Why we do what we do

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Dear Friend,

WELS often communicates the “what” of our work—what we are doing for the Lord with the offerings his people provide. But even more important is the “why” of what we do. So I’d like to take this opportunity to review our motivation.

It starts with the blessings of our almighty Heavenly Father whose fingerprints are evident in the complexity at every level of his design. He created a special relationship with human beings. But pride led to our fall from this relationship. It brought on the devastating struggle with sin and death. Amazingly, as soon as we had fallen, God was there to catch us with his promise of a coming Savior.

It’s hard for us to believe that God didn’t simply crush the human race when, throughout the history of the Old Testament, the waves of our rebellion kept crashing at his feet. Still, his saving promises proclaimed through the prophets persisted and were fulfilled in the arrival of Jesus the Son of God.

Jesus has wowed audiences through the ages with his righteous life, authoritative teaching, miracles, and even spoken endorsements from God. He had to shift the thinking of his followers from earthly glory to an even greater spiritual victory. He did not come to be served but to serve—and to give his life as a ransom for many.

And that is what happened when he died on the cross. At the cross, God’s justice and love came together powerfully. Through the eternal Son of God, our sins were eternally punished, and his righteousness eternally credited to us. His resurrection from the dead loudly proclaims to all that the curse of sin is broken, that we have been declared not guilty, and that heaven is our home. It beckons us to follow Christ for safe passage through mankind’s ultimate obstacle.

Christ’s victory has a definite impact on our earthly lives. He calls us through his good news of forgiveness of sins to “go and make disciples of all nations.” WELS bases its mission statement on this Great Commission, aiming to allow “congregations and their members to extend the reach of their God-given mission of proclaiming the gospel in Word and sacrament.”

To proceed with the mission, believers faithfully—trusting in the Giver to continue to provide—donate their possessions to the Lord’s work just like Jesus’ disciples (Luke 8:1-3) and the early church (Acts 2:44-45). We do this especially through our congregational offerings, which fund nearly three-fourths of the synod’s work. Direct gifts to WELS are also factored into our church body’s ministry plan.

Since our Savior’s vision to reach lost sinners is boundless, we are committed to expanding synod ministry as support increases. Since 2023, there have been 45 new home mission starts and enhancements. World Missions is exploring outreach opportunities in 16 fields and has placed missionaries in new locations like London, Australia, and the Philippines. And we are grateful that this month’s ministerial education school graduations will increase the number of teachers, staff ministers, and pastors serving our congregations.

It’s a beautiful privilege that God allows us to work intimately with him to reach out to and disciple others. Even now—just like we’ll be doing in heaven—we can glorify his name! What better way to steward our lives and our resources during our short time on this earth?

Yours in Christ,
Kurt Lueneburg
Director, WELS Ministry of Christian Giving

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Prayer: Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—we praise you for mercifully fulfilling your promises to provide us undeserving sinners with a Savior. Thank you, Jesus, for giving up heaven to live with us on earth and carrying out a holy life for us amid sin and temptation. Thanks also for suffering hell for us as the deserved punishment for our sin and giving us your innocence so that, by trusting in you, we stand holy before God. May your Spirit strengthen us to live in joyful thanks to you by obeying your commands and sharing the good news of your salvation with others. Amen.

MLC Day 2025 – celebrating blessings!

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Dear Friend,

Our gracious Lord has certainly blessed our church and school ministries through the work of MLC graduates serving as pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and lay leaders! That’s why Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., has adopted the theme “Celebrating Blessings” for this year’s MLC Day. We invite you today to join thousands of friends of MLC and WELS from across the globe in encouraging the work of our College of Ministry.

The three pillars of MLC Day are: pray to the Lord with thanks for our congregational servants and the students at MLC, share celebratory photos and videos online, and give in honor of their ministry and to support MLC.

  • PRAY – Celebrate blessings at your churches and schools through prayers of thanks for the work of pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and ministry leaders. Post your prayers on MLC’s Pray Kudoboard.
  • SHARE – Join friends of MLC in sharing photos and videos that express thankfulness for our Lord’s blessings. MLC’s campus family loves seeing your posts from family members, churches, elementary schools, and high schools on their Share Kudoboard! Follow MLC’s Facebook and Instagram for more photo and video-sharing ideas.
  • GIVE – Contribute to MLC’s Congregational Partner Grant Program (CPGP) as a tribute to those who have blessed you through their public or private ministries. With your gifts, MLC hopes to add another $130,000 to the CPGP matching fund so that more students will receive financial assistance for their journey to the public ministry. Visit the MLC Day Give page for donation updates and a link to donate.

MLC will be posting photos and stories and updating progress reports on the MLC Facebook and Instagram pages. They will also have extensive Facebook Live posts of life at MLC! Have fun—and may God bless MLC to his glory!

Rev. Duane Rodewald
Chairman, WELS Board for Ministerial Education

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Your partnership in the gospel

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Dear Friend of Missions,

It’s amazing to see a new believer “get” the gospel for the first time. There’s excitement, joy, and appreciation from understanding that Jesus saved them. It’s one of the main reasons I enjoy being a missionary. I have the great privilege of being front and center as God’s gospel brings more people into his family.

I’ve also enjoyed working with our ministry partners. God has blessed us with mature Christians who are willing to lead a group, host a Bible study, and share the gospel with others. The excitement they have witnessing God work through a breakthrough conversation, experiencing a great Bible study moment, or even planning future work is inspiring and encouraging.

And God has blessed us with ministry partners like you, located far away but united with us through Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are incredibly blessed and grateful for the prayers and offerings given by WELS members. Thank you! My appreciation for these partnerships reminds me of Paul’s emotion in the start of his letter to the Philippians.

We know we can’t do this work as just two families. But, if we model gospel work in simple ways and equip and encourage others, with God’s gracious blessing, our reach multiplies, and the excitement does too.

If you haven’t already done so, please prayerfully consider making a gift to support this new outreach effort. To get to be a part of this mission work is an honor, and to get to do it with all these brothers and sisters in Christ in Australia and in the U.S. is humbling and exciting. Praise God for the good work he is doing in us and through us—together.

Serving the Risen Savior,
Peter Janke
Missionary to Australia

P.S. Read more about the Australian mission and the service of my fellow missionary Matt Doebler and his wife, Christine, in this Forward in Christ article.

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Establishing the church in Australia

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Greetings, you who are loved by the Lord,

Chances are, if you flip to the end of any of the apostle Paul’s letters you’ll see something that you might typically skip over. There is usually a list of greetings and messages to people that Paul knew.

Do you know who those people are? They are the church—at least the start of it in Asia and Europe. Many of those he mentions are the hosts and leaders of house churches—people like Priscilla and Aquila, Archippus, Gaius, Jason, Lydia, and Nympha. They met in homes; gathered around the Word of Jesus in worship, study, and sacrament; discipled others; and were intimately involved in serving each other. They were guided, mentored, and taught regularly by Paul and others.

In Australia, we are starting our work of building up the church. We are meeting passionate and capable Christians who are willing to host others in their homes, teach God’s Word, and show the love of Christ. We daily encounter people from all over the globe: China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, and many other places. They don’t know the good news of the eternal life purchased for us by the blood of Christ, but thanks to the help of WELS members like you, we are there and can share this with them.

When my family agreed to move to Australia with our coworkers, Missionary Matt Doebler and his family, it wasn’t to start a church. It was to guide the start of many churches—groups all over Australia who gather around God’s Word and reflect his love to others. Matt and I can be the “Paul” to these willing leaders and, as God blesses it, to even more leaders in the future. We can mentor, encourage, train, and connect them for fellowship.

I ask you to pray for us and consider giving toward this work. We are so grateful for all the WELS members who have supported World Missions in the past. We praise God for his provision and blessing as we continue to serve his kingdom in this new part of the world.

When you give an offering for the gospel work in Australia you are contributing the gift of time—time for us to be present, seize new opportunities, reach out to new communities, connect, make new friends, and deepen relationships. It gives us time to train and equip leaders and bring them together to unite them in our mission.

In closing, I ask one more thing. The next time you get to the end of one of Paul’s letters and you see one of those early church leaders’ names, say a quick prayer thanking God for the people who start churches—those who pray for and support the work, host the church, and lead the groups. Pray for this exciting new ministry in Australia.

Serving together,
Peter Janke
Missionary to Australia

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Prayer: God, we praise you for using us to bring others to glorify you. We ask you to bless our new mission in Australia. Help the two missionary families who have settled into Chinese immigrant communities as they use a variety of ways to connect with neighbors, show them love, and share the gospel of Christ. Bless the partnership of these missionaries with our sister synod in Australia to reach even more people and grow the existing congregations. If it’s your will, bring small groups together around your Word and raise leaders for Bible study and worship. We know, Lord Jesus, that where your Word is shared, you are carrying out your work, and we joyfully anticipate your saving of many souls. Amen.

Australia: The gospel takes root

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Dear Friend of Missions,

When Australians—including WELS members, Hong Kong Christian refugees, and Brisbane partner churches—requested assistance, the WELS Board for World Missions responded. Last summer, our missionary team of two, along with our families, relocated from Asia to Australia. It is daunting, but we are excited and encouraged by the opportunities for outreach.

Like the U.S., Australia is a melting pot. Thirty percent of the people currently living here were born overseas. Last year, there were over 500,000 new immigrations. Our team is especially focused on reaching native citizens and Chinese immigrants. The neighborhood we live in is 70-80 percent Chinese, and it already feels familiar and comfortable.

It is very early in this new mission effort, but we see the gospel taking root one soul at a time. We study the Word, disciple and encourage each other, and ask for God’s blessing. Together, we work to share the truth of the gospel: the saving love of Jesus.

Watch your mailbox for a letter with more information about this new outreach opportunity. Meanwhile, we ask you to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brisbane and Fountain of Life Ministries in Maryborough. Pray that people will grow in their faith as they gather around God’s Word.

Please also consider supporting our Australian mission. Your offerings provide the gift of time: time to connect and deepen relationships, train and equip new leaders, and to unite around our mission. We trust that in God’s hands, this ministry will be blessed.

Serving together,
Peter Janke
Missionary to Australia

P.S. Read more in this recent Together article.

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Be an influencer!

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Dear Christian Friend,

Be an “influencer.”

It’s become an important and sought-after job, thanks to the power of social media and the popularity of online purchasing.

An influencer is a “product pusher” companies use to promote their brands and boost sales. Agencies have popped up to assist with assembling appropriate people who will influence (“guide” is the word they use) customers in their decision-making process.

Ask your pastor, teacher, or staff minister who or what influenced them in their decision to serve in the public ministry. Ultimately it is the gospel—the great news that our sins are forgiven and death is defeated through Jesus—that motivates and moves a person into ministry. Prayer is vital too. But let’s not overlook the importance of people.

It may be a family member with a gentle word of encouragement or a congregational leader telling you they see potential. “Your voice is meant for the pulpit!” “You work well with kids; you should be a teacher!”

Maybe it is a kind comment from a teacher following a class presentation or an opportunity a pastor provides to be a “shadow” for a day. Don’t forget or underestimate the impact of a care package or birthday card from the home congregation or financial support and generous donations from individuals and congregations. This is the team of influencers that the Holy Spirit can use to guide a person in their decision to train to become a called worker. And the need is great.

Because of the power of the sinful nature and the popularity of sin, the world needs proclaimers of God’s forgiveness, peace, and hope. Jesus looks and sees people who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Gospel workers are in great demand!

The same is true for influencers. The important job of encouraging, whether gently nudging or more powerfully persuading someone toward public ministry, is critical in our world today. Can you do that work? Do you know a person who has a heart for the Lord and his people? Could you be an influencer for the public ministry? I believe the answer to all three questions is “yes!”

Would you also be an influencer today with a gift toward student financial assistance? I pray that your answer to that question is also “yes!” After all, what better “product” could we boost, or “brand” could we promote, than the message of God’s love and his gift of salvation in Jesus our Savior?

Thank you for your influence for God’s kingdom!
Rev. Duane Rodewald
Chairman, WELS Board for Ministerial Education

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Prayer: Lord Jesus, we pray that you would raise up the next generation of leaders in our church body through the power of your good news in Word and sacraments—and through our encouragement. Help family members, church members, pastors, and teachers to urge young men and women who have a love for you and others to consider gospel ministry. May care packages and financial support from individuals and congregations build up ministerial education students as they go about their studies. You know, Lord, how badly so many people need to hear about your salvation. Provide your church with devoted workers—and their encouragers—so that your name may be proclaimed in all the earth. Amen.