European Regional CELC Conference

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Originally appears in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) newsletter. Subscribe to future updates from the CELC at celc.info/signup.

ā€œThe creation of manā€”Wonderful news for the world.ā€ This was the topic of our European Regional CELC Conference hosted by the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK) in Nerchau, Germany, on May 22-25, 2025. Nerchau is close to Grimma, the place of the ninth triennial convention of the CELC in 2017. St. Johnā€™s Congregation in Nerchau is currently vacant, but a group of volunteers supported the preparation of this regional CELC conference.

Approximately 50 guests from different countries attended the conference. We were especially thankful that Bishop Horpynchuk from the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and Dmytro Maksymenko were among them. The latter serves as the Director of the ā€œGift of Lifeā€ International Charitable Foundation in Ukraine. Our Russian brothers sent a video message, and our brother Iliyan Itsov (Bulgaria) wrote greetings, since he was not able to attend our conference. Dr. Ugis Sildegs (Latvia), who had prepared one of the four papers, could not attend the conference because of problems with his car. As guests from outside of Europe, we welcomed Prof. Tim Schmeling (ELS) as guest presenter, Rev. Larry Schlomer (WELS World Missions administrator), Rev. Jonathan Schroeder (WELS Board for World Missions chairman), and Rev. Tom Heyn (ELS).

We enjoyed a blessed time together with four excellent papers. Two of the papers were prepared by Prof. Tim Schmeling. His first lecture was titled, ā€œManā€”Created by God.ā€ His second lecture was our last and titled, ā€œManā€”Created in the Image of God.ā€ Our second lecture was prepared by Rev. Nikolla Bishka from Albania, together with Rev. Luke Wolfgramm, the WELS World Missionary and Pastoral Studies Institute adjunct instructor for Europe. ā€œManā€”Created as Male and Femaleā€ was the topic of their paper. The third lecture was prepared by Dr. Ugis Sildegs. His paper was titled: ā€œManā€”Creation with Body and Soul: Todayā€™s Challengesā€ and was presented by Rev. Holger WeiƟ, the chairman of CELC European Region.

Rev. Jonathan Schroeder gave a short overview of the WELS worldwide mission work. Rev. Tom Heyn gave some information about the ELS work, especially in Europe, but also worldwide. Larry Schlomer introduced the WELS call for Jennifer Wolfgramm as WELS mobile ministry partner for women in Europe. He explained her tasks and offered her help for all the work among women in the European CELC churches.

The conference ended with a closing worship service including the Lordā€™s Supper. The liturgy was conducted in German by myself, and Rev. Holger WeiƟ preached the sermon on Isaiah 55:6-11 under the topic ā€œSeek the Lord!ā€ After the sermon, Jennifer Wolfgramm was installed by Rev. Larry Schlomer. You can watch the video of the closing service on YouTube.

God willing, the next European Regional CELC conference will be hosted by the LBK Sweden on June 18-20, 2027. But before that, we are looking forward to the next triennial CELC Convention in Zambia on May 29ā€“June 1, 2026.

Written by Rev. Michael Herbst, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church (ELFK) in Germany

 




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CAMM June 2025 Newsletter

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Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, from the Lutheran Mobile Clinic in Malawi as we faithfully serve the communities of Msambo, Suzi, Mwalaulomwe, and Thunga. This month has been marked by God’s continued provision as we maintain our weekly schedule: Tuesday visits to Msambo, Wednesday outreach to Suzi, Thursday services at Mwalaulomwe, and bi-weekly Friday visits to Thunga. Through these consistent efforts, we’ve provided essential outpatient care, nutrition support, HIV testing and counselling, antenatal care, and child growth monitoring to thousands of community members who might otherwise lack access to quality healthcare

It’s June 2025, which means we are halfway through the year! It feels like yesterday when we were celebrating the New Year. We are so grateful for Godā€™s love through all these months. As we are halfway through the year, we are also at the end of CAMM’s fiscal year, and it’s time we reflected on the challenges and opportunities at personal, organizational, national, and global levels. We need to rethink development and global issues. Let us begin by reflecting on recent reductions to U.S. foreign aid, as well as aid from the United Kingdom and the European Union. This has affected many local and international NGOs and has led to aid programs being cut, often leaving little to no assistance for those in need.

At Lutheran Mobile Clinic, we used to benefit from the U.S. malaria initiative, from which we could receive malaria control, diagnosis, and treatment supplies. Most years we treat around 16,000 cases of malaria. Malaria can be particularly life threatening or disabling in children. Prior to the cuts to USAID, we received a good supply of malaria testing kits and the malaria drug we call LA. As the cuts to USAID went into effect, we saw the district hospital requests to ration supplies with other public hospitals who did not have malaria treatment supplies. We had plenty of supplies and were happy to share them with facilities who had little. To date we have not seen a sustainable plan from the Malawi government to provide malaria treatment supplies, and we fear we may have to purchase them from local pharmacies. We have also noted an increase in the number of patients at our clinics. The ability of public hospitals and clinics to provide medications has worsened, with little or no medication available and high prices for consultation and medications at private clinics. People prefer to wait for the Lutheran Mobile Clinic to provide care and medication that is affordable and available. As if this is not enough, Malawiā€™s poor credit has spiked the rate of inflation which was already around 15% before the credit troubles. The prices of goods and commodities are through the roof, including medications, which makes life very tough for people earning maybe $50 to $100 per month.

In as much as things are not good, we are grateful for how we have managed our expenses at the mobile clinic, and we expect to come in just under budget when our fiscal year ends in late June. As a country, we need to develop strategies and thoughts on the aid structure and how we are going to reduce dependency. We need serious social and economic independence and not just political independence. This makes us value the Lutheran Mobile Clinic’s social and economic efforts and the support that we have from you all in the U.S.

Our HIV testing and counseling services have shown remarkable progress across all four clinic sites, reflecting broader national trends as Malawi advances toward achieving the 95-95-95 HIV targets. The reduced stigma we’ve witnessed demonstrates God’s healing power working through dedicated service. These achievements embody Christ’s command in Matthew 10:8: “Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” Our child growth monitoring and antenatal care programs have revealed both challenges and victories during this dry season, made possible through the generous support of our faithful donors. The funds you’ve provided have enabled us to purchase essential medical and nutrition supplies and maintain our vehicles for reliable community access, while your clothing donations have brought dignity and warmth to families facing economic hardship. Your donated pill bottles have proven invaluable for organizing medications and ensuring proper dosing for various conditions across all four clinic sites. As Proverbs 31:20 teaches us, “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” Your contributions have become instruments of his healing grace, enabling us to nurture life from conception through childhood and honor his precious gift at every stage.

May God bless you all for supporting the Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM).

Written by Lusungu Mwambeye, clinic administrator at the Lutheran Mobile Clinic in Malawi




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Rethinking Northwoods ministry

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Our Savior in Phillips, Wis., was approved as an unsubsidized home mission congregation in spring 2025. Unsubsidized, or self-funded, home missions do not receive direct financial support but still have access to the many other benefits offered to all home mission congregations: assistance through their district mission board, mission counselors, access to WELS Church Extension Fund, and synodical support staff and the Board for Home Missions.

We were not unlike dozens of WELS congregations north of a line drawn from Green Bay to Wausau to Eau Claire. We were and continue to be a small Northwoods congregation.

We shared a pastor with another church 90 minutes north of us. He spent at least 40 hours a month on the roadā€”almost as much as he spent in our community. Our building was in disrepair. Architectural engineers estimated it would take $150,000 to bring it up to code. Our numbers were staticā€”well below what was needed to support a pastor. Our congregational meetings usually ended with different opinions on ministry and solutions to our building issues.

Our leaders were exasperatedā€”tempted to plod along and just survive.

But then something happened. The Lord emboldened a group of laypeople who pushed the issues and took action. Members were encouraged to unite behind solutions, and a sense of urgency regarding our building developed.

Then God opened our eyes. First, it was an idea we had never considered: what about a different building closer to town that would be handicap accessible and provide more space for ministry? Then, he showed us a local Family Dollar store that came on the marketā€”8,000 sq. ft. of ā€œvanilla box.ā€ The price was not much more than the repair costs for our present building, so within a month we bought it. Next, we received a generous offer for our old building. Phase 1 of renovating the commercial building would eat up nearly $400,000. Our tiny group of average income retirees and wage earners said, ā€œYes.ā€

The more we studied our dual parish arrangement, the more it seemed to hinder ministry to the community. But once again, the Lord opened our eyes to solutions. The congregation called a retired pastor in the congregation to serve part time. Then, we asked three lay leaders to assist the pastor in leading worship. Finally, an outreach team, made up mostly of women, now organizes events to publicize our ministry in Price County.

The Lord blessed our effortsā€”not with large gainsā€”but with individual souls. An unbaptized 19-year-old named Ethan came to live with his grandparents, and they brought him to worship services. In time, he studied the Creed and Baptism and asked to be baptized. Ethan is currently finishing instructions for confirmation. Another example was Bill’s mother, who invited him to a service. In time, Bill brought his girlfriend, Mari. Both Bill and Mari took instructions and were added to our congregation earlier this year, and in May they were married.

In the last two years, we have had three baptisms, and Sunday Bible class attendance frequently exceeds 50 percent of the Sunday attendees. We thank God for each of these souls.

Written by James Naumann, home missionary at Our Savior in Phillips, Wis.




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Faces of Faith – Jett

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ā€œYouā€™re chasing joy, happinessā€”youā€™re trying to find it in all these other things that arenā€™t Christ, and it leaves you feeling empty,ā€ says Jett. ā€œBut coming back to church and growing my relationship with the Lordā€”itā€™s changed my life.ā€

Hear more from Jett Starzynski, a college student at Northern Michigan University in Marquette, Mich., who found lasting joy not in success or status but in returning to the Savior heā€™d drifted from. Through the welcoming community at Anchor, a WELS home mission congregation, Jett rediscovered what it means to be truly anchored in Christā€”and now shares that hope with others.

Learn more about the WELS 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative at wels100in10.net.

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Celebrating 20 years of gospel impact through Asia Lutheran Seminary

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I tell you, now is the time of Godā€™s favor, now is the day of salvation.

2 Corinthians 6:2

Twenty years ago, Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) officially opened its doors in Hong Kong to train Chinese-speaking pastors and evangelists. Today, thanks to Godā€™s grace and your generous support, ALS is equipping church leaders from across Asia-Oceania and around the world.

From its beginnings as a seminary for Hong Kong and East Asia, ALS has grown into a truly regional seminary with hubs in both Hong Kong and Chiang Mai, Thailand. ALS now supports theological education efforts in more than 18 countries and reaches students across four continents.

Here are just a few ways your support is impacting gospel work through ALS:

  • Training more national leaders: Many ALS graduates now serve as instructors, professors, and church leaders. Two full-time faculty membersā€”Dr. Angus Cheung and Prof. William Zhuā€”are national pastors who model ALSā€™ belief that local Asian leaders will serve as the best teachers.
  • Expanding programs for more students: ALSā€™ program structure allows students to earn certificates, diplomas, and degrees that fit their gospel ministry goals and life stage. Programs like the TELL certificate integrate flexible online learning and are offered in both English and Mandarin.
  • Reaching the Chinese-speaking diaspora: Over the past several years, many Christians have emigrated from Hong Kong. ALS has followed them with gospel training, now serving students in places like New Zealand, Australia, and the U.K.
  • Launching new regional efforts: ALSā€™ Regional Theological Education Program (RTEP) supports theological education programs across Asia-Oceania, helping build sustainable, confessional Lutheran training with partner churches.
  • Building a new generation of leaders: ALSā€™ online presence, global faculty, and strategic partnerships mean that more peopleā€”lay leaders, pastors, and teachersā€”can grow in the Word and share Christ in their communities.

From the first worship service in 2005 to the 20th anniversary celebration on June 1, ALS has remained committed to one mission: preparing Christians to serve as leaders of confessional Lutheran groups across Asia-Oceania. The celebration in Hong Kong not only marked two decades of blessings but was also a launchpad for what comes next..

Thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and financial support. The story of ALS is Godā€™s storyā€”and youā€™re part of it. Now is still the time.

 

P.S. Want to explore more about the anniversary?
Watch the special 20th anniversary video and view photos from the anniversary celebration. You can also watch a recording of the 20th anniversary worship service, flip through the commemorative anniversary booklet, and join us in giving thanks for all that God has done through ALS.

Learn more about mission work throughout Asia-Oceania at wels.net/asiaoceania.

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Together Video – June 17, 2025

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Asia Lutheran Seminary is celebrating 20 years of training and equipping Christians across Asia. The need for faithful theological education remains strongā€”and now is still the time to carry that mission forward.

Read more about Asia Lutheran Seminary in this edition of Together.

 

 

 

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Medicine opening doors for ministry

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When we arrived in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, we went straight from the airport to the hospital. No, we werenā€™t in need of a doctor. But we were there to see oneā€”a doctor whoā€™s also planting a new church in that city.

Eduardo Milanesi is a maxillofacial surgeon who started studying with Academia Cristo five years ago. As he advanced through his studies, by Godā€™s grace he was able to gather a group to study Godā€™s Word with him in his home city of Cochabamba. The group grew and is now a church that belongs to WELSā€™ sister synod in Latin America, Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional. Eduardo leads them every Sunday in worship.

But last year, God opened a door for Eduardo to start another medical practice in Santa Cruz, Boliviaā€™s largest city. Eduardo saw that as an open door for the gospel too. Medicine and ministry go hand in hand for him; each patient is an evangelism prospect. As he treats them, he canā€™t help but share the gospel with them.

And the gospel is bearing fruit in Santa Cruz. When we got to the hospital, Eduardo introduced us to Luis. Luis was in recovery. The day before, Eduardo and his wife, Ingridā€”also a surgeonā€”had removed a tumor from Luis’ face. The surgery saved his life. But the more important work happened in the weeks leading up to it. Eduardo had been sharing Godā€™s Word with both Luis and his familyā€”and the Holy Spirit had worked saving faith in their hearts.

They arenā€™t the only ones. After changing out of their scrubs, Eduardo and Ingrid took us to meet the rest of the group God is gathering in Santa Cruz. More than 30 souls came together for worship. Eduardo led the service. Two leaders of Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional who were traveling with meā€”Pastors Henry Herrera and Julio Ascarrunzā€”shared the Word with them. Many in attendance were Eduardoā€™s former patients and their families. Others were friends and colleagues. All were eager to hear the good news of forgiveness in Christ.

Eduardo travels weekly between his practices in Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. But he canā€™t be in both places at once. So, heā€™s encouraging men in both groups to take the same path he did and study in Academia Cristo, where theyā€™ll receive training to help lead worship and Bible studies when he canā€™t.

In the meantime, heā€™ll continue in both of his callingsā€”saving lives as a surgeon and sharing the soul-saving gospel.

Written by Abe Degner, missionary on the One Latin America Team




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Moments with Missionaries – Timothy Bourman

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Rev. Tim Bourman shares an update from Sure Foundation Lutheran Church in Queens, N.Y. This year marks a big milestone for the congregation as it celebrates 25 years of mission work in New York. We ask that God bless them as they celebrate this milestone in October 2025 and continue to share the saving news of the gospel with a the wide range of nations, tribes, people, and languages. Hear more from Missionary Bourman about Sure Foundation, and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis.

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

Bringing a gospel message of hope to Ellensburg, Wash.

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The Pacific Northwest District Mission Board is partnering with Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima, Wash., to help restart a WELS congregation in Ellensburg, Wash. More than one hundred years ago, several WELS congregations were established throughout central Washington. A mission-minded pastor in Yakima arrived by train to small cities and looked in the phone book for German-sounding last names to contact and start German Lutheran congregations. This was successful church planting in the early 1900s. Over time, there were seven or eight thriving churches scattered throughout the eastern range and valleys of the Cascade Mountains.

Sadly, many of these churches have either closed or are about to close their doors. This included Good Hope Lutheran Church in Ellensburg, which closed several years ago. But this is not the desire of three WELS families who have moved into the area. Together, they have formed a core group under the direction of Rev. Nathan Zastrow from Grace in Yakima, with prayerful intent to apply for and receive mission restart status from WELS Board for Home Missions.

The committed core group has spent the past year doing extensive work both inside and outside the existing church property. A WELS Mission Journeys team from Appleton, Wis., arrived to assist with landscaping, rebuild stairs to the entrance, and provide a fresh coat of paint. Recently, the interior of the church is slowly being transformed into an open space for worship and will be used as a meeting place for community groups. Currently, a home school co-op rents the facility two days per week. These have been major accomplishments, yet there is still plenty of work to be done.

This past spring, the core group received evangelism training and has completed extensive planning to define the core values and direction for the gospel ministries in Yakima and Ellensburg. The group members have put their training into action by going door-to-door, introducing themselves, and bringing the gospel message of what Christ has done to people both personally and digitally. People have been directed to their website, hopeinellensburg.com, to receive a message of true hope found only in Christ. In May, the core group was blessed with an adult baptism: the fiancƩe of one of the members.

This summer, two youth groups from Oconomowoc, Wis., and Fairfax, Minn., are arriving to help lead STEM camps. Andrew and Lauren Lindloff from Fount of Life in Colorado Springs, Colo., arrived in early June to spend four days going door-to-door to proclaim the gospel. Their WELS Mission JourneysĀ experience was a part of celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary.

We donā€™t know how the Lord will bless these faithful efforts, and although there is hard work that still lies ahead, the core group members have embraced the concept that the Lord blesses gospel activity. While concentrating on making Christ known in the community of Ellensburg and on the campus of Central Washington University, they are ā€œkeeping good hope aliveā€ by fully trusting that the power of Godā€™s Word is at work whenever the gospel is proclaimed.

It is a great day to be Godā€™s messengers. And we ask for your prayers that the Lord bless these efforts to rebuild a gospel presence in central Washington.

Written by Mr. Dave Malnes, Pacific Northwest District Mission Board member




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Mission Journeys volunteer project at 2025 LWMS Convention

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Serve those who serve: Join the Mission Journeys volunteer project at the 2025 LWMS Convention

WELS Mission Journeys is excited to partner with WELS Ministry to the Military at the 2025 Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) Convention. All convention attendees are invited to participate in a special volunteer project focused on supporting active military personnel and their families.

Event Details

  • Date: Thursday, June 26
  • Time: 2:00ā€“5:00 p.m.
  • Location: Arvest Convention Center (onsite)

This hands-on service opportunity will take place before the convention officially begins. Participants can help in two key ways:

  • Assemble care packages for deployed service members and their families
  • Write personal notes of encouragement, including uplifting Bible passages, to be included inside the care packages (materials for notes will be provided)

Whether youā€™re looking to serve for a few minutes or a few hours, all are welcome to stop by the Mission Journeys area and take part!

Support the project before you arrive

Want to get involved early? You can purchase items from our Amazon wish listsā€”either directly from Amazon or as inspiration for purchases from another retailer:

Wish list - Deployed service members Wish list - Families of deployed service members

Item purchase & shipping options

  • Bring items with you to the Arvest Convention Center on Thursday, June 26 (2ā€“5 p.m.)
  • Ship items ahead of time to a local volunteer in Tulsa who will deliver them for you (perfect for those flying to Convention with limited luggage space)

Thereā€™s no limit to how much you can giveā€”every item and every note will help brighten the day of someone serving our country.

Make plans now to join us in serving those who serve!

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Together Video – June 3, 2025

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Crossroads in Chicago, Ill., experienced a long pastoral vacancy, which ended on Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s call day when a graduating pastor was assigned to the church. Hear from members of the church as they share their hope about the future of the congregation’s ministry and from Jacob Borgwardt, the graduate who will be starting his full-time ministry there.

 

 

 

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Seeking and strengthening synods in Uganda

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What do you get when you add together three Ugandan synods, two missionaries from the One Africa Team, and one representative from our WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR)? A spiritually uplifting and productive cross-country journey!

At the beginning of April, Missionaries Foxen and Mohlke traveled to Uganda, rented a car, and struck out on unfamiliar roads to meet with representatives of two church bodies, or synods, who were seeking a relationship with WELS.

A synod in western Uganda

The first of these was the Confessional Lutheran Synod of Uganda (CLSU), headquartered in Ibanda in the hilly regions of western Uganda. The area was extremely pastoral, with beautifully green pasturelands and lots of cows. The leaders of the CLSU proved to be equally pastoralā€”very attentive to the spiritual needs of their people and eager to meet those needs to the best of their ability.

We visited a number of the local congregations and also got to see the site of their functioning seminaryā€”a simple two rooms that housed a small library and a number of crowded bunks for students. A nearby church hall serves as their classroom.

The CLSU serves about 3,000 members with the gospel. Their seminary program has 7 students who will be graduating this December, with another 12 students ready to join the next intake.

A synod in central Uganda

After our time in Ibanda, we set out on the road again and headed east for eight hours to arrive in Jinja in central Uganda, on the north banks of Lake Victoria, one of the sources for the Nile River. Here, we met with representatives from another synod, the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Uganda (ECACU). Though smaller than the CLSU (it serves about 950 members), we found them to be no less eager to share the truth of Godā€™s Word with others in their communities.

A large focus of their strategy for reaching out is schools, which they organize in communities that lack them. They then organize congregations out of the people making use of the schools. Their largest school serves about 300 children.

Our visits with the leaders of both ECACU and CLSU were very encouraging when it came to discussing our respective beliefs about Scripture and their focus on gospel ministry. We are looking forward to continuing discussions to see if fellowship with these synods will be possible.

The Obadiah Lutheran Synod

After our time was done with ECACU, we drove back to the airport, where I dropped off Missionary Mohlke and picked up MLC Professor Nicholas Schmoller, who also serves on the WELS CICR. The two of us then drove farther east, past Jinja to Bugiri, where our brothers in the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) are located.

We were meeting with them to help them organize a written confession of faith, which would be used as they apply for membership in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), the worldwide fellowship of churches of which WELS is a part. We spent three days with Pastor Musa and other leaders of the OLS, studying Scripture and putting on paper articles of faith especially important to them for their churches, communities, and context. The Lord blessed our work and allowed us to accomplish everything in the time we had available.

So, after 16 days on the road and about 1,300 kilometers driven, what did we have to show for it? New friendships established, old friendships reaffirmed, and more opportunities to marvel at the grace of our Lord Jesus, who makes us his coworkers in the ministry of his gospel! May he continue to bless our work with these three Ugandan synods!

Written by Ben Foxen, missionary on the One Africa Team




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Two Pastoral Studies Institute students graduate

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Mark Jiang and David Shang have graduated from the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) and will be continuing their current Chinese outreach in North America.

Mark Jiang serves Apostles in San Jose, Calif., as outreach pastor to the Chinese community. A growing Chinese fellowship and Bible study already meets every Sunday afternoon. In addition, Mark will continue teaching international high school students at Apostles Lutheran High School, offering classes like Bible Information Class and Intro to Christianity. David Shang will continue serving in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he is helping grow a local Chinese ministry supported by Hope Lutheran Church and another active PSI student. Additional details regarding his ministry are still in the works. Both of these efforts are currently supported by the Joint Mission Council.

The Pastoral Studies Institute provides pre-seminary and seminary training to students from a variety of countries and cultures. As WELS congregations reach out to immigrants with the gospel, the PSI team equips future spiritual leadersā€”often right where they live and serve. In many cases, this training leads to international gospel connections as well.

Please keep Mark and David in your prayers continue to share the gospel and serve their communities. We thank God for raising up leaders through the PSI to bring Christā€™s love to the nations!

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Still building on an age-old tradition

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For more than 100 years, WELS congregations have been operating Christian elementary and secondary schools. Many WELS members grew up learning Bible history and the teachings of Martin Lutherā€™s Small Catechism right along with reading, writing, and arithmetic as well as social studies and science. In the 21st century, more than 400 WELS congregations operate early childhood educational centers to foster our childrenā€™s relationship with their Savior.

While understanding the world around us is important, the understanding of eternal life supersedes it all. We understand that life-learning starts early, and the earlier the better. The age of 2 or 3 is not too soon to introduce our children to the teaching of salvation.

The One Africa Team is working with a group of Christians in Buchanan, Liberia, that understands the importance of educating children in the truths of Scripture. Lamb of God Lutheran Church is hoping to start with ABC Kindergarten. Their hope is that the kindergarten will quickly grow into a primary school and even a secondary school within just a few years. Pastor Toye Barnard, Lamb of Godā€™s leader, expresses confidence that the program will grow fast.

Pastor Barnard

Lamb of God Lutheran Church broke away from another group the One Africa Team had studied with for several years. That group had decided to hold to the Pentecostal teachings of its leaders, which included a refusal to baptize infants, among other misunderstandings. Pastor Barnard and his members endured many false accusations from that other group when Lamb of God agreed to hold to the truth of Scripture and to continue studying with the One Africa Team. A benevolent group of WELS Christians in California continues to support this budding ministry, which is focusing much attention on building a school as a foundation for their congregation.

Currently, 44 adults and 22 children worship at Lamb of God. The congregation owns three quarters of an acre on which to build a small school near the edge of town. Pastor Barnard, together with several members who are also teachers, is confident they will be able to build a large school and even a church building. They will need more land and more funds to actualize the plan. They will also need the Lord of the Church to put his hand of blessing on this effort, so that his church may grow in Liberia. Your prayers and support are hugely appreciated!

Written by Rev. Dan Kroll, world missionary on the One Africa Team




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Graduates and vicars assigned to home and world mission fields

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Seminary pastoral assignments to home mission congregations and world mission fields:

Six pastoral graduates from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary were assigned this morning to serve WELS home mission congregations and one to a world mission field:

  • Bitter, Jacob ā€“ Pan de Vida, Garden Grove, Calif. (Hispanic outreach)
  • Borgwardt, Jacob ā€“ Crossroads, Chicago, Ill.
  • Satorius, Noah ā€“ Northdale, Tampa, Fla. (Hispanic outreach)
  • Satorius, Zachary ā€“ World Missionary, One Latin America Team
  • Schultz, Ethan ā€“ Lamb of God (New mission start), Williston, N.D.
  • Stein, Nathaniel ā€“ Christ, Clarksville, Md.
  • Valdez, Phillip ā€“ Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas
May God bless these men and their families as they transition to their new roles and reach out with the saving gospel message in their new communities! For the full assignment list, visit wisluthsem.org/about-wls/assignment-list/.

Vicar in a Mission Setting program assignments

Twenty-three Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary students were assigned to serve as vicars through the Vicar in a Mission Setting program, and one additional vicar was assigned to serve a WELS World Missions partner in Colombia. *Denotes home mission congregation

  • Arrowsmith, Adam ā€“ Risen Savior, Chula Vista, Calif.
  • Arstein, Calvin ā€“ Good News, Mt. Horeb, Wis.*
  • Blumer, Ezra ā€“ The Way, Fredericksburg, Va.*
  • Eickhoff, Samuel ā€“ St. Peter, Schofield, Wis.
  • Engel, Samuel ā€“ Christ Alone, Keller, Texas*
  • Escobar, JuanDa ā€“ Sure Foundation, Woodside, N.Y.*
  • Golisch, Nathan ā€“ Beautiful Savior, Marietta, Ga.
  • Gregorius, Zachary ā€“ Carbon Valley, Firestone, Colo.*
  • Guse, Brice ā€“ Gethsemane, Omaha, Neb.
  • Hackbarth, Seth ā€“ Zion, Denver, Colo.
  • Heiman, Alexander ā€“ Beautiful Savior, College Station, Texas
  • Hengst, Caleb ā€“ Christ, Denver, Colo.*
  • Herter, Connor ā€“ Tree of Life, Cary, N.C.
  • Knoll, Cooper ā€“ Our Savior, San Antonio, Texas
  • Landwehr, Jonas ā€“ SantĆ­sima Trinidad, MedellĆ­n, Colombia (World Missions)
  • Maurice, Collin ā€“ Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, Madison, Wis.
  • Pederson, Isaiah ā€“ Christ the King, Bremerton, Wash.
  • Schroeder, Cameron ā€“ Faith, Sharpsburg, Ga.
  • Schwartz, Benjamin ā€“ Living Savior, Asheville, N.C.
  • Sievert, Eli ā€“ Amazing Grace, Myrtle Beach, S.C.*
  • Thiel, Zachary ā€“ Cornerstone, Bentonville, Ark.*
  • Vogel, Jack ā€“ Resurrection, Verona, Wis.
  • Wessel, Joseph ā€“ Abiding Faith, Smyrna, Tenn.
  • Winkel, Josiah ā€“ Bethel, Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Vicar in a Mission Setting program allows third-year seminary students to experience ministry in a mission-minded congregation thanks to financial support from WELS Home Missions and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. For the full assignment list, visit wisluthsem.org/about-wls/assignment-list/.

Martin Luther College graduate to world mission field

  • Rieger, Matthew T. ā€“ East Fork Lutheran School, Whiteriver, Ariz. ā€“ Grades 5-8 Departmentalized Mathematics

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Hakim

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Hakim Kon came to Canada in December 2022 to be with his wife, Nyariek. It wasnā€™t the first time God turned his life upside down. As a young man, he was impacted by the violence in South Sudan but decided long ago that he wanted to use his life to reach others with the words of Godā€™s mercy. When he got to Canada, he was welcomed by the South Sudanese community and found our WELS mission church in Surrey, serving people from the Nuer tribe.

Hakim had a background in theological training, so after getting confirmed in the summer of 2023 while trying to get settled with his wife in a new country and pursue a cybersecurity degree, God turned his life upside down again. This time it was the request of his new congregation to be an elder and to consider training in our Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI).

Hakim is learning what it means that Jesus gives some to be pastors and teachers to build and equip his church for works of service. This new husband, new immigrant, new student, and new worker (and very recently new father!) is adding ā€œPSI studentā€ to his list of vocations as he is equipped to lead in the church. But Hakim believes it is more than worth it: ā€œI focus on the Lord because he continues to surprise me from time to time. His mercy and love changed my life. I have that confidence that he can use me to change others’ lives.ā€

Written by Geoff Cortright, pastor at Saviour of the Nations Lutheran Church in Vancouver, BC

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Moments with Missionaries – Erik Landwehr

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Missionary Erik Landwehr shares and update from Peridot Lutheran School on the San Carlos Reservation. Rev. Landwehr shares some goals the Native American mission team has for the mission field and the work being done to train Native American leaders through the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS) program. Hear more from Missionary Landwehr and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis.

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

Moving fast but staying grounded

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What do you do when it suddenly becomes possible for your mission church to hit its long-term goals in months rather than years? Thatā€™s the question weā€™ve been asking ourselves at Ascension! Our two long-term goals were: 1) to become a self-supporting home mission congregation (meaning weā€™ll still benefit from our mission board and mission counselor but wonā€™t need a financial subsidy from WELS to meet our budget) AND 2) to help start at least one new mission church in eastern North Carolina. In three months, Ascension will officially become a self-supporting home mission, and itā€™s possible that not long after that, a new core group from Ascension will be applying for home mission status and funding for a new mission in Wilmington, N.C.

How did we get here so fast? Godā€™s been blessing us in amazing ways. Almost every week we get connected with new people from our community who donā€™t have a church home and invite them to join us for life groups, worship, or weekly story time for families. People thank us for the invite, show up to check things out, and get more connected from then on. Weā€™ve needed to do multiple Starting Point studies (think Bible information class) for all the people interested in learning more about the Bible. Our sanctuary has been fuller on Sundays, kids and their parents are baptized, and our offerings have increased. God has blessed Ascension here and now with opportunities to do what churches do.

At the same time, it became obvious that God was showing us that now is the right time to form a core group for a new mission about an hour away. Multiple families live closer to Wilmington than Jacksonville and have been driving an hour (or more) for years. The outreach mindset and culture at Ascension is exactly what our core group brings to the effort of starting a new church. And there is no WELS church anywhere close to serve a rapidly growing community with more than 100,000 people who need Jesus.

In the last month, weā€™ve assembled a new core group, met multiple times, gotten guidance from our district mission board, and started planning for summer outreach events and core group development. If God keeps giving us green lights, weā€™re going to move fast and apply for full mission status and funding as soon as possible.

So what do you do when things move faster than you expect? You hold on! Just like when youā€™re on a roller coaster. Just like when someone hits the gas and doesnā€™t warn you. Instinctively you hold on because when things move quickly you need something to ground you and make you know itā€™s okay.

What are we doing? Holding on to the messageā€”the good news of Jesus for us sinners who desperately need him. Weā€™re holding on to our identity in Christ as the most important thing about us. Not achieving long-term goals. Not in positive developments like having a newer building and a growing congregation. We hold on to what Jesus has done for us and define ourselves simply as forgiven and loved children of God.

What are we doing? We’re holding on to the mission God has given his church so we donā€™t get lost in details that donā€™t really matter. We work to do everything we can to keep each other connected to Jesus, to grow our faith through his means of grace, and to reach out into our community with the good news that can give them something to hold on to also.

With something to hold on to like that, moving fast is not just okayā€”itā€™s something weā€™re praising God for doing.

Written by Rev. Steven Saatkamp, home missionary at Ascension Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, N.C.




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CAMM May 2025 Newsletter

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Last December the clinic lost one of our members of staff, a nurse/midwife by the name of Mayase Banda. Mrs. Banda had worked at the clinic for 13 years. On Sundays, she would attend Martin Luther Church, which is on the grounds of the clinic. Pastor Titus Mbele conducted her funeral service. Is there anything one can talk about that happens without God being involved? I am not sure of anything, but one thing is that God exists everywhere and, at the end of the day, there is nothing that happens for no reason. She was one of the senior nurses, and we appreciate her work and time spent at the clinic.

Working as a member of the administrative staff at the Lutheran Mission Rural Health Centre, I am grateful for Godā€™s grace. The facility has seen people come to the health center from as far as 15 kilometers to seek medical services, and we have heard people say, ā€œWe came this far because the medicines in this facility are prayed for and we trust that we shall find the help.ā€ Others still say because of the name of God they trust they will be healed.

Appreciating God is acknowledging that while we were lost in sin, God did everything according to his plan to save us from the powers of Satan and power of death and indeed purchased us with his blood. Jesus Christ suffered death for the whole world to be saved. It’s a gift worth appreciating. Maybe a question would be this: How do we show appreciation for what God has done in our lives? How do we as individuals, parents, children, families show this appreciation? When you are alone and look around at how far God has brought you, do you pause for a moment and appreciate him?

Appreciating God comes in many ways. I would rather raise a generation that will have fear for the Lord at all times. There are times when I see children who do not always live as God and their parents have taught them to live.

Finally, it would be a great thing if children would be encouraged to maintain the legacy of a Christian family, so that even when the parents are gone the faith will remain. As people, we discuss how well-mannered the children are, but sometimes I find it difficult to help families realize that they could do more to help their children to be faithful, truthful, honest.

I ask that you continue to pray for families and children and encourage them to grow strong in their faith.

Written by Alisad Banda, clinic administrator in Zambia




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Moments with Missionaries – Mike Hartman

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Missionary Mike Hartman shares and update from the mission in London! London’s international population brings together a diverse range of religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Rev. Mike Hartman shares how his ministry is reaching communities across England and beyond, and and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

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

From learners to leaders: the global impact of TELL

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Welcome
“Hello, Arase. Hello, Ayorinde. Hi there, Effiong.”

“Welcome, Tawose! Glad you are here. Hi, Rwakilembe. Hello, Wangaya. Welcome.”

Learning to pronounce foreign names correctly is a small challengeā€”one of many faced in global ministry. But as I greet each student signing in for our third TELL Student Recognition Celebration, Iā€™m reminded of something greater: the diverse, determined students who are stepping up to lead others to Christ.

Maybe I could have welcomed them with “good morning,” but for many, it was already evening where they live. Maybe I should have said, ā€œHowdy,ā€ ā€œHiya,ā€ ā€œYo,ā€ or ā€œSup.ā€

Maybe not.

Itā€™s a small challenge to personally greet so many students. One hundred and fifty of them, to be exact!

But each student signing in represents a bigger challenge theyā€™ve embracedā€”the challenge of learning to lead. Thatā€™s why weā€™re here today: to recognize students who have completed more than eight TELL courses and are stepping forward as Christian leaders in their communities.

What does it mean to learn to lead?
It means becoming part of a movementā€”one that equips believers to share the gospel and plant churches worldwide.

TELL, a program of Multi-Language Productions, follows the TELL method: Think, Evaluate, Learn, and Lead others to Christ. The curriculum includes 20 online courses designed to equip students to share the gospel and start churches in their communities. In short, TELL is a church multiplication program. More than 1,500 students have enrolled in TELL so far. Of those, 149 have gone beyond the basics, dedicating themselves to deeper learning and leadership. Thatā€™s a reason for celebration!

These students join TELL classes online from their homes and offices in places like Africa, the United Kingdom, parts of Asia, India, and Trinidad. But TELLā€™s reach extends even furtherā€”into countries where WELS missionaries cannot safely go, like Pakistan and Nigeria.

Stories of impact
Binyameen, a TELL student from Pakistan, shares: ā€œTELL has given me knowledge to share with others. We go to villages and teach women and children. TELL has made me brave.ā€

TELL prepares students to gather and lead groups through a curriculum that begins with 13 Discipleship courses followed by seven Multiplication courses. Students committed to the program are assigned a TELL counselor who, in turn, is committed to themā€”encouraging them to gather groups and share the saving message of the gospel with people in their communities.

Effiong from Nigeria says: “I really appreciate the invaluable work TELL is doing for Nigerian students of the TELL Bible teaching method in Nigeria. Your commitment to raising Christian leaders in Nigeria through this program is commendable. The TELL USA initiative is truly empowering individuals like me to spread the Word of God effectively.ā€

WELS does not have on-the-ground missionaries in Nigeria. Thatā€™s where TELL provides essential training and support through our online curriculum, preparing Nigerian men to learn and spread the gospel on their own. Watch a short video featuring some of our accomplished Nigerian students here.

TELL students from around the world are sharing Godā€™s Word even in challenging places!

Kurapati, a TELL student from India, describes the social pressure as a Christian in his country: ā€œIt is not popular being a Christian in India. I profess my faith through witnessing, friendship evangelism, and through my deeds. We are carefully watched by Hindu extremists. But TELL changed my life in an effective way. It changed my understanding about Scriptures in a wonderful way. Thanks to all of you for giving me this opportunity.ā€

Overcoming challenges together
TELL does not come without its own challenges. Keeping up with the growing demand for teachers and instructors is toughā€”but what an incredible challenge to face! Every day, I feel blessed to be working with TELL students, sharing Godā€™s Word, to help them overcome their own challenges.

Emmanuel from the United Kingdom shares: ā€œTELL has increased my confidence, helping me achieve milestones and overcome earlier challenges. I now have greater self-assurance in my abilities.ā€

Congratulations
“Congratulations, Percy! Great job, Pierre! So proud of you, Ransford!”

As I recognize each student one by one, Iā€™m amazed at how God is working in ways I had never imagined. As these students go forward, carrying the torch of faith into their communities, we celebrate not just what they have achieved but the lives they will impact for Christ.

Written by Rev. Nate Seiltz, director of Multi-Language Productions




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Together Video – May 6, 2025

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Rev. Jon Bilitz, pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, Madison, Wis., talks about how area college students integrate into a congregation committed to supporting campus ministry work.

 

 

 

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Taste of Missions school challenge and poster contest winners announced

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Winners have been selected for the 2025 Taste of Missions school challenge and poster contest!

School challenge for grades K-8

Congratulations to theĀ 3rd grade class at Trinity-St. Lukeā€™s in Watertown, Wis., and theĀ 7th grade class at First Lutheran School in La Crosse, Wis., for winning the Taste of Missions School Challenge! These two classes each received a Taste of Missions party, complete with lunch from a local ethnic restaurant, t-shirts, tickets to Taste of Missions on June 14, a Zoom call with a missionary, and more.

A big thank you to everyone who participated! We received submissions fromĀ 21 different grade schools across the U.S. Be sure to check out photos from the challenge in our Flickr album.

If you didnā€™t get a chance to participateā€”or want to use the materials againā€”the School Challenge activities will remain available at tasteofmissions.com/schools. Theyā€™re great for classrooms, Sunday School, or Vacation Bible School.

High school poster contest

This past spring, all WELS and ELS high school artists were invited to express their creativity and learn about WELS mission work by creating an 11Ɨ17ā€ masterpiece capturing the heart of either WELS Home or World Missions. Two overall winners were selected:

Home Missions winner
Natalie Matzke ā€“ Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School
Zion, Winthrop, Minn.
Read artist statement

 

World Missions winner
Liz Kuehner ā€“ Luther High School
St. Matthewā€™s, Winona, Minn.
Read artist statement

Thank you to all the students who learned about WELS Home and World Missions! We received 19 incredible posters this year and loved seeing how students used their God-given gifts to highlight mission work. A big thanks as well to the teachers, parents, and peers who encouraged participation!

This annual contest returns each springā€”stay tuned for how your students can take part next year.

Fan favorite voting

All posters will be displayed at Taste of Missions on June 14 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., where attendees can vote for their Fan Favorite. Be sure toĀ register to cast your vote! Results and all artwork will be shared at tasteofmissions.com/poster and on social media after the event.

 




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Victory!

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Easter weekend was busy in Boston, Mass. On Sat., April 19, many celebrated the 250th anniversary of the battles at Lexington and Concord. On Mon., April 21, the city celebrated Patriotsā€™ Day, including the 129th running of the Boston Marathon, a home baseball game for the Red Sox, and a day off for many in the city. An even greater event happened on the day in between. Sandwiched in between a day commemorating the ā€œAmerican spiritā€ and one of the premier road races in the world was a humble Easter service on the second floor of a former industrial building (now turned co-working space).

The whole weekend provided the opportunity to reflect on what victory looks like. If you asked someone at the Lexington and Concord festivities what victory looks like, they might say, ā€œVictory looks like winning independence . . . it looks like freedom.ā€ When asked the same question, someone at the Boston Marathon might say, ā€œVictory looks like pushing through the pain to win the race or set a personal best.ā€

What do you think victory looked like for us at Harbor Lutheran on Easter? Did victory look like having to frantically pick up additional chairs from Home Depot the night before? Or did it look like having a full spread for brunch and an Easter egg hunt? What about first-time guests and visitors meeting each other and sharing in fellowship and praise? Or a full room standing and singing in full voice, ā€œI Know That My Redeemer Livesā€? To a certain degree, we can answer with a resounding ā€œyesā€ to all of these.

But to say that extra chairs, brunch, an egg hunt, or even singing is the real victory of Easter might cause us to miss the point. The apostle Paul points to the true victory of Easter in the words we used as our Epistle reading for Easter Sunday:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?ā€

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

It may not surprise you that our attendance on Easter at Harbor Lutheran was less than that of the Revolutionary War anniversary or the Boston Marathon, but our message was much more powerfulā€”and is why we spend mission dollars to reach places like Boston. We have the message of victory! Christ has defeated sin, death, and the devil! That was the message on Easter at Harbor Lutheranā€”the message of victory in Christ.

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement as we share this message of victory with people in Boston.

Written by Rev. Joshua Koelpin, home missionary at Harbor Lutheran Church in Boston, Mass.




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New chairman for SALEM

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Originally appears in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) newsletter. Subscribe to future updates from the CELC at celc.info/signup.

In the 1960s, WELS missionaries were sent to Hong Kong to assist local Chinese Christians. In 1977, a Lutheran church body named SALEM (South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission) was established.

In 1997, Rev. Titus Tse (pictured left) from Hong Kong was called and installed as the first chairman of SALEM. By Godā€™s grace, under Rev. Tseā€™s leadership, the SALEM church body grew and matured into a stable, developing, and faithful community of believers.

After many years of faithful service, Rev. Tse has now entered a new chapter. Having ā€œretiredā€ from his pastoral ministry at the congregation in accordance with SALEMā€™s policies, he was immediately commissioned as a missionary to establish a Chinese Lutheran church under SALEMā€™s mission work in Auckland, New Zealand.

The mantle of leadership in Hong Kong has now been passed to another capable leader, for God always provides the right people at the right time. Rev. Alex Wong (pictured right) officially assumed the role of chairman of SALEM on January 1, 2025, with the installation ceremony taking place on March 2. He now steps into this new role with over a decade of pastoral experience and a shepherdā€™s heart.

When Rev. Tse assumed leadership in 1997, Hong Kong was undergoing historic transitions. Now, as Rev. Wong takes office, the city once again faces new challenges amid shifting times. Through these eras of change, God continues to expand his kingdom and raise up fitting leaders for each season. These pivotal moments create unique opportunities for his people, and we rejoice in his unfailing wisdom and grace.

Rev. Wongā€™s leadership is a gift to the church. By Godā€™s power, SALEM is poised to embrace this new chapter, strengthen believers, and seek the lost. We praise God for all he has accomplished through his people in Hong Kong and pray that he grants Rev. Wong and all church leaders strength and wisdom equal to their calling.

Written by Missionary Tony Barthels, WELS’ liaison to SALEM

 




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Moments with Missionaries – Craig Wilke

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Rev. Craig Wilke, home missionary at Sure Foundation Lutheran Church in Brandon, S.D., shares an update from their new worship facility. Through the support of WELS Home Missions and WELS Church Extension Fund, they have been in the progress of building a new church, which is just about complete. Hear more from Rev. Craig Wilke as he share more about the their new worship space and the ongoing work spreading the gospel in Brandon, S.D. and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

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

Faces of Faith ā€“ Jonathan

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Jonathan Neuman wanted to know more about Christianity. His parents had went to church when they were younger and he was told he went when he was younger, but he had no memory of this. He remembered going to church on the big holidays ā€“ Christmas and Easter and when they visited grandparents in Goodview.

He had seen stuff about Christianity online, like social media influencers talking about their faith and Christianity. He had seen some videos here and there, but Jonathan wanted to go beyond the echoes of Christianity in his childhood and he wanted to be a part of Christianity.

So, he took action and looked up the closest WELS church. It took him to Crown of Life in Saint Paul, Minn., which was only minutes away from his house. There he met Rev. Kom and Rev. Burgess. After that, he began attending regularly on his own.

Since Jonathan was also a student at the University of Minnesota, Rev. Kom connected him to True North, the University of Minnesotaā€™s WELS campus ministry. He became involved in the campus ministry and finished Bible Information Class there. Now, Jonathan divides his time between Crown of Life and St. John’s, which hosts True North, and is served by both churches. He appreciates the community feel and the message of the gospel taught. Through these two ministries, he is getting to know more about Jesus and Christianity.

Now, Jonathan wants others to know more about Christianity, especially his family. His family has recently been attending church during the holidays. His mom often goes with him, and they both want Jonathanā€™s brother and sister to go through confirmation as well. Jonathan has also been having conversations with his dad as he wants them all to know about Christ .

Written by Samuel Lor, campus ministry pastor at St. Johnā€™s in Minneapolis, Minn.

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Finding better in Jesus

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ā€œI have to call my mom about this . . . this is better!ā€ she said. That has become one of my favorite lines I have ever heard in a Bible information class. I sat across the kitchen table from my new friends Dan and Jenny, taking them through the lesson on Baptism and the Lordā€™s Supper. This was a place I wanted to be but a place I was never sure I would be.

You see, our friends Dan and Jenny had both grown up with a Baptist background and were a good Christian family looking for a church in our area. We just happened to meet them when our girls played on the same T-ball team. Before they were ever visitors of our church, they were just our good friendsā€”friends we would have over for dinner and meet at parks, pools, restaurants, and wineries. I wanted nothing more than to baptize all four of their awesome kids (now five!), but I understood thatā€™s not what they believed. If only we could talk about it.

I remember the night on my back patio, standing under the awning during a thunderstorm, when Dan asked me, ā€œWhatā€™s the difference between Lutherans and Baptists?ā€ ā€œWell, I think it really comes down to how God works,” I replied. “You see, Lutherans believe that God works in Baptism and the Lordā€™s Supper, giving to his people forgiveness and granting and strengthening faith, whereas Baptists would see it as something that I am doing for God. Itā€™s sort of arrow up versus arrow down theology.ā€ To his credit, and through the working of the Holy Spirit, Dan told me that night, ā€œI think I am on board with that. But it might take a little more discussion with my wife . . . ā€ (sorry, Jenny).

But that discussion happened. It happened informally at picnic tables, at our local winery, standing on the beach of a manmade lake, and around both of our kitchen tables, until finally, Dan and Jenny both saw Baptism for the comfort that it is. God wants you to know that he claims those children too. He forgives their sins too. The Holy Spirit works in their little hearts too.

So, on March 30, we not only baptized the five children but also their dad. You see, Dan had always thought that sometime along the way he had been baptized. But a few phone calls later, he realized he never had. So this was going to be a really special Sunday for their family. As a father, itā€™s an incredible gift not only to tell your children what happens in Baptism but also to show themā€”first by being baptized yourself and then by lifting each of your little ones up to that same font, watching as God claims them as his own, washes away all their sins, and makes to them the very same promises he just made to you. Baptism now saves you also . . . this promise is for you and for your children . . . all of us who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through Baptism into death, so that just as he was raised to the glory of the Father, we too walk in new life.

ā€œI have to call my mom about this . . . this is better!ā€ Call your mom, dad, brother, sister, friend, neighbor, stranger on the street! Let them know that in Jesus, it is better.

Written by Rev. Jake Jenswold, home missionary at Victory Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan.




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A partnership for the gospel

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When I was a girl, I remember learning about church fellowship. It was always something negative. ā€œDonā€™t commune with them,ā€ or ā€œI canā€™t worship with her.ā€ Now, on the Europe Team, I am blessed to see the positive, warm, happy side of church fellowship. And I see it every day! The Europe Team partners with about a dozen sister churchesā€”churches with whom we share fellowship. What does that actually mean? Does it mean that when I visit Berlin, or Tirana, or Stockholm, there is a worship service that I can gladly join? Yes, absolutely, and much, much more!

In Philippians 1:4,5, St. Paul gives thanks for believers with whom he shares a ā€œpartnership in the gospel.ā€ Fellowship means working together to proclaim Jesusā€™ good news. None of our churches is large, or has all the ideas, or has all the gifts. Fellowship means partnering to share experiences, ideas, resources, and gifts.

Meet Benni (Benjamin Hugk)ā€”a seminary student at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary from the Evangelical Lutheran Free Churchā€”Germany (ELFK), our sister church in Germany.

Let me give you a concrete example.

Meet Benni. Benjamin (Benni) Hugk is a seminary student from the Evangelical Lutheran Free Churchā€”Germany (ELFK), our sister church in Germany. For a while, Benni was the only student in the ELFK seminary. Benni loves people, so studying alone was not so easy. Benni applied to study for a year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis. He wanted to meet and study with many brothers as well as have the opportunity to get to know WELS better.

Benni arrived in Mequon in August 2024, eager to make the most of his year in the United States.

Benniā€™s love for people goes hand-in-hand with his special gift for evangelism. He finds it easy to talk with people and naturally directs their conversation to Christ. Benni set the goal for himself to develop his evangelism skills even more at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Here are a few examples:

  • Heā€™s taking as many evangelism courses as possible. For one course, he and a partner set up a donut stand at Marquette University in Milwaukee. The price of a donut? Asking Benni a spiritual question and discussing it.
  • During Winterim, he joined Prof. Allen Sorum on an evangelism trip to Houston for canvassing and a food drive. There he learned to ā€œbe comfortable with the uncomfortable.ā€
  • At Wisconsin Lutheran Seminaryā€™s Mission and Ministry event in February, he listened to presentations about encouraging and motivating others in our congregations to do personal evangelism. He loved the mission mindset throughout the event: ā€œI want to keep that mindset and bring it home to Germany.ā€

Benni appreciates that Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary holds the students to high standards but also provides great support. ā€œThe professors are real people who care about the students and understand struggles. They provide support and encouragement so that no one falls through the cracks.ā€

When I spoke with Benni, he had just returned from a ten-day tour singing with the Seminary Chorus at churches in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The first concert of the tour at St. Johnā€™s on the Hillside in Milwaukee drew more than 1,100 listeners! Almost every night, the choir stayed with host families. ā€œI got to know very different families and how they live, their view on church and things in the world. Itā€™s nice to have this point of view.ā€

So far Benniā€™s favorite experience has been spending Christmas vacation with a host family in Connecticut. ā€œStaying with a family 24/7 gives you a chance to get beyond the usual questions and have a chance to open up.ā€

Throughout the tour Benni saw that WELS is a ā€œlarge and strong synod across the ocean who recognizes and supports us. We share the same faith with them.ā€ Being part of a large fellowship is very encouraging, and itā€™s even more amazing when you are blessed to see this large fellowship with your own eyes!

But Benni isnā€™t the only one who has been blessed by the year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Prof. Sorum says, ā€œBenni has been a wonderful addition to our seminary family. He brings an important perspective to our classroom discussions. He brings a special charm to every interaction with his American cohorts. Benni’s visit has expanded our grasp and appreciation of an international Lutheran fellowship.ā€

ā€œIn all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.ā€ When you think of fellowship, remember Benniā€”the German seminary student with a heart for peopleā€”having conversations about Christ from Leipzig to Mequon to Connecticut to Houston to Denver.

Written by Jennifer Wolfgramm, wife of a world missionary on the Europe mission team




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CAMM April 2025 Newsletter

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Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are in the season of Lent, where we reflect on the suffering and death of our Lord. Isaiah 53:4,5 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.ā€ This passage reminds us that the punishment and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ brought us everlasting life and forgiveness of our sins.

This monthā€™s newsletter tells the story of Smith Patulani, an under-5 child who is a patient at our Msambo clinic. Smith was born in October 2023 at Daeyang Luke Hospital in Lilongwe. According to Smithā€™s mother, Modester Patulani, Smith was born through a normal spontaneous vertex delivery, and there were no complications during birth and throughout the postpartum period. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Patulani hails from Kabula village, Traditional/Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe District. The village is not far from our Msambo clinic.

In February 2025, Smith got sick. He was presenting with fever, vomiting, and general body weakness. Upon seeing this, his parents took him to a local hospital, the Chankhungu Health Center. Chankhungu Health Center is one of the government health centers close to Smithā€™s village. At Chankhungu, Smith was tested for malaria, and the result came out positive. He was given a first line malaria treatment (lumefantrine artemether), which he took for three days at home, and he got well.

One Monday morning in early March, Smithā€™s father discovered that Smithā€™s lower limbs were not functional. He informed the mother, and they were both shocked, knowing that the child was fine after completing his malaria treatment in February. They then visited the Lutheran Mobile Clinic at Msambo on 17th March 2025, where they met one of our clinical officers, Davie Khumula.

At the clinic, Davie asked the mother some questions, including the medical history of the child. The mother explained everything and of course the malaria that he had in February. Davie also asked if the child received the polio vaccine, and the mother said the child completed all the vaccines, including the polio vaccine. The child was then examined for any possible signs of malaria, and there were none. Davie then examined the childā€™s legs for muscle strength, reflexes, and muscle tone.

He found that the muscle strength and reflexes were absent, and there was decreased muscle tone. Davie then explained more about the childā€™s condition to the parents, his plan of referring him to a hospital, and its importance. Smith was then referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for further investigation for the possible cause of the paralysis, management, and initiation of physiotherapy treatment. We look forward to hearing more from Smithā€™s parents and how he is coping with physiotherapy treatment.

Lastly, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the people who think about us. Your prayers keep us going. Your various donations have been of great impact to us, and that is why we keep running. May the good Lord continue blessing you and all that you do. As we journey through this season of Lent, may we embrace reflection and renewal, fostering a spirit of compassion and gratitude in our hearts.

Written by Violet Chikwatu, nurse in charge




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