Tag Archive for: World Missions

Finding the true cross

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Meskel, or “cross” is the name of a holiday that the Ethiopian Orthodox Church celebrates. The full name of the festival is “The Finding of the True Cross.” According to their tradition, God spoke in a dream to a woman named Helena, who was the mother of Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome. In the dream, God instructed Helena to light a fir tree on fire. The smoke from the burning tree miraculously led Helena and her friends to a certain place on the ground. When people dug into the ground at that place, they found the true cross on which Jesus died.

It’s just a legend, not a true teaching of the Bible. But many people in Ethiopia celebrate this festival. When the day comes, thousands of men, women, and children stream out into the streets and public squares, dressed in colorfully embroidered white robes. They build a huge teepee-shaped bonfire that is intended to look like a fir tree. Everyone joins the celebration. Many of them are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and many of them are not even Christian at all. Many of them do not understand the true meaning of Jesus and his cross. They just want to have a party.

New Contacts from Sudan and Ethiopia
When WELS missionaries Dan Kroll, Howard Mohlke and I visited Ethiopia a few weeks ago, the Meskel celebration was underway. We had several exciting reasons to make that trip to Ethiopia. First, we wanted to meet with leaders of the Lutheran Church of Sudan (LCS). The LCS is an Arabic-speaking Sudanese group that claims to have 16,000 Lutheran members. Over the past year, we have been communicating with this group via the internet. We have shared some Arabic printed materials so they can study the Scriptures in their own language. But we have never been able to meet them in person. Sadly, our plan to meet them in Ethiopia was not successful. The leaders of the LCS were not able to get the proper passports and visas.

Thankfully, other goals were more successful. My colleague, Dan Kroll, focused on meeting with a group called the Gambella Evangelical Lutheran Church (GELC). (Gambella is a region in western Ethiopia). The members of this group number about 150 and most of them belong to the Anuak tribe. Together with Missionary Kroll, about 35 leaders of this group were blessed to study what the Bible says about the Church and its ministry.

South Sudanese Refugee Work
Meanwhile, Howard Mohlke and I were more focused on another group, the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ethiopia and South Sudan (CELCESS). This group – also located in the Gambella region of Ethiopia – claims to have 28 congregations and about 14,000 members. Many of the members belong to a tribe of people called Nuer.

Especially, we met with a man named Lam Nhial Luak. Lam himself has been very well trained in Lutheran teachings. He holds a Bachelor of Divinity degree given by our sister synod, the Lutheran Church of Ethiopia. WELS missionaries also participated in Lam’s training. Every month, WELS provides funding for Lam to teach a three-day workshop on Christian doctrine to 15 Nuer pastors. The pastors take what they have learned from the Bible and share it with their members. During our visit, we attended one of Lam’s workshops. On the following Sunday, we were privileged to observe Lam’s official installation into his teaching role and the ordination of four new pastors.

To be clear, WELS is not yet in fellowship with any of these groups – neither the LCS nor the GELC nor the CELCESS. I do not know what will happen with these groups in the future and if God will bring them to a full understanding of the Scriptures and into fellowship with WELS. But I do know this: These people love their savior Jesus Christ. They are eager and excited to receive instruction from God’s Word. They know that God has saved us, not because of any good thing that we have done, but by the perfect life and innocent death of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Through their study of the Scriptures, they have found the true cross, and that is a reason for us to celebrate.

Learn more about our mission fields in Africa and how the Holy Spirit is working faith in people’s hearts at wels.net/africa.

Written by Missionary Mark Panning, world missionary in Malawi, Africa.




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One Latin America Team – Fall 2024 Quarterly Update

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A snapshot of blessings during the past quarter:

1.  Annual meeting and new ten-year target
From October 11-14, 2024, the One Latin America team held its annual meeting at Divine Savior Academy in Doral, Fla. The meeting centered on establishing a ten-year target, a three-year picture, and one-year goals. At this meeting, the One Latin America Team set this new ten-year target:

  • 10,000 have finished at least one Discipleship Level course
  • 1,000 church plants (Grupos Sembrador) started
  • 100 church plants (Grupos Sembrador) have become congregations of Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional

2. Baptisms in Argentina
Luis Bello and his wife, Karina, from Baradero, Argentina, joined the Lutheran faith through Academia Cristo. They began hosting a small group in their home, gathering 15-25 people regularly. One evening, after a lesson on Jesus’ baptism, a young couple asked if their daughters could be baptized, inspiring six others to request baptism as well. Over the next two weeks, Luis and another leader, Jorge, baptized a total of ten people, including adults and children.

3. Church planting in Ecuador
Henry Isidrio, a church planter from Guayaquil, Ecuador, continues leading three groups through a Bible information course to prepare members for confirmation in the Lutheran faith.

4. Church planting course implementation
The instruction team is leading the writing and implementation of new courses for the Church Planting Level of courses, This advanced level, following the Discipleship Level, is for students in doctrinal agreement who have committed to starting or supporting new groups.

5. Discipleship Level capstone course
Twenty students successfully gathered groups and taught them a brief course on sin, grace, faith, and works. This was the final project for the Discipleship Level capstone course that wrapped up in early Sept. Several of these students are in doctrinal agreement and will continue their studies in the Church Planting Level of courses. Another session of the capstone course started on Sept. 30, 2024.

Fast Facts

  • 1.75 million average weekly social media reach
  • 25,800 total cumulative students have enrolled in online Self-Study Level of courses
  • 3,791 students have finished the Self-Study Level of courses
  • 542 total cumulative students have enrolled in the online self-study level in the U.S.
  • 1,132 students have completed one Discipleship Level live course
  • 105 students have completed the Discipleship Level (13 live courses)
  • 45 students have completed the Church Planting Level (ten live courses)
  • 35 active church plants (Grupos Sembrador)




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2024 graduation at Asia Lutheran Seminary

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In October, Asia Lutheran Seminary, Hong Kong, celebrated the graduation of 13 students. Nine of the students received certificates in either Greek or Hebrew, two received an associate of arts degree in theology, and two were awarded a diploma of Christian Studies. We praise and thank God for the opportunity to teach his Word to brothers and sisters around the world. Learn more about mission work in Asia at wels.net/asia.

 

Asia Lutheran Seminary

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A prayer answered

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“The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:37,38)

Jesus spoke those words to his disciples after seeing crowds of people who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.

What happens to flocks when no one cares for them? The same happens to people.

Rev. Dan Rautenberg, installed as pastor at Peridot and Grace.

And Jesus doesn’t like it.

And who would? Who likes being harassed? Who likes being helpless? Do you hear a pained sadness in Jesus’ voice when He compares the size of the harvest to the number of workers?
One is plentiful, the other is few. What was true then is still true today.

Considering the dire situation then and now, Jesus urged: “Ask!”

So people asked. And He answered.

God answered a big ask by guiding Pastor Dan Rautenberg and Mr. David Thompson to accept their calls as pastor and pastoral assistant. Together they will be serving the dual parish union of Peridot Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran Church, both on the San Carlos Reservation in Arizona.

What better way to thank God for this blessing than to hold a worship service and install the shepherds in front of a flock of Jesus’ sheep! Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, was indeed a joyous occasion!

The installation service was filled with the Word of God in every aspect. The late Rev. Kirk Massey, Jr. led the worship liturgy, Rev. Gary Lupe preached the sermon, the choir and congregation sang hymns and gifted musicians played their instruments. The area pastors and leaders participated in the laying on of hands, sharing of Scripture and words of encouragement. Not to mention all the amazing food prepared by congregation members. All done to the glory of God!

The sheep at the two congregations are very blessed to have these two shepherds. Like David of old, they are men “after God’s own heart.”

Mr. David Thompson installed as pastoral assistant

Mr. David Thompson has been involved at Peridot Lutheran Church and Grace Lutheran Church as a confirmed member since 2013. He speaks Apache and shares the gospel in Apache! David and his wife, Samantha, have a family “flock” of their own: five children and three foster children!

Rev. Dan Rautenberg began serving in Native American ministries 24 years ago. Except for serving three years in Grenada, his whole ministry has been on the reservations of Fort Apache and San Carlos. The people know him and he knows them. Pastor Dan and his wife, Katie, have four children, all born and raised on the reservation.

Join us, won’t you, in thanking God for his big answer to a big ask.

Written by Rev. John Holtz, world missionary on the Native American mission team

 

Exactly a month after this installation service, God called home to his side Pastor Kirk Massey, Jr. “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.” (John 11: 25-26). “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” (1 Corinthians 15:55)

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CAMM October 2024 Newsletter

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I recently traveled to Malawi and Zambia and was looking forward to sharing some updated information and news about the field. My wife Beth and I recently gave a presentation about CAMM for the Grand Canyon Circuit of LWMS (Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society) at a retreat at a camp outside of Prescott, Ariz. There were about 80 women attending and three Arizona pastors who helped with devotions and worship. We were glad to see our former Malawi Mission Liaison, Rev. John Holtz, and a former pastor in Zambia, Rev. John Hartman and his wife, Sharon.

At the retreat we had the opportunity to learn about the mission work to the Native American Mission, including the school in Peridot. We also heard about the mission to the children in Mexico and its Spanish ministry to Mexicans in Tucson.

We shared our slides about the Lutheran Mobile Clinic in Malawi, the Lutheran Rural Health Center in Zambia, and the medical camp that was run in Kenya last February. We enjoyed answering questions and feeling so much support for the ongoing work of CAMM. We knew these women would be praying for our African staff and supporting the mission with their prayers and offerings. It was apparent that many of them also had ministries in their churches and with other mission organizations. We give thanks for these brothers and sisters in Christ, who love Jesus and want to help spread the gospel around the world!

In other news, in Malawi we have recently completed the construction of two private consultation rooms at our clinic at Thunga Village. We have seen that outpatient numbers have been growing at this clinic, which has caused crowding and even less privacy. We decided that it was it about time that these patients were provided the same degree of privacy as the patients at our other clinics, hence the new consultation rooms were built. Now all outpatient consultations at all four of our clinics are conducted in private.

Also, in Malawi, after a few months of wondering why we have not received many parcels, we have just received 40 parcels of pill bottles and other supplies. Supplies were getting low and we were beginning to worry. But the Lord provided. We suspected that something was amiss either at the post office or customs, but only recently discovered that parcels were being held by the Malawi Revenue Agency (MRA) for possible customs duty. Lusungu Mwambeye – our administrator in Malawi – was able to work with the MRA and get the parcels released to us without duty. She also obtained a letter from MRA giving us customs clearance for three months. While our stocks are looking good today, it can take up to three months for a parcel to arrive, so please keep the parcels coming so that we always have a ready supply of pill bottles, blankets, hats, onesies, etc. for our patients.

Written by Mr. Gary Evans, CAMM Field Director.




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What will God use us to do next?

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Dear Friend of Missions,

God continues to surprise us all around the world!

Those who serve in our world mission fields bring the light of Jesus’ victory over sin and death to precious souls through evangelism efforts, church planting, training national workers for ministry, and providing religious materials in foreign languages through Multi-Language Productions. Currently 50 world missionaries partner with over 500 national pastors to conduct outreach and train more than 400 students for service in Christ’s Kingdom. Praise God!

Your prayers and support for WELS World Missions work are vital and ensure that we can continue gospel ministry in 46 countries while exploring opportunities in 19 prospective new mission fields. Contributions to WELS World Missions help open and support these mission efforts. What will God use us to do next?

By now you may have already seen my letter about our many WELS World Missions opportunities. Please consider a gift to help share the love of Jesus. We pray that God will continue to surprise us. He has provided WELS with many opportunities, the manpower is ready, the door is still open, and the gospel is powerful!

Serving together,
Rev. Jonathan Schroeder
Chairman, Board for World Missions

P.S. Read about the tenth anniversary of Academia Cristo, a ministry that God has used to touch the hearts of millions of people in Latin America.

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It’s better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles

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“It’s better to have 100 friends than 100 rubles!”

This bit of Russian folk wisdom comes from a time when 100 rubles was worth a lot of money. Having many talented friends who can help in different situations makes life a lot easier – especially for people living in a collective society.

God has blessed me with many friends.

From Siberia to Portugal, from the Mediterranean to Scandinavia, God has allowed me to develop deep, spiritual relationships with many dear brothers and sisters. The members of Jesus’ body are precious, blood-bought souls carefully gathered by the Lord of the Church and placed exactly where he wants for our mutual edification and his glory.

Recently God has blessed me with some new friends in the U.K. and back “home” in the WELS. Let me explain.

Pete Myers served in the ministerium of the Church of England. He is a Hebrew scholar and worked for several years as a professor of Old Testament studies at a seminary in Ethiopia. Pete is a sincere man who wants to confess solid Biblical faith in Christ. To make a long story short, Pete became Lutheran through an independent study of classic Lutheran writings and began searching for a Lutheran church faithful to scripture. After moving back to London, he met Missionary Michael Hartman. The two of them spent hours discussing what we in WELS believe on the basis of Holy Scripture. God blessed those conversations. Several months ago, Pete and his family joined our fellowship. Since then, they have moved to Manchester (a major city about four hours north of London), where Pete is supporting himself with secular work as a math teacher. But his real passion is to plant a congregation in Manchester that enjoys fellowship with our hub church in London.

We’re thankful for Pete and his family, and we’re excited about blessings God is giving to his people through them. But we also want Pete to deepen his understanding of confessional Lutheranism, and we want those in our broader Lutheran fellowship (CELC) to have confidence that we share a common faith. What should we do?

Let me introduce you to some partners in WELS who are helping us.

Professor Allen Sorum teaches at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He is also part of the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI). Professor Sorum has broad experience working with men who want to prepare for ministry not only in North America, but around the world. He serves as the PSI representative to our Europe team. This past June, he arranged for Pete to spend a couple weeks on our seminary campus in Mequon. Here Pete attended summer quarter classes and spoke with faculty members about a wide variety of doctrinal topics.

While in Mequon, Pete met another friend of mine, Professor Jim Danell. Professor Danell serves on the faculty of Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., where he helps prepare young men for ministry. He also serves as the chairman of WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR). This commission works to ensure that we indeed share authentic doctrinal fellowship with our brothers and sisters around the world. He is the CICR representative to our Europe team.

I’m so thankful that Professor Sorum and Professor Danell join our Europe team meetings every week. They understand the work that we are carrying out in Europe. Having PSI and CICR working together with World Missions has been a tremendous blessing. God richly blessed Pete’s time during summer quarter, and there are plans in place for continued doctrinal conversations with key representatives in WELS to ensure that we are all walking together and contending for Jesus’ truth.

Please join me in giving thanks for the gifted friends the Savior gives us in his Church. Let’s continue to work together to share Jesus’ good news with the world!

Written by Rev. Luke Wolfgramm, world missionary on the Europe One Team. 

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Obituary – Rev. Kirk Massey, Jr.

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Psalm 139:16 reminds us that all the days ordained for us were written in God’s book before even one of them came to be.

On October 8, 2024, all the days ordained for Kirk Massey, Jr, were completed and the Lord took him to his heavenly home at the age of 47. Those days were full of blessings.

Since the day of his birth on April 29th, 1977, the Lord has been good to Kirk, and blessed many through Kirk. He had the privilege of attending East Fork Lutheran Elementary and High School and married his high school sweetheart, Sheree. The Lord blessed them with 5 children to raise: Michael, Marcus, Leah, Lindsey, and Meghan.

Kirk continued to be a blessing to many in his community in his work with youth and fathers and then in his eventual calling as a Pastor in the Lutheran church. He was blessed to be able to travel, to teach, to coach, to counsel, and most importantly, to share Jesus.

He loved sports, he loved to learn, but most of all he will be remembered as someone who loved his family and loved Jesus. He was determined to be a good husband and father, determined to raise his children to love Jesus, and determined to share Jesus in his congregation and community. He will be missed here, but we look forward to our reunion with him in heaven.

A viewing was held on Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 7:00 AM-10:00 AM at the Whiteriver Lutheran Church of the Open Bible. The funeral service was held that same day at 11:00 AM in the East Fork Lutheran School gymnasium.

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10 years of Academia Cristo

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Join us as we celebrate 10 incredible years of Academia Cristo, a ministry that has shared the gospel and touched the lives of thousands across Latin America! Over the past decade, we have witnessed transformations, blessings, and life-changing moments as the message of Christ has reached new hearts and homes.

We reflect on the journey, the countless stories of faith, and the mission to continue spreading the good news of Jesus. From the first days to where we are now, Academia Cristo remains dedicated to making disciples, sharing free biblical teachings, and empowering leaders in local communities.

Watch the inspiring stories of those who have been impacted by this ministry, and hear from those whose lives were forever changed by the power of the gospel. Join the celebration and help us keep spreading the message of hope and salvation!

Learn more about Academia Cristo and mission work throughout Latin America at wels.net/latinamerica.

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Sing a New (Old) Song to the Lord

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In the closing days of August, Rev. Dr. Terry Schultz from Multi-Language Productions (MLP) and Rev. Ben Foxen of the One Africa Team traveled to Uganda.

The goal? Fulfill a request made by our brothers and sisters in the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) to help them create new songs with Christ-centered lyrics.

Thanks to funding provided by MLP, we were able to gather about 20 musicians from the various districts of the OLS in one place for 5 days of training, encouragement, and hands-on work composing and performing songs. MLP also provided funds for the purchase of some equipment that will be used by the OLS to train future musicians in their church body.

In the time spent in this workshop, we were continually amazed at the musical talent and creativity that had been assembled. In a short time, these men and women composed and recorded 68 new songs that showed incredible diversity. Since the composers came from different parts of the country, they composed in no less than seven different languages. The musical styles differed as well, ranging from traditional Ugandan beats, to more of a hip-hop style, to chants and chorales. It was eye-opening to witness how the people of OLS sought to incorporate all these different styles, showing that all of them are now a part of their cultural heritage.

The content of these songs also differed, some focusing on themes of praise and thanksgiving (among them my personally favorite melody, “Nebaza Musumba Wange,” or “I thank you, my Shepherd”); others focusing on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus; others on sin and repentance; and others a recasting of the timeless songs of the liturgy.

One of the goals of this workshop was to preserve any music that was produced. So, a handheld recording device was used to capture the compositions as they were performed for the group, and handwritten lyrics were transcribed into a Microsoft Word document. Both were then transferred to SD cards that can be shared with all the congregations of the OLS, so that the entire church will be able to benefit from what was produced at the workshop.

OLS leaders have plans to take this project further. They want these composers to continue their work in producing new melodies and lyrics, focusing their talents on the various seasons of the church year, so that in time an entire OLS hymnbook might be produced and digitally recorded. It’s an ambitious project, but one they certainly have the talent to accomplish.

Through it all, we rejoice in the amazing gifts that God has given to his people. Throughout the ages, new songs have always been created to praise and glorify our God and teach people about his amazing deeds and love. The OLS may be singing some new songs to the Lord now, but they’re also singing the same song that God’s people have always sung—Christ for us, and Christ in us. All glory and praise be to his name, in whatever melody you sing it!

Written by Rev. Benjamin Foxen, world missionary on the One Africa Team.

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WELS Connection – The impact of World Missions

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By the grace of God and your generous support, WELS has been given countless opportunities to share the life-saving message of the gospel with souls all around the world. Sometimes that is done on a large scale with pre-existing, organized church bodies, other times it is on an individual level with one particular soul, and everywhere in between. These people may be in far away lands on the other side of the world. Yet they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, children of God, who now have the comfort and certainty of eternal life, knowing that their sins are forgiven. Camilo Herrera is one of those people.

“I have joy talking to the Lord. I have peace in him, no matter what happens.”

Hear more in this October 2024 WELS Connection video.

 

Learn more about WELS World Missions at wels.net/missions.

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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, “May 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.” 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 haven’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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An open door to the gospel

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Dear Friend,

When I first heard that WELS had been invited to communist Vietnam to train church leaders in the truth of the gospel, I was surprised. Yet, God had opened the door, and WELS members responded with generosity and faith. God continues to surprise us all around the world.

There are over two million Hmong people in Southeast Asia, but it was the opportunity in Vietnam, and our work with the Hmong Fellowship Church (HFC), that provided us with a direct path to share the good news about Jesus. In 2011 WELS missionary Rev. Bounkeo Lor began by training 55 HFC leaders, preparing them to return and serve rural congregations. In July 2023, these 55 men graduated as fully trained pastors. Their graduation photo, taken with President Schroeder under the communist hammer and sickle, serves as a powerful reminder of how God’s gospel can work in ways we can hardly imagine.

Now 120 more men have begun their pastoral studies, a theological training center was built and dedicated in Hanoi, there are 1,400 rural church leaders ready to be trained in the truths of God’s Word, and 700 of them have begun training. This group has the potential to become an army of evangelists, spreading the gospel not only to their 400 congregations but also to Hmong communities throughout Vietnam and neighboring countries. The door remains open, and God continues to surprise us.

The door is open. The manpower is ready. The gospel is powerful. God is providing us with opportunities all around the globe. New work in Australia, London, New Zealand, Tanzania, and the Congo has been launched over the last two years. Dozens of house churches have been opened in Latin America and Africa. We ask for your prayers and offerings to keep these gospel doors open.

Your gift to this work is vital for WELS to continue carrying the gospel through the open door in Vietnam and around the world. Contributions to WELS World Missions help open and support these missions. Your gift can enable this gospel-driven growth to multiply because we expect God to continue surprising us.

Since we began working with the Hmong Fellowship Church, it has grown from 55,000 to 146,000 members. What will God use us to do next? Christians who have heard the gospel for the first time are moved by our Lord to reach out to others who still need to hear it. The leaders we train and equip are reaching hearts, and the Holy Spirit is granting a harvest.

This work could not have been accomplished without the prayers and gifts of God’s people. We thank our Father in heaven for the generous support given to WELS World Missions. If you are looking for a way to extend the reach of the gospel, now is the time. We have extraordinary opportunities to train hundreds more church leaders, who will, in turn, share the Word with their communities. Please consider giving to WELS World Missions.

In Christ,
Rev. Jonathan Schroeder
Chairman, Board for World Missions

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Prayer: Lord Jesus, you have richly blessed our synod by allowing us to reach and serve so many souls worldwide—even entire church bodies—and by continuing to open doors to further gospel proclamation. Our world missions efforts are now on every inhabited continent and impacting people in nearly 100 countries. Help us to thank you for our many blessings and to use them to support the gospel ministry of our brothers and sisters across the world. According to your gracious will, multiply our work so that those we train will touch the lives of others with your saving message and, in the next ten years, our fellowship outside of North America can reach one million people. Amen.

The gospel is powerful!

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Dear Friend of Missions,

When WELS was first invited to communist Vietnam to share the good news of salvation through Jesus, it was a surprise. Yet, God opened that door, and WELS members responded with generosity and faith to support that opportunity.

Since we began working with the Hmong Fellowship Church, it has grown from 55,000 members to 145,000. What will God use us to do next? Christians who have heard the gospel for the first time are moved by our Lord to reach out to others who still need to hear it. The leaders we train and equip are reaching hearts, and the Holy Spirit is granting a harvest.

And God continues to surprise us all around the world.

Watch your mailbox for even more information about how God is blessing ministry happening all over the world through WELS World Missions. The door is open. The manpower is ready. The gospel is powerful. God has provided WELS with opportunities in Australia, London, New Zealand, Tanzania, and the Congo over the last two years. Dozens of house churches have opened in Latin America and Africa. We boldly ask God’s people to help keep these gospel doors open.

“See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut” (Revelation 3:8).

Your prayers and offerings to WELS World Missions will support new and existing ministries around the world and will enable this gospel-driven growth to multiply. If you are looking for a way to extend the reach of the gospel, now is the time! Consider giving to WELS World Missions today. We pray that God would continue to surprise us!

Serving together,
Rev. Jonathan Schroeder
Chairman, Board for World Missions

P.S. Watch this video to see how God opens doors to the gospel all over the world.

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The road to new opportunities

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The mindset of so many is “What’s next?” or “What’s the next goal in my life?” The Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) has also been considering that same question: What’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 isn’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, “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.” 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 God’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 Medellín, 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 Guamán 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 Cristo’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 courses  (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 mission’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 Director’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 God’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.

Peter’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: “I 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.”

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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God’s hand in Indonesia

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“I know the plans I have for you.” Jeremiah 29:11. These words of the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah are a familiar theme at many Christian graduation ceremonies. Written originally to God’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 God’s promises to be with them, the faculty and staff of Sekolah Tinggi Teologi Lutheran (STTL), the seminary of our sister church 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 “tent-making” ministries.

After much work, and by God’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.

STTL’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 STTL’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. “I know the plans I have for you,” 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. 

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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 father’s home country of Costa Rica. An astute businessman, he worked in the insurance industry. In September 2020, he connected with Academia Cristo’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 else’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 God’s forgiveness to people. One of the passages was from 2 Corinthians. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’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. “Wow,” he said, “we really can give this gift to others. That’s so special.”

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 couldn’t work as much or meet with his Bible study group as often. Then, July 2, 2024, the Lord took Marcelo home. I miss Marcelo’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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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 WELS’ 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, “It 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.”

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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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 – 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 church’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, “They can only kill my body but not my soul. I am ready at any time to serve my Lord and his people.” 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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Faces of Faith – Li

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Pastor Li’s non-Christian wife tried to get him to understand how embarrassing it was to tell coworkers that her husband was a pastor. She was ashamed of him and ashamed to be his wife. He listened to her complaints, and he continued to pray for her. He highlighted God’s blessings for her whenever there was an opportunity, helped her run her noodle shop, and he took regular walks with her. Eventually she began to ask for his prayers. Eventually she told him that she was also praying. Eventually she asked to be baptized. Now, as a child of God, she looks forward to their weekly worship gathering and communing with brothers and sisters in Christ. She sings in the choir. And, she and Pastor Li pray together that the Holy Spirit would lead their son to faith.

From Matt Doebler, Asia One Team missionary

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Faces of Faith – John

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John Michoro, a member at Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ-Kenya, strives to bring more people to Jesus by being a shining example of a servant leader. As a son of a Kenyan pastor, John has always had Jesus as part of his life. He dedicated his efforts this past year to bring the Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) to Karima, Kenya, as an outreach tool for their church. He worked closely with CAMM, the Kenyan Kirinyaga County government, and the church to organize the logistics, financials, and communication required for the medical camp in Kenya that was held in February 2024. They served close to 1,500 patients during the four-day camp. With only one percent of the population in the surrounding community professing the Lutheran faith, John has high hopes this clinic has not only served these patients’ physical needs but will also be a way to touch their souls by hearing the love of Jesus. The impact of love and teamwork he has seen during the planning and running of the medical camp solidifies his faith even more. He observed many different groups of varying backgrounds from the community come together and share their love for each other, just as Jesus showed his love for so many. John’s face lights up in a huge smile as he talks about his faith and shares it with others!

From Angela Sievert, Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) committee chairwoman

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Faces of Faith – Elijah

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Elijah Adongo is a TELL student from Nairobi, Kenya. In March 2023, he attended a special TELL event in Nairobi. Some students had studied together online for years, but this was the first time seeing one another in-person. Baptism was the topic for the Bible study. In Africa, immersion is considered the only valid form of baptism in many churches, and infant Baptism rarely happens. “This is our belief and practice concerning Baptism because this was the mantle that was passed to us from others.” That’s the repeating theme I often hear. Gathered around a table and God’s Word, the Holy Spirit lifted that mantle and replaced it with a clear understanding of God’s gift of Baptism.

Two days later, Elijah invited me to his home where he asked if his four-year-old daughter could be baptized. After a devotion and assuring Mikayla that she wasn’t going to be immersed, the angels in heaven rejoiced as another precious child was brought into God’s family through Baptism. By God’s grace, Elijah continues his studies with TELL and shares what he has learned with others.

From Joel Hoff, TELL missionary in Africa

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Faces of Faith – Bonnie

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Twenty-eight years. That’s how long Bonnie Lewis has been teaching! Bonnie is an Apache woman living with her husband, Francis, in Whiteriver, Ariz. She started teaching pre-school in the late ‘80s, and in 2001 she started teaching at the WELS Lutheran elementary school in East Fork. She’s been there ever since.

The love of young children has kept Bonnie coming back year after year. She says, “I’m privileged to teach the kids Bible stories at our school, and they absolutely love them!” Bonnie chuckled as she reflected on how former students have asked to come back to kindergarten. Even though they obviously can’t return to her beloved classroom, they can, like the Apostle Paul said, “continue in what they have learned.” By the power of the Holy Spirit working in their hearts through the Word and sacraments, they will do so. Bonnie finds encouragement in the passage: “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6).

This school year (2023-2024) marks a milestone for Bonnie and East Fork Lutheran School as she has announced her retirement. Though retirement is around the corner, Bonnie isn’t one to simply do nothing. She has been an active, faithful member of her home congregation, Open Bible Lutheran Church in Whiteriver, and God-willing she hopes to be able to continue doing so.

From John Holtz, Native Christians Network missionary

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Faces of Faith – Opiew

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I’m Opiew Okugn Adiew from Gambela, Ethiopia. I was raised in a Christian home. My parents were faithful believers and instilled a love for Christ in me, but by the time I was 30 years old, I began reading Scripture more critically and openly questioning some of the doctrines I was taught. I became dissatisfied with false teachings among my church and many churches in my community. My concerns became large enough that a few friends and I decided to start our own church based solely on Scripture. One of my friends had a little theological education, but we all desired more training. I contacted WELS and was directed to the One Africa Team, which got me connected with TELL. Fast forward to today, and I have become a more confident church leader. When you share the gospel, you need to understand the grace of God. That is what I understand from the TELL program because they understand the Bible well.

I shepherd a congregation, leading worship and Bible study. I share the TELL method of training with other pastors, teachers, and lay workers in the local dialect but continue studying with TELL in English. If you want to become a strong preacher, you need to use the TELL program. . . to think, evaluate, and learn the Scripture, and finally to lead a church to understand the Scripture. You can establish friendships with many pastors around the world!

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Faces of Faith – Cesar

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Academia Cristo has advanced and changed during the last several years. Technology has changed, curriculum was expanded and revised, new resources for church planters have been introduced. One student who has been with Academia Cristo through it all is Cesar Augusto Narvaez.

When Academia Cristo was just experimenting with live classes, Cesar enrolled. Since 2020, he has completed 16 live courses. He was equipped to gather and lead his own church plant that now meets every week for worship and Bible study. They reach out to their friends, family, and neighbors, and are training members so they can participate in ministry as well. Missionaries from the Latin America mission team regularly make visits to Cesar and his group. On one visit, a missionary asked all the members what prompted them to attend for the first time. Everyone had the same answer, “Cesar invited me.”

Some aspects of mission work may change over time, but some things remain constant. First, the power of the gospel. It’s the good news of Jesus that leads people like Cesar to share their faith. It’s the message of God’s grace, love, and redemption that keep people coming back. Second, the power of a simple invitation. Today, more people are learning about their Savior and growing in their faith because of a simple invitation from someone they knew.

From Matt Behmer, Latin America missionary

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Faces of Faith – Alejandro

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WELS has been doing mission work in Puerto Rico for more than half a century, but Academia Cristo efforts in Puerto Rico are only just beginning. Alejandro Hernandez began his Academia Cristo studies in summer 2023 and moved through the program in record time. As he took live courses with Academia Cristo professors, he filled every night of the week with Academia Cristo classes.

These courses, and the work of the Holy Spirit in Alejandro’s heart, have brought about a quick succession of events. From January-March 2024, Alejandro finished the entire first level of the Academia Cristo live course work (over 100 hours of time) and completed a one-on-one study of 95 points of doctrine with an Academia Cristo professor, which led him to confess complete doctrinal agreement with what was taught. Now, Alejandro has taken the first steps toward gathering a group of friends and family around the Word of God using provided Lutheran materials.

Only God knows what is next for this work, but when Alejandro was recently visited by missionaries for the first time, in no uncertain terms, he expressed a desire to work toward planting a church in his community. And, if early results are any indicator, Alejandro is not going to waste any time getting started.

From Andrew Johnston, Latin America missionary

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