Tag Archive for: Faces of Faith Home Missions

Faces of Faith – Jill

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ā€œWhen we got here, there was just something right. There was something here that we didnā€™t know that we needed.ā€

Jill never expected to find hope in a church again. Years of pain and anger had left her convinced she was done with faithā€”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 didnā€™t know she was missing.

Watch Jillā€™s story and see how Godā€™s love can reach us in the most unexpected waysā€”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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Faces of Faith ā€“ Olivia and Anne

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Anne and I met on Instagram while searching for roommates before our freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. We immediately hit it off, and when I mentioned that I was Christian, Anne said that she had recently started studying the Bible and was looking for a church. I knew we were going to be great roommates and friends.

Anne, who comes from a non-religious household, began studying the Bible on her own in high school, while I grew up in a strong Lutheran family and attended Christian schools. We had very different perceptions and concerns regarding life as a Christian on a diverse campus. We started attending Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, and it immediately felt like home. We found a welcoming Christian community among both peers and staff, joined a Bible study, and grew in our faith together.

Our different backgrounds bring unique perspectives, helping us grow closer to Christ and encouraging each other to shine our Christian light on campus. We are grateful for the community, support, and time spent in Godā€™s Word at the Chapel.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Parker

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When Parker made the trek to Houghton, Mich., to attend Michigan Technological University, church was the last thing on his mind. His schedule was packed with demanding classes; exploring the Christian faith wasnā€™t on his radar. That changed when he moved in with his friend John. Johnā€™s unwavering faith and commitment to attending Wednesday dinners and Bible study at Peace intrigued Parker, who initially believed John was simply avoiding his cooking. Yet friendship and the persistent invitations ignited his curiosity.

Parker decided to check out Peace. To his amazement, he found himself nourished not only by the Bible studies but also by the vibrant campus ministry community that welcomed him wholeheartedly. As he delved deeper, he embraced a thirst for spiritual knowledge and signed up for Bible information classes and joined Peace along with his girlfriend and another student. The transformative moment arrived when he took the step of Baptism, marking a new beginning in his faith.

A simple invitation opened the door to a life-changing experience, where the Holy Spirit worked wonders and Parker found a profound connection with his Savior.

From Thomas Welch, campus ministry pastor at Peace in Houghton, Mich.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Chattanooga, Tenn.

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Our Oktoberfest event couldnā€™t have gone any better. In partnership with some local businesses next door, we were able to welcome more than 600 people onto our church campus. But easily the best thing that happened that day was meeting Eborah. Eborah had marked that she was interested in finding a church home and taking a Foundations class. In my initial follow-up with her, the first thing she mentioned was that she was still struggling, mentally and spiritually, after losing her mom earlier in the year. Her mom had been her spiritual mentor, and now she felt sheā€™d lost that connection with God when she lost her mom. After an initial counseling session with me, Eborah agreed to take our Foundations class, knowing her mom would have loved for her to keep studying the Bible. After the first lesson, Eborah asked if her daughter Natosha could join us. After a couple more lessons, she said her son, Amasa, would join us too. The next week her youngest daughter, Lexus, came to study along with her children KJ, Kaā€™myah, and Kenzo. You could just see Eborah beaming with joy as she sat at the table learning about Godā€™s Word every Saturday afternoon with her entire family. The best blessing of all was getting to see Natosha, Lexus, KJ, Kaā€™myah, and Kenzo get baptized in March 2025. Eborah was beaming with joy. Itā€™s amazing how God can turn the story of one hurting soul into a story of baptismal joy for an entire extended family!

From Eric Melso, home missionary at Living Hope in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Chantel

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Chantel (pictured left) was born into a Catholic family, baptized, and put in a Catholic school, but her family did not attend mass except at Christmas and Easter. As she got older, she found the answers the priests and teachers gave to her questions to be unsatisfying. Her teenage and young adult life led her down some dark paths, but all the while, she was being loved by her friend, Katie (pictured center), a lifelong member of our congregation. Katie would talk to her when things were bad and tried to encourage her. Katie invited Chantel to church, but at first it didnā€™t click for her. Katie was a genuine, committed friend and continued to patiently love Chantel. After a few more conversations and invitations, Chantel agreed to try our Bible Basics course. She found not only good answers to her thoughtful questions, but she also found the gospel to be beautiful, almost like she had not heard it before. Chantel is a joy to know and has become a loved and valued member of our church. Is it any wonder why? The work of the Holy Spirit and the genuine love of Christ shown through his people does amazing things.

From Caleb Schultz, home missionary at Cross of Life in Mississauga, Ont., Canada

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Eian

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As a disabled veteran and first responder who was spending his first year in Texas, Eian Poblador was struggling more than words can say. He remembers waking up one night and concluding that it was time for real help and answers. Heā€™d seen churches that would model something spiritual in this world, but what caught his eye was a church that modeled ā€œpeace.ā€ He walked into Amazing Grace. He said, ā€œI felt no fear from God or others . . . the church and its pastor were the first people to take time to know me and spend time to teach me Godā€™s Word, the forgiveness of my sins, and the gift of the Lordā€™s grace.ā€

Eian defended, served, and protected his country, and now he protects the special gifts that he received from Godā€™s Word. Itā€™s no small task to cherish, uphold, and defend how pure the law is and how amazing grace is each day. Today, you will find Eian sitting in the back of Amazing Grace with a friendly smile. Heā€™s keeping watch. Why? He knows that someone else is keeping watch over his soul for eternal life to come. He has a story, just like each person who needs to hear Godā€™s Word and come to know their Savior.

From Hans Thomford, home missionary at Amazing Grace in Amarillo, Tex.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ The Joseph Family

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Jemoye and Kandy wanted a good education for their daughter. Thatā€™s how they found St. Johnā€™s Lutheran School. In 2017, their daughter graduated! The parents celebrated their new gradā€™s achievement and then did what many parents do . . . moved on. Jemoye and Kandy were unchurched, and they really didnā€™t have an interest in joining a congregation.

One day in 2022, they showed up with Jessie, their baby boy. The birth of their son stirred something in them. Their growing family needed something more. They needed a church home. The seed that had been planted years ago at St. Johnā€™s took root! For their family, 2024 was a special yearā€”Jemoye was baptized along with their new baby girl. Jemoye and Kandy married, and the whole family joined their new Christian community! As Jemoye describes it, ā€œSt. Johnā€™s is a place that helps us pursue godliness and follow Godā€™s Word. A place I find support on my journey with Christ.ā€ If the Joseph family is any indication, no matter how long ago seeds of the gospel have been planted, the Lord can cause them to grow!

From Jonathan Kehl, home missionary at St. Johnā€™s, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Reece and Caroline

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Reece and Caroline started out as classmates, attending the same middle school and high school. Conversations and overall knowledge of each otherā€™s existence was minimal in their earliest years, and their paths split after their 2018 high school graduation. Caroline went on to nursing school, and Reece joined the United States Marine Corps. In many instances, they were on opposite sides of the planet. The culmination of Carolineā€™s four-year education and graduation alongside Reeceā€™s final year of military service led to a reconnection and eventual relationship that would start because of a simple match of mutual interests. Their relationship soon grew to be one rooted in faith, grace, and an overall understanding that to best serve each other, they must center themselves in Christ.

Finding Divine Peace in Rockwall, Tex., was, at first, just a place for weekly worship, but it soon became Reece and Carolineā€™s new home. They are unified and committed to each other as husband and wife, but also to Christ. The two of them appreciate everything they have learned and been provided by Divine Peace, as well as Pastor Gunnar, who has been an invaluable source of support and education for them. As a newlywed couple, Reece and Caroline appreciate the constant spiritual growth opportunities that help them grow in their faith.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Johnathon

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My wife, Sarah, our children, and I have been going to Anchor Church in Marquette, Mich., from the beginning. We were on the hunt for a family church. Our children are eager to learn about Jesus and have a lot of energy and personality, and we were looking for an understanding church that could provide a setting to learn more in a fun and engaging way.

I met Pastor Joe about a year before Anchor opened its doors to the community. Our families loved getting to know each other. One Friday morning on a toddler hike, Pastor Joe asked what we needed in a church, and we got to sit down and brainstorm how Anchor could best serve the community youth.

Fast-forward to now. Our children have fallen in love with their church family. They light up when they see Pastor Joe. Itā€™s the most wonderful opportunity that I have as a husband and father to be empowered and equipped to lead my family in their faith journey. Iā€™m thankful for Anchor Church that gave that to me. As my family grows, I look forward to joining in more and serving our God and our community.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Thomas

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It was a Sunday evening in July when I received an e-mail from Thomas. He and his family were preparing to move from East Asia to Boston so he could pursue further education. Additionally, they were eager to join our home mission church and become part of our community. What joy! From the moment they arrived, Thomas and his family have been an incredible blessing to mission work in Boston. They regularly welcome Thomasā€™ classmates into their home for study nights and meals, hosted a Lunar New Year celebration, and share the gospel freely with anyone who will listen. Their faith and hospitality serve as a powerful example and highlight the many opportunities we have in Bostonā€”both in cross-cultural ministry and among college and graduate students.

From Joshua Koelpin, home missionary at Harbor in Boston, Mass.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Channel

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At the beginning of this year, I found myself a brand-new staff member at an unfamiliar school. As an evangelist, the idea is to connect school families to our church and share opportunities to grow in relationship to Jesus. It was, admittedly, a bit intimidating for me, but God always provides the opportunity.

Within the first week on the job, I was walking up the sidewalk for 3:00 p.m. dismissal and heard beautiful worship music blaring from a car that was waiting to pick up a scholar. I walked up to the window and met Channel McClellan. After a brief initial chat, she attended church and shortly after we were running through virtual membership Bible classes. In addition to her growing faith, she and her fifth-grade daughter, Kellise, have a unique spiritual habit. Every morning at 7:45 a.m., they pull up in front of school, but the car doors donā€™t open; Channel and Kellise remain in the vehicle and pray together. Channel prays over her daughter and the day ahead, inviting Jesus into every moment of their life. What an example of faith, even to the lifelong Christianā€”a humble mother and her daughter, sitting in the chilly Wisconsin winter air, praying before they each run off to their busy days. I need more faith like that in my life. We all do.

From Brent Krohn, campus evangelist at St. Marcus in Milwaukee, Wis.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Todd and Rochelle

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Rochelle and I faced some challenges in our life. We struggled with faith and constantly questioned why evil seemed so pervasive in the world and good was scarce. In the middle of these struggles, like most people, we couldnā€™t find a solid foundation. However, through our family, we discovered The Vine in Hayden, Idaho. When we heard Pastor Schultzā€™s message one Sunday, we realized where our true strength wasā€”in Jesus. The Vine has brought us immense joy, peace, and grace amidst the turmoil of our world. And weā€™ve formed cherished connections with so many others in The Vine family. While life still presents its difficulties, we now can see the goodness of God that was once so elusive in our lives.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Cheri

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In 2025, God led a precious soul to the waters of Baptism through . . . TikTok!

Our congregation has been using a free online ad tool that connects local pastors to people in their zip code who have spiritual questions. One day Cheri was scrolling through TikTok when she saw a video ad and clicked on it. Soon, she found herself messaging with our pastor. After asking about our churchā€™s core beliefs and our worship service, she decided to attend worship the very next Sunday. A new round of Bible Basics class happened to be starting immediately after worship. Cheri agreed to try the class and was immediately hooked! She became a regular at both worship and Bible study, with a boundless appetite for asking deep spiritual questions and finding the answers in Godā€™s Word.

Cheri joined our congregation in fall 2024. She was baptized, confirmed, and received the Lordā€™s Supper all on the same day. Now, she rarely misses a Sunday of worship, a Bible study, or any church event and has become a key volunteer on our AV team.

Who knows how many more ā€œCherisā€ might be out there right now, spending time online while longing deep down to learn more about God. We thank the Lord for every opportunity to connect with peopleā€”even through TikTok!

From Lucas Bitter, home missionary at Intown in Atlanta, Ga.

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Faces of Faith – Jett

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ā€œYouā€™re chasing joy, happinessā€”youā€™re trying to find it in all these other things that arenā€™t Christ, and it leaves you feeling empty,ā€ says Jett. ā€œBut coming back to church and growing my relationship with the Lordā€”itā€™s changed my life.ā€

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 heā€™d drifted from. Through the welcoming community at Anchor, a WELS home mission congregation, Jett rediscovered what it means to be truly anchored in Christā€”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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Faces of Faith ā€“ Atlanta, Ga.

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On Sun., March 30, 2025, Intown Lutheran Church welcomed three college students as adult confirmands. These young women impressively completed our 12-lesson Bible Basics class while also managing busy academic schedules and student-athlete responsibilities. All three of them are new to Lutheranism and very excited to be part of our church family!

Grace says: “Intown Lutheran Church not only gave me a place to learn straight from the Scripture and truly understand it, but it also gave me a new family of fellow Christians. This is a place where I can be myself and never feel alone, judged, or out of place.”

Kennedi says:ā€Æā€œUpon arriving in Georgia for college, I hoped to find a local church. Thankfully, a friend attending Intown Lutheran Church invited me to the worship service one Sunday. Being exposed to the great teachings of the Good News and the kind fellowship, I decided to continue attending Intown and even join various Bible study sessions each week. Now that Iā€™m officially a member, I can say that the meaning of Intown Lutheran Church is to cultivate a body of Godā€™s children and teach and learn the meaning and importance of his Word so that we all grow in our faithful walk with him.ā€

Written by Lucas Bitter, Intown Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Ga.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Julia

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Going into my first year of college was a big change for me. I was headed to Northern Michigan University, which was several hours away and in a different state from my home. I didnā€™t know anybody going there, and for the first time I was focusing the majority of my energy into theatre. All of these changes were honestly intimidating, especially the challenge of having to build an entire new support system and community. Finding Anchor Church in Marquette, and especially their campus ministry program, was the blessing I needed in this time of transition.

On my first Sunday at Anchor, I instantly felt welcomed by everyone in the church whether they were college students or not. I quickly got introduced to the music director, Sarah, as soon as Pastor Joe and his wife, Julie, found out that I play instruments and sing. The very next Sunday, I was singing in church and am now involved with music almost every weekend.

The even bigger blessing though is the campus ministry program. After church, all of us college students head over to Joe and Julieā€™s house to make brunch and have a Bible study. From eating good food to having conversations about difficult topics, I have found the community and reprieve I need. I have never felt closer to my faith than I do when Iā€™m making music at Anchor and digging into the Bible with Pastor Joe and the other college students.

Written by Julia Neuman, student at Northern Michigan University

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Mason

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In 2023, the new mission in North Liberty, Iowa, started a campus ministry program at the University of Iowa and the surrounding colleges. What I didnā€™t expect was Eastern Iowa to be a location that was prime to inspire young men to be pastors. I met Mason two years ago when he started attending Kirkwood College, studying in Beef Science Management. He began coming to campus ministry and church right away, but it was immediately apparent that he had another calling. Soon, he began talking to me about what life would look like going to become a pastor after graduation. I asked Mason how campus ministry inspired him to consider this. He said, ā€œCampus Ministry inspired me to share with others the Word that God has shared with me; to introduce them to my closest friend, my Lord Jesus Christ. Now that he has been accepted into Martin Luther College (MLC), he is, ā€œExcited to dive deep into God’s Word and know day by day that Jesusā€™ grace is abounding in love. And then to leave the doors of the school and express my faith to the world.ā€

Mason wasnā€™t the first student in campus ministry here to show an interest in the ministry. Last year, we had another student (Noah) who went on to become a pastor after graduation. Being a transfer-graduate student myself, I am excited to see young men like Mason and Noah being encouraged and willing to become pastors even when their plans are focused elsewhere.

Written by Lucas Callies, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, North Liberty, Iowa .

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Jonathan

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Jonathan Neuman wanted to know more about Christianity. His parents had went to church when they were younger and he was told he went when he was younger, but he had no memory of this. He remembered going to church on the big holidays ā€“ Christmas and Easter and when they visited grandparents in Goodview.

He had seen stuff about Christianity online, like social media influencers talking about their faith and Christianity. He had seen some videos here and there, but Jonathan wanted to go beyond the echoes of Christianity in his childhood and he wanted to be a part of Christianity.

So, he took action and looked up the closest WELS church. It took him to Crown of Life in Saint Paul, Minn., which was only minutes away from his house. There he met Rev. Kom and Rev. Burgess. After that, he began attending regularly on his own.

Since Jonathan was also a student at the University of Minnesota, Rev. Kom connected him to True North, the University of Minnesotaā€™s WELS campus ministry. He became involved in the campus ministry and finished Bible Information Class there. Now, Jonathan divides his time between Crown of Life and St. John’s, which hosts True North, and is served by both churches. He appreciates the community feel and the message of the gospel taught. Through these two ministries, he is getting to know more about Jesus and Christianity.

Now, Jonathan wants others to know more about Christianity, especially his family. His family has recently been attending church during the holidays. His mom often goes with him, and they both want Jonathanā€™s brother and sister to go through confirmation as well. Jonathan has also been having conversations with his dad as he wants them all to know about Christ .

Written by Samuel Lor, campus ministry pastor at St. Johnā€™s in Minneapolis, Minn.

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Faces of Faith – Jerry and Denice

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ā€œIt was like the light bulb came on, and you felt so much more peace when you went to church,ā€ says Denice.

Hear more from Jerry Laster, a trauma surgeon, who draws a powerful parallel between his work of healing physical wounds and the churchā€™s role as a hospital for sick souls. Discover how he and his wife, Denice, found peace and healing through Godā€™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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Faces of Faith – Lincoln

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ā€œPraise the Lord!ā€ I didnā€™t expect him to shout that over his shoulder as he sprinted down the mountain past me and my friend, who were hiking and talking about church that Sunday afternoon. After he stopped and apologized for interrupting us, my first conversation with Lincoln began. ā€œI wouldnā€™t even tell a shrink half of the stuff Iā€™ve done,ā€ he admitted. I responded, ā€œWould you tell a pastor?ā€ After talking for a few minutes about Godā€™s grace and forgiveness, I gave him my business card. He promised Iā€™d see him next Sunday; but to be honest, I doubted I would ever see him again.

But there he was on Sunday and every Sunday after. ā€œI feel accepted, welcomed, and loved. Thereā€™s a comfort in knowing that Pastor Jensen is always going to point me to Jesus,ā€ Lincoln says. Lincoln was confirmed last year and enjoys growing in Godā€™s Word through a midweek Bible Class. ā€œI love how we get deep into the Bible, but I donā€™t feel overwhelmed or confused. Itā€™s actually fun!ā€

As we get ready to start our new building project, Lincoln is all-in. ā€œWeā€™re blessed to have such an amazing church body working together to share the Word of Christ, and Iā€™m grateful and excited to be part of it here in Las Cruces. I want everyone to be able to see whatā€™s going on here and experience Godā€™s love here like I do.ā€

From Nathanael Jensen, home missionary at Cross of Christ, Las Cruces, N.M.

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Faces of Faith – Bill

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ā€œIā€™ve never heard that before.ā€ Thatā€™s what Bill said after he attended worship the day his six-year-old grandson was baptized. ā€œThatā€ was a line which the pastor said, ā€œJesus died for all sins.ā€

Bill grew up attending Catholic schools, so he had knowledge of some of the Bible said. A section of Godā€™s Word that he knew very well was what God said about divorce. So, when Bill got divorced over 20 years ago, he thought he was doomed. For twenty-plus years Bill had been carrying around guilt and fear. But on that Sunday, he heard, ā€œJesus paid for all sins.ā€ Did that mean Jesus had paid for the sin of his divorce? Bill left his business card with me on his way out of church, saying, ā€œLetā€™s do lunch.ā€

After numerous lunches and a few coffee meetings, Bill enrolled in our Bible information class. The first words he said were, ā€œI know Iā€™m going to hell, but. . . I have some questions.ā€ By Godā€™s grace and the power of the Word, Bill no longer thinks heā€™s going to hell. Now, he cherishes free forgiveness and that Jesus died for all sins, even his.

From Joel Heckendorf, home missionary at Light of the Valleys in Reno, Nev.

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Faces of Faith – Ruth

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Nearly ten years have passed since an email showed up in my inbox. At the time, I was deliberating a call to a new mission in Mt. Horeb, Wis. The email was from a WELS member who had family connections in Mt. Horeb and was delighted to hear about the new WELS mission opening in town. Her sonā€™s mother-in-law, Ruth, was described as ā€œa young 84, with a magnetic personality.ā€ She hoped that if I took the call to Mt. Horeb, I would be able to connect and share the gospel with her.

For the past ten years, God has been busy: I accepted the call to Good News in Mt. Horeb. I looked up Ruth and quickly found out that the description I had been given of her was spot on. She had a young, magnetic personalityā€”along with a little East-coast stubbornness. As a result, it took three years of conversations before she became a member of our church.

During Ruthā€™s time at Good News, God used her magnetic personality to connect with even more people. There are now three families who belong to our church and another that attends regularly that can all be traced back to Ruth. Iā€™m certain God will continue to use the connections made through Ruth to bring people to Good News and to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

From Jonathan Bauer, home missionary at Good News in Mt. Horeb, Wis.

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Faces of Faith – Steve and Tammy

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Back in 2017, I did some door-to-door canvassing in a neighborhood near my house. I met Steve and Tammy who told me that they were looking for a church. I added them to our prospect list and kept in touch through monthly mailings and invitations to our church, but I never saw or heard from them after that. Six years went by before Steve and Tammy finally decided to attend. When I met them in our parking lot, they said, ā€œYouā€™ve been sending us mailings and invitations every month for the past six years, so we finally decided we wanted to take you up on your offer and attend your church.ā€ By Godā€™s grace, Steve and Tammy have not stopped attending The Vine since. In fact, I had the privilege of baptizing both Steve and Tammy during one of our Sunday services in 2023. And, several months later, they joined us as fellow members of The Vine. Praise God for the means of grace and for giving our congregation the opportunity to be a blessing to them as they are to us.

From Kevin Schultz, home missionary at The Vine in Hayden, Idaho

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Faces of Faith – Bruce and Sheryl

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Northwest Wisconsin is known for its vast resources for hunting and fishing. The members at Our Redeemer in Ladysmith hosted an outreach event and decided to combine two things they do well, cooking wild game and being friendly. One couple in the congregation had befriended their neighbors, Bruce and Sheryll, and invited them to the annual wild game dinner. Not only did they enjoy a great meal of bear, venison, rabbit, elk, fish and more, but they were also welcomed with open arms by the members. Before going they received an invitation to come back for worship and they came. They saw the same welcoming congregation at worship and never stopped coming. After going through a Bible information class, they knew Our Redeemer was their church family. Two people loving Jesus, hearing the Word, and enjoying the fellowship of a new church family; all because they were invited for supper.

From Christian Christenson, home missionary at Our Redeemer in Ladysmith, Wis.

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Faces of Faith – Brandi

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On Easter Sunday 2024, several local families brought their children to the waters of baptism. One woman, Brandi, brought her two sons, Ryan and Ryley. Brandi has been working her way through Bible basics class in preparation for her adult confirmation. Here is what she says about our church: ā€œIntown is not just a church, it’s a home for us – with family, unconditional love, and spiritual healing. It’s our safe place when we don’t know where to go. Itā€™s like a life coach who never lets us feel alone. To sum it all up, itā€™s life, growth, and creation for the better.ā€

Our connection with Brandi and her family began at a community service event called the Christmas Store. Their family is an example of how compassion ministry and providing physical aid can create loving relationships, which ultimately lead to deep spiritual growth.

Written by Lucas Bitter, home missionary at Intown, Atlanta, Ga.

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Faces of Faith – Joann

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Fairview Lutheran Church tried a new way to connect to its school families. Everything was ready, but when the event began, only current church members were there. Five minutes after the event started, evangelism began. Three minivans with over 20 school family members emptied and overfilled the bingo space. Fairview members quickly set up more tables, distributed snacks, and sat with families to assist some of the younger students who had never played bingo. It was busy, loud, and a bit chaotic. It was also blessed.

One of the school moms, Joann, stayed after the event and with her six children, cleaned up the area and made connections with some of the church ladies. They invited her to come to Fairviewā€™s outdoor worship and picnic the following weekend. Joann and her family not only came to worship but found her way into helping serve the main course and clean up after. Before leaving she scheduled her first Bible information class for the upcoming Tuesday.

Despite having a car out of commission, Joann and family have been coming to worship and sitting up front ever since. The entire family was baptized, and the middle school children are enrolled in youth confirmation class. Joann has recently agreed to be trained and begin making evangelism calls to her fellow school families.

From Paul Steinberg, home missionary at Fairview in Milwaukee, Wis.

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Faces of Faith – Paul and Carmen

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Paul and Carmen are my neighbors and quickly becoming our friends. One morning, on a walk with our kids, we met Paul and his wonderful wife, Carmen, on their front lawn. They welcomed us to the city and asked, ā€œWhat brought you to Marquette?ā€ We responded, ā€œWe moved here to start a church.ā€ His reaction was priceless. The Folgers coffee can in Paulā€™s hand was thrown to the ground in excitement, ā€œYou have no idea how hard weā€™ve been praying to find a church home! Are you going to be a church that brings us Jesus every Sunday?” I responded, “You can count on it.” Since that time, they have joined our core group and are actively participating in the ministry leading up to our launch. God is moving, thereā€™s no doubt about it. How many other “Paul and Carmen’s” are there in Marquette? We canā€™t wait to find out.

From Joseph Lindloff, home missionary at Anchor Church in Marquette, Mich.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Katarina

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Before coming to college, I had no clue what a WELS church was. Fast forward three years, and it has given me some of my favorite people. I started college off at Coastal Carolina University wanting to improve my relationship with God since being distant from him for so long. So, when a friend invited me to come to church one Sunday, I thought, why not? I went and liked it, but I felt distant. It was not until I got involved in Vacation Bible School (VBS) that I really started to feel like this place was home.

As the next school year started, I made the decision to get more involved with church and campus ministry. I began attending more meetings and making church a mandatory event in my life. When I attended my second VBS, I realized that I wanted more from church. The following school year I started the process of becoming a member at Amazing Grace in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and I met amazing people who helped get me through college. Finding this place to grow myself and with people like me has been something that I never expected, but truly needed.

Written by Katrina Elliott, student at Coastal Carolina University and member of Amazing Grace in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Nicole

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Nicole found St. Johnā€™s and True North Campus Ministry at a difficult time in her life. Her dad was diagnosed with cancer. Her mom was also diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and passed away shortly after. As an only child, she was very close to her parents. A close neighbor, Carolyn Curtis, noticed and invited her to church. In Nicoleā€™s own words, ā€œEveryone was so friendly at St. Johnā€™sā€”lots of smiling faces. The pastor even came down to meet me.ā€ Nicole confessed she didnā€™t come from a religious background; she didnā€™t even go to church growing up. But she knew that this was where she was supposed to be. She felt at home.

The church continued to be her home when she faced tough times. When she was struggling with health issues and could only work 10-15 hours a week, she found a natural place to serve as the Administrative Assistant of the church. She was there for the church when it was going through tough times too. COVID plus a long pastoral vacancy meant that there were lots more to do: planning services, newsletters, helping vacancy pastors, and especially keeping everyone together and connected with Godā€™s Word. When the college students couldnā€™t meet on-campus for Bible studies, Diane Hofer (the Events Coordinator) and Nicole helped the students transition to meeting at church. It became their home too.

Nicole continues to serve as the Administrative Assistant of St. Johnā€™s and True North. She mostly does stuff behind the scenes, but she still enjoys making calls and talking to others, being a friendly face. ā€œI love people, I try to make them feel welcome. To make the church a safe place to go.ā€

From Samuel Lor, campus ministry pastor at True North Campus Ministry in Minneapolis, Minn.

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Janet

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Janet grew up in a farming family of six kids in East Asia. She was amongst three of the six who attended college. Janet had a private meeting with a teacher where she would answer her questions about class while naturally adding small bits of information about her faith. God planted a seed. Janet later pursued a degree in Aesthetics and studied oil painting, and later opened her own studio to teach children art.

Her painting teacher invited her to his home to study the Bible and pray together. She went regularly, later joining a church. This continued about two years before she recently came to the U.S. as a visiting scholar. While at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, she met a friend who brought her to Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel to study. As the two got to know each other better, Janet was encouraged to be baptized. She discussed this with Jacob, the new International Outreach Coordinator at the Chapel. Then on Sunday, February 25, 2024, Jacob had the amazing opportunity to baptize Janet (pictured above with her face blurred out due to security concerns). It was a very moving and encouraging thing to witness, seeing how God puts all the pieces together!

Janet thanks the Lord for this precious gift! She is so excited to keep studying Godā€™s word with Jacob and others at Chapel. She canā€™t wait to grow closer to God through this fellowship.

From Hannah Zhang, International Outreach Coordinator at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel in Madison, Wis.

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