In late 2022, as mission work was beginning in Conroe, Texas, and our core group began inviting their friends, relatives, acquaintances, and neighbors to join us for Bible study and worship, we regularly heard multiple versions of the same phrase: “I’m interested. But come back and ask again when you’re in a permanent space.”

Many were genuinely interested. However, the physical places to which we were inviting them—someone’s living room, a rented community room, or a funeral home chapel (where we held worship for over two years)—all had one thing in common. By our own admission, none of these places were where we wanted to set up ministry permanently. That created a perception that we were not yet an established church. That perception had an impact on our community, and an understandable one.

Somewhere between 30 and 70 percent of new Christian churches in America close their doors within five years of opening.

In our area, where a great variety of Christian denominations and non-denominational churches are planting churches regularly, that statistic has helped create a general skepticism toward new churches. Even many who are looking for a church home are reluctant to engage with them. Rather than invest emotionally in a church that may not be there in five years, they believe it’s better to wait and see if its ministry presence becomes a permanent fixture in the community.

As we were learning of this perception’s strong prevalence in our mission field, God was developing for us some unusual opportunities compared to what a WELS Home Mission is typically able to do in its early years of ministry.

Just two months after the church was established in 2022, nearly 22 acres of buildable and beautiful land on a prominent road traveled by thousands of people every day was donated to the church. WELS mission churches are typically able to start looking for land four or five years after the mission begins.

A short time later, another significant donation was given to be used exclusively to help with the construction of a worship space on that land. God also provided through WELS Church Extension Fund, which supported the project with both a loan and a grant. WELS mission churches are typically in a financial position to begin this process in the sixth or seventh year of their existence.

As our core group discussed this rare opportunity with the donor and our WELS District Mission Board, we determined that, if possible, we would like to construct a building that visually communicated one particular quality: permanence.

We hoped to construct a building that looked like it had been there for years, and would be there for many years to come, believing that the visual perception of permanence would have a significantly positive impact on our ability to connect souls to the gospel.

Under God’s gracious guidance and blessing, we were able to accomplish that goal. We started planning for the building in early 2023, held our first worship service in August 2025, and quickly saw just how powerful the perception of permanence really is.

Average worship attendance in our previous rented space (the funeral home chapel) was about 50 souls per weekend. In the new space, average attendance instantly nearly doubled, and now around 140 individuals worship with us around the means of grace each week.

Each weekend since August, at least one new person has walked into church to worship with us for the first time. Most often, when we ask what brought them to us, they mention the building, its attractiveness, and the positive perceptions it conveyed to them as they drove by.

While we pray the new building will be around for a long time to attract souls to our campus, we all know that no building lasts forever, and this new worship space won’t be the exception. Jesus once assured his disciples that even the large and impressively constructed temple in Jerusalem would one day be entirely destroyed.

But the assurance of our Savior’s completed work, that all sins are forgiven, that death is defeated, that God will one day wipe every tear from our eyes, that heaven is our true and lasting home, and that the God who provides these permanent blessings to us at no cost is also with us daily—guiding, guarding, and providing for us—each step of the way home . . . these aren’t just perceptions.

These assurances are promises fulfilled by our faithful God.

In Jesus, we have something better than the perception of permanence.

We have the promise of permanence. The promise of permanent and eternal blessings we find only through him.

With or without a building, this promise is what provides everlasting stability for each person. We are grateful that, in this particular mission field, at this particular time, God has provided a way to connect that promise with many souls who need to hear it.

Written by Rev. Jeremy Mattek, pastor at TheMission – a Lutheran Church in Conroe, Texas.

In North Texas, where community often forms through shared effort and trust, a meaningful connection has been growing between students of Renzo Gracie DFW and Christ Alone, Keller, Texas. What began as a few initial connections has developed into something deeper—a reflection of how relationships forged through discipline and challenge can become a bridge to conversations about faith and the gospel.

At Renzo Gracie DFW, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is more than a sport. It’s a daily practice of humility, perseverance, and mutual respect. Training partners rely on one another in a uniquely close way—learning through trial, vulnerability, and constant refinement. Trust is built quickly when people grapple, struggle, and improve side by side. Over time, those shared experiences turn into genuine friendships grounded in accountability and mutual growth.

It’s within those relationships that something significant has taken shape.

As students spend hours together on the mats, conversations naturally extend beyond techniques and competition. Life challenges, personal goals, and deeper questions begin to surface. Because trust has already been established in such a tangible way, these discussions often carry a level of honesty that’s hard to find elsewhere. For some, that openness has created space to talk about faith—sometimes for the first time in a meaningful way.

That’s where Christ Alone has become part of the story.

Known for its Christ-centered, biblical teaching and welcoming environment, the church provides a place where those conversations can continue and grow. Students who first encountered faith discussions during or after training have found a natural next step in attending services together. Walking into a church can feel intimidating, but doing so alongside trusted friends changes the experience. The same relationships built through shared struggle on the mats become a bridge, making the message of the gospel more approachable and personal.

This connection highlights something essential: people are far more open to hearing truth when it comes through relationships they trust. On the mats, students experience a kind of honesty that strips away pretense. There’s no room for ego when you’re learning, tapping (out), and growing together. That authenticity carries into spiritual conversations, where questions and doubts can be expressed without fear of judgment.

For those attending Christ Alone, the impact has been mutual. The presence of Renzo Gracie DFW students brings a strong sense of camaraderie and authenticity into the congregation. Their shared background creates a built-in support system, making it easier to stay connected and engaged. At the same time, the church community offers encouragement and guidance that extends beyond physical training—pointing toward a deeper relationship with Christ through Word and sacraments.

Hearing that Jesus has died for their sins has resulted in 13 adult confirmations and 9 baptisms, confessing their unity in the faith by receiving the sacrament together and carrying the message of the gospel into relationships in their everyday lives, including a tradition of selfies after service, expressing joy in our risen Savior.

What’s unfolding in Keller is a reminder that the gospel often travels along relational pathways. Programs and invitations have their place, but personal connection is what opens doors. In this case, friendships formed through Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have become those doors, creating opportunities for meaningful conversations about Christ’s love and the hope found in him.

Ultimately, this growing connection isn’t just about a gym or a church. It’s about people walking alongside one another, building trust through shared experiences, and allowing that trust to lead to Jesus. From the mats to the pews, those relationships are proving to be a powerful bridge—one that continues to carry the message of the gospel into everyday life.

Written by Rev. Paul Seager, pastor at Christ Alone Lutheran Church in Keller, Texas.