Two Pastoral Studies Institute students graduate

/in , , , ,

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 leaders—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 Christ’s love to the nations!

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

An invitation for life

/in , , ,

For over 60 years, God’s people have been gathering at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Garden Grove, Calif. WELS men and women have been supporting additional ministry from this same location, starting with a King of Kings grade school that is approaching 60 years of existence. King of Kings also assisted in the formation of California Lutheran High School, which is nearing 50 years of ministry. In recent years, King of Kings opened their campus to support their fellow WELS congregation Pan de Vida and a new WELS outreach to the Vietnamese community.

On Dec. 22, 2024, members of King of Kings had the chance to witness WELS pastor Rev. Trung Le gather a group of 44 Vietnamese friends and neighbors to hear the gospel on the King of Kings campus. With support from WELS Joint Mission Council, members of Pan de Vida, and members of King of Kings, a multi-purpose room on the King of Kings campus was renovated to become an additional sanctuary for worship. It was in this worship space that Pastor Trung Le preached the good news of John 3:16 to the ears and hearts of the Vietnamese community.

God is blessing this partnership in gospel ministry so that more people in Garden Grove are hearing that God loves them – so much so that he sent his one and only Son to save them – and that whoever believes in this Savior, Jesus, will not suffer eternal punishment but rather will enjoy eternal life with God in heaven. This “gospel in a nutshell” is an invitation for life: for believers to find peace, both in this life and for eternity. God has blessed the gospel proclamation on the King of Kings campus for over 60 years and we pray with our brothers and sisters that God would continue to bless this same proclamation, in various languages, for many years to come. The Vietnamese community knows that Pastor Trung Le and fellow WELS believers will continue to be present and serve in their community. And now this same community has received an invitation for life: for as long as King of Kings is open, the gospel will be proclaimed to them, just as it has been for generations in Garden Grove. Yet this invitation for life goes beyond a location or church building. The gates of eternal life are open to the Vietnamese community just as they are to anyone who hears the saving Word of God and believes it. This was visible for all in attendance at the opening Vietnamese worship service, as Pastor Trung Le baptized a new brother in the faith. Rejoice with all the brothers and sisters who gather and support the ministry in Garden Grove, Calif. God invites all of us to find joy in his love that is for us today and for eternity.

Rejoice that you too have an invitation for life.

Written by Rev. Neil Birkholz, North American Asian ministry consultant. 




Print Friendly, PDF & Email

It’s better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles

/in , , , ,

“It’s better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles!”

This bit of Russian folk wisdom comes from a time when 100 rubles was worth a lot of money. Having many talented friends who can help in different situations makes life a lot easier – especially for people living in a collective society.

God has blessed me with many friends.

From Siberia to Portugal, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, God has allowed me to develop deep, spiritual relationships with many dear brothers and sisters. The members of Jesus’ body are precious, blood-bought souls carefully gathered by the Lord of the Church and placed exactly where he wants for our mutual edification and his glory.

Recently God has blessed me with some new friends in the U.K. and back “home” in the WELS. Let me explain.

Pete Myers served in the ministerium of the Church of England. He is a Hebrew scholar and worked for several years as a professor of Old Testament studies at a seminary in Ethiopia. Pete is a sincere man who wants to confess solid Biblical faith in Christ. To make a long story short, Pete became Lutheran through an independent study of classic Lutheran writings and began searching for a Lutheran church faithful to scripture. After moving back to London, he met Missionary Michael Hartman. The two of them spent hours discussing what we in WELS believe on the basis of Holy Scripture. God blessed those conversations. Several months ago, Pete and his family joined our fellowship. Since then, they have moved to Manchester (a major city about four hours north of London), where Pete is supporting himself with secular work as a math teacher. But his real passion is to plant a congregation in Manchester that enjoys fellowship with our hub church in London.

We’re thankful for Pete and his family, and we’re excited about blessings God is giving to his people through them. But we also want Pete to deepen his understanding of confessional Lutheranism, and we want those in our broader Lutheran fellowship (CELC) to have confidence that we share a common faith. What should we do?

Let me introduce you to some partners in WELS who are helping us.

Professor Allen Sorum teaches at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He is also part of the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI). Professor Sorum has broad experience working with men who want to prepare for ministry not only in North America, but around the world. He serves as the PSI representative to our Europe team. This past June, he arranged for Pete to spend a couple weeks on our seminary campus in Mequon. Here Pete attended summer quarter classes and spoke with faculty members about a wide variety of doctrinal topics.

While in Mequon, Pete met another friend of mine, Professor Jim Danell. Professor Danell serves on the faculty of Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., where he helps prepare young men for ministry. He also serves as the chairman of WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR). This commission works to ensure that we indeed share authentic doctrinal fellowship with our brothers and sisters around the world. He is the CICR representative to our Europe team.

I’m so thankful that Professor Sorum and Professor Danell join our Europe team meetings every week. They understand the work that we are carrying out in Europe. Having PSI and CICR working together with World Missions has been a tremendous blessing. God richly blessed Pete’s time during summer quarter, and there are plans in place for continued doctrinal conversations with key representatives in WELS to ensure that we are all walking together and contending for Jesus’ truth.

Please join me in giving thanks for the gifted friends the Savior gives us in his Church. Let’s continue to work together to share Jesus’ good news with the world!

Written by Rev. Luke Wolfgramm, world missionary on the Europe One Team. 

Subscribe to future Missions Blogs at wels.net/subscribe.




Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Teach all nations!

/in , ,

Teach all nations! Equip the saints! Those two holy commands come from our ascended Savior to his Church. Victory of the Lamb in Katy, Texas, has partnered with WELS Latin America missionaries to do more of both.

Katy, Texas, is a “suburb” of Houston that has swelled to 400,000 in population and continues to grow. Because of the oil/gas and medical industries, it is an upscale, international community. Although people from every continent make Katy their home, some have given it the nickname “Katy-Zuela” because so many Venezuelans have moved into town. In addition to these Venezuelans, many other Spanish speakers live in Katy as well. Approximately 20 percent of the households within 3 miles of Victory of the Lamb speak Spanish in their homes. Some of them are bilingual, but many are not. Victory of the Lamb has faithfully preached and taught God’s Word for 25 years. . . in English. However, I, the pastor at Victory of the Lamb, do not speak Spanish. Is there anything that can be done?

In May 2023, a dozen Victory of the Lamb members who speak Spanish got together to talk about it. The first step was an encouragement for them to take the online Academia Cristo classes, produced by WELS Latin America missionaries. Then they could invite their Spanish-speaking friends and family to do the same from a background of familiarity. Perhaps some additional inroads could be made into the Spanish-speaking Katy community.

Hector Medellin, a native Mexican and Victory of the Lamb member for 12 years, attended this meeting and decided to give Academia Cristo a try. Very quickly, he was hooked! God’s Word in his native tongue grabbed him, and he deeply enjoyed the experience. Hector progressed through the first level of self-directed classes on the Academia Cristo app. The next step was to begin taking online classes led by a WELS world missionary, with several other Spanish speakers from all across the world as his classmates.

Hector was excited, but also had some mixed feelings. Was this worth the time and effort? Did he want to make such a large commitment of time? In his first online class, one fellow student lived in a place where he had to drive an hour up a mountain, each way, in order to get an internet signal so he could take the class. Another student tried to take the class as best as she could while also working shifts as a nurse, because that was her only way to have an internet connection. Hector thought, “Okay, if they go through that much effort to take this class, and I’m sitting at home with internet and air conditioning, I have no excuses. I’ll do it.” He says it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made in his life! As God’s Word grew in his heart, Hector’s love for his Savior also grew, as well as his desire to reach more souls.

Fast forward one year. With the help of his professors and missionaries, Hector is now trained to lead his own Bible class! On June 9, 2024, Victory of the Lamb launched a second adult Bible study on Sunday morning – one in English and one in Spanish. Hector also plans to lead a four-week class on Bible basics online with some Spanish-speaking friends and family members who don’t live in Katy. Victory of the Lamb members can invite their Spanish speaking friends, relatives, and neighbors to these classes. Down the line, it will be easy to encourage more Spanish speakers to try Academia Cristo. Hector is equipped to lead Bible studies either online or in person.

Teach all nations! Equip the saints! Through Victory of the Lamb’s continued partnership with WELS Latin America missionaries, and connection to Academia Cristo materials, both of those goals are happening more than before. Praise God!

Written by Rev. Nathan Buege, home missionary at Victory of the Lamb Lutheran Church in Katy, Texas.

Subscribe to future Missions Blogs at wels.net/subscribe.




Print Friendly, PDF & Email

WELS endowment funds continue to provide ongoing ministry support

/in , , ,

Thanks to the generosity of God’s people, WELS Foundation distributed $1.4 million for our Savior’s gospel ministry in July from the WELS endowment funds. Established by delegates at the 2005 synod convention, these funds provide ongoing, dependable support for the Lord’s work in WELS Ministerial Education and WELS Home, World, and Joint Missions.

The WELS Joint Missions Endowment managed by WELS Foundation provides support to cross-cultural ministry efforts like the Vietnamese outreach ministry at King of Kings, Garden Grove, Calif. Missionary Trung Lê was installed at King of Kings in August 2023 after graduating from the Pastoral Studies Institute at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Lê leads the congregation’s ministry to its Vietnamese community, which makes up about 40 percent of Garden Grove’s population.

King of Kings shows its love to its Vietnamese-speaking neighbors in a number of ways, including offering U.S. citizenship classes, after which the students are invited to stay for Bible study. Lê has also begun providing English as a Second Language classes twice per week. In addition, he leads two Bible information classes in Vietnamese and is working to form a core group, with the prayer that within the next year or two, he will begin a Vietnamese worship service. “Everything is in God’s will,” Lê says, “but we try our best and see what can happen.”

Lê is grateful for the support provided to the Vietnamese ministry at King of Kings from the Joint Missions Endowment: “It has been a wonderful blessing to have such wonderful help from WELS Joint Missions,” says Lê. “I praise the Lord for that.”

WELS Foundation also manages endowments that are set up by individuals, congregations, and other WELS-affiliated ministries. In total, WELS Foundation distributed $4.5 million from more than 375 endowments this year, providing ongoing financial support for Christ’s gospel work throughout WELS.

“An endowment fund can provide a source of predictable financial support for ministry like the Vietnamese outreach being done in Garden Grove for years to come,” says Mr. Jim Holm, executive director of WELS Foundation. “That’s what makes endowments so impactful and such a blessing to gospel work.”

There are a variety of ways to give to an endowment: cash or appreciated assets; through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation on a retirement account; or with insurance proceeds. To learn more about adding to an existing endowment or establishing a new endowment for a ministry that you love, contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at wels.net/giving-counselors or call 800-827-5482.

Read more about Trung Lê and the ministry in Garden Grove in Forward in Christ:

https://forwardinchrist.net/huu-trung-le/

https://forwardinchrist.net/one-campus-three-languages/

 

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Faces of Faith – Kim Nga

/in , ,

I arrived in Garden Grove, California in the first week of October to begin my work to answer the Lord’s call to serve at King of Kings. I’ve spent a lot of time visiting nursing homes and care centers. One of the places I often visit is Chapman Care Center. It appears this place is owned by a Korean.

On November 2, I visited and met Uncle Minh, who is Vietnamese. His wife, Ms. Le Thi Kim Nga, had been in the hospital for a while. When he heard me greet him and talk, he was surprised and somewhat excited because he’d thought I was a Korean. When I heard their story, I asked for his permission to visit his wife and pray for her. Through the story, I learned that the uncle came back to Vietnam and married his wife and brought her to America recently. A few years ago she had a brain tumor, they removed almost half of her brain. Now she can’t walk, she must stay in bed and have special care. Uncle Minh is retired and takes care of his wife every day. I was very touched by their story!

After praying for Ms. Nga, I continued to come back and share Jesus with her, explaining God’s love to her. She was quiet and attentive, and in December when I came back to visit, I asked her if she wanted to be a child of God. She replied that she did and asked me what she should do if she wants to become a child of God? I told her I would help her!

On December 12, 2023, I called uncle Minh as usual. I didn’t know how we could talk about Baptism. He shared that he asked a Vietnamese pastor to visit, pray, and baptize his wife, but that pastor was busy and had no time. I said I could help complete the Baptism for her. He agreed. Within a period of 2 hours. I prepared water in a cup, and a certificate along with it, and on December 12, 2023, I baptized Ms. Nga in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One more soul has been recorded in the book of heaven.

When it ended, Ms. Nga told me she was happy, and proclaimed that God is real, and that she wanted to share God with many more people. I replied that she could share with everyone because she was now a child of God.

From Trung Le, home missionary at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Garden Grove, Calif.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

[fbcomments num=”5″]

A new city, the same gospel

/in , , ,

“Here in Bread of Life: the Church of the Lord, members of his body, by God it was formed. Reunited family, branches of the Vine, reconciled people, declare his love divine.” On November 19th, 2023, over 80 individuals gathered to celebrate the reality of these beautiful words, an English translation from the hymn “Aquí en Pan de Vida” adapted and translated by Pan de Vida’s longtime worship coordinator and staff minister, Amy Reede Nuñez. Pan de Vida Iglesia Luterana in Garden Grove, Calif., celebrated its 20th anniversary on that night with a special worship service followed by a meal and a mariachi band.

All Nations Sunday at King of Kings Lutheran Church.

Although this Spanish outreach mission currently calls Garden Grove its home, most of its rich history occurred about five miles east of its current facility. Pan de Vida launched in Santa Ana, Calif., back in 2003 under the leadership of Pastors Brian Doebler and Chris Schroeder, recent Seminary graduates who did six months of language training in Mexico. English classes and Bible studies blossomed into Spanish worship services, first in the pastors’ homes, then in local elementary schools, and finally in Pan de Vida’s own building that they purchased and renovated in 2008.

In all of these different locations, the Holy Spirit quietly worked through the means of grace as his church proclaimed Christ’s message of reconciliation. Individuals who came to learn English stayed after class to hear about God’s Word, and the Holy Spirit planted and grew faith in their hearts. Families invited their friends, and their friends kept coming back to hear about their heavenly Father’s infinite love for them in Christ. A couple walked across the street from their apartment one Sunday morning to inquire about this new church and kept coming Sunday after Sunday to hear the good news of the gospel. To this day, the highlight of their week is when their pastor comes to their home to feed them with Word and Sacrament, and then they get to feed him with home-cooked food that is way too spicy for him to handle. One of my favorite parts of my first nine months as pastor at Pan de Vida has been getting to hear everyone’s story of how God worked through the faithful proclamation of his Word to connect them to this body of believers. He blessed so many people through the ministry that took place in Santa Ana.

In 2021, due to a number of factors, Pan de Vida had to sell their longtime home. However, God provided for his people once again, this time through the brothers and sisters at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Garden Grove, who graciously opened their facility for Pan de Vida’s use. Although many changes have occurred for Pan de Vida in the last couple of years, the celebration of its 20th anniversary reminded us of one thing that will never change. The same gospel that called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified this family of believers in Santa Ana is the gospel it continues to proclaim in Garden Grove. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. May the Lord of the Church bless his people as we strive to faithfully carry out his ministry and declare his love divine to those around us.

Written by Rev. Grant Hagen, home missionary at Pan de Vida in Garden Grove, Calif.

Subscribe to future Missions Blogs at wels.net/subscribe.




Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Pastoral Studies Institute: Winterim 2024

/in , , ,

Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous WELS member, the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) was able to bring five of our East Asian PSI students to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary for an intensive one week of instruction. They were able to attend classes that were specifically focused on their course requirements but also upon their cultural background. One of the PSI courses is “History of Christianity in the Student’s Context.” Our students were able reap the blessings of being taught by Professor Emeritus Glen Thompson who served at Asia Lutheran Seminary teaching Historical Theology and New Testament. Professor Thompson shared his class “History of Christianity in East Asia.” Much of his course was new information for our students since most East Asian history is rewritten to coincide with the current government’s policies.

While on campus our PSI students were able to attend daily chapel and meet and interact with our traditional students who were also on campus for their intensive Winterim courses. Our PSI men made the most of their time on campus in a second course, “Engaging the Spirit World.” This was a very practical addition to their training as future pastors, given the high rate of spiritism in East Asian culture.

This is just one more way that the Pastoral Studies Institute attempts to be flexible in our training methods, but consistent and academically rigorous in delivering our Confessional Lutheran content. This is another fine example of our WELS members partnering with us to be able to provide these kinds of exceptional learning opportunities. For more information about the Pastoral Studies Institute, please visit wels.net/psi.

Written by Harland Goetzinger, Pastoral Studies Institute director

Subscribe to future Missions Blogs at wels.net/subscribe.




Print Friendly, PDF & Email

God allows for wonderful plans to unfold

/in , ,

Peace in Jesus Vietnamese Lutheran Church in Boise, Idaho, is a Vietnamese congregation in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod. We are thankful that the Lord allowed myself and Trung Le to study to be pastors through the Pastoral Study Institute (PSI) program. Pastor Daniel Kramer was the active pastor of the congregation while we were in training to be the pastors. Pastor Kramer was also a Vietnamese-speaking pastor, and he led the worship services, preached and taught in Vietnamese.

The congregation was always wondering what would happen to Peace in Jesus as well as the Vietnamese outreach ministry after Trung Le and I graduated from the PSI program. Everyone was excited for the work of the Lord, but the congregation was curious, “What would happen next for Peace in Jesus?” They didn’t know the answer at that time, and they prayed to God for direction.

Finally, that day came and God allowed for a wonderful plan to unfold. In 2023 there were a lot of blessings that happened at Peace in Jesus. Two Pastoral Studies Institute students, Trung Le and I, graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in May 2023.

That same month, Pastor Trung received a divine call to serve as a Vietnamese outreach pastor at King of Kings in Garden Grove, Calif., where there are a lot of Vietnamese living in the area. Pastor Trung accepted the call and moved to Garden Grove  in early October 2023.

L to R: Pastor Tao Nguyen, Pastor Daniel Kramer, Pastor Trung Le

Shortly after Pastor Trung received the divine call, Pastor Kramer also received three different divine calls. He accepted to serve at Crown of Life in New Orleans, La. Crown of Life is about one mile away from the Vietnamese community in New Orleans. He and his wife, Karis, made their move to New Orleans in early October 2023. We pray that if it is God’s will, many more Vietnamese in New Orleans will hear the gospel.

With Pastor Trung and Pastor Kramer leaving to serve God at other locations, Peace in Jesus extended the divine call to me to serve at as their pastor, and I accepted the call in August 2023. We thank God for all these transitions and that they have gone smoothly.

During the transition, many members have stepped up, served, and become more involved in church activities. Most of the members had mixed feelings. They didn’t want to see any of the pastors leave Peace in Jesus because of the strong bond developed by being a part of Christ’s family. Nevertheless, all of us also recognized that the Kingdom of God is way larger than any of us can imagine, and no one can measure his love for humankind. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” God not only allowed for a wonderful plan for Peace in Jesus to unfold, but God also has a plan for everyone who believes in him.

We thank God for his wonderful plan for Peace in Jesus in Boise, Idaho. We pray that his kingdom continues growing in Vietnamese communities, not only in Idaho and in the States, but also abroad.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1

Written by Rev. Tao Nguyen, missionary at Peace in Jesus Lutheran Church in Boise, Idaho

Subscribe to future Missions Blogs at wels.net/subscribe.




Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Mission Journeys opportunities in London

/in , , ,

The new world mission field in London has partnered with WELS Mission Journeys to establish a volunteer program in London. Through volunteering, you have the exciting opportunity to experience life and share the gospel in a global city rich with history and culture. London is filled with people from numerous nationalities and backgrounds, many of whom are in desperate need of hearing the gospel message. You will learn about new cultures, meet people from all over the world, and share the truth of God’s Word with those who are lost.

Short-term opportunities
We are looking for groups of eight to ten people to come volunteer for eight to ten days in London. Your time will be spent attending two Sunday church services at our WELS church, volunteering at various charities throughout the week, and exploring the city. You have the humble opportunity to serve your neighbor and let your light shine by helping others. You will also be a positive representation of what our Lutheran church teaches. When you’re not volunteering, enjoy spending time in London! Go to a pub, eat fish and chips, watch the changing of the guard, drink tea, and soak in the beauty of a city that has been around for almost two thousand years. You will leave London with a greater appreciation for the world we live in, the millions of people God has created, and a renewed fire to share the gospel with others.

Long-term opportunities
If you are interested in taking some time off of school, work, or you have time to spare, consider serving as a long-term volunteer in London. In this role, you will spend up to six months working one-on-one with the missionaries, serving at local charities, and growing in your understanding of a new place and culture. You will be able to encourage others in their faith as well as grow in your own faith. Spending extended time in a foreign country is a valuable experience that will leave a lasting impact on your heart and mind.

Interested in either opportunity? Contact WELS Mission Journeys for more information at [email protected] or call Mr. Shannon Bohme, Mission Journeys coordinator, at 651-324-4218.




Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Outstanding ministry blessings in Vancouver

/in , , ,

Sometimes God just blesses us with blessings piled up on top of each other. At Saviour of the Nations in Vancouver, BC, we were blessed to have such a weekend on Oct. 1-2. Taking advantage of a local holiday weekend we were blessed to do a discipleship training with our mission counselor, Rev. Matt Vogt. But we packed much more into this weekend.

“The Story of the Bible” initiative

Since Sept.10, we have been doing an “all ministry Bible information class,” meaning every Bible class is a Bible information class. In place of a traditional sermon, we are substituting in a modified Bible lesson connecting an Old Testament story to Jesus in John’s gospel and the relevant doctrines. On Oct. 1, we had 50 people in worship, including five people who have never heard the gospel. And it happened to be on the day we had the clearest presentation of law and gospel. Among them was a gentleman who was raised a Hindu who called the message “beautiful”, a Muslim woman who had never attended a church before, a Japanese woman who had never heard of Jesus before, and a skeptic who was attending worship with his family member. Our Sudanese members came from Surrey and sang as a choir in worship to everyone’s delight.

Sampling dishes from the International Food Festival

The gospel message was doubly reinforced by also celebrating four adult confirmations in the same service. Our other prospects who regularly attend got to hear these four confirmands—Cindy, Taehoon, Chanmuk (Danny), and his wife May—publicly confess their confidence and faith in Jesus. It was a day we all pray the Holy Spirit can use to work in the hearts of those who heard the gospel for the one-hundredth time, and especially for those hearing it the first time.

International Food Festival

To celebrate all that was going on, including Korean Thanksgiving weekend and the Chinese mid-autumn festival, we had an “International Food Festival” after the service with 60 people attending, our highest attendance ever for a meal. We counted 14 countries from four continents represented in various groups among our attendees. Everyone brought dishes from their home country. We tried all kinds of food and had fun voting for different categories like “veggie magic” and “Instagram perfect.” One of our prospects who worked very hard on her Indian dish was so happy she won—it was a big hit for everyone!

Congregation annual meeting

After the food festival wrapped up, we had our annual meeting where we elected two new council leaders: Taehoon Kang from Vancouver and Hakim Kon from our Surrey Sudanese mission. I shared an overview of the church’s past year and what we are doing to share the gospel through building relationships. Rev. Matt Vogt was conveniently present to explain what WELS is to prospects and how we are planting new missions. Our chairman, Volo, presented about the budget and shared gratitude for the financial support we receive through synod subsidy.

Discipleship training

Discipleship training with Mission Counselor Matt Vogt

Twenty-one members, Pastor Matt Vogt, and 13 kids came back on Monday to do an all day discipleship and leadership training. Pastor Vogt shared with us what Biblical leadership looks like and inspired our members to be more involved with the day-to-day operations of our ministry. At the end of the session, both our Sudanese leaders and Vancouver leaders put together respective lists of areas where laypeople can step up and help with the ministry. We hope to be implementing a few each quarter and working on the lists in the coming months.

We ended the day with fellowship over a dinner of Mexican food and celebrating one of our Sudanese kid’s seventh birthday with a cake, singing, and a Lego present to top it off.

God really piled up the blessings for us this weekend. He let us lean into our mission name, “Saviour of the Nations”, to build more meaningful relationships with people through music, food, and above all, the gospel.

Shared by Rev. Geoff Cortright, home missionary at Saviour of the Nations in Vancouver, B.C., Canada 





Print Friendly, PDF & Email

The gospel in Garden Grove…in three languages!

/in , , ,

“Pastor, has there ever been a trilingual ordination service in the history of WELS?”

It was a very good question. This past Sunday, August 6, 2023, the installation and ordination service of two pastor was held at King of Kings in three languages. The three languages were English, Spanish, and Vietnamese. Songs, prayers, and Scripture readings happened in all three languages with translations printed in the bulletin. If there had been a trilingual ordination service sometime earlier in WELS history, it was probably not in those three languages.

One of the men being installed and ordained was Rev. Grant Hagen, a Spanish-speaking graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) who had been assigned to a Spanish-speaking congregation. The other man being installed and ordained was Rev. Trung Le, a Vietnamese-speaking graduate of the Pastoral Studies Institute of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, who had been assigned to lead Vietnamese outreach for an English-speaking congregation.

The English-speaking congregation, King of Kings in Garden Grove, Calif., had opened its doors to the Spanish-speaking congregation, Pan de Vida Iglesia Luterana, a couple years earlier. The chancel furniture was from Pan de Vida’s previous location. The man who preached the Spanish sermon, Rev. Luis Acosta of the WELS One Latin America Team, stood behind the pulpit and told the assembly of more than 200 people how ably Hagen had served as a senior vicar in a Spanish-speaking congregation in Milwaukee, Wis.

The man who preached the Vietnamese sermon, Rev. Daniel Kramer from Peace in Jesus in Boise, Idaho, told the assembly, including 20 pastors who had come to participate in the laying on of hands, how Trung Le had come to faith and ably served in the leadership of that congregation in Idaho.

Because the WELS Joint Mission Council is helping with part of the effort, I had the privilege of preaching the English sermon. All three of us preachers used the text Matthew 9:36-38, “When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Because the Lord sees how harassed and helpless we human beings are, and because he has compassion for us, he knows exactly what good gifts to give as a result of his people’s prayers. On this day, in southern California, he gave two men who are in exactly the right place at exactly the right time. They join Rev. Brian Doebler in Garden Grove, Cal., in proclaiming the everlasting gospel.

In three languages!

Written by Rev. Paul Prange, Administrator for Ministerial Education and Joint Missions Council chairman. 

Subscribe to future Missions Blogs at wels.net/subscribe.




Print Friendly, PDF & Email