Preparing new home missionaries
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17).
For millennia this has been the prayer of God’s people; any success in our mission efforts comes only because of God’s favor and blessing. Now, in year two of the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative, we give great thanks to the Lord our God for his many blessings:
- With the addition of one new start (Cypress/Waller, Texas) and one enhancement (Barre/Montpelier, Vt.) in September, the Board for Home Missions has approved a total of 16 new missions and 18 enhancements toward the goal of starting 100 new missions and enhancing 75 ministries from 2023–2033.
- All ten new mission starts approved in 2023 have a home missionary, and three of the six new mission starts approved in 2024 have a home missionary.
- Of those 13 home missionaries, 8 pastors accepted calls from the field to new home missions and 5 Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary graduates were assigned.
- New missions in Marquette, Mich.; North Collin County, Texas; and Wichita, Kan., launched weekly Sunday worship in September.
- Generous gifts to Home Missions in September will enable Home Missions to approve 10-plus new home missions in 2025.
As Home Missions plants new churches throughout North America, we take great care in preparing new home missionaries. This past August, seven home missionaries and their wives attended the Church Planter Intensive at Carbon Valley Lutheran, Firestone, Colo.
View photos from the Church Planter Intensive in Colorado
I was able to attend the training and see firsthand the blessing it is for new missionaries. They learn not only the essential aspects of church-planting but also the systems and processes that will help prepare them to launch and establish a new mission. By the time the missionary goes home from the Church Planter Intensive, he has a basic ministry plan for the next 18 to 24 months. Each missionary is also paired with a coach, who is a church planter himself. During the next two years, the coach and missionary meet monthly. The coach helps the missionary troubleshoot issues and challenges that arise and provides encouragement and accountability.
The Church Planter Intensive and coaching program have been well received by many home missionaries. I give great thanks for the many experienced missionaries who have helped make the program what it is today.
In the end, why do we do all this? “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all” (2 Corinthians 5:14). As a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have peace that the world is seeking but is only found through Christ. Through the work of our home mission congregations, more people are finding this peace as we see the Lord blessing our efforts. We thank God for this. As we continue our work together as a synod, our prayer continues, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”
Rev. Mark Gabb, administrator, WELS Home Missions
WELS 100 missions in 10 years
“It was amazing. It was the greatest thing . . . just to know that Jesus still loved me and still cared about me and wanted me to be part of his family again. That meant the world to me.”
The 100 Missions in 10 Years effort is all about sharing the kind of peace that only Christ offers. Sean O’Doherty found that peace at Cross of Christ, a home mission congregation in Nampa, Idaho.
