WELS largest mission field is Africa, where it is working in partnership with five independent national synods that are currently ministering to about 64,000 souls with God’s Word.

In Zambia, in the south-central region of the continent, WELS missionaries have been operating since the early 1950s. 7 expatriate missionaries and 19 national pastors serve 32 established congregations of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa (LCCA)—Zambia Synod, plus over 100 preaching stations numbering nearly 13,000 souls. A residential Seminary, located in the capital of Lusaka, graduated another class of 14 Malawian and Zambian vicars in 2008. A Lutheran Health & Development program has been recently established to support the ministry of the Word through various charitable initiatives. The LCCA-Z carries out mission outreach activities in the Congo to the north and in Zimbabwe to the south.

Our largest WELS-affiliated synod is located to the east of Zambia in Malawi, where 7 missionaries, 21 national pastors, and 2 evangelists serve some 40,000 souls. The three-year pre-seminary Lutheran Bible Institute, is located in Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe.  14 students graduated in 2008.  After graduation from the LBI, they attend the Lusaka Lutheran Seminary in Zambia.

The WELS women-based Central African Medical Mission (CAMM) supports work in both Malawi and Zambia.

The LCCA—Malawi Synod has been conducting outreach work in the country of Mozambique for many years. A WELS mission team of two men is currently learning Portuguese in preparation to take up residence in Nampula, Mozambique.

The WELS has been working in West Africa, in Nigeria, for many years. We are urrently supporting two sister synods, Christ the King Lutheran Church and All Saints Lutheran Church, which together consist of about 10,000 souls in 50 congregations. There are no resident missionaries in Nigeria, but WELS pastors from the USA make regular visits to the country to assist in a strong theological training program.