Since its inception, JELA has been providing logistical support for missionaries commissioned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) to serve in Japan for the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC) and Lutheran affiliated schools.
JELA currently cooperates with Lutheran affiliated schools in Kumamoto, Kyushu, in supporting long and short term missionaries who will spend two or more years primarily teaching English language classes. In addition to providing logistical support, JELA is involved in the orientation process for short term missionaries as they make their transition to Japan and their respective teaching environments.