Mission History

Lutheran Church in the Philippines and Asian Institute for Liturgy and Music

The origin of Lutheran work in the Philippines dates back to 1927, when a Filipino, Alvara A. Carino, went to live with an American family in St. Louis, Missouri. He listened to Lutheran radio broadcasts and eventually entered Concordia Seminary. After graduation in 1937, he resolved to become a missionary pastor in his native Philippines. Because of World War II, there was a delay in carrying out his dream, but Lutheran work officially began in 1946, just after national independence.

The readiest response to the Gospel was among people in North Luzon’s hill country. One early convert was a young man who served as an interpreter for missionaries. Baptized Thomas Batong, he studied theology and was ordained in 1961. He earned advanced degrees in the US and served as the dean of the Lutheran Seminary and later as president of the Lutheran church.

The Lutheran Church in the Philippines (LCP) became a full partner church of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in 1971, just as a theological storm was brewing in the LCMS. The LCP went a step beyond its mother synod and joined the Lutheran World Federation.