World Mission Prayer League, to reflect its growing involvements around the world: a prayer league of supporting friends with a world mission. In 1945, the World Mission Prayer League adopted its Constitution and incorporated in the State of Minnesota.
In 1969, the World Mission Prayer League/Canada adopted its Constitution and incorporated in Edmonton, Alberta. The World Mission Prayer League/Canada functions in partnership with the World Mission Prayer League/USA as a sister organization.
In 1972 the American Board of the Santal Mission merged with the World Mission Prayer League. The American Board was founded in Minneapolis in 1894, as the American partner of the Norwegian Board and the Danish Board of the same Mission. The World Mission Prayer League has inherited their particular concern for the Santal people of India and Bangladesh.
Together with the Church and its partners in mission, the World Mission Prayer League seeks to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s fresh initiative in our world today. Since its inception, the Prayer League has sent hundreds of international workers into dozens of countries around the world, for both short- and long-term service. World Mission Prayer League members continue to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth workers, and that the Lord himself would sustain and uphold them.
In the United States, the World Mission Prayer League has offices in Minneapolis (MN), Anaheim (CA), Sammamish (WA), and Gettysburg (PA).
In Canada, the World Mission Prayer League's office is located in Camrose, Alberta.
The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible, our infallible guide and inerrant norm for doctrine and living.
The value and dignity of all people: created in God’s image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of their sin and guilt, justly subject to God’s wrath and unable to save themselves.
Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.
The means of grace – principally the Bible and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper – by which God shares with us the good news of the wonderful salvation that can be ours in Jesus Christ.
Justification by God’s grace – complete access to God’s every gift and benefit – for all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and the spiritual gifts necessary for a calling to obedient service.
The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshipping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.
The future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.
We further believe that...
The historic creeds of the church – the Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian – as well as the historic confessions of the Lutheran Church – particularly the Small Catechism and the Unaltered Augsburg Confession – describe the Christian faith accurately and well.
Mission (Christian)
Christian missionary activities often involve sending individuals and groups , to foreign countries and to places in their own homeland. This has frequently involved not only evangelization , but also humanitarian work, especially among the poor and disadvantaged...
organization.
The World Mission Prayer League is a Lutheran community in the mission of God. Members are committed to some very simple ideas: the power of Christian community, the essential ministry of prayer, the adventure of pursuing a simplified lifestyle...and the urgent challenge of sharing in all the world the wonderful news about Jesus. WMPL includes some 6,000 praying members across the United States and Canada, and serves in nineteen countries around the world. Approximately 120 serve as full-time workers in pioneering service and outreach ministries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, as well as the United States and Canada.
History
The World Mission Prayer League grew out of a God-given burden to pray for the unreached people living in the interiors of Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The first international workers were sent in 1904 by the World Mission Prayer League's predecessor agency, The American Board of the Santal Mission. They joined the Santal Mission work in India, sponsored by sister agencies in Norway and Denmark, which were already underway since 1867.By the mid-1930s, a band of students, pastors and friends in the Minneapolis, Minnesota area joined together in prayer that the Lord of the harvest would send laborers into His harvest field (Luke 10:2). Soon some of them felt called to join the harvest themselves.
Volunteers approached the foreign mission boards of the existing Lutheran synods, but they found no budget for new outreach. In 1937 they organized themselves along simple lines to accept missionary volunteers and send them into areas of special concern. They were committed to finding a way to send and go in mission, without the constraint of budgetary limitations. They were committed to providing a way for lay participation in mission, without the requirement of ordination. They were committed as well to complement the regular work of the Lutheran synods, without diverting means or personnel from their programs.
The Mission began as the South American Mission Prayer League, and was organized on May 25, l937. Its first two missionaries left the next year for Bolivia. Soon other volunteers were sent to Central Asia, and eventually to Africa, and Eastern Europe. In 1939 the Mission adopted its present name, the World Mission Prayer League, to reflect its growing involvements around the world: a prayer league of supporting friends with a world mission. In 1945, the World Mission Prayer League adopted its Constitution and incorporated in the State of Minnesota.
In 1969, the World Mission Prayer League/Canada adopted its Constitution and incorporated in Edmonton, Alberta. The World Mission Prayer League/Canada functions in partnership with the World Mission Prayer League/USA as a sister organization.
In 1972 the American Board of the Santal Mission merged with the World Mission Prayer League. The American Board was founded in Minneapolis in 1894, as the American partner of the Norwegian Board and the Danish Board of the same Mission. The World Mission Prayer League has inherited their particular concern for the Santal people of India and Bangladesh.
Together with the Church and its partners in mission, the World Mission Prayer League seeks to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s fresh initiative in our world today. Since its inception, the Prayer League has sent hundreds of international workers into dozens of countries around the world, for both short- and long-term service. World Mission Prayer League members continue to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send forth workers, and that the Lord himself would sustain and uphold them.
Where does the World Mission Prayer League work?
As of today, the World Mission Prayer League is involved in nineteen countries around the world -- from the grassy steppes of Central Asia to the steamy lowlands of the Amazon basin. They are in urban Eastern Europe, the remote Himalayas, desertic East Africa, among peoples of the Islands -- and very many points in between.In the United States, the World Mission Prayer League has offices in Minneapolis (MN), Anaheim (CA), Sammamish (WA), and Gettysburg (PA).
In Canada, the World Mission Prayer League's office is located in Camrose, Alberta.
What does the World Mission Prayer League do?
Here are some of the many things that we are involved in:- Pioneering Evangelism
- Church Planting
- Medical Care
- Teaching English
- Adult Education
- Missionary Children's Education
- Human Trafficking Rescue & Prevention
- Radio Ministries
- Business as Mission
- Administration
- Bible Translation
- Creative Dramatics
- Leadership Formation
- Missionary Mobilization
- Addiction Recovery
- Children's Discipleship
Statement of Faith
We believe in... The only true God, the almighty Creator of all things, existing eternally in three persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – full of love and glory.The unique divine inspiration, entire trustworthiness and authority of the Bible, our infallible guide and inerrant norm for doctrine and living.
The value and dignity of all people: created in God’s image to live in love and holiness, but alienated from God and each other because of their sin and guilt, justly subject to God’s wrath and unable to save themselves.
Jesus Christ, fully human and fully divine, who lived as a perfect example, who assumed the judgment due sinners by dying in our place, and who was bodily raised from the dead and ascended as Savior and Lord.
The means of grace – principally the Bible and the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper – by which God shares with us the good news of the wonderful salvation that can be ours in Jesus Christ.
Justification by God’s grace – complete access to God’s every gift and benefit – for all who repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ alone for salvation.
The indwelling presence and transforming power of the Holy Spirit, who gives to all believers a new life and the spiritual gifts necessary for a calling to obedient service.
The unity of all believers in Jesus Christ, manifest in worshipping and witnessing churches making disciples throughout the world.
The future personal return of Jesus Christ, who will judge all people with justice and mercy, giving over the unrepentant to eternal condemnation but receiving the redeemed into eternal life.
We further believe that...
The historic creeds of the church – the Apostolic, the Nicene, and the Athanasian – as well as the historic confessions of the Lutheran Church – particularly the Small Catechism and the Unaltered Augsburg Confession – describe the Christian faith accurately and well.
Some Third-party Resources
- Lutheran Community Foundation - http://www.thelcf.org/grants/grantees/world_mission_prayer_league
- Lars Olsen Skrefsrud - http://www.kpk.no/index.cgi?art=88 (Norwegian)
- http://pagesperso-orange.fr/ithaca.1447/Apostasie/eglise.html (French)
- LAMB Project on Integrated Rural Health and Development - http://www.lambproject.org/