Tag Archive for: Missions

CAMM September 2024 Newsletter

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As you read blogs, self-help books, and Facebook posts, they seem to have one common theme: How do you find your joy and happiness in life? You may look around and joy seems to be missing in so many areas of your life. There may seem to be less smiles and less laughter. Work is hard and tedious, relationships are difficult to maintain, and healthcare is expensive and time consuming. We go to church and surround ourselves with the gospel, but is the joy we feel truly displayed? In Romans 15:13, Paul wrote, ā€œMay the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.ā€ Are we overflowing with hope?

This past month, I traveled to Mwembezhi Lutheran Rural Health Centre in Zambia along with Gary Evans (Field Director) and Alisad Banda (Clinic Administrator). While all of us had been there many times in the past, we were not expecting to see the joy displayed as we drove past Martin Luther Church, which is adjacent to the clinic. Hundreds of people were camped out for a five-day Lutheran Church of Central Africa campout.

What a surprise! Kids were running and playing, adults were socializing and getting ready for the day and the singing. . . nothing can truly impact you like the sound of an African choir! The harmony, smiles, and joy that we saw and heard is my version of the singing I hope to hear when I arrive in my home in heaven. To hear a sample of the choir singing, visit our Facebook page. What a blessing to hear and see the fellowship as we ventured down the road to tour the clinic buildings and see the clinic at work.

The joy did not stop at the campout. You could see the smiling faces of the clinic staff, the moms as they weighed their babies, the village residents greeting us and thanking CAMM and clinic staff for being there. Some of you have experienced these sights first-hand, but for those that havenā€™t, I pray the videos and photos that CAMM shares help bring you joy and give you a sense of the joy that is displayed at the clinic.

Your support, whether through prayer, shipped donation boxes, monetary donations, or sharing the work CAMM does, brings me joy and helps us share your joy with the patients that visit the clinic in Zambia as well as the clinics in Malawi.

Whether it be from seeing the photos and videos CAMM posts, or the joy that surrounds you in your personal life, we pray that God continues to bless you and bring you joy. CAMM humbly thanks you for your continued support that helps to spread joy to so many within our organization.

Written by Angela Sievert, Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) chairwoman




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Finding a place to stand

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Thereā€™s a lot going on in the fastest growing city in America. According to the 2023 U.S. Census Bureau, Celina, Texas, is the fastest growing city in America based on percentage change (in cities with a population of at least 20,000). Roads are being expanded and the city is breaking ground to build a Costco. Three years ago our city was just around 23,800 residents, and now it is splitting at the seams, sitting just north of 50,000 residents. But right in the middle of this rapidly changing community a small church named Divine Savior Church ā€“ North Collin County opened its doors in a small storefront unit on Sept. 8, 2024.

It was a special morning for us. A big step in the mission planting process! To finally throw open our doors, set up our signage outside, and invite the friends weā€™ve all made was fantastic. Seventy-one people came through the doors, and what made it fantastic was knowing that those individuals would hear the gospel of Jesus.

That’s what any given Sunday morning is all about. We confess our sins, we receive forgiveness, we hear God’s Word read and preached. We confess a common faith, we sing with joy, we pray, we receive the Lord himself in the Sacrament, and we receive God’s blessing. It’s just as important as it sounds. What an honor it is that God has afforded us this opportunity to participate in this ministry. A launch service presents a pastor with a unique opportunity to plan a service that sets the tone for a ministry. What better way to set the tone for a ministry than to be uniquely Lutheran, to be uniquely Christ-centered? Christ is our peace through his blood shed on the cross. The cross is where sins are forgiven. The cross is where we are at peace with God. The cross is where we find belonging. Beneath that cross is our place to stand.

In a rapidly changing community, identity is at stake. This small town is scared of losing its identity and its roots, and I canā€™t blame them. Iā€™m concerned about it, too. My wife, Sami, and I have fallen in love with the small town we now call home. But we know that the small-town feel is rapidly changing. New people are moving here from all over the country. Where do they find a place to stand? The long-term tenants are mourning the loss of their small town. Where do they find a place to stand? Where does a small mission church find a place to stand in a place like this?

Thanks be to God we have the answer. We never had to find a place to stand in the first place, and neither does anyone else. God provides one, and itā€™s the best place. Itā€™s beneath the cross of Jesus. So, we cling with an iron grip to that blessed cross. We fashion a service that is centered on the cross because it tells the story of Christ.

Truth be told, the fastest growing city in America is the perfect place for a small mission like ours to do what we do best not only on Sunday mornings, but every day. We engage one person at a time with the gospel so that they can know and trust the Savior that changes their life in Spirit-wrought faith. The privilege is ours and the praise is his. I can’t wait to see those who God touches through this ministry before the throne of our God.

Please keep us in your prayers as we move into post-launch mission life!

Written by Rev. Caleb King, home missionary at Divine Savior Church in North Collin County, Texas.Ā 

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Together Video – October 1, 2024

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A new home mission in the greater Houston area was just approved by the WELS Board for Home Missions. Rev. Nathan Sutton, district mission board chairman for the South Central District, discusses the next steps for the core group and the greater culture of mission-mindedness in the South Central District.

 

 

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Preparing new home missionaries

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ā€œMay the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for usā€”yes, establish the work of our handsā€ (Psalm 90:17).

For millennia this has been the prayer of Godā€™s people; any success in our mission efforts comes only because of Godā€™s favor and blessing. Now, in year two of the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative, we give great thanks to the Lord our God for his many blessings:

  • With the addition of one new start (Cypress/Waller, Texas) and one enhancement (Barre/Montpelier, Vt.) in September, the Board for Home Missions has approved a total of 16 new missions and 18 enhancements toward the goal of starting 100 new missions and enhancing 75 ministries from 2023ā€“2033.
  • All ten new mission starts approved in 2023 have a home missionary, and three of the six new mission starts approved in 2024 have a home missionary.
  • Of those 13 home missionaries, 8 pastors accepted calls from the field to new home missions and 5 Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary graduates were assigned.
  • New missions in Marquette, Mich.; North Collin County, Texas; and Wichita, Kan., launched weekly Sunday worship in September.
  • Generous gifts to Home Missions in September will enable Home Missions to approve 10-plus new home missions in 2025.

As Home Missions plants new churches throughout North America, we take great care in preparing new home missionaries. This past August, seven home missionaries and their wives attended the Church Planter Intensive at Carbon Valley Lutheran, Firestone, Colo.

View photos from the Church Planter Intensive in Colorado

WELS Home Missions - Church Planter Intensive - August 2024

I was able to attend the training and see firsthand the blessing it is for new missionaries. They learn not only the essential aspects of church-planting but also the systems and processes that will help prepare them to launch and establish a new mission. By the time the missionary goes home from the Church Planter Intensive, he has a basic ministry plan for the next 18 to 24 months. Each missionary is also paired with a coach, who is a church planter himself. During the next two years, the coach and missionary meet monthly. The coach helps the missionary troubleshoot issues and challenges that arise and provides encouragement and accountability.

The Church Planter Intensive and coaching program have been well received by many home missionaries. I give great thanks for the many experienced missionaries who have helped make the program what it is today.

In the end, why do we do all this? ā€œChristā€™s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for allā€ (2 Corinthians 5:14). As a result of Jesusā€™ death and resurrection, we have peace that the world is seeking but is only found through Christ. Through the work of our home mission congregations, more people are finding this peace as we see the Lord blessing our efforts. We thank God for this. As we continue our work together as a synod, our prayer continues, ā€œMay the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for usā€”yes, establish the work of our hands.ā€

Rev. Mark Gabb, administrator, WELS Home Missions

WELS 100 missions in 10 years

ā€œIt was amazing. It was the greatest thing . . . just to know that Jesus still loved me and still cared about me and wanted me to be part of his family again. That meant the world to me.ā€

The 100 Missions in 10 Years effort is all about sharing the kind of peace that only Christ offers. Sean Oā€™Doherty found that peace at Cross of Christ, a home mission congregation in Nampa, Idaho.

 

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Three home missions launch weekly worship

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Three home missions launched weekly worship services in September: Divine Saviorā€”North Collin County, Celina, Texas; Anchor Church, Marquette, Mich.; and Victory, Wichita, Kan.

ā€œA grand opening is important in the life of a mission church because it signals that from here on out you are fully operational for worship,ā€ says Rev. Joseph Lindloff, home missionary at Anchor Church. ā€œItā€™s like the gun going off at the beginning of a marathon. It signals that we can now get to work reaching one soul at a time as a full-fledged church, bringing people regularly into the house of God and before the means of grace. What a joy that we get to do this work, joining Jesus on his mission!ā€

Divine Saviorā€”North Collin County, Celina, Texas: Seventy-one people attended the launch service on Sept. 8. Divine Saviorā€™s core group has been meeting for planning and Bible studies since 2021; it was approved as a mission site in 2023. Celina, a northern suburb of Dallas, is the fastest growing city in the United States.

Following the launch service, the real work begins, says Rev. Caleb King, home missionary at Divine Saviorā€”North Collin County. ā€œThe reality is weā€™re a church of about 25 adults and a handful of children. We could sit and ā€˜play churchā€™ and think that we made it, or we can recognize that the launch was a great milestone but not the mountain peak. The next step, then, is to continue to engage people one by one with the gospel so that they can know the Savior who changes their life; to care for individual souls in ways that the rest of the world doesnā€™t.ā€

Anchor Church, Marquette, Mich.: On Sept. 15, 75 people (including 20 visitors) attended the grand opening under the theme ā€œHope in Christ, Firm and Secure.ā€ Approved as a mission site in 2023, Anchor Church has a 24/7 ministry space in downtown Marquette where it hosts community service events, Bible studies, youth ministry, and now weekly worship.

Lindloff says that the community has been welcoming to the concept of a new church: ā€œWe are right where we need to be, downtown in the heart of Marquette, serving it spiritually and physically.ā€

Victory, Wichita, Kan.: Started as a home mission in 2022 as part of a multisite effort for Messiah, Wichita, Kan., Victory launched worship at its second location on Sept. 15, with a full dayā€™s worth of events. More than 100 people attended, including 15 first-time visitors.

While the festivities and food were a hit, the message is what made an impact. Rev. Jacob Jenswold, Victoryā€™s home missionary, shares this reaction from a visitor who hadnā€™t been in church for months and had never been in a conservative Lutheran church. ā€œHe told me, ā€˜This felt different. The service felt more focused, like everything came back to Godā€™s words for me. I like that. I want to come back for that.ā€™ We will see if he comes back for that, but thatā€™s what we are going for! Jesus for you!ā€

All three missionaries are thankful for the continued support of Home Missions and WELS members. ā€œOur missionā€™s work and ministry wouldnā€™t be possible without you,ā€ says King. ā€œYou may never meet a person that is impacted by the work you support. But you will meet them in heaven someday. . . . Keep us in your prayers as we hold on to Godā€™s promises in his Word.ā€

WELS is committed to starting 100 new missions in the next 10 years. Learn more about this initiative at wels100in10.net.

 

 

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Tuning up before taking off

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What in the world is a mission enhancement? That was the first question on my mind after hearing about the details of my new call. Call Day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary flew by in an instant, but that question stuck with me. I have heard of a new mission start . . . but an enhancement? That one was new.

Rev. Eli and Rachel Steinbrenner

When my wife, Rachel, and I got to our new home, it started to become more and more clear what it means to be a mission enhancement pastor. Unlike a new mission start, Good Shepherd already has a church building and a large core group of people. They even maintained regular worship throughout a long vacancy. The core group and I are eager to kickstart outreach efforts once again to take advantage of the gospel outreach opportunities the Lord is providing. As an enhancement, we have support from our District Mission Board, guidance from an experienced Mission Counselor, and some short-term financial support to help us get there.

In short, being a mission enhancement is all about tuning up before taking off. Because Good Shepherd has made so much progress earlier on, before the vacancy, many of the big projects to get a church going have already been checked off our list. Our goals over the next couple of months, and even years, are focused on updating how we do ministry, both for maintaining close-knit relationships and increasing fellowship as well as branching out and diving deep into outreach projects. But, before we hit the ground running, there are some preparations that need to be made beforehand.

Over the last couple of weeks, I have spent a lot of time getting to know the people whom I serve. I have had the opportunity to learn about the many gifts God has given them and the history that connects them to Good Shepherd and the community. On top of meeting my own people, I have been reaching out to our communityā€™s leaders: other churchā€™s pastors, local government, business owners, civil service personnel, etc. to get a better pulse as to what our community needs and how we can address those needs with our unique gifts and abilities.

In addition to doing information gathering, our District Mission Board is sending Rachel and I to a Church Planter Intensive specifically for mission enhancement pastors. The Church Planter Intensive is run by a group of home missionaries who have been in very similar situations as the one I am in. It is designed to help and instruct me on how I can use my gifts, the gifts of my people, and the information on my community to better serve my people and community. For a little under a week, Rachel and I will be learning from mission experts in Virginia and picking up a mentor along the way. The mentor will help give practical advice and encouragement as we ā€œtune upā€ over the next two years.

This is all to say, mission work isnā€™t just outreach events and worship. There is a lot of learning and tuning that needs to be done before we can take off and make our ideas a reality. It has been a little overwhelming, but I am very thankful that there are so many people who support and encourage me throughout all of it. Praise be to God that there are thousands of people who pray for us and our ministry every day!

Written by Rev. Eli Steinbrenner, home missionary at Good Shepherd in Plymouth, Wisconsin.

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Where church planters go to die

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ā€œThatā€™s where church planters go to die!ā€

Thatā€™s what a man told me only months after I moved to Mississauga, Canada, when I mentioned that I was pastoring a church in the northwest part of the city.

Whether or not he knew what he was talking about, I think we can agree that planting a church in Mississauga looks challenging on paper. Mississauga is the third most expensive city in Canada (only behind Vancouver and Toronto), extremely transient (more than 50 percent of Mississauga residents have lived here for less than 5 years), and highly post-Christian (although about 50 percent of residents claim to be Christian, less than 25 percent of them are regularly in worship on a Sunday).

And the historical fact is that WELS has tried to plant a church in the Mississauga area two times previous to the current version of our congregation (in the 1970s and early 1990s), but both times the missions had to close. In some sense, that man was right.

But despite the challenges on paper and in ministry, our synod continued to ā€œhave concern for the great city.ā€ (Jonah 4:11). And here we are! August 15, 2024, was the 25th anniversary of our congregation and many blessings accompany that celebration:

First, fruits of the gospel! Over Cross of Lifeā€™s history, 116 people have received the gift of Baptism and 216 have been confirmed in the faith after studying scripture with one of our pastors.

Second, a new population to serve. We have received over 70 new visitors in the last six months who are refugees from five different African nations. We were able to mobilize humanitarian aid and spiritual care for these folks. About 20 of them have joined our church, with more intending to join. Ironically, this started only a month after I said to a brother pastor, ā€œWe are a very multicultural church . . . except we donā€™t really have anyone from Africa.ā€ Oh, how Jesus made me eat my words!

Third, a subsidy-free ministry. This year, we chose to stop receiving subsidy from our synod to operate our church. After literally millions of dollars spent to keep a church in this city, we can fund ministry on our own now.

Fourth, a future home. We have made a deal to purchase a 10,000 square foot building to be our church home. We are waiting for city permission to close the deal, but things look promising at this point. Pray that God would give us this home or a better one, if it is his will.

Fifth, a future ministry. We have started two men on the path to becoming WELS pastors in Canada through a partnership with Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. We get to dream what God is planning for us in the next few years as those men near graduation and can serve full-time in the ministry!

Of course, all these blessings ultimately come from Jesus, so thank him as you hear how he is blessing us! But these blessings are also the result of the generous Congregational Mission Offerings of congregations like yours, and because of the commitment of our synodā€™s leaders to planting and supporting churches in major cities, despite the immense costs and challenges. So, thank you also for your offerings and your prayers, and please keep praying for Godā€™s work to be done here!

Written by Rev. Caleb Schultz, home missionary at Cross of Life in Mississauga, Ontario.

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The road to new opportunities

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The mindset of so many is ā€œWhatā€™s next?ā€ or ā€œWhatā€™s the next goal in my life?ā€ The Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) has also been considering that same question: Whatā€™s next for CAMM? There are endless opportunities for CAMM to provide healthcare to those in need in Africa and even possibly outside of Africa. We know CAMM will never put our current clinics at risk in Malawi and Zambia, and we are staying true to our mission that CAMM is providing healthcare in support of gospel ministry. Therefore, new opportunities we consider in other countries must be supported by the local Lutheran churches in those countries.

This past week, I had the opportunity to travel to a potential new clinic site in Malawi. The drive was long, the road was bumpy, bridges were out and looked treacherous, but due diligence was needed to see if the site was feasible. While this location showed great need, CAMM needs to evaluate it considering the distance to nearby health clinics (government run or private), the distance our staff would need to travel to the location, cost, government rules to operate and how the local church would support the clinic (available water, Chimbudzsis aka bathrooms, and a covered building with adequate light).

The opportunities are endless when it comes to providing healthcare internationally. The need seems to always be there. While visiting we were in constant awe, especially in the remote villages, of the need for healthcare. We were told there are over 40 patients who have epilepsy who travel over 40 kilometers to the Msambo Clinic in Malawi to access the medications CAMM can provide on a monthly basis. We saw our staff treat a little baby struggling to breathe due to pneumonia. We saw a woman suffering from asthma that came to our clinic for a steroid shot that she may need on a monthly basis. Earlier this spring, we saw an additional 400 patients in one day for malaria because the nearby government clinic ran out of medications. The need is constant.

In February 2025, the Central Africa Medical Mission, along with the Board of World Missions, One Africa Team, Christian Aid & Relief, and the Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ-Kenya will once again host a short-term five day clinic just outside of Nairobi. Although this isnā€™t a new clinic opportunity, for the first time we plan to take five volunteers from the United States who are not part of the CAMM committee, but who have previously applied as volunteers to help run the short-term medical clinic. These volunteers will assist local medical staff with diabetes screening, blood pressure screenings, and outpatient care. CAMM would love to continue to look at the possibility to take volunteers to future locations.

The opportunities for CAMM to serve are endless, and the path that CAMM should take next seems to have many different routes, but in Proverbs 16:9 we hear, ā€œThe heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.ā€ We must trust in the Lord that he will lead us down the right road to serve Him. We will continue to pray and look for Godā€™s help as we evaluate these new requests from the local churches in other countries in Africa. We know God will point us in the right direction and support us as we serve Him.

Written by Angela Sievert, Central Africa Medical Mission chair.

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One Latin America Team – Summer 2024 Quarterly Update

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A snapshot of blessings during the past quarter:

1. Vicar program in Colombia: In August 2024, we welcomed new Vicar Matthew Rugen to the field. He will be serving his vicar year under Pastor Henry Herrera in MedellĆ­n, Colombia. Also in August, we said goodbye to Vicar Jacob Bitter and his wife Sofia Spiegelberg. They are returning to Mequon, Wis., for Jacob to finish his senior year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

2. Continuing education in San Salvador: In May 2024, all missionaries traveled to San Salvador, El Savlador, where Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) professors Allen Sorum and Skip Goetzinger led a workshop on Christian Counseling in the Mission Setting.

3. New admissions coordinator: Fabi GuamƔn from Ecuador has stepped in as the new Admissions Coordinator, replacing Jen Proeber, who has moved from Chile to teach at Arizona Lutheran Academy in Phoenix. We thank Jen for her outstanding work!

4. 1,000 new students enrolled: In the first eight months of 2024, 1,000 students enrolled in the Discipleship level of live courses after completing four self-study courses. Missionary Luke Beilke and the Student Services Team lead the charge in orienting and integrating new students. This quarter, 350 new students successfully finished their first Discipleship course.

5. Church planting classes launch: The second level of live classes, Discipleship Two, is being revamped as a Church Planting level to better prepare Confessional Lutheran church planters. Nine new courses are in development by the One Latin America Team in collaboration with Multi-Language Productions (MLP), with Missionary Nathan Schulte leading the project.

6. A diverse, team effort: We now have professors and support staff from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, the United States, and Mexico working alongside missionaries to deliver Academia Cristoā€™s mission.

7. New Academia Cristo website: The Promotions & Productions team, with Multi-Language Productions (MLP), launched a new website for Academia Cristo, led by MLP Producer Jon Gross. The updated site better serves church planters and is easier to maintain. Check it out: academiacristo.com

8. New materials completed: The Promotions & Productions team completed all essential materials for church planters in the Academia Cristo program and is developing more resources to support church planting groups, including Bible history, doctrinal, and practical Bible studies.

9. Specialist plan for church planting course: A plan is in place for an existing missionary to specialize in providing one-on-one support to students taking the Discipleship capstone course on church planting. In this course, students are equipped to gather a group and teach them a course on sin, grace, faith, and works.

10. New church plant in Ecuador: Henry Isidro Chonillo (pictured left in the above photo), an Academia Cristo student, has planted three groups in the Guayaquil area of Ecuador. Missionary Nixon Vivar serves as his mission counselor.

11. Mission Counselor Residency Program: A new residency program will see Missionary Luis Acosta spend a month in Mexico, working closely with church planters on a weekly basis.

12. Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional: Plans are set for Pastor Henry Herrera, president of Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional, to visit church plants in Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina to discuss the process of becoming members of this international synod.

13. Diaspora Ministries: Team Leader Andrew Johnston is serving as the Diaspora Ministries Facilitator. Mr. Angel Otero, a WELS member from Deltona, Fla., and Academia Cristo graduate, has been hired to assist in this work.

Fast Facts

  • 1.7M average weekly social media reach (user looks at the material for over three seconds)
  • 23,693 total cumulative students enrolled in online self-study level
  • 3,619 students have finished the online self-study level of courses
  • 457 total cumulative students enrolled in the online self-study level in the U.S.
  • 1056 students have completed one Discipleship level live course
  • 104 students have completed the Discipleship level (13 live courses)
  • 40 students have completed the Church Planting level of coursesĀ  (Eight live courses)
  • 35 active church plants




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CAMM August 2024 Newsletter

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The Lutheran Mission Rural Health Centre-Mwembezhi has a come a long way since it began in 1961, and I can indeed say this far that the Lord has brought us. The Clinic that started as a drug dispensary is today one of the Zambia missionā€™s success stories, not by human efforts but, by God alone. One of the many positive changes that has happened over the years has been the extent to which the government has recognized the Lutheran Church in Zambia through the clinic.

The recognition of the health centre is attributed to the members of staff who have put in their best effort in the delivery of the health care in the Shibuyunji District. The big motivation comes from serving Christ our Savior. The Central Africa Medical Mission, through its leadership (CAMM) and its supporters, provides the means that enable success such as salaries, medications, maintenance and everything that requires monetary help for the facility. In the past five years, the clinic has seen a face lift in many areas of the centre and uplifted the status of Lumano village. The clinic leadership appreciates the Field Directorā€™s regular visits. The article cannot be complete without mentioning our supporters who have generously given the finances, material help and for some, even coming to visit the clinic. Every donation, in all forms is appreciated, even baby blankets, hats and clothes which are given to newborns and act as a motivation for expecting mothers to come and deliver at the facility.

As the clinic nears the end of the financial year, we can say yes, this far the Lord has brought us, but one thing is so loud to my ears and that is to stay faithful, as the clinic is founded on Christ-centered love and compassion. It is very important to remember that God has sustained the clinic. He has sent people to the centre for numerous reasons, for all it is to hear about the love of God, for many it is for healing and health maintenance, and for our staff who gain expertise and experience through the variety of patients they see.

Today, the clinic has twenty-six members of staff, sixteen are on the CAMM payroll and the rest from government and non-government organizations. A lot of them are young people and sometimes this age group comes with its own pressures. These are part of our Christian battles, but the call is to remain faithful to our God despite the situations that may come our way. This far, indeed the Lord has brought us. The clinic is a reliable source of healthcare and sometimes this can cause us (the members of staff including management) to forget that God has created the facility for His own purpose and that is to demonstrate Godā€™s love to humanity. This love must first be seen in the members of staff before it can be demonstrated to others. Indeed it is particularly important to remember that the clinic is not only a source of medical expertise and medications, but is primarily a place where Christ is the centre of all our activities.

In conclusion, the Lutheran Mission Rural Health Centre in Mwembezhi is a family, and by the grace of God, we continue planning as a family for the future and pray for each other. It is important to pray for our leadership at CAMM, well-wishers, and members of staff at the clinic.

Written by Alisad Banda, CAMM Clinic Administrator




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TELL: Connecting East Asia to the Philippines
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The TELL program was designed with flexibility in mind. Its framework is made to be used in many countries, by many cultures, by many ages. Perhaps this is best displayed by Peter. Peter is a Ugandan, living in Hong Kong, training believers in the Philippines.

A few years ago, while living in Hong Kong, Peter was introduced to Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS). He was interested in furthering his Biblical education when a pastor he knew in Canada encouraged him to study through ALS. He enrolled as a student and began completing classes regularly. This connection with ALS also led him to begin studying with the TELL program.

Peterā€™s church in Hong Kong has a strong membership of Filipinos working in Hong Kong. As some of the members returned to the Philippines, they brought their worship life with them. They soon saw a need for small group leaders and for training. Peter took the opportunity to put his own Biblical training into practice. He uses the TELL method to regularly meet online with eleven small group leaders from the Philippines. He chose to use the TELL method because: ā€œI have been exposed to quite many Bible study methods, but I find TELL method cutting across all scenarios and levels, ages, and categories, a very easy way to administer Bible study. Also, for learners, no matter how much prior knowledge of the Bible they have, through TELL they will always learn something easily.ā€

The TELL program is working with ALS and will soon be implemented more widely by our Asia One Team. We pray that God blesses the use of this program to reach and equip more leaders like Peter, leaders who are willing and ready to pass on their training and knowledge of the Bible to others!

Learn more about the TELL Network from WELS Multi-Language Productions.

Written by Rev. Tony Barthels, world missionary on the Asia One Team

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Teach all nations!

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Teach all nations! Equip the saints! Those two holy commands come from our ascended Savior to his Church. Victory of the Lamb in Katy, Texas, has partnered with WELS Latin America missionaries to do more of both.

Katy, Texas, is a ā€œsuburbā€ of Houston that has swelled to 400,000 in population and continues to grow. Because of the oil/gas and medical industries, it is an upscale, international community. Although people from every continent make Katy their home, some have given it the nickname ā€œKaty-Zuelaā€ because so many Venezuelans have moved into town. In addition to these Venezuelans, many other Spanish speakers live in Katy as well. Approximately 20 percent of the households within 3 miles of Victory of the Lamb speak Spanish in their homes. Some of them are bilingual, but many are not. Victory of the Lamb has faithfully preached and taught Godā€™s Word for 25 years. . . in English. However, I, the pastor at Victory of the Lamb, do not speak Spanish. Is there anything that can be done?

In May 2023, a dozen Victory of the Lamb members who speak Spanish got together to talk about it. The first step was an encouragement for them to take the online Academia Cristo classes, produced by WELS Latin America missionaries. Then they could invite their Spanish-speaking friends and family to do the same from a background of familiarity. Perhaps some additional inroads could be made into the Spanish-speaking Katy community.

Hector Medellin, a native Mexican and Victory of the Lamb member for 12 years, attended this meeting and decided to give Academia Cristo a try. Very quickly, he was hooked! Godā€™s Word in his native tongue grabbed him, and he deeply enjoyed the experience. Hector progressed through the first level of self-directed classes on the Academia Cristo app. The next step was to begin taking online classes led by a WELS world missionary, with several other Spanish speakers from all across the world as his classmates.

Hector was excited, but also had some mixed feelings. Was this worth the time and effort? Did he want to make such a large commitment of time? In his first online class, one fellow student lived in a place where he had to drive an hour up a mountain, each way, in order to get an internet signal so he could take the class. Another student tried to take the class as best as she could while also working shifts as a nurse, because that was her only way to have an internet connection. Hector thought, ā€œOkay, if they go through that much effort to take this class, and Iā€™m sitting at home with internet and air conditioning, I have no excuses. Iā€™ll do it.ā€ He says it was one of the best decisions heā€™s ever made in his life! As Godā€™s Word grew in his heart, Hectorā€™s love for his Savior also grew, as well as his desire to reach more souls.

Fast forward one year. With the help of his professors and missionaries, Hector is now trained to lead his own Bible class! On June 9, 2024, Victory of the Lamb launched a second adult Bible study on Sunday morning ā€“ one in English and one in Spanish. Hector also plans to lead a four-week class on Bible basics online with some Spanish-speaking friends and family members who donā€™t live in Katy. Victory of the Lamb members can invite their Spanish speaking friends, relatives, and neighbors to these classes. Down the line, it will be easy to encourage more Spanish speakers to try Academia Cristo. Hector is equipped to lead Bible studies either online or in person.

Teach all nations! Equip the saints! Through Victory of the Lambā€™s continued partnership with WELS Latin America missionaries, and connection to Academia Cristo materials, both of those goals are happening more than before. Praise God!

Written by Rev. Nathan Buege, home missionary at Victory of the Lamb Lutheran Church in Katy, Texas.

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Supporting home missionaries: Church Planter Intensive and coaching program

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One of the ways WELS Home Missions works behind the scenes to support new home mission congregations and their missionaries is through a Church Planter Intensive (CPI) and coaching program. Brand new church planters gather together with experienced home missionaries for a Church Planter Intensive at Carbon Valley Lutheran Church in Firestone, Colo. Experienced church planter Jared Oldenburg (Eternal Rock ā€“ Castle Rock, Colo.) developed the program and Home Missionary Matt Rothe (The Way ā€“ Fredericksburg, Va.) now leads the training. This extended weekend seminar encourages and equips pastors who are called to plant brand new home mission churches. They are then paired with a coach from an established mission church to guide them for their first two years of launching a new church. Learn more about the program on the wels100in10.net website.

Here’s what three home missionaries had to stay about the program:

When I was approached about attending the Church Planter Intensive (CPI) in 2023, I had no idea how influential and vital it would be to my personal ministry and our mission start as a whole. Over the course of three days I was able to gather with other pastors in similar situations and explore church planting together. I’m brand new to church planting, and frankly had no idea where to even start. While there is so much to continually learn and no one perfect way to plant a church, CPI gave direction that would be missing otherwise. From finances to structure to leadership and beyond, CPI gave me peace of mind to know where to start, what to focus on, and what do in certain situations. I weekly refer to the CPI booklet. The Church Planter Intensive also connected me with other mission pastors who continue to talk, encourage, and bounce ideas off of each other. It’s a unique brotherhood that I don’t take for granted.

As much as the Church Planter Intensive was able to ground me, set our ministry on a good path, and send us out with valuable information, the coaching program is now my lifeline in an ongoing way. My coach is the most accessible avenue to bounce ideas off of, get input from, and help me grow as a pastor. We meet monthly to study aspects of church planting that I’ve never thought about. We also talk every week or two on the phone for feedback with our mission. I am so so grateful for my coach, the time he gives to me, and the huge heart that he has for missions. His brotherhood and coaching has transformed our new mission start and will continually be a blessing to me and many others. Thank you to everyone who makes the Church Planter Intensive and coaching program possible! It’s a massive blessing!

At the Church Planter Intensive, we developed systems and timelines which have helped us tremendously. We had some frame of reference and ideas formulated and ready to use when we got to Boston, and so many of the things we learned have been implemented. Someone told me that you have to be able to think inside the box to think outside the box. I think the analogy applies to CPI. Boston is a different home missionā€”WELS has never had a church in this cityā€”and in some ways, you are forced to think outside of the box. CPI gave us the tools to orient ourselves to think outside the box and engage the city creatively and contextually. It was also incredible to network with the other church planting couples at CPI. The support that Katelyn and I felt after going to the training has been so helpful. I keep in touch with some of the guys from training, and we use each other as sounding boards and for support. It is wonderful knowing that there is a community of church planters all praying for each other and with a similar goalā€”to proclaim the peace only Jesus can bring to the ends of the earth!

I also canā€™t say enough about my coach, Rev. Lucas Bitter from Intown Lutheran Church in Atlanta, Ga., and his wife, Meredith. He and I both work in urban environments, and he has helped me think and rethink many ideas about working in the city. Meredith has also been outstanding in this process. She and Katelyn have a monthly call to discuss what itā€™s like to be a church planterā€™s wife and share experiences. My coaching calls with Pastor Bitter give me a chance to articulate what is going on in my ministry, ask questions, give comments, and voice concerns. His knowledge of church planting, his desire to reach those who are lost, and his love for Jesus is evident every time we talk. Heā€™s been available, patient, and filled with wisdom. I look up to him as a mentor for ministry and life.

The Church Planter Intensive (CPI) coupled with the coaching program is incredibly beneficial for new missionaries. Throughout our schooling, you get a lot of exposure to what it’s like walking into an existing church. It’s a little different when you drive into a new city, and it hits you that you’re starting a new church plant there. There are SO many questions. Every church has the same mission, but each church carries it out in a different way. The Church Planter Intensive and coaching program didn’t necessarily tell me what to do, but exposed me to different ideas, experiences, and resources and provided me with a network of fellow missionaries to encourage and support me throughout this process. It helped bring so much clarity to my plans.

Each month I get to sit down for an hour or more with my coach where we talk about implementing part of what I learned at the Church Planter Intensive. He’s there to check in on how I’m doing spiritually, emotionally, and physically, and to be a sounding board for any ideas I have. It also gives me an opportunity to take a step back each month and look at our mission as a wholeā€”where have we been, where are we going, and how we going to get there. He assists my mission so that I can really focus on Christ’s mission.

One of the greatest ways WELS Home Missions and the Church Planter Intensive are supporting their missionaries is putting a big value on the wife’s role in the mission plant process. My wife, Samantha, shares: “As a new missionary’s wife, it can be a little daunting to jump headfirst into the mission field since my husband was the one who went through the years of schooling, and he was the one assigned to our new mission church. I was encouraged knowing it’s not just the work of the pastor that’s important in starting a mission church. It also includes me, our core group, and the community we get to share Jesus with. Attending CPI encouraged me as a pastor’s wife to surround myself with a community of women who have gone through this before. They are sisters in Christ who I can lean on during the difficult times and celebrate with during the joyous times.”

The Church Planter Intensive establishes a brotherhood with other church planters right from the beginning. I have a network of people that care about me not just as a missionary, but as an individual. We remind each other that what’s at the heart of this work is individual souls who need to hear about their personal Savior. It charges me up to get back to that important work so that more lives can be touched by the life-changing power of Jesus.




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God’s hand in Indonesia

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ā€œI know the plans I have for you.ā€ Jeremiah 29:11. These words of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah are a familiar theme at many Christian graduation ceremonies. Written originally to Godā€™s Old Testament people who were facing an uncertain future in exile from the promised land, this verse reminds believers today too that our God, the Lord Almighty, is still in control. No matter what today or tomorrow may bring, we too have a hope and a future because of Christ Jesus. The details of how we will get there, however, are known only to God.

Counting on Godā€™s promises to be with them, the faculty and staff of Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Lutheran (STTL), the seminary of our sister churchĀ in Indonesia, worked hard this last year toward the goal of official accreditation for their school. Accreditation would mean that the certificate the school offers after four years of classroom training would be nationally recognized. Graduates could then use that certificate to apply for part-time employment as religion instructors in government schools. And since children in Indonesia have the right to have religion class according to their own faith, there is often a need for Christian teachers. This would be ideal for many pastors who will need to have ā€œtent-makingā€ ministries.

After much work, and by Godā€™s grace, STTL was fully accredited earlier this year! This led to a momentous occasion this August, where the first of these government-recognized certificates could be awarded to 18 students who had recently completed the four-year course of study either this year or last. Besides family and friends, other guests and visitors included local government officials and representatives from other area institutions, as well as myself, happily representing Asia Lutheran Seminary and the WELS Asia One Team to congratulate our brothers in Christ for their hard work. The event gave much visibility to this young seminary, and the faculty and staff have much to be proud of and thankful for.

STTLā€™s pastoral training program includes two to three years of practical experience as vicars following the years in the classroom. So these 18 men were not yet ordained as pastors, but some of them received their first assignments as vicars in that same service. Others were reassigned to meet ministry needs in their church body. How will the Lord use these young men as his ministers in the coming years? What challenges will they face as they proclaim the gospel of Christ in a country that is officially secular but with a strong Muslim majority? Will the STTLā€™s plan of accreditation prove to be the boon that they think it will be? Will they be able to meet the need for pastors as the gospel spreads across the country?

The theme verse of the graduation service was Jeremiah 29:11. ā€œI know the plans I have for you,ā€ God says. The details of his plan are his own. But all of them are based on the work of Christ, the Savior of the nations. Please join me in praying for these young men, the churches they serve, and the work of the gospel in Indonesia.

Written by Rev. Guy Marquardt, world missionary for the Asia One Team.Ā 

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WELS endowment funds continue to provide ongoing ministry support

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Thanks to the generosity of Godā€™s people, WELS Foundation distributed $1.4 million for our Saviorā€™s gospel ministry in July from the WELS endowment funds. Established by delegates at the 2005 synod convention, these funds provide ongoing, dependable support for the Lordā€™s work in WELS Ministerial Education and WELS Home, World, and Joint Missions.

The WELS Joint Missions Endowment managed by WELS Foundation provides support to cross-cultural ministry efforts like the Vietnamese outreach ministry at King of Kings, Garden Grove, Calif. Missionary Trung LĆŖ was installed at King of Kings in August 2023 after graduating from the Pastoral Studies Institute at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. LĆŖ leads the congregationā€™s ministry to its Vietnamese community, which makes up about 40 percent of Garden Groveā€™s population.

King of Kings shows its love to its Vietnamese-speaking neighbors in a number of ways, including offering U.S. citizenship classes, after which the students are invited to stay for Bible study. LĆŖ has also begun providing English as a Second Language classes twice per week. In addition, he leads two Bible information classes in Vietnamese and is working to form a core group, with the prayer that within the next year or two, he will begin a Vietnamese worship service. ā€œEverything is in Godā€™s will,ā€ LĆŖ says, ā€œbut we try our best and see what can happen.ā€

LĆŖ is grateful for the support provided to the Vietnamese ministry at King of Kings from the Joint Missions Endowment: ā€œIt has been a wonderful blessing to have such wonderful help from WELS Joint Missions,ā€ says LĆŖ. ā€œI praise the Lord for that.ā€

WELS Foundation also manages endowments that are set up by individuals, congregations, and other WELS-affiliated ministries. In total, WELS Foundation distributed $4.5 million from more than 375 endowments this year, providing ongoing financial support for Christā€™s gospel work throughout WELS.

ā€œAn endowment fund can provide a source of predictable financial support for ministry like the Vietnamese outreach being done in Garden Grove for years to come,ā€ says Mr. Jim Holm, executive director of WELS Foundation. ā€œThatā€™s what makes endowments so impactful and such a blessing to gospel work.ā€

There are a variety of ways to give to an endowment: cash or appreciated assets; through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation on a retirement account; or with insurance proceeds. To learn more about adding to an existing endowment or establishing a new endowment for a ministry that you love, contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at wels.net/giving-counselors or call 800-827-5482.

Read more about Trung LĆŖ and the ministry in Garden Grove in Forward in Christ:

https://forwardinchrist.net/huu-trung-le/

https://forwardinchrist.net/one-campus-three-languages/

 

 

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Why 100 Missions in 10 Years?

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

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

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Navigating new chapters

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The book of Joshua opens with Israel on the banks of the Jordan River, a moment Joshua and the people had waited on for years. But Joshuaā€™s journey didnā€™t start there. It began long beforeā€”training under Moses, climbing Sinai, wandering the wilderness. After crossing into the promised land, how quickly do you think time passed for Joshua?

In the days following Assignment Day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, I found myself reading through Joshua during personal devotions. During the transitionā€”new people, a new place, new workā€”I found comfort in how God used Joshua. But like Joshua, the story didnā€™t start in the new land. Hereā€™s what life has looked like as my wife Grace and I walked toward our new journey:

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

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

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

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

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

Moving day for the Ungemach’s!

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

Today . . . things still havenā€™t slowed down. Weā€™re just beginning to meet together, grow in the Word, and find ways to show this community the love of Jesus. There are still so many unknowns.

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

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

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

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Faces of Faith – Lincoln

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

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

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

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

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Faces of Faith – Kim Nga

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I arrived in Garden Grove, California in the first week of October to begin my work to answer the Lordā€™s call to serve at King of Kings. Iā€™ve spent a lot of time visiting nursing homes and care centers. One of the places I often visit is Chapman Care Center. It appears this place is owned by a Korean.

On November 2, I visited and met Uncle Minh, who is Vietnamese. His wife, Ms. Le Thi Kim Nga, had been in the hospital for a while. When he heard me greet him and talk, he was surprised and somewhat excited because heā€™d thought I was a Korean. When I heard their story, I asked for his permission to visit his wife and pray for her. Through the story, I learned that the uncle came back to Vietnam and married his wife and brought her to America recently. A few years ago she had a brain tumor, they removed almost half of her brain. Now she can’t walk, she must stay in bed and have special care. Uncle Minh is retired and takes care of his wife every day. I was very touched by their story!

After praying for Ms. Nga, I continued to come back and share Jesus with her, explaining God’s love to her. She was quiet and attentive, and in December when I came back to visit, I asked her if she wanted to be a child of God. She replied that she did and asked me what she should do if she wants to become a child of God? I told her I would help her!

On December 12, 2023, I called uncle Minh as usual. I didnā€™t know how we could talk about Baptism. He shared that he asked a Vietnamese pastor to visit, pray, and baptize his wife, but that pastor was busy and had no time. I said I could help complete the Baptism for her. He agreed. Within a period of 2 hours. I prepared water in a cup, and a certificate along with it, and on December 12, 2023, I baptized Ms. Nga in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. One more soul has been recorded in the book of heaven.

When it ended, Ms. Nga told me she was happy, and proclaimed that God is real, and that she wanted to share God with many more people. I replied that she could share with everyone because she was now a child of God.

From Trung Le, home missionary at King of Kings Lutheran Church in Garden Grove, Calif.

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Faces of Faith – Bill

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

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

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

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

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Faces of Faith – Ruth

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

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

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

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

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Faces of Faith – Steve and Tammy

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

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

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Faces of Faith – Bruce and Sheryl

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

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

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Faces of Faith – Brandi

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

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

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

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Heaven is the goal!

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Marcelo grew up in Argentina but spent his entire adult life in his fatherā€™s home country of Costa Rica. An astute businessman, he worked in the insurance industry. In September 2020, he connected with Academia Cristoā€™s online classes. By September 2022, Marcelo had completed the first level of classes, and I began connecting with him one-on-one. Through these classes, Marcelo became a committed Lutheran. He also felt it was important to share what he had learned with others, so he started our second level of classes to train as a group planter.

L to R: Rev. Nathan Schulte, Alyssa Schulte, Flor, and Marcelo

I would visit Marcelo in Costa Rica and observe him leading his group. He was a confident leader, patient, and skilled at guiding discussions. Although Marcelo was a mature believer, leading his own Bible study group pushed him to grow even more. This past January, he called me to study the biblical support for why we can forgive someone elseā€™s sins. His group had asked about it, and he wanted to learn more Bible passages for the conversation. We scheduled a Zoom meeting and started going through a few stories and Bible verses that show we have the privilege of announcing Godā€™s forgiveness to people. One of the passages was from 2 Corinthians. ā€œWe are therefore Christā€™s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christā€™s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). When we read this passage, Marcelo teared up. ā€œWow,ā€ he said, ā€œwe really can give this gift to others. Thatā€™s so special.ā€

Over the past two years, Marcelo was not only working on group planting , but he was also suffering from bone cancer. The cancer was painful, and soon he couldnā€™t work as much or meet with his Bible study group as often. Then, July 2, 2024, the Lord took Marcelo home. I miss Marceloā€™s phone calls, his eagerness to learn more, and his correction of my Spanish when I made mistakes.

However, I am thankful to know that he is in heaven now. His passing is a powerful reminder of our purpose as missionaries. We want to bring people along to heaven with us. Heaven is the goal! Thank the Lord for the gospel.

Written by Rev. Nathan Schulte, world missionary on the Latin America mission team in Quito, Ecuador.

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Faces of Faith – Joann

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

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

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

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

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The Obadiah Lutheran Synod expresses its thanks

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Last January, I had the privilege of attending a special worship service of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) in Uganda. Nearly 1,000 members of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod, some traveling for hours, attended this special service celebrating the fellowship that had been declared between our two church bodies at WELSā€™ 2023 synod convention.

Our synod does not provide operational support for the Obadiah Lutheran Synod. But thanks to special gifts received from WELS members, we are able to help with pastoral training, church building projects, and other special programs.

As you might expect, travel in Uganda can, at times, be very difficult due to bad weather and roads that can become nearly impassable. Since Pastor Makisimu Musa, the president of the synod, spends much time visiting the various congregations and pastors of his synod, reliable transportation is a vital necessity. Thanks to generous gifts from WELS members, the Obadiah Lutheran Synod was able to purchase a used Toyota Land Cruiser.

Pastor Musa would like to express thanks from his entire church body for this gift. He wrote, ā€œIt is my pleasure again to say thank you, brother, for your gift of the vehicle to the OLS. This is helping us a lot to do church ministry work in Uganda. Please extend our heartfelt appreciation to the brothers and sisters in WELS for the gift. The gift (vehicle) reminds me of the day you visited us in Uganda to attend our celebration of fellowship and unity in the faith. Thank you for blessing our ministry of the Word in this region of Africa. May the Lord of the church Jesus Christ continue blessing you all for your generous support to the OLS.ā€

We pray that the gospel ministry being carried out by our brothers and sisters in Uganda will continue to be blessed richly by the Lord.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

View a short video from the service.

 

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Faces of Faith – Paul and Carmen

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

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

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CAMM July 2024 Newsletter

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June was a sorrowful month in Malawi, as the country mourns the demise of its vice president, the Late Dr. Saulos Klaus Chilima. The vice president along with eight other high-profile delegates, including the former first lady Shanil Muluzi, were killed in an aircraft crash in the Chikangawa forest while on their way to the burial ceremony of the Late Ralph Kasambala, the former Attorney General. According to reports, the late vice president’s jet flew off the radar shortly after takeoff and crashed in the Chikangawa forest due to bad weather. The Chikangawa Forest is in Malawi’s northern region and is about a 40-minute flight from Kamuzu International Airport in Lilongwe, the country’s capital.

We also mourn the demise of the Late Lucious Banda who was the country’s presidential advisor on youth and art. He was a legendary musician who started his career in the early 1990s and released 20 albums to date. He was dubbed ‘soldier’ due to his music genre, which advocates for the betterment of the poor and fights for their rights. In these terrifying storms, we rest our hope, peace, and comfort in Christ. Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all who labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

On the same sad note, as reported in our May newsletter, the Lutheran Mobile Clinic supports children with disability to access physiotherapy treatments at Children of Blessings. Unfortunately we have lost one child, Tamara, who died following continuous convulsions and was also found with low blood sugar. She was admitted to Kamuzu Central Hospital and passed away a few days later. The remaining four kids who are still under Lutheran Mobile Clinic transport fund to get physiotherapy are progressing well with their sessions. We thank God!

As temperatures drop in Malawi and concerns rise relating to the impact of cold weather on communities, we have had our physicians educate our patients and guardians about pneumonia, cough, and colds throughout this cold season. The unprecedented surge in patient numbers strains resources but demonstrates the critical need for healthcare services in most areas. The last week of June, I had the opportunity to chat with some patients mostly to know why they would rather spend more on transport to come to our clinic when they can use the same funds to access private or government hospitals close to where they reside. One patient said, “In addition to the availability of medications at Lutheran Mobile Clinic, the staff treats the patient with respect and empathy, unlike the public or private hospital”. The other patient stated, “The physicians do not listen to all the concerns of patients but instead immediately send them to the pharmacy to get the medications or refer them to buy, whereas Lutheran Mobile Clinic physicians take their time with patient consultations”. Another patient stated that “when tested with malaria rapid diagnostic test, before the blood clots, the nurse/lab assistant at Lutheran Mobile Clinic provides cotton swabs to patients whilst at the public hospitals, sometimes they are advised to rub the blood in their hair and the blood will clot quickly which to a patient comes off as rude nurses”. These are some of the reasons why people prefer our healthcare provision to other hospitals/clinics on top of almost the free service provision and availability of medications.

Despite the rough roads that hurt the backs of our staff members from consistently driving in bad conditions, the Lutheran Mobile Clinic has been tirelessly serving the communities, providing critical medical assistance to those in need. I would like to applaud my team for always showing up for the clinic to serve the communities in need.

On behalf of the Lutheran Mobile Clinic staff team and the communities we serve, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for your generous donation towards the purchase of our new ambulance. Your support and generosity have made a significant impact on our ability to provide critical emergency services to our community. The 2023 Toyota Landcruiser/Ambulance is admired by many as a new model but also its great off-road performance. Despite the bumpy roads, this new ambulance has great shock absorbers that make the effect of the bumpy roads less noticeable. Thank you once again for your generosity and commitment to the Lutheran Mobile Clinic’s cause. We are deeply appreciative of your support and donations; it makes our work possible and easy to manage. May God bless you all and give you good health. 1 Thessalonians 1:2, “We give thanks always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers”. Amen!

Written by Lusungu Mwambeye, Clinic Administrator for the Lutheran Mobile Clinic in Malawi

 




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Faces of Faith ā€“ Chong

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I have known Chong for the last ten years. When we first met, he was a young high schooler. Every time I visited East Asia, he never missed any of my training sessions. Sadly, it has been extremely difficult to do faceto- face training for the Miao leaders in East Asia lately. Many of the churchā€™s leaders are disappearing from the community, and nobody knows their fate. Despite all this, Chong continues to hold onto his faith and never ceases to learn the Word of God. Chong also continues to gather a small group of young leaders to continue to serve their congregations. In their hearts, they know that they will be facing the power of the Devil, but through their faith in Jesus Christ, they continue to fight the good fight. Chong said, ā€œThey can only kill my body but not my soul. I am ready at any time to serve my Lord and his people.ā€ Chong asks all of you to continue to pray for him, his family, and his co-workers in Christ. He and his co-workers are eager to receive face-to-face training and pray that the door for the gospel will be opened wider to the Miao and other minorities in East Asia. May the Lord of the church send more workers to harvest his fields!

From an Asia One Team missionary

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