The World Missions Committee had a longtime goal of sending John and Hannah to India to help with our pastoral training there. After we realized that it was not possible to send a missionary to India at this time we researched a second country near India were we have well established and reliable contacts. AFLC World Missions made two trips to this Asian country accompanied by John and once by Hannah. After much discussion, thought and prayer, we came to the conclusion that it was not God’s will for the Lees to be deployed to this country at this time.

Realizing that John and Hannah have received a call by AFLC World Missions and still feel called to Missions, the World Missions Committee began investigating other options. Through prayer, consultation with the Lees, and an invitation by the Brazilian Field Conference to serve in Brazil the World Missions Committee has decided to deploy the Lees to Brazil.

Please be in prayer for these two couples as they serve the Lord in their assigned places.

Matthew and Ednay Abel​

Matthew and Ednay have served in various capacities in their first term. They have gone wherever we have sent them with servant spirits and whole hearted enthusiasm.

The World Missions Committee desired to come up with a long goal for the Abels ministry while they were home on furlough this year. After much prayer and consultation with the Brazilian Field Conference, the World Missions Committee decided to step out and fulfill a long time dream of the AFLC. At the 1977 Annual Conference a resolution was passed to have a trination vision for South America. That vision was to have Free Lutheran Congregations in Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. Therefore, the World Missions Committee resolved to expand our work with the AFLC of Brazil to include Paraguay by sending Matthew and Ednay Abel there to plant congregations.