LCMS World Mission is the global Gospel outreach of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, a confessional Lutheran church with more than 6,000 congregations and 2.6 million members in North America. Our global mission focuses on church planting and leadership development in North America and around the world. LCMS World Mission currently has active work, or active or historical mission relationships in approximately 88 countries and maintains a total global missionary force of approximately 403 personnel (career, long-term volunteer, international educators, spouses, contracted part-time, Ablaze! Alliance Missionaries) an additional 233 military chaplains (Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, Veteran's Administration, Civil Air Patrol, National Guard, and Reserve), and a supporting staff of 67 at its headquarters in St. Louis, Mo. In 2008, 408 short-term missionaries served through LCMS World Mission globally.