World Missions

Preparing today for where God leads tomorrow

2026/05/29/in Featured Ministry

Dear Friend,

The apostle Paul writes, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6,7). Gospel ministry often unfolds over time and through many different servants, but it always relies on the Lord to bring success. Illustrating that truth is the story of Hmong ministry and the faithful servants God has raised up through it—men whose work has carried the gospel from local congregations in the U.S. to mission fields around the world. The Lor family’s decades‑long involvement in WELS mission work shows how God uses faithful partnership to accomplish far more than we could have asked or imagined.

Years ago, four immigrant brothers, Dewid, Daniel, Bounkeo, and Ger Lor, were trained through Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Pastoral Studies Institute. Through careful instruction grounded in Scripture, they were equipped to share the message of salvation by grace alone through faith in Christ. These men were supported as they stepped into ministry, walking alongside people with the gospel and serving where the Lord placed them.

God opened doors that reached far beyond what anyone could have planned. Today, WELS supports five Hmong congregations in the U.S., all led by Hmong American pastors. Those relationships have also opened doors for overseas mission work, with Hmong leaders working closely with the Asia-Oceania Team to support outreach in countries such as Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. In Vietnam alone, the Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church that WELS is working with now includes more than 160,000 members, a powerful reminder of how God can grow gospel work that begins with faithful planting and patient watering.

Now God continues that work through a new generation. Samuel Lor, son of Bounkeo Lor, graduated from the seminary in 2022 and serves as pastor in Minneapolis, Minn. Daniel Lor’s son, Semson, just graduated from the Pastoral Studies Institute in May.

This is how gospel ministry so often unfolds. God prepares workers. He places them where they can serve. He opens doors that lead to new opportunities for sharing Christ. Ongoing mission support allows pastors and missionaries to remain focused on that work, responding as the Lord leads.

The WELS Missions Endowment Fund helps sustain the general work of Home and World Missions, with distributions providing stability and flexibility that allow mission work to continue today while preparing for where the Lord may lead tomorrow.

Your gift to the WELS Missions Endowment is a way to support gospel work that reaches across cultures and generations, trusting that the Lord will continue to bring growth through his Word, according to his will.

Thank you for your partnership in this gospel mission.

In Christ,
Rev. Mark Gabb
Home Missions administrator

Rev. Larry Schlomer
World Missions administrator

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Prayer: Gracious Lord, we praise you for making your gospel grow through your servants’ faithful planting and watering. Thank you for raising up generations of pastors, missionaries, and congregations to share Christ across cultures and around the world. Continue to bless the work of Hmong believers in the U.S., Vietnam, and beyond. May your Holy Spirit strengthen all who serve in Christ’s name. Move your people to support these efforts with generous hearts, trusting that you will provide for your church and open new doors for the gospel. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

My four journeys to East Fork: 1994 to 2026

Between 1999 and 2002, through a Kingdom Workers grant, Beth Cordes Thompson gave workshops and seminars on Intercultural Communications and English Language Teaching at 40 churches and schools in the U.S., Canada, and Antigua. In 2003, she founded the WELS Model English Language Outreach Program at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Milwaukee and was its executive director until 2012. In Hong Kong, she developed English for Theological Purposes programs for Asia Lutheran Seminary. Since the Thompsons’ return from Hong Kong to the U.S. in 2020, they have been residing in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

My first visit to the East Fork mission on the Fort Apache Reservation in Arizona was in 1994. My husband, Dr. Glen Thompson, then a professor at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, had been charged with creating a long-distance Latin language program for WELS high schools, two of which were Arizona Lutheran Academy and East Fork Lutheran High School. We were in Arizona so he could meet his students in person.

Open Bible Church in Whiteriver

We had a joyful reunion in East Fork with Pastor Eric and Delora Hartzell. We had last seen them when we served together as missionaries in Zambia. Now they were living in the beautiful, well-built house where Eric grew up when his father was a missionary in East Fork.

We moved to New Ulm, Minnesota, in 1997, where Glen began to develop what is now the Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. During that time, Glen helped Missionary Kirby Spevacek create a curriculum for a new Apache leadership training program, which became the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS).

In 1999, I became friends with Carlita Lewis, a young Apache woman from East Fork who was studying at Martin Luther College (MLC). I interviewed her for a project for an Intercultural Communications course towards my Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESL). We discussed the Apache language and culture, and I learned a great deal about her life and family on the reservation.

Second visit—the student becomes the teacher

My second visit to East Fork was in January 2000, when Glen met with Pastor Spevacek and students in the ACTS program. While there, we toured East Fork Lutheran School and wished Carlita the Lord’s blessings as she began her call as an emergency teacher for a year.

First Lutheran Church in lower Cibecue

Third visit—friends reunited in our Savior

This past January, 26 years later, we returned to the reservation specifically to see Carlita and her son Leandro. Over four days, we visited the Kinishba Ruins and Fort Apache, went hiking, and had acorn stew. Glen also taught Bible classes at Open Bible Lutheran Church in Whiteriver, Arizona, where we became re-acquainted with Pastor Gary Lupe, and at Immanuel in Lakeside, Arizona, where Carlita is a member. Pastor Gary Juergens and Carlita became friends when they were students together at MLC, so we had an MLC reunion as well.

When we said good-bye to Carlita and Leandro, we prayed that it would not be years before we saw them again.

It was God’s planning that we would be reunited three months later! A few weeks after we returned to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the mission board contacted Glen and asked if he would consider helping Pastor Gary Lupe and Missionary John Holtz for a few months. After prayers and planning, we decided to return.

Fourth visit—God’s abundant blessings

In April 2026, we returned to the East Fork Mission. Now we have the privilege of worshiping with Apache Christians in the historic congregations and schools of the WELS Native American mission that began in 1893. During the upcoming months, we plan to attend services at all the Lutheran churches on the reservation.

Gethsemane Lutheran Church in upper Cibecue

Our first Sunday worship was at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Cibecue, Arizona. During our first visit to the reservation, every time we passed the turnoff to Cibecue from Highway 60, I would say, “You can see the end of the world from here,” because the road looks like it drops off the horizon. Now, we finally had our chance to turn on that road again, and it was only twelve beautiful scenic miles to the church!

On the way, we passed the first Lutheran church in “lower” Cibecue, built by Missionary Otto Schoenberg in 1912. In the 1970s, the mission complex was moved to “upper” Cibecue, which is where we worshiped. Lay preacher Greg Henry preached in both Apache and English, and the women members sang a hymn.

The second Sunday, we worshiped at Shepherd of the Mountain, Cedar Creek, Arizona. The tiny church is perched on a small mountain, visible from Highway 73. PSI student Marcus Massey gave the sermon.

Shepherd on the Mountain Lutheran Church in Cedar Creek

I saw Open Bible Lutheran Church for the first time back in January 2026. Founded in 1912, the picturesque wood-frame white church building was dedicated in 1922. Glen has given one presentation and conducted two Bible classes in the sanctuary so far. During the class, the attendees ask probing questions about faith and salvation. ACTS also has evening classes during the week, where faithful members from the reservation take time out of their busy lives to study God’s word.

During this trip, we saw Pastor Eric and Delora Hartzell for the first time in decades. We learned that Pastor Hartzell had written Inashood: The Story of the Arizona Apache Lutheran Missions and Their Pastors (available from Northwestern Publishing House). Glen and I read it before our April return.

Learning the history illuminated the honor of living for a few months at the very location where the mission acquired property from a government school and founded East Fork Lutheran Mission in 1921.

The East Fork Nursery was established in 1921 to save abandoned babies’ lives but later closed in 1990. This building became what is now the ACTS building.

We thank God for the journeys since 1994 that led to this opportunity to experience life on the site of the first WELS world mission. We cherish our times of worship with the faithful Apache Christians who are living and strengthening their faith through the Word of God they hear at their historic churches and through the ACTS program. We pray for the pastors and evangelists who are serving on the Native American mission and that God will bless them as they continue to share the gospel message.

Written by Beth Thompson, wife of pastor Glen Thompson

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New seminary graduate called as missionary to Senegal

2026/05/27/in Africa, Missions, News, Together, World Missions

New seminary graduate Stephen Gerling and his wife, Hannah, will serve as one of two missionary families sent to a new mission in Senegal. Drawing from their unique international backgrounds and experiences growing up in mission fields, the Gerlings share their excitement, challenges, and hopes as they prepare to build relationships and share the gospel with the Wolof people in Senegal.

Veteran WELS world missionary Dan Kroll and his wife, Karen, will serve alongside the Gerlings as they minister to the Woloff tribe. Both Stephen Gerling and Dan Kroll will be commissioned by WELS Missions at Taste of Missions on June 13.

Moments with Missionaries – John Holtz

2026/05/14/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, World Missions

Missionary John Holtz, Native Christians counselor, shares an update from East Fork, Ariz., on the continuing work among Native American communities. In this video, he highlights the Apache Christian Training School (ACTS) and shares how Marcus Massey recently enrolled in the pastoral track with the hope of one day serving as a pastor on the Native American mission field.

Join us in thanking God for raising up future church leaders and for the ongoing work of the Native American mission team. Hear more about the continuing work of the Native American mission team at wels.net/native-american-missions.

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

From hardship to hope in Christ

2026/05/13/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Marco Antonio has been through more than most. He lived through the civil war in El Salvador. In more recent years, he stayed in the San Valentín condominium in Mejicanos during waves of violence that forced many of his neighbors to flee. His life has included family challenges, health struggles, and ups and downs in his employment. It’s the kind of story that could easily lead someone to become discouraged, to grow tired, or to settle into survival mode.

But that’s not Marco’s story. Instead, when he wakes up in the morning, he works on memorizing the catechism. In the evenings, he logs on to live Bible classes. Day after day, he finds ways to be connected to God’s Word.

I had the opportunity to visit Marco in March. We sat down over pupusas in Mejicanos, and he told me how it all began. About two years ago, he came across an online ad for Bible classes through Academia Cristo. He signed up, not knowing exactly what to expect. But as he studied, he encountered something that changed everything—the clear message of Scripture, that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus. This gave him peace like he never had before.

Marco loves what he is learning so much that he repeats courses he has already taken, learning from different instructors and studying alongside new classmates. For him, it’s not about checking a box or finishing a program. It’s about staying in the Word.

During my visit, we traveled together from San Salvador to meet with another Academia Cristo student in San Miguel. On the three-hour drive, Marco turned the car into a mission field. He shared the Christian faith with the driver, walking him through what we call the four key concepts—sin, grace, faith, and works. When the driver began to open up about personal struggles, Marco clearly applied both law and gospel, pointing him to his Savior.

But Marco isn’t just a student, and he doesn’t just tag along with missionaries on visits. Recently, Marco was called to serve as a sembrador, or church planter, by Academia Cristo. This came after he reached doctrinal agreement, completed significant coursework, committed to continued study, and expressed a desire to gather others around God’s Word. Marco is eager to serve in this role.

Marco’s story is humbling. It raises questions I can’t ignore. Do I still have the chief parts of the catechism memorized? Do I take hold of every opportunity I can to study God’s Word? Do I look for ways to share it as naturally as he does? Marco’s story reminds me of what is most important.

And at the same time, it brings me back to the heart of it all. The same gospel that changed Marco is the same gospel that sustains us—that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, not because of what we do, but because of what Christ has done for us. It’s that message that creates faith, strengthens it, and sends people like Marco, and us, out to share it with others.

As Academia Cristo continues to grow, it’s a privilege to walk alongside brothers like Marco—men shaped by hardship, grounded in the gospel, and eager to bring the good news to others.

Written by Missionary Matt Behmer, member of the Latin America mission team.

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Climb the hill again

2026/04/23/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

John Hildebrant, the newest member on the Asia Oceania Team, is investing his first year on the field in learning a key local language that will assist him in working with new contacts throughout South Asia.

After nearly two weeks spent in South Asia, I have a new personal motto: Climb the hill again.

When people ask me where I am, they usually google it and comment on how beautiful it is. And it is truly beautiful in the foothills of the Himalayas! However, they usually don’t realize how the whole town seems to be built on the side of a hill. Everything here is either up or down. Very little is lateral or sideways.

My room (where I’m currently living out of suitcases), for example, is 6,800 feet above sea level. My language school, where I take classes every day, is more than 7,300 feet above sea level! That means every day I climb more than 500 feet (or 150 meters).

I take a bath, but when I have to climb the hill again, I get all hot and sweaty. I feel fine and well rested, but when I have to climb the hill again, my heart starts to pound, and my breathing gets heavy once again.

Do I really want to climb that hill again? Not really. But I must.

Climb the hill again.

But you would think that, once I’m at the top, at the language school, I’d have a reprieve. However, you would be wrong.

That’s an aspirated consonant not an unaspirated one. Climb the hill again. That’s a cerebral (with the tongue on the roof of your mouth), not a dental (with the tongue behind your teeth). Climb the hill again. That’s a feminine noun, not a masculine noun. Climb the hill again. That’s a masculine noun ending in “a” followed by the postposition, changing “ah” to “ay”! Climb the hill again!

Don’t get me wrong. After less than two weeks, I’m pleased that I can understand and say as much as I can! (“Whose book is on that table?” etc.) I can even say a few silly sentences about a monkey stealing my food, which is a true story! But fluency is an elusive, seemingly far away thing. It means climbing the hill over and over and over again!

But is this all that my motto really means? Physically climbing up a hillside or mentally exercising the linguistic portion of my brain? Is there not a deeper spiritual meaning to this motto as well?!

Yes. At Christmas, we climbed the hill again on which Bethlehem stands – to see our incarnate Lord and Savior, the Christ-child. On Transfiguration Sunday, many of us climbed the hill of Transfiguration again – to see Jesus in all his glory – assuring us that his passion is purposeful, not that everything was merely spiraling out of control. And, most significantly, every Lenten season we climb the hill of Calvary again to see the awful price paid for all of our sins.

Climb the hill again.

This motto really applies to every Christian as we daily bring our sins to the foot of the cross. Climb the hill again! Then, the next day, we climb the hill again, and again, and again, and again! Each time, we are assured of his grace to us! Each time, we are declared to be forgiven children of the Most High!

So, what can I do? Nothing really. Nothing but climb the hill again. Yes, climb the steps to the language school. And climb the mental gymnastics of my mind trying to get my brain to think in another language. And most importantly climb the hill to Calvary again with my latest load of sins, dumping them there at the feet of my Savior.

Each and every day. . . .

“Climb the hill again.”

Written by Missionary John Hildebrant, missionary on the Asia-Oceania Team

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Women in world mission fields gather for support and encouragement

2026/04/21/in News, Together

Under the theme “Rest,” the conference included worship, devotions, Bible studies, and free time for fellowship. Guest speaker Don Patterson, WELS’ South Central district president, developed Bible studies to help the women find “Joy in the Journey.”

“Every part of the conference was planned with the idea of missionary wives connecting with God’s Word and each other,” says Linda Marquardt, who serves alongside her husband in the Asia-Oceania region. “My favorite part was seeing missionary wives from different countries connecting, having meaningful conversations, praying with each other, and forming lasting friendships.”

Those connections are important as these women deal with the unique situations that occur when living in a mission field, including learning the local languages and customs, discovering their own vocation in their distinct setting, and finding creative ways to connect with faraway family.

“A handful of the attendees are called to serve in public mission roles, but all are the unsung heroes of the work we carry out,” says Larry Schlomer, administrator of WELS World Missions. “In unique overseas settings, they learn how to live out their faith and carry out personal ministry, often in quiet and unseen ways. At the same time, they give up US careers and familiar school systems for their children and manage homes in places where it can feel like all the rules have changed, serving in so many ways as the backbone of mission work around the world.”

Started in 2017, this conference occurs once every three years. “Before having these conferences, we might know the few other missionary wives in our region or meet some others at Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society conventions, but now we have friendships with other sisters in Christ around the world,” says Marquardt.

Between the conferences, missionary wives continue to support and encourage one another in monthly Zoom meetings.

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Unexpected discovery

2026/04/15/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Have you ever reached into a pocket and discovered money you didn’t remember putting there? The discovery is completely unexpected—and delightful.

First Impressions of CLSU
That is how I felt after a recent trip to Uganda to visit the Confessional Lutheran Synod of Uganda (CLSU). At the end of March, I accompanied One Africa Team missionary, Ben Foxen, on a visit to Ibanda, located in the western hills of the country. Because it was my first time representing the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR), I wasn’t sure what to expect. In the end, the experience far exceeded anything I could have imagined.

The purpose of our visit was to explore a potential partnership between WELS and the CLSU. Together, we studied CLSU’s statement of faith and constitution, asking questions for clarification and deeper understanding. These discussions proved both productive and encouraging. The CLSU holds firmly to the Bible, teaching and preaching in accordance with Scripture. We share a strong emphasis on gospel ministry that keeps Jesus at the center. We pray for and look forward to the day when our synods can formally declare fellowship.

The CLSU consists of 40 congregations across Uganda, with approximately 3,200 baptized members. After analyzing the demographics of their congregations, their leadership has developed a clear plan for ministry. With nearly 80 percent of their members under the age of 18, they are focusing on youth ministry and strengthening catechism instruction. They are also working to expand access to education through their schools and are eager to encourage more young men to pursue seminary training and become pastors. In short, they have ambitious goals, coupled with a deep trust in God’s blessings.

Connected Through Christ

On a personal note, getting to know the members of the CLSU leadership team is something I will carry with me for years to come. Worship on Palm Sunday was a particular highlight. Witnessing the faith and dedication of these Christian men—and forming friendships with them—was a remarkable joy. Though they live on another continent, I now count them among my dear Christian friends. Our time together lasted only a few days, but the memories will last a lifetime.

This trip also gave me valuable insight into the work of our One Africa Team missionaries. Watching Missionary Foxen interact with the CLSU was a joy and an encouragement. God is clearly blessing the efforts of our pastors in Africa as they seek out partnerships with groups like the CLSU. The Holy Spirit is powerfully at work through the Word, bringing souls into God’s kingdom. Uganda is a vivid example of the gospel as “the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16).

In the end, perhaps the unexpected joy of this trip should not have been so surprising. God is always at work, advancing his kingdom. I look forward to the day when believers from every nation will gather for an eternity in his presence. That joy will far surpass even the happiest unexpected discovery.

Written by Jon Bilitz, WELS CICR representative

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Moments with Missionaries – Howard Mohlke

2026/04/15/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, World Missions

Missionaries Howie Mohlke and Jake Vilhauer recently traveled to Pointe-Noire, marking the first visit by WELS missionaries to this region. This effort is part of a growing outreach to French-speaking communities across Africa. The Christians they met are deeply committed to the teachings of Scripture and grateful for the opportunity to connect and grow alongside fellow believers. Learn more about the work of the One Africa Team at wels.net/africa.

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

French connects them. The gospel unites us.

2026/03/27/in Africa, Featured Ministry, Missions

Dear Fellow Member of WELS,

Easter reminds us that when everything seemed finished—when the stone was sealed, and hope looked lost—the risen Christ was already at work. Because Jesus lives, his gospel keeps moving forward, often in ways we don’t expect. That’s what we see happening through the work of WELS World Missions today.

Across French-speaking regions of Africa, people are reaching out to WELS asking for help with God’s Word. And by God’s grace, we can respond.

French is an official language in 29 countries worldwide, and remarkably, 21 of them are in Africa. That shared language makes French a key connection point for gospel outreach across borders and cultures. In many of these places, faithful, Bible-based teaching is hard to find. That’s why these contacts matter—and why the opportunities before us are significant.

One example comes from a French-speaking church body called Mission Évangélique Luthérienne au Congo (MELC). Its leaders searched for theological support, found WELS, and reached out because they wanted clarity grounded firmly in Scripture. They see the challenges around them—especially the spread of false teaching—and they want to grow in the truth of God’s Word.

Faithful mission work in situations like this isn’t rushed. It involves careful doctrinal conversations, opening Scripture together, verifying unity in teaching and practice, and walking patiently with those who want to learn. This kind of work doesn’t always draw attention, but it is essential if the gospel of the risen Christ is to be proclaimed clearly and faithfully.

The work also requires flexibility. Because of political unrest, WELS missionaries cannot currently travel into parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rather than stopping, conversations continue just across the border in Zambia, where it is safer to meet. There, missionaries and church leaders are able to build relationships, study doctrine together, and plan next steps. Trusting the Lord’s guidance, the work continues.

To support this growing outreach, we’ve made a focused investment in people and preparation. Missionary Jake Vilhauer, serving with the One Africa Team, received intensive French language immersion—including time living and studying in France and Cameroon. Because of that training, when French-speaking contacts across Africa reach out, we are ready to respond with clarity, compassion, and confidence in the gospel.

This is where you come in. We ask you to prayerfully consider supporting this work with a special gift. Your support makes it possible for WELS World Missions to carry out this work on the ground: engaging in careful doctrinal study, maintaining ongoing communication, and meeting face to face when those conversations matter most. And this need is not limited to one place. We are seeing similar requests for collaboration and support coming from countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, and beyond—all from people asking for faithful Lutheran teaching rooted in God’s Word.

As we celebrate Easter, we rejoice that Christ is risen—and that his living gospel continues to open doors in places near and far. Thank you for standing with WELS World Missions as we share that message throughout Africa.

In Christ’s service,
Larry Schlomer
Administrator, Board for World Missions

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Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for working through us in new and exciting ways. Bless Missionary Jake Vilhauer as he leads ministry efforts with French-speaking people in Africa. Guide our synod’s process of working toward possible fellowship with the Lutheran church body in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We thank you for blessing our work with them so that they have been able to discover more great truths in your Word and combat false doctrine. May our French language outreach connect with many more people in the 29 French-speaking countries of Africa, so that even more may come to know the salvation you have earned for us. Amen.

God’s work in Ukraine continues

2026/03/24/in Europe, Missions, News, Together

Our sister church the Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC), along with all the citizens of Ukraine, has been experiencing the hardship and suffering caused by four years of a terrible and destructive war. Families have had to flee to safer locations, homes have been destroyed, and some pastors have had to relocate to areas away from the war zones.

When the war began, WELS members responded with their own personal prayers and with prayers in their congregations. They also responded generously with gifts and offerings. Those gifts, regularly forwarded to the ULC, have been faithfully used to provide food, fuel, transportation, medicine, and clothing. And the members of the ULC did not keep those gifts for themselves. They have responded to our generosity with generosity of their own, making needed supplies available to many people in their communities who have been affected by the brutality and scarcity of war.

Vyacheslav Horpynchuk, the bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church, tells the story far better than I can. This is what he writes:

Here the fifth year of the full-scale Russian invasion began. Thanks be to God this winter is coming to an end. It has been the most severe winter in the recent decades: lots of snow, very low below freezing temperatures and very heavy bombardments of our electrical, heating systems and residential areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, as well as smaller cities and villages. Lord, have mercy.

I would like to thank all the brothers and sisters in WELS who came to help us. Many people did not have any extra warm blankets, and some people requested some help to survive that cold. We provided all our congregation members in need with extra warm blankets to survive the cold in apartments with no heat or with very little heat. We also continued to provide all the needy with thermal wear. All of them send their gratitude to all in WELS for your generous help. Thank you very much!

Yet even in these terrible times, God finds ways not only to bless his people but also to create opportunities for God’s people to carry out his mission. Through the works of love done by the members of the ULC, God has brought many non-Christians into contact with Christian love in action, but more important, with the saving gospel of Jesus and the comforting power of his Word. Many have begun to worship regularly in ULC congregations, and dozens of people have been instructed and confirmed.

Roger Neumann, our WELS liaison to the ULC, adds some of his observations:

While the war rages on and people deal with the elements of nature, the gospel ministry is not stopped. I’m very thankful to our Lord for the faith he has given our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine. The ULC pastors continue to preach the gospel, help those who are in desperate need, and offer encouragement and friendship to many people. So many people suffer from depression and anxiety, not certain if they will survive this ordeal or what their futures will be like. The pastors bring them the reassurance that the Lord loves them and will continue to bless them. They also encourage the people to pay more attention to the spiritual blessings that they have in Christ and not focus on the physical needs that are lacking at this time.

While most ULC churches have lost members who have fled from the war and taken refuge in neighboring countries, there are, nevertheless, four new mission sites. Pictured below is mission work being done in one of those sites in Snihurivka.

People in those towns have welcomed pastors to share the gospel with them. In addition, a number of ULC members have taken refuge near Poznan, Poland. Bishop Horpynchuk will be making a trip there, and it’s hoped that a new mission can be started. God is certainly opening new doors and opportunities, despite the war and adversity. God be praised!

I want to thank all of you who have already responded to this need in Ukraine with your generous gifts and prayers. With the end of the war still not in sight, the need continues. Learn more about the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and how you can support it at wels.net/ukraine.

Serving with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

Moments with Missionaries – Justin Steinke

2026/03/17/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, World Missions

Missionary Justin Steinke shares an update from Manila, Philippines, highlighting the work of the Asia-Oceania team. Listen as he shares how God is opening doors and creating opportunities to reach hearts and communities with the gospel. Learn more about the work of the Asia-Oceania Team at wels.net/asia-oceania/.

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

Welcome to Kenya

2026/03/12/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

“Our purpose is to build the Church.” Unified under this call, Central Africa Medical Mission (CAMM) organized a short-term medical camp from February 10-14, 2026, in Chabera, Kenya. Executive Director Kate Wood and retiring Field Director Gary Evans led six WELS volunteers, coordinated with the leadership of the African Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ (LCMC), engaged LCMC church volunteers, and partnered with the Kenyan Health District in the third ‘pop-up’ medical camp in Kenya. The first medical camp in the underserved Chabera area drew just shy of 2,400 children, women, and men in five days, many arriving by foot, and some by motorcycle taxi traveling up to five kilometers (about 3.12 miles) for free medical services, medical screening, and medication.

“A cord of three strands is not easily broken.” Our core team of 12 ‘strands’ included Paul Mboya, John Michoro, Pastor Sammy Mwangi, Bishop Onunda, and eight CAMM representatives from America and England. We flourished, unbroken, relying on collective strengths to witness God’s amazing provision in cross-cultural relationships and in Kenya’s rainy season, which arrived early, stirring up sticky, red mud. We weathered communication lapses that can happen when diverse cultures work together and faced a myriad of opportunities to meet the daily surprises, to us, unexpected, but God-undaunted! Creatively, we pivoted to address dwindling medicine supplies, giving urgent IV support when we lacked equipment, and transporting a critically ill patient to the hospital. We bonded in God’s diverse, resourced family!

“His mercies are new every morning.” The LCMC advertised the medical camp through flyers, word of mouth, and a couple of large banners at crossroads in the community. Kenyan medical professionals provided screening, consultation, and education, assisted by CAMM volunteers. The LCMC staged large event tents, acquired plastic outdoor chairs, and designated pathways with red twine to guide people through the camp for services. Every patient received a gospel-based welcome, a printed booklet to take home, and often, individualized prayer. Witnessing a pastor kneel and place his hands on the patient to pray framed possibilities for complete healing. When wind upended one tent, and pouring rain carved a stream through the pharmacy tent, God’s people scrambled and showed up with many hands and hearts to ensure everyone’s safety, righting chairs, and filling troughs with stone. We experienced God’s new mercies every day in Africa and hold fast to his mercy in deeper ways as we return home.

“Read your bible, pray every day if you want to grow.” Simple lyrics Chabera’s church children sang during a three-hour worship service, lyrics that set the tone and rang through camp every day. The song welcomed ten first-time visitors the Sunday we worshiped together, and welcomed patients, young and old. Singing, beautified with hand motions, became our anthem, sparking God’s love and faithfulness despite fatigue, uncertainty, and at times, frustration. Pray for the Chabera church and community and stay tuned to see how God continues to bless them.

Written by Janet McElvaine, member at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Everett, Wash.

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Face to face for the first time

2026/03/05/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Think, Evaluate, Learn, Lead (TELL) program students across Africa gather faithfully online to study God’s Word together. They meet through video calls, discuss Scripture in WhatsApp groups, and grow in their understanding of the gospel and Lutheran doctrine—all without ever being in the same room. That changed in October, when students from across Kenya gathered in Nairobi for two TELL seminars. For the first time, students who had only seen each other on screens were able to greet one another face to face.

Missionary Jake Vilhauer (L) and Missionary Joel Hoff (R)

Over two Saturdays, participants dug deeply into Scripture, studying how Baptism is not merely a symbol but a powerful means of grace through which God forgives sins, creates faith, and brings people into his family. Together, they explored passages such as Titus 3:5–7 and Romans 6:3–4, seeing clearly how Baptism connects believers to Christ’s death and resurrection.

For some students, these truths were not new, but they were renewed—made clearer and more precious through careful study and discussion. For others, it was their first time hearing the biblical teaching on Baptism as a gift from God rather than a work of man. One student expressed it this way: “I now understand that Baptism is something that God has done for me and not something I do for God.”

The seminars also served as an opportunity for students to learn more about the next steps in the TELL program. TELL is designed to help believers grow in the Word and prepare them to share Christ in their own communities. During the sessions in Nairobi, students heard how they could continue in the program by becoming growth group leaders and gather small groups of new learners with the goal of studying God’s Word together and sharing what they have learned through TELL.

Several of the attendees are already meeting regularly with TELL counselors. They are working toward doctrinal agreement and preparing for service as church planters in their communities. These men and women are eager to bring the message of Christ crucified and risen to people who have not yet heard the good news of forgiveness and life through Jesus. One of those students is Noah Nyagara. Noah moved to Nairobi from west Kenya. He works at a salon and is eager to share the gospel with those who live in the slum areas of Nairobi.

We thank God for providing this opportunity for TELL students to meet in person, grow, and prepare for service in his kingdom. We also give thanks to the many WELS pastors and congregations who support the TELL ministry through their prayers, offerings, and teaching. The Lord is using this ministry to equip his people in Africa to share the gospel boldly and bring the light of Christ to their communities. By God’s grace, many more souls will hear the pure gospel and be led to faith in Jesus as their Savior from sin.

We don’t yet know how far each student will go in the TELL program. Some may study online for a time and then take what they’ve learned to strengthen the congregations where they serve. Others may continue through the full program and go on to become church planters, sharing Christ with the new groups they gather.

But one thing we do know is this: because these students share one faith, one baptism, and one Lord (Ephesians 4:5), by God’s grace they will one day meet once again face to face in heaven.

Written by Joel Hoff, TELL missionary to Africa

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The Liberia Plan

2026/03/03/in Africa, Missions, World Missions

This article originally appeared in the One Africa Team blog. Subscribe to future updates from Africa at oneafricateam.com.

On February 7-16, 2026, Missionaries Dan Witte and Dan Kroll visited a group of Christians in Buchanan, Liberia. The One Africa Team has been working with a church there called Lamb of God. Three years ago, Lamb of God left another local group that was teaching false doctrine. They are currently a single congregation due to their unwillingness to compromise on doctrinal matters. Missionary Dan Kroll shares an update:

The building site of Lamb of God’s new school

Making progress one step at a time

Lamb of God has been making slow but steady progress for quite some time. We expect more congregations to form in the near future. We have reviewed extensively Luther’s Small Catechism as well as the Lutheran Confessions. We have seen our Liberian brothers make progress in securing property. They are now building a school in a developing area of Buchanan. This is very likely to bring opportunities for outreach to the community. We have also developed some excellent relationships here and have made inroads into the unique culture of Liberia.

Many groups of Christians approach WELS with a request to join our fellowship. For eight years, the One Africa Team has been using a process to evaluate these requests. In Liberia, under the guidance of Pastor Toye Barnard, we started with what has become known as “The Liberia Plan.” The plan includes a requirement that new groups join the TELL online Bible school. They must also submit monthly reports via the internet and send weekly sermon notes for evaluation and revision.

This week, we reviewed the Constitution of Lamb of God Lutheran Church. We also did a bit more in-depth review of their “Statements of Faith.” This allowed the congregation to show that they are united with WELS in their understanding of the Holy Scriptures. We discussed at length the ministerial practices of the congregation. We saw that these teachings are not just words but are effective for building God’s Kingdom here in Liberia.

Partnering with TELL

In an effort to train lay leaders, we spent two days studying the TELL (Think. Evaluate. Learn. Lead.) method. This method offers a clear template of questions that fit well with any Scripture narrative. Pastor Barnard has been using the TELL method for many years. TELL is his go-to method for Bible studies and sermons. Three of his members are currently enrolled in the TELL program. Our Liberian brothers can see the TELL program in action. They are able to use it for any outreach and home visits they make in the area. It has been a very busy week in Liberia!

Next week, the One Africa Team Outreach Committee will review Lamb of God’s constitution and statements of faith. The One Africa Team will pass on Lamb of God Lutheran Church’s official documents to the WELS’ Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR). Please join us in thanking God for using the Liberia Plan to bring Lamb of God closer to fellowship with WELS!

Written by Rev. Dan Kroll, One Africa Team missionary

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One Latin America Team – Winter 2026 Quarterly Update

2026/02/25/in Latin America, Missions, World Missions

The One Latin America Team gathered January 21–24 in Chicago, Ill., for its annual meeting. The missionaries and administrative committee for the One Latin America Team gathered January 21–24 in Chicago, Ill., for the annual meeting. They were joined by partners supporting the work. Time together focused on prayer, planning, and strengthening collaboration as the team continues its work of making disciples and supporting church planting throughout Latin America.

During the meeting, the team reaffirmed its ten-year goal as they look ahead toward 2034:

10,000 students complete at least one Discipleship Level course
1,000 churches planted (Grupos Sembrador)
100 church plants become members of Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional (ICWI)

To stay centered on this mission, the team recommitted to prioritizing time and energy with church planters (sembradores). Their three-year picture includes 2,000 goal-setting sessions carried out with church planters and 500 in-person visits with those starting new groups. Worship, devotions, and fellowship framed the meeting, including a time of thanksgiving for Rev. Timothy Westendorf and his wife, Kelly, as he concluded 17 years of service as chairman of the One Latin America Team Administrative Committee.

Fast facts

102,580 total students enrolled in Academia Cristo’s Self-Study Level (cumulative)
1,689 students have completed at least one Discipleship Level live course
85 in-person visits with church planters during the past year
57 active church planters (Grupos Sembrador)

Spanish outreach in the United States

In November, the One Latin America Team hosted its first-ever Spanish Outreach Intensive in Denver. Four congregations participated—three from Texas and one from Florida. Each congregation already had Academia Cristo students but no pastor-led Spanish ministry. Participants included pastors and lay leaders, Latinos and non-Latinos, all working together to explore how Academia Cristo can support Spanish-language outreach in their local communities.

New church planters called

During the past quarter, the Academia Cristo governing board called six students to serve as church planters. These individuals come from across Latin America, including Venezuela, Honduras, Mexico, and Colombia. Each has completed the Discipleship Level of studies, is in doctrinal agreement, is committed to continued training, and is committed to gathering others around the gospel.

A mobile hub takes shape in Mexico City

In late November 2025, the Sutton family relocated from Paraguay to Mexico City to serve in the first One Latin America Team mobile hub. This approach allows missionaries to be positioned where many students and groups are located, while maintaining flexibility to respond to new opportunities. From Mexico City, Missionary Joel Sutton will focus on mentoring church planters and their groups throughout the region.

Graduation ceremony

A graduation ceremony was held on Sunday, December 14, 2026, for five students who completed their Church Planting Level studies. Four of these students are actively leading a church plant (Grupos Sembrador), and some plan to continue with seminary-level studies.

Supporting church planters through on-the-ground visits

Throughout the past quarter, One Latin America Team missionaries logged extensive travel across the region to encourage and support church planters (Grupos Sembrador) face to face. In total, team members traveled to 14 cities across five countries, meeting with students for in-person teaching, worship, and encouragement. These on-the-ground visits strengthened relationships and helped ensure that growing groups remain rooted in God’s Word as they develop and multiply.

Looking ahead

With missionaries now fully onboarded in key regions and new roles clarified within the team, the One Latin America Team continues to refine how it supports students, instructors, and church planters. The team remains focused on one goal: sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and equipping believers across Latin America to do the same.

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Laying the groundwork for mission work in Senegal

2026/02/19/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

From Feb. 15–21, 2026, WELS Director of Missions Operations Stefan Felgenhauer traveled to Dakar, Senegal, to help prepare for the placement of WELS missionaries in this new mission field—including confirming details for the language and culture immersion program that will be the first step for incoming missionaries. While there, he also explored key logistics for long-term service, including immigration guidance, housing research, and practical cost of living and medical considerations.

Simone (L), Stefan Felgenhauer (center), and Rouba (R)

Missionary Dan and Karen Kroll have accepted the call to serve in Senegal, where their initial focus will be learning the Wolof language and adjusting to daily life as they prepare for longer term gospel outreach among the Wolof people, a group that has had very limited exposure to Christianity.

A central part of Stefan’s week was spent at Africa Consultants International’s Baobab Center, where he learned more about the immersion experience and confirmed how it would work in practice. At the center, he met with Simone, the language coordinator, and Rouba, the homestay coordinator. Together, they walked through what daily life will look like during immersion. Rather than living independently, missionaries will stay with a Senegalese host family, sharing three meals each day and using Wolof as the primary language in the home. Weekdays will also include s

Africa Consultants International’s Baobab Center

tructured language learning, with four hours each morning spent working one on one with a Wolof tutor at the center.

Stefan also observed how immersion students gather at the center’s Jokkoo Kafé—Wolof for “to come together”—a space where students can debrief, build relationships, and process cultural experiences together. While there, he spoke with current students from the United States and Canada, who shared their experiences learning the language and navigating daily life in Senegal.

To better understand living conditions, Stefan visited several potential host homes and met the families who have welcomed immersion students for many years. With the help of translators, they described how students often become part of the family and how those relationships sometimes continue long after the immersion experience ends.

Along the way, Stefan experienced everyday Senegalese hospitality, including a traditional meal of Yassa Poulet, hibiscus juice, and attaya, a sweet mint tea commonly shared in social settings.

Please keep Stefan’s ongoing work in your prayers, and ask the Lord to bless Dan and Karen Kroll as they prepare for this next chapter of service in Senegal.

View additional photos from Senegal.

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A harvest of faith in Guayaquil

2026/02/18/in Latin America, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

In the bustling port city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, a new chapter of spiritual transformation is being written. Known as the “Pearl of the Pacific,” this vibrant city is now witnessing a different kind of treasure, a harvest of souls responding to the call of the gospel. What a joy to share the incredible news from a local church plant in Guayaquil, where the power of the Holy Spirit is visibly changing lives.

A Milestone Celebration: 11 New Believers

There is no greater joy for a missionary than to witness lives changed by the Holy Spirit through Baptism. Recently, Isidro Chonillo and I had the privilege of baptizing 11 individuals into the body of Christ. This diverse group represents the future of the church plant Isidro leads: two infants, two children, seven teenagers and adults. Each person receiving the baptismal water carried a unique story of grace, but they all shared one common foundation: the faithful sowing of God’s Word.

The Fruit of Faithful Labor
These baptisms are not just numbers, they are the direct fruits of Isidro Chonillo’s tireless and faithful work. For years, Isidro has been dedicated to sharing and teaching the Bible within his own family and community. His commitment to discipleship and biblical training serves as a powerful reminder that the most effective ministry often begins at home.

In a city where urban ministry presents unique challenges, seeing a family come together in faith is a profound testimony to the community. Isidro’s life and teaching have modeled the love of Christ, drawing his loved ones toward a personal relationship with their Savior.

Praise Be to God
We stand in awe of how God is moving in this church plant. In a region where many are searching for hope, the Holy Spirit is providing clarity and peace through the gospel. Witnessing the baptisms of teenagers and adults—alongside the youngest members of the flock—reminds us that the Word of God is living and active across every generation.

We invite you to join us in praising God for these 11 new believers. Please continue to pray for the One Latin America Team as they nurture these children of God and for Isidro as he continues his vital work of teaching and sharing the Good News. The light of the gospel is shining brightly in Ecuador, and we are humbled to be a small part of what God is doing here.

Written by Nixon Vivar, world missionary in Latin America

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Coffee, cribbage, and Christ

2026/02/16/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Cindy Lendt recently accepted the call as the Women’s Ministry Facilitator for the Asia-Oceania Team. Cindy participated in a women’s workshop in a predominantly Hindu country in Asia coordinated through the World Missions Asia-Oceania Team.

“Hi Cindy! Synod is looking for names of women who might be interested in teaching woman-to-woman evangelism . . . in East Asia . . .”

Kristi (L), Cindy Lendt (center), Alycia (R)

That text began my part in a team effort between the Asia-Oceania Team and WELS Women’s Ministry for three women to lead a friendship evangelism conference in Asia. It would be for 45 local women—the most that could fit in the hosting church. The lead national pastor wanted to equip them to share their faith with non-Christian women in their lives and also to inspire the other women in their congregations to do so. The plan was that three American Christian women would present at a three-day conference with translation from the lead national pastor, and I was invited to be one of the three.

I thought: I’m the worst evangelist I know. And I’ve never presented at an actual conference in my life.

But I figured, if this is a door that God is opening, then I want in, and he can certainly close it if he wants. He’s given me whatever skills I have, three years’ experience in Asia, and most essentially, himself.

I met Alycia and Kristi, the other two women on the team, in person for the first time at the airport. We’d been collaborating online for months putting the conference together and preparing the handout to be translated and printed for the women. From there, we flew to Asia and met the local missionary, the lead national pastor who translated for us, and the 45 amazing Christian women we were going to teach to be friendship evangelists.

Which begs the question, where do you even start to teach friendship evangelism?

We grounded everything in God’s Word. The Great Commission holds the reason why we share the gospel and the power to do it. Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension are the essence of the gospel we share. Paul and Silas in Philippi’s prison show how our attitudes and behaviors can lead to people asking about what we’ve got that they don’t – yet! Lydia shows how using our gifts opens more doors. Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman models the transition from physical to spiritual—actually sharing the gospel with someone. We practiced through role playing, small-group discussions, and large-group sharing. We sang praise, encouraged each other, and prayed together. The women were all in. They contributed their thoughts, tried out different conversations, and asked questions. Even in the last hours of the conference were seen sketching out a practice of God’s Great Exchange.

For Kristi, Alycia, and me, it was three days traveling to the location, three days of the conference, and three days traveling back home: nine days packed full.

You might wonder, what does any of this have to do with the title? Well, so far, not much! Yet it sums up just how I remember this trip. The missionary, lead national pastor, Alycia, Kristi, and I got to know each other very well. Every morning of the conference, the missionary brought a fresh pot of coffee to the breakfast table—the smell of coffee still takes me back there. Then at the end of each day’s work, he pulled out his cribbage board so we could relax together. Relax might not be the right word, a bit too calm, but we absolutely bonded over it.

That was the coffee and cribbage, and drawing the whole thing together was Christ. You could see Christ in the missionary’s humble consideration of others. You could see Christ in the way the national pastor’s experiences of setbacks and persecution couldn’t block out the joy in his Savior. He practiced caution, and yet I’ve never seen someone personify “godliness with contentment is great gain” (1 Timothy 6:6) the way he did. That joyful smile was contagious. As for Kristi, Alycia, and me, all three of us are very driven people. You could see Christ through serving and putting others first. I experienced working with Alycia and Kristi was some of the most Christ-like teamwork I’ve ever been part of.

And of course, you could see Christ in the women who attended the conference, daring to step out of their comfort zones so that even one soul wandering down the path to hell might hear the powerful song of the gospel.

Some of their struggles are similar to ours in the U.S.: People think we’re hypocrites. They say, “You Christians also do bad things. Why bother to be a Christian then?” God’s distinction between men’s and women’s roles often rubs people the wrong way in their country, too. Some of their struggles are different. A teenage Christian high schooler got her cross necklace confiscated by a teacher at school, and other Christian women have faced some pretty harsh estrangement from their community. Yet these women know that “God so loved the world” (John 3:16), and they want their loved ones to know that, too!

May Christ fill the women from this conference with daring to resist the devil’s lies and share God’s light with their friends and neighbors. May Christ continue to walk with the missionaries and national pastors in Asia so that the trials don’t ever block out the huge hope God’s given us. And may Christ give you some adventures in his kingdom, hopefully that involve coffee, cribbage, and—most definitely—Christ!

Written by Cindy Lendt

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Moments with Missionaries – Jon Gross

2026/02/12/in Missions, World Missions

Missionary Jon Gross shares an update on his new role as the innovation consultant for WELS World Missions. He supports the outreach of Academia Cristo through video projects and various publications. He also connects with mission fields around the world to help them grow and become more well known in their community – opening doors for new church plants and gospel outreach. Learn more about the work of Multi-Language Productions and Jon Gross new position at wels.net/mlp.

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

The Europe team goes to Brazil

2026/02/03/in Europe, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Yes, you read that correctly. I don’t know much about Brazil, but I do know it’s not in Europe. So why is the Europe Team going to Brazil?

Remember middle school social studies? During the 15th and 16th centuries, Portugal led the world in exploration. Portuguese-speaking colonies sprang up across the globe, including one very large region in South America. As a result, Brazil and Portugal still share deep historical, cultural, and economic ties—and strong connections among believers too!

Dr. Artur Villares, president of the Lutheran Church of Portugal, actively fosters relationships with Portuguese-speaking Christians in Brazil and with our sister church there, the Brazilian Lutheran Church. Because the Europe Team treasures these partnerships, we not only support missionaries on the ground but also appoint stateside representatives to focus on specific churches. We are especially blessed to have Rev. Dr. Ken Cherney of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., serving as our representative to Portuguese speakers. Prof. Cherney is a former missionary in Brazil, speaks Portuguese, and enjoys a long-standing friendship with Pastor Villares. Over the Christmas holidays, Dr. Cherney and his wife, Kris, traveled to Brazil to build relationships, encourage leaders, and—most joyfully—celebrate the ordination of a new pastor.

Pastor Gilberto, Marta, Missionary Charlie Flunker, and Dr. Cherney

Saying they “traveled to three locations” sounds simple, but the reality is closer to visiting congregations in Maine, New Mexico, and Florida on a single trip. Brazil is larger than the continental United States, and these small congregations are separated by vast distances. That isolation means they rarely have the opportunity to gather with fellow believers for encouragement. Dr. Cherney’s visit, therefore, was especially meaningful.

Their first stop was Fortaleza, a city in northeastern Brazil. There, Dr. Cherney met two gifted Lutheran leaders, Daniel and Marcelo, who hope to join fellowship with the Lutheran Church of Portugal. Daniel pastors a small congregation, holds a PhD in philosophy, and has written several books, including a defense of the doctrine of objective justification. Marcelo, a member of Daniel’s congregation, is currently completing graduate studies. Both men are warm, passionate about Lutheran theology, and deeply committed to ministry.

Ordination and installation of Gilberto Andrade da Silva

From Fortaleza, Dr. Cherney and Kris traveled 14 hours to Dourados, a city of 265,000 in southwestern Brazil, for a very special event. On December 28, 2025, Gilberto Andrade da Silva was ordained and installed as pastor of Star of Bethlehem Congregation in Dourados (pictured above), as well as a daughter congregation located six hours away. Gilberto is a humble, friendly man who speaks easily about his deep love for the Lord, for Scripture, and for souls. His wife, Marta, is a joyful and supportive partner in his ministry.

Missionary Charlie Flunker and his wife, Beth, began serving in Dourados in 1989, and later served the daughter congregation as well—that’s nearly 40 years of faithful service! Beth has returned to the United States for health reasons, and now that Gilberto has been installed, Charlie plans to conclude his work and join her in retirement. Charlie and Beth, thank you for your tireless dedication to God’s people in Brazil. We pray that the Lord bless you with many happy years ahead, and that he richly bless Gilberto, Marta, and the congregations they serve.

Pastor Gilberto and his wife, Marta

Finally, Dr. Cherney and Kris traveled 24 hours to Governador Valadares, a city of 260,000 more than 1,000 miles to the east. There they met with Evangelist Denício Godoy, who translates materials into Portuguese and manages the Brazilian Lutheran Church’s online presence. Denício also works as a radio announcer and is completing certification to teach in public schools.

Please join me in thanking God for our brothers and sisters in Brazil—for faithful leaders and members, for a new pastor, and for the strong partnership we share with the Lutheran churches in Portugal and Brazil. As Dr. Cherney put it, “If you’re a WELS member, you have Brazilian brothers and sisters in Christ who love and respect your church and are excited to partner with you in bringing the unconditional gospel to their country. They would want me to send you um grande abraço em Cristo – a big hug in Christ!”

Written by Jennifer Wolfgramm, world missionary in Europe

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Collaboration in Kisii

2026/01/28/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Let me share an incredible story from Kisii, Kenya—a story of transformation, faith, and collaboration.

It Begins with a Boy

It begins with a boy who grew up never hearing about Jesus in his church. Everything changed when he attended a Christian school. There, his teacher spoke about the good things Jesus had done, and curiosity sparked in his heart. Over time, that boy learned more about Jesus and eventually felt a deep desire to share the gospel with others.

That boy is now Pastor Kenedy, a faithful leader who gathers and shepherds two congregations in Kisii. What’s remarkable? Over 80% of the people in these congregations are former Mormons—just like Pastor Kenedy himself.

His title doesn’t come from a seminary degree but from years of dedicated service, guiding people with God’s Word. But Pastor Kenedy and his group wanted more. They longed to understand Scripture better so they could clearly share the truth with others—especially those questioning or leaving Mormonism.

Collaboration with TILM and OAT

Thanks to the blessing of the internet, they connected with Truth in Love Ministry (TILM). TILM is an organization committed to communicating the gospel to people with a Mormon background. For the past couple of years, Pastor Mark Parsons from TILM has been meeting regularly with Pastor Kenedy and other leaders online, offering instruction and encouragement.

While these virtual meetings were fruitful, it became clear that a deeper connection was needed. That’s where the WELS One Africa Team (OAT) stepped in. In November, my wife Leslie and I traveled to Kenya to meet Pastor Kenedy and his congregations in person. Over several days, we gathered with more than 200 men and women to review the basics of Christian faith and to discuss what collaboration OAT can offer to local ministries in sharing the gospel.

Looking Ahead

The result? A renewed sense of mission and plans for ongoing collaboration between TILM, OAT, and our partner churches in Kenya. Together, we aim to strengthen outreach to Mormons and equip local leaders for this important work.

Please keep Pastor Kenedy, his congregations, and all these ministries in your prayers. Your continued financial support makes this possible—and we are deeply grateful.

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Another trip I can’t tell you about

2026/01/14/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

We boarded the plane from our Asia-Oceania Team (AOT) base in Chiang Mai, Thailand. After two transfers, an overnight stay, and 36 hours of travel, we arrived. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you where we went. I can’t tell you who we met with either. Don’t worry, we were in a safe place, but sharing this information would be dangerous for the people with whom we spent time.

I can’t tell you where they came from. I can’t share the road they took on their difficult trip—two days on the bus over bumpy roads, past guarded checkpoints, waiting for mudslides to be cleared. I can’t show you the pictures or videos of them that I took. I wish I could. You won’t be able to see their weary faces as they reflect on their war-torn country. You won’t see and hear their joy, either, as they sang praises together. I can’t show you their smiling faces as we discussed the teachings of God’s Word.

I’d love to show you a video of one elder who asked, “What do you believe about Baptism and the Lord’s Supper?” When he heard the answer, he jumped out of his seat in joy and reached out his hand for a handshake. An excited thumbs up said it all: our teaching was exactly what they believed as well. As we parted ways, he shared, “We are very, very happy and grateful that you are confirming what we believe in the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Baptism.”

The WELS Asia-Oceania Team is bringing grace to all in Asia and Oceania. “All” is a big group. That’s something like 4.6 billion people—over 60 percent of the world’s population.

Why would we include “all” when we can’t possibly carry that out?

We include “all” because it reminds us that God’s mission includes men and women like those I can’t tell you about today. God’s commission doesn’t recognize the line between safe and unsafe areas, between those who will be persecuted for their faith and those where faith is openly accepted. It doesn’t separate war-torn places from those of peace.

And so we set out on yet another trip to another place I can’t tell you about.

I so wish that I could tell you about this small Lutheran church body with whom we are carefully studying God’s Word as we work toward declaring church fellowship. They want to know us and our beliefs—and we theirs. They want to walk together with us one day—and we with them. They want to know about you, too: about your faith, your family, and your church. And they long to pray for you in your struggles.

When it came time to leave, I wish you could have been there to see the handshakes and hugs. I wish you could have felt their embrace, their appreciation, and their love. I wish I could show you all of that. Our trip home was a bit shorter than our trip there—only 24 hours of travel. When we left, they didn’t know yet how long theirs would take.

This will have to remain one more trip that I can’t tell you about. I’ll add the pictures to a folder I can’t ever share. My notes about their lives will be added to a growing pile of stories untold.

One day, though, the wars will cease. The threats will end. The trips will stop. Christ will return—just as he promised. Then, when we’re in heaven, come find me. Remind me about the trip I couldn’t tell you about. Together, we can go find them—they’ll be there, standing around the throne.

Then they can tell you all about this trip. They’ll tell you how the Lamb of God brought his salvation to the ends of the earth. And together, we’ll join our voices in praise!

Written by Jon Bare, president of Asia Lutheran Seminary

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Merry Christmas from WELS Missions

2025/12/17/in Home Missions, Missions, World Missions

Are you one of those who delights in the first Christmas card arriving in your mailbox? This season, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we’re reminded of the angels’ proclamation to the shepherds:

“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” —Luke 2:10

What a powerful message! The angels announced not just joy for a few, but for all people—reminding us that the gift of Jesus is meant to be shared far and wide. This is the heart of our mission: to bring the Good News to every corner, every community, every soul in need of hope.

We invite you to watch a few short Moments with Missionaries videos. These updates offer a glimpse into the lives of those serving in Home and World Mission fields—and the incredible impact your generosity makes possible.

Because of your support, WELS Home and World Missions continue to reach out to the lost and hurting, proclaiming the message of salvation. Together, we echo the angels’ song: “Joy to the World!” Let’s pray for God’s continued blessing as we bring this Good News to new hearts and homes.

May the peace and joy of Christ fill your family this Christmas and throughout the coming year.

WELS Home and World Missions

P.S. – Want to learn more about WELS mission work? Follow us on Facebook or Instagram @WELSMissions or subscribe to Missions Blogs and Update Newsletters at wels.net/subscribe. And save the date for Taste of Missions, our annual Missions event in Mequon, Wis.—June 13, 2026!

Reaching every nation

2025/12/16/in Missions, News, Together, World Missions

The synod’s new long-range plan, entitled “Christ through us,” has four main priorities. One of those four involves bringing Christ to the nations through our world mission efforts. Rev. Larry Schlomer, administrator of WELS World Missions, provides the following summary of how we plan, under God, to carry out those efforts in the next ten years.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

Christ through us: Commission

As part of Christ’s church on earth, we believe that God has commissioned us as his ambassadors, sending us out with a purpose: to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ to every nation under heaven. Through us, Christ reaches the nations.

Reflecting on 175 years of grace-filled ministry in WELS, we are filled with gratitude for the countless lives transformed by the gospel. WELS now has working partnerships with churches and missions in 49 countries around the world.

Yet, the mission is still unfinished. With renewed urgency and prayerful confidence in Christ, we look to the future, asking God to continue using us to reach lost souls with his Word of salvation.

Borderless support network

To expand the reach of the gospel, we are forging a borderless support network, built on international ministry partnerships.

Read more about WELS’ partnership with a new Latin American synod (scroll to the bottom to “A growing sister church”).

A global missionary force

Historically, WELS has sent missionaries from the United States to plant the gospel in new lands. This model has borne much fruit, but the present reality demands more workers than ever before. The solution lies in empowering pastors and evangelists from our global sister churches. These leaders are uniquely equipped to bring the gospel to their own people, cultures, and regions.

Read more about Juan Reyes, a new church planter in Tenancingo, Mexico, who learned not only what God’s Word teaches but also how to share it through Academia Cristo.

Confessional Lutheran seminaries

As the gospel gains ground in new regions, emerging Lutheran church bodies recognize the need for seminaries grounded in the authority of Scripture and the clarity of the Lutheran Confessions. Our goal is to establish confessional Lutheran seminaries in key global locations.

See recent graduates from Asia Lutheran Seminary, a confessional Lutheran seminary located in Hong Kong.

Multi-language mission efforts

By producing and translating gospel resources, training materials, and worship aids, we aim to make God’s Word accessible to all people, regardless of their language.

Missions in high-risk and unreached areas

Despite progress, vast regions of the world remain unreached, places where sharing Christ’s love is not only challenging but sometimes dangerous. Our vision is to pioneer WELS missions in these difficult contexts, working diligently to identify and develop approaches tailored to each unique situation.

Read more about how WELS is sending missionaries to share the gospel with two unreached people groups: the Wolof people of Senegal in West Africa and the Hindi-speaking population of India.

With hope, humility, and boldness, we entrust our efforts to the Lord of the harvest, confident that he will accomplish far more than we could ever ask or imagine. This is Christ through us!

Adapted from “Christ through us: Commission,” Forward in Christ, December 2025.

Read the full article.

God-given gifts in motion

2025/12/11/in Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Greetings through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I pray you all are having a wonderful Advent season as we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior.

During this season of Advent and Christmas celebrations, we here at East Fork Lutheran School have so much to celebrate, including some major school events. This year, many of our youth sports teams are enjoying successes, including the robotics team.

East Fork Lutheran School is in the middle of our robotics season, and the students are continuing the successes of past seasons. Robotics is the newest activity we have been offering our students. We are now in our fourth year, and what started as a small pilot program with six 5th-grade students using hand-me-down equipment has grown into a year-round activity with more than 20 students in 5th-8th grade participating and establishing a level of excellence that is truly God-given through the talents and abilities he has given them. This year we have seven teams comprised of three or four students per team.

Robotics is not easy. This is not battle bots or anything like that. Some STEM schools and private schools build their entire curriculum around robotics! This is truly an educational program that requires hard work, dedication, problem-solving, communication, writing, and critical thinking. We have students that come into it thinking it’s all fun and games, but they quickly realize the amount of work, time, and dedication that goes into it.

East Fork is a smaller school of 116 students, so many students are involved in more than one sport at a time. Naturally, we practice and meet less often than most sports team would. Another unique aspect is that robotics is entirely student driven, meaning we as coaches and parents are prohibited from telling students how to build their robots and what designs to use. We aren’t allowed to touch or handle their robots. The students really have to use their problem-solving skills and communicate with fellow teammates in order to be successful. What a unique sport and what a great opportunity!

Our students have worked hard and stayed dedicated, and by God’s grace they have been successful beyond what we as coaches, teachers, and parents could have ever imagined. East Fork Lutheran School has quickly become the most successful robotics program on our reservation and in our region of the state and also has become one of the most successful programs within the state of Arizona. We have become the first Native American school in Arizona to win the Arizona State Championship event, and from that God has blessed our teams with so many “firsts” for our school.

The students have truly been blessed in the short three and half years of the program’s existence. God has provided opportunities for these students’ success that we never thought would be possible.

This robotics program is more than just “another sport” and has had an impact on more than just the students. The program started as a way for students to get involved beyond a traditional sport but led to a support system of teachers, coaches, and parents reminding these students that God will bless them beyond what they can imagine. What a great reminder that our God is almighty. Robotics gives the students a chance to showcase their abilities using their brains and intelligence, and that too is a blessing from God. We as coaches want them to believe in themselves and the abilities that God has given to the team. Not only has the robotics program brought unique experiences to these students, but it has also allowed for them to proudly proclaim who they are: Christian Apache, no matter where they go!

There have been so many supportive parents and families as well as sponsors and local entities that have helped support our program. The blessings that God has provided are tremendous, and our students truly know what it means to overcome adversity, commit themselves to their challenges, and show their Christian and Apache pride everywhere we go.

God is truly great. All the glory we have goes to him.

Written by Jonathan Brooks, principal at East Fork Lutheran School

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Moments with Missionaries – Peter Janke

2025/12/04/in Asia-Oceania, Missions, World Missions

Missionary Peter Janke, missionary on the Asia-Oceania Team, gives an update about life and ministry in Brisbane, Australia. This holiday season may look a little different from others, but the goal is the same, to share the good news of the Savior no matter where we are. Learn more about the world in Australia at wels.net/asia-oceania.

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

In God’s hands

2025/11/20/in Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

On October 31, 2025, the familiar words rang through WELS sanctuaries across the country: “A mighty fortress is our God, a trusty shield and weapon.” Meanwhile, across more than 20 different countries in Latin America, “Castillo Fuerte Es Nuestro Dios” could be heard over cell phone speakers, computers, and headphones as more than 120 people gathered to celebrate the Lutheran Reformation with their new family they have found in Academia Cristo. Upon tuning in they received a warm welcome by master of ceremonies Missionary Luis Acosta. He kicked off the reunion with an opening prayer.

Then Missionary Nixon Vivar guided the participants in a devotion, “In God’s Hands.” He reminded the group gathered of our Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for the sheep, who said, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; and no one can snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:28-29).

Those in attendance then heard a presentation by the newest member of the One Latin America Team—me! I presented on “History Is in God’s Hands,” highlighting how God used Martin Luther as a tool to bring his Word back to the church. I drew a connection between how Martin Luther used recent technology to share the gospel and how Academia Cristo seeks to bring God’s Word to the people through technology they already have in their hands. While Gutenberg’s printing press was instrumental in the Reformation more than 500 years ago, modern smartphones and apps like WhatsApp and Zoom are instrumental in bringing the Lutheran Reformation to many in Latin America.

The group received updates from Pastor Henry Herrera, president of our sister synod Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional. He explained how we work hand in hand to put sound doctrine in the hands and hearts of people across Latin America. People find Academia Cristo through social media publications, then take a series of self-study courses similar to a Bible information class. Upon self-study completion, students are invited to enroll in live classes with missionaries as instructors. Once they finish the 13 courses of discipleship, students who are interested in sharing what they have learned are invited to begin the “Sembrador” (planter) level, in which they begin looking for opportunities to plant a small group gathering to study the Word in their homes. With the help of a visiting missionary counselor, the group matures in its knowledge and practice of Scripture and can apply for and be welcomed into fellowship in Iglesia Cristo WELS Internacional. Pastor Herrera had the privilege to announce the most recent group that had officially been recognized as a church in the fellowship—a group in Tenancingo, Mexico, which is a light in a very dark place. (I got to visit there last month. It’s a whole story for another Missions blog!)

To wrap up the event, Academia Cristo’s president, Andrew Johnston, greeted the group. He reminded us why we celebrate the Reformation. It isn’t to give honor to any one man or to remind us to continue his teachings. We remember the day because it marks a period of rediscovery of the Word, sola Scriptura, the only source of truth. He reassured the students that whenever they see any publication or log on for any class in Academia Cristo, that is what they will hear: only Scripture.

After a closing prayer, the participants were invited to remain for a picture to commemorate the event. They were asked to raise their hands in a symbolic gesture of working together in gospel ministry. People stayed for a few minutes to express their thanks, wish others a happy Reformation day, and say goodbye. The video of the whole event is up on Academia Cristo’s YouTube channel, and I invite you to check out the gospel joy that is shared, even online, in more than 20 different countries. They know that they are in the hands of their Savior, whose name the academy bears: Cristo (Christ). On their behalf, I say thank you to all who support this ministry.

Written by Zach Satorius, missionary on the One Latin America Team

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Moments with Missionaries – David Wietzke

2025/11/05/in Missions, Native American Missions, World Missions

Missionary David Wietzke shares an update from the Native American Mission. In his short time on the field, he’s experienced a wide range of ministry and outreach efforts of the Native American mission has. Learn more about the work of the Native American Mission at wels.net/missions/native-american-missions.

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

Planning to move forward in Tanzania

2025/11/05/in Africa, Missions, WELS Blogs, World Missions

Planning is a risky business. We don’t know the future. We take our best guesses and try to do everything possible so that something goes according to plans we’ve made. However, all of that still falls far short of guaranteeing the outcome. God reminds us: “Now listen, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow” (James 4:13-14).

God’s plans always prevail

The Africa Mission Evangelism Church (AMEC) is a Lutheran church of about 13,000 souls in Tanzania. Plans for a declaration of fellowship with AMEC didn’t come to fruition at our recent synod convention. There was a sudden leadership change and a delay on AMEC’s side in accomplishing some tasks. Plans that had been made were put on hold. WELS and AMEC mutually decided it would be better to take a little bit more time before proceeding.

God warns us about putting too much hope in our own plans. He also spoke through Jeremiah: “ ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’ ” (Jeremiah 29:11). Though our plans might not work out, God’s plans always do. He knows what he has in store for all of us, and we know that his plans are good.

I don’t doubt that his plans for the relationship between WELS and AMEC are good as well. We have made progress even in the short time since the delay. It looks like we will be ready to move forward with AMEC sooner rather than later. During a recent visit to Tanzania, Missionary Roebke and I witnessed good teaching by the leaders of AMEC. They explained to the rest of their called workers a locally written, Swahili-language confession of faith. The called workers thoroughly discussed many of the points in the confession. In the end, 65 men voiced their agreement that these are the things they believe and practice. This was a decision the WELS missionaries certainly rejoiced to hear.

Planning our move to Tanzania

Because of these developments, the One Africa Team has decided to relocate two mission families to Arusha, Tanzania. Missionary Roebke and I will be able to focus on training future church workers in AMEC. Through a program of classroom instruction and practical ministry application, we are planning to train a select number of AMEC men. Those men will become trainers of future gospel workers within their church body. Our prayer is that these men will be able to pass the same kind of training on to others in AMEC. God willing, this will ensure a good future supply of gospel workers for their church body.

Such an endeavor requires even more planning. We are currently working with local lawyers to register our mission organization in Tanzania in order to obtain work permits. The missionary families will be leaving their old residences and searching for new ones. Missionaries are making efforts to maximize Swahili language learning when on the ground. The One Africa Team is weighing how these changes will affect the responsibilities of each member of the team. Our utmost concern is securing our families’ welfare in an area where we’ve never had WELS missionaries.

There’s a lot to think about and plan for but also a lot to be gained. As with everything we do in life, we make our plans as best we can. At the same time, we trust that God’s plan is the one that will actually be accomplished. God will reveal in time how our planning lines up with his plan. We will continue to trust that whatever he has in store, it will be good. We know his planning is good for our missionaries and their families, for AMEC, for WELS, and ultimately, for the kingdom of God. All glory to his name for his marvelous plan!

Written by Ben Foxen, missionary on the One Africa Team

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63rd Annual LWMS Convention

2026/06/25/in LWMS

63rd Annual LWMS Convention

June 25–28, 2026 | Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center, Madison, Wis.

Cast out your nets

Registration is now open for the 2026 Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) Convention, June 25–28 in Madison, Wisconsin. Attendees will hear inspiring mission stories, be encouraged in their personal mission fields, and explore new ways to pray, give, and get involved in supporting WELS Home and World Missions. Learn more and register at 63.lwms.org.

Learn more and register

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Tag Archive for: World Missions

It Begins with a Boy

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Christ through us: Commission

Tag Archive for: World Missions

63rd Annual LWMS Convention

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