Tag Archive for: 100 Missions in 10 Years

Resilient in the face of rejection

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ā€œChristianity is dying.ā€ ā€œReligion is a waste of time and money and energy.ā€ ā€œI will be blocking any further posts from you.ā€

Our church ran an advertisement on Facebook recently for our Lent sermon series. The quotes above are a sample of replies we got as people scrolled through their feeds and ran into our post. Encouraging, right?

Youā€™ve probably heard similar things. Perhaps no one has said something like this to you when youā€™ve invited them to church. Usually, people are much more polite if you already have a relationship. But they may have thought it. ā€œWho still cares about that ā€˜churchā€™ stuff?ā€

When we see churches all over the country shrinking, and people reacting more and more negatively to our invitations, we can become discouraged. We might even get angry. Weā€™re tempted to lash out at those who disparage our faith, whether online or in person.

But some people responded quite differently to our ad.

ā€œGod bless you at all times and all places.ā€ ā€œThank you.ā€ ā€œPray for me.ā€

Godā€™s children, even in an age that seems less and less interested in the gospel, are known through our attitudes of peace, joy, and kindness. Your neighbors see Christā€™s love reflected in you, which is a wondrous work of Godā€™s Holy Spirit.

The early Christians faced similar rejection and persecution. Many people accused them of cannibalism (because they were ā€œeating someoneā€™s body and bloodā€ in worship) or of conspiracy and sedition (because they claimed another Lord ruled over them).

Likewise, we may face rejection and scorn for what seems like unfair reasons. But in that, weā€™re no different than our Lord. ā€œWhen they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ā€˜He himself bore our sinsā€™ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousnessā€. 1 Peter 2:23-24

Iā€™ve got an appointment on my calendar this week to stop by a new memberā€™s home; someone whoā€™s been ill recently and hasnā€™t made it to worship in a couple weeks. Their reaction to Christianity? A text that made me smile. ā€œIā€™m frustrated. I really want to get back to church.ā€

This is going to sound obvious, but itā€™s a truth Iā€™ve had to remind myself of more than once during our churchā€™s restart project, ā€œDonā€™t look for encouragement in discouraging words.ā€ I found myself returning to those negative comments, reading them again and again, as if I expected a reply to suddenly occur to me that would absolutely flip their worldview on its head and convince them of the truth of the gospel. That wonā€™t happen!

Instead, find encouragement among your brothers and sisters in your church. Cling to one another. ā€œThe family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings,ā€ so let us ā€œlove each other deeplyā€ (1 Peter 5:9 and 4:8). Love like that will stand out today, tomorrow, and always.

Written by Rev. Timothy Walsh, home missionary at Grace of God Lutheran Church in Dix Hills, N.Y.

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Sowing seeds in urban soil

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When you think of church, what pops into your head? I think of my home church building, St. Johnā€™s in New Ulm, Minn. I can see the stained-glass windows and large wooden cross up front. I can hear the organ and bells, the singing of hymns, and the subtle crack of the microphone as the pastor proclaims the sermon. I can smell the midweek Lenten supper simmering in the basement. I recall conversing with family and friends in the narthex after the service. It transports me to another world. Maybe you can relate.

Now, imagine you donā€™t have most of the things in that “other world.” There is no church building. No grand pipe organ blasting ā€œSpeak, O Savior; I Am Listening.ā€ No microphones. No midweek Lenten soup. No Sunday morning conversations that last until the lights are shut off, telling you itā€™s time to go home. Would it still feel like church?

It might not feel like church, but it would be.

We donā€™t have a traditional church building in Boston or a large music ensemble yet (and one day, I hope we do). But we still have a church. Our church meets in many different places around the city: in libraries, co-working space, coffee shops, restaurants, and homes. We donā€™t have a large group of people, but we gather together to take in the scriptures, confess sins, recite creeds, and pray the Lordā€™s prayer. We do gather for fellowship and eat food together, and we share in the Lordā€™s Supper ā€“ just like you do.

It can be challenging for church to always feel like church when planting a new mission congregation. No programs are established and there isnā€™t a regular meeting on Sunday morning. Itā€™s hard for the members of the congregation as well. Many of them are familiar with growing up in well-established congregations. I ask that you keep us in your prayers as we continue working on planting.

This may all sound a bit pessimistic up to this point, but I promise itā€™s not meant to feel that way. Why? Because church planting, especially in a city, gives us opportunities to reach many people with the gospel. Some predict that 68 percent of the world will live in urban centers by 2050. That tells me that we must continue to plant churches in urban environments. We have to start somewhere. From a human perspective, if we can work in cities, we can reach more people worldwide.

Church planting efforts, like the one in Boston, may feel small to begin with. At times, they may not feel like church, but they are. Efforts like the one WELS is making in Boston are critical as we seek to see the spread of the gospel to the ends of the earth.

I am incredibly grateful for all the prayers and support of the work in Boston. Continue to pray for us and all of our church plants as we attempt to reach many with the good news of Jesus!

Written by Rev. Joshua Koelpin, home missionary in Boston, Mass.

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Continue the momentum

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Dear Friend of Missions,

If you received my letter this past week, you know that, as we aim to open 100 new home missions and enhance 75 existing missions over ten years, Iā€™m encouraging us to keep in mind that ā€œItā€™s a marathon, not a sprint.ā€ We thank God that the ā€œraceā€ has started well with 20 new mission starts and enhancements approved in year one!

We know we need to keep going to reach more of the lost and we want to equip our missions to thrive, not just survive. Yet, some might ask, ā€œIs it worth the cost?ā€ The answer is a resounding ā€œYes!ā€ ā€œFor you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become richā€ (2 Corinthians 8:9). As we consider our riches because of the cross and empty tomb, how can we not share Jesus with those who are still poor?

Our district mission boards have submitted 16 new starts and 17 enhancement requests for review at next monthā€™s Board for Home Missions meetings. The financial cost to support these requests is not small, but itā€™s worth it realizing weā€™re sending missionaries out with the powerful gospel that changes hearts, just like it changed yours and mine. Will you prayerfully consider giving to support this 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative?

While there is still much work to be done, by Godā€™s grace, we have started strong and, God willing, will continue this momentum in the years ahead.

In Christā€™s service,
Mark Gabb
Administrator, WELS Home Missions

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A marathon, not a sprint

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Dear Christian Friend,

ā€œRemember, itā€™s a marathon and not a sprint.ā€

Growing up and going through school, I enjoyed playing sports like football, basketball, baseball, and even floor hockey. But as full-time ministry began, it became more difficult to find opportunities to do those things even though I knew I still needed to get exercise. So, I took up running. Little did I know that running would lead to competing in 5K races, which led to friends convincing me to compete in a half-marathon.

Thatā€™s when ā€œitā€™s a marathon and not a sprintā€ hit home. While wind sprints get you in shape for football, basketball, baseball, and floor hockey, training for a half-marathon requires far less sprinting and far more long-distance running. You must learn to pace yourself so that you can run a strong race for the entire 13.1 miles.

ā€œItā€™s a marathon and not a sprintā€ can also apply to the WELS initiative to start 100 missions and enhance 75 missions in 10 years. The ā€œraceā€ has now started with ten new mission starts and ten enhancements approved in year one. We thank God for you and our partnership in the gospel that enables us to reach more lost souls with the message of forgiveness, peace, and hope through Jesus Christ.

Weā€™ve started strong and now need to continue going where the people are to reach more of the lost. We also want to equip our missions to thrive and not just survive. Yet, in these markets, weā€™re seeing the cost of real estate, rental property, and construction rising dramatically. Some might ask, ā€œIs it worth the cost?ā€ The answer is a resounding, ā€œYes!ā€

ā€œFor you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become richā€ (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus became poor so that we could become rich. What we have wasnā€™t purchased with gold or silver, but with his holy precious blood and by his innocent suffering and death. We have pardon for our sins, peace with God, and hope for this life and eternity. We are rich!

The ā€œ100 Missions in 10 Yearsā€ initiative is all about sharing our riches with those who are still poor. By Godā€™s grace, together with you, we have started strong. We trust that we will continue running strong. We trust that we will continue to pray for this initiative as well as the ministry of WELS.

During this season of Lent as we consider the empty tomb and the riches we have, how can we not share our riches with those who are still poor? We trust that as God has blessed you financially, you will consider a special gift that will help us continue to run a strong race by Godā€™s grace. And remember, itā€™s a marathon, not a sprint.

In Christā€™s service,
Mark Gabb
Administrator, WELS Home Missions

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Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for blessing our synodā€™s ā€œ100 Missions in 10 Yearsā€ effort with a strong start toward the goal of 100 new home missions and 75 mission enhancements by 2033. Send your Spirit to bless the ten mission starts and ten enhancements that were approved last year. May theyā€”and all of our congregationsā€”stay focused on gathering around your gospel in Word and sacraments and sharing it with our communities. Amen.

A strong start!

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Dear Friend of Missions,

Twenty new home mission starts and enhancements were approved in 2023ā€”praise God! Thank you for your prayers and offerings that have helped us start strong! We know the incredible things God will do through each congregation gathered around and proclaiming his salvation from sin through Jesus. Realizing this is a marathon and not a sprint, we now want to maintain a good pace as we continue the race to reach more of the lost and equip our missions to thrive.

We do this through district mission boards, which support existing home missions and work with local congregations to identify where to plant new churches throughout their district. This volunteer group of two to four pastors and two to four laymen builds a solid foundation for each new mission, shepherding these churches and their pastors on their path from mission status to self-supporting congregations. The district mission boards are preparing a new round of mission start and enhancement requests for the Board for Home Missions to review at their April meeting.

We are confident in God’s grace and the Holy Spiritā€™s power to continue to fuel our efforts for this marathon. Knowing there is a cost to running this race, would you consider a gift to help with the marathon ahead? We continue to pray that God would bless the efforts of the missionaries already on location and give patience to the groups of mission-minded believers waiting for their first shepherd so that in the end, more people see their desperate need for salvation and come believe the wonderful message of forgiveness and salvation through Christ alone.

Watch your mailbox for more information about this exciting initiative. And letā€™s remember this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Serving him,
Mark Gabb
Administrator, WELS Home Missions

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Together Video Update – February 13, 2024

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Rev. Joseph Lindloff and his family moved to Marquette, Mich., in September 2023 after he accepted the call to plant a new home mission in the Upper Peninsula community. Heā€™s been working to plant the seeds of the gospel there for nearly six months. In today’s Together video, he shares an update on the blessings of the ministryā€”and reveals the name for the new church. This new mission is just one of the new mission starts that are part of the WELS 100 in 10 initiative, which aims to start 100 new home missions in 10 years.

 

 

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Athens of America

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My wife and I were walking in the Boston Logan Airport after returning from a trip and on the wall there was a timeline of many Boston and greater-Boston area inventions. There was a picture of the first disposable blade razor put out by Gillette, a picture of the first microwave oven, a picture of Mark Zuckerberg in his Harvard dorm room inventing Facebook, and those are just a few of many others. Why do you think the city of Boston chose that exhibit to go on the wall of their airport? I wasnā€™t sitting in on the meetings that decided it, but I would guess it is because Boston is proud of their many inventions. They want you to know, before you have even stepped out of the airport, that Boston is a city of great minds, inventions, and innovation.

What does this have to do with starting a church in Boston? Thatā€™s a good question. I think there are several facts about our mission that do make it innovative or different than other settings. For one, WELS has never had a church in Boston. Secondly, seventy-five percent of the people who gathered in our house for Bible study last week donā€™t own a car. Finally, my wife and I live in the most densely populated city in all New England. Maybe that makes this mission start ā€œinnovative.ā€ But the more I thought about it, and the more time youā€™d spend here, youā€™d realize that we really arenā€™t that innovative.

What does your normal day look like? This question is asked all the time, and for good reason; people want to know what it is like starting a mission church in a big city. Again, in so many ways, it isnā€™t all that inventive. My wife and I find different ways to get involved in the community and meet people, we spend time with people over food, and we grow with them in our love for our community and Savior. We study the Word, we pray for each other, and the Holy Spirit continually uses that Word to work faith in peopleā€™s hearts one by one. Do we have to be innovative with how we meet people? Sure. Will we have to be innovative with finding space to have worship when we are ready for that? Probably! But our tools for doing church planting are the same tools that have always been used for church planting ā€“ the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Iā€™m not sure the first word you would use to describe our small mission church at this time is innovative or inventive. Yes, we have creative people and come up with new ways to reach the community, but our foundation is rooted in the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17). Thanks be to God for this opportunity to share the gospel to the many people of Boston! All involved on starting the church in Boston ask for your continued prayers as we continue to love God and love our neighbor in this great city.

Written by Rev. Joshua Koelpin, home missionary at the new start mission in Boston, Mass.

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How’s it going?

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ā€œHowā€™s it going?ā€ Many have asked me that question lately. That likely doesnā€™t surprise you, because it is such a common, generic greeting employed by many of us. Often, we donā€™t even expect a real answer. The people who have asked me do want a real answer. They ask for a specific purpose. They know I have experienced a big change ā€“ the ministry I serve has experienced a big change. They finish the question like this, ā€œHowā€™s it going working with another pastor?ā€

In March of 2023, Divine Savior Church ā€“ Sienna submitted a request through our district mission board to the Board for Home Missions for an enhancement grant ā€“ financial support to allow our church to call for a second pastor. Under Godā€™s careful watch and blessing, the Board for Home Missions granted that request. Our leadership crafted a clear job description for a Pastor of Discipleship, then moved quickly to extend call number one. We knew it was a strong possibility we would need to extend call number two, and three, four, five, maybe more, but God had other plans. Our faithful God worked through that process, Rev. Dan Laitinen was the first pastor we called and he accepted the call. He moved with his family to Sienna in July 2023, and we celebrated his installation on July 30 with worship and a massive serving of Texas-smoked pulled pork.

That celebration kicked off a massive change, both for me and for our ministry. Honestly, I was nervous. How well would we get along? Would I be a good teammate? What information is the most important to share immediately?

So. . . howā€™s it going? Iā€™m learning how to better communicate, and let go, and many other ways in which I can grow as a pastor. I struggled at first to remember to say, ā€œIā€™m one of the pastors here.ā€ Yet, all of that puts too much emphasis on myself and Pastor Dan, we are under shepherds. I want to put the emphasis on Jesus, the great Shepherd, and his mission to reach more for his flock.

Howā€™s that going? Incredibly!

As we partner with Divine Savior Academy on our campus, there are so many opportunities for ministry. This year, the school has grown to 350 students in PreK ā€“ 11th grade. We anticipate more students next year with the completion of a building project. So much ministry can happen! While I serve 10th graders and teach the Old Testament, Pastor Dan can study the Bible with Kenneth, our security officer, and Keith, our technology specialist, progressing towards membership at Divine Savior Church. While Pastor Dan invites them to his home to encourage and equip Connect Group leaders for our small group ministry, I am the invited guest at the homes of academy parents like Jake and Amanda or Will and Jordan, who take our START class to becomes members. While I take time to engage and interact specifically with worship visitors and guests, Pastor Dan leads a Sunday morning small group study. While Pastor Dan works with our youth group leaders to plan consistent events to connect teens to Christ, I work with the Outreach team to plan our Soccer Camp and Easter Egg Hunt.

Howā€™s it going? Thanks for asking! I have a real answer to give: More kingdom work is happening. More people are equipped to serve in our mission. More souls are connected to Christ!

Written by Rev. Kevin Boushek, home missionary at Divine Savior Church in Sienna, Texas.

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Brats and building bridges for Jesus!

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Sometimes you just need to be creative.

The core group for a new mission start in Kronenwetter, Wis., was looking for a way to both get the word out that a new church was coming to this growing community, and to begin building a prospect list for sharing the gospel. We knew that there was going to be a community garage sale weekend in mid-summer. This meant there would be a lot of residents moving around the village eager to find bargains and hidden treasures at the nearly 100 garage sales that would be taking place in our target area. They were going to get hungry during the day, and of course some of them would need to go to the bathroom.

The core group got creative and saw a golden opportunity! In this part of our country, folks love their bratwurst as much, if not more, than they do their Green Bay Packers. So, it was decided to hold a free brat fry. We would also use this opportunity to open the doors of Northland Lutheran High School, where theĀ  mission will eventually begin, to allow garage sale shoppers to use the facilities and become familiar with the building and the ministry it does.

On the day of the brat fry, the Lord blessed us with perfect weather. A good number of residents stopped by to take us up on the offer of free brats and hot dogs and to use the Northland High School’s bathrooms. That got them in the door. The banner by the food table proclaimed that a new mission church was coming. This accomplished our exact goal, as questions were asked and comments were made, resulting in natural and easy conversations about our intentions. Most of the people who came wanted to give us free will donations.

While we thanked them for their thoughtfulness and politely refused their money, we asked them instead to fill out a 60-Second Survey. We told them that their opinions were valuable because we wanted our mission church to meet the needs of people living in Kronenwetter. If they wanted to be put on our mailing list for regular updates on how the mission was progressing, they could give us their name and address. Twenty-eight surveys were completed, and nine families are now on the prospect list. Itā€™s a start!

I had the opportunity to meet (and eat with!) a young couple blessed with a four year old daughter. Not long ago they moved to Kronenwetter, they told me that they had Lutheran backgrounds from where they used to live but had not found a new church home. They were concerned because their daughter had not been baptized yet, and now she was starting to ask questions about God. It was obvious to me that they were feeling guilt for not doing a better job of Christian parenting. It was a joy to share with them the good news about forgiveness in Jesus, and to let them know I would gladly work with them to have their daughter baptized and that it wouldnā€™t cost them anything. I also told them they could bring their daughter to my churchā€™s Sunday School starting this fall. They were thrilled to know that a church was coming soon to help them all grow in Godā€™s Word and love on their journey to eternal life in heaven.

As the core group was cleaning up at the end of the day, the consensus was clear. Even if the only result of the brat fry was this little girlā€™s baptism, our efforts were more than worth it. But we are confident of Godā€™s blessings and we praise and thank him for letting us use brats and bathrooms to build bridges for sharing Jesus!

Written by Rev. Jeff Mahnke, pastor at St. Peter Lutheran in Schofield, Wis., and chairman of the Western Wisconsin District Mission Board.Ā 

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Reaching one soul at a time

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On Wednesday morning, Rev. Mark Gabb, chairman of the WELS Board for Home Missions, gave an update on the 100 missions in 10 years initiative, which was passed at the 2021 synod convention. The initiative, which began this year, involves planting 100 home mission churches and enhancing 75 ministries over the next 10 years.

In March 2023, the Board for Home Missions approved the first set of 15 new home mission starts and enhancements. Gabb shared updates about each during his presentation.

Gabb also addressed a common question about the initiative. ā€œOne of the biggest questions Iā€™ve heard is, ā€˜How can we do this with so many [pastoral] vacancies?ā€™ Thatā€™s a fair question,ā€ he said. He then spoke about the Great Commission that Christ has given us to go and make disciples, while faithfully and wisely using the resources he has given us for both outreach and nurture. ā€œIt comes down to reaching the lost,ā€ Gabb continued. ā€œItā€™s still about one Savior, one mission, one synod, one soul at a time.ā€

Gabb pointed delegates to wels100in10.net for updates and encouraged them to pray, get involved, and continue to support the work with their offerings. He concluded, ā€œTrust Godā€™s promises. . . . God will bless us immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine.ā€

In its report, the Home Missions floor committee noted: ā€œOur committee would like to underscore our support of the 100 missions in 10 years initiative adopted at the last convention in pursuit of the Great Commission. . . . This initiative gives us the opportunity to establish more footholds of gospel proclamation where the harvest is increasingly plentiful.ā€

On Wednesday evening, delegates heard ministry updates from three WELS home missionaries.

  • Paul Biedenbender is pastor at Christ, a bilingual congregation reaching out to its culturally diverse neighborhood in the middle of Denver, Colo. Christ serves and meets people from all over the world. Biedenbender showed a photo of a hallway at Christ, which displays the flags of the 12 nations represented in its congregation. In cooperation with local nonprofits providing for the communityā€™s physical needs, the church has established itself in the neighborhood as a place people can go for their spiritual needs. Biedenbender shared multiple stories of Godā€™s hand at work at Christ as entire families have come to be baptized into Godā€™s family.
  • David Koelpin, Foundation, Folsom, Calif., shared photos of Foundationā€™s unique approach to worship. Because Foundation began worshiping during the pandemic in 2019, members worshiped outdoors at community parks due to necessity. They soon found that their flexible, creative, and welcoming approach has made them known in the community as ā€œthe church that worships in the park.ā€ They have continued to worship outside, providing a natural community awareness. Foundation members are also challenged to make new friends so they can invite those new friends to churchā€”tapping into the strength of one-on-one evangelism.
  • Timothy Spiegelberg, pastor at Carbon Valley, Firestone, Colo., reported that the congregation is in an area of extreme population growth. Since members knew that they wanted to be proactively in the path of that growth, they purchased and repurposed an existing building into a versatile ministry center that could serve the community, with the goal of having people in their building at all times. Carbon Valleyā€™s motto of ā€œConnecting Christ . . . Connecting Communityā€ places a heavy emphasis on building personal relationships as a way to reach out with the gospel.

Mr. Joseph Purcell, a lay delegate from St. Paulā€™s, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was inspired by the success stories being shared by WELS home missionaries in new locations. ā€œConsistently all of them are considering what their community needs and asking how they can best serve them,ā€ he said. ā€œI think if we can keep following that model, doing 100 mission congregations in 10 years is realistic.ā€

Learn more about WELS Home Missions.

 

 

 

 

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Together Video Update – July 11, 2023

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At Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Assignment Day in May, four men were assigned to start new home missions. Hear how they are preparing for this mission work. Learn more about WELS Home Missions and its initiative to start 100 missions in 10 years at wels100in10.net.

 

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Nine new missions and six ministry enhancements approved

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On March 24, WELS Board for Home Missions approved the first new missions and enhancements for the synodwide ā€œ100 missions in 10 yearsā€ initiative.

ā€œOur God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine,ā€ says Rev. Mark Gabb, chairman of WELS Board for Home Missions. ā€œSo how does it look to live like we believe this? Thatā€™s the question that the Board for Home Missions considered as we reviewed the many new start requests. We knew that there were questions about money and pastors, yet with sanctified common sense we made our decisions based on our trust that God can do immeasurably more.ā€

The nine new mission starts approved include:

  • Bentonville, Ark.: The 12-person core group has been active in its community, which is home to Walmartā€™s headquarters and is projected to see 35 percent population growth in the next three years.
  • Boston, Mass.: The closest WELS church to Bostonā€™s urban center is a 90-minute drive. This urban mission has potential for college and cross-cultural ministry.
  • Cincinnati, Ohio: Beautiful Savior, Cincinnati, Ohio, is starting a second site in the Oakley and Hyde Park neighborhoods with a core group of 20 members.
  • Idaho Falls, Idaho: With the nearest WELS church three hours away, the 11-person core group has been meeting for weekly Bible studies with a pastor via Zoom.
  • Kalispell, Mont.: Kalispell, Mont., is considered the fastest-growing micropolitan city (population of 10,000-50,000) in the United States. The core group has been worshiping together twice a month for more than ten years and participating in regular Bible studies for more than eight years.
  • Kronenwetter, Wis.: Five WELS churches in the greater Wausau, Wis., area are supporting this mission, which will worship at Northland Lutheran High School. The 22-member core group has been meeting monthly since December 2021 for Bible study and mission planning.
  • Marquette, Mich.: Marquette serves as the hub of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and 52 percent of the people in and around Marquette do not have a home church or attend a church.
  • Panama City Beach, Fla.: Amazing Grace, Panama City, Fla., is expanding west and starting a second site in the greater Panama City Beach area.
  • North Collin County, Texas: A core group of 15 members from Atonement, Plano, Texas, are part of this new mission in a northern suburb of Dallas. Divine Savior Ministries, a WELS-affiliated organization with four church/school campuses, has partnered with the mission and plans to build a Divine Savior Academy by year five of the mission start.

The Board for Home Missions is also financially supporting ministry enhancements for Beautiful Savior, West Des Moines, Iowa; Fairview, Milwaukee, Wis.; Christ the King, Port Charlotte, Fla.; and Divine Savior, Sienna, Texas. It is providing unsubsidized support to Our Redeemer, Ladysmith, Wis., and Good Shepherd, Midland, Texas.

To learn more about these new missions and ministry enhancements, visit wels100in10.net.

 

 

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Together Video Update – March 28, 2023

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WELS Board for Home Missions met on March 23 and 24 and approved funding for nine new home mission starts and six ministry enhancements. Learn more about these decisions and the exciting ministry that is being supported as part of WELS’ 100 in 10 initiative from Rev. Mark Gabb, chairman of WELS Board for Home Missions.

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Reaching souls with 100 new home missions

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ā€œGo.ā€ It begins with that one word from our Savior as he sends us to carry out the mission he has given us. He wants us to go to our families, to our friends and co-workers, to our communities, and, in fact, to all the world.

But going is not enough. Itā€™s what he gives us to take along when we go that is at the heart of that mission. He sends us to go with a messageā€”a lifechanging and soul-saving messageā€”of a Savior who came to this world to rescue people from guilt, despair, and eternal death. ā€œGo . . . and preach the gospel!ā€ (Mark 16:15).

At our synodā€™s convention in 2021, delegates heard about an ambitious proposal to further the spread of the saving gospel. Rev. Mark Gabb, chairman of the WELS Board for Home Missions, outlined a plan to establish 100 new home missions and enhance 75 existing ministries in 10 years. It was a breathtakingly ambitious idea, but it was one that the delegates of the convention endorsed without hesitation. Since that convention, the Board for Home Missions has been working to develop plans and strategies for accomplishing that goalā€”a goal we know can only be reached with the blessing of our gracious God.

Through the collective efforts of WELS and all our congregations, members, and affiliated ministries, we want to aggressively reach lost souls. Hereā€™s how you can help:

Pray: This is no small thing. Pray that the Lord of the church would provide workers. Pray for our WELS Home Missions leaders, our home missionaries, and our worker training schools as they recruit and train future missionaries. Pray that the Lord provides us with the financial support needed to do the work.

Get Involved: Talk with your district mission board to see what you or your congregation might do to get involved in this synodwide church planting effort. Encourage young men and women in your church to consider full-time ministry. Ask your pastor to keep our synodā€™s work in your congregational prayers and provide updates on a regular basis.

Give: You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He was rich, yet he became poor so that through his poverty we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Godā€™s generosity has resulted in the riches of forgiveness, peace, joy, and hope. Let that move you to give generously to your local congregation, to your synod through your church, and to this initiative.

The 100 Missions in 10 Years effort is not about numbers and statistics. Rather, it is simply a concerted effort to boldly take the gospel to people in new locations throughout the country. And when the gospel is preached and proclaimed, the Holy Spirit works in his way and in his time to build his church. Learn more at wels100in10.net.

Serving him,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

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Together Video Update – September 13, 2022

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Foundation, Folsom, Calif., is a WELS home mission that was determined to gather for worship, leading members to embrace “worship without walls.” Hear from Home Missionary David Koelpin about how this ministry began and how it’s developing.

 

 

 

 

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