March 18, 2016
Dear International Worker,
As many of you are aware from recent news articles, the Zika virus continues to spread and
negatively affect the lives of millions. On March 8, Dr. Margaret Chan, Director-General of the
World Health Organization (WHO), said that “substantial new clinical and epidemiological research
has strengthened the association between Zika infection and the occurrence of fetal malformations
and neurological disorders.”1
That same day, March 8, the WHO changed its previous travel warning for pregnant women
traveling to Zika-infected regions. Whereas previously the WHO simply attempted to bring these
dangers to the attention of pregnant women, it now has issued a clear warning that pregnant
women should not travel to these regions. The WHO’s Second Emergency Committee Meeting
issued the following decree under “Travel Warnings”:
“Pregnant women should be advised not to travel to areas of ongoing Zika virus
outbreaks.”2
In addition to altering its warning for travel, the WHO also provided additional guidance related to
the sexual transmission of the Zika virus. Dr. Chan, when comparing the WHO’s February 1
executive meeting with the subsequent meeting just one month later, notes: “In addition, the
geographical distribution of the disease is wider. The risk group is broader. And the modes of
transmission now include sexual intercourse as well as mosquito bites.”3 The WHO cites growing
evidence of a direct correlation of the Zika virus being transmitted between men and women via
sexual intercourse.
What this means for the LCMS Office of International Mission (OIM) is that not only can pregnant
women contract the Zika virus by being bitten by a mosquito, thus potentially harming their
1
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/zika-ec/en/
2
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/2nd-emergency-committee-zika/en/
3
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2016/zika-ec/en/
unborn babies, but men also can become infected by a mosquito bite and then pass that infection
on to their wives and unborn children by means of normal sexual relations.
Commitment to Missionary/Family Care
The OIM takes very seriously the trust bestowed upon it by the Synod. The church has entrusted
the OIM not only with recruiting, training and deploying missionaries but also with providing
ongoing physical, emotional and spiritual care.
In order to provide optimal care for international workers and safeguard the health of developing,
unborn babies, the OIM has adopted the above recommendations from the WHO. As a result, the
following protocols are to be implemented immediately for all OIM international workers residing
within any Zika-infected areas:
Protocol Guidelines for Regions Affected by Zika Outbreaks
1. Delayed Deployment. If a female missionary believes she may be pregnant (even though
not medically verified), or has medically verified she is indeed pregnant, and slotted to be
deployed into a Zika-affected country or region, that deployment will be postponed until
one or several of the following occur:
a. the missionary has confirmed she is not pregnant, or
b. the missionary has delivered her baby, or
c. the WHO or another reputable medical authority, such as the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), states that an unborn baby’s neurological
and physical development would be unimpaired past a certain stage of natal
development.
2. Relocation to Another Country or Region. If a missionary or accompanying female
dependant becomes pregnant on the mission field and is living within a Zika-affected
country or region, the missionary or dependant would have the ability, if desired, to do one
of the following:
a. move herself, spouse and dependants (when applicable) into a different country
within the same region that remains unaffected by the Zika virus, or
b. have herself and her family move into a new region that remains
unaffected by the Zika virus, or
c. have herself and her family return to the United States for the duration of the
pregnancy or until such time during the pregnancy when the WHO or CDC deems
it safe to become exposed once more to those means which transmit the Zika virus.
3. Guidelines for Personal Safety and Prevention. The WHO and other organizations are
making more frequent announcements regarding the transmission of the Zika virus. In
particular, national and global health organizations are striving to educate the public that
not only can an unborn baby be adversely affected by this virus via mosquito transmission
but also through sexual intercourse between a husband and wife. While the OIM is capable
of curtailing travel to foreign destinations, it is not capable of dictating how a husband and
wife relate physically to one another. That being said, it is the responsibility of the OIM to
clearly inform its international workers of the risks in order to decrease the likelihood of
unborn babies being harmed by a father infected by the virus. To achieve that educational
end, the OIM will commit to the following:
a. Through its Missionary Services unit, the OIM will endeavor to stay informed on
the latest updates regarding the Zika virus and regularly communicate any
changes or updates with OIM and regional leadership for dissemination as each
deems appropriate. These notifications will occur at least monthly and more
regularly should any changes in the Zika virus warrant a communication with the
field, particularly if a region becomes affected by a travel ban or other fact
impacting the current protocol guidelines.
b. The OIM will help field staff in Zika-affected countries or regions realize that a
man infected with the Zika virus apparently is capable of transmitting the virus to
his pregnant wife. When it comes to the Zika virus, ensuring the safety of unborn
babies depends on both the mother and father.
c. The OIM will continually coordinate with Regional Directors to best utilize field
staff during an interim period in which other personnel have returned to the U.S.
to await the safe delivery of a child.
d. The OIM will diligently remind its international workers of their responsibility to
seek regular consultation with their own healthcare providers for awareness,
advice and consideration of appropriate personal responses as the Zika situation
continues to unfold.
Effects Upon the OIM
As the OIM considers the effects of the Zika virus upon its work, we already are realizing how
extensive these effects may be. For example, missionary recruiters will need to be diligent when
informing recruits of the physical realities they may face in Zika-infected regions. This knowledge
undoubtedly will affect the decisions people make whether to accept or decline calls to areas
infected by the Zika virus and may particularly influence people of childbearing age.
Latin American and the Caribbean will be the most affected areas. This region is fast-growing and
is populated by many couples of childbearing age. Please pray that our workers in these areas will
be given a stalwart faith in the days ahead not only to proclaim the Gospel but also to have the
wisdom to care for their families and the unborn. Donors to the OIM already have begun to express
concern over the virus’s impact. Please continue to ask all of your colleagues and partners to pray
for those affected by the Zika virus and to share the OIM’s response. Please pray for your fellow
international workers.
All of you have a zeal for the Lord’s work, and I am sure that each of you can understand how trying
it would be to feel that you are stuck in “neutral” if you must temporarily leave your called
destination. There are many feelings of guilt and wrestling that go on with this. No one should
forget, though, the great work a mother does in caring for her unborn baby and nurturing that child
during those early months of development. May all of our mothers and fathers take confidence in
the calling God has given them to be parents not only in raising a child in life but ultimately raising
him or her in the eternal life Christ is able to give.
God Always Brings Hope in Christ
The book of Genesis recounts the selling of Joseph into slavery by his own brothers, followed by
Joseph’s rise to become the most powerful man in all of Egypt next to Pharaoh. When it comes time
to meet his brothers once again, Joseph forgives them and says, “As for you, you meant evil against
me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are
today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones” (Gen. 50:20-21). What Joseph’s
brothers had hoped would be an evil death, God turned into an opportunity to give life.
As we observe the season of Lent, we have before our very eyes the crucifixion of Jesus. But, just
like with Joseph’s brothers, what Satan had done for evil gain was turned by God into an event that
would bring life to the whole world through the one Man, Jesus Christ, over whom death has no
power ever to hold again. There is no doubt that the decision to curtail the deployment of some of
our missionaries into Zika-infested regions will cause challenges for many of our mission areas and
their strategic plans. But, even though the devil may have hoped such an illness would bring much
death, God can use it to bring much life and joy for the Gospel. Not only will the children of our
missionaries, and their parents, possibly be spared from a debilitating, lifelong medical condition,
but, believe it or not, even this illness can bring glory to our God.
Throughout its history, the Christian Church has seen times when it faced disaster, tragedy or
medical perils. But it is precisely in tough times when perhaps the church can proclaim the Gospel
most powerfully, even giving thanks for the obstacles put in its path. Even now, news reports show
thousands of refugees leaving Muslim-controlled lands and moving into the heart of Western
Europe. In many places, the church has risen to meet this influx with the love and mercy of Christ
Himself. It is still too early to see how many people might come to faith and be saved by hearing
the eternal Gospel, but already there are many stories of legitimate conversion reaching our ears.
The Syrian civil war and unbearable conditions in other countries have brought much heartache
and pain, but God is using these things to bring people to faith.
For people in places affected by the Zika virus, I pray they would approach this illness with faith in
Christ. We do not yet know the full impact of this illness upon adults, children and the
proclamation of the Gospel. But we should approach this situation with the faith of Joseph, who
knew that God could bring good even out of the challenges we are facing in Zika-affected regions.
May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is Lord of this world and Lord of His church, provide us
with the strength and hope to proclaim the Gospel in all times and in all places.
The Lord be with you,
Rev. John A. Fale
Executive Director
LCMS Office of International Mission
Office of International Mission