100 missions, 75 enhancements, 10 years
Dear Friend,
Who would have thought?
Just a few short years ago, WELS Home Missions was tossing around the idea to increase awareness of Home Missions among WELS members. That conversation blossomed into what we now know as 100 Missions in 10 Years, an initiative to plant 100 new home mission churches and enhance 75 existing ministries from 2023-2033.
As the senior director of missions operations for WELS, I’m blessed to be involved in many of these ministry conversations. What’s different about this effort is the way in which it was so quickly embraced by our church body at our 2021 synod convention. Despite the known challenges, we move forward in faith. WELS members have already participated in a big way. We are grateful that people like you have prayed and made gifts.
Fast forward to March 2023, and the first of the new 100 home missions were approved. From Boston, Mass., to Idaho Falls, Idaho, nine new mission starts were approved for funding along with six ministry enhancements (you can view these home mission starts and enhancements at wels100in10.net). That’s a significant first step in our continuing effort to establish more outposts for the gospel here in the United States. Those new starts, along with the 140-plus existing home mission churches, will be places where members can invite family and friends to hear the good news about Jesus! Praise God for his power and blessings!
That’s a whole heap of new opportunities for people to share their faith, just like Pastor Carl Leyrer did with me back in 1981. I was looking for a church and was struggling with my relationship with God. Pastor Leyrer invited me to come in and talk with him, which eventually turned into an invitation to join him for worship, which turned into attending Bible Information Class, and finally led to me being confirmed as an adult on March 27, 1983.
That’s the reason we have WELS congregations scattered around the U.S., and that’s why we need to keep looking for new locations to plant churches—to share God’s message of salvation with the lost, just like it was shared with me so many years ago. Please prayerfully consider giving a gift to support this ongoing effort. This is just the beginning; I can’t wait to see what God will do next—especially knowing that he is “able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).
In Christ’s service,
Mr. Sean Young
Sr. Director of Missions Operations
Prayer: Jesus, our Loving Shepherd, we ask that through our synod’s 100 Missions in 10 Years campaign many more home mission churches may be started across North America to bring more souls to heaven through your saving message. May your kingdom come, dear Savior! Amen.
