Tag Archive for: Missions

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.

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

The gospel takes root in Nicaragua

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If you had to point out Nicaragua on a map, could you do it? For many people, this small Central American country isnā€™t well known. Its neighbors often get more attention. Its capital, Managua, doesnā€™t make headlines like other cities in Latin America. Nicaragua isnā€™t often in the global spotlight. But our Lord of the harvest hasnā€™t forgotten about this little nation. Instead, heā€™s putting it on the map in a way that truly matters.

In 2024, we saw a significant jump in the number of students from Nicaragua who began studying with Academia Cristo, a church planting training program facilitated by the WELS One Latin America Team. Eleven new students completed their first course last year. Multiple students are interested in recognizing doctrinal agreement with the teachings of the Lutheran church. Iā€™m currently teaching a live course on the Great Commission, and several Nicaraguans are participating.

However, the gospel is not only being learned in Nicaraguaā€”itā€™s also being shared. I recently had the opportunity to visit and see this firsthand. I watched an advanced student, who is called to serve as a church planter, preach a sermon to his group. His law and gospel message was shaped by a text study he had participated in earlier that week with an Academia Cristo professor. I also saw him lead the liturgyā€”assuring people that their sins were forgiven, leading them in the confession of our Christian faith, and pronouncing the closing blessing upon them. I stood in the home of a student as she showed me the space where she gathers children from her neighborhood each week to teach them about Jesus. She proudly shared how she painted the space so it would have a more welcoming environment, and she had printouts of Bible verses on the walls. I listened to another student talk about her desire to plant a group with her husband so their friends and family would have a place to hear the truths of Godā€™s Word.

What puts Nicaragua on the map? Itā€™s called the “land of lakes and volcanoes.” It has coasts on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Itā€™s famous for its coffee, rum, and cigars. Yet despite these things, it often goes unnoticed. But not by our Lord. Perhaps Nicaragua will be best known as a place where the gospel is taking rootā€”where more and more people are being connected to Christ. And thatā€™s something truly worth putting on the map.

Written by Matt Behmer, world missionary on the One Latin America Team.




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Photo gallery – One Latin America Team

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Academia Cristo, the primary ministry of the One Latin America Team, seeks to make disciples in Latin America by sharing the message of Godā€™s grace with as many people as possible, identifying and training potential church planters, and encouraging those church planters to make disciples who plant even more churches. Read more in the One Latin America Team quarterly update.

There are 37 Academia Cristo students who have taken steps to plant a church (Grupos Sembrador) with support from an Academia Cristo mission counselor. Meet some of these church leaders, active students, and missionaries committed to spreading the gospel message throughout Latin America.

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A Lutheran church body in Tanzania is recommended for fellowship with WELS

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The WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR) has the responsibility of overseeing our synodā€™s relationships with other Lutheran church bodies in the United States and around the world. The vast majority of the commissionā€™s time is spent strengthening the bonds of fellowship with our sister church bodies. But the commission also monitors what is going on in other Lutheran church bodies with which we are not in fellowship.

The CICR also communicates with Lutheran church bodies that are seeking fellowship with WELS. In recent years, discussions with such churches have led our synod to declare fellowship with Lutheran churches in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

This beautiful trend continues as the worldwide fellowship expands. After several years of detailed doctrinal discussions between WELS representatives and the Africa Mission Evangelism Church of Tanzania, the CICR is recommending that our synod publicly and officially declare fellowship with the Africa Mission Evangelism Church at this summerā€™s synod convention. Such celebrations of newly established fellowship are always one of the highlights of a synod convention.

The Africa Mission Evangelism Church is a growing Lutheran church body that separated from its previous affiliation because of doctrinal reasons. It consists of 12,000 members in 78 congregations and is served by approximately 65 pastors. The head of the Africa Mission Evangelism Church is Bishop Baltazar Kaaya. Bishop Kaaya will be attending our convention this summer to tell us more about our new partner in Africa.

We thank God that he continues to build his church.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

 

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Volunteers help share the gospel in Kenya

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I recently accompanied six volunteers and the Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) field director, Gary Evans, to Kenya. The focus of our trip was to partner with Karima Lutheran Church to run a five-day short-term medical camp. The eight of us, along with Missionary John Roebke and his wife, Nancy, traveled to the village of Sagana, about 60 miles northeast of Nairobi. We met with church leaders to establish the roles we would each play throughout the week, and our volunteers were eager to get to work sorting supplies and medications right away.

On Sun., Feb. 9, we were able to join with the congregation to praise our Lord for his many blessings. We were reminded of Godā€™s great power when he healed King Hezekiah and reminded that he not only heals our bodies, but more importantly, he heals our souls.

The medical camp ran Feb. 11-15, and we jumped in to help in whatever ways we could. The volunteers assisted the local government healthcare workers in treating the physical needs of the nearly 2,000 patients who attended the camp by taking blood pressures, testing blood sugar levels, measuring height and weight, and re-stocking the pharmacy tent. However, that isn’t the only reason we traveled thousands of miles! We had the opportunity to work side-by-side with church leaders who used this outreach method to bring the gospel message to their community and to each and every patient that came to the camp.

The women of the congregation made delicious meals for us each day and expressed their gratitude on our last day, saying: ā€œWe are so happy for everything you have done for us. We are singing because our hearts are happy! Even the community, they are saying they are so happy.ā€

Volunteering in this way may be a lot of work and time away from families, but we make sure our volunteers have some fun also! Not only did the volunteersā€™ relationships with one another grow, but they also built connections with the many people we worked with throughout the camp. Additionally, a trip to Kenya wouldnā€™t be complete without a little sightseeing! An early-morning game drive in Nairobi National Park allowed the volunteers to marvel at Godā€™s creation as they saw rhinos, lions, giraffes, zebras, and ostriches up close and in the wild.

We thank God for allowing us the opportunity to work alongside fellow believers to share his love with those living near Sagana, Kenya.

Written by Kate Wood, secretary on the Central Africa Medical Mission Committee.




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Moments with Missionaries – Mark Zondag

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Missionary Mark Zondag shares an update on the Asia Oceania Team’s work. Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, he supports local congregations in reaching the lost. He continues collaborating with the Confederation of Lutheran Churches in Thailand to expand gospel outreach. Hear more from Missionary Zondag as he shares upcoming plans to continue their mission of sharing the good news with those in Thailand, 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!

One Latin America Team – Winter 2025 Quarterly Update

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A snapshot of blessings during the past quarter:

1. Academia Cristo General Assembly

The inaugural Academia Cristo General Assembly was held this past quarter with about 165 students attending. One Latin America Team Leader Andrew Johnston presented on the future of Academia Cristo, Missionary Nathan Schulte shared an overview of the changes to the Church Planting Level of the program, and Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional President Henry Herrera presented on the benefits of being part of a synod. The event received favorable reviews in follow-up surveys, and almost all students expressed interest in attending similar events in the future.

2. Sister synod calls new missionary

Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional called its president, Rev. Henry Herrera, to serve as a missionary for the church body. Herrera also serves as a pastor within the Lutheran Church of Colombia, which helped found Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional in 2021, and is an active partner in Academia Cristo ministry. In this new role, he will work alongside Academia Cristo church planters as they continue their training and are welcomed into fellowship with Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional.

3. Additional church planters called

On Oct. 29, 2024, Academia Cristo called six students from Guatemala, Mexico, and Ecuador to serve as church planters. On Jan. 27, 2025, an additional five students from Argentina, Venezuela, Mexico, and Puerto Rico were also called to serve as church planters.

4. Progress on seminary program

Representatives from the Pastoral Studies Institute, the One Latin America Team, and WELSā€™ sister churches met in person in MedellĆ­n, Colombia, and had follow-up meetings via Zoom to formalize the curriculum for Seminario Cristo, the new Latin American seminary program. Plans are in place to develop and implement the program over the next two years.

5. New Church Planting Level courses and resources for church planters

Several new Church Planting Level courses have been developed and taught to equip church planters with essential skills for ministry. One course focused on creating Christian community within a church plant, while another emphasized the Christ-centered nature of ministry and the character required for all types of ministries. Additionally, a course was taught that helped church planters prepare basic sermon messages. Building on this, a system was established for missionaries and national partners to lead weekly text studies, providing ongoing support as they share the gospel with their groups. To further support church planters, a simple and replicable template was developed for use in various counseling situations that might arise.

6. Abuse conferences

In November 2024, Academia Cristo held four well-attended abuse conferences, sparking interest and follow-up among students. The conference videos will be shared annually in October, and the manuscript will serve as a resource for church planters. A support group, led by Christian Family Solutions Counselor Carolina Acosta and supported by Missionary Elise Gross, began in February 2025.

Trips from the past quarter

  • Andrew Johnston traveled to the Dominican Republic to visit church planters, students, and a church in our fellowship.
  • Andrew Johnston, Joel Sutton, and Jon Gross traveled to Argentina with Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional President Henry Herrera to visit church planters and their groups, especially a group in Baradero led by church planter Luis Bello, whose group is on track to apply for membership in Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional.
  • Luis Acosta spent a month in Mexico counseling church planters. Various One Latin America missionaries stopped in to assist. During this time, missionaries also attended the annual convention of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church-Mexico, WELSā€™ sister church.
  • Nixon Vivar and Matt Behmer visited students and church planters in Guatemala City, Guatemala.
  • Nixon Vivar and Jon Gross visited church planters, their groups, and other students in Guayaquil, Ecuador.
  • Elise Gross visited church planters and students in Argentina. This included a visit to the first student in nearby Uruguay.

Fast Facts

  • Academia Cristo reaches an average of 1.78 millionĀ people weekly on social media
  • A total of 32,280Ā students have enrolled in the Self-Study Level of courses
  • 1,200+ students have completed one Discipleship Level live course
  • 120+ students have completed the Discipleship Level (13 live courses)
  • 49 students have completed the Church Planting Level (ten live courses)
  • 37Ā Academia Cristo students are actively leading church plantsĀ (Grupos Sembrador)




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An ordinary table, an extraordinary purpose

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I sent a picture of a kitchen table to Jan last fall. After a few decades in Colorado, Jan relocated last summer and reached out to me when she heard about the donations we were receiving to serve our community, especially furniture and household goods for migrants settling into apartments with their clothing, a few blankets, and not much else.

Jose and Paola had both their sons baptized

The table in the picture was part of the haul that we transported across the span of metro Denver to deliver to a new home. I remember Jan mentioning her own family moments and special memories that happened around that table while raising her kids, but as she was downsizing and moving across the country, it just couldn’t make the trip with her. She was glad to hear that the table would be a blessing to a family. I also remember it was a pain to take apart and, even in pieces, quite heavy, requiring two grown men to maneuver it up from the basement. Yes, it was in the basement, and the thought crossed my mind to decline the donation simply out of my own laziness.

However, that day I sat at that same table with Jose and Paola and not only enjoyed a delicious plate of food but also shared God’s Word with them and prayed with them. The conversation even turned to setting up a time to baptize their two small sons. During our conversation, Luis, a young man staying with them, stopped scrolling on his phone while on the couch nearby and took a seat at the table to join us with his own questions. Since then, more conversations and more Bible studies have taken place and several new faces have joined us around that table. The boys were baptized in our Spanish service in February. Jose and Paola want to keep studying to grow in their faith and knowledge and become members of the congregation.

God is blessing donations we have received in ways we couldn’t ever imagine. Jan was so happy to hear that another family is being fed with God’s Word around the same table where her own family held devotions and shared so many memories. As we continue to serve our neighbors by connecting them with clothing, food, diapers, English classes, and even used furniture, we remain excited to see how God will use that generosity to connect them to their Savior.

To God be the glory!

Written by Rev. Paul Biedenbender, home missionary at Christ Lutheran Church in Denver, Colo.




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Moments with Missionaries – Jake Vilhauer

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Missionary Jake Vilhauer shares an update from his first few months as a world missionary on the One Africa Team. He spent time in both France and Cameroon learning the French language with plans to use the language for outreach in french-speaking African countries. The Vilhauers will return to Zambia soon to settle into their home and begin work with the rest of the One Africa Team. Hear more about the work in Africa from Missionary Jake Vilhauer, and save the date for this yearā€™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!

Moments with Missionaries – C.J. Fury

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Rev. C.J. Fury gives an update from new mission start, Living Stone Lutheran Church in Conway, Ark. He shares updates just eight months following his commissioning at Taste of Missions. He shares what it has been like to work with a core group, select a church name, find a worship facility, and begin Bible information classes. Hear more from Rev. C.J. Fury about the work being done in Conway, Ark., and save the date for this yearā€™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!

WELS