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“Jesus Christ has the power to overcome the devil, and he is the true God.”
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Those simple words printed on a small brochure reached a remote village in Laos in 1950 and—through the power of the Holy Spirit—sparked a movement that has brought hundreds of thousands to faith in Christ across Southeast Asia and beyond.
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In this inspiring story, Bounkeo Lor, now president of the Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church (HELC), shares how God used a single gospel message to transform generations, open doors for ministry in Vietnam, and led him to his new role as president of the Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church (HELC).
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Read how God continues to accomplish his purposes through his Word, and join us in praying for the growing ministry of HELC, its leaders, and the continue outreach to those in Vietnam and beyond.
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Various teachers, pastors, and missionaries will be commissioned to begin their new divine calls:
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Rev. Aaron Bush
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Bush graduated from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., in 2019 and began attending Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis. He graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2023 and was assigned to serve as a tutor (dormitory supervisor and instructor) at Martin Luther College where he has served the past three years.
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Now, Bush will serve as a home missionary in Jarrell, Texas, a rapidly growing community north of Austin where a new mission start was approved in 2025 as part of WELS Home Missions’ 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. A core group has already been gathering for worship and outreach in the community as the mission continues to grow from its current group of about 40 souls.
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Rev. Alex Dimke
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Dimke spent most of his grade school years at Good Shepherd in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, before attending Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis. Following high school, Dimke was blessed to live in Alicante, Spain, before attending Martin Luther College, where he met his wife, Noelle Boucher. He and Noelle were married in 2019, following Alex’s year of emergency teaching at the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) mission in Lima, Peru.
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Dimke looks forward to serving as an associate pastor at Redeemer in Edna, Texas, reaching both English, and Spanish-speaking communities with the gospel. Redeemer was approved as a home mission enhancement in spring 2025. Alex, Noelle, and Sebastian are excited to meet many new people and to be part of the wonderful community in Edna.
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Rev. Micah Neumann
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Neumann attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich., for high school. He met his wife, Becca, at Martin Luther College, where they both graduated in 2022. Neumann then enrolled at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. The two married in 2023, and they are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child, due in late August.
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Neumann graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in May 2026 and was assigned to serve the new mission start in Cedar Lake, Ind., which was approved in 2024 as part of WELS Home Missions’ 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. This area of northwest Indiana is growing rapidly as Chicago commuters look for affordable alternatives to living in Illinois. The Neumann family is excited to serve alongside the core group, grow in God’s Word, and have a front-row seat to God’s hand at work through his saving message.
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On May 28, 2026, a graduation ceremony was held in the chapel of the Lutheran Church of Central Africa Seminary in Lusaka, Zambia, to celebrate 15 graduates who recently completed a multi-year continuing education program coordinated through the Pastoral Studies Institute and the One Africa Team.
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The cohort of 15 pastors represents several of our sister church bodies in Cameroon, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, and Zambia.
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May God bless this year's graduates as they continue their work of proclaiming the gospel and sharing Christ's love with others.
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Support World Missions
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Thank you for supporting WELS World Missions through your prayers, congregational offerings, and special offerings made to World Missions. If you'd like to support mission work, visit wels.net/wmgift.
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Host a Mission Festival
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Request a mission speaker and let the WELS Missions team help find you a mission speaker for your event.
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Faces of Faith
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Read stories of the Holy Spirit at work in Faces of Faith, WELS Missions' annual magazine. Request free copies for your church or LWMS circuit rally at wels.net/facesoffaith.
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Contact us
We'd like to hear from you! Contact us for assistance or additional information regarding WELS Missions or simply visit wels.net/missions.
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