Tag Archive for: home missions

Supporting home missionaries: Church Planter Intensive and coaching program

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One of the ways WELS Home Missions works behind the scense 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!

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.

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.




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Why 100 Missions in 10 Years?

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An update from WELS Home Missions Administrator, Rev. Mark Gabb

Hear from Rev. Mark Gabb, WELS Home Missions administrator, as he reflects on the importance of the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative and the gospel outreach opportunities it will provide.

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Navigating new chapters

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The book of Joshua opens with Israel on the banks of the Jordan River, a moment Joshua and the people had waited on for years. But Joshua’s journey didn’t start there. It began long before—training under Moses, climbing Sinai, wandering the wilderness. After crossing into the promised land, how quickly do you think time passed for Joshua?

In the days following Assignment Day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, I found myself reading through Joshua during personal devotions. During the transition—new people, a new place, new work—I found comfort in how God used Joshua. But like Joshua, the story didn’t start in the new land. Here’s what life has looked like as my wife Grace and I walked toward our new journey:

April was full of studies with classmates. Studying Romans deepened our love for the message of forgiveness. The prophets reminded us of God’s faithful messengers. Projects and social events filled the calendar. We were all counting down the days until Assignment Day while making the most of the time we had left.

Rev. Jacob and Grace Ungemach at Ault Park in Cincinnati, Ohio.

May was busy. Classes wrapped up, countdowns began, and celebrations filled the days—a baby shower for friends and graduation at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn. Meanwhile, excitement for the Call Day kept building.

Call Day was a blur. We started early with a devotion by Lake Michigan along with some classmates. At the Call Service, we sat nervously with family, waiting to learn where we’d go. We listened as friends were assigned to their new places. Then it was our turn: Beautiful Savior – New Mission Start; Oakley, Ohio. Neither Grace nor I knew where Oakley was, but we knew this: God would be with us there.

June began with a quick trip to Cincinnati to see where we’d be living. I’ll never forget driving into the city for the first time—rolling green hills and beautiful buildings rising into the skyline. We met a few members of our Oakley group during that short trip. Driving back to pack up, Cincinnati was already beginning to feel like home.

Moving day for the Ungemach’s!

July 1 was moving day! As we pulled into our apartment, we were greeted by members from Beautiful Savior ready to help unload. The congregation was excited to start work on the second site in Oakley, and so were we. Afternoons and evenings quickly filled with opportunities to meet new people in our core group and the community.

Today . . . things still haven’t slowed down. We’re just beginning to meet together, grow in the Word, and find ways to show this community the love of Jesus. There are still so many unknowns.

The greatest comfort I’ve found in Joshua isn’t in the change he experiences, but in the changelessness of God. Just as God was with his people in a new place and age, he will be with us in this new mission. And like his promises were fulfilled to his people before, the promise that his Word will not return empty stands with us today.

Please keep Beautiful Savior in your prayers as we begin planting a second site in Oakley, Ohio.

Written by Rev. Jacob Ungemach, home missionary at a new mission start in Oakley, Ohio.

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Faces of Faith – Lincoln

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“Praise the Lord!” I didn’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. “I wouldn’t even tell a shrink half of the stuff I’ve done,” he admitted. I responded, “Would you tell a pastor?” After talking for a few minutes about God’s grace and forgiveness, I gave him my business card. He promised I’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. “I feel accepted, welcomed, and loved. There’s a comfort in knowing that Pastor Jensen is always going to point me to Jesus,” Lincoln says. Lincoln was confirmed last year and enjoys growing in God’s Word through a midweek Bible Class. “I love how we get deep into the Bible, but I don’t feel overwhelmed or confused. It’s actually fun!”

As we get ready to start our new building project, Lincoln is all-in. “We’re blessed to have such an amazing church body working together to share the Word of Christ, and I’m grateful and excited to be part of it here in Las Cruces. I want everyone to be able to see what’s going on here and experience God’s love here like I do.”

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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“I’ve never heard that before.” That’s what Bill said after he attended worship the day his six-year-old grandson was baptized. “That” was a line which the pastor said, “Jesus died for all sins.”

Bill grew up attending Catholic schools, so he had knowledge of some of the Bible said. A section of God’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, “Jesus paid for all sins.” 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, “Let’s do lunch.”

After numerous lunches and a few coffee meetings, Bill enrolled in our Bible information class. The first words he said were, “I know I’m going to hell, but. . . I have some questions.” By God’s grace and the power of the Word, Bill no longer thinks he’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 son’s mother-in-law, Ruth, was described as “a young 84, with a magnetic personality.” 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 personality—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 Ruth’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. I’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, “You’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.” By God’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: “Intown 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. It’s like a life coach who never lets us feel alone. To sum it all up, it’s life, growth, and creation for the better.”

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 Fairview’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, “What brought you to Marquette?” We responded, “We moved here to start a church.” His reaction was priceless. The Folgers coffee can in Paul’s hand was thrown to the ground in excitement, “You have no idea how hard we’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, there’s no doubt about it. How many other “Paul and Carmen’s” are there in Marquette? We can’t wait to find out.

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

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Faces of Faith – 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 – Nicole

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Nicole found St. John’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 Nicole’s own words, “Everyone was so friendly at St. John’s—lots of smiling faces. The pastor even came down to meet me.” Nicole confessed she didn’t come from a religious background; she didn’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 God’s Word. When the college students couldn’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. John’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. “I love people, I try to make them feel welcome. To make the church a safe place to go.”

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

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Faces of Faith – 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 God’s word with Jacob and others at Chapel. She can’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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Faces of Faith – Greta

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When I started as a freshman at University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in the Fall of 2022, I was nervous about finding people to connect with. A goal of mine was to check out the WELS Campus Ministry called The Point of Grace (TPOG). At the time, I didn’t anticipate the impact this decision would have on me. Through The Point of Grace, I have gained friends that feel like family.

I have realized that college is a huge test of faith and a turning point in the lives of young adults. Campus Ministry is something that is close to my heart because it has kept me on God’s path, not the world’s. Being around other Christians who are experiencing this same season of life is encouraging. My time at church or study time with other Christ-focused individuals matures my faith and motivates me to look to God in my daily struggles.

The Point of Grace has become a lifeline for me. I look forward to Wednesday, when the weight of my week is lifted off my shoulders. I always understood that God was important, but I never gave God the time he deserved. Through The Point of Grace, I have gained a community of God-fearing fellow students who show their care for my soul and their own. My experience with campus ministry continues to be a great blessing!

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Faces of Faith – Wade

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Zijian “Wade” Wei (pictured right) was baptized on November 30, 2021, while attending Arizona Lutheran Academy in Phoenix, Ariz. Since he was a foreign exchange student during the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was forced to make the U.S. more of a home than perhaps he ever intended. We thank God for the Christian family and friends who were there for him. A family of special note was the Gutierrez family, members of Crosswalk in Laveen, Ariz.

Now as a student at Arizona State University (ASU), Wade remains close to the Gutierrez family. In his first year at ASU, Wade continued to room with the sons of the Gutierrez family, Cole and Jonah (pictured center). Cole and Jonah are officers for the registered student organization, Light in the Valley, the WELS campus ministry.

Every week, Wade joins the Light in the Valley group for food, fellowship, and a Bible study. While studying engineering at ASU, he can continue to grow in his faith. This WELS campus ministry is not the only way that Wade continues to be served with the Means of Grace. Wade and his friends rent a house just a few blocks from Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tempe and attend worship every Sunday to receive God’s gifts in Word and Sacrament.

From Christopher Pflughoeft (pictured left), campus ministry pastor for Light in the Valley and pastor at Emmanuel in Tempe, Ariz.

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Faces of Faith – Kehinde

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Kehinde [CANE-deh] is originally from Lagos, Nigeria. He moved to Mississauga to attend school. Though he has some extended family in the Toronto area, he was mostly alone. After attending our church, he found a family in Mississauga. He was included with our lay-led men’s group and visited with me regularly for Bible study. He also got a job through one of our members who owns a business. After studying Baptism, he said that he was unsure if he was baptized. We had the privilege of giving him a “pledge of a clear conscience towards God” and officially welcomed him into our church family in February 2024. He is a perfect example of an entire congregation coming together to love and welcome someone new to the country. He is a breath of fresh air with his honesty and willingness to grow together with us. We pray that he continues to grow as a Christian among us.

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

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Faces of Faith – Jacob and Abby

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Jacob and Abby Hicks were just dating when we first met them. Abby would occasionally come to church with her parents who had just become members a year prior. After visiting a couple times with Jacob, they agreed to take Bible information class. We found out Jacob had never been baptized and by the seventh lesson he wanted to be. We baptized Jacob, confirmed both Jacob and Abby, and later performed their marriage at Cross of Glory. Last November we welcomed their firstborn, Benjamin, baptizing him into the family of God. They continue to be a large part of Cross of Glory and are always excited to hear more of the Word and grow in their relationship with God.

From Andrew Schrimpf, home missionary at Cross of Glory in Baton Rouge, La.

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Faces of Faith – Paulo and Flavia

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Paulo and Flavia moved to Canada from Brazil about seven years ago. They originally moved to the Niagara Falls area but settled in Mississauga for work. When they moved, they were in search of a Lutheran church. Having attended some other Lutheran churches, they loved what they found at Cross of Life. They noticed our love for Scripture and our emphasis on outreach and discipleship and gladly became part of our family. Though we have been able to bless them with a church family, they also have blessed us immensely. Their family gladly serves and supports our ministry. Paulo, Flavia, and their son, Lucas, are all involved with our music team and are active in welcoming new people to our congregation. They encourage and support me, my wife, and our daughters, who are “best friends” and “sisters” in a way only three and four-year-old girls can be. We would not have this wonderful family who adds so much value to our church if it weren’t for Home Missions supporting churches in Toronto.

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

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Faces of Faith – Grenada

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Cassia is in grade five at Grace Lutheran School. Her parents are not believers, and up until recently, Cassia was not baptized. Brianna, a classmate, is baptized and lives with her grandmother who is not a believer. Samantha, another classmate, is baptized and her parents are believers. These three young ladies are Grenadian, the best of friends, from vastly different backgrounds and families, and all three believe that Jesus is their Savior. Now, we can say they are all born again through baptism and sealed into God’s family.

Cassia was baptized on a Sunday afternoon. As we hiked through the jungle to the major pool of the Seven Sisters Falls, there was laughter and discussion coming from our group. Lucy Bartz and Rachel Ihlenfeldt, two teachers at Grace, and Brianna and Samantha all accompanied Cassia to her baptism. They had played their God-given roles in planting, watering, and tending to the seed of the gospel as it grew into faith in Cassia. A faith firmly planted in her Savior, Jesus Christ. They escorted her into the pool at the base of the falls and rejoiced as she came out born again into God’s ever-growing family.

From Ib Meyer, home missionary at Grace in Grand Anse, Saint George, Grenada

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Faces of Faith – Katelyn and Hali

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Starting college at Coastal Carolina University in 2021 was a challenging time for Katelyn and me. We both grew up in WELS congregations, and we struggled to adjust to an environment that pushed values and beliefs that we did not share. There were many moments when we felt alone on campus.

The family and support we found at church was what encouraged us during difficult times and reminded us of the comfort we could find in God and our church family. Our freshman year was the first year that there was a steady group of college students who attended Amazing Grace in Myrtle Beach, S.C. We began having dinners at Katelyn’s house as a small escape from the pressures of Coastal, with friends who we knew shared the same faith. After a few dinners, our vicar at the time approached us with the idea of starting a Campus Ministry program as an outlet to strengthen our faith and enjoy fellowship. We were all very excited to start!

We began meeting for Bible studies twice a month and have continued for the past three years. There are still only five or six of us who attend, but as Matthew 18:20 says, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” We find comfort in this promise and are grateful for the time we get to spend in God’s Word and for the support of our Campus Ministry family on campus.

From Katelyn Baker and Hali Tainatongo, campus ministry students at Coastal Carolina University

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Faces of Faith – Drake

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What comes to mind when people think of NCAA Division 1 athletics? Dedication, drive, determination, devotion, competition, and so much more. One thing noticeably absent is any reference to faith or a relationship with Christ. I suppose that is not surprising given the culture of universities. But Drake Andrews, a freshman at Ohio State University (OSU) and a D1 men’s gymnastics competitor is seeking to change that. While Drake was working hard academically and physically during his first semester at OSU, he felt like something was missing. After being encouraged by close friends to seek out a church, Drake found his way to St. Paul’s, and the Holy Spirit ignited a flame of faith that has only gotten brighter. In Drake’s own words, “I knew from the first service I attended that I had found my new home. I am extremely excited to be confirmed. This is one of the most important aspects of my life, and I am thankful for the gifts that God has provided me with: a loving and supportive family, friends, the ability to train and compete in the sport I love, and most of all, the ability to serve him while here on earth.” Drake was confirmed and welcomed into membership on March 10, 2024, and I am excited to see his faith and passion for Christ grow in the years to come.

From Ross Gottschalk, campus ministry pastor at St. Paul’s in Columbus, Ohio

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Life changing Christian education

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To some, an affordable Christ-centered education is a given. To others, it is an incredible blessing miraculously provided by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Palabra de Vida Lutheran Church in Detroit, Mich., has been serving the community of Springwells in Detroit for over 15 years. And while amazing outreach events like soccer camps, Vacation Bible schools, Easter for Kids programs, and many more help to spread the gospel with new families, the Crossing Bridges program impacts the lives of existing members.

The Crossing Bridges program was established around the promise given to us in Proverbs Chapter 22: “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old, he will not depart from it.” The program aims to do just that, by creating a partnership between Palabra de Vida and two local area schools, Hope Christian Academy (6-12th grade), and Peace Lutheran School, Livonia, Mich. (Pre-K-5th grade). Through this partnership, each year the Crossing Bridges program is able to help provide a Christian education to 10-12 children from Palabra de Vida.

Unlike some public schools, these two schools provide a positive, and most importantly, Christ-centered learning environment, where they can come and learn about Christ’s love every single day. A place where they can not only grow in their faith, but also make life-long Christian friends. Hearing the gospel message everyday doesn’t just impact the kids, but it strengthens the faith of the whole family as well. Children come home from school and share with their parents and siblings the truths of God’s Word that they learned in school that day.

It is truly by the grace of God that a program like this can even be offered in the first place. In a state where there is no school choice program and very little financial aid, private Christian schools just aren’t feasible to most people. That’s why the Crossing Bridges program covers approximately 95% of the students’ tuition. How is the program able to do that? By the Grace of God moving the hearts of his people to generously give money to his kingdom. Every year, the Holy Spirit moves the hearts of people around the country to give towards this mission, which is able to keep a program like this running.

Please keep Palabra de Vida and the Crossing Bridges program in your prayers, as we aim to continue to share the Word of God through Christ-centered education in the Detroit area and train children in the truth.

Written by Mr. Lucas Martin, staff minister at Palabra de Vida and teacher at Hope Christian Academy in Westland, Mich.

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Equipping home missions for gospel ministry

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Dear Friend,

Seven. That’s the number of locations where Living Hope worshiped the living Savior before settling into our permanent worship facility. We worshiped in some of those locations only a couple of times and in others for a couple of years. COVID-19 disrupted many of our best-laid plans for planting a church in Chattanooga, Tenn. Thankfully we were able to adapt by utilizing the “Church in a Box” system.

“Church in a Box” is more like a “church in a trailer.” All of our audio-visual equipment, portable altar furnishings, Sunday school supplies, and staging, were rolled out of our trailer each Sunday and set up for worship. After worship and Bible study we’d then pack everything back up for next week.

About three and a half years after our grand opening, in 2021, God blessed us with a facility of our own. But even now we’re still using most of the equipment from our “Church in a Box” and have repurposed it for our permanent worship space. Last year, another new mission church started in our region (Christ the Rock in Canton, Ga.). Living Hope was able to gift them our trailer and some large portable storage containers that we no longer needed. It’s been great to see our “Church in a Box” system still being fully utilized between our two churches nearly six years after the initial purchase.

We were able to purchase our “Church in a Box” through a grant from the WELS Home Missions Equipment Fund. That single grant, which covered the whole purchase for Living Hope, has now made it possible for two mission congregations to hold worship services, and all of the equipment is still in use today. What a blessing!

Thank you for supporting WELS Home Missions with your prayers and offerings! If you’re looking for another great way to support our 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative, consider a gift to the Equipment Fund so other WELS church plants can have all they need to get started and, God-willing, serve their communities for many years to come. I think utilizing a “Church in a Box” system is one of the best ways we can be stewards of the resources with which God blesses our synod. Every dollar spent on a system like this is vital for new missions like Living Hope as they get started with planting a church.

Living Hope may have a permanent facility now but we’ve chosen to keep our mission spirit from those early days of being a mobile ministry. Instead of talking about our church facility as a fortress, we like to talk about it as a forward operating base. Our church isn’t a place where we seek refuge from the world but rather a place where the good news of Jesus refuels and equips us to go out and reach others with the message of “hope for every day” found in Christ.

Seven locations, one message. No matter where we worship, this is the same: “In [God’s] great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade” (1 Peter 1:3-4). Let’s work together as we mobilize to reach people with this living hope!

In Christ,
Pastor Eric Melso
Home Missionary, Living Hope, Chattanooga, Tenn.

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Prayer: Lord God, we praise you for your grace that sought us while we were still sinners and cleansed us from our sins through faith in the saving work of Jesus. We rejoice to hear of people discovering this grace in new places served by our home mission congregations, such as Chatanooga, Tenn. Bless Pastor Eric Melso and the members at Living Hope as they use their gifts to serve their community. We also ask you, Lord, to guide all our WELS home missions efforts, including our goal of opening 100 new missions and enhancing 75 existing missions in ten years. Amen.

It’s about a lot more than soccer

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For six of the past seven years, Foundation Lutheran Church has been holding a soccer camp each summer on the school grounds where we hold our worship services. Soccer camps are not new. Soccer camps as outreach opportunities are not new.

Our goals are much bigger than soccer. This year, we hit our camp capacity of 60 kids, had over 30 (all local) volunteers, had three days of great weather, filled 1500+ water balloons, and so much more. Our camp teaches soccer skills, but also basic athletic movements, teamwork, sportsmanship, and – most importantly – Jesus. We want every kid to leave every day with the simple truth that God loves them and Jesus saved them.

After six years, we have parents who sign their kids up as soon as registration opens. We have excited and eager kids for our camp. But we don’t want the opportunity with those families to end when camp ends, especially since on average 25% of the families that come don’t have a church home. We want to get to know them and share with them the Good News of a Savior who loves them. That’s why we bribe them with ice cream!

Our last camp session ends on Wednesday morning, but we invite all of the parents to come back with their kids that evening. The kids showcase some skills they learned, play a couple of short games, and then head into the school gym for ice cream. We show our soccer camp video with highlights from the week and encourage parents to watch it and share it from our YouTube page (@foundationlutheranchurch). We sing a song for the parents that we learned at camp. And – most importantly – we share the reason for all that we do: Jesus. We want the parents to hear the Good News that their kids heard that week. We want them to know that God loves them, that Jesus saved them, that there is no baggage too heavy for their Savior to shoulder and no pit he can’t rescue them from. We want to send the kids home singing a song about God’s love for them. We invite them to come back any Sunday.

This year, over 150 kids, parents, grandparents and siblings packed the gym for our “closing ceremony” and ice cream. More than 20 Foundation members came to serve ice cream, mingle with the families, get to know them, and invite them to learn more about Jesus with us. We don’t want the opportunity to end just because soccer camp ended.

Last year, one family came to worship the following Sunday. A few weeks later, the mom invited a friend to come with her. Two months later, they both went through classes to become members. From this one connection, three girls were baptized. God-willing, two of those girls will start Confirmation classes this fall to continue to grow in faith.

That is why we mingle and meet, why we intentionalize inviting these families for a next step.

Because this is about a lot more than soccer.

Written by Rev. Steven Prahl, home missionary at Foundation Lutheran Church in Peyton, Colo.

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Faces of Faith – Sean

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“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.”

Hear more from Sean O’Doherty, member at Cross of Christ Lutheran Church in Nampa, Idaho, about how the gospel shared with him through a WELS home mission congregation brought him back to his Savior.

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

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WELS Home Missions approves new missions and enhancements

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On April 18–19, WELS Board for Home Missions approved 12 new missions and enhancements for the synodwide 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative.

“We’re seeing a large increase in interest rates, and land, building, and health insurance costs that impact budgets for our current and future missions,” says Rev. Mark Gabb, Home Missions administrator. “As we considered new ministry requests this year, we worked hard to find balance between trusting God to do immeasurably more than we can imagine and not putting God to the test as we aim to wisely manage the dollars God’s people have given to WELS and Home Missions. Our goal remains the same: to aggressively go after the lost with the gospel.”

In the end, Home Missions approved five new starts and seven enhancements with the possibility of approving more in September. The five new mission starts include:

Bend, Ore.: Bend was identified in 2020 as the second-fastest growing city in the U.S. A core group of eight families has been gathering twice a month for Bible study and planning as it plants a church in an area where 62 percent of people are not involved with any religious community.

Cedar Lake, Ind.: Members from Trinity and Zion in Crete, Ill., have formed a core group to plant a new mission in nearby Cedar Lake. This area of northwest Indiana is growing rapidly as Chicago commuters look for cheaper alternatives to living in Illinois.

Conway, Ark. (pictured): Conway is a growing college town in the northwest of Little Rock with no WELS presence. A group of 19 WELS members has been gathering at a local hotel on Sundays for worship and Bible study with a part-time retired pastor and getting involved in the community as it prepares to launch a brand-new church.

Easley, S.C.: Since 2016, Abiding Peace, Simpsonville, S.C., has been exploring the option of starting a second site in the greater Greenville area that includes Easley and Powdersville. Abiding Peace is currently offering worship and Bible study and getting involved in community events from a leased home base in Easley as it evaluates where a future, permanent site might be established with a new missionary.

Williston, N.D.: The core group in Williston has been gathering for 15 years, now under the name Lamb of God Lutheran Church. It rents a full-time ministry center where members conduct outreach and worship online with the WELS church in Bismarck, N.D. Members look forward to reaching out with the gospel with a full-time missionary at the helm.

The Board for Home Missions is also financially supporting ministry enhancements for Calvary, Dallas, Texas; Crossroads, Chicago, Ill. (restart); Faith, Prior Lake, Minn.; Good Shepherd, Plymouth, Wis.; Northdale, Tampa, Fla.; St. Marcus, Milwaukee, Wis.; and St. Paul, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Learn more about these new missions and ministry enhancements at wels100in10.net.

 

 

 

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Together Video Update – April 23, 2024

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Rev. Joshua Koelpin was assigned to start a home mission in Boston, Mass., as a new graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary last May. Hear how he and his wife, Katelyn, have approached this first year of planting a new church in a large urban area. Also learn about some of the supports that WELS Home Missions provides to new missionaries and their families along the way.

Read more about Missionary Koelpin’s ministry in Boston by clicking on the links to two Missions blogs below:

Athens of America

Sowing seeds in urban soil

 

 

 

 

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Small in number, mighty in love

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Crosspoint Church  in Georgetown, Tex., has been putting on an Easter Eggstravaganza event for over four years now. Each year it has become bigger and bigger, yet membership has stayed at 40 members. In 2023, the event attracted nearly 1,000 people. Rev. Mike Geiger and the members at Crosspoint were expecting just as big of a turnout, if not bigger, for this year as well. However, being a congregation consisting primarily of retirees, they needed more resources than what they had available to help this event be another successful one. The University of Wisconsin—Eau Claire’s campus ministry was asked if they would be willing to go down to Texas during their spring break. Four students volunteered and spent the week going door-to-door handing out invitations to both the Easter Eggstravaganza event and the Easter Sunday service, doing the heavy lifting of tables, tents, and signage to set up for the event, running different stations at the event, and helping take it all back down at the end of the day to get the church ready for service the next morning.

While Crosspoint may be a small church in number, it is still mighty in love and God’s grace. I don’t think there was one member who didn’t contribute in some way to the event, whether it was helping host the college students, stuffing all 14,000 eggs, setting up the event, lending tables or tents for the event, running the event, or helping take it down. There was so much love and hospitality everywhere you went. While planning and putting on the long-awaited event, the congregation was so full of joy and hope, praying that the Holy Spirit would use it as an opportunity to bring some more people closer to Jesus. After a week full of work by the campus ministry students and months of work by the congregation, the event was finally able to commence.

There were 817 people in attendance at the Easter Eggstravaganza, enjoying the event and learning more about what Crosspoint stood for. On Easter Sunday, four new families joined us. The families had either been at the event the day before or had gotten an invitation during our canvasing earlier in the week. We hope that through the Holy Spirit these people will come back and learn about Jesus, and eventually be led to become members at Crosspoint. May God bless all the work Crosspoint is doing to expand their ministry and grow their congregation in one of the fastest-growing areas of Texas.

Written by Ally Veley, member of In Christ Alone, the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire WELS Campus Ministry.

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Multiple home missions under one roof

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St. John’s Lutheran in St. Paul, Minn., is an old congregation established by German immigrants over 150 years ago. It was the second WELS congregation started in the Twin Cities area. In the 1980s, the neighborhood demographic started to change. Asians and African Americans moved in while Caucasians moved to the suburbs. Throughout the 1990s and in the 2000s, the change continued as Hispanic immigrants moved into the area.

In 2005, St. John’s opened their facility to Immanuel Hmong, a WELS congregation focused on reaching out to the local Hmong community. As the neighborhood around St. John’s changed, so did the congregation. By 2015 the membership had decreased to about 300 souls. Enrollment in the school continued to decline throughout the years. In 2017, St. Johns made the difficult decision to close the school.

Over the next three years, St. Johns considered merging with other area congregations or closing their doors as they could no longer completely support a full-time pastor. Then, in 2020 a member of the church passed away and left a large bequest to the congregation. With the help of District President Rev. Dennis Klatt and Rev. Tim Flunker, Hispanic Outreach Consultant, the members of St. John’s “opened their eyes and looked at the fields” around them and decided to move forward in a new direction. They decided to ask WELS Home Missions for some financial help to call a bilingual pastor with the goal of starting a Hispanic ministry in addition to the English-speaking community.

In spring of 2022, St. John’s installed Rev. Tim Otto to serve as pastor to focus on outreach to the Hispanic community. What a joy to see God answer in a greater fashion than we could ask or imagine: the building now hosts worship in three languages every weekend!

Check out below some of the recent activities happening at St. John’s facility.

Hispanic Services in St. Paul, Minn.

Over the past year, St. John’s has started up Hispanic services and held various local community events under the name of Iglesia Lutherana San Juan.

In September, San Juan had a table at Fiesta Latina. It served to create a prospect list of around 100. The group gave away over 100 Bibles and a lot of flyers advertising their Hispanic ministry. This event was held by CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) at a building next door to the church.

In January, San Juan started an evangelism program to the community called Kicks and Conversations (Patear y Platicar). They invited the community to come out of the cold and to play soccer or basketball in the gym. Attendees could also practice their English on Wednesdays in January and February leading up to Ash Wednesday. There was good participation and attendance from the community varied from 10 to 30 people.

In summer 2023, San Juan started a summer evangelism program partnering with Raices y Ramas, a Hispanic pregnancy counseling organization. The program is called Community Thursdays (Jueves en comunidad) and ran for six weeks over the summer. San Juan opened the gym and volunteers organized and ran crafts for the moms.

For more information on St. John’s/San Juan, please visit their website at stjohnev.net

Celebrating Thanksgiving & Hmong New Year in St. Paul, Minn.

In November each year, the congregation of Immanuel Hmong Lutheran in St. Paul, Minn., welcomes friends and guests to a special Thanksgiving and Hmong New Year celebration. This is a yearly celebration that includes members dressing in traditional Hmong attire. The celebration includes a special worship service followed by dinner that includes many Hmong dishes.

In addition to the annual Thanksgiving and Hmong New Year celebration, Immanuel Hmong also hosted various other activities such as marriage retreats, vacation Bible studies, summer fun festivals, family camping, and many different choirs.

God has truly blessed Immanuel Hmong, and we pray that God would continue to bless this home mission!

For more information on Immanuel Hmong, please visit their website at immanuelhmong.net

Written by Daryl Schultz, Minnesota District Mission Board member.

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