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“My name will be great among the nations,” says the Lord Almighty. Today, that promise is taking root in places both expected and unexpected—through the mission God has entrusted to his people.
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Across Africa, Asia-Oceania, Europe, Latin America, and Native American communities, WELS World Missions partners with local believers to plant churches, train leaders, and share the gospel in heart languages around the world. It’s not just a mission to the nations—it’s a movement with the nations.
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Through your prayers and support, local leaders are reaching their own people and crossing borders with the good news. Seminaries are equipping faithful shepherds. Digital tools are proclaiming Christ where missionaries can’t go. Together, we proclaim his name—until every tribe, tongue, and nation knows the love of the Lamb.
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This is not our mission. This is God’s mission. And by his promise, it cannot fail.
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"You’re chasing joy, happiness—you’re trying to find it in all these other things that aren’t Christ, and it leaves you feeling empty,” says Jett. “But coming back to church and growing my relationship with the Lord—it’s changed my life."
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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 he’d drifted from. Through the welcoming community at Anchor, a WELS home mission congregation, Jett rediscovered what it means to be truly anchored in Christ—and now shares that hope with others.
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Learn more about the WELS 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative at wels100in10.net.
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At Taste of Missions, held on June 14, 2025, five new missionaries were commissioned to share Jesus in communities across the U.S. and around the world:
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- Mr. James Brandt – Asia-Oceania Team leader (read more)
- Rev. Jacob Bitter – Pan de Vida, Garden Grove, Calif.
- Rev. Jacob Borgwardt – Crossroads, Chicago, Ill.
- Rev. Ethan Schultz – Lamb of God, Williston, N.D.
- Rev. Phillip Valdez – Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas
When you pray, give, and gather with fellow believers, you’re not just witnessing mission work—you’re part of sending our missionaries. From your church pew to mission fields around the world—we go together.
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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 strong—and now is still the time to carry that mission forward. Learn more about Asia Lutheran Seminary in this Together video.
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Six pastoral graduates from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary were assigned this May to serve WELS home mission congregations, and one additional pastor was assigned to a world mission field:
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- Bitter, Jacob - Pan de Vida, Garden Grove, Calif. (Hispanic outreach)
- Borgwardt, Jacob – Crossroads, Chicago, Ill.
- Satorius, Noah – Northdale, Tampa, Fla. (Hispanic outreach)
- Satorius, Zachary - world missionary, One Latin America Team
- Schultz, Ethan - Lamb of God (new mission start), Williston, N.D.
- Stein, Nathaniel – Christ, Clarksville, Md.
- Valdez, Phillip - Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas
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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/.
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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.
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Mark Jiang serves Apostles in San Jose, Calif., as outreach pastor to the Chinese community. A growing Chinese fellowship and Bible study already meet 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.
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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.
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Please keep Mark and David in your prayers as they 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!
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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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Home Missions
World Missions
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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!
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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. Sixteen days later, new friendships were formed, old ones reaffirmed, and there were more opportunities to marvel at the grace of our Lord Jesus. May he continue to bless our work with these three Ugandan synods!
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For the past few years, the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR) has been exploring a declaration of fellowship with the Africa Mission Evangelism Church (AMEC), a confessional Lutheran church in Tanzania, Africa. The CICR, along with the One Africa Team of WELS World Missions, has been holding doctrinal discussions to determine whether or not there is agreement between our two church bodies. Based on those discussions, the CICR was prepared to recommend a declaration of fellowship at our synod’s convention this July. Because of recent developments, however, both the WELS CICR and representatives of AMEC have agreed that the declaration of fellowship should be delayed at this time.
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Missionary Dan Witte talks about how WELS Missions assists with theological training for WELS' sister church bodies throughout Africa.
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Two regional CELC conventions held in the last quarter
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Only 8 percent of the 4.5 billion people in Asia and Oceania know Jesus as their Savior. That staggering reality brought together 72 church leaders, missionaries, and partners from 14 countries for the Asia-Oceania Convention of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), held June 9–13 in Bali, Indonesia. Under the theme “That All May Hear and Believe,” this in-person gathering offered encouragement, connection, and practical tools for gospel ministry across the region. WELS missionaries and international partners left uplifted, reminded that they are not alone—and that the fields truly are ripe for harvest.
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In late May, fellow believers and European church partners came together, along with WELS World Missions Administrator; Larry Schlomer, for the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) in Nerchau, Germany.
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Many members from the sister churches in Europe gathered to talk about their work, encourage one another, and enjoy fellowship. We ask God to bless the effort of these groups as they share the gospel all throughout Europe.
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WELS Mission Journeys has been sending teams on Mission Journeys trips all over the world, giving both called workers and lay members the opportunity to serve home and world missions. Churches have formed partnerships with current home mission congregations and new mission starts to assist them in regular outreach support. Various WELS Campus Ministries students have also participated in Mission Journeys trips over their college breaks. Many trips have taken place already this year:
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- Students from the University of Wisconsin-Stout Campus Ministry assisted home mission Citrus Grove Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, Fla.
- Six campus ministry students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater helped at Amazing Grace in Amarillo, Texas.
- Concordia University Wisconsin Campus Ministry in Mequon, Wis., took a Mission Journeys trip to Illume Church in Seattle, Wash.
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Learn how you can get involved in a Mission Journeys trip and how your church could form a partnership with a home mission congregation at wels.net/missionjourneys.
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Support WELS Missions
Thank you for supporting WELS mission work through your prayers, congregational offerings, and special offerings made directly to WELS. If you'd like to support WELS mission work, visit
community.wels.net.
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Missions Blogs
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Read inspiring stories from Home and World Missions while also staying up-to-date on the most recent Missions news. Subscribe to receive them in your inbox every week!
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WELS Missions Resources
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Get the latest resources and materials from WELS Home and World Missions at
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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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