Joint Missions
WELS supports cross-cultural outreach at congregations throughout North America. Much of this work centers around diaspora (people group) connections, where immigrants who have joined WELS congregations in North America are able to take the gospel back to friends and family in their home country. The Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) works alongside many cross-cultural ministries to provide pastoral training for their leaders, allowing them to continue working within their individual ministry context.
The Joint Mission Council helps facilitate this cross-cultural ministry. It is made up of representatives from Home Missions, World Missions, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
Cross-cultural outreach in your community
Is your congregation interested in sharing the gospel with a specific people group in your area? WELS provides support through volunteer stateside pastors, known as Diaspora Ministry Facilitators (DMFs), who have experience working with various cultural groups. They can assist your outreach efforts and help build connections between local immigrant communities and World Missions teams in their home countries.
To get connected with the right Diaspora Ministry Facilitator for your outreach, contact Rev. Neil Birkholz, program coordinator, by email.
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) offers seminary training to students from diverse backgrounds in North America. As WELS congregations reach out to refugees and immigrants, PSI connects pastoral candidates with local WELS pastors for supervised training, often leading to international opportunities. Globally, PSI supports Christians seeking gospel training, providing consultation, curriculum support, and advanced degree programs for seminaries and Bible institutes.
More information
Hispanic ministry
WELS is dedicated to reaching Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. Congregations are encouraged to assess their communities, overcome language and cultural barriers, and take the most direct path to sharing the gospel. One way congregations can implement Hispanic ministry at their congregation is through Academia Cristo, a program used in Latin America to teach Spanish speakers the Word of God and equip them to start group ministries and plant churches. Additionally, Hispanic outreach consultant Rev. Tim Flunker can assist congregations as they use English language classes, community events, and activities at the local congregation to build a bridge across cultures and design a ministry to welcome them into the local congregation. Currently, WELS serves thousands of Hispanic souls through nearly 200 congregations, with many offering Spanish worship services and Bible classes.
Hmong ministry
WELS supports mission work among Hmong communities in the U.S. and Southeast Asia. While Hmong immigration has slowed since the 2000s, their communities continue to grow. WELS currently supports five Hmong congregations in the U.S. led by Hmong American pastors. Beyond serving local congregations, Hmong ministry in the U.S. has created opportunities for mission work in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. WELS Hmong leaders remain closely connected with these global efforts, working with the Asia Oceania Team to share resources, ideas, and support. Through these connections, the ministry continues to expand, strengthening both local and international outreach to the Hmong people.
North American Asian ministry
WELS supports congregations and schools as they build relationships with Asian communities across North America. Rev. Neil Birkholz, North American Asian Ministry Consultant, helps to promote, train, guide, and advocate for outreach among the North American Asian population. Worship and Bible study regularly take place in Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese, with ministry efforts often led by Asian leaders trained through the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI). Many of these groups also extend their mission work to their countries of origin, working alongside the Asia-Oceania Team.
South Asian ministry
New South Asian ministry began in 2017, focused on creating opportunities to connect with those from Hindu and Muslim backgrounds through relationship-building, Bible studies, and community programs. Currently, South Asian ministry is active in Pewaukee, Wis., where they host events and monthly worship services. Additionally, a South Asian believer is leading multiple study groups and partnering with WELS for outreach in a large Midwest city and across the border in a Muslim neighborhood in Canada. These International Friendship Centers provide a welcoming space to meet needs, build relationships, and introduce others to Jesus. Many of these groups also extend their mission work to their countries of origin, working alongside the Asia-Oceania Team.
Sudanese ministry
WELS congregations in North America have been providing a spiritual home for Sudanese refugees since 2006. Today, 10 congregations have Sudanese ministries, offering worship, fellowship, and pastoral training. One refugee, Peter Bur, arrived in Omaha, Neb., in 2010 and joined Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. After graduating from the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) in 2015, he began his work as Sudanese ministry coordinator. In this role, he works alongside Home and World Missions representatives to coordinate pastoral training of South Sudanese leaders. This outreach has expanded beyond North America to refugee camps in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda, where he partners with the One Africa Team and WELS sister churches in Ethiopia and Kenya to bring confessional Lutheran teaching to these refugee communities.
Ministries included on this map could be offering worship or a Bible study in a different language, providing English as a Second Language (ESL) or citizenship classes targeted at a specific people group, or is where there is a current Pastoral Studies Institute student beginning outreach to their people group in their community.
Yellow = Current Pastoral Studies Institute students
Red = WELS funded ministries
Blue = Unsubsidized/self-funded ministries
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