Tag Archive for: Missions

Seeking and strengthening synods in Uganda

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What do you get when you add together three Ugandan synods, two missionaries from the One Africa Team, and one representative from our WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR)? A spiritually uplifting and productive cross-country journey!

At the beginning of April, Missionaries Foxen and Mohlke traveled to Uganda, rented a car, and struck out on unfamiliar roads to meet with representatives of two church bodies, or synods, who were seeking a relationship with WELS.

A synod in western Uganda

The first of these was the Confessional Lutheran Synod of Uganda (CLSU), headquartered in Ibanda in the hilly regions of western Uganda. The area was extremely pastoral, with beautifully green pasturelands and lots of cows. The leaders of the CLSU proved to be equally pastoralā€”very attentive to the spiritual needs of their people and eager to meet those needs to the best of their ability.

We visited a number of the local congregations and also got to see the site of their functioning seminaryā€”a simple two rooms that housed a small library and a number of crowded bunks for students. A nearby church hall serves as their classroom.

The CLSU serves about 3,000 members with the gospel. Their seminary program has 7 students who will be graduating this December, with another 12 students ready to join the next intake.

A synod in central Uganda

After our time in Ibanda, we set out on the road again and headed east for eight hours to arrive in Jinja in central Uganda, on the north banks of Lake Victoria, one of the sources for the Nile River. Here, we met with representatives from another synod, the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession in Uganda (ECACU). Though smaller than the CLSU (it serves about 950 members), we found them to be no less eager to share the truth of Godā€™s Word with others in their communities.

A large focus of their strategy for reaching out is schools, which they organize in communities that lack them. They then organize congregations out of the people making use of the schools. Their largest school serves about 300 children.

Our visits with the leaders of both ECACU and CLSU were very encouraging when it came to discussing our respective beliefs about Scripture and their focus on gospel ministry. We are looking forward to continuing discussions to see if fellowship with these synods will be possible.

The Obadiah Lutheran Synod

After our time was done with ECACU, we drove back to the airport, where I dropped off Missionary Mohlke and picked up MLC Professor Nicholas Schmoller, who also serves on the WELS CICR. The two of us then drove farther east, past Jinja to Bugiri, where our brothers in the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) are located.

We were meeting with them to help them organize a written confession of faith, which would be used as they apply for membership in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), the worldwide fellowship of churches of which WELS is a part. We spent three days with Pastor Musa and other leaders of the OLS, studying Scripture and putting on paper articles of faith especially important to them for their churches, communities, and context. The Lord blessed our work and allowed us to accomplish everything in the time we had available.

So, after 16 days on the road and about 1,300 kilometers driven, what did we have to show for it? New friendships established, old friendships reaffirmed, and more opportunities to marvel at the grace of our Lord Jesus, who makes us his coworkers in the ministry of his gospel! May he continue to bless our work with these three Ugandan synods!

Written by Ben Foxen, missionary on the One Africa Team




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Two Pastoral Studies Institute students graduate

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Mark Jiang and David Shang have graduated from the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) and will be continuing their current Chinese outreach in North America.

Mark Jiang serves Apostles in San Jose, Calif., as outreach pastor to the Chinese community. A growing Chinese fellowship and Bible study already meets every Sunday afternoon. In addition, Mark will continue teaching international high school students at Apostles Lutheran High School, offering classes like Bible Information Class and Intro to Christianity. David Shang will continue serving in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he is helping grow a local Chinese ministry supported by Hope Lutheran Church and another active PSI student. Additional details regarding his ministry are still in the works. Both of these efforts are currently supported by the Joint Mission Committee.

The Pastoral Studies Institute provides pre-seminary and seminary training to students from a variety of countries and cultures. As WELS congregations reach out to immigrants with the gospel, the PSI team equips future spiritual leadersā€”often right where they live and serve. In many cases, this training leads to international gospel connections as well.

Please keep Mark and David in your prayers continue to share the gospel and serve their communities. We thank God for raising up leaders through the PSI to bring Christā€™s love to the nations!

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Still building on an age-old tradition

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For more than 100 years, WELS congregations have been operating Christian elementary and secondary schools. Many WELS members grew up learning Bible history and the teachings of Martin Lutherā€™s Small Catechism right along with reading, writing, and arithmetic as well as social studies and science. In the 21st century, more than 400 WELS congregations operate early childhood educational centers to foster our childrenā€™s relationship with their Savior.

While understanding the world around us is important, the understanding of eternal life supersedes it all. We understand that life-learning starts early, and the earlier the better. The age of 2 or 3 is not too soon to introduce our children to the teaching of salvation.

The One Africa Team is working with a group of Christians in Buchanan, Liberia, that understands the importance of educating children in the truths of Scripture. Lamb of God Lutheran Church is hoping to start with ABC Kindergarten. Their hope is that the kindergarten will quickly grow into a primary school and even a secondary school within just a few years. Pastor Toye Barnard, Lamb of Godā€™s leader, expresses confidence that the program will grow fast.

Pastor Barnard

Lamb of God Lutheran Church broke away from another group the One Africa Team had studied with for several years. That group had decided to hold to the Pentecostal teachings of its leaders, which included a refusal to baptize infants, among other misunderstandings. Pastor Barnard and his members endured many false accusations from that other group when Lamb of God agreed to hold to the truth of Scripture and to continue studying with the One Africa Team. A benevolent group of WELS Christians in California continues to support this budding ministry, which is focusing much attention on building a school as a foundation for their congregation.

Currently, 44 adults and 22 children worship at Lamb of God. The congregation owns three quarters of an acre on which to build a small school near the edge of town. Pastor Barnard, together with several members who are also teachers, is confident they will be able to build a large school and even a church building. They will need more land and more funds to actualize the plan. They will also need the Lord of the Church to put his hand of blessing on this effort, so that his church may grow in Liberia. Your prayers and support are hugely appreciated!

Written by Rev. Dan Kroll, world missionary on the One Africa Team




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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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Graduates and vicars assigned to home and world mission fields

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

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

  • Bitter, Jacob ā€“ Pan de Vida, Garden Grove, Calif. (Hispanic outreach)
  • Borgwardt, Jacob ā€“ Crossroads, Chicago, Ill.
  • Satorius, Noah ā€“ Northdale, Tampa, Fla. (Hispanic outreach)
  • Satorius, Zachary ā€“ World Missionary, One Latin America Team
  • Schultz, Ethan ā€“ Lamb of God (New mission start), Williston, N.D.
  • Stein, Nathaniel ā€“ Christ, Clarksville, Md.
  • Valdez, Phillip ā€“ Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas
May God bless these men and their families as they transition to their new roles and reach out with the saving gospel message in their new communities! For the full assignment list, visit wisluthsem.org/about-wls/assignment-list/.

Vicar in a Mission Setting program assignments

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

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

The Vicar in a Mission Setting program allows third-year seminary students to experience ministry in a mission-minded congregation thanks to financial support from WELS Home Missions and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. For the full assignment list, visit wisluthsem.org/about-wls/assignment-list/.

Martin Luther College graduate to world mission field

  • Rieger, Matthew T. ā€“ East Fork Lutheran School, Whiteriver, Ariz. ā€“ Grades 5-8 Departmentalized Mathematics

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Faces of Faith ā€“ Hakim

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Hakim Kon came to Canada in December 2022 to be with his wife, Nyariek. It wasnā€™t the first time God turned his life upside down. As a young man, he was impacted by the violence in South Sudan but decided long ago that he wanted to use his life to reach others with the words of Godā€™s mercy. When he got to Canada, he was welcomed by the South Sudanese community and found our WELS mission church in Surrey, serving people from the Nuer tribe.

Hakim had a background in theological training, so after getting confirmed in the summer of 2023 while trying to get settled with his wife in a new country and pursue a cybersecurity degree, God turned his life upside down again. This time it was the request of his new congregation to be an elder and to consider training in our Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI).

Hakim is learning what it means that Jesus gives some to be pastors and teachers to build and equip his church for works of service. This new husband, new immigrant, new student, and new worker (and very recently new father!) is adding ā€œPSI studentā€ to his list of vocations as he is equipped to lead in the church. But Hakim believes it is more than worth it: ā€œI focus on the Lord because he continues to surprise me from time to time. His mercy and love changed my life. I have that confidence that he can use me to change others’ lives.ā€

Written by Geoff Cortright, pastor at Saviour of the Nations Lutheran Church in Vancouver, BC

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Moments with Missionaries – Erik Landwehr

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Missionary Erik Landwehr shares and update from Peridot Lutheran School on the San Carlos Reservation. Rev. Landwehr shares some goals the Native American mission team has for the mission field and the work being done to train Native American leaders through the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS) program. Hear more from Missionary Landwehr and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis.

P.S. – Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch even more videos from our missionaries in the upcoming weeks!

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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Moving fast but staying grounded

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

How did we get here so fast? Godā€™s been blessing us in amazing ways. Almost every week we get connected with new people from our community who donā€™t have a church home and invite them to join us for life groups, worship, or weekly story time for families. People thank us for the invite, show up to check things out, and get more connected from then on. Weā€™ve needed to do multiple Starting Point studies (think Bible information class) for all the people interested in learning more about the Bible. Our sanctuary has been fuller on Sundays, kids and their parents are baptized, and our offerings have increased. God has blessed Ascension here and now with opportunities to do what churches do.

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

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

So what do you do when things move faster than you expect? You hold on! Just like when youā€™re on a roller coaster. Just like when someone hits the gas and doesnā€™t warn you. Instinctively you hold on because when things move quickly you need something to ground you and make you know itā€™s okay.

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

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

With something to hold on to like that, moving fast is not just okayā€”itā€™s something weā€™re praising God for doing.

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




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CAMM May 2025 Newsletter

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Last December the clinic lost one of our members of staff, a nurse/midwife by the name of Mayase Banda. Mrs. Banda had worked at the clinic for 13 years. On Sundays, she would attend Martin Luther Church, which is on the grounds of the clinic. Pastor Titus Mbele conducted her funeral service. Is there anything one can talk about that happens without God being involved? I am not sure of anything, but one thing is that God exists everywhere and, at the end of the day, there is nothing that happens for no reason. She was one of the senior nurses, and we appreciate her work and time spent at the clinic.

Working as a member of the administrative staff at the Lutheran Mission Rural Health Centre, I am grateful for Godā€™s grace. The facility has seen people come to the health center from as far as 15 kilometers to seek medical services, and we have heard people say, ā€œWe came this far because the medicines in this facility are prayed for and we trust that we shall find the help.ā€ Others still say because of the name of God they trust they will be healed.

Appreciating God is acknowledging that while we were lost in sin, God did everything according to his plan to save us from the powers of Satan and power of death and indeed purchased us with his blood. Jesus Christ suffered death for the whole world to be saved. It’s a gift worth appreciating. Maybe a question would be this: How do we show appreciation for what God has done in our lives? How do we as individuals, parents, children, families show this appreciation? When you are alone and look around at how far God has brought you, do you pause for a moment and appreciate him?

Appreciating God comes in many ways. I would rather raise a generation that will have fear for the Lord at all times. There are times when I see children who do not always live as God and their parents have taught them to live.

Finally, it would be a great thing if children would be encouraged to maintain the legacy of a Christian family, so that even when the parents are gone the faith will remain. As people, we discuss how well-mannered the children are, but sometimes I find it difficult to help families realize that they could do more to help their children to be faithful, truthful, honest.

I ask that you continue to pray for families and children and encourage them to grow strong in their faith.

Written by Alisad Banda, clinic administrator in Zambia




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Moments with Missionaries – Mike Hartman

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Missionary Mike Hartman shares and update from the mission in London! London’s international population brings together a diverse range of religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds. Rev. Mike Hartman shares how his ministry is reaching communities across England and beyond, and and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

P.S. – Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch even more videos from our missionaries in the upcoming weeks!

From learners to leaders: the global impact of TELL

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Welcome
“Hello, Arase. Hello, Ayorinde. Hi there, Effiong.”

“Welcome, Tawose! Glad you are here. Hi, Rwakilembe. Hello, Wangaya. Welcome.”

Learning to pronounce foreign names correctly is a small challengeā€”one of many faced in global ministry. But as I greet each student signing in for our third TELL Student Recognition Celebration, Iā€™m reminded of something greater: the diverse, determined students who are stepping up to lead others to Christ.

Maybe I could have welcomed them with “good morning,” but for many, it was already evening where they live. Maybe I should have said, ā€œHowdy,ā€ ā€œHiya,ā€ ā€œYo,ā€ or ā€œSup.ā€

Maybe not.

Itā€™s a small challenge to personally greet so many students. One hundred and fifty of them, to be exact!

But each student signing in represents a bigger challenge theyā€™ve embracedā€”the challenge of learning to lead. Thatā€™s why weā€™re here today: to recognize students who have completed more than eight TELL courses and are stepping forward as Christian leaders in their communities.

What does it mean to learn to lead?
It means becoming part of a movementā€”one that equips believers to share the gospel and plant churches worldwide.

TELL, a program of Multi-Language Productions, follows the TELL method: Think, Evaluate, Learn, and Lead others to Christ. The curriculum includes 20 online courses designed to equip students to share the gospel and start churches in their communities. In short, TELL is a church multiplication program. More than 1,500 students have enrolled in TELL so far. Of those, 149 have gone beyond the basics, dedicating themselves to deeper learning and leadership. Thatā€™s a reason for celebration!

These students join TELL classes online from their homes and offices in places like Africa, the United Kingdom, parts of Asia, India, and Trinidad. But TELLā€™s reach extends even furtherā€”into countries where WELS missionaries cannot safely go, like Pakistan and Nigeria.

Stories of impact
Binyameen, a TELL student from Pakistan, shares: ā€œTELL has given me knowledge to share with others. We go to villages and teach women and children. TELL has made me brave.ā€

TELL prepares students to gather and lead groups through a curriculum that begins with 13 Discipleship courses followed by seven Multiplication courses. Students committed to the program are assigned a TELL counselor who, in turn, is committed to themā€”encouraging them to gather groups and share the saving message of the gospel with people in their communities.

Effiong from Nigeria says: “I really appreciate the invaluable work TELL is doing for Nigerian students of the TELL Bible teaching method in Nigeria. Your commitment to raising Christian leaders in Nigeria through this program is commendable. The TELL USA initiative is truly empowering individuals like me to spread the Word of God effectively.ā€

WELS does not have on-the-ground missionaries in Nigeria. Thatā€™s where TELL provides essential training and support through our online curriculum, preparing Nigerian men to learn and spread the gospel on their own. Watch a short video featuring some of our accomplished Nigerian students here.

TELL students from around the world are sharing Godā€™s Word even in challenging places!

Kurapati, a TELL student from India, describes the social pressure as a Christian in his country: ā€œIt is not popular being a Christian in India. I profess my faith through witnessing, friendship evangelism, and through my deeds. We are carefully watched by Hindu extremists. But TELL changed my life in an effective way. It changed my understanding about Scriptures in a wonderful way. Thanks to all of you for giving me this opportunity.ā€

Overcoming challenges together
TELL does not come without its own challenges. Keeping up with the growing demand for teachers and instructors is toughā€”but what an incredible challenge to face! Every day, I feel blessed to be working with TELL students, sharing Godā€™s Word, to help them overcome their own challenges.

Emmanuel from the United Kingdom shares: ā€œTELL has increased my confidence, helping me achieve milestones and overcome earlier challenges. I now have greater self-assurance in my abilities.ā€

Congratulations
“Congratulations, Percy! Great job, Pierre! So proud of you, Ransford!”

As I recognize each student one by one, Iā€™m amazed at how God is working in ways I had never imagined. As these students go forward, carrying the torch of faith into their communities, we celebrate not just what they have achieved but the lives they will impact for Christ.

Written by Rev. Nate Seiltz, director of Multi-Language Productions




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Together Video – May 6, 2025

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Rev. Jon Bilitz, pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, Madison, Wis., talks about how area college students integrate into a congregation committed to supporting campus ministry work.

 

 

 

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Taste of Missions school challenge and poster contest winners announced

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Winners have been selected for the 2025 Taste of Missions school challenge and poster contest!

School challenge for grades K-8

Congratulations to theĀ 3rd grade class at Trinity-St. Lukeā€™s in Watertown, Wis., and theĀ 7th grade class at First Lutheran School in La Crosse, Wis., for winning the Taste of Missions School Challenge! These two classes each received a Taste of Missions party, complete with lunch from a local ethnic restaurant, t-shirts, tickets to Taste of Missions on June 14, a Zoom call with a missionary, and more.

A big thank you to everyone who participated! We received submissions fromĀ 21 different grade schools across the U.S. Be sure to check out photos from the challenge in our Flickr album.

If you didnā€™t get a chance to participateā€”or want to use the materials againā€”the School Challenge activities will remain available at tasteofmissions.com/schools. Theyā€™re great for classrooms, Sunday School, or Vacation Bible School.

High school poster contest

This past spring, all WELS and ELS high school artists were invited to express their creativity and learn about WELS mission work by creating an 11Ɨ17ā€ masterpiece capturing the heart of either WELS Home or World Missions. Two overall winners were selected:

Home Missions winner
Natalie Matzke ā€“ Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School
Zion, Winthrop, Minn.
Read artist statement

 

World Missions winner
Liz Kuehner ā€“ Luther High School
St. Matthewā€™s, Winona, Minn.
Read artist statement

Thank you to all the students who learned about WELS Home and World Missions! We received 19 incredible posters this year and loved seeing how students used their God-given gifts to highlight mission work. A big thanks as well to the teachers, parents, and peers who encouraged participation!

This annual contest returns each springā€”stay tuned for how your students can take part next year.

Fan favorite voting

All posters will be displayed at Taste of Missions on June 14 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., where attendees can vote for their Fan Favorite. Be sure toĀ register to cast your vote! Results and all artwork will be shared at tasteofmissions.com/poster and on social media after the event.

 




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Victory!

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

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

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

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

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

“Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?ā€

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

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

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

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




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New chairman for SALEM

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Originally appears in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) newsletter. Subscribe to future updates from the CELC at celc.info/signup.

In the 1960s, WELS missionaries were sent to Hong Kong to assist local Chinese Christians. In 1977, a Lutheran church body named SALEM (South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission) was established.

In 1997, Rev. Titus Tse (pictured left) from Hong Kong was called and installed as the first chairman of SALEM. By Godā€™s grace, under Rev. Tseā€™s leadership, the SALEM church body grew and matured into a stable, developing, and faithful community of believers.

After many years of faithful service, Rev. Tse has now entered a new chapter. Having ā€œretiredā€ from his pastoral ministry at the congregation in accordance with SALEMā€™s policies, he was immediately commissioned as a missionary to establish a Chinese Lutheran church under SALEMā€™s mission work in Auckland, New Zealand.

The mantle of leadership in Hong Kong has now been passed to another capable leader, for God always provides the right people at the right time. Rev. Alex Wong (pictured right) officially assumed the role of chairman of SALEM on January 1, 2025, with the installation ceremony taking place on March 2. He now steps into this new role with over a decade of pastoral experience and a shepherdā€™s heart.

When Rev. Tse assumed leadership in 1997, Hong Kong was undergoing historic transitions. Now, as Rev. Wong takes office, the city once again faces new challenges amid shifting times. Through these eras of change, God continues to expand his kingdom and raise up fitting leaders for each season. These pivotal moments create unique opportunities for his people, and we rejoice in his unfailing wisdom and grace.

Rev. Wongā€™s leadership is a gift to the church. By Godā€™s power, SALEM is poised to embrace this new chapter, strengthen believers, and seek the lost. We praise God for all he has accomplished through his people in Hong Kong and pray that he grants Rev. Wong and all church leaders strength and wisdom equal to their calling.

Written by Missionary Tony Barthels, WELS’ liaison to SALEM

 




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Moments with Missionaries – Craig Wilke

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Rev. Craig Wilke, home missionary at Sure Foundation Lutheran Church in Brandon, S.D., shares an update from their new worship facility. Through the support of WELS Home Missions and WELS Church Extension Fund, they have been in the progress of building a new church, which is just about complete. Hear more from Rev. Craig Wilke as he share more about the their new worship space and the ongoing work spreading the gospel in Brandon, S.D. and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

P.S. – Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch even more videos from our missionaries in the upcoming weeks!

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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Finding better in Jesus

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ā€œI have to call my mom about this . . . this is better!ā€ she said. That has become one of my favorite lines I have ever heard in a Bible information class. I sat across the kitchen table from my new friends Dan and Jenny, taking them through the lesson on Baptism and the Lordā€™s Supper. This was a place I wanted to be but a place I was never sure I would be.

You see, our friends Dan and Jenny had both grown up with a Baptist background and were a good Christian family looking for a church in our area. We just happened to meet them when our girls played on the same T-ball team. Before they were ever visitors of our church, they were just our good friendsā€”friends we would have over for dinner and meet at parks, pools, restaurants, and wineries. I wanted nothing more than to baptize all four of their awesome kids (now five!), but I understood thatā€™s not what they believed. If only we could talk about it.

I remember the night on my back patio, standing under the awning during a thunderstorm, when Dan asked me, ā€œWhatā€™s the difference between Lutherans and Baptists?ā€ ā€œWell, I think it really comes down to how God works,” I replied. “You see, Lutherans believe that God works in Baptism and the Lordā€™s Supper, giving to his people forgiveness and granting and strengthening faith, whereas Baptists would see it as something that I am doing for God. Itā€™s sort of arrow up versus arrow down theology.ā€ To his credit, and through the working of the Holy Spirit, Dan told me that night, ā€œI think I am on board with that. But it might take a little more discussion with my wife . . . ā€ (sorry, Jenny).

But that discussion happened. It happened informally at picnic tables, at our local winery, standing on the beach of a manmade lake, and around both of our kitchen tables, until finally, Dan and Jenny both saw Baptism for the comfort that it is. God wants you to know that he claims those children too. He forgives their sins too. The Holy Spirit works in their little hearts too.

So, on March 30, we not only baptized the five children but also their dad. You see, Dan had always thought that sometime along the way he had been baptized. But a few phone calls later, he realized he never had. So this was going to be a really special Sunday for their family. As a father, itā€™s an incredible gift not only to tell your children what happens in Baptism but also to show themā€”first by being baptized yourself and then by lifting each of your little ones up to that same font, watching as God claims them as his own, washes away all their sins, and makes to them the very same promises he just made to you. Baptism now saves you also . . . this promise is for you and for your children . . . all of us who have been baptized into Christ have been baptized into his death. We were therefore buried with him through Baptism into death, so that just as he was raised to the glory of the Father, we too walk in new life.

ā€œI have to call my mom about this . . . this is better!ā€ Call your mom, dad, brother, sister, friend, neighbor, stranger on the street! Let them know that in Jesus, it is better.

Written by Rev. Jake Jenswold, home missionary at Victory Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kan.




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A partnership for the gospel

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When I was a girl, I remember learning about church fellowship. It was always something negative. ā€œDonā€™t commune with them,ā€ or ā€œI canā€™t worship with her.ā€ Now, on the Europe Team, I am blessed to see the positive, warm, happy side of church fellowship. And I see it every day! The Europe Team partners with about a dozen sister churchesā€”churches with whom we share fellowship. What does that actually mean? Does it mean that when I visit Berlin, or Tirana, or Stockholm, there is a worship service that I can gladly join? Yes, absolutely, and much, much more!

In Philippians 1:4,5, St. Paul gives thanks for believers with whom he shares a ā€œpartnership in the gospel.ā€ Fellowship means working together to proclaim Jesusā€™ good news. None of our churches is large, or has all the ideas, or has all the gifts. Fellowship means partnering to share experiences, ideas, resources, and gifts.

Meet Benni (Benjamin Hugk)ā€”a seminary student at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary from the Evangelical Lutheran Free Churchā€”Germany (ELFK), our sister church in Germany.

Let me give you a concrete example.

Meet Benni. Benjamin (Benni) Hugk is a seminary student from the Evangelical Lutheran Free Churchā€”Germany (ELFK), our sister church in Germany. For a while, Benni was the only student in the ELFK seminary. Benni loves people, so studying alone was not so easy. Benni applied to study for a year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis. He wanted to meet and study with many brothers as well as have the opportunity to get to know WELS better.

Benni arrived in Mequon in August 2024, eager to make the most of his year in the United States.

Benniā€™s love for people goes hand-in-hand with his special gift for evangelism. He finds it easy to talk with people and naturally directs their conversation to Christ. Benni set the goal for himself to develop his evangelism skills even more at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Here are a few examples:

  • Heā€™s taking as many evangelism courses as possible. For one course, he and a partner set up a donut stand at Marquette University in Milwaukee. The price of a donut? Asking Benni a spiritual question and discussing it.
  • During Winterim, he joined Prof. Allen Sorum on an evangelism trip to Houston for canvassing and a food drive. There he learned to ā€œbe comfortable with the uncomfortable.ā€
  • At Wisconsin Lutheran Seminaryā€™s Mission and Ministry event in February, he listened to presentations about encouraging and motivating others in our congregations to do personal evangelism. He loved the mission mindset throughout the event: ā€œI want to keep that mindset and bring it home to Germany.ā€

Benni appreciates that Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary holds the students to high standards but also provides great support. ā€œThe professors are real people who care about the students and understand struggles. They provide support and encouragement so that no one falls through the cracks.ā€

When I spoke with Benni, he had just returned from a ten-day tour singing with the Seminary Chorus at churches in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Colorado, South Dakota, and Minnesota. The first concert of the tour at St. Johnā€™s on the Hillside in Milwaukee drew more than 1,100 listeners! Almost every night, the choir stayed with host families. ā€œI got to know very different families and how they live, their view on church and things in the world. Itā€™s nice to have this point of view.ā€

So far Benniā€™s favorite experience has been spending Christmas vacation with a host family in Connecticut. ā€œStaying with a family 24/7 gives you a chance to get beyond the usual questions and have a chance to open up.ā€

Throughout the tour Benni saw that WELS is a ā€œlarge and strong synod across the ocean who recognizes and supports us. We share the same faith with them.ā€ Being part of a large fellowship is very encouraging, and itā€™s even more amazing when you are blessed to see this large fellowship with your own eyes!

But Benni isnā€™t the only one who has been blessed by the year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Prof. Sorum says, ā€œBenni has been a wonderful addition to our seminary family. He brings an important perspective to our classroom discussions. He brings a special charm to every interaction with his American cohorts. Benni’s visit has expanded our grasp and appreciation of an international Lutheran fellowship.ā€

ā€œIn all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.ā€ When you think of fellowship, remember Benniā€”the German seminary student with a heart for peopleā€”having conversations about Christ from Leipzig to Mequon to Connecticut to Houston to Denver.

Written by Jennifer Wolfgramm, wife of a world missionary on the Europe mission team




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CAMM April 2025 Newsletter

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Greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are in the season of Lent, where we reflect on the suffering and death of our Lord. Isaiah 53:4,5 says, “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.ā€ This passage reminds us that the punishment and suffering of our Lord Jesus Christ brought us everlasting life and forgiveness of our sins.

This monthā€™s newsletter tells the story of Smith Patulani, an under-5 child who is a patient at our Msambo clinic. Smith was born in October 2023 at Daeyang Luke Hospital in Lilongwe. According to Smithā€™s mother, Modester Patulani, Smith was born through a normal spontaneous vertex delivery, and there were no complications during birth and throughout the postpartum period. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Patulani hails from Kabula village, Traditional/Authority Chimutu in Lilongwe District. The village is not far from our Msambo clinic.

In February 2025, Smith got sick. He was presenting with fever, vomiting, and general body weakness. Upon seeing this, his parents took him to a local hospital, the Chankhungu Health Center. Chankhungu Health Center is one of the government health centers close to Smithā€™s village. At Chankhungu, Smith was tested for malaria, and the result came out positive. He was given a first line malaria treatment (lumefantrine artemether), which he took for three days at home, and he got well.

One Monday morning in early March, Smithā€™s father discovered that Smithā€™s lower limbs were not functional. He informed the mother, and they were both shocked, knowing that the child was fine after completing his malaria treatment in February. They then visited the Lutheran Mobile Clinic at Msambo on 17th March 2025, where they met one of our clinical officers, Davie Khumula.

At the clinic, Davie asked the mother some questions, including the medical history of the child. The mother explained everything and of course the malaria that he had in February. Davie also asked if the child received the polio vaccine, and the mother said the child completed all the vaccines, including the polio vaccine. The child was then examined for any possible signs of malaria, and there were none. Davie then examined the childā€™s legs for muscle strength, reflexes, and muscle tone.

He found that the muscle strength and reflexes were absent, and there was decreased muscle tone. Davie then explained more about the childā€™s condition to the parents, his plan of referring him to a hospital, and its importance. Smith was then referred to Kamuzu Central Hospital for further investigation for the possible cause of the paralysis, management, and initiation of physiotherapy treatment. We look forward to hearing more from Smithā€™s parents and how he is coping with physiotherapy treatment.

Lastly, we would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the people who think about us. Your prayers keep us going. Your various donations have been of great impact to us, and that is why we keep running. May the good Lord continue blessing you and all that you do. As we journey through this season of Lent, may we embrace reflection and renewal, fostering a spirit of compassion and gratitude in our hearts.

Written by Violet Chikwatu, nurse in charge




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Home Missions approves new mission starts and enhancements

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

 

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Together Video – April 15, 2025

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WELS Home Mission Counselor Wayne Uhlhorn details ways that new mission congregations get involved in their communities.

 

 

 

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CAMM March 2025 Newsletter

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HYPERTENSION AT LUTHERAN MISSION RURAL HEALTH CENTER (MWEMBEZHI)
The hypertension program started when the clinic saw the need. Patients were traveling to hospitals in Lusaka (the capital of Zambia) for drugs refills. This is about 50 miles from the Mwembezhi area. Due to lack of funds, most of the patients were unable to travel to Lusaka. In 2004, we had seven patients who suffered strokes in our catchment area; of those, three of them died the same month because of hypertension. Seeing the need, we began the program for those who were not able to go to Lusaka for treatment and medications.

The program began with only ten patients. The number has kept on increasing so much that now we have 561 hypertensive patients. To make sure we attend to patients in line with the Ministry of Health policy, members of staff sat and started a special blood pressure clinic one Saturday per month. Since Saturday is not a working day, it helped members of staff to decongest patients on treatment days. On Blood Pressure day, all members of staff report for work at 8:00 a.m. Blood pressure check-ups are done. We have essential hypertension (the diastolic blood pressure between 90 to 99mmHg) and crisis hypertension (the diastolic blood pressure above 100mmHg). All patients with essential hypertension are given their monthly drugs refill. Patients with crisis hypertension are admitted for observations. They can only be discharged when their blood pressure stabilizes. If it fails to stabilize, we refer to the hospital for investigations and further management.

However, hypertension has no signs and is not painful. As a result, it is very difficult to convince patients to take drugs for life. Some older people still believe in witchcraft. In 2019, we lost one Village Headman who came to clinic because of an abscess. He was also found to have hypertension. He was given drugs for the abscess and hypertension, but when the abscess healed, he refused to take the hypertension drugs. He said he cannot continue taking drugs. After four months, he was brought to the clinic with a stroke. We referred him to the hospital, but the hospital could not help. After his death and burial, Mr. Kalekwa called for a meeting with the Village headmen to explain his death. Headmen who believed in witchcraft saw the need for taking hypertensive drugs. The senior headman told other headmen to stop believing in old beliefs. He said they should always work hand in hand with health personnel to avoid disease complications. All the headmen promised to educate their citizens.

Drugs for hypertension are purchased by our clinic administrator, Mr. Banda, through the help we get from CAMM. The clinic staff work hard to provide good quality health services to all hypertensive patients. We start every morning with devotion and a prayer, followed by health education. All hypertensive patients are happy with and appreciate the services we provide.

May the almighty God bless you all in helping the poor in Zambia.

Written by Jackson Kalekwa, clinical officer in charge




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Continuing education workshop in Thailand

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In late February this year, 14 church leaders from 9 church bodies throughout 8 Asian countries met in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for three days of intensive Bible study in one common language.

The workshop was a collaborative effort between Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) and the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. The goal was to encourage church leaders from partner churches served by WELS in Asia to commit to a plan of continuing education by whetting their appetite for more. To that end, PSI Director Prof. Harland (Skip) Goetzinger taught a ten-hour mini-course on Christology, demoing the use of ā€œDialogue Education,ā€ an educational approach that emphasizes student participation.

While a primary focus of their time together was the review of the doctrine of the two natures of Christ, the participantsā€”almost all of them pastors and/or theological educators themselvesā€”also engaged in topical discussions, Bible studies, uplifting conversations, and devotions led by these same Asian church leaders. Representatives from both ALS and PSI also presented information on formal continuing education programs.

The workshop schedule was full but still left room for outings to see some local sights like elephants, temples, and marketsā€”and even an evening round of mini golf (which almost none of the men had ever played before). These casual outings (and the inevitable laughter while learning to putt in the dark) provided additional opportunities to cultivate cross-cultural relationships among the participants from a wide range of cultures and experiences.

One participant commented afterward, ā€œThe study portion was very valuable in that it not only refreshed and reinforced what I have already learned during my seminary study but added new insights and info. The time spent with the brothers was even greater; it gave me a lot of encouragement and inspiration.ā€

Organizing the workshop and the various visas, flights, and food preferences was challenging, but ALS staff worked hard to make it happen. As the director of ALSā€™ Regional Theological Education Program, I explained that the hope for that week was not only to cultivate a greater thirst for professional and spiritual growth in the Word but also to further enhance the bonds of fellowship between these confessional Lutheran leaders who have had limited face-to-face time together. We knew we were trying to do a lot, but by God’s grace, we feel like we knocked it out of the park in every area. Good connections were made between the participants, we have at least half a dozen signed up for a new masterā€™s program, and all expressed an eagerness to gather like this again.

This workshop served as an initial trial run for the new English masterā€™s degree programs (M.Div., M.A.R.) offered by Asia Lutheran Seminary. Since its founding in 2005, ALS has developed a strong theological education program aimed at preparing Christian leaders in East Asia. Now, however, the seminary is expanding to serve students from countries across the continent with courses taught in English, a common second language for many. God willing, this program and all the training provided through ALS will strengthen the church across East Asia and its leaders for generations to come.

Written by Guy Marquardt, world missionary on the Asia-Oceania Team.




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Blessed be the tongue that ties

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On Pentecost, the Holy Spirit gave each of Jesusā€™ disciples the ability to speak in a foreign tongue instantly. God tied three thousand people to himself in one day through the message they proclaimed in their listenersā€™ mother tongues. Would the results have been similar if the disciples had preached in Greek or Latin? On Pentecost, God did more than perform a miracle. He displayed his love for people of every tongue and tribe.

Speaking to someone in their heart language does more than convey information. If you speak three sentences to someone in his native tongue, you will instantly establish trustworthiness. You show that you are committed to your listenerā€™s culture and language. Your tongue ties you to his community.

Time to teach the tongue
More than three thousand languages are spoken in Africa. People speak some of them within their ethnic group. Other languages like English, French, Arabic, and Swahili cross tribal boundaries. Most people speak at least two or three languages. There are some similarities between languages of the same family (like Bantu, Nilotic, or Khoisan), but it still takes time to learn any language.

God has given me an aptitude for picking up foreign tongues. My experience speaking Chichewa for seven years in Malawi has helped me speak Swahili at a basic level. Swahili is spoken primarily in Tanzania and Kenya and in some parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda.

Before my last trip to Kenya and Tanzania, I found a Swahili-speaking Malawian who teaches at a local language school. My wife and I met with him in January. We have both studied some Swahili independently but made significant progress with our teacherā€™s instruction. And this helped us immensely the next month when we traveled to Kenya.

Home advantage
WELS Central Africa Medical Mission sponsored a rural health clinic near the town of Sagana in central Kenya. My wifeā€™s job was to weigh patients and calculate their body mass index. I sat with the local pastors who shared Jesus with visitors in both Swahili and Kikuyu, a Bantu language spoken by people in central Kenya.

I am thankful for my brothers in Christ who shared the gospel in their native tongue. At one point I was left alone, and I struggled to communicate with our camp visitors. Local Kenyans will always be able to connect with their fellow Africans more easily than I can. I am glad that God gave them the desire to share Jesusā€™ love with others.

The week after the medical camp, my wife and I traveled to western Kenya. We offered a preaching workshop near the town of Kisii. The participants were laymen who lead worship services and laywomen who are leaders of small group Bible studies. Few of them had received formal ministry training in an academic setting. These people serve congregations of the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ-Kenya (LCMC-Kenya). Due to a shortage of ordained pastors, the church relies on laymen to lead worship services in many of its congregations.

My class led members through the process of preparing a sermon from beginning to end. I presented my material in English, and they worked through various learning tasks in their local tongues. My prayer for these men and women is that they proclaim Christā€™s love to their fellow Kenyans no matter what tongue they are speaking.

Tongue twisters
At the end of our two weeks in Kenya, my wife flew back to Malawi. I continued to Tanzania to meet with pastors from theĀ Africa Mission Evangelism Church (AMEC). WELS and AMEC intend to tie themselves together in fellowship at this summerā€™s WELS synod convention. Along with my fellow Missionary Ben Foxen, we presented topics of special interest to AMEC pastors. As English is not used as widely in Tanzania as it is in Kenya, Ben and I did our best to teach our lessons in Swahili.

Ben held up his end of the communication well, partially as a result of the two months he spent studying Swahili in northern Tanzania. For my part, I communicated at a kindergarten level. It wasnā€™t pretty, but you do whatever you can and leave the rest to God.

On Sunday morning, our hosts asked both Ben and me to preach in their churches. It is an expression of the ties that bind our two church bodies together. We eagerly embraced the opportunity, even though I relied on Google to translate my sermon from English into Swahili. I know enough Swahili to recognize and change the mechanically-translated parts. I twisted my tongue around familiar and unfamiliar words as I read the sermon to my listeners. An occasionally-shouted ā€œAmen!ā€ indicated when they got my point.

Now back in Malawi, I have a plan to meet with my Swahili teacher. I hope to visit our friends in Kenya and Tanzania in the upcoming months. I want to move from being tongue-tied to having a tongue that ties others to Christ.

Written by John Roebke, missionary on the One Africa Team




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New WELS mission work in Australia brings the gospel to growing communities

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WELS has launched a new world mission effort in Australia. With a large focus on the countryā€™s growing immigrant communities, two WELS missionaries and their families relocated to Brisbane, Queensland, in the summer of 2024 to plant the seeds of the gospel in a region that has been described as largely post-Christian.Ā 

ā€œPeople in Australia have asked us for help,ā€ says Rev. Larry Schlomer, WELS World Missions administrator. ā€œWELS members who moved there, brothers and sisters from Hong Kong, and longtime partners in Brisbane reached out. It is a joy to meet these needs with WELS missionaries.ā€Ā 

Missionaries Rev. Dr. Matthew Doebler and Rev. Peter Janke, both members of the Asia-Oceania Team, are leading this effort. While they continue to work with contacts throughout Asia, their physical presence in Australia allows them to establish a firm foundation for ministry within local communities. They are collaborating with two existing churches in Australia: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brisbane and Fountain of Life in Maryborough. These congregations, members of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, provide vital connections and a foundation for expanding ministry efforts. This partnership strengthens the mission by providing existing worship spaces, local insights, and a community of believers eager to spread the gospel.Ā 

Australia is highly diverse. ā€œNearly 30 percent of people here were born overseas,ā€ Doebler explains. ā€œLast year, over 500,000 new immigrants arrived. Many are searching for community and deeper meaning.ā€ The missionaries are focusing on relationship-building as the first step in sharing the gospel. Their families have immersed themselves in the local culture, engaging in neighborhood activities, visiting community centers, and forming friendships through English-language programs. Simple interactions, like two little boys playing together, lead to ongoing relationships and opportunities to share the gospel. These small connections are how ministry begins.Ā 

In addition to local work in the greater Brisbane area, WELSā€™ approach to ministry will model early Christianityā€”small gatherings of believers meeting in homes to study Godā€™s Word and share in fellowship. The missionariesā€™ goal is to train and mentor local leaders to establish and lead house churches. This grassroots approach is already bearing fruit. In Melbourne, a new group has formed, including believers from diverse backgrounds.Ā Ā 

Though still in its early stages, the mission in Australia is making an impact. Through everyday interactions and steadfast commitment, the gospel is taking root, one soul at a time. ā€œWherever the gospel is deployed, the Lord is at work,ā€ Schlomer notes. ā€œWe trust his Word will bear fruit.ā€Ā 

Look for this monthā€™s WELS Connection at your local congregation to learn more about mission work in Australia.

Christine Doebler, wife of Missionary Doebler, shares the importance of family ties when serving in a mission field in this month’s edition of Forward in Christ magazine.

 

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Campus Ministries participate in Mission Journeys to home mission churches

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Concordia University Campus Ministry to Illume Church
Students from Concordia University Wisconsin Campus Ministry in Mequon, Wis., took a Mission Journeys trip to Illume Church in Seattle, Wash. They spent their spring break supporting Illume Church with hands-on service projects, including painting, property beautification, outreach, and event setup. View more pictures of their Mission Journeys trip.

University of Wisconsin-Stout Campus Ministry to Tampa
Students from the University of Wisconsin-Stout Campus Ministry traveled to home mission Citrus Grove Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel, Fla. During their time there, these campus ministry students helped with outreach efforts like doing door-to-door canvassing and inviting people from the community to come to church.

Learn more about upcoming Mission Journeys opportunities to home and world missions and how you can serve at wels.net/missionjourneys.

 




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Visible and invisible blessings

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As we recently passed the six-year mark of worshiping as a new mission congregation in Lehi, Utah, I find myself talking to our gracious God about different things than I would have expected at this point in our ministry.

When we moved across the country to start a new church, we had hopes, dreams, and plans. We wouldnā€™t say they were overly lofty plansā€”they reflected what we thought made good sense with the information we had. We had a rapidly-growing community and a family happy to help. I talked to God about the visible blessings he gave us: riches poured out in a beautiful setting, a fast-growing school system for our young kids, and what was sure to be scores of people longing to hear the Good News.

Fast-forward to 2025, and now I talk to God about all the change our small mission church is going through. I ask for patience as we get plenty of visitors but not exactly scores of folks longing to join. I ask for humility as we reach out to those who arenā€™t able to reach back. I seek Godā€™s wisdom and assurance while as a congregation we look for different opportunities to share our space and rent with community partners on evenings and weekends.

I thank God for his invisible kingdom found in visitors who maybe come one time but leave with a message they had never heard before. I humbly give thanks for the dozens of people who return for special services but arenā€™t really looking for a new church.

I thank God for his visible kingdom: for the respite our church provides for those of us living in a hidden and unexplored culture in Utah County; for our established members and the new who come with questions and seek clarity; for the random texts, phone calls, or e-mails from long-time connections who have questions about something they heard at one of our services years ago. I thank God for his patience in my life as he continually helps us grow even in the face of what seems like frequent failures.

I thank God for unexpected days like Nov. 3, 2024, All Saints Sunday. For some reason, our worship space was full. It wasnā€™t all familiar faces. There were new families too who were joining us for the first time. Extra service folders were hastily printed. The service focused on Psalm 23 and the harsh reality of the valley of the shadow of death and the only answer found in our Good Shepherd. The sermon was plain talk about sin and grace, law and gospel. There were tears, more than in any other service.

Later conversations with one of the families would reveal why the message had seemed so personal but exactly what they needed from Godā€™s Word. On what seemed like an unlikely Sunday for outreach, the Holy Spirit worked through the Word as God has promised he would. Two new families who visited for the first time on All Saints Sunday have continued to come back. They have started taking Bible Basics classes and are well on their way to becoming members.

I talk to God about a lot of change, some expected, but most of it unexpected and completely undeserved. Just like his grace. Which thankfully never changes.

Written by Rev. Dan Heiderich, home missionary at Good News Lutheran Church in Lehi, Utah




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Moments with Missionaries – Lucas Bitter

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Rev. Lucas Bitter, home missionary at Intown Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Ga., shares an update from the South Atlantic region. Through the support of WELS Home Missions and by God’s grace, they found and purchased land near their current rental property to begin building a brand new church. Later this year, they hope to break ground and begin building a worship space where they can continue to share the gospel with those in their community. Hear more from Rev. Lucas Bitter about the work being done in Atlanta, Ga., and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

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