Missions

A pastor’s journey into fatherhood and faithful ministry

2026/06/16/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Serving as a pastor later in life while welcoming a new child into our family has been both a profound blessing and a significant responsibility. Becoming a father again has renewed the joy in our home, while also introducing new demands that shape both my family life and pastoral ministry. Many days are filled with gratitude and energy, while others bring fatigue as I balance sermon preparation, Bible study, and pastoral care with nighttime feedings and family responsibilities. Through these daily rhythms, I am learning more deeply what it means to depend fully on the grace of God. In moments of weariness, God faithfully reminds me that strength does not come from my own ability, but from reliance on him. Psalm 23 has become a personal anchor in this season of life, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” This Scripture affirms God’s constant presence and care even during seasons of uncertainty and exhaustion. When ministry feels demanding or overwhelming, the assurance that God continues to guide, provide, and sustain his people offers renewed peace and confidence. His faithfulness remains steady, regardless of life’s changing circumstances.

I am deeply grateful for the love, prayers, and encouragement shown by the members of the congregation. Their support has been a source of comfort and strength for my family and me. Through thoughtful words, personal visits, shared meals, and ongoing prayers, they have reminded us that we are not walking this journey alone. These expressions of care reaffirm that the church is not simply an institution, but a spiritual family called together by God to bear one another’s burdens in love.

Inreach ministry continues to play a central role in the life of our congregation. Inreach focuses on caring for and strengthening the people already in the church. As we intentionally care for one another, our faith is strengthened collectively. Small groups remain committed to regular prayer, Bible study, and fellowship, creating spaces where relationships deepen and spiritual growth occurs. Family care efforts like delivering meals to members experiencing hardship, visiting the sick, encouraging new parents, and spending intentional time in God’s Word demonstrate Christ’s love in practical and meaningful ways.

These acts may appear simple, yet they carry lasting spiritual significance. Fellowship gatherings and shared meals further strengthen unity within the church. These moments echo into the model of the early church described in Acts 2, where believers devoted themselves to teaching, fellowship, prayer, and shared life. By following this example, our congregation continues to nurture genuine relationships grounded in faith and mutual commitment as the body of Christ. One of the greatest strengths of our church is its cross-cultural ministry. Worshiping alongside individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds fosters humility, mutual respect, and spiritual growth. By listening to one another’s experiences and serving together, we are continually shaped into a unified body of believers.

This visible unity not only strengthens our congregation internally but also serves as a powerful witness of Christ’s love to the surrounding community.

In the last couple of months, Grace Hmong organized small group Bible studies and prayer meetings, encouraging new parents in the congregation with support and prayers, hosting fellowship meals for church members to build unity, providing mentoring for youth and young adults within the church, and helping members in financial hardship with benevolence support.

Outreach ministry remains an essential expression of our identity as the church. God calls us not only to care for those within the congregation but also to extend his love beyond the church doors. Members actively serve the community through personal relationships, acts of kindness, and hospitality. For example, families open their homes to non-Christian Hmong neighbors, building trust through fellowship, shared meals, and conversations centered on God’s Word. In addition, we collaborate with other local churches in community service efforts, demonstrating compassion and unity through action, even when formal fellowship may differ. Outreach does not always require extensive programs or resources. Often, it begins with willing hearts and faithful presence. Through simple acts of service, prayer, and consistent engagement, God’s love is made visible to those around us.

Last month, Grace Hmong focused on inviting neighbors to church events and Bible studies, as well as sharing meals with non‑Christian families in the community. This month, Grace Hmong has begun visiting local neighborhoods to pray with and encourage residents, hosting a community picnic open to everyone, and sharing the gospel through personal conversations and relationships.

Through these efforts, a family recently started worshiping with Grace Hmong. The father asked me why Grace Hmong’s liturgy and sermons were so different from other Hmong churches he had visited. He felt comforted and at peace from the heavy burden of guilt he had been carrying. As a result, he asked me to take him and his family through Bible Information Class.

Life brings both blessings and challenges to my family, our congregation, and the ministry of the saving gospel of Christ. While there are seasons when pastoral responsibilities feel heavy and the future uncertain, God remains faithful. He journeys with us through every stage of life and continues to strengthen his people. In all circumstances, we trust in his guidance, provision, and enduring grace.

Written by Rev. Ger Lor, missionary at Grace Hmong Lutheran Church in Kansas City, Kansas

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First contact

2026/06/11/in Africa, Missions, World Missions

Last March, Missionary Howard Molhke and I made our first visit to a church in the Republic of Congo. The ROC, which is commonly referred to as Congo-Brazzaville, neighbors the Democratic Republic of Congo to the northwest. This is the first time ever that WELS missionaries have traveled to this country. The Eglise Evangélique Luthérienne du Congo-Brazzaville (EELCB) reached out to WELS and the One Africa Team because they wanted to remain a confessional Lutheran Church.

Searching the Scriptures

We met all 10 pastors in the EELCB. The WELS’ process for establishing formal relations with another church body begins with a preliminary visit. In a preliminary visit, our goal is to learn as much as we can about a church body. Also, we provide information about the history of the WELS and working with the One Africa Team.

The first two days of our meetings were about their church. We also worked through the pamphlet, “What the Bible and Lutherans Teach,” an overview of doctrine. We used this document to discover our common beliefs and to identify topics that need further study. We also studied Ephesians chapter 2 and discussed the practice of baptism.

Meeting the members

We visited four churches and met some of the members of EELCB. It was amazing to see their push to worship in places where they have only a roof and no real building. I am meeting online regularly with EELCB leaders to continue discussions. We are already making plans for future in-person meetings to continue our process of establishing fellowship.

The work in the ROC is a great example of the opportunities for outreach that God is presenting the One Africa Team here in Africa. We help church bodies that want to be confessionally Lutheran. In addition, we are pursuing relationships with churches that are already confessional Lutherans and desire contact with others. The One Africa Team is developing a large network of confessional Lutheran churches across Africa. This may have been the first time for WELS missionaries to visit the Republic of Congo, but it certainly will not be the last.

Written by Jake Vilhauer, missionary on the One Africa Team.

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Jesus Christ, true God, has the power to overcome the devil

2026/06/10/in Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

In 1950, a few men in a small village deep in the jungle of Laos were traveling to Vientiane, the capital city of Laos. The Holy Spirit led these men to meet an American missionary who was distributing brochures on the street. He handed a few brochures to the men. They had never heard anything about Christianity or the name of Jesus Christ. They willingly took the brochures home. One of the men in the group was my great uncle. He was the only man in the group who could read Lao. The brochure contained only a very short message: “Jesus Christ has the power to overcome the devil, and he is the true God.” The men quickly returned to the village and brought the good news to the whole community. Within a few days, it spread to the nearby villages, and the Holy Spirit converted a few hundred people to believe in Jesus Christ.

Many of the new converts were shamans, including my great uncle. They began destroying their idols and the altars set up for the worship of ancestors. They destroyed anything related to evil spirits. In addition, a miracle occurred at night when all the new converts were asleep. There were white stamps about the size of a baby’s palm that were affixed to every single home of the new believers—on the doors and walls, and on some furniture. Both the believers and unbelievers were very surprised to see the white stamps. The unbelievers passed the word around the community that the believers had abandoned the worship of their ancestors, “Their ancestors have cursed them, and they all will die.” They were waiting for the believers to be destroyed because they had turned to worship a western god called Jesus Christ. They waited and waited, but nothing happened to the new converts. The God they believed in through the brochure is the true God. He overcame all the fears in the villages. The believers praised the Lord! And they began to spread the good news even further to more villages and cities nearby.

Six months later, the Holy Spirit had multiplied hundreds of believers into thousands. Even with thousands of believers, none of them had ever seen a Bible, gone to Bible School, or realized that there were missionaries in the big cities. The elders quickly decided to return to Vientiane to find the missionary who had given them the brochure. Praise the Lord, they found him and brought him to the village. My grandfather told me that the missionary walked for three days. After three days, he could not walk anymore from exhaustion. His feet were swollen, and he had a high fever. So, the elders had to make a palanquin to carry him across many mountains and valleys to the villages, which took them almost 20 days. When he arrived, the whole village, both Christian and non-Christian people, were excited to see him. “The villagers treated the missionary like an angel,” Lor’s grandfather said. Was it because he had white skin, golden hair, blue eyes, and was tall? Not at all! But because they knew someone was coming with the word of God. He was bringing them the Christ, the Savior of the world!

The Lor family was among the first few families in the Hmong community in Laos to believe in Jesus Christ. Since then, my family has been serving the Lord and his church. I am a fourth generation Lor to do this. My son, Samuel, who now serves at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minn., is the fifth generation. Sadly, in 1975, the Lor family had to flee Laos due to political conflict. They relocated to Thailand, where my grandfather and father served a church with more than 3,000 members. In 1994, most of the Lor family members immigrated to the United States of America. Here we continue to serve the Hmong and American churches in the United States.

I have always been surrounded by the word of God through the missionaries and my family, especially my grandfather and father. But I initially had no desire to become a pastor. I was interested in medicine and science. Unexpectedly in 2003, one of my distant relatives, Rev. Daviv Neng Lor (retired now due to illness), brought WELS teachings to me. The distinction between law and gospel changed my views of the word of God forever! And it changed me so much that I love the word of God even more, and now I have a burning desire to share it with others.

After graduating from the WELS Pastoral Studies Institute, I established my ministry in Kansas City, Kan., with five families. Within a few years, the Lord blessed the ministry, and it grew to 120 members. My congregation, Grace Hmong Lutheran Church, decided to purchase a church building with local funds and assistance from the Church Extension Fund. At this point I thought that Kansas City would be my home and ministry until I retired. But in 2011, I unexpectedly got a call from one of the pastors in Vietnam who was interested in one of my sermons—“Saved by Grace alone, Through faith in Christ.” This Vietnamese pastor and his members were very tired of the legalistic church they were in; therefore, he wanted to know more about the grace of God and the distinction between law and gospel.

I was moved by the Holy Spirit. I took time to pray, then consulted with a few WELS pastors in the Kansas City area, especially Philip Zarling, Joel Schroeder, and Rev. Jim Plitzuweit (now retired). They were also excited to learn that people in Vietnam were eagerly awaiting WELS teachings.

I took my first trip in 2011. A few church leaders met me in my hotel room. I asked them, “Are you sure when you die, you go to heaven?” None of them said yes. I asked them why they believed this. They said, “Because we aren’t sure that we are good enough to enter heaven.” My heart was broken. They were pastors who led congregations with a few thousand members but weren’t sure themselves that they would go to heaven. “So, what about their members?” I asked myself. A voice echoed in my mind: These people won’t go to heaven unless they know the true God—Jesus Christ has the power to overcome the devil, and he is the true God. And as Paul said, “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them” (Romans 10:14)? Their answer motivated me to return to Vietnam. My second visit led to more than 100 church leaders attending training. This led to the opening of the door for WELS’ ministry in Vietnam.

Praise the Lord that, starting with a handful of believers deep in the jungles of Laos, he has brought light not only to Southeast Asia, but also to many people in North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, and many more places. A small brochure with a few words—”Jesus Christ has the power to overcome the devil, and he is the true God”—was so powerful and sufficient in changing the hearts of more than 350,000 sinners to believe that Christ is their Savior. More than 150,000 of these are in Vietnam. And most of the Hmong church leaders worldwide come from this handful of believers. It will not stop there; the word of God will continue to shine its light to harvest more people for his kingdom. Neither death nor the devil nor any power under the sun can stop it from growing! “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). This is what the Lord promises.

Recently, I was called to serve as president of the Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church (HELC), helping support and encourage its growing ministry throughout Southeast Asia. After prayerful consideration, I accepted the call. My responsibilities will include:

• strengthening the leadership team in Southeast Asia
• helping the church continue to develop and function independently
• building and strengthening relationships with WELS

In addition to the current training programs for church leaders in Southeast Asia, I am implementing two more programs: No Child Left Behind in the Word of God and How Can Women Serve in the Ministry? These two groups have been underserved in the HELC’s ministry, but from my perspective, they are the core of the ministry for the church’s growth. It is important for them to be free not only from the bondage of the devil, but also from the men’s power in their family and the community. I would like to invite you to join me in prayer so that more children and women can be part of Christ’s kingdom. Let us join in praising the Lord for his love and mercy toward all sinners. Let us join in praising the Lord for a greater harvest of these children and women into the kingdom of God. Lord, do not let any obstacles, neither the devil nor the world’s power, hinder the outreach to these children and women. In Christ’s name, amen.

I also ask you to pray for me and my family, for the safety of the leadership team, and for my new role as the president of the HELC. Ask the Lord to protect all from the hands of the devil and the power of the world, so that we can bring Christ to the lost souls wherever they go, for the sake of the kingdom of Christ.

Lastly, I, along with my leadership team would like to thank the leaders of the WELS for their support of HELC’s training in Southeast Asia. We would also like to thank all members of WELS for their continued prayers. May the Lord continue to bless the work of WELS throughout the world and to strengthen the ties between HELC and WELS. And the glory be to God alone, now and forever. Amen.

Written by Rev. Bounkeo Lor, President of the Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church

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Beyond the pew: sharing space, sharing Christ

2026/06/03/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

In northeast Calgary, considered one of the most diverse communities in Canada, you might look in one direction and think you are in India, and another direction, Africa. Here, St. Paul Lutheran Church sits on a busy street with pedestrians passing by from all over the world. And from the pews of our little church, as you look around you, you can see members from any one of 20 different countries.

As we seek to share the good news of Christ, we face a constant challenge. How do we communicate the gospel well when English is a second language for most of our members, as well as the people in our neighborhood? How do we share Christ when we face dozens of cultural barriers daily?

Our solution has been this: share Christ’s love through sharing our space. We have begun to turn our once quiet building into a welcoming place for many people who would normally never walk into a church. Through a variety of community partnerships, we show Christ’s love through mercy ministry (good deeds), because our words mean nothing to those who cannot understand our language.

We began our space sharing efforts with a local non-profit called F.O.C.U.S. on Seniors that supports elderly immigrants. Our partnership has provided free clothing giveaways and English as a second language (ESL) classes at our building. The partnership eventually got us invited to speak about the topic of bereavement to a gathering of 75 immigrants who had recently arrived in Canada. The gathering consisted of mostly Muslims, Sikhs, and Hindus. We took the opportunity to share the hope we have during times of grief because of Christ’s resurrection.

Another opportunity showed itself in May 2025 within the Indian community. Our neighborhood shut down to accommodate a parade, Nagar Kirtan, hosted by adherents to the Sikh religion, involving approximately 100,000 people flooding the streets. The day of the parade, a group of passionate St. Paul volunteers welcomed many Sikhs into our church to use our restrooms and fill up their water bottles. We gave tours of the church and shared the gospel with many who had never heard it. One Sikh man joined our Bible class as a result. In addition, we hung a large banner presenting the gospel from our main entrance and facing the parade route. It’s possible tens of thousands encountered this message of Jesus.

Turning toward our African neighbors, a few years ago, we met a man named Bayak, a refugee from South Sudan who joined our church. He told us that not long after he came to Canada, he ran into another refugee living on the street whom he used to know back in a camp in Africa. This man had also come to Canada for a better life. But “this is life in Canada,” he said.

This experience led Bayak to become a founder of a humanitarian organization, Nile CAPD, which supports Sudanese refugees experiencing homelessness. We decided to walk alongside Bayak in this. Working together, we host free community dinners, parenting workshops, and volunteer training sessions at the church. In June 2026, we are holding a job seeking workshop, primarily funded by WELS Christian Aid & Relief, with local WELS volunteers sharing job-seeking skills. Nearly every month, we see new Sudanese coming to our worship services and growing in the good news of Jesus. Today, the South Sudanese community has the largest ethnic group within our church.

Through space sharing, we have opened the doors to more impactful cross-cultural ministry. It has given us unique insights into the needs of our community, both physically and spiritually, and has provided us at St. Paul with opportunities to build connections and witness Christ across cultures to the people living right here.

Written by Rev. Chester Reinemann, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

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Mission Journeys volunteer opportunity in Brisbane, Australia

2026/06/01/in Asia-Oceania, Missions

Are you looking for a meaningful way to serve, build relationships, and share Christ’s love with people from around the world? Mission Journeys is excited to partner with the WELS World Missions team in Brisbane, Australia, to offer a new volunteer opportunity.

The Conversation Partners Program connects Christian volunteers with immigrants in South Brisbane—many from Asian and African backgrounds—who want to improve their English and build friendships. Volunteers are paired with students for weekly conversations, both online (before the trip) and in person (during your stay), focusing on language practice, cultural exchange, and genuine Christian care.

Volunteer responsibilities

Before the trip: Complete online training in cross-cultural communication and faith-sharing and meet weekly with your assigned language partner via video call.
During the trip (dates are flexible, 10–14 days, sometime in fall of 2027): Travel to Brisbane, continue weekly conversations, participate in group activities, and help the local missionary team with outreach.

Who should apply?

We welcome mature, patient Christians of all ages who are passionate about cross-cultural ministry—no teaching experience required! We’re looking for anywhere from four to eight people to serve on the team.

Estimated costs:

Airfare: $1,600–$2,000
Airbnb: $3,000–$4,000 (split among volunteer group)
Food: $100/day (covers you and your language partner)
Transportation: $25/day
Sightseeing/touring: optional

What’s the impact?

Help newcomers gain confidence in English and feel welcomed.
Help scale the ministry’s impact and create opportunities for authentic gospel conversations.
Build lasting friendships and share Christ’s love in practical ways.
Experience world mission work in a flexible, relational, and impactful setting.

Ready to join? Contact Mission Journeys Coordinator Mr. Shannon Bohme at [email protected] or by calling 651-324-4218 to learn more. OR fill out the interest sign-up form online today at wels.net/missionjourneys.

Stay up to date on additional Mission Journeys trips by following WELS Missions on Facebook and Instagram.

My four journeys to East Fork: 1994 to 2026

2026/05/28/in Missions, Native American Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Between 1999 and 2002, through a Kingdom Workers grant, Beth Cordes Thompson gave workshops and seminars on Intercultural Communications and English Language Teaching at 40 churches and schools in the U.S., Canada, and Antigua. In 2003, she founded the WELS Model English Language Outreach Program at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and was its executive director until 2012. In Hong Kong, she developed English for Theological Purposes programs for Asia Lutheran Seminary. Since the Thompsons’ return from Hong Kong to the U.S. in 2020, they have been residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

My first visit to the East Fork mission on the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona was in 1994. My husband, Dr. Glen Thompson, then a professor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, had been charged with creating a long-distance Latin language program for WELS high schools, two of which were Arizona Lutheran Academy and East Fork Lutheran High School. We were in Arizona so he could meet his students in person.

Open Bible Church in Whiteriver

We had a joyful reunion in East Fork with Pastor Eric and Delora Hartzell. We had last seen them when we served together as missionaries in Zambia. Now they were living in the beautiful, well-built house where Eric grew up when his father was a missionary in East Fork.

We moved to New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1997, where Glen began to develop what is now the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. During that time, Glen helped Missionary Kirby Spevacek create a curriculum for a new Apache leadership training program, which became the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS).

In 1999, I became friends with Carlita Lewis, a young Apache woman from East Fork who was studying at Martin Luther College (MLC). I interviewed her for a project for an Intercultural Communications course towards my Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESL). We discussed the Apache language and culture, and I learned a great deal about her life and family on the reservation.

Second visit—the student becomes the teacher

My second visit to East Fork was in January 2000, when Glen met with Pastor Spevacek and students in the ACTS program. While there, we toured East Fork Lutheran School and wished Carlita the Lord’s blessings as she began her call as an emergency teacher for a year.

First Lutheran Church in lower Cibecue

Third visit—friends reunited in our Savior

This past January, 26 years later, we returned to the reservation specifically to see Carlita and her son Leandro. Over four days, we visited the Kinishba Ruins and Fort Apache, went hiking, and had acorn stew. Glen also taught Bible classes at Open Bible Lutheran Church in Whiteriver, Arizona, where we became re-acquainted with Pastor Gary Lupe, and at Immanuel in Lakeside, Arizona, where Carlita is a member. Pastor Gary Juergens and Carlita became friends when they were students together at MLC, so we had an MLC reunion as well.

When we said good-bye to Carlita and Leandro, we prayed that it would not be years before we saw them again.

It was God’s planning that we would be reunited three months later! A few weeks after we returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the mission board contacted Glen and asked if he would consider helping Pastor Gary Lupe and Missionary John Holtz for a few months. After prayers and planning, we decided to return.

Fourth visit—God’s abundant blessings

In April 2026, we returned to the East Fork Mission. Now we have the privilege of worshiping with Apache Christians in the historic congregations and schools of the WELS Native American mission that began in 1893. During the upcoming months, we plan to attend services at all the Lutheran churches on the reservation.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church in upper Cibecue

Our first Sunday worship was at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Cibecue, Arizona. During our first visit to the reservation, every time we passed the turnoff to Cibecue from Highway 60, I would say, “You can see the end of the world from here,” because the road looks like it drops off the horizon. Now, we finally had our chance to turn on that road again, and it was only twelve beautiful scenic miles to the church!

On the way, we passed the first Lutheran church in “lower” Cibecue, built by Missionary Otto Schoenberg in 1912. In the 1970s, the mission complex was moved to “upper” Cibecue, which is where we worshiped. Lay preacher Greg Henry preached in both Apache and English, and the women members sang a hymn.

The second Sunday, we worshiped at Shepherd of the Mountain, Cedar Creek, Arizona. The tiny church is perched on a small mountain, visible from Highway 73. PSI student Marcus Massey gave the sermon.

Shepherd on the Mountain Lutheran Church in Cedar Creek

I saw Open Bible Lutheran Church for the first time back in January 2026. Founded in 1912, the picturesque wood-frame white church building was dedicated in 1922. Glen has given one presentation and conducted two Bible classes in the sanctuary so far. During the class, the attendees ask probing questions about faith and salvation. ACTS also has evening classes during the week, where faithful members from the reservation take time out of their busy lives to study God’s word.

During this trip, we saw Pastor Eric and Delora Hartzell for the first time in decades. We learned that Pastor Hartzell had written Inashood: The Story of the Arizona Apache Lutheran Missions and Their Pastors (available from Northwestern Publishing House). Glen and I read it before our April return.

Learning the history illuminated the honor of living for a few months at the very location where the mission acquired property from a government school and founded East Fork Lutheran Mission in 1921.

The East Fork Nursery was established in 1921 to save abandoned babies’ lives but later closed in 1990. This building became what is now the ACTS building.

We thank God for the journeys since 1994 that led to this opportunity to experience life on the site of the first WELS world mission. We cherish our times of worship with the faithful Apache Christians who are living and strengthening their faith through the Word of God they hear at their historic churches and through the ACTS program. We pray for the pastors and evangelists who are serving on the Native American mission and that God will bless them as they continue to share the gospel message.

Written by Beth Thompson, wife of pastor Glen Thompson

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New seminary graduate called as missionary to Senegal

2026/05/27/in Africa, Missions, News, Together, World Missions

New seminary graduate Stephen Gerling and his wife, Hannah, will serve as one of two missionary families sent to a new mission in Senegal. Drawing from their unique international backgrounds and experiences growing up in mission fields, the Gerlings share their excitement, challenges, and hopes as they prepare to build relationships and share the gospel with the Wolof people in Senegal.

Veteran WELS world missionary Dan Kroll and his wife, Karen, will serve alongside the Gerlings as they minister to the Woloff tribe. Both Stephen Gerling and Dan Kroll will be commissioned by WELS Missions at Taste of Missions on June 13.

The promise of permanence

2026/05/20/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

In late 2022, as mission work was beginning in Conroe, Texas, and our core group began inviting their friends, relatives, acquaintances, and neighbors to join us for Bible study and worship, we regularly heard multiple versions of the same phrase: “I’m interested. But come back and ask again when you’re in a permanent space.”

Many were genuinely interested. However, the physical places to which we were inviting them—someone’s living room, a rented community room, or a funeral home chapel (where we held worship for over two years)—all had one thing in common. By our own admission, none of these places were where we wanted to set up ministry permanently. That created a perception that we were not yet an established church. That perception had an impact on our community, and an understandable one.

Somewhere between 30 and 70 percent of new Christian churches in America close their doors within five years of opening.

In our area, where a great variety of Christian denominations and non-denominational churches are planting churches regularly, that statistic has helped create a general skepticism toward new churches. Even many who are looking for a church home are reluctant to engage with them. Rather than invest emotionally in a church that may not be there in five years, they believe it’s better to wait and see if its ministry presence becomes a permanent fixture in the community.

As we were learning of this perception’s strong prevalence in our mission field, God was developing for us some unusual opportunities compared to what a WELS Home Mission is typically able to do in its early years of ministry.

Just two months after the church was established in 2022, nearly 22 acres of buildable and beautiful land on a prominent road traveled by thousands of people every day was donated to the church. WELS mission churches are typically able to start looking for land four or five years after the mission begins.

A short time later, another significant donation was given to be used exclusively to help with the construction of a worship space on that land. God also provided through WELS Church Extension Fund, which supported the project with both a loan and a grant. WELS mission churches are typically in a financial position to begin this process in the sixth or seventh year of their existence.

As our core group discussed this rare opportunity with the donor and our WELS District Mission Board, we determined that, if possible, we would like to construct a building that visually communicated one particular quality: permanence.

We hoped to construct a building that looked like it had been there for years, and would be there for many years to come, believing that the visual perception of permanence would have a significantly positive impact on our ability to connect souls to the gospel.

Under God’s gracious guidance and blessing, we were able to accomplish that goal. We started planning for the building in early 2023, held our first worship service in August 2025, and quickly saw just how powerful the perception of permanence really is.

Average worship attendance in our previous rented space (the funeral home chapel) was about 50 souls per weekend. In the new space, average attendance instantly nearly doubled, and now around 140 individuals worship with us around the means of grace each week.

Each weekend since August, at least one new person has walked into church to worship with us for the first time. Most often, when we ask what brought them to us, they mention the building, its attractiveness, and the positive perceptions it conveyed to them as they drove by.

While we pray the new building will be around for a long time to attract souls to our campus, we all know that no building lasts forever, and this new worship space won’t be the exception. Jesus once assured his disciples that even the large and impressively constructed temple in Jerusalem would one day be entirely destroyed.

But the assurance of our Savior’s completed work, that all sins are forgiven, that death is defeated, that God will one day wipe every tear from our eyes, that heaven is our true and lasting home, and that the God who provides these permanent blessings to us at no cost is also with us daily—guiding, guarding, and providing for us—each step of the way home . . . these aren’t just perceptions.

These assurances are promises fulfilled by our faithful God.

In Jesus, we have something better than the perception of permanence.

We have the promise of permanence. The promise of permanent and eternal blessings we find only through him.

With or without a building, this promise is what provides everlasting stability for each person. We are grateful that, in this particular mission field, at this particular time, God has provided a way to connect that promise with many souls who need to hear it.

Written by Rev. Jeremy Mattek, pastor at TheMission – a Lutheran Church in Conroe, Texas.

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Moments with Missionaries – John Holtz

2026/05/14/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, World Missions

Missionary John Holtz, Native Christians counselor, shares an update from East Fork, Ariz., on the continuing work among Native American communities. In this video, he highlights the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS) and shares how Marcus Massey recently enrolled in the pastoral track with the hope of one day serving as a pastor on the Native American mission field.

Join us in thanking God for raising up future church leaders and for the ongoing work of the Native American mission team. Hear more about the continuing work of the Native American mission team at wels.net/native-american-missions.

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From hardship to hope in Christ

2026/05/13/in Latin America, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Marco Antonio has been through more than most. He lived through the civil war in El Salvador. In more recent years, he stayed in the San Valentín condominium in Mejicanos during waves of violence that forced many of his neighbors to flee. His life has included family challenges, health struggles, and ups and downs in his employment. It’s the kind of story that could easily lead someone to become discouraged, to grow tired, or to settle into survival mode.

But that’s not Marco’s story. Instead, when he wakes up in the morning, he works on memorizing the catechism. In the evenings, he logs on to live Bible classes. Day after day, he finds ways to be connected to God’s Word.

I had the opportunity to visit Marco in March. We sat down over pupusas in Mejicanos, and he told me how it all began. About two years ago, he came across an online ad for Bible classes through Academia Cristo. He signed up, not knowing exactly what to expect. But as he studied, he encountered something that changed everything—the clear message of Scripture, that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. This gave him peace like he never had before.

Marco loves what he is learning so much that he repeats courses he has already taken, learning from different instructors and studying alongside new classmates. For him, it’s not about checking a box or finishing a program. It’s about staying in the Word.

During my visit, we traveled together from San Salvador to meet with another Academia Cristo student in San Miguel. On the three-hour drive, Marco turned the car into a mission field. He shared the Christian faith with the driver, walking him through what we call the four key concepts—sin, grace, faith, and works. When the driver began to open up about personal struggles, Marco clearly applied both law and gospel, pointing him to his Savior.

But Marco isn’t just a student, and he doesn’t just tag along with missionaries on visits. Recently, Marco was called to serve as a sembrador, or church planter, by Academia Cristo. This came after he reached doctrinal agreement, completed significant coursework, committed to continued study, and expressed a desire to gather others around God’s Word. Marco is eager to serve in this role.

Marco’s story is humbling. It raises questions I can’t ignore. Do I still have the chief parts of the catechism memorized? Do I take hold of every opportunity I can to study God’s Word? Do I look for ways to share it as naturally as he does? Marco’s story reminds me of what is most important.

And at the same time, it brings me back to the heart of it all. The same gospel that changed Marco is the same gospel that sustains us—that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not because of what we do, but because of what Christ has done for us. It’s that message that creates faith, strengthens it, and sends people like Marco, and us, out to share it with others.

As Academia Cristo continues to grow, it’s a privilege to walk alongside brothers like Marco—men shaped by hardship, grounded in the gospel, and eager to bring the good news to others.

Written by Missionary Matt Behmer, member of the Latin America mission team.

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Central Africa Medical Mission pop-up clinic

2026/05/11/in Africa, Missions, News, Together, World Missions

Working closely with the leadership and volunteers from the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ–Kenya (LCMC), the Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) organized a short-term medical camp in Chabera, Kenya, in February. Six WELS volunteers, along with Kate Wood, executive director of CAMM and Gary Evans, retiring field director, partnered with the Kenyan Health District in CAMM’s third pop-up medical camp in Kenya. This first medical camp in the underserved Chabera area drew just shy of 2,400 children, women, and men in five days for free medical services, medical screening, and medication. Besides needed physical care, every patient received a gospel-based welcome, a printed booklet to take home, and often, individualized prayer. Read more about the camp at wels.net/welcome-to-kenya.

Spring 2026 Home Missions milestones

2026/05/07/in Home Missions, Missions

A number of home mission congregations have celebrated significant milestones the past few months. We rejoice and thank God for his continued blessings and the spread of his gospel.

Cornerstone launches worship

Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Bentonville, Ark., hosted its launch service on Sunday, February 22. About 70 people gathered for worship, including nearly 30 new faces from the community. We thank God for this encouraging beginning and ask that he continues to bless this congregation as they share the gospel in the Bentonville community. Learn more about Cornerstone Lutheran Church at Hear more from Home Missionary Ross Chartrand in his Moments with Missionaries video update and view photos of their first service on Flickr.

Hope Fellowship in Jarrell, TX -building dedication

On March 8, 2026, Hope Fellowship in Jarrell, Texas, gathered and celebrated the dedication of their new worship space. God be with them as they continue to be lights of the gospel news to all they meet in the Jarrell community. View photos from their dedication service in our Flickr album.

Our Redeemer – Ladysmith, WI groundbreaking

On March 29, 2026, members of Our Redeemer in Ladysmith, Wis., broke ground for their new building expansion, including a new sanctuary. God’s blessings on their continued ministry.

View photos from their first service in our Flickr album.

Mount Hope – Bend, Oregon

On March 29, 2026, Mount Hope in Bend, Oregon, celebrated its worship launch—marking an exciting milestone for this growing mission. First approved in 2024, the mission has already gained meaningful traction in the community. The worship launch saw a strong turnout, reflecting growing interest in this new ministry. We thank the Lord for his blessings on this mission and pray that it continues to boldly share the gospel throughout the community.

Redemption Erie, worship launch

On Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026, Redemption Church in Erie, Colorado, celebrated its public worship launch—marking an exciting milestone for this growing mission. From the very beginning, God has blessed this ministry with a strong, dedicated core group committed to laying the groundwork for a new church. What started as gatherings in homes and coffee shops, centered on God’s Word, has now grown into a vibrant worshiping community. Just one year after being approved, Redemption welcomed 73 people to its launch service—including nearly 30 new or returning visitors from the local community.

We thank God for his continued blessings on this mission and pray that, as they gather week after week, many more will come to hear and be strengthened by the gospel.

Hope in the Heights building dedication

God’s blessings to Hope in the Heights in Houston, Texas, as they dedicated their new house of worship in March 2026. This milestone marks an exciting new chapter for their congregation and the community they serve. We pray that God would continue to bless their ministry, strengthen their members, and use this new space to share the life-changing message of the gospel throughout the Houston area.

Crossroad Launch

Crossroads marked a joyful milestone with its Easter relaunch, welcoming 68 people in attendance. Among them were 17 local visitors, including 2 individuals who had never been in a church before—an encouraging reminder of the gospel reaching new hearts. The congregation currently gathers in a school auditorium that seats 600, providing plenty of room for future growth. Please keep Crossroads in your prayers as this mission continues sharing the message of the gospel with its community.

View additional photos in the Flickr album.

Stay up to date on news from WELS’ 140+ home mission congregations by following WELS Missions on Facebook and Instagram.

Mats to pews: friendships, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and the gospel

2026/05/06/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

In North Texas, where community often forms through shared effort and trust, a meaningful connection has been growing between students of Renzo Gracie DFW and Christ Alone, Keller, Texas. What began as a few initial connections has developed into something deeper—a reflection of how relationships forged through discipline and challenge can become a bridge to conversations about faith and the gospel.

At Renzo Gracie DFW, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is more than a sport. It’s a daily practice of humility, perseverance, and mutual respect. Training partners rely on one another in a uniquely close way—learning through trial, vulnerability, and constant refinement. Trust is built quickly when people grapple, struggle, and improve side by side. Over time, those shared experiences turn into genuine friendships grounded in accountability and mutual growth.

It’s within those relationships that something significant has taken shape.

As students spend hours together on the mats, conversations naturally extend beyond techniques and competition. Life challenges, personal goals, and deeper questions begin to surface. Because trust has already been established in such a tangible way, these discussions often carry a level of honesty that’s hard to find elsewhere. For some, that openness has created space to talk about faith—sometimes for the first time in a meaningful way.

That’s where Christ Alone has become part of the story.

Known for its Christ-centered, biblical teaching and welcoming environment, the church provides a place where those conversations can continue and grow. Students who first encountered faith discussions during or after training have found a natural next step in attending services together. Walking into a church can feel intimidating, but doing so alongside trusted friends changes the experience. The same relationships built through shared struggle on the mats become a bridge, making the message of the gospel more approachable and personal.

This connection highlights something essential: people are far more open to hearing truth when it comes through relationships they trust. On the mats, students experience a kind of honesty that strips away pretense. There’s no room for ego when you’re learning, tapping (out), and growing together. That authenticity carries into spiritual conversations, where questions and doubts can be expressed without fear of judgment.

For those attending Christ Alone, the impact has been mutual. The presence of Renzo Gracie DFW students brings a strong sense of camaraderie and authenticity into the congregation. Their shared background creates a built-in support system, making it easier to stay connected and engaged. At the same time, the church community offers encouragement and guidance that extends beyond physical training—pointing toward a deeper relationship with Christ through Word and sacraments.

Hearing that Jesus has died for their sins has resulted in 13 adult confirmations and 9 baptisms, confessing their unity in the faith by receiving the sacrament together and carrying the message of the gospel into relationships in their everyday lives, including a tradition of selfies after service, expressing joy in our risen Savior.

What’s unfolding in Keller is a reminder that the gospel often travels along relational pathways. Programs and invitations have their place, but personal connection is what opens doors. In this case, friendships formed through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have become those doors, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations about Christ’s love and the hope found in him.

Ultimately, this growing connection isn’t just about a gym or a church. It’s about people walking alongside one another, building trust through shared experiences, and allowing that trust to lead to Jesus. From the mats to the pews, those relationships are proving to be a powerful bridge—one that continues to carry the message of the gospel into everyday life.

Written by Rev. Paul Seager, pastor at Christ Alone Lutheran Church in Keller, Texas.

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Moments with Missionaries – Jacob Borgwardt

2026/05/06/in Home Missions, Missions

Crossroads Christian Church, a mission restart in downtown Chicago, Ill., held its first public worship service on Easter Sunday. Set in the heart of a busy city, this ministry is embracing creative outreach—finding ways to meet people where they are, whether through personal connections, community engagement, or simply being a visible presence in a fast-paced urban environment.

Hear more from Rev. Jacob Borgwardt as he reflects on this milestone service and shares how Crossroads is reaching the lost with the gospel in Chicago. Learn more about Crossroads Church at crossroadschicago.org.

Join us for Taste of Missions this year to hear the Borgwardts present about their first year in the ministry.

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One soul at a time

2026/04/30/in Faces of Faith, Home Missions, Missions

Aunt Thu Vân Nguyễn is from Vietnam. Her Vietnamese name means “Autumn Cloud.” She was born and raised in the coastal city of Phan Thiết. Her family practiced worshiping ancestors and Buddhism. Yet from a very young age, she was familiar with Christianity because her home was near a church. She loved the Christmas hymns and the joyful atmosphere of the season, especially singing the songs.

Two years after I moved to California for missionary work at King of Kings, I met her for the first time in a citizenship preparation class. After each class, I often invited the students to stay and read a passage from the gospel of John or Luke about the life of Jesus and His love for humanity. She enjoyed listening to the Scriptures and frequently asked thoughtful questions about Jesus.

At that time, her family was going through many conflicts. Her daughter was angry and refused to speak to her, and she herself was struggling with health problems. She came to see me and asked for prayer. We sat together and prayed many times. I asked the Lord to grant her healing and to restore peace within her family.

A few months later, after one of the citizenship classes, she came to me with great joy. Her daughter had reached out to her, and they reconciled. With gratitude in her heart, she thanked God for His wonderful grace upon her family.

On October 26, 2025, in Garden Grove, Calif., on a beautiful, cloudy autumn day—fitting for someone whose name means “Autumn Cloud”—I had the privilege of baptizing her as a child of God. Although she has not yet passed her U.S. citizenship exam, citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven is far more important.

One more soul has been written in the Book of Life.

Written by Trung Le, pastor at King of Kings in Garden Grove, California

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Climb the hill again

2026/04/23/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

John Hildebrant, the newest member on the Asia Oceania Team, is investing his first year on the field in learning a key local language that will assist him in working with new contacts throughout South Asia.

After nearly two weeks spent in South Asia, I have a new personal motto: Climb the hill again.

When people ask me where I am, they usually google it and comment on how beautiful it is. And it is truly beautiful in the foothills of the Himalayas! However, they usually don’t realize how the whole town seems to be built on the side of a hill. Everything here is either up or down. Very little is lateral or sideways.

My room (where I’m currently living out of suitcases), for example, is 6,800 feet above sea level. My language school, where I take classes every day, is more than 7,300 feet above sea level! That means every day I climb more than 500 feet (or 150 meters).

I take a bath, but when I have to climb the hill again, I get all hot and sweaty. I feel fine and well rested, but when I have to climb the hill again, my heart starts to pound, and my breathing gets heavy once again.

Do I really want to climb that hill again? Not really. But I must.

Climb the hill again.

But you would think that, once I’m at the top, at the language school, I’d have a reprieve. However, you would be wrong.

That’s an aspirated consonant not an unaspirated one. Climb the hill again. That’s a cerebral (with the tongue on the roof of your mouth), not a dental (with the tongue behind your teeth). Climb the hill again. That’s a feminine noun, not a masculine noun. Climb the hill again. That’s a masculine noun ending in “a” followed by the postposition, changing “ah” to “ay”! Climb the hill again!

Don’t get me wrong. After less than two weeks, I’m pleased that I can understand and say as much as I can! (“Whose book is on that table?” etc.) I can even say a few silly sentences about a monkey stealing my food, which is a true story! But fluency is an elusive, seemingly far away thing. It means climbing the hill over and over and over again!

But is this all that my motto really means? Physically climbing up a hillside or mentally exercising the linguistic portion of my brain? Is there not a deeper spiritual meaning to this motto as well?!

Yes. At Christmas, we climbed the hill again on which Bethlehem stands – to see our incarnate Lord and Savior, the Christ-child. On Transfiguration Sunday, many of us climbed the hill of Transfiguration again – to see Jesus in all his glory – assuring us that his passion is purposeful, not that everything was merely spiraling out of control. And, most significantly, every Lenten season we climb the hill of Calvary again to see the awful price paid for all of our sins.

Climb the hill again.

This motto really applies to every Christian as we daily bring our sins to the foot of the cross. Climb the hill again! Then, the next day, we climb the hill again, and again, and again, and again! Each time, we are assured of his grace to us! Each time, we are declared to be forgiven children of the Most High!

So, what can I do? Nothing really. Nothing but climb the hill again. Yes, climb the steps to the language school. And climb the mental gymnastics of my mind trying to get my brain to think in another language. And most importantly climb the hill to Calvary again with my latest load of sins, dumping them there at the feet of my Savior.

Each and every day. . . .

“Climb the hill again.”

Written by Missionary John Hildebrant, missionary on the Asia-Oceania Team

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Unexpected discovery

2026/04/15/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Have you ever reached into a pocket and discovered money you didn’t remember putting there? The discovery is completely unexpected—and delightful.

First Impressions of CLSU
That is how I felt after a recent trip to Uganda to visit the Confessional Lutheran Synod of Uganda (CLSU). At the end of March, I accompanied One Africa Team missionary, Ben Foxen, on a visit to Ibanda, located in the western hills of the country. Because it was my first time representing the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR), I wasn’t sure what to expect. In the end, the experience far exceeded anything I could have imagined.

The purpose of our visit was to explore a potential partnership between WELS and the CLSU. Together, we studied CLSU’s statement of faith and constitution, asking questions for clarification and deeper understanding. These discussions proved both productive and encouraging. The CLSU holds firmly to the Bible, teaching and preaching in accordance with Scripture. We share a strong emphasis on gospel ministry that keeps Jesus at the center. We pray for and look forward to the day when our synods can formally declare fellowship.

The CLSU consists of 40 congregations across Uganda, with approximately 3,200 baptized members. After analyzing the demographics of their congregations, their leadership has developed a clear plan for ministry. With nearly 80 percent of their members under the age of 18, they are focusing on youth ministry and strengthening catechism instruction. They are also working to expand access to education through their schools and are eager to encourage more young men to pursue seminary training and become pastors. In short, they have ambitious goals, coupled with a deep trust in God’s blessings.

Connected Through Christ

On a personal note, getting to know the members of the CLSU leadership team is something I will carry with me for years to come. Worship on Palm Sunday was a particular highlight. Witnessing the faith and dedication of these Christian men—and forming friendships with them—was a remarkable joy. Though they live on another continent, I now count them among my dear Christian friends. Our time together lasted only a few days, but the memories will last a lifetime.

This trip also gave me valuable insight into the work of our One Africa Team missionaries. Watching Missionary Foxen interact with the CLSU was a joy and an encouragement. God is clearly blessing the efforts of our pastors in Africa as they seek out partnerships with groups like the CLSU. The Holy Spirit is powerfully at work through the Word, bringing souls into God’s kingdom. Uganda is a vivid example of the gospel as “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

In the end, perhaps the unexpected joy of this trip should not have been so surprising. God is always at work, advancing his kingdom. I look forward to the day when believers from every nation will gather for an eternity in his presence. That joy will far surpass even the happiest unexpected discovery.

Written by Jon Bilitz, WELS CICR representative

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Moments with Missionaries – Howard Mohlke

2026/04/15/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, World Missions

Missionaries Howie Mohlke and Jake Vilhauer recently traveled to Pointe-Noire, marking the first visit by WELS missionaries to this region. This effort is part of a growing outreach to French-speaking communities across Africa. The Christians they met are deeply committed to the teachings of Scripture and grateful for the opportunity to connect and grow alongside fellow believers. Learn more about the work of the One Africa Team at wels.net/africa.

P.S. – Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch even more videos from our missionaries in the upcoming weeks and months!

God through his people makes ministry happen

2026/04/08/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Zion in Leeds, Wis., is what many people might call an ordinary church. It is a country church that was started in 1863; across the street are cornfields. We are presently in the third church building built on our site and plan on staying here. Yet, God has moved the hearts of his people at Zion to love mission work to reach out to lost souls. We support our synod in opening missions with our prayers and offerings. Our congregation has also opened five missions in our area throughout the years. Our last mission is Zion in Lodi, which had its Grand Opening on October 15, 2022.

Our present Lodi location is a blessing from the Lord. It is a rented storefront, a former dental office, on Main Street. When I was with my son as he was sitting in the dental chair there a few years ago, I never would have imagined worshipping there in that exact spot! The building is small, but we were able to fit in 50 chairs for worship. The altar furniture was designed by a WELS member from Michigan and built by some local WELS members. The walls were built and painted by members. Members even placed the tile in the bathroom. A wood cross made from barn wood above the altar is the focus of the whole room. This, too, was built by one of our members. The sanctuary is welcoming and focuses us on the cross. All the people who helped to build it were moved by faith to use their gifts for God’s house.

The Lord has provided people to carry out this ministry from the leadership, the visionaries, the workers, the helpers, the builders, and the caregivers to the people who reach out to their neighbors about the good news. As an unsubsidized WELS mission, we receive grants when they are available to us, a mission counselor, and the help of the entire Western Wisconsin District mission team. They add prayer and experience to assist us in our mission of sharing the gospel. Praise and Proclaim helped teach us to touch the lives of others with the message of eternal life as well.

Where are we now? Our average attendance is near 40, sometimes closer to 50 in attendance. So, a larger place is needed. Again, the Lord provided through his people. One of the core members of Zion in Lodi, Wis., left us with a gift upon his very unexpected passing. While we rejoiced that he went home to the Lord, we were personally devastated and profoundly felt this loss. Yet, the gift he left the church enabled us to purchase a 5,850-square-foot building between Kwik Trip and Piggly Wiggly in Lodi. (In Wisconsin, this property is comparable to Boardwalk property in the game Monopoly). Through discussions with an architect, general contractor, and Builders for Christ, we have been looking at ways to renovate this building for expanded ministry.

The Lord continues to raise up people “for such a time as this” over and over again. How beautiful! I wish I could say it is effortless, but it takes plenty of effort. I wish I could say that there were hardly any meetings, but there have been and continue to be plenty. Differences about ministry, outreach strategy, funding, and future focus do come, but those have helped us to focus and make ministry better for both Leeds and Lodi. God has opened a door for the gospel message, using ordinary people sometimes in unexpected ways. We pray that he would continue to do so, in Lodi and for other churches in our synod, so that more people may come to know God through his Word, grow in faith, grow in ministry, and worship the God of free grace.

Written by Rev. Scott Schwertfeger, home missionary at Zion Lutheran Church in Lodi, Wis.

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A spring break of service and growth

2026/04/02/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

From March 14 to March 18, 2026, 16 college students from WELS campus ministries at South Dakota State University (SDSU), University of Wisconsin (UW)—La Crosse, UW—Stevens Point, and UW—Stout spent their spring breaks serving in Southern California through Mission Journeys. Their week of volunteering concluded with a retreat.

From Saturday to Wednesday, students split into three Mission Journeys groups. They served alongside WELS congregations like Reformation in San Diego, Beautiful Saviour in Carlsbad, and Ascension in Escondido.

Mission Journeys team at Ascension in Escondido, Calif.

For many students, this trip was both a step of faith and a chance to grow in community. For Amelia Koch, a junior at UW—La Crosse, this was her first spring break mission trip, and she spent her week serving at Ascension. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “This trip reminded me of the importance of God and faith in my life. I stepped out of my comfort zone, made amazing new Christian friends, and renewed my excitement to lead and be more present in my own church and campus ministry.”

The Ascension team—made up of six students from UW—La Crosse, SDSU, and UW—Stout—served in a variety of hands-on ways. They collected food for a local drive, invited neighbors to Easter services, completed landscaping projects, and even connected with the community by handing out free dog treats at a nearby park.

Beautiful Saviour group in Carlsbad, Calif.

For others, the trip was an opportunity to return and lead. Nick Spott, a junior and student leader at UW—Stout, participated in his second spring break mission trip, this time serving with the group at Beautiful Saviour in Carlsbad. He reflected, “My favorite memories over spring break came from meeting so many awesome people at the congregation we were able to help. I’ve also gotten to see how the Lord has blessed our campus ministry with so many gifted people and how he uses our unique gifts in different ways to further his gospel.”

Six UW—Stout students supported the Beautiful Saviour’s ministry by volunteering in the school, distributing Easter invitations, and promoting a local food drive. At Reformation, four UW—Stevens Point students partnered in similar efforts, supporting the congregation through hands-on service and community outreach.

All three Mission Journeys groups reunited midweek in San Diego for the WELS Campus Ministry retreat, “Called, Not Conformed.” Centered on the theme “In the World, but Not of the World,” the three-day retreat provided time for students to reflect, grow, and recharge spiritually. Keynote speaker, Bill Monday, pastor at St. Peter, Freedom, Wis., led two sessions while local pastors shared devotionals that encouraged students to live out their faith boldly in their everyday lives.

The retreat gave students opportunities to deepen their faith, build new Christian friendships, have fun, and explore Old Town San Diego—even going on a scavenger hunt!

Malia Erickson, a freshman from UW—Stout, reflected on how the trip shaped her faith: “My faith grew so much by being pushed to trust God in new situations. Going on this trip strengthened so many of my friendships and gave me memories that I will forever be thankful for. This experience gave me confidence to step out of my comfort zone and grow into a stronger Christian leader.”

The retreat concluded on Friday as students began their journeys home—grateful for a week filled with service, growth, and God’s blessings. We thank God for the many people who supported this trip through prayers, encouragement, and service, making this impactful experience possible.

Written by Megan Juckett, campus ministry student at UW—Stout

View additional photos from the WELS Campus Ministry retreat.

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French connects them. The gospel unites us.

2026/03/27/in Africa, Featured Ministry, Missions

Dear Fellow Member of WELS,

Easter reminds us that when everything seemed finished—when the stone was sealed, and hope looked lost—the risen Christ was already at work. Because Jesus lives, his gospel keeps moving forward, often in ways we don’t expect. That’s what we see happening through the work of WELS World Missions today.

Across French-speaking regions of Africa, people are reaching out to WELS asking for help with God’s Word. And by God’s grace, we can respond.

French is an official language in 29 countries worldwide, and remarkably, 21 of them are in Africa. That shared language makes French a key connection point for gospel outreach across borders and cultures. In many of these places, faithful, Bible-based teaching is hard to find. That’s why these contacts matter—and why the opportunities before us are significant.

One example comes from a French-speaking church body called Mission Évangélique Luthérienne au Congo (MELC). Its leaders searched for theological support, found WELS, and reached out because they wanted clarity grounded firmly in Scripture. They see the challenges around them—especially the spread of false teaching—and they want to grow in the truth of God’s Word.

Faithful mission work in situations like this isn’t rushed. It involves careful doctrinal conversations, opening Scripture together, verifying unity in teaching and practice, and walking patiently with those who want to learn. This kind of work doesn’t always draw attention, but it is essential if the gospel of the risen Christ is to be proclaimed clearly and faithfully.

The work also requires flexibility. Because of political unrest, WELS missionaries cannot currently travel into parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rather than stopping, conversations continue just across the border in Zambia, where it is safer to meet. There, missionaries and church leaders are able to build relationships, study doctrine together, and plan next steps. Trusting the Lord’s guidance, the work continues.

To support this growing outreach, we’ve made a focused investment in people and preparation. Missionary Jake Vilhauer, serving with the One Africa Team, received intensive French language immersion—including time living and studying in France and Cameroon. Because of that training, when French-speaking contacts across Africa reach out, we are ready to respond with clarity, compassion, and confidence in the gospel.

This is where you come in. We ask you to prayerfully consider supporting this work with a special gift. Your support makes it possible for WELS World Missions to carry out this work on the ground: engaging in careful doctrinal study, maintaining ongoing communication, and meeting face to face when those conversations matter most. And this need is not limited to one place. We are seeing similar requests for collaboration and support coming from countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, and beyond—all from people asking for faithful Lutheran teaching rooted in God’s Word.

As we celebrate Easter, we rejoice that Christ is risen—and that his living gospel continues to open doors in places near and far. Thank you for standing with WELS World Missions as we share that message throughout Africa.

In Christ’s service,
Larry Schlomer
Administrator, Board for World Missions

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Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for working through us in new and exciting ways. Bless Missionary Jake Vilhauer as he leads ministry efforts with French-speaking people in Africa. Guide our synod’s process of working toward possible fellowship with the Lutheran church body in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We thank you for blessing our work with them so that they have been able to discover more great truths in your Word and combat false doctrine. May our French language outreach connect with many more people in the 29 French-speaking countries of Africa, so that even more may come to know the salvation you have earned for us. Amen.

God’s work in Ukraine continues

2026/03/24/in Europe, Missions, News, Together

Our sister church the Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC), along with all the citizens of Ukraine, has been experiencing the hardship and suffering caused by four years of a terrible and destructive war. Families have had to flee to safer locations, homes have been destroyed, and some pastors have had to relocate to areas away from the war zones.

When the war began, WELS members responded with their own personal prayers and with prayers in their congregations. They also responded generously with gifts and offerings. Those gifts, regularly forwarded to the ULC, have been faithfully used to provide food, fuel, transportation, medicine, and clothing. And the members of the ULC did not keep those gifts for themselves. They have responded to our generosity with generosity of their own, making needed supplies available to many people in their communities who have been affected by the brutality and scarcity of war.

Vyacheslav Horpynchuk, the bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church, tells the story far better than I can. This is what he writes:

Here the fifth year of the full-scale Russian invasion began. Thanks be to God this winter is coming to an end. It has been the most severe winter in the recent decades: lots of snow, very low below freezing temperatures and very heavy bombardments of our electrical, heating systems and residential areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, as well as smaller cities and villages. Lord, have mercy.

I would like to thank all the brothers and sisters in WELS who came to help us. Many people did not have any extra warm blankets, and some people requested some help to survive that cold. We provided all our congregation members in need with extra warm blankets to survive the cold in apartments with no heat or with very little heat. We also continued to provide all the needy with thermal wear. All of them send their gratitude to all in WELS for your generous help. Thank you very much!

Yet even in these terrible times, God finds ways not only to bless his people but also to create opportunities for God’s people to carry out his mission. Through the works of love done by the members of the ULC, God has brought many non-Christians into contact with Christian love in action, but more important, with the saving gospel of Jesus and the comforting power of his Word. Many have begun to worship regularly in ULC congregations, and dozens of people have been instructed and confirmed.

Roger Neumann, our WELS liaison to the ULC, adds some of his observations:

While the war rages on and people deal with the elements of nature, the gospel ministry is not stopped. I’m very thankful to our Lord for the faith he has given our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine. The ULC pastors continue to preach the gospel, help those who are in desperate need, and offer encouragement and friendship to many people. So many people suffer from depression and anxiety, not certain if they will survive this ordeal or what their futures will be like. The pastors bring them the reassurance that the Lord loves them and will continue to bless them. They also encourage the people to pay more attention to the spiritual blessings that they have in Christ and not focus on the physical needs that are lacking at this time.

While most ULC churches have lost members who have fled from the war and taken refuge in neighboring countries, there are, nevertheless, four new mission sites. Pictured below is mission work being done in one of those sites in Snihurivka.

People in those towns have welcomed pastors to share the gospel with them. In addition, a number of ULC members have taken refuge near Poznan, Poland. Bishop Horpynchuk will be making a trip there, and it’s hoped that a new mission can be started. God is certainly opening new doors and opportunities, despite the war and adversity. God be praised!

I want to thank all of you who have already responded to this need in Ukraine with your generous gifts and prayers. With the end of the war still not in sight, the need continues. Learn more about the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and how you can support it at wels.net/ukraine.

Serving with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

Moments with Missionaries – Justin Steinke

2026/03/17/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, World Missions

Missionary Justin Steinke shares an update from Manila, Philippines, highlighting the work of the Asia-Oceania team. Listen as he shares how God is opening doors and creating opportunities to reach hearts and communities with the gospel. Learn more about the work of the Asia-Oceania Team at wels.net/asia-oceania/.

P.S. – Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch even more videos from our missionaries in the upcoming weeks and months!

Sent to share Christ—join us at Taste of Missions

2026/03/16/in Missions

At the heart of Taste of Missions 2026 is a moment we don’t want you to miss: coming together as the church to send new missionaries to share Christ’s love in mission fields near and far. We invite you to join us on Saturday, June 13, for a day that begins with worship and the commissioning of missionaries and continues with stories, conversations, and connections from across WELS missions.

Date: Saturday, June 13, 2026

Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Location: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., OR online!

The day begins with a commissioning service, where newly called missionaries are sent to serve in home and world mission settings. After the service, you’re invited to stay and explore more of what mission work looks like today:

Updates from Home and World Missions leadership
Moments with Missionaries presentations featuring firsthand stories from the field
A Q&A panel with newly commissioned missionaries
Mission displays and a variety of ethnic foods to enjoy throughout the afternoon

Taste of Missions is designed for individuals and families of all ages who want to better understand how God is opening doors for the gospel and how he continues to use his people to reach others with Christ.

If you’re attending in person and would like food tickets, registration is $15 per person. Children 13 and under attend for free. Can’t make it to Mequon? Please join us online through the livestream. Sign up today at tasteofmissions.com/register.

Learn more Register today

We’d love to have you with us on June 13—to worship together, to send missionaries, and to celebrate the work God is doing through WELS Home and World Missions.

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Welcome to Kenya

2026/03/12/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

“Our purpose is to build the Church.” Unified under this call, Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) organized a short-term medical camp from February 10-14, 2026, in Chabera, Kenya. Executive Director Kate Wood and retiring Field Director Gary Evans led six WELS volunteers, coordinated with the leadership of the African Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), engaged LCMC church volunteers, and partnered with the Kenyan Health District in the third ‘pop-up’ medical camp in Kenya. The first medical camp in the underserved Chabera area drew just shy of 2,400 children, women, and men in five days, many arriving by foot, and some by motorcycle taxi traveling up to five kilometers (about 3.12 miles) for free medical services, medical screening, and medication.

“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Our core team of 12 ‘strands’ included Paul Mboya, John Michoro, Pastor Sammy Mwangi, Bishop Onunda, and eight CAMM representatives from America and England. We flourished, unbroken, relying on collective strengths to witness God’s amazing provision in cross-cultural relationships and in Kenya’s rainy season, which arrived early, stirring up sticky, red mud. We weathered communication lapses that can happen when diverse cultures work together and faced a myriad of opportunities to meet the daily surprises, to us, unexpected, but God-undaunted! Creatively, we pivoted to address dwindling medicine supplies, giving urgent IV support when we lacked equipment, and transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital. We bonded in God’s diverse, resourced family!

“His mercies are new every morning.” The LCMC advertised the medical camp through flyers, word of mouth, and a couple of large banners at crossroads in the community. Kenyan medical professionals provided screening, consultation, and education, assisted by CAMM volunteers. The LCMC staged large event tents, acquired plastic outdoor chairs, and designated pathways with red twine to guide people through the camp for services. Every patient received a gospel-based welcome, a printed booklet to take home, and often, individualized prayer. Witnessing a pastor kneel and place his hands on the patient to pray framed possibilities for complete healing. When wind upended one tent, and pouring rain carved a stream through the pharmacy tent, God’s people scrambled and showed up with many hands and hearts to ensure everyone’s safety, righting chairs, and filling troughs with stone. We experienced God’s new mercies every day in Africa and hold fast to his mercy in deeper ways as we return home.

“Read your bible, pray every day if you want to grow.” Simple lyrics Chabera’s church children sang during a three-hour worship service, lyrics that set the tone and rang through camp every day. The song welcomed ten first-time visitors the Sunday we worshiped together, and welcomed patients, young and old. Singing, beautified with hand motions, became our anthem, sparking God’s love and faithfulness despite fatigue, uncertainty, and at times, frustration. Pray for the Chabera church and community and stay tuned to see how God continues to bless them.

Written by Janet McElvaine, member at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Everett, Wash.

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Moments with Missionaries – Ross Chartrand

2026/03/11/in Home Missions, Missions

Cornerstone Lutheran Church in Bentonville, Ark., hosted its launch service on Sunday, February 22. About 70 people gathered for worship, including nearly 30 new faces from the community. We thank God for this encouraging beginning and ask that he continues to bless this congregation as they share the gospel in the Bentonville community. Learn more about Cornerstone Lutheran Church at cornerstonechurchnwa.com.

P.S. – Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch even more videos from our missionaries in the upcoming weeks and months!

Face to face for the first time

2026/03/05/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Think, Evaluate, Learn, Lead (TELL) program students across Africa gather faithfully online to study God’s Word together. They meet through video calls, discuss Scripture in WhatsApp groups, and grow in their understanding of the gospel and Lutheran doctrine—all without ever being in the same room. That changed in October, when students from across Kenya gathered in Nairobi for two TELL seminars. For the first time, students who had only seen each other on screens were able to greet one another face to face.

Missionary Jake Vilhauer (L) and Missionary Joel Hoff (R)

Over two Saturdays, participants dug deeply into Scripture, studying how Baptism is not merely a symbol but a powerful means of grace through which God forgives sins, creates faith, and brings people into his family. Together, they explored passages such as Titus 3:5–7 and Romans 6:3–4, seeing clearly how Baptism connects believers to Christ’s death and resurrection.

For some students, these truths were not new, but they were renewed—made clearer and more precious through careful study and discussion. For others, it was their first time hearing the biblical teaching on Baptism as a gift from God rather than a work of man. One student expressed it this way: “I now understand that Baptism is something that God has done for me and not something I do for God.”

The seminars also served as an opportunity for students to learn more about the next steps in the TELL program. TELL is designed to help believers grow in the Word and prepare them to share Christ in their own communities. During the sessions in Nairobi, students heard how they could continue in the program by becoming growth group leaders and gather small groups of new learners with the goal of studying God’s Word together and sharing what they have learned through TELL.

Several of the attendees are already meeting regularly with TELL counselors. They are working toward doctrinal agreement and preparing for service as church planters in their communities. These men and women are eager to bring the message of Christ crucified and risen to people who have not yet heard the good news of forgiveness and life through Jesus. One of those students is Noah Nyagara. Noah moved to Nairobi from west Kenya. He works at a salon and is eager to share the gospel with those who live in the slum areas of Nairobi.

We thank God for providing this opportunity for TELL students to meet in person, grow, and prepare for service in his kingdom. We also give thanks to the many WELS pastors and congregations who support the TELL ministry through their prayers, offerings, and teaching. The Lord is using this ministry to equip his people in Africa to share the gospel boldly and bring the light of Christ to their communities. By God’s grace, many more souls will hear the pure gospel and be led to faith in Jesus as their Savior from sin.

We don’t yet know how far each student will go in the TELL program. Some may study online for a time and then take what they’ve learned to strengthen the congregations where they serve. Others may continue through the full program and go on to become church planters, sharing Christ with the new groups they gather.

But one thing we do know is this: because these students share one faith, one baptism, and one Lord (Ephesians 4:5), by God’s grace they will one day meet once again face to face in heaven.

Written by Joel Hoff, TELL missionary to Africa

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The Liberia Plan

2026/03/03/in Africa, Missions, World Missions

This article originally appeared in the One Africa Team blog. Subscribe to future updates from Africa at oneafricateam.com.

On February 7-16, 2026, Missionaries Dan Witte and Dan Kroll visited a group of Christians in Buchanan, Liberia. The One Africa Team has been working with a church there called Lamb of God. Three years ago, Lamb of God left another local group that was teaching false doctrine. They are currently a single congregation due to their unwillingness to compromise on doctrinal matters. Missionary Dan Kroll shares an update:

The building site of Lamb of God’s new school

Making progress one step at a time

Lamb of God has been making slow but steady progress for quite some time. We expect more congregations to form in the near future. We have reviewed extensively Luther’s Small Catechism as well as the Lutheran Confessions. We have seen our Liberian brothers make progress in securing property. They are now building a school in a developing area of Buchanan. This is very likely to bring opportunities for outreach to the community. We have also developed some excellent relationships here and have made inroads into the unique culture of Liberia.

Many groups of Christians approach WELS with a request to join our fellowship. For eight years, the One Africa Team has been using a process to evaluate these requests. In Liberia, under the guidance of Pastor Toye Barnard, we started with what has become known as “The Liberia Plan.” The plan includes a requirement that new groups join the TELL online Bible school. They must also submit monthly reports via the internet and send weekly sermon notes for evaluation and revision.

This week, we reviewed the Constitution of Lamb of God Lutheran Church. We also did a bit more in-depth review of their “Statements of Faith.” This allowed the congregation to show that they are united with WELS in their understanding of the Holy Scriptures. We discussed at length the ministerial practices of the congregation. We saw that these teachings are not just words but are effective for building God’s Kingdom here in Liberia.

Partnering with TELL

In an effort to train lay leaders, we spent two days studying the TELL (Think. Evaluate. Learn. Lead.) method. This method offers a clear template of questions that fit well with any Scripture narrative. Pastor Barnard has been using the TELL method for many years. TELL is his go-to method for Bible studies and sermons. Three of his members are currently enrolled in the TELL program. Our Liberian brothers can see the TELL program in action. They are able to use it for any outreach and home visits they make in the area. It has been a very busy week in Liberia!

Next week, the One Africa Team Outreach Committee will review Lamb of God’s constitution and statements of faith. The One Africa Team will pass on Lamb of God Lutheran Church’s official documents to the WELS’ Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR). Please join us in thanking God for using the Liberia Plan to bring Lamb of God closer to fellowship with WELS!

Written by Rev. Dan Kroll, One Africa Team missionary

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You can help start the next new mission

2026/02/27/in Featured Ministry, Home Missions, Missions

Dear Friend,

“Should we scale back 100 Missions in 10 Years?” That’s a question I hear frequently. With the number of pastoral vacancies and ever-increasing ministry costs, it’s a valid question. God has called us to be good stewards of the resources he has given us. So, as we count the cost of 100 in 10, do we need to be less aggressive and scale back our goal? I’ve thought about this—a lot—and I’ve come to this conclusion: No, at least not yet. Here’s why . . .

From the start, 100 in 10 was an aggressive initiative that stretched us all in our vision, our stewardship, and our trust in the Lord’s promises. Three years in, 100 in 10 is nearly keeping pace, having approved 28 new starts and 24 enhancements. We’re seeing the gospel’s power at work in places like Boston, Mass.; Marquette, Mich.; Queens, N.Y.; Houston, Texas; Kronenwetter, Wis.; Folsom, Calif.; and more, bringing hope and peace to the lost and hopeless.

The 100 in 10 initiative has also been a catalyst for exciting work throughout our synod. It has forged and strengthened partnerships across WELS. It has brought greater collaboration with others and sparked new ministry ideas and efforts. God’s people have responded generously, investing more than $4.3 million in the initiative. I have seen firsthand how the Lord is blessing efforts, transforming hearts, and impacting lives through the good news of salvation through Jesus.

The Lord has a history of doing this. We read about it in the pages of Scripture. We witness it in the history of our church body. Christ works through us to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. It really is a joy watching Christ work through his people to spread the light of his Word “from age to age,” which is “our chief endeavor” (“God’s Word Is Our Great Heritage,” Christian Worship).

This is where you come in. Planting new missions is costly but worth it! Financial gifts from God’s people help cover costs and make a difference. Our missionaries will tell you that and thank you profusely for your gifts. I can also tell you how major gifts from God’s people make a lasting impact, allowing us to plant new missions where we never thought we could.

On average, WELS Home Missions invests nearly $2 million in each new mission. Together, the ongoing gifts of God’s people help us keep planting “yet one more” so more people may hear the message of peace and hope we have through Christ. This is what 100 Missions in 10 Years has always been about: Christ working through us to reach the lost. As you consider how God has generously blessed you, will you consider giving a generous gift to Home Missions to plant “yet one more” mission so we can reach more people with the gospel?

Your gift helps support existing missions, strengthens outreach efforts, and ensures that new gospel outposts are planted in new communities across North America. Together—and only together—we keep pressing forward with boldness, trusting that the Lord will use our combined efforts as he sees fit and in ways we never imagined.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

In Christ,
Rev. Mark Gabb
Administrator, WELS Home Missions

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Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, you send out your church to proclaim your good news to all creation. We praise you for allowing us to participate in your mission and for blessing our efforts. Continue to guide our church body as we prayerfully aim to open 100 missions in 10 years and enhance 75 existing ministries. We thank you that, so far, we’ve been able to open 28 missions in the past three years. We pray that you would guide our mission churches on their path from new starts to thriving congregations so they can bless their communities for years to come. Amen.

When things don’t seem to be going right

2026/02/25/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Nothing seemed to be going right.

I had gotten behind on putting together the worship service and now the accompanist didn’t feel prepared, and it was my fault. I had forgotten to make the worship presentation. It was no big deal; we still had the bulletins, but it wasn’t what I wanted. Some of my kids were sick, and my wife said she was feeling like she was next. My sermon preparation didn’t get to where I wanted it to, so I wasn’t as comfortable with the message as I wanted. The Bible class felt poorly prepared. I was tired. And to top it all off, some regular guests didn’t show up. I was counting on them, and I was praying they would eventually become members—but for the second week in a row, they weren’t coming.

And then it happened–church started. Bible study worked out well. My family was great. The music was excellent. No one noticed the “missing” worship presentation. And I got to share the truth that Jesus is the Light of the World with God’s people. I had been so worried, and God was still working things out for the good of his kingdom. His light still shone . . . in spite of me.

Jesus is the Light. Not me. That means I’m not tasked with executing perfectly crafted ministry plans or putting together flawless worship experiences. My work is to go out with the message Jesus gave me and to trust him to bless it as he sees fit.

During Jesus’ ministry he chose fishermen to follow him. He used Peter, Andrew, James, and John to share his light and to fish for people. Through the centuries, his followers have gone out into the world, and he’s used them and the message they carry to make disciples.

And now he’s using me.

Serving in a mission field like St. George, Utah, is a new experience for me. The community is heavily influenced by the predominant religion here, the Latter Day Saints (LDS) church, or the Mormon church. My family moved here from the Midwest, and it can feel isolating to be so far away from family and friends. The work can be difficult, and sometimes I don’t see as much visible “success” as I want. And still, I get to share the news about Jesus. He’s taken away sin. He is enough. And since my message is the message of Jesus, the pressure is off. Even when nothing seems to be going right with me, Jesus is still at work.

“We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:10). God has shown his grace to me and my family and the family of believers here in St. George. We are saved by that undeserved love. That’s the message. We are saved by grace. We aren’t saved by works, but there’s still plenty of work to be done. And sometimes God gently reminds me that he gives me the work, but the outcome is his. Even when I don’t think things are going right, Jesus can still use me to do his work.

Written by John Raasch, home missionary at Redemption Lutheran Church in St. George, Utah

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