100 Missions in 10 Years

More than a launch date: Sowing seeds of faith in Conway, Ark.

2025/10/08/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

There tends to be so much focus on the “launch service” when you’re starting a brand-new church. Over the past 15 months, it felt like I was constantly pointing people forward to September 28, 2025. When planting a church, the outreach and preparation leading up to that big Sunday is a key focus of ministry. So, how do you invite people to a church plant’s launch service? What does outreach leading up to launch look like?

We at Living Stone Lutheran Church in Conway, Ark., decided to take a scattershot approach. As we continually learned more about our new community, we sought to find creative and effective ways to form relationships and connections with new faces. Although a new name, brand, logo, and new website are a huge part of marketing for a new congregation, our marketing consultant (Grace Ungemach with Lutheran.marketing) helped us figure out some great ways to carry out these pre-launch outreach efforts. When we met with Grace to figure out our pre-launch strategy, she walked us through a marketing model called the “buyer’s journey.” The conclusion we came to wasn’t all that novel. The best way for people to learn about a brand-new church in town is to have genuine conversations with us. The best way for someone to want to come check out Living Stone for worship is to interact with those people long before our launch ever came to be.

So, we came up with a number of outreach strategies. Of course, personal connections and friendships formed in the community have been the best ways to show Christ’s love. Still, on a corporate level, we came up with a few ideas. First, we held Food Truck Night three nights this summer. The goal of Food Truck Night was to make connections and introduce Living Stone to our community. Food Truck Night was an outdoor gathering with three food trucks, a bounce house, live music, yard games, and lots of fellowship! We were blessed with an average of more than 100 in attendance for each Food Truck Night. We were also able to hold a school supply giveaway to serve families in our community in late July. In August, we put up booths at various community events, such as a popular market that a local coffee shop created and a community outreach event at freshman welcome week at the University of Central Arkansas. In August and September, we were blessed to canvass hundreds of homes. We also held a three-week paper bag food drive that allowed us to connect with our neighbors and show love to those struggling with food insecurity in our county. Finally, we sent more than 9,000 postcards through a mass mailer and ran multiple Instagram and Facebook ads. All these efforts joined together to form our pre-launch outreach. Much of it seemed like throwing paint at a wall. Plenty of times, I found myself asking, “Is this effort worth it? Will this be fruitful?”

This past Sunday, September 28, 2025, Living Stone finally held its official launch worship service! The Lord blessed us with 96 souls in attendance. It was wonderful to have so many people there to encourage us, celebrate that big day, and most importantly, hear the gospel of forgiveness of sins through Jesus! As I looked out at the group of people in front of me, I thanked God that the faces I saw came from all sorts of avenues. Some came from our mass mailer. Some came from our food drive. Some we had seen again and again through our Food Truck Nights and personal contacts. Some saw our ads online, and some just came because they were friends and family of our members.

I think there’s a better analogy for our pre-launch outreach efforts besides “throwing paint at the wall.” We were sowing seed. We scattered and sowed that seed and let the Lord Jesus take care of the rest.

Written by C.J. Fury, home missionary at Living Stone Lutheran Church in Conway, Ark.

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Seven new home missions approved

2025/10/01/in Home Missions, Missions

For generations, WELS congregations have been beacons of Christ’s light, proclaiming the gospel and nurturing faith. Yet millions in North America still live beyond the reach of a WELS church. Through the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative, WELS Home Missions is planting new churches where hope is needed most, while strengthening our synod and building a growing network of gospel outposts.

This vision is coming to life thanks to your prayers and support. At the fall Board for Home Missions meeting, seven new missions were approved—each one a new beacon of Christ’s light, made possible by your generosity.

The seven new mission starts include:

Altoona, Wis.: Just east of Eau Claire, Altoona is rapidly growing. A core group from St. Mark in Eau Claire has been doing outreach since early 2023, steadily building interest.
Buffalo, N.Y.: With 95,000 people in the target area and no WELS church nearby, a committed group is meeting to lay the foundation for a new church.
Naples, Fla.: Naples is growing quickly and changing demographically. Leaders are meeting with locals and planning outreach to connect with unchurched residents.
Olathe, Kan.: A booming, family-friendly city in the Kansas City metro, Olathe is home to a core group from Mt. Olive in Overland Park that’s planning for future growth.
The Sandhills, N.C.: This growing region near Fort Bragg attracts retirees and military families. A group from Tree of Life in Cary is actively canvassing and building a prospect list.
West Richland, Wash.: Near the Tri-Cities, West Richland is expanding quickly. A group from Southridge in Kennewick began outreach and plans to launch worship in 2025.
Wilmington, N.C.: In a fast-growing area with no nearby WELS church, a group from Ascension in Jacksonville meets regularly in preparation to launch their church.

Learn more about these new starts at wels100in10.net.

This isn’t a short burst of effort—it’s the steady building of a lighthouse. Each new congregation is another beacon of Christ’s light in a darkening world. With your help, we’re building a network of gospel outposts—one light, one soul at a time.

Thank you for your partnership. Your gifts are bringing the gospel to new communities and strengthening our synod’s foundation for generations to come.

In Christ’s service,
The WELS Missions Team

P.S. Planting new churches isn’t just about numbers—it’s about reaching individual souls with the gospel. Watch Jett’s story in our “Faces of Faith” video to see how your support helps bring Christ’s love to people who need it most.

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Faces of Faith – Jill

2025/10/01/in Faces of Faith, Home Missions, Missions

“When we got here, there was just something right. There was something here that we didn’t know that we needed.”

Jill never expected to find hope in a church again. Years of pain and anger had left her convinced she was done with faith—until a persistent invitation led her and her family to Illumine, a WELS home mission church in Rock Hill, S.C. There, surrounded by a caring church family and the pure gospel message, Jill discovered comfort and purpose she didn’t know she was missing.

Watch Jill’s story and see how God’s love can reach us in the most unexpected ways—bringing healing, belonging, and a future filled with hope.

Learn more about the WELS 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative at wels100in10.net.

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Beacons of light across North America

2025/09/26/in Featured Ministry

Dear Christian Friend,

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20).

That verse is the heartbeat of our synod’s long-range strategic plan, “Christ through us.” It’s also the heartbeat of our congregations—beacons of the light of Christ’s salvation to a world lost in the darkness of sin.

Right now, WELS congregations reach about two percent of the U.S. population—roughly 6.8 million people living within a 15-minute drive of a WELS church. But WELS Home Missions has set a bold goal with the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative: increase that reach to three percent. That’s an additional 3.4 million souls—souls who could be within reach of a confessional Lutheran congregation proclaiming the message of reconciliation with God through the perfect life and innocent death of Jesus.

This isn’t just about planting churches. It’s about strengthening the backbone of our synod. It’s about building a network of congregations—both longstanding and newly planted—that radiate the unity and love of Christ, draw the lost into fellowship, and equip the faithful to stand firm in a fragmented world.

We’re seeing this vision come to life in places like Boston, Mass.; Erie, Colo.; Marquette, Mich.; Celina, Texas; and San Tan Valley, Ariz. These aren’t just dots on a map—they’re communities where the gospel is desperately needed. And thanks to your prayers and support, we’re seeing core groups form, Bible studies begin, and worship services launch.

But we’re also seeing the cost.

Real estate, rent, and construction expenses are rising. A single mission start may require up to $2 million in support from Home Missions over 12+ years. Yet, we press on—not because it’s easy, but because it’s worth it. Because Christ became poor so that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). And now, we share those riches with those who are still poor.

Will you help us reach that three percent?

Your gift today will help us

plant new churches in underserved communities.
support core groups already laying the groundwork.
equip missionaries and provide resources for long-term ministry.

This is not a short burst of effort—it’s the steady building of a lighthouse. Each new congregation we plant is another beacon of Christ’s light in a darkening world. Together, we’re constructing a network of gospel outposts—places where the lost are found, the weary are refreshed, and the faithful are equipped to shine. And with your help, we’ll keep building—one light at a time, one soul at a time.

In Christ’s service,
Rev. Mark Gabb
Administrator, WELS Home Missions

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Prayer: We praise you, Lord Jesus, for giving us salvation and the privilege of serving as your ambassadors. Thank you that we have enough churches across the country to reach two percent of the population. We ask you to bless us according to your will to open more missions to reach even more souls across the U.S. May our churches shine your saving light in the spiritual darkness, disciple members, and support our wider synod efforts to train and send workers to proclaim your Word in the world. Amen.

Outreach is a little bit like bull-riding

2025/09/25/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Outreach in a home mission congregation can be like riding a bull. Every second is precious when riding a bull. You want to hold on until the 8-second mark for maximum impact on your score. However, with an animal that unpredictable, you never truly know when the ride will end.

So it is with outreach. Every opportunity to meet new people is precious. Every second of conversation with a prospect is important, and you want it to last as long as possible for maximum impact in building a relationship. Most importantly, every opportunity is precious as you share Jesus and grow that relationship. Who knows when the encounter could end because, after all, life is unpredictable.

Opportunities for outreach are also unpredictable at times. It was the summer of 2024 and I received a phone call from a group representing a traveling rodeo that was coming to Ladysmith in July 2025. They inquired about the use of the parking lot of Our Redeemer for their rodeo. It was as if it were meant to be! We had just enlarged the parking lot, put in a big new playset, and made the property more accessible and inviting to the public.

This was great! The rodeo group wanted to pay us rent for the use of our parking lot and encouraged us to use the property to welcome their patrons. Even better, we were given the opportunity to connect with up to two thousand people. But the best part? It would be an opportunity to share Jesus.

Remember that the bull is unpredictable. As plans were being made with the playset and bounce house, free waters and even, just maybe, horse-drawn wagon rides on the church property, the bull started bucking. Two weeks before the event, the rodeo group decided the property next to the church wouldn’t be suitable, and they moved the rodeo down the road.

However, the Lord opens doors for outreach in unexpected ways. A local community group was going to be serving food for the event. They asked if we could help them. They needed help. It was the only group serving food for two thousand people. The ride was back on, and what a ride it was! Twelve members of Our Redeemer and I, all wearing our blue Our Redeemer Lutheran—Ladysmith shirts, worked nonstop in almost 100-degree heat and let the light of Christ shine.

This group of Christians made a maximum impact as they worked and served and did whatever was asked of them to help at the rodeo. Some also made maximum impact by sharing Jesus that day with those they interacted with. Standing next to the fryer waiting for the French fries to cook allows some downtime for evangelism. The very next day at 8 a.m. worship, two people from the community group the day before were in our church wanting to hear more about Jesus.

That’s outreach in our communities today. It’s like riding a bull, unpredictable. But we have the assurance that when things don’t go as expected or we feel like we have failed, the Lord opens another gate. We pray that we are always prepared for another opportunity to give an answer for the hope that we have in Jesus. It is our joy to do what our Savior has called us to do—share the gospel!

Written by Christian Christenson, home missionary at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ladysmith, Wis.

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Adjusting to ministry at Lamb of God

2025/07/31/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Ministry is people. Those people live in a particular place. Your home mission at Lamb of God in West Lafayette is ripe for the harvest. Together with Lafayette and Purdue University, it has been a fascinating place to learn and conduct gospel ministry.

Moving into town, I noticed how abruptly the cornfields give way to neighborhoods. A few months later, I see a highly developing area with new housing coming in just about everywhere. In my ten-minute drive to our church, I pass multiple housing developments, and another new apartment complex just started construction. But I also see the fringes of a more pastoral setting. The same drive from my house to church also passes multiple cornfields. In West Lafayette, the farm meets urban life. A town of 45,000 people is quickly outgrowing its agricultural roots and expanding beyond a small college town.

Lamb of God Lutheran Church in West Lafayette, Ind.

Purdue University is a major draw to the area. When school is in session, the student body of roughly 50,000 doubles the population of West Lafayette. Local students may come for the College of Agriculture or College of Veterinary Medicine, but Purdue’s reputation as an engineering school has achieved international fame. We see that reflected in the diversity of West Lafayette. We have neighbors from Indiana and all over the States, India, China, and Mexico. We see diversity in grocery stores representing India, Korea, China, Japan, and Mexico, most of which we have visited. Our local library’s story time for children has connected us to people from Latin America, Europe, and Asia. In West Lafayette, the world comes to us.

With factories and major manufacturers like Subaru and Caterpillar, Lafayette adds more souls to the community. About 75,000 people live on the east side of the Wabash River. During the school year, we have more than 150,000 souls in the area, many of whom don’t know the love of our Savior Jesus. That means we can make disciples of all nations just by reaching out to the neighbors around us.

Our church is located in West Lafayette, near the interstate that serves as the most prominent route out of town. As West Lafayette continues to develop, more houses and businesses are starting to creep closer to our church campus. We are blessed with great facilities that feature a playground, a garden, a large yard, and even a hiking trail, all on our property.

Ministry is people in this place, taking action as God’s people. God has blessed us with faithful people. One member just performed an oil change on my car for me. Another cleans the church every Saturday. One member held a professional-caliber paint night; some others participate in campus ministry and exercise nights. Still more have helped put in raised garden beds for our community gardens. We have a weekly newsletter for all our members. We have a diversity of gifts—musicians, doctors, engineers, teachers, listeners, encouragers; friendly, caring, tight-knit people dedicated to the everlasting gospel.

God is blessing our efforts too. One by one, more souls are hearing about Jesus. A couple of new members joined recently; one of them was an adult baptism. Now, his wife and daughter have started to attend church as well. His daughter asked to be baptized, and his wife would like to start instruction classes. It seems every time I finish one Bible information class, God sends me new students who want to learn his Word.

Written by Andrew Ewings, home missionary at Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Lafayette, Ind.

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Faces of Faith – Jett

2025/07/22/in Faces of Faith, Home Missions, Missions

“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.”

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.

Learn more about the WELS 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative at wels100in10.net.

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Summer 2025 Home Missions’ milestones

2025/07/22/in Home Missions, Missions, Together

A number of home mission congregations have experienced major milestones during spring and summer 2025:

Foundation in Peyton, Colo. – New church building
On March 23, 2025, Foundation Lutheran Church in Peyton, Colo., was able to have their first worship service in their brand new church building! God’s blessings to this home mission congregation as they continue to spread the gospel and welcome the community into their new space. View photos from their first worship service and of their new building in our Flickr album.

Christ the King Buffalo, Wyo. – Worship launch (pictured above)
On Sunday, April 13, 2025, Christ the King Lutheran Church officially launched their public worship services in Buffalo, Wyoming. The celebration was a joy and faith-filled milestone for this growing church family! May God continue to bless the mission and ministry of Christ the King as they share the gospel in Buffalo and beyond. View photos from their launch in our Flickr album.

Sure Foundation, Brandon, S.D. – New church building
In April 2025, Sure Foundation Lutheran Church in Brandon, S.D., celebrated the grand opening of their new church building and hosted a formal dedication worship service in July 2025. God’s blessings as they continue to share the gospel in their new space with the people in the community. Hear more about the new church building from Rev. Craig Wilke in his Moments with Missionaries video update and view photos of their new building in our Flickr album.

Huntersville Lutheran Church – New church building
On Saturday, July 26, 2025, Huntersville Lutheran Church in Cornelius, N.C., dedicated their new facility in a special worship service. The purpose is more than just the square footage and number of rooms; its a place for people to learn about Jesus and a place for future generations to hear that Good News. Learn more about their building project at www.huntersvillelutheran.com/building.

Stay up-to-date on news from WELS’ 140+ home mission congregations by following WELS Missions on Facebook and Instagram.

Ready to talk about Jesus

2025/07/10/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Evangelism is not easy. It becomes easier over time, that’s true; but it is not a simple task to discipline oneself to constantly be ready to talk about Jesus, to share the Good News. At St. Marcus, we are seeking to challenge, first and foremost, our comfort level, educating our congregation to be evangelists themselves and to become more aware of the Spirit’s intimate movements in getting God’s Word to those who live in our very city of Milwaukee but do not yet know or believe the truth. This is our task. And not only are we an urban church, but we are also a church directly connected to a school system that, every day, educates more than 1,200 students. Of those roughly 1,000 families, only 25 percent share that they have a vibrant faith life and are connected to a church. This is our mission field!

Men That Matter ministry

Membership challenge: St. Marcus’ community council came up with Radical Withness Discipleship. In this program, we pair a member of our congregation with a member of the surrounding community. This pair then informally seeks out a “friendship” together. Whether it is a meeting over coffee, praying over the phone, sharing an encouraging Bible verse, or sharing a meal, we seek to challenge our members and ourselves to immerse and encourage the community around us in Christ.

Vibrant worship: Through the first five months of 2025, we’re more than 94 worshipers greater in attendance per week across services compared to last year’s same time period. We invest heavily in school choirs, allowing our parents to naturally attend our worship services when their children sing. Part of the campus evangelist’s job is to oversee all worship operations, including music styles, hymns, and organization of services. This allows our team to, in a prayerful and godly way, make the truth of God’s Word even more accessible and relatable to our inner-city families.

Enhancement of vibrant, small group ministries:

Family Ministry has implemented “Discipleship Steps,” in which we connect our families more deeply to the Word of God. This includes not only “members” but our surrounding community and school families as well (ex.: Bible handout to primary-grade children, a “service” morning, study of Habits of the Household book, and practical gatherings).
Men That Matter is our official men’s ministry. Part of the campus evangelist’s role is to work toward fostering a community of men that seek God’s will in their lives. Events take place on multiple evenings/mornings, and though each welcomes men from all walks of life, each is specifically designed to address a different angle of the church’s ministry, seeking to carry out biblical instruction and provide fellowship opportunities for our school male role models, fathers, single men, and husbands.
Embrace Grace and Embrace Life Ministries (pictured in the header photo): St. Marcus has become a hub of godly support for single mothers who are pregnant or have recently had a child. Through a 16-week program on Tuesday evenings, church members gather with these community mothers and offer prayer, support, and grace as they enter motherhood.
Fusion is St. Marcus’ youth ministry (grades 7-12), held on Sunday mornings in conjunction with the 10:30 a.m. worship service. On average, 15 students, many from the community rather than “members,” gather around God’s Word and fellowship. We are in the planning stages of setting up a ride-share network to allow more youth the ability to get to church on the weekends.

Throughout all of this, our largest effort goes into maintaining a cohesive church staff team. Prospects and visitors who have expressed interest in the church are contacted on a regular basis by the team, and weekly meetings allow us to maintain accountability.

Our congregation’s greatest challenge is not to send people to share the gospel in foreign lands but to humbly seek opportunities to share God’s Word with the people of inner city Milwaukee. We pray for God’s continued guidance and help in this.

Written by Brent Krohn, campus evangelist at St. Marcus Lutheran Church and School in Milwaukee, Wis.

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Let the little children come

2025/07/09/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” —Matthew 19:14

Abiding Love is dedicated to preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to Chinese people in Metro Vancouver. Since we launched on November 27, 2022, our church has experienced both challenges and blessings. One significant challenge we faced was a lack of volunteers in the music ministry. Each week, Pastor Wang faithfully stepped in to play the guitar and lead the hymns all by himself. While we were thankful for his dedication, we also longed and prayed for others to join this important ministry.

God, in his faithfulness, answered those prayers. Earlier this year, we encouraged young Noblessa to try playing the piano during worship services. Though she was nervous at first, she stepped up with courage. Week by week, her confidence grew, and now she blesses the entire congregation through her music.

Noblessa playing piano for worship

Soon after, two young boys—Mike and Ivan—joined the music team as well. Their enthusiasm and willingness to serve brought fresh joy and energy to our worship services. It was deeply moving to see children take part in leading God’s people in praise. Jesus’ words echo in our hearts: “Let the little children come to me.”

Even more encouraging, their example inspired two of our adult members to begin leading hymns as well. The children’s service didn’t just fill a need—it stirred hearts and created a ripple effect of participation. What began with one young pianist became a growing team of worship leaders, both young and old.

God often builds his church through small, faithful steps. Children are not merely the future of the church—they are an essential part of the church today. When we make space for them, encourage them, and allow them to use their gifts, we witness the fruit of God’s work among us. Their faith, joy, and eagerness to serve are a powerful testimony to all generations.

Mike playing piano

One of the greatest blessings we now enjoy is the regular presence of five to six children in Sunday worship. This has allowed us to launch an in-person Sunday school, where we teach God’s Word to the next generation. There is nothing quite like hearing children recite Scripture, ask thoughtful questions about Jesus, and pray with open hearts. It brings renewal and vitality to our church family.

Children’s ministry doesn’t only impact the kids—it strengthens the entire congregation. We’ve seen children invite their parents, siblings, and friends to church events. One child coming to faith in Jesus can open the door for an entire family to encounter his love. This is how the kingdom of God grows—one small step of faith at a time.

Let us be a church that continues to welcome children with open arms—not just to attend, but to serve, grow, and lead. Let us never underestimate what God can do through young lives that are open to him. When we create space for children, we reflect the very heart of Jesus.

Thanks be to God for his provision, his blessings, and for each child he brings through our doors. May we continue to nurture, guide, and celebrate the next generation. To God be all the glory!

Written by Rev. Qiang Wang, Abiding Love Lutheran Church, Burnaby, BC, Canada

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Rethinking Northwoods ministry

2025/06/18/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Our Savior in Phillips, Wis., was approved as an unsubsidized home mission congregation in spring 2025. Unsubsidized, or self-funded, home missions do not receive direct financial support but still have access to the many other benefits offered to all home mission congregations: assistance through their district mission board, mission counselors, and synodical support staff plus access to WELS Church Extension Fund and grants from the Board for Home Missions.

We were not unlike dozens of WELS congregations north of a line drawn from Green Bay to Wausau to Eau Claire. We were and continue to be a small Northwoods congregation.

We shared a pastor with another church 90 minutes north of us. He spent at least 40 hours a month on the road—almost as much as he spent in our community. Our building was in disrepair. Architectural engineers estimated it would take $150,000 to bring it up to code. Our numbers were static—well below what was needed to support a pastor. Our congregational meetings usually ended with different opinions on ministry and solutions to our building issues.

Our leaders were exasperated—tempted to plod along and just survive.

But then something happened. The Lord emboldened a group of laypeople who pushed the issues and took action. Members were encouraged to unite behind solutions, and a sense of urgency regarding our building developed.

Then God opened our eyes. First, it was an idea we had never considered: what about a different building closer to town that would be handicap accessible and provide more space for ministry? Then, he showed us a local Family Dollar store that came on the market—8,000 sq. ft. of “vanilla box.” The price was not much more than the repair costs for our present building, so within a month we bought it. Next, we received a generous offer for our old building. Phase 1 of renovating the commercial building would eat up nearly $400,000. Our tiny group of average income retirees and wage earners said, “Yes.”

The more we studied our dual parish arrangement, the more it seemed to hinder ministry to the community. But once again, the Lord opened our eyes to solutions. The congregation called a retired pastor in the congregation to serve part time. Then, we asked three lay leaders to assist the pastor in leading worship. Finally, an outreach team, made up mostly of women, now organizes events to publicize our ministry in Price County.

The Lord blessed our efforts—not with large gains—but with individual souls. An unbaptized 19-year-old named Ethan came to live with his grandparents, and they brought him to worship services. In time, he studied the Creed and Baptism and asked to be baptized. Ethan is currently finishing instructions for confirmation. Another example was Bill’s mother, who invited him to a service. In time, Bill brought his girlfriend, Mari. Both Bill and Mari took instructions and were added to our congregation earlier this year, and in May they were married.

In the last two years, we have had three baptisms, and Sunday Bible class attendance frequently exceeds 50 percent of the Sunday attendees. We thank God for each of these souls.

Written by James Naumann, home missionary at Our Savior in Phillips, Wis.

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Bringing a gospel message of hope to Ellensburg, Wash.

2025/06/05/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

The Pacific Northwest District Mission Board is partnering with Grace Lutheran Church in Yakima, Wash., to help restart a WELS congregation in Ellensburg, Wash. More than one hundred years ago, several WELS congregations were established throughout central Washington. A mission-minded pastor in Yakima arrived by train to small cities and looked in the phone book for German-sounding last names to contact and start German Lutheran congregations. This was successful church planting in the early 1900s. Over time, there were seven or eight thriving churches scattered throughout the eastern range and valleys of the Cascade Mountains.

Sadly, many of these churches have either closed or are about to close their doors. This included Good Hope Lutheran Church in Ellensburg, which closed several years ago. But this is not the desire of three WELS families who have moved into the area. Together, they have formed a core group under the direction of Rev. Nathan Zastrow from Grace in Yakima, with prayerful intent to apply for and receive mission restart status from WELS Board for Home Missions.

The committed core group has spent the past year doing extensive work both inside and outside the existing church property. A WELS Mission Journeys team from Appleton, Wis., arrived to assist with landscaping, rebuild stairs to the entrance, and provide a fresh coat of paint. Recently, the interior of the church is slowly being transformed into an open space for worship and will be used as a meeting place for community groups. Currently, a home school co-op rents the facility two days per week. These have been major accomplishments, yet there is still plenty of work to be done.

This past spring, the core group received evangelism training and has completed extensive planning to define the core values and direction for the gospel ministries in Yakima and Ellensburg. The group members have put their training into action by going door-to-door, introducing themselves, and bringing the gospel message of what Christ has done to people both personally and digitally. People have been directed to their website, hopeinellensburg.com, to receive a message of true hope found only in Christ. In May, the core group was blessed with an adult baptism: the fiancée of one of the members.

This summer, two youth groups from Oconomowoc, Wis., and Fairfax, Minn., are arriving to help lead STEM camps. Andrew and Lauren Lindloff from Fount of Life in Colorado Springs, Colo., arrived in early June to spend four days going door-to-door to proclaim the gospel. Their WELS Mission Journeys experience was a part of celebrating their tenth wedding anniversary.

We don’t know how the Lord will bless these faithful efforts, and although there is hard work that still lies ahead, the core group members have embraced the concept that the Lord blesses gospel activity. While concentrating on making Christ known in the community of Ellensburg and on the campus of Central Washington University, they are “keeping good hope alive” by fully trusting that the power of God’s Word is at work whenever the gospel is proclaimed.

It is a great day to be God’s messengers. And we ask for your prayers that the Lord bless these efforts to rebuild a gospel presence in central Washington.

Written by Mr. Dave Malnes, Pacific Northwest District Mission Board member

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Graduates and vicars assigned to home and world mission fields

2025/05/22/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Seminary pastoral assignments to home mission congregations and world mission fields:

Six pastoral graduates from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary were assigned this morning to serve WELS home mission congregations and one to a world mission field:

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

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/.

Vicar in a Mission Setting program assignments

Twenty-three Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary students were assigned to serve as vicars through the Vicar in a Mission Setting program, and one additional vicar was assigned to serve a WELS World Missions partner in Colombia. *Denotes home mission congregation

Arrowsmith, Adam – Risen Savior, Chula Vista, Calif.
Arstein, Calvin – Good News, Mt. Horeb, Wis.*
Blumer, Ezra – The Way, Fredericksburg, Va.*
Eickhoff, Samuel – St. Peter, Schofield, Wis.
Engel, Samuel – Christ Alone, Keller, Texas*
Escobar, JuanDa – Sure Foundation, Woodside, N.Y.*
Golisch, Nathan – Beautiful Savior, Marietta, Ga.
Gregorius, Zachary – Carbon Valley, Firestone, Colo.*
Guse, Brice – Gethsemane, Omaha, Neb.
Hackbarth, Seth – Zion, Denver, Colo.
Heiman, Alexander – Beautiful Savior, College Station, Texas
Hengst, Caleb – Christ, Denver, Colo.*
Herter, Connor – Tree of Life, Cary, N.C.
Knoll, Cooper – Our Savior, San Antonio, Texas
Landwehr, Jonas – Santísima Trinidad, Medellín, Colombia (World Missions)
Maurice, Collin – Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, Madison, Wis.
Pederson, Isaiah – Christ the King, Bremerton, Wash.
Schroeder, Cameron – Faith, Sharpsburg, Ga.
Schwartz, Benjamin – Living Savior, Asheville, N.C.
Sievert, Eli – Amazing Grace, Myrtle Beach, S.C.*
Thiel, Zachary – Cornerstone, Bentonville, Ark.*
Vogel, Jack – Resurrection, Verona, Wis.
Wessel, Joseph – Abiding Faith, Smyrna, Tenn.
Winkel, Josiah – Bethel, Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Vicar in a Mission Setting 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. For the full assignment list, visit wisluthsem.org/about-wls/assignment-list/.

Martin Luther College graduate to world mission field

Rieger, Matthew T. – East Fork Lutheran School, Whiteriver, Ariz. – Grades 5-8 Departmentalized Mathematics

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Moving fast but staying grounded

2025/05/15/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

What do you do when it suddenly becomes possible for your mission church to hit its long-term goals in months rather than years? That’s the question we’ve been asking ourselves at Ascension! Our two long-term goals were: 1) to become a self-supporting home mission congregation (meaning we’ll still benefit from our mission board and mission counselor but won’t need a financial subsidy from WELS to meet our budget) AND 2) to help start at least one new mission church in eastern North Carolina. In three months, Ascension will officially become a self-supporting home mission, and it’s possible that not long after that, a new core group from Ascension will be applying for home mission status and funding for a new mission in Wilmington, N.C.

How did we get here so fast? God’s been blessing us in amazing ways. Almost every week we get connected with new people from our community who don’t have a church home and invite them to join us for life groups, worship, or weekly story time for families. People thank us for the invite, show up to check things out, and get more connected from then on. We’ve needed to do multiple Starting Point studies (think Bible information class) for all the people interested in learning more about the Bible. Our sanctuary has been fuller on Sundays, kids and their parents are baptized, and our offerings have increased. God has blessed Ascension here and now with opportunities to do what churches do.

At the same time, it became obvious that God was showing us that now is the right time to form a core group for a new mission about an hour away. Multiple families live closer to Wilmington than Jacksonville and have been driving an hour (or more) for years. The outreach mindset and culture at Ascension is exactly what our core group brings to the effort of starting a new church. And there is no WELS church anywhere close to serve a rapidly growing community with more than 100,000 people who need Jesus.

In the last month, we’ve assembled a new core group, met multiple times, gotten guidance from our district mission board, and started planning for summer outreach events and core group development. If God keeps giving us green lights, we’re going to move fast and apply for full mission status and funding as soon as possible.

So what do you do when things move faster than you expect? You hold on! Just like when you’re on a roller coaster. Just like when someone hits the gas and doesn’t warn you. Instinctively you hold on because when things move quickly you need something to ground you and make you know it’s okay.

What are we doing? Holding on to the message—the good news of Jesus for us sinners who desperately need him. We’re holding on to our identity in Christ as the most important thing about us. Not achieving long-term goals. Not in positive developments like having a newer building and a growing congregation. We hold on to what Jesus has done for us and define ourselves simply as forgiven and loved children of God.

What are we doing? We’re holding on to the mission God has given his church so we don’t get lost in details that don’t really matter. We work to do everything we can to keep each other connected to Jesus, to grow our faith through his means of grace, and to reach out into our community with the good news that can give them something to hold on to also.

With something to hold on to like that, moving fast is not just okay—it’s something we’re praising God for doing.

Written by Rev. Steven Saatkamp, home missionary at Ascension Lutheran Church in Jacksonville, N.C.

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Victory!

2025/05/01/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

Easter weekend was busy in Boston, Mass. On Sat., April 19, many celebrated the 250th anniversary of the battles at Lexington and Concord. On Mon., April 21, the city celebrated Patriots’ Day, including the 129th running of the Boston Marathon, a home baseball game for the Red Sox, and a day off for many in the city. An even greater event happened on the day in between. Sandwiched in between a day commemorating the “American spirit” and one of the premier road races in the world was a humble Easter service on the second floor of a former industrial building (now turned co-working space).

The whole weekend provided the opportunity to reflect on what victory looks like. If you asked someone at the Lexington and Concord festivities what victory looks like, they might say, “Victory looks like winning independence . . . it looks like freedom.” When asked the same question, someone at the Boston Marathon might say, “Victory looks like pushing through the pain to win the race or set a personal best.”

What do you think victory looked like for us at Harbor Lutheran on Easter? Did victory look like having to frantically pick up additional chairs from Home Depot the night before? Or did it look like having a full spread for brunch and an Easter egg hunt? What about first-time guests and visitors meeting each other and sharing in fellowship and praise? Or a full room standing and singing in full voice, “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”? To a certain degree, we can answer with a resounding “yes” to all of these.

But to say that extra chairs, brunch, an egg hunt, or even singing is the real victory of Easter might cause us to miss the point. The apostle Paul points to the true victory of Easter in the words we used as our Epistle reading for Easter Sunday:

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

It may not surprise you that our attendance on Easter at Harbor Lutheran was less than that of the Revolutionary War anniversary or the Boston Marathon, but our message was much more powerful—and is why we spend mission dollars to reach places like Boston. We have the message of victory! Christ has defeated sin, death, and the devil! That was the message on Easter at Harbor Lutheran—the message of victory in Christ.

Thank you for your continued support and encouragement as we share this message of victory with people in Boston.

Written by Rev. Joshua Koelpin, home missionary at Harbor Lutheran Church in Boston, Mass.

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Home Missions approves new mission starts and enhancements

2025/04/14/in Home Missions, Missions, News, Together

On April 3 and 4, WELS Board for Home Missions approved 11 new missions and enhancements for the synodwide 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative.

“Each of the five new starts is backed by a mature, mission-minded core group that has been actively sharing the gospel in their communities—even before seeking formal support,” says Rev. Mark Gabb, Home Missions administrator. “That kind of groundwork helps lay a strong foundation for long-term gospel ministry.”

Thanks to the generous gifts received over the past year, WELS Home Missions is also in a financial position to approve up to five additional new missions this fall. Gabb notes, “Giving core groups additional time to prepare their requests will strengthen their proposals for fall.”

In the end, Home Missions approved five new starts and six enhancements. The five new mission starts include:

Arlington, Tenn.: Arlington is on the brink of rapid growth with Ford Motor Company set to build a new plant for electric truck production. Since 2022, the South Atlantic District Mission Board has been working with a dedicated group of 60 members and Pastor Jim Turriff from Gloria Dei, Memphis, who plan to relocate and establish a fresh start in Arlington under a new name.

Erie, Colo.: Erie has experienced a 55 percent population increase from 2010 to 2020, with continued growth expected. A core group of ten adults has been gathering for fellowship and Bible study while attending local festivals to share its plans for a new church.

Jarrell, Texas: Jarrell is a rapidly growing town north of Austin. For the past three years, Pastor Don Patterson has been working with a core group of 11, which began holding weekly worship in October 2024. The group has identified 90 prospects, many of whom they connected with by volunteering at the local food pantry.

Madison, Wis.: A core group of 14 adults, familiar with the area, has been working together since 2022—meeting regularly for Bible study and ministry planning—and has also secured a rental space for worship and community activities. A new mission plant in the center of rapidly growing urban Madison would allow WELS to reach an entirely new demographic.

San Tan Valley, Ariz.: Since 2022, the Arizona-California District Mission Board has been working with Heritage in Gilbert, Ariz., to plant a new mission in rapidly growing San Tan Valley. A core group of 26 adults has been gathering regularly for Bible study and community events. In October 2024, they began holding regular worship services and have already identified 127 prospects interested in learning more about the new church.

The Board for Home Missions is also financially supporting ministry enhancements for Christ, Clarksville, Md. (restart); Living Word, Petaluma, Calif. (restart); Living Word, Waukesha, Wis.; Redeemer, Edna, Texas; Risen Savior, Lakewood Ranch, Fla.; and Saint Mark Mankato, Mankato, Minn.

Looking ahead, Gabb shares, “We have limitless opportunities with a limited amount of resources. The Board for Home Missions is actively looking at ways to reduce costs, even in the current economic climate, so that more people can be reached with the gospel.” Gabb continues, “It’s all about being faithful stewards of the resources God has given us. We will continue working diligently to aggressively reach the lost with the gospel while also being faithful stewards. We trust God will bless our efforts.”

Learn more about these new mission starts and mission enhancements at wels100in10.net.

A hospital for sick souls

2025/02/21/in Uncategorized

Dear Friend of Missions,

“We go [to church] because we are sick, and we need healing. And that’s what Christ Alone gives us,” says Jerry.

In this video, hear more from Jerry Laster, a trauma surgeon, who draws a powerful parallel between his work of healing physical wounds and the church’s role as a hospital for sick souls. Learn how he and his wife, Denice, found peace and healing through God’s free grace at Christ Alone Lutheran Church, a WELS home mission congregation in Keller, Texas. They now know that simply by faith they stand in a right relationship with God—all by his grace.

You should have recently received a letter in the mail from Missionary Matthew Rothe sharing how God has blessed WELS with 16 new home mission starts and 18 home mission enhancements since 2023 as part of the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. If you haven’t already, be sure to read it to learn more about how WELS equips new church planters and encourages core groups.

The generosity of God’s people provides what is needed to plant new churches and share the changeless gospel with an ever-changing world. Your prayers and support really make a difference! Learn more at wels100in10.net and consider making a gift today. Thank you for your prayers and partnership, and praise God for our churches that are hospitals for sick souls!

In Christ,
Mark Gabb
Administrator, WELS Home Missions

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The unique “business” of planting a church

2025/02/14/in Uncategorized

Dear Christian Friend,

A local business owner, Kevin, met a WELS home mission pastor. As they formed a friendship, he learned about the work of starting a new church and remarked, “Wow! Planting a new church is a lot like starting a business. Church planters train people, create procedures, build an online presence, meet prospective members, and navigate real estate to find ministry space. On top of that, church planters preach sermons, teach the Bible, and visit hospitalized members. The business of planting a church is a unique challenge!”

Kevin is right. The “business” of starting a church from the ground up is unlike anything else in pastoral ministry. That’s why the Board for Home Missions supports the Church Planters Network, which offers training and resources for new missionaries through the Church Planter Intensive (CPI) and Church Planter Coaching programs.

CPI is a five-day “boot camp” for missionaries and their wives that covers crucial topics such as:

Prioritizing the spiritual, emotional, and physical wellness of the pastor, his wife, and his family.
Pastoring the core group, reaching the unchurched, and leading both groups to unite in gospel ministry.
Crafting compelling mission, vision, and values statements to shape a mission-minded congregational culture.
Building ministry systems and equipping God’s “people for works of service” in those ministries “so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12).
Faithfully stewarding the financial resources provided by Home Missions.

The Church Planter Network’s support doesn’t stop when CPI ends. Missionaries also receive encouragement through the two-year Church Planter Coaching program. They work with an experienced missionary coach monthly to implement the knowledge gained at CPI.

The generosity of God’s people provides what is needed to plant new churches and share the changeless gospel with an ever-changing and always-challenging world. Please prayerfully consider supporting WELS home missionaries with a gift to 100 Missions in 10 Years. Your offerings support the specialized training that equips home missionaries with confidence and knowledge to serve in the unique “business” of starting a church.

Kevin is not merely an insightful businessman; he is now a son of God. Through a WELS Home Mission congregation, Kevin heard from his pastor-friend that his best friend, Jesus, laid down his life to save him. Kevin, his four children, and his sister were baptized at their church plant and now serve in the “business” of starting a church. Last Christmas, Kevin’s mother was baptized too. Praise God!

Fellow friend of Jesus, we praise God for our partnership in the gospel helping people learn and love that the real business of starting church is not about the work we do. Rather, the Father’s business is all about the work Christ has done for us—laying down his life and calling us from being sin’s slaves to his friends (John 15:13,15).

Yours in Christ,
Matthew Rothe
Mission Pastor, The Way Lutheran Church, Fredericksburg, Va.
Coordinator, Church Planter Intensive

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Prayer: Lord, as you call workers to serve in your church we ask that you also continue to equip them for ministry. We thank you for fellow workers who are eager to share their experiences and mentor the next generation of gospel servants. May this strengthening of our leaders result in the nurturing of more members and visitors to our churches through Christ’s good news in Word and sacraments so that they may also serve you better. Amen.

Equipping future pastors for home mission work

2025/02/07/in Uncategorized

Dear Friend of Missions,

In January 2025, three different groups of students from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) went on trips as part of a special partnership with WELS Home Missions. These efforts align with WELS’ goal of planting 100 Missions in 10 Years. Praise God for WELS members working together to train future pastors—equipping God’s “people for works of service” in those ministries “so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12).

Through this partnership, WLS students have the opportunity to learn what it takes to start a new church, work with and understand different communities, and grow their confidence in sharing the good news of our Savior Jesus. Students traveled to churches in Virginia, Florida, and Texas. By mixing classroom lessons with hands-on experience, they got to see what mission work is really like and build skills they’ll use when they become pastors. These young men gained the tools, confidence, and vision to bring Christ to diverse communities across North America. Student Collin Maurice summarized, “Every interaction is an opportunity to share your faith. This trip reinforced that mission work is a mindset, not just a strategy.”

Your prayers and support for WELS Home Missions’ 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative help start new missions and equip home missionaries. Watch your mailbox to learn more about these exciting efforts to share the gospel in communities across the U.S.!

Serving together,
Mark Gabb
Administrator, WELS Home Missions

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Training future church planters

2025/02/04/in News, Together

In January 2025, three different groups of students from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), Mequon, Wis., went on trips as part of a special partnership with WELS Home Missions. These trips were an opportunity to help mission churches connect with more people, strengthen their presence in their communities, and develop clear ministry plans. At the same time, the trips gave WLS students a chance to learn what it takes to start a new church, work with and understand different communities, and grow their confidence in sharing the gospel. By mixing classroom lessons with hands-on experience, the students got to see what mission work is really like and build skills they’ll use when they become pastors.

Trip 1: Fredericksburg, Va.

Hosted by The Way Church in Fredericksburg, Va., this trip offered a theoretical foundation for ten WLS seniors under the guidance of Lucas Bitter, home missionary at Intown, Atlanta, Ga.; and Matt Rothe, home missionary at The Way; along with Mission Counselor Mark Birkholz.

The students spent the week studying the principles of church planting, analyzing potential future mission fields, and formulating detailed ministry plans for each location. They also engaged with lay leaders and experienced worship in a mission setting.

“This trip gave our seniors a head start,” shared Bitter. “If assigned to plant a new church, they’ll go in with their eyes wide open, understanding the importance of structuring a healthy organization that incorporates the gifts of all God’s people alongside their passion for sharing the gospel.”

Trip 2: Parrish and Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Risen Savior in Parrish, Fla., hosted 11 WLS students, accompanied by WLS Professor Jonathan Micheel, Mission Counselor Wayne Uhlhorn, and Pastor Ben Balge. Students got hands-on experience by participating in a variety of ministry and outreach activities that are typical at a new mission start: volunteering at community service events, helping with a sports camp, and interviewing civic and religious leaders to build community profiles.

“This is my second WLS trip, and it’s inspiring to see these young men eager to learn how to reach out with the gospel,” said Uhlhorn.

Student Cooper Knoll noted, “Mission work isn’t just about having the ‘perfect outreach strategy.’ Our work showed that it’s important to be flexible to adapt to the needs of the community so we can better serve them with the gospel.”

Trip 3: Greater Houston Area, Texas

Nine students traveled to the greater Houston area, led by Professor E. Allen Sorum and Mission Counselor Matt Vogt. They focused on canvassing neighborhoods and building community profiles for the new mission that was approved in fall 2024 in Cypress/Waller and a mission opportunity in Rosenberg that’s currently being explored.

For student Jacob Kieselhorst, a conversation with a man he met while canvassing was eye-opening: “He shared his struggles, and I had the chance to share the gospel with him. It became so much more than canvassing—it was a profound mission experience.” (Watch his testimonial here).

These trips taken during the seminary’s Winterim term are a testament to the collaboration between WELS Home Missions and WLS. By combining academic study with real-world experiences, these trips help train future pastors for the unique challenges of mission work.

The initiative aligns with WELS’ goal of planting 100 missions in 10 years. Through this partnership, students gain the tools, confidence, and vision to bring Christ to diverse communities across North America.

As student Collin Maurice summarized, “Every interaction is an opportunity to share your faith. This trip reinforced that mission work is a mindset, not just a strategy.”

Faces of Faith – Jerry and Denice

2025/01/15/in Faces of Faith, Home Missions, Missions

“It was like the light bulb came on, and you felt so much more peace when you went to church,” says Denice.

Hear more from Jerry Laster, a trauma surgeon, who draws a powerful parallel between his work of healing physical wounds and the church’s role as a hospital for sick souls. Discover how he and his wife, Denice, found peace and healing through God’s free grace at Christ Alone Lutheran Church, a WELS home mission congregation in Keller, Texas.

Learn more about the WELS 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative at wels100in10.net.

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Reaching the unreached souls in northern Wisconsin

2024/11/07/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

For Ann, Robert, Jennifer, Linda, Dave, Sue, Tom, Chris, Lisa, Dan, Andy, Nancy, Emily, Carol, Paul, Nick, Jace, Jon, Justin, Megan, Cheryl, Josh, Kathy, Gary, James, Kyle, Sophia, and Alice…

Why do we need another church in Wisconsin? What’s your church going to be like? How are you going to decide on a name? These are all legitimate questions. And I think I finally have a good answer: For Ann, Robert, Jennifer, Linda, Dave, Sue, and so on and so forth . . .

I just arrived at the new location the Lord has now placed me to share his Word – Kronenwetter, Wis. (think southeast Wausau, Wis. – east of Hwy 51, south of I 29, north of Hwy 153). For the first two weeks after the installation service on Sept. 15, I was welcomed into the homes of each family of our core group. We had a short devotion, got to know each other a little bit, and started sharing some initial gospel ministry thoughts of how to reach out to the unchurched in our target area.

I was also asked to conduct a couple of mission festivals in the area. During the sermon on Isaiah 6, I encouraged the congregations to work through the “Friends Who Need Jesus” diagram. It’s a common diagram that has been around for quite a long time, but every time I work through it, I think about another soul in my sphere of influence who doesn’t know about Jesus. And others were experiencing the same thing! (You should take 90 seconds and try it too!) In fact, several people gave me the contact information of their unchurched friend, relative, acquaintance, or neighbor who is living in our target area.

So I thought that would be a good way to start our first official meeting on Sept. 29. The group that gathered worked through the diagram. It didn’t take much effort ,and we filled the board with names! But they aren’t just names, are they? Those letters on the board indicate that there are dear souls in our area who need Jesus! And how can they believe in the one about whom they have not heard?

So right from the start, we were reminded why we need another church in Wisconsin and 99 other places as well. For Ann, Robert, Jennifer, Linda, Dave, Sue, Tom, Chris, Lisa, and Dan. We learned how we are going to pick a name and make all the decisions when it comes to starting this mission. For Andy, Nancy, Emily, Carol, Paul, Nick, Jace, Jon, and Justin. Because our synod is aggressively reaching lost souls, this will be another WELS congregation sharing God’s Word in its truth and purity for Megan, Cheryl, Josh, Kathy, Gary, and Lord-willing, many other souls who all need Jesus!

Written by Rev. Frederic Berger, home missionary at the new mission start in Kronenwetter, Wis.

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Partnerships lead to progress

2024/10/24/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Philippians 1:3-4)

I love this verse from Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul was known as the great missionary who took the gospel throughout the known world at the time. Yet, in these verses, God reminds us that Paul didn’t go alone; he had partners—those who supported him financially, prayed for him, sent him care packages, and shared the gospel themselves. Paul’s stories were their stories. Ministry is all about partnerships in the gospel.

I can still hear President Schroeder on assignment day in May 2015: “Stephen Apt. New mission start. Liberty Hill, Texas. South Central District.” I was so excited to be going to Texas, starting a mission church and telling people about Jesus. I quickly found out that we had one other family in our core group: Jerry, Laura, and their second-grade son, Christian. That made five of us. We rented space in a commercial storefront property where our nearest neighbors were a gas station, a survivalist store, and a BBQ restaurant. It seemed like a daunting task to start a church with just the five of us, but we had big dreams and an even bigger God.

Fast forward nine years, and our church now worships an average of 153 souls each Sunday. We have 83 adults growing in the Word during the week, whether in Sunday morning Bible study or in our small groups, along with 50 youth and teens in our teen ministries and 56 in our children’s ministries. In addition to our church, we have a school with an enrollment of 370 students, and we’ve completed two building projects. How did all of this happen? Through partnerships.

We have the amazing opportunity to share the gospel with many people from diverse backgrounds—some who didn’t know Jesus at all and others who have been away from the church for a long time. We’ve had the privilege to share Jesus with people who haven’t had a good walk with the Lord in the past, including Terri and her husband, Todd.

If you were to ask Terri and Todd about their walk with God prior to our church, they would say it wasn’t very good. But one day, they decided to give our church a try. They attended our Starting Point class and learned all about Jesus and what he has done for them. Four years later, Todd and Terri are now partners in our ministry. Todd serves as our church’s head usher, and Terri is currently taking classes to become synod certified to teach in our school. Terri recently said, “I feel so much closer to God than I ever have in my entire life.”

As I type this from my desk in Liberty Hill, Texas, I can’t help but feel thankful—not only for all that God has done but also for our partners in the gospel. These stories are not just my story, nor are they solely Divine Savior’s stories; they are your stories as well. The ministry and the gospel work here have only been possible because of the partnership of WELS supporting our mission in Texas. I am grateful for your partnership as you support the spread of the gospel ministry through the Board of Home Missions with your prayers, service, and offerings. Ministry is best accomplished through partnerships. Thank you for your partnership from the first day until now.

Written by Rev. Stephen Apt, home missionary at Divine Savior Church in Liberty Hill, Texas.

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Finding a place to stand

2024/10/03/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

There’s a lot going on in the fastest growing city in America. According to the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau, Celina, Texas, is the fastest growing city in America based on percentage change (in cities with a population of at least 20,000). Roads are being expanded and the city is breaking ground to build a Costco. Three years ago our city was just around 23,800 residents, and now it is splitting at the seams, sitting just north of 50,000 residents. But right in the middle of this rapidly changing community a small church named Divine Savior Church – North Collin County opened its doors in a small storefront unit on Sept. 8, 2024.

It was a special morning for us. A big step in the mission planting process! To finally throw open our doors, set up our signage outside, and invite the friends we’ve all made was fantastic. Seventy-one people came through the doors, and what made it fantastic was knowing that those individuals would hear the gospel of Jesus.

That’s what any given Sunday morning is all about. We confess our sins, we receive forgiveness, we hear God’s Word read and preached. We confess a common faith, we sing with joy, we pray, we receive the Lord himself in the Sacrament, and we receive God’s blessing. It’s just as important as it sounds. What an honor it is that God has afforded us this opportunity to participate in this ministry. A launch service presents a pastor with a unique opportunity to plan a service that sets the tone for a ministry. What better way to set the tone for a ministry than to be uniquely Lutheran, to be uniquely Christ-centered? Christ is our peace through his blood shed on the cross. The cross is where sins are forgiven. The cross is where we are at peace with God. The cross is where we find belonging. Beneath that cross is our place to stand.

In a rapidly changing community, identity is at stake. This small town is scared of losing its identity and its roots, and I can’t blame them. I’m concerned about it, too. My wife, Sami, and I have fallen in love with the small town we now call home. But we know that the small-town feel is rapidly changing. New people are moving here from all over the country. Where do they find a place to stand? The long-term tenants are mourning the loss of their small town. Where do they find a place to stand? Where does a small mission church find a place to stand in a place like this?

Thanks be to God we have the answer. We never had to find a place to stand in the first place, and neither does anyone else. God provides one, and it’s the best place. It’s beneath the cross of Jesus. So, we cling with an iron grip to that blessed cross. We fashion a service that is centered on the cross because it tells the story of Christ.

Truth be told, the fastest growing city in America is the perfect place for a small mission like ours to do what we do best not only on Sunday mornings, but every day. We engage one person at a time with the gospel so that they can know and trust the Savior that changes their life in Spirit-wrought faith. The privilege is ours and the praise is his. I can’t wait to see those who God touches through this ministry before the throne of our God.

Please keep us in your prayers as we move into post-launch mission life!

Written by Rev. Caleb King, home missionary at Divine Savior Church in North Collin County, Texas.

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Together Video – October 1, 2024

2024/09/30/in Together

A new home mission in the greater Houston area was just approved by the WELS Board for Home Missions. Rev. Nathan Sutton, district mission board chairman for the South Central District, discusses the next steps for the core group and the greater culture of mission-mindedness in the South Central District.

Preparing new home missionaries

2024/09/30/in News, Together

“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.

Three home missions launch weekly worship

2024/09/30/in News, Together

Three home missions launched weekly worship services in September: Divine Savior—North Collin County, Celina, Texas; Anchor Church, Marquette, Mich.; and Victory, Wichita, Kan.

“A grand opening is important in the life of a mission church because it signals that from here on out you are fully operational for worship,” says Rev. Joseph Lindloff, home missionary at Anchor Church. “It’s like the gun going off at the beginning of a marathon. It signals that we can now get to work reaching one soul at a time as a full-fledged church, bringing people regularly into the house of God and before the means of grace. What a joy that we get to do this work, joining Jesus on his mission!”

Divine Savior—North Collin County, Celina, Texas: Seventy-one people attended the launch service on Sept. 8. Divine Savior’s core group has been meeting for planning and Bible studies since 2021; it was approved as a mission site in 2023. Celina, a northern suburb of Dallas, is the fastest growing city in the United States.

Following the launch service, the real work begins, says Rev. Caleb King, home missionary at Divine Savior—North Collin County. “The reality is we’re a church of about 25 adults and a handful of children. We could sit and ‘play church’ and think that we made it, or we can recognize that the launch was a great milestone but not the mountain peak. The next step, then, is to continue to engage people one by one with the gospel so that they can know the Savior who changes their life; to care for individual souls in ways that the rest of the world doesn’t.”

Anchor Church, Marquette, Mich.: On Sept. 15, 75 people (including 20 visitors) attended the grand opening under the theme “Hope in Christ, Firm and Secure.” Approved as a mission site in 2023, Anchor Church has a 24/7 ministry space in downtown Marquette where it hosts community service events, Bible studies, youth ministry, and now weekly worship.

Lindloff says that the community has been welcoming to the concept of a new church: “We are right where we need to be, downtown in the heart of Marquette, serving it spiritually and physically.”

Victory, Wichita, Kan.: Started as a home mission in 2022 as part of a multisite effort for Messiah, Wichita, Kan., Victory launched worship at its second location on Sept. 15, with a full day’s worth of events. More than 100 people attended, including 15 first-time visitors.

While the festivities and food were a hit, the message is what made an impact. Rev. Jacob Jenswold, Victory’s home missionary, shares this reaction from a visitor who hadn’t been in church for months and had never been in a conservative Lutheran church. “He told me, ‘This felt different. The service felt more focused, like everything came back to God’s words for me. I like that. I want to come back for that.’ We will see if he comes back for that, but that’s what we are going for! Jesus for you!”

All three missionaries are thankful for the continued support of Home Missions and WELS members. “Our mission’s work and ministry wouldn’t be possible without you,” says King. “You may never meet a person that is impacted by the work you support. But you will meet them in heaven someday. . . . Keep us in your prayers as we hold on to God’s promises in his Word.”

WELS is committed to starting 100 new missions in the next 10 years. Learn more about this initiative at wels100in10.net.

Tuning up before taking off

2024/09/26/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

What in the world is a mission enhancement? That was the first question on my mind after hearing about the details of my new call. Call Day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary flew by in an instant, but that question stuck with me. I have heard of a new mission start . . . but an enhancement? That one was new.

Rev. Eli and Rachel Steinbrenner

When my wife, Rachel, and I got to our new home, it started to become more and more clear what it means to be a mission enhancement pastor. Unlike a new mission start, Good Shepherd already has a church building and a large core group of people. They even maintained regular worship throughout a long vacancy. The core group and I are eager to kickstart outreach efforts once again to take advantage of the gospel outreach opportunities the Lord is providing. As an enhancement, we have support from our District Mission Board, guidance from an experienced Mission Counselor, and some short-term financial support to help us get there.

In short, being a mission enhancement is all about tuning up before taking off. Because Good Shepherd has made so much progress earlier on, before the vacancy, many of the big projects to get a church going have already been checked off our list. Our goals over the next couple of months, and even years, are focused on updating how we do ministry, both for maintaining close-knit relationships and increasing fellowship as well as branching out and diving deep into outreach projects. But, before we hit the ground running, there are some preparations that need to be made beforehand.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have spent a lot of time getting to know the people whom I serve. I have had the opportunity to learn about the many gifts God has given them and the history that connects them to Good Shepherd and the community. On top of meeting my own people, I have been reaching out to our community’s leaders: other church’s pastors, local government, business owners, civil service personnel, etc. to get a better pulse as to what our community needs and how we can address those needs with our unique gifts and abilities.

In addition to doing information gathering, our District Mission Board is sending Rachel and I to a Church Planter Intensive specifically for mission enhancement pastors. The Church Planter Intensive is run by a group of home missionaries who have been in very similar situations as the one I am in. It is designed to help and instruct me on how I can use my gifts, the gifts of my people, and the information on my community to better serve my people and community. For a little under a week, Rachel and I will be learning from mission experts in Virginia and picking up a mentor along the way. The mentor will help give practical advice and encouragement as we “tune up” over the next two years.

This is all to say, mission work isn’t just outreach events and worship. There is a lot of learning and tuning that needs to be done before we can take off and make our ideas a reality. It has been a little overwhelming, but I am very thankful that there are so many people who support and encourage me throughout all of it. Praise be to God that there are thousands of people who pray for us and our ministry every day!

Written by Rev. Eli Steinbrenner, home missionary at Good Shepherd in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

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Where church planters go to die

2024/09/19/in Home Missions, Missions, WELS Blogs

“That’s where church planters go to die!”

That’s what a man told me only months after I moved to Mississauga, Canada, when I mentioned that I was pastoring a church in the northwest part of the city.

Whether or not he knew what he was talking about, I think we can agree that planting a church in Mississauga looks challenging on paper. Mississauga is the third most expensive city in Canada (only behind Vancouver and Toronto), extremely transient (more than 50 percent of Mississauga residents have lived here for less than 5 years), and highly post-Christian (although about 50 percent of residents claim to be Christian, less than 25 percent of them are regularly in worship on a Sunday).

And the historical fact is that WELS has tried to plant a church in the Mississauga area two times previous to the current version of our congregation (in the 1970s and early 1990s), but both times the missions had to close. In some sense, that man was right.

But despite the challenges on paper and in ministry, our synod continued to “have concern for the great city.” (Jonah 4:11). And here we are! August 15, 2024, was the 25th anniversary of our congregation and many blessings accompany that celebration:

First, fruits of the gospel! Over Cross of Life’s history, 116 people have received the gift of Baptism and 216 have been confirmed in the faith after studying scripture with one of our pastors.

Second, a new population to serve. We have received over 70 new visitors in the last six months who are refugees from five different African nations. We were able to mobilize humanitarian aid and spiritual care for these folks. About 20 of them have joined our church, with more intending to join. Ironically, this started only a month after I said to a brother pastor, “We are a very multicultural church . . . except we don’t really have anyone from Africa.” Oh, how Jesus made me eat my words!

Third, a subsidy-free ministry. This year, we chose to stop receiving subsidy from our synod to operate our church. After literally millions of dollars spent to keep a church in this city, we can fund ministry on our own now.

Fourth, a future home. We have made a deal to purchase a 10,000 square foot building to be our church home. We are waiting for city permission to close the deal, but things look promising at this point. Pray that God would give us this home or a better one, if it is his will.

Fifth, a future ministry. We have started two men on the path to becoming WELS pastors in Canada through a partnership with Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. We get to dream what God is planning for us in the next few years as those men near graduation and can serve full-time in the ministry!

Of course, all these blessings ultimately come from Jesus, so thank him as you hear how he is blessing us! But these blessings are also the result of the generous Congregational Mission Offerings of congregations like yours, and because of the commitment of our synod’s leaders to planting and supporting churches in major cities, despite the immense costs and challenges. So, thank you also for your offerings and your prayers, and please keep praying for God’s work to be done here!

Written by Rev. Caleb Schultz, home missionary at Cross of Life in Mississauga, Ontario.

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Supporting home missionaries: Church Planter Intensive and coaching program

2024/08/27/in Home Missions, Missions

One of the ways WELS Home Missions works behind the scenes to support new home mission congregations and their missionaries is through a Church Planter Intensive (CPI) and coaching program. Brand new church planters gather together with experienced home missionaries for a Church Planter Intensive at Carbon Valley Lutheran Church in Firestone, Colo. Experienced church planter Jared Oldenburg (Eternal Rock – Castle Rock, Colo.) developed the program and Home Missionary Matt Rothe (The Way – Fredericksburg, Va.) now leads the training. This extended weekend seminar encourages and equips pastors who are called to plant brand new home mission churches. They are then paired with a coach from an established mission church to guide them for their first two years of launching a new church. Learn more about the program on the wels100in10.net website.

Here’s what three home missionaries had to stay about the program:

When I was approached about attending the Church Planter Intensive (CPI) in 2023, I had no idea how influential and vital it would be to my personal ministry and our mission start as a whole. Over the course of three days I was able to gather with other pastors in similar situations and explore church planting together. I’m brand new to church planting, and frankly had no idea where to even start. While there is so much to continually learn and no one perfect way to plant a church, CPI gave direction that would be missing otherwise. From finances to structure to leadership and beyond, CPI gave me peace of mind to know where to start, what to focus on, and what do in certain situations. I weekly refer to the CPI booklet. The Church Planter Intensive also connected me with other mission pastors who continue to talk, encourage, and bounce ideas off of each other. It’s a unique brotherhood that I don’t take for granted.

As much as the Church Planter Intensive was able to ground me, set our ministry on a good path, and send us out with valuable information, the coaching program is now my lifeline in an ongoing way. My coach is the most accessible avenue to bounce ideas off of, get input from, and help me grow as a pastor. We meet monthly to study aspects of church planting that I’ve never thought about. We also talk every week or two on the phone for feedback with our mission. I am so so grateful for my coach, the time he gives to me, and the huge heart that he has for missions. His brotherhood and coaching has transformed our new mission start and will continually be a blessing to me and many others. Thank you to everyone who makes the Church Planter Intensive and coaching program possible! It’s a massive blessing!

Home Missionary Joe LindloffAnchor Lutheran Church - Marquette, Mich.

At the Church Planter Intensive, we developed systems and timelines which have helped us tremendously. We had some frame of reference and ideas formulated and ready to use when we got to Boston, and so many of the things we learned have been implemented. Someone told me that you have to be able to think inside the box to think outside the box. I think the analogy applies to CPI. Boston is a different home mission—WELS has never had a church in this city—and in some ways, you are forced to think outside of the box. CPI gave us the tools to orient ourselves to think outside the box and engage the city creatively and contextually. It was also incredible to network with the other church planting couples at CPI. The support that Katelyn and I felt after going to the training has been so helpful. I keep in touch with some of the guys from training, and we use each other as sounding boards and for support. It is wonderful knowing that there is a community of church planters all praying for each other and with a similar goal—to proclaim the peace only Jesus can bring to the ends of the earth!

I also can’t say enough about my coach, Rev. Lucas Bitter from Intown Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Ga., and his wife, Meredith. He and I both work in urban environments, and he has helped me think and rethink many ideas about working in the city. Meredith has also been outstanding in this process. She and Katelyn have a monthly call to discuss what it’s like to be a church planter’s wife and share experiences. My coaching calls with Pastor Bitter give me a chance to articulate what is going on in my ministry, ask questions, give comments, and voice concerns. His knowledge of church planting, his desire to reach those who are lost, and his love for Jesus is evident every time we talk. He’s been available, patient, and filled with wisdom. I look up to him as a mentor for ministry and life.

Home Missionary Josh KoelpinHarbor Lutheran Church - Boston, Mass.

The Church Planter Intensive (CPI) coupled with the coaching program is incredibly beneficial for new missionaries. Throughout our schooling, you get a lot of exposure to what it’s like walking into an existing church. It’s a little different when you drive into a new city, and it hits you that you’re starting a new church plant there. There are SO many questions. Every church has the same mission, but each church carries it out in a different way. The Church Planter Intensive and coaching program didn’t necessarily tell me what to do, but exposed me to different ideas, experiences, and resources and provided me with a network of fellow missionaries to encourage and support me throughout this process. It helped bring so much clarity to my plans.

Each month I get to sit down for an hour or more with my coach where we talk about implementing part of what I learned at the Church Planter Intensive. He’s there to check in on how I’m doing spiritually, emotionally, and physically, and to be a sounding board for any ideas I have. It also gives me an opportunity to take a step back each month and look at our mission as a whole—where have we been, where are we going, and how we going to get there. He assists my mission so that I can really focus on Christ’s mission.

One of the greatest ways WELS Home Missions and the Church Planter Intensive are supporting their missionaries is putting a big value on the wife’s role in the mission plant process. My wife, Samantha, shares: “As a new missionary’s wife, it can be a little daunting to jump headfirst into the mission field since my husband was the one who went through the years of schooling, and he was the one assigned to our new mission church. I was encouraged knowing it’s not just the work of the pastor that’s important in starting a mission church. It also includes me, our core group, and the community we get to share Jesus with. Attending CPI encouraged me as a pastor’s wife to surround myself with a community of women who have gone through this before. They are sisters in Christ who I can lean on during the difficult times and celebrate with during the joyous times.”

The Church Planter Intensive establishes a brotherhood with other church planters right from the beginning. I have a network of people that care about me not just as a missionary, but as an individual. We remind each other that what’s at the heart of this work is individual souls who need to hear about their personal Savior. It charges me up to get back to that important work so that more lives can be touched by the life-changing power of Jesus.

Home Missionary Caleb KingDivine Savior Lutheran Church - North Collin County, Tex.

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