Members of the United Protestant Church in Indonesia train people with disabilities in income generating activities. Photo: GPP
Member Church Projects Committee reviews initiatives that the LWF supports in 39 countries around the world
(LWI) - Training Indonesian pastors in sign language to create a more inclusive church. Holding peace building workshops for religious leaders and traditional chiefs in Cameroon. Supporting the distribution of food supplements, while advocating for more just social policies in Argentina. Creating an online pastoral helpline to provide counselling and informal theological education in Slovakia.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) continues to support its member churches to empower communities and change lives for the better through a wide variety of projects. At a recent meeting of the LWF Committee for Member Church Projects, participants reviewed reports from the past year regarding 58 projects in 39 countries, approved some new long-term initiatives, and discussed monitoring and implementation.
This ensures responsible stewardship of resources entrusted to the LWF, enabling churches to share hope and create tangible change.
Rev. Dr. Sivin Kit, Director for Theology, Mission and Justice
Rev. Dr. Sivin Kit, LWF Director of the Department for Theology, Mission and Justice, expressed deep gratitude for the commitment of the committee, whose membership includes LWF Council representatives from each of the seven regions, as well as from related agencies that fund the projects. Kit emphasized that their shared discernment “ensures responsible stewardship of resources entrusted to the LWF, enabling churches to share hope and create tangible change. This meeting is not just a business gathering,” he said, “but a vital contribution to the life and mission of our global Communion.”
One such impactful initiative is the Hospitality Church for People with Disabilities project, launched in 2024 by the United Protestant Church of Indonesia. “We are contributing to real-world difference,” said Rev. Lukman Pasaribu, highlighting the church’s training of pastors in sign language to foster faith-based inclusivity. The facility provides vocational skills training and income-generating activities for people with disabilities, including the production of communion wine and artisanal crafts.
The diverse portfolio of projects supported through the LWF include activities that focus on church sustainability, leadership development, theological education, economic empowerment for women and youth, livelihoods, peacebuilding, disability inclusion, environmental sustainability, advocacy and humanitarian response. These key focus areas reflect the LWF’s commitment to holistic and inclusive development, church resilience, and community transformation.
Training in project design, implementation, monitoring
In 2024, the LWF supported 20 projects of member churches in Africa, 12 in Asia, 11 in Central Eastern Europe, 3 in Central Western Europe, and 12 in Latin American and the Caribbean. Staff have also facilitated a series of online workshops to strengthen the capacity of churches in project design, implementation, and monitoring. Last autumn, workshops on Project Design brought together over 100 participants from 47 churches, and in January 2025, an online training was also conducted in English, Spanish, and French. The workshops foster peer learning and experience sharing, while also delivering practical insights into project planning, budgeting, and adherence to quality standards.
Over the past year, staff conducted some field visits to assess project progress and engage directly with beneficiaries. In May 2024, a team visited the ‘DOOR’ project in Prague, which focuses on integrating refugees into Czech society, preventing social exclusion and xenophobia, while fostering intercultural relationships.
Strengthening local capacity
Also in May, a visit to the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Romania provided the opportunity to hear about a human trafficking prevention project. This initiative, now extended through 2028, emphasizes prevention efforts in schools, with comprehensive curricula already developed and translated into Ukrainian.
In July 2024, a diaconal workshop in Tanzania brought together project holders from across Africa, offering a platform to follow up on various initiatives, including the Female Genital Mutilation prevention project. Additionally, LWF representatives met with church leaders in the Republic of Congo to discuss ongoing projects there.
The projects, which reflect the LWF’s priority areas of Action for Justice, Diakonia, Leadership Development and Theology for Transformation, have a significant impact. Evidenced by key achievements and the substantial number of beneficiaries reached, these initiatives drive meaningful and lasting change within communities. They continue to strengthen local capacity, promote social inclusion, and address critical societal challenges.
