|
|
|
|
|
|
|
“Over four decades, God kept bringing us back.”
|
What began with a first visit to the Apache reservation in 1994 became a decades-long story of reunion, ministry, and God’s faithfulness. From reconnecting with former students and fellow missionaries to worshiping alongside Apache Christians in congregations that have stood for more than a century, Glen and Beth Thompson have witnessed firsthand how God continues to strengthen faith through his Word.
|
Their return to the East Fork Mission this spring is more than a trip back—it is a reminder that God uses relationships, history, and unexpected opportunities to continue his mission across generations.
|
|
Read more about the Thompsons’ journey back to the Apache reservation, the history of the mission, and the blessings of worshiping with believers in these historic congregations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A total of 43 Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary students were assigned to serve as vicars for the upcoming year. Thirty-four of those assignments are through the Vicars in a Mission Setting (VIMS) program, and one additional vicar was assigned to serve a WELS World Missions partner in Colombia: (*Denotes a home mission congregation)
|
- Arndt, Caleb S. – Zion, Denver, Colo.
- Bannick, Joshua D. – Apostles, Billings, Mont.
- Broekhuizen, Cole A. – Risen Savior, Chula Vista, Calif.
- Buth, Daniel M. – Carbon Valley, Firestone, Colo.*
- Cloute, Ethan J. – Beautiful Savior, Marietta, Ga.
- Gawrisch, Grant C. – Huntersville, Huntersville, N.C.*
- Koelpin, Christian D. – Resurrection, Verona, Wis.
- Koelpin, Josiah L. – Good News, Mt. Horeb, Wis.*
- Little, Caleb C. – Sure Foundation, Brandon, S.D.*
- Marquardt, Seth M. – Amazing Grace, Myrtle Beach, S.C.*
- Nordlie, Max D. – Shepherd of the Hills, Knoxville, Tenn.*
- Pausma, Nathan M. – Abiding Faith, Smyrna, Tenn.
- Plocher, Maxwell H. – Heritage, Gilbert, Ariz.
- Santos, Isaias F. – Christ, Denver, Colo.*
- Scheuerlein, Zach H. – Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, Madison, Wis.
- Skorenkyi, Kostiantyn – The Way, Fredericksburg, Va.*
- Stiles, Lucas J. – St. Peter, Schofield, Wis.
- Sulzle, Camden J. – Illumine, Rock Hill, S.C.*
- Weide, Seth R. – Our Savior, San Antonio, Texas
- Zimplemann, Michael A. – Living Hope, Chattanooga, Tenn.
- Hillmer, Benjamin A. - Santísima Trinidad, Medellín, Colombia
|
The VIMS 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. VIMS placements include both WELS home mission congregations and self-supporting congregations with a strong outreach focus. For the full assignment list, visit wisluthsem.org/about-wls/assignment-list.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Various teachers, pastors, and missionaries will be commissioned to begin their new divine call:
|
|
|
|
Ms. Cindy Lendt
|
|
Cindy Lendt accepted the call to serve as Women’s Ministry Coordinator for the Asia-Oceania Team starting July 2026. Women have unique challenges in many areas of Asia, and this position is focused on increasing their access to the gospel. Lendt will develop and oversee a comprehensive framework for women’s ministry across Asia-Oceania mission fields and coordinate local teams to amplify existing efforts and implement new initiatives.
|
|
|
|
Rev. Nathan Strutz
|
|
Rev. Nathan Strutz began serving as a mission counselor for WELS Home Missions in April 2026. He is supporting the South Atlantic, Southeastern Wisconsin, Northern Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Colorado mission districts as they work to plant new mission churches and support and encourage existing home mission congregations.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Chris Pluger
|
Missionary Chris Pluger is a new member of the One Africa Team who will primarily work to develop ministry training programs with partner churches across the continent.
|
Pluger and his wife, Janine, come to the One Africa Team after ten years with Lutheran Bible Translators. During that time, he served as a translation consultant, working alongside mother-tongue speakers to help translate the Bible clearly and accurately into their language for the first time. Chris and Janine spent five years in Petauke, Zambia, with the Nsenga Bible translation project, and later served multiple language projects in Ethiopia, where they lived for five years.
|
|
In addition to his Bible translation experience, Pluger has more than 15 years of teaching experience in the United States and abroad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The first and second grade class at Our Redeemer in Madison, Wis., and the 5th grade class at St. Marks in De Pere, Wis., both hosted their Taste of Mission School Challenge parties.
|
Students from Our Redeemer were able to talk to world missionary Peter Janke in Australia via Zoom and learn more about his past work in East Asia and his current work in Australia. Students from St. Marks had a chance to meet virtually with home missionary Rev. Fred Berger at Forgiven Lutheran in Kronenwetter, Wis., and hear more about his experience starting a new mission.
|
Thank you to all who participated!
|
|
Learn more about the School Challenge activities at tasteofmissions.com/school-challenge and join us for Taste of Missions on June 13, 2026, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Support World Missions
|
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.
|
|
|
Host a Mission Festival
|
Request a mission speaker and let the WELS Missions team help find you a mission speaker for your event.
|
|
|
Faces of Faith
|
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.
|
|
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
