Taste of Missions 2025: Celebrating the gospel, sending new missionaries

On Sat., June 14, WELS members are invited to gather at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., for Taste of Missions 2025—a day to celebrate the spread of the gospel and the people called to share it.

At the center of the event is the 11:00 a.m. commissioning worship service, where five new missionaries will be formally sent out to serve in home and world mission fields. It’s a powerful hour of praise and purpose that sets the tone for the entire day.

ā€œThis service is the highlight of the event,ā€ says Rev. Mark Gabb, administrator for WELS Home Missions. ā€œIt’s a moment for all of us to gather, give thanks, and ask for God’s blessing as these new missionaries begin their work.ā€

The men being commissioned at Taste of Missions this year are:

  • Mr. James Brandt, Asia-Oceania Team leader, Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • Rev. Jacob Borgwardt, Crossroads, Chicago, Ill.
  • Rev. Jacob Bitter, Pan de Vida, Garden Grove, Calif.
  • Rev. Ethan Schultz, Lamb of God, Williston, N.D.
  • Rev. Phillip Valdez, Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas

After the service, attendees can enjoy ethnic cuisine from food trucks, live music from Latin American trio Elemencia, and fellowship with missionaries and mission supporters. Displays and activities for all ages—including a mission passport for kids and a high school poster contest—make this event an engaging experience for the whole family.

Afternoon presentations offer insights into mission fields around the world, including updates from Home and World Missions leaders and ā€œMoments with Missionariesā€ sessions. A live Q&A with the newly commissioned missionaries gives attendees the opportunity to hear directly from those stepping into new fields of service.

The entire event, including the commissioning service and afternoon presentations, will be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

General registration is $15 per person and includes food tickets. Children 13 and under attend for free. The worship service itself is free and open to all, with no registration required to attend.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to support mission work through the Taste of Missions offering. Two special projects this year include musical assistance grants for home mission congregations and theological education workshops for Nuer Sudanese leaders in Ethiopia. WELS Missions hopes to raise $20,000 in support of these efforts.

ā€œTaste of Missions is a time to celebrate what God is doing through his church,ā€ says Rev. Larry Schlomer, administrator for WELS World Missions. ā€œIt’s a reminder that we are united in this work—and that each of us has a role to play in reaching the world with the gospel.ā€

Join the celebration. Send off the missionaries. Be part of the mission.

Visit tasteofmissions.com for full event details, to register, or to access the livestream.