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There is a relatively small number of Christians in Asia, with conservative estimates at 100 million believers, 4.8 million of those being Lutherans. Most of the people of this region adhere to other faiths such as Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, as well as Shinto, Jainism, Shikism and animistic religions. Here in Asia, there are 39 church bodies who claim membership in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) as well as one associate member. The Asia Desk of the LWF's Division for Mission and Development has been set up to coordinate and facilitate various projects of these churches.
Through the visits conducted and the information received at the Asia Desk it appears that the priorities of the Churches in Asia are in the areas of mission, theological education, communion, financial self-reliance, advocacy, as well as promotion of the involvement of women and youth in the works of the Church. The major components of projects approved for Asia have to do with training and education, health, theological education, evangelism outreach, and the needs of the poor. About 50 projects are submitted to the Project Committee for action every year from member Churches, ecumenical groups, and other NGOs.
Besides assisting church bodies in carrying out projects, the Asia Desk also plans and organizes regional consultations, seminars and workshops. Each church is represented in these events, and sometimes-depending on the status of the budget-invitations are also extended to ecumenical and non-LWF member Churches. In 1998 the Desk held three events: an ACTEAS meeting (Advisory Committee on Theological Education in Asia), an ARCC meeting (Asia Regional Coordinating Committee), and a Symposium on gThe Self-Understanding of Theological Education in the Context of Asia.h These events are aimed at strengthening Lutheran Identity in Asia by recruiting and building up Lutheran faculty-educators, by holding workshops and seminars for heads of theological institutions to reflect upon and discuss issues of Lutheran identity.
There are also several systems in place which provide assistance to the ministry of the Churches: literature and library assistance, in-country scholarships, continuing education, Action for Witness, and the Asia Program for the Advancement of Training and Studies (APATS), which provides subsidies for various short seminars, and workshops for the churches, for experiential training, and for lectures.
The Asia Desk has three major visions for its mission in the next three years:
Evangelism and missionary outreach are still the main challenges for Churches in Asia, especially in the cross-cultural field. New initiatives should be encouraged. Theological education and training of Church workers continues to be on the agenda of the Asian churches and upgrading is essential with the rising level of education in society. Christian education content in relation to environment, human rights, stewardship, the role of family, effects of media and industrialization should encourage churches to take up their position in the development of their communities and societies in general. Three areas should be emphasized: Proclamation, Advocacy, and Services. 
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