Europe

WELS World Missions conducts gospel outreach throughout Europe, partnering to share Christ’s grace in Albania, Bulgaria, London and the U.K., Portugal, Russia, and Ukraine while supporting sister church bodies in seven additional European countries. An administrative committee appointed by the Board for World Missions helps facilitate world mission work throughout the continent of Europe.

Support mission work in Europe. Give a gift where it’s needed most throughout Europe, or select a specific country in Europe from the drop-down menu.

Meet the Missionaries

Conifer Berg, son of Haley and Martin Berg, was born in 1995 in Appleton, Wis. Missionary Berg graduated from Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., in 2017. He spent his vicar year serving at Christ Lutheran Church in Denver, Colo., before graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., in 2022. He was assigned as a missionary to London and the U.K. upon graduation.

Missionary Berg, his wife Ruth (Nitz), and their son Emmanuel are currently living in North London. As part of the WELS Europe Team, Missionary Berg’s role is to visit Christian brothers and sisters throughout the United Kingdom and encourage them to worship together and share the gospel in their circles. He is honored to have this opportunity and looks forward to seeing first-hand the wonders God will do through his Word across the pond. Conifer is also a big football (soccer) fan and is excited to live and work in such a multi-cultural area of the world.

Download and read more biographies at wels.net/missionarybios.

Rev. Dr. Michael Hartman leads church planting efforts in the United Kingdom, focusing on London and international ministry. With a team of volunteers and a core group of members, exploratory work is being carried out with the goal of establishing a hub church in London and a network of smaller groups in the area and beyond. Missionary Hartman works with individuals who have connections around the world, ranging from Africa and South America to Europe and Asia.

Prior to serving in the UK, Missionary Hartman led the Latin American mission team to bring the gospel to the Spanish-speaking world and equip leaders with resources to form churches. God used him to found Academia Cristo, a Spanish language Bible Institute and church planting ministry. Today, Academia Cristo has more than 2 million followers on social media channels, over 700 students are active in the program, and 39 have been called to plant churches in their communities.

Missionary Hartman graduated from the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and has a Doctor of Ministry in church planting. He currently lives in London with his wife Rachel and their four children.

Download and read more biographies at wels.net/missionarybios.

After graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1997, Missionary Luke Wolfgramm was assigned to Novosibirsk, Russia, where he served for 25 years. He is now living in Leipzig, Germany.

Missionary Wolfgramm maintains regular online contact with three national pastors and one seminary student serving Concord Evangelical Lutheran Church in Russia. As of March 2022, he has begun working more directly with our mission churches in Albania and Bulgaria and spending time with independent sister churches in Europe. His visits strengthen WELS fellowship with pastors and congregations who are often small and isolated. Missionary Wolfgramm is exploring partnership with the ELFK, WELS’ sister church in Germany, to enhance ministerial education, leadership, mentoring, and pastoral wellness throughout Europe.

Missionary Wolfgramm is married to Jennifer, who loves to work with music and help people get more involved with their congregations. She travels with Missionary Wolfgramm to build friendships with the women of our sister churches. The Wolfgramms have three children. Christina lives in Waukesha, Wis., and works as a drafter at a construction company. Katie and her husband live in Milwaukee, Wis., as Katie works as a mechanical engineer. Peter is senior at Fox Valley Lutheran High School and lives with Missionary Wolfgramm’s brother and family in Appleton.

Download and read more biographies at wels.net/missionarybios.

WELS members who live in Europe can find spiritual support through WELS Europe. A full-time European Civilian Chaplain serves civilians and military members. He leads worship at a monthly rotation of locations in Germany, Switzerland, and England. He also teaches confirmation classes, counsels, and communes those who live in remote locations.

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Europe Mission Partners

Other Mission Partners

WELS Missions also partners with sister synods and independent churches in fellowship with WELS throughout Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Germany. This partnership and support can come in the form of financial assistance, theological training or continuing education through the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI), visits and assistance from other World Missions representatives or missionaries, as well as the sharing of outreach ideas. A church in the Czech Republic and a synod in Latvia are directly supported by our mission partners in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS). Visit the ELS world outreach page to learn more about that work.

Many of these mission partners are a part of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), a worldwide fellowship of confessional Lutherans. To learn more about the CELC and these mission partners, visit celc.info.

PICTURES OF EUROPE

Browse through and share pictures of Europe taken by WELS missionaries and national workers.