We were lying awake on the cool grass on a quiet country night leaving a brief burning trail as they streaked across the heavens The moment was gone before I could even say a word Our Bible reading for today states that one day everyone who loves him and those who rejected him will see him This isn’t some frightening fairytale Those who loved him and longed for his return will weep for joy But those who rejected him will weep in despair But we don’t want anyone to miss out Every blessing we receive and every challenge we face takes on a deeper meaning Life isn’t about surviving; it’s about preparing ourselves and others for eternity Those blessings and challenges are all opportunities to point others to the hope we have in Jesus But Jesus reminds us that he remains the same—yesterday which has several months’ worth of devotions to uplift and encourage you with the Word Subscribe to have the Daily Devotions and Bible readings delivered to your inbox Did you know you can take Daily Devotions and loads of other WELS.net content with you everywhere you go WELS offers a mobile application for both the iOS and Android cell phone platforms and motivation you need in today’s Bible reading Want to learn more about your Savior and the Bible Visit the What About Jesus website to learn about Jesus By accepting this message, you consent to our cookies on this device in accordance with our cookie policy found in the WELS Privacy Policy a certain cosmetic company used the tagline “Because I’m worth it!” The idea was that I deserve to be pampered because I am worth it We cover over our flaws and shortcomings because we know what we truly deserve for our sins We deserve to be disciplined and deserve to be condemned For our continual animosity toward God and his goodness to us we deserve to be separated from him and his goodness forever There is only one person who is inherently worth it God sentenced his own Son to suffer for our sins and die in our place God raised him from the dead and promised that whoever believes in him is not condemned but has passed from death to life We don’t give keys much thought until we need them or lose them There’s a feeling of frustration and fear when you lock yourself out of your car or house When Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil The result of their sin was a verdict of death And we have been held prisoner under the same sentence We have searched for the fountain of youth and the tree of life We have spent an enormous amount of money on anti-aging creams and medicines In spite of all our scientific advancements the worldwide average life expectancy is about thirty years shy of a hundred After thousands of years of searching and researching we have not managed to find the key—we cannot break free from death and death could not hold him prisoner because Jesus had committed no sin Jesus has opened a door that no one can shut It is a doorway to an unending life where sin and death have no authority You might not give your house or car keys much thought throughout the day But don’t make that mistake with Jesus He may be small in the world’s estimation Everyone who lives and believes in him does not ultimately die Follow him and he will lead you through death to life immortal many celebrated the 250th anniversary of the battles at Lexington and Concord including the 129th running of the Boston Marathon An even greater event happened on the day in between Sandwiched in between a day commemorating the “American spirit” and one of the premier road races in the world was a humble Easter service on the second floor of a former industrial building (now turned co-working space) The whole weekend provided the opportunity to reflect on what victory looks like If you asked someone at the Lexington and Concord festivities what victory looks like it looks like freedom.” When asked the same question “Victory looks like pushing through the pain to win the race or set a personal best.” What do you think victory looked like for us at Harbor Lutheran on Easter Did victory look like having to frantically pick up additional chairs from Home Depot the night before Or did it look like having a full spread for brunch and an Easter egg hunt What about first-time guests and visitors meeting each other and sharing in fellowship and praise Or a full room standing and singing in full voice we can answer with a resounding “yes” to all of these or even singing is the real victory of Easter might cause us to miss the point The apostle Paul points to the true victory of Easter in the words we used as our Epistle reading for Easter Sunday: When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ It may not surprise you that our attendance on Easter at Harbor Lutheran was less than that of the Revolutionary War anniversary or the Boston Marathon but our message was much more powerful—and is why we spend mission dollars to reach places like Boston That was the message on Easter at Harbor Lutheran—the message of victory in Christ Thank you for your continued support and encouragement as we share this message of victory with people in Boston Written by Rev. Joshua Koelpin, home missionary at Harbor Lutheran Church in Boston Learn about the ministry work of WELS Missions Support the ministry work of WELS Missions Consider supporting the work of the synod by making an offering online or investing in ministry work Learn about the many aspects of WELS ministry work I remember learning about church fellowship “Don’t commune with them,” or “I can’t worship with her.” Now The Europe Team partners with about a dozen sister churches—churches with whom we share fellowship there is a worship service that I can gladly join Paul gives thanks for believers with whom he shares a “partnership in the gospel.” Fellowship means working together to proclaim Jesus’ good news Fellowship means partnering to share experiences Meet Benni (Benjamin Hugk)—a seminary student at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary from the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church—Germany (ELFK) Benjamin (Benni) Hugk is a seminary student from the Evangelical Lutheran Free Church—Germany (ELFK) Benni was the only student in the ELFK seminary Benni applied to study for a year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon He wanted to meet and study with many brothers as well as have the opportunity to get to know WELS better eager to make the most of his year in the United States Benni’s love for people goes hand-in-hand with his special gift for evangelism He finds it easy to talk with people and naturally directs their conversation to Christ Benni set the goal for himself to develop his evangelism skills even more at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Benni appreciates that Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary holds the students to high standards but also provides great support “The professors are real people who care about the students and understand struggles They provide support and encouragement so that no one falls through the cracks.” he had just returned from a ten-day tour singing with the Seminary Chorus at churches in Wisconsin John’s on the Hillside in Milwaukee drew more than 1,100 listeners “I got to know very different families and how they live their view on church and things in the world So far Benni’s favorite experience has been spending Christmas vacation with a host family in Connecticut “Staying with a family 24/7 gives you a chance to get beyond the usual questions and have a chance to open up.” Throughout the tour Benni saw that WELS is a “large and strong synod across the ocean who recognizes and supports us We share the same faith with them.” Being part of a large fellowship is very encouraging and it’s even more amazing when you are blessed to see this large fellowship with your own eyes But Benni isn’t the only one who has been blessed by the year at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary “Benni has been a wonderful addition to our seminary family He brings an important perspective to our classroom discussions He brings a special charm to every interaction with his American cohorts Benni’s visit has expanded our grasp and appreciation of an international Lutheran fellowship.” I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” When you think of fellowship remember Benni—the German seminary student with a heart for people—having conversations about Christ from Leipzig to Mequon to Connecticut to Houston to Denver Written by Jennifer Wolfgramm, wife of a world missionary on the Europe mission team Originally appears in the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC) newsletter. Subscribe to future updates from the CELC at celc.info/signup WELS missionaries were sent to Hong Kong to assist local Chinese Christians a Lutheran church body named SALEM (South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission) was established Titus Tse (pictured left) from Hong Kong was called and installed as the first chairman of SALEM the SALEM church body grew and matured into a stable Having “retired” from his pastoral ministry at the congregation in accordance with SALEM’s policies he was immediately commissioned as a missionary to establish a Chinese Lutheran church under SALEM’s mission work in Auckland The mantle of leadership in Hong Kong has now been passed to another capable leader for God always provides the right people at the right time Alex Wong (pictured right) officially assumed the role of chairman of SALEM on January 1 with the installation ceremony taking place on March 2 He now steps into this new role with over a decade of pastoral experience and a shepherd’s heart Hong Kong was undergoing historic transitions the city once again faces new challenges amid shifting times God continues to expand his kingdom and raise up fitting leaders for each season These pivotal moments create unique opportunities for his people and we rejoice in his unfailing wisdom and grace SALEM is poised to embrace this new chapter We praise God for all he has accomplished through his people in Hong Kong and pray that he grants Rev Wong and all church leaders strength and wisdom equal to their calling It’s amazing to see a new believer “get” the gospel for the first time and appreciation from understanding that Jesus saved them It’s one of the main reasons I enjoy being a missionary I have the great privilege of being front and center as God’s gospel brings more people into his family I’ve also enjoyed working with our ministry partners God has blessed us with mature Christians who are willing to lead a group The excitement they have witnessing God work through a breakthrough conversation or even planning future work is inspiring and encouraging And God has blessed us with ministry partners like you, located far away but united with us through Christ and the Holy Spirit. We are incredibly blessed and grateful for the prayers and offerings given by WELS members. Thank you! My appreciation for these partnerships reminds me of Paul’s emotion in the start of his letter to the Philippians We know we can’t do this work as just two families if we model gospel work in simple ways and equip and encourage others If you haven’t already done so, please prayerfully consider making a gift to support this new outreach effort To get to be a part of this mission work is an honor and to get to do it with all these brothers and sisters in Christ in Australia and in the U.S Praise God for the good work he is doing in us and through us—together P.S. Read more about the Australian mission and the service of my fellow missionary Matt Doebler and his wife, Christine, in this Forward in Christ article Submitting your gift online is an easy way to send your gift to WELS highlights the latest news about the synod and its ministry work Watch the WELS Connection videos online to learn how your offerings support WELS ministries technology in ministry and Christian parenting Imagine you’re on a Mediterranean island with limestone cliffs and deep sapphire waters The mountainous interior is blanketed with ancient olive trees And hope seems like some distant mainland shore you find a message in a bottle with a map and a promise: rescue is on the way Even though you’re still on the island He was suffering exile for his testimony about Jesus Jesus showed up and showed John—and shows us—that even in the hardest times John’s vision of the risen Christ reminded him—and reminds us—that we are part of his plan We can comfort someone else who is going through hard times We can be there for that person just as God was there for us We can assure them that because Jesus lives and the grave guarantees a glorious future and conversations are part of God’s mission to share every day is an opportunity to live out his mission and shine his light in a world that desperately needs it More events are scheduled for the coming months including an anniversary dinner hosted by the WELS Historical Institute on Wed., May 28, at Salem Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Get details and sign up online Resources for congregations and individuals to highlight the anniversary and explore WELS history continue to be developed and made available Congregations are encouraged to celebrate the synod anniversary as part of a three-week series in October. Worship resources are available online God in his grace has richly blessed our church body for seven generations as the message about Christ has been proclaimed to us and through us This history is worth studying and celebrating Check the WELS 175 website for additional resources in the coming months Rev. Craig Wilke, home missionary at Sure Foundation Lutheran Church in Brandon shares an update from their new worship facility Through the support of WELS Home Missions and WELS Church Extension Fund they have been in the progress of building a new church Craig Wilke as he share more about the their new worship space and the ongoing work spreading the gospel in Brandon and save the date for this year’s Taste of Missions on June 14 P.S. – Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to watch even more videos from our missionaries in the upcoming weeks Request a missionary speaker at your next event WELS missionaries are available to share their experiences spreading the gospel around the world Visit the WELS Resource Center for additional downloadable information on WELS Home and World Missions Check out the latest updates from our Home and World Mission fields by subscribing to Missions Update The menu is set by the previous year’s winner He often chooses items unique to his region and home tastiest ingredients to put the meal together It is an elite banquet reserved for the world’s most elite golfers The prophet Isaiah describes an even greater banquet The diners are the victors of something more glorious than even the greatest golf tournament The feast itself is tastier than anything a three-star Michelin chef could come up with These people are celebrating their victory over death God has rejoined their bodies and souls to delight in a feast put together by God himself They watch in awe and delight as the Lord destroys death Death is completely destroyed by his resurrection The pain that death creates is engulfed by the love of Jesus The people eating and celebrating at this meal are the ones who trust in Jesus to save them They rejoiced in life that God had secured their salvation through the life And they will spend eternity enjoying the great celebratory feast and their victory over death a ten-part series entitled The Last Dance began to air on the sports network ESPN the series reaffirmed their conviction that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time Imagine him disconnecting from the league of teams known as the National Basketball Association Imagine him disconnecting from the fan base that makes professional basketball possible the Lord says something that’s often easy to forget He did not simply manufacture us and plunk us into a universe of his own making He created us for the express purpose of living life in profound connection with him It means that my life has no independent value It means that while I may drift away from God and convince myself it’s okay to dismiss him from my life doing so empties me of the very purpose for which I exist And while I may manage to deceive myself with a life of busyness We replace him with something or someone else We disconnect from the very One for whom we exist But so precious is his connection with us that out of a love we cannot grasp he lived a life of perfect faithfulness to replace our lives of faithlessness Then he took upon himself all our sins of abandonment and betrayal He suffered and died for all of them in our place WELS has launched a new world mission effort in Australia With a large focus on the country’s growing immigrant communities two WELS missionaries and their families relocated to Brisbane in the summer of 2024 to plant the seeds of the gospel in a region that has been described as largely post-Christian “People in Australia have asked us for help,” says Rev and longtime partners in Brisbane reached out It is a joy to meet these needs with WELS missionaries.”  While they continue to work with contacts throughout Asia their physical presence in Australia allows them to establish a firm foundation for ministry within local communities They are collaborating with two existing churches in Australia: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brisbane and Fountain of Life in Maryborough members of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference provide vital connections and a foundation for expanding ministry efforts This partnership strengthens the mission by providing existing worship spaces and a community of believers eager to spread the gospel lead to ongoing relationships and opportunities to share the gospel These small connections are how ministry begins In addition to local work in the greater Brisbane area WELS’ approach to ministry will model early Christianity—small gatherings of believers meeting in homes to study God’s Word and share in fellowship The missionaries’ goal is to train and mentor local leaders to establish and lead house churches This grassroots approach is already bearing fruit including believers from diverse backgrounds the mission in Australia is making an impact Through everyday interactions and steadfast commitment Look for this month’s WELS Connection at your local congregation to learn more about mission work in Australia Christine Doebler, wife of Missionary Doebler, shares the importance of family ties when serving in a mission field in this month’s edition of Forward in Christ magazine The 2024 WELS statistics have been gathered by WELS Congregational Services We are thankful to the 95 percent of our congregations that furnished their statistics—an incredibly good level of participation While some of the statistics indicate continuing challenges in some areas others provide some very good news and reasons to thank God for some significant blessings our confidence does not rest in statistics Our confidence and optimism rest in the hands of a gracious God who continues to work through his Word and sacrament Given the demographics of our synod (an aging church population and fewer births) it seems likely that our synod will continue to decline in total membership in the next decade But if the Lord continues to bless some of the positive trends (increased worship attendance it is possible that the losses will flatten out and possibly even be replaced by membership gains NOTE: The full 2024 WELS statistical report is available on welscongregationalservices.net A more detailed anaylsis will be available in June You are driving on a remote stretch of highway in the Southwest United States and your minivan’s air conditioning is just right at 72 degrees You step out of your car and into an oven of 115 degrees a strange corkscrew sensation begins to wind its way up your spine These conditions are like the desert conditions God’s people faced in Isaiah chapter 43 As a result of their having drifted away from their Savior-God they now found themselves surrounded by miseries of their own making—including an enemy nation that had dragged them from their homes and surrounded them in the desert Ever feel as though your sinful actions—or inactions—have dropped you into some terrible desert then you know the hopelessness and despair You know the suffocating sense of futility and the raw fear there is no way home He has entered our desert and made his way to us For him to do so came at great personal cost he did all the things you and I have failed to do he endured the suffocating heat and death of divine punishment for all our sins refreshing water of forgiveness for us to drink He brings shelter and shade from the terrible heat of God’s anger he brings the promise of eternal life with him in heaven celebrate anniversaries at quarter-century increments it has celebrated quarter-century anniversaries 2025 will mark the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Wisconsin Synod at Salem Lutheran Church on the northwest side of Milwaukee The Lord of the Church has blessed the proclamation of Christ’s saving work to and through the Wisconsin Synod for 175 years Much has happened since the last time the synod marked its anniversary in 2000 To help the members and congregations of WELS learn about God’s blessings to our church body for 175 years various resources and events are being planned Most of these resources will be available at welshistoricalinstitute.org/175th An anniversary like this can help congregations and members remember and give thanks for God’s many blessings that he has showered on us through the gospel We can learn about how God has brought our church body through challenging times so that WELS is what it is today: a church body committed to the truth of God’s Word striving to faithfully proclaim Christ throughout the world chairman of the 175th anniversary committee and dean of students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary In recent years there have been concerns about the nature and underlying principles of what has been called “critical theory” (CT) which includes narrower subsets such as critical race theory (CRT) This particular brief goes into great detail and depth regarding the history and philosophical foundations of CT and CRT It was shared with WELS pastors a few weeks ago so they would have an opportunity to become familiar with it prior to a wider release to our synod members The brief is lengthy and detailed because this is a complicated and controversial subject A helpful summary of the brief is included as an introduction God’s blessings as you consider the thoughts shared on this important matter I want to give you another update on the situation in California I spoke with Pastor Steve Gabb of Hope Lutheran in Los Angeles this morning our congregations and members in the LA area are safe from the fires Pastor Gabb and the members of Hope are working with other community organizations to aid those displaced by the fires They are basing their efforts at the Hope Lutheran campus WELS Christian Aid and Relief has provided grants totaling $6,000 to be used to purchase gift cards and other supplies to share with those in need I have also authorized a gift of $5,000 to Direct Relief, an organization that specializes in medical assistance in disaster situations. You can learn more about what they do by visiting directrelief.org. If you would like to support our efforts in the LA area, please visit wels.net/cargift and designate your gift for disaster relief Please pray for all those impacted by this fire: displaced people Pray also for our WELS brothers and sisters in LA who are sharing the compassion of Christ in both words and actions Thanks so much for your prayers and your support I found myself sitting in awe of what had just happened Students from across Latin America had gathered—virtually—for the final session of The Christian Church a month-long journey through the book of Acts and words of thanks filled the digital space It was more than a class; it was a glimpse of God’s work unfolding before my eyes I couldn’t help but wonder: Who is more thankful—the students How many people get to study God’s Word with students from 13 different countries How many people get to share the love of Christ as their job it’s not my job just because I was called to be a missionary—it’s my job because God called me That’s really the point of the course The Christian Church which I had the privilege of guiding over 50 students through this last month We are all commissioned to “go.” You don’t need to be a pastor to share God’s Word; you don’t need to have a church building to worship; you don’t need to be an Israelite to be a part of God’s family The Christian Church is made up of believers across the world and Jesus’ command to us all is to keep on sharing the gospel message This course also serves as a beautiful summary of our work within Academia Cristo where we see Paul working alongside believers throughout the ancient world—sharing both the law and the gospel and encouraging them in their study of Scripture He wasn’t alone—leaders in the cities he visited and fellow missionaries traveling with him were doing the same Our work as a team of missionaries serving Latin America follows this same pattern We have the privilege of sharing the teachings of the Bible with students throughout Latin America and encouraging them in their study of Scripture We also get to support leaders living in a variety of countries to do the same I’ll be receiving final projects from about 50 believers each one commissioned by God to share his Word with others Others will gain more confidence with each passing course Some may continue their ministry within their own church but now equipped with a deeper understanding of the truth of Scripture some will join us in planting new confessional Lutheran churches in their neighborhoods—becoming vital partners in the gospel called by God to carry his message of salvation to the world What a privilege and responsibility we all share May we all find joy and purpose in the special work that God has entrusted to each of us asking if I thought he could be a missionary And it’s God’s answer not just for José María into all the world and be Christ’s witness Acts 1:8 – “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and staff ministers change positions within WELS The Conference of Presidents oversees and coordinates the calling process The weekly call report offers a snapshot of the changes in service A drop-down Action button offers filtering and search functions for easy access to specific information as well as the ability to download the report as a printable PDF you have a large windshield that lets you see straight ahead You have a few small mirrors to see what’s behind you They don’t take up much of your viewing space That’s because you mostly need to see where you’re going he worked hard to stop the good news of Jesus from spreading He didn’t mind at all if Christians died He didn’t let his past wicked sins keep him from now looking forward to heaven with Jesus He enjoyed the forgiving love of his Savior The guilt and shame of past wrongs can stay with you for a long time they can keep you from seeing that the joy of heaven is coming He removed your guilt and shame by his death His resurrection from the grave guarantees eternal life in heaven for you That’s the prize Jesus has won for you Watch the Devotion One of my well-loved high school teachers was called home to heaven recently I was reminded that he had served honorably in our nation’s Air Force a mammoth aircraft capable of 40-hour flights carrying a payload of 87,000 pounds of ordnance and cruising at altitudes beyond the reach of most anti-aircraft guns Just the fact that the US Air Force had this aircraft was a warning to other near-peer competitors ironically known as the “Peacemaker,” would force peace through the dropping of bombs Although the B-36 was rendered obsolete in 1959 alongside the other branches of our US military continues to produce aircraft capable of flying farther and higher and carrying ordnance to any country in the world where there is conflict Some of you are in the middle of that conflict We also see conflict not just between nations but between friends There is even conflict within our own hearts and minds over the things we have done or left undone I started reading a book called Care for the Sorrowing Soul The author addresses the often-overlooked moral injury suffered by those who have experienced combat Moral injury occurs when combat reflexes go into automatic mode The individual postpones their moral processing in that moment and just acts as they carry out the mission the individual’s conscience and heart and moral code recognize that perhaps what they did Jesus’ closest friends suffered this internal conflict and struggled to find peace They weren’t engaged in physical combat in war They struggled through spiritual warfare with the devil and their self-preserving They were terrified of what they were capable of And then Jesus appeared to his friends in the flesh After they had witnessed the traumatic event of the torture His first words to them (and I picture them accompanied by a warm smile) were Peace—not a hopeful thought from a well-wisher not peace won by giving them something to do to atone for their sins This same peace from Jesus has nothing to do with you or anything you must do Simply open your ears to hear those words for yourself: “Peace be with you!” Jesus spoke peace because that was reality for his disciples or months for it to sink in—the reality was that they were at peace because God was at peace with them They could now have peace with each other for whatever accusatory thoughts they had against each other They could now have peace with themselves because they could say I will be at peace with myself and others.” Whatever it is you have done or failed to do—in combat and rose from the dead to prove that your guilt and failures and awful things you have done lie dead and buried in the tomb So be at peace with each other and be at peace with yourself for God is at peace with you in Christ Jesus I ask that you comfort those who suffer and struggle with moral injury Calm and still their hearts with the good news that you took their guilt on your soul and in your heart so they might be free of guilt and free to live in the joy of forgiveness WELS National Civilian Chaplain to the Military Note: Scripture reading footnotes are clickable only in the web version SUBSCRIBE NOW WELS Ministry to the Military depends on freewill offerings and grants Please consider supporting ministry to the military with your prayers It is interesting how often the Bible speaks of “generations.” For example “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4) “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine according to his power that is at work within us to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations The idea of God’s saving work and his rule over all things extending from generation to generation and the encouragement to proclaim his works to the next generation are found throughout the Scriptures Perhaps this is why churches usually celebrate anniversaries in quarter-century increments Twenty-five years approximates a generation This is the first synod anniversary of the new millennium It is an opportunity for a new generation (and older generations) to review with gratitude the blessings the Lord has showered upon our church body since its founding in 1850 To help congregations focus on the anniversary by educating members on the synod’s history, two resources are now available. Monthly bulletin inserts highlighting key events in synod history are being produced. The first two months are available as PDFs in full-color, black-and-white, or text only on the WELS Historical Institute website Please consider using these in your congregation In addition, an interactive timeline has been put together and is also on the website The timeline contains short descriptions and photos with links to videos and articles that allow people to dig deeper into various topics This timeline might especially be useful for teaching a class to confirmation students or adults on the history of WELS Special anniversary events are also being planned Two coming up this spring involve the choirs of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Martin Luther College The joint concerts will include sets sung by each choir and then a third set sung by the combined choirs These joint concerts take place on March 20 at 7 p.m (Central) at the Martin Luther College Chapel of the Christ More information on anniversary events and additional resources are posted at welshistoricalinstitute.org/175th It is my prayer that this anniversary will spark interest and appreciation for the blessings God has showered on WELS for 175 years he has raised up leaders among us who have been concerned about defending the pure gospel and proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ saving work throughout America and the world the message of Christ has come to us and gone out through us Jonathan Neuman wanted to know more about Christianity His parents had went to church when they were younger and he was told he went when he was younger He remembered going to church on the big holidays – Christmas and Easter and when they visited grandparents in Goodview He had seen stuff about Christianity online like social media influencers talking about their faith and Christianity but Jonathan wanted to go beyond the echoes of Christianity in his childhood and he wanted to be a part of Christianity So, he took action and looked up the closest WELS church. It took him to Crown of Life in Saint Paul which was only minutes away from his house Since Jonathan was also a student at the University of Minnesota, Rev. Kom connected him to True North the University of Minnesota’s WELS campus ministry He became involved in the campus ministry and finished Bible Information Class there Jonathan divides his time between Crown of Life and St He appreciates the community feel and the message of the gospel taught he is getting to know more about Jesus and Christianity Jonathan wants others to know more about Christianity His family has recently been attending church during the holidays and they both want Jonathan’s brother and sister to go through confirmation as well Jonathan has also been having conversations with his dad as he wants them all to know about Christ Written by Samuel Lor, campus ministry pastor at St. John’s in Minneapolis Learn about the ministry work of WELS Missions we operate on the basic assumption that you get what you deserve You pay the price if you’ve been lazy This basic assumption moves many to approach God based on a merit system Both sons in this story were operating under that basic assumption who greedily demanded and then squandered his father’s wealth thought he wasn’t worthy of returning home as a son He approached his father with a plan to earn his way back by being a servant who remained on his father’s estate and kept his nose to the grindstone thought he was certainly more worthy than his younger brother He became upset when his father welcomed his brother back as a son There is only one Son to whom that basic assumption applies Based on the merits of the perfect Son of God God welcomes us home as his dearly loved and fully forgiven children We need not work our way back into God’s good graces have already earned your spot in the Father’s house You do not and cannot approach God based on merits Like the father in the story ran out to welcome home his son your Father in heaven runs to you and welcomes you with open arms and grace in place of condemnation If you’ve been stung by a bee or a wasp The stinger doesn’t just pierce your skin But what if you knew that the bee or wasp didn’t have a sting and the power of that flying insect is gone it won’t last because death is coming Death stings because it robs you of your loved ones There is no FaceTime or phone calls with the dead Death stings because everyone has this gnawing feeling deep down that after death You are accountable to someone for your deeds and actions There is a certain sense of fear and uncertainty of what that might be like Death stings and its venom can choke out even the best moments of life The sting of death looks like ultimate defeat Jesus gives the victory to all who put their faith in him Jesus has already undergone the judgment and punishment for sinners His believers don’t have to fear a final reckoning with God Jesus promises that those who die believing in him are not lost forever but alive in heaven And Jesus’ resurrection means that death is not the end of the story for his believers They will rise to an eternity of perfect joy and love there’s normally more than one way to get there detours don’t pose too much of a problem because so if there’s a detour or an accident blocking the road you’re on Traffic jams are rare because there’s usually more than one way to get to where you’re going That’s a common perception among the people of this world when it comes to getting to heaven They think to themselves and even say out loud “There’s more than one way to get there.” But the Bible tells us otherwise The apostle Peter made that clear when he confessed about Jesus that “there is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Ac 4:12) He heard it straight from the Savior’s mouth “I am the way and the truth and the life No one comes to the Father except through me” (Jn 14:6) It’s natural for people to object to that truth Shouldn’t God provide multiple ways to his heavenly mansions While we might be tempted to think the same thing we need to consider it from God’s perspective Why would God limit the roads to heaven to just one Because he doesn’t want us to guess: what’s the best way there and that one way is through faith in Jesus And that road is wide open for every sinner; Jesus has cleared away sin and death forever “Stand firm in the Lord in this way.” You’re guaranteed a safe arrival home Mine is an old study Bible that some relatives gifted to me at my confirmation the margins have accumulated helpful notes and comments different dates of when I visited that same text and other scribbles that have made this Bible mine It’s practically tethered to me and has logged thousands of miles crisscrossing different cities Have you ever thought that you might be the first Bible that someone meets but that you might be the first look at what a justified grace-filled Christian life looks like in the world You may have seen some of the latest articles that tell us that more Americans aren’t going to church like they did even five years ago but there are more people who are turning away because of what their churches in the past had done They also feel happy and content to do what they are doing now What’s more surprising is that more people are completely unexposed to what the gospel message actually is is a place that was conceived under the idea that you could be “born and had coffee with some of the people that live in our community there is a growing resentment that “the people inside the church don’t act like Jesus would.” To put a number on it: Trinity currently sees 71.6 percent of its community inactive in any faith community Or to put it another way: About three out of the ten people you see in your grocery aisle this coming weekend are connected to religion in some way The other seven are unattached to the means of grace and the sacraments The spiritual needs today aren’t different than at any point in human history There will always be a real need for relationships We have a real opportunity to show Christian love to people who have no idea what it looks like as though he is making an appeal through us With more people unexposed to what the gospel message is we may have to be more proactive about going and showing what a redeemed life looks like rather than asking someone to come and see “Where is the most unlikely place you will find an unchurched person We often lament that this is a darkening and dimming world That just means we need some lights to guide our way That can happen through prayers for our worker training programs and for your pastors but also for your brothers and sisters who are sitting in the seats of church along with you that they may be bold in their witness of the gospel and unashamed of its message Because to someone you’ve never met or someone you know extremely well you might be the first look of what living out the Scriptures actually is Written by Rev. Ben Bitter, home missionary at Peace Lutheran Church in Trinity What in the world is a mission enhancement That was the first question on my mind after hearing about the details of my new call Call Day at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary flew by in an instant it started to become more and more clear what it means to be a mission enhancement pastor Good Shepherd already has a church building and a large core group of people They even maintained regular worship throughout a long vacancy The core group and I are eager to kickstart outreach efforts once again to take advantage of the gospel outreach opportunities the Lord is providing we have support from our District Mission Board guidance from an experienced Mission Counselor and some short-term financial support to help us get there being a mission enhancement is all about tuning up before taking off Because Good Shepherd has made so much progress earlier on many of the big projects to get a church going have already been checked off our list are focused on updating how we do ministry both for maintaining close-knit relationships and increasing fellowship as well as branching out and diving deep into outreach projects there are some preparations that need to be made beforehand I have spent a lot of time getting to know the people whom I serve I have had the opportunity to learn about the many gifts God has given them and the history that connects them to Good Shepherd and the community I have been reaching out to our community’s leaders: other church’s pastors to get a better pulse as to what our community needs and how we can address those needs with our unique gifts and abilities In addition to doing information gathering our District Mission Board is sending Rachel and I to a Church Planter Intensive specifically for mission enhancement pastors The Church Planter Intensive is run by a group of home missionaries who have been in very similar situations as the one I am in It is designed to help and instruct me on how I can use my gifts and the information on my community to better serve my people and community Rachel and I will be learning from mission experts in Virginia and picking up a mentor along the way The mentor will help give practical advice and encouragement as we “tune up” over the next two years mission work isn’t just outreach events and worship There is a lot of learning and tuning that needs to be done before we can take off and make our ideas a reality but I am very thankful that there are so many people who support and encourage me throughout all of it Praise be to God that there are thousands of people who pray for us and our ministry every day Written by Rev. Eli Steinbrenner, home missionary at Good Shepherd in Plymouth Subscribe to future Missions Blogs at wels.net/subscribe the WELS synod convention adopted a doctrinal statement entitled “Scriptural Principles of Man and Woman Roles.” The statement is a faithful and comprehensive summary of what Scripture teaches about the God-given roles of men and women it became apparent that there was a need to provide clarification and additional context regarding the meaning and application of the statement the WELS Conference of Presidents (COP) initially determined that a restatement of the doctrine should be composed not as a replacement for the 1993 statement The COP believed that additional clarification and context would help to answer questions and resolve possible misunderstandings and misapplications it became clear that a better approach would be to compose a pastoral letter rather than an official restatement Such a letter would be “pastoral” not because it was intended only for pastors but because it is pastoral in nature by providing evangelical guidance It is intended for all called workers and laypeople as they seek to understand fully and correctly this biblical doctrine and its principles as they apply the doctrine in their lives We do this with the prayer that God would use it to foster widespread discussion and a clear and faithful understanding of the beautiful principles of God’s design for man and woman as we live our lives in service to him and to one another View the letter  Many in our friend group have reached out to help—purchasing groceries It’s difficult to see them go through all of this but I can’t even begin to imagine how scared they feel You may never have been in such dire financial straits but you know what it is like to be in want What is it that you’re hurting for that you can’t seem to find Maybe you have been longing for God to give you direction and guidance about the next steps in life you should take Perhaps you’re physically aching and there is nothing you would love more than for God to heal that pain and restore you like you were when you were young Maybe there is that guilt for decisions you made in the past and you are hungering for God to forgive you Maybe you find yourself crying out to God for help they fuss and scream and their mother knows what those cries mean and is ready to step in and soothe them But what made this baby born of Mary so different was that he came to tend to humanity’s cries and fill us with such good things and the promise of life with God in eternity But realize that God already has taken care of our greatest need—the need for forgiveness—by sending us his Son Looking back on our second annual WELS Texas Campus Ministry Retreat Ephesians 4:3-4 comes to mind; “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace just as you were called to one hope when you were called.” Through the Holy Spirit that unity was reflected in the fellowship we had at our retreat 17 WELS college students from Baylor University and Texas A&M University took a weekend away from our studies to spend time together at a retreat in Lorena and watched a heartbreaking triple overtime Baylor basketball loss on T.V we spent time in the Word with Bible study focused on how we can share Christ and his love in each and every one of our relationships sometimes you aren’t quite sure what the people around you believe or how it differs from your own faith Even with a loving community of Baylor friends there can still be a disconnect between what we believe This retreat was especially refreshing in that I got to sit down and dive into the Word with people who I know for a fact believe what I do While I had never met half of the students there our faith in the “one hope” of Jesus connected us and made it easy to talk to each other about everything I am certain that our hope in Jesus is one and the same I have peace in knowing that outside of college I am a part of a family of believers with whom I have complete unity Our retreat was the perfect expression of that fellowship Written by Lilia Kasten, campus ministry student at Baylor University and Brisbane partner churches—requested assistance the WELS Board for World Missions responded but we are excited and encouraged by the opportunities for outreach Thirty percent of the people currently living here were born overseas Our team is especially focused on reaching native citizens and Chinese immigrants The neighborhood we live in is 70-80 percent Chinese and it already feels familiar and comfortable It is very early in this new mission effort but we see the gospel taking root one soul at a time we work to share the truth of the gospel: the saving love of Jesus Watch your mailbox for a letter with more information about this new outreach opportunity we ask you to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brisbane and Fountain of Life Ministries in Maryborough Pray that people will grow in their faith as they gather around God’s Word Please also consider supporting our Australian mission Your offerings provide the gift of time: time to connect and deepen relationships P.S. Read more in this recent Together article Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application Wels Burdell Mulford passed away in the comfort of his home Burdell spent his childhood making his own fun and mischief Whether he was camping out in the “jungle” floating down the canal with stolen watermelon or pranking local motorists with a cardboard box tied to a rope there was no shortage of laughter or shenanigans in the small towns of Torrey and Hanksville where Burdell spent his youth An article written about Burdell and his friends once described him as “the real life Huckleberry Finn”.  Burdell attended and graduated from Wayne High School He was President of his class from 7th grade on his crowning achievement being Student Body President his Senior Year He was very active in school and participated in every sports program: Basketball He even played Captain Von Trapp in the school musical though he’d be quick to tell you they uninvited him from participating again Burdell served a life changing mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Anaheim He served the majority of his mission as an assistant to the President He credited President Rex Reeve with fostering and transforming his testimony of Jesus Christ The sisters and elders he served with remained some of his closest friends throughout his life: lasting friendships forged through the service of others Burdell attended Utah State University where he earned two Bachelor’s Degrees he accomplished all of his educational endeavours while battling cancer (Hodgkin's Lymphoma) While in the thick of his cancer treatments He knew she’d be crazy to say “yes” She took over a month to give him her answer They started their lives together on August 27 1982 when they were married in the Ogden LDS Temple He was industrious both at home and at work It wasn’t unusual for Burdell to wake up at the crack of dawn He was constantly busy doing freelance tax work in addition to his day job as an internal auditor and risk manager Saturdays were reserved for back breaking yard work Burdell was no stranger to the local dump and even helped a stranger find her diamond ring in knee deep refuse Burdell was larger than life and an expert storyteller He could keep an audience captive for hours with the harrowing (and often wildly inappropriate) tales of his life and served his neighbors and friends with a tender love and care found in the truest disciples of Jesus Christ Burdell was preceded in death by his parents He is survived by his sisters: Carol and Deb Burdell loved his family with an unmatched ferocity Life feels less vibrant without Burdell’s unfettered light we will lean on his unshakable testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ and trust that we will see him again soon A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday March 14th from 6-8 pm at Russon Mortuary in Farmington (1941 N Main Street March 15th at 11 am at the Orchard Drive LDS Chapel in Fruit Heights (77 S Orchard Drive the family will be available to visit before the funeral from 9:45 am - 10:45 am.  The funeral service will be streamed live on the Russon Brothers Mortuary Facebook page (click here) and on this obituary page where it will appear 10-15 minutes prior to the service at 11 am.  Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text Click to watch This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Imagine a pioneer cutting a path through the wilderness With every swing of the axe and step forward These brave people didn’t just go for themselves; they blazed a trail so others could follow they sent out press—posters and printed words inviting others to the freedom and peace of this new and better life Jesus didn’t just lay down his life only to pick it up again for his own sake and resurrection—has blazed the way for us through death to a new and victorious life with him that’s the life everyone longs for—the life that is yours through faith in Jesus A life in the kingdom of God to which you get to invite others there are no outsiders overlooked and no one who is on one’s own we are given a victorious life marked by grace His blood guarantees God’s love poured out on us when we least deserve it His blood galvanizes us against sin and fully pardons us when we do sin His blood gives us every reason to praise him wholeheartedly And Jesus is with you every step of the way When word leaked out that Sylvester Stallone was working on yet another Rocky movie it had been thirty years since the original film and fifteen years had passed since the last installment Critics had panned Rocky V as nothing more than a thin He believed Rocky Balboa still had something to say The climactic scene of the film is an emotional exchange between Rocky and his son His son has just poured out his heart to Rocky describing the difficulties and hardships he’s had to endure because of the ups and downs of his famous father Rocky’s response is poignant and powerful “[But] it ain’t about how hard you’re hit It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” The apostle Paul knew a thing or two about taking hits He’d endured the heartache and disappointment of people turning their backs on Jesus But here’s the point: He pressed on not to make himself worthy of his heavenly prize he pressed on because of what Jesus Christ had already done to secure the heavenly prize for him Christ had already secured victory by living a life of perfect persistence in Paul’s place He had already secured victory by going to the cross and washing away Paul’s many sinful stumbles and falls what drove Paul to persevere was God’s persistent love for him in Jesus Opportunities don’t just appear with no effort on your part You have to get out there and make something happen and seize the opportunities when they come But it doesn’t seem like advice that Jesus heard or accepted “He made himself nothing,” the Bible says He gave it all up to live as a human being to live life as a lowly servant in this world Jesus was counted among the worst criminals and sentenced to death He was crushed under the weight of God’s anger over sin and disobedience He knew it wouldn’t happen on its own He seized the opportunity and sacrificed everything to get it Jesus surrendered to lowliness and suffering to seize you from the grip of death in which your sins held you He gave up everything to give you life and riches that you could never earn or achieve for yourself Riches that will outlast every achievement and reward this world can offer Jesus seized the opportunity to surrender what he had to give you what was his—a place in the family of God and an eternal home That’s what this week that Christians call “Holy Week” is all about We’re excited to host the 2025 campus ministry conference at The Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield in Brookfield Those in attendance play crucial roles with the students that they serve As our Lord Jesus molds and shapes us for various areas of service in our vocations our Lord Jesus uses you and your congregations to mold and shape young adults for both their current and future vocations Ministry in a wide sense means “service.” Service comes through a wide variety and gifts and abilities What a joy that we get to be a part of that you will hear the focus of “molding for ministry” from various speakers and learn from others across our synod who strive to faithfully serve our Lord and the college campuses that are a part of our communities Registration is now open for the in-person Campus Ministry Staff Conference The conference will begin at noon on Monday and end at noon on Tuesday and registration will be covered by your $75 registration fee You are encouraged to share a favorite devotion Time will be available during the conference to review shared material and ask questions All of us have been formed in a variety of ways This presentation will explore what Scripture and the Christian Church’s experience has to say about formation and our approach to it Johnston is associate professor of history and theology at Wisconsin Lutheran College Before that he served for ten years in parish ministry in Saginaw He has authored books and articles on a variety of topics but has a special interest in church history and the theology of the Christian life He is a co-host of the Let the Bird Fly podcast He and his wife have been blessed with five children – Mission-minded molding through the Board for Home Missions We’re happy to have Board for Home Missions Administrator Mark Gabb with us this year When we hosted this conference two years ago that position was vacant Administrator Gabb will share some information about how the work that ministry to college campuses carries out connects with the Board for Home Missions Pastor Mark Gabb served in ministry for 28 years as a tutor – Mission-minded molding happening across WELS Campus Ministry Acts 17:16-34 weighs on the heart and mind of any missionary The setting and culture where the Apostle Paul found himself in Athens has multiple parallels to the modern college campus Pastor Daniel Lindner serves as our WELS Campus Ministry Mission Counselor The Lord has blessed the time he has served in this capacity and has molded him to continue to equip and mold many of us as he’s able to see our various campus ministries in action and explore areas where opportunities present themselves we’ll visit Athens and apply some concepts in our own cultures and settings Pastor Daniel Lindner grew up in the city of Beaver Dam His ministerial path has included serving in Puebla Mexico during his vicar year; Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School as a tutor in Waco John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Minneapolis Minn.; True North Campus Ministry in the Twin Cities area; and currently as our WELS Campus Ministry Mission Counselor exploring the world with his bride Heidi –kayaking Minnesota lakes included Panel Discussion – Molding for ministry through mentoring Our panel is made up of various individuals who the Lord God has molded through different experiences as young adults He continues to do that as they now serve in various places and vocations that mentor to young adults They see and hear of the various challenges that the devil and the sinful flesh put before young adults with the intent to destroy them In this panel time they will share some key things that they have seen and dealt with while allowing time for questions from the group One specific area that all of them have experience with is that challenge that comes as students transition from the college world to the working world Part of their mentoring includes listening Part of it includes preparing and equipping not just for their field of study but for life in congregations Jennifer Johnson is the Senior Vice President and Director of Compliance at Ixonia Bank in Ixonia Jennifer grew up in Southeastern Wisconsin graduated from Northwestern Preparatory School and then graduated from Martin Luther College with a Bachelor of Science degree She served in the teaching ministry at Luther Preparatory School and St took a call to Nebraska Evangelical Lutheran High School Jennifer switched over to banking where she has been working for around 20 years She has a Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager designation from the American Bankers Association a Certified Community Bank Internal Auditor designation from the Independent Community Bankers of America a Certificate of Executive Leadership from the Wisconsin School of Business and an Honors Diploma from the Graduate School of Banking in Madison Jennifer is active in the community and currently serves as a member of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Community Bank Advisory Council She also serves as an organist/pianist/accompanist for Crown of Life Lutheran Church in Hubertus and is also heavily involved with the Washington County Youth Hockey Association Jennifer and her husband love spoiling their nieces and nephews and hanging with her dogs concerts and watching youth and professional hockey Professor Joshua Johnson serves as the director of academic technology and associate professor of education at Wisconsin Lutheran College He attended Martin Luther Preparatory School before enrolling at Martin Luther College He served there for five years with his wife before accepting a call to Nebraska Lutheran High School At NELHS He was privileged to teach in a variety of subjects including Calculus He also served as the IT director and registrar while coaching women’s basketball along with men’s and women’s soccer He accepted the position as the director of academic technology and assistant professor of education at WLC in 2015 and enjoys working with faculty and students to improve their understanding and use of technology in their teaching Jennifer Krause served as an elementary teacher in WELS schools for 17 years before accepting a call to Martin Luther College in 2013 After eleven years as a college supervisor of student teachers and she also coaches the women’s tennis team Through her interactions with college students in these various roles and support for these young adults as they navigate the challenges of this stage of life The transition from college student to professional educator can be daunting and the responsibilities of living independently in whatever place God calls them to serve can create doubt and uncertainty Jennifer enjoys mentoring these young people as they enter their first years of ministry and pointing them to Jesus as their source of strength in Education from the University of Kansas and a Ph.D in Literacy Leadership from Concordia University-Chicago Ron Koehler serves as the administrative pastor at Grace Lutheran Church of Southern Arizona a multi-site congregation with four locations His day-to-day ministry at the Tucson location now includes serving as the WELS campus pastor at the University of Arizona…once again He served in that capacity when he arrived at Grace in 1993 through 2005 while also serving on the WELS Campus Ministry Committee for most of that time We’ll hear the unique perspective he brings as he has picked up campus ministry again after a 19-year hiatus What Can the Campus Ministry Committee Do for You Our WELS Campus Ministry Committee values the partnership in the gospel with all of you Our Lord molds us together both individually and collectively Campus Ministry Committee Vice-Chairman Pastor Joel Naumann will present specific applications of how we ask the Lord to bless the partnership in the gospel that we have together as the WELS Campus Ministry Committee is here to serve you and their campus ministry connected to UW-Eau Claire He has served on the CMC since 2017 and is currently part of the CMC’s Executive and Publicity subcommittees his wife Cathryn and his family have lived in Eau Claire since 2010 – Registration (Light lunch served during registration) – Opening Devotion – Isaiah 64:8 – Mission-minded molding through the Board  for Home Missions – BHM Administrator Mark Gabb Mission-minded molding happening across WELS Campus Ministry – CMMC Dan Lindner – Fellowship and networking at the Brookfield Sheraton – Panel Discussion – Molding for ministry through mentoring – What Can the Campus Ministry Committee Do for You – Closing Devotion and announcements Ephesians 2:10 – Conference closes with box lunch for the road Campus Ministry, a ministry of WELS Home Missions provides resources for college students nationwide Consider supporting Campus Ministry with your prayers and gifts Browse through and share pictures of WELS Campus Ministries Take a time out and see what God’s Word has to say about it Get the latest WELS news delivered to your inbox twice every month Your prayers and gifts can help WELS ministries carry out their missions on a dark and grey January morning in Parrish I smiled because we had just shattered our mission’s record for how quickly we wheeled all the tables out of the cafeteria and into the hallways at Parrish Charter Academy “many hands make light work,” and that was proven true by eleven energetic Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary students who traveled all the way to Florida to help our mission achieve small but significant wins on the way to even bigger ones the seminarians set up for Sunday worship—placing chairs in neat rows and preparing for our Mornings with Mommy program they went outside to pick up trash around the campus a familiar maintenance truck pulled in with a trailer attached if there were any projects our church could help with around campus Then his eyes landed on a sad pile of rolled-up turf Hurricane Milton’s winds had ruined the turf around one of the playgrounds and new turf had been installed in its place “We can help with that,” I had told him confidently—unaware of the muddy mess the recent rain would create or that Florida’s infamous fire ants lay hidden beneath the turf mud clinging to their shoes and fire ants testing their patience we welcomed families to our Mornings with Mommy session they were covered in mud and dotted with ant bites they helped us run a small sports camp for the community leaving with Risen Savior water bottles and happy exhaustion we had connected with 17 families— families who One of the students asked me later how I thought the day went it’s hard to measure success in the typical ways a win can mean simply meeting more people and letting them know we’re here It can mean building relationships with families or showing Parrish Charter Academy that we’re not just tenants but partners our ultimate goal is to see eternal wins—baptisms But those blessings often begin with smaller steps: a friendly conversation Each of these little wins matters because they reflect God’s love in action planting seeds that he can grow in his perfect time Written by Rev. Benjamin Balge, home missionary at Risen Savior in Parrish In January 2025, three different groups of students from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) went on trips as part of a special partnership with WELS Home Missions. These efforts align with WELS’ goal of planting 100 Missions in 10 Years Praise God for WELS members working together to train future pastors—equipping God’s “people for works of service” in those ministries “so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12) WLS students have the opportunity to learn what it takes to start a new church work with and understand different communities and grow their confidence in sharing the good news of our Savior Jesus By mixing classroom lessons with hands-on experience they got to see what mission work is really like and build skills they’ll use when they become pastors and vision to bring Christ to diverse communities across North America “Every interaction is an opportunity to share your faith This trip reinforced that mission work is a mindset Your prayers and support for WELS Home Missions’ 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative help start new missions and equip home missionaries Watch your mailbox to learn more about these exciting efforts to share the gospel in communities across the U.S. « All Events In this age of social media where some of our platforms show hundreds of friends it might seem that our connections with others are more robust than ever and it seems harder and harder to form quality relationships that have depth and meaning You’d think the exception would be the church But do we know the stories of the women with whom we worship on Sunday mornings The depth and qualities of the relationships with fellow sisters in Christ can demonstrate the unconditional love of Jesus to others and be a beacon to those outside the church Learn from our webinar panelists how connections contribute to our encouragement and position us to share Jesus with others Learn more and register now for our upcoming webinar “The Power of Connecting Women in Christ,” scheduled for April 10 And I remember dreaming that one day I would be able to make it to the pros: Throwing the game-winning touchdown in the Super Bowl Knocking the bottom of the ninth home run out of the park to win the World Series I have had the opportunity to coach at the elementary school and high school level And I have heard from some of my players the same kind of hopes and dreams that I had when I was their age I also heard from some of their parents that they had hopes their child would eventually make it to the pros Some parents have great expectations for their children those expectations are greater than what is realistic Mary had high hopes for the child she was carrying but her expectations exceeded anything you or I or anyone else could ever do: She expected her child to save the world from death That seems like a lot of pressure to put on a kid who hasn’t even taken his first steps yet Because she knew that her child was unlike any other Her Son was and is the Son of God who masked himself in flesh to do the impossible—to live the life of perfection we never could to crawl out of his cradle and climb onto the cross and rise so that you and I could live forever The Conference of Presidents (COP) met for its winter meeting Jan The COP is composed of the 12 district presidents The synod secretary serves as a non-voting advisory member of the COP My president’s report included these items:  There are 140 parish pastor vacancies as well as 6 non-parish pastoral vacancies The COP authorized a special synodwide offering related to the synod’s 175th anniversary The offering will be directed to the synod in general More specific uses for the offering by each area of ministry will be announced prior to the start of the offering Congregations and individuals will be invited to participate Congregational Services will be releasing samples of alternative governance structures for congregations in the coming months District constitution committees will be equipped to answer questions that may arise when it comes to congregational governance and related bylaws The COP authorized Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary to begin a generosity campaign in support of its planned building project remodeling of current space for faculty offices and a gathering space attached to the gymnasium The Doctrine Committee of the COP will hold its annual meeting with the Doctrine Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in January The deadline for congregations to submit their 2024 statistics and their 2025 Congregation Mission Offering (CMO) subscriptions is February 7 Looking ahead to CMO encouragement for 2026 “Joyful Generosity” and other stewardship materials will be made available by September 2025 and the LCMS have been involved in informal doctrinal discussions An informal doctrinal discussion is one that addresses matters of doctrine and practice but does not imply that doctrinal agreement and a restoration of fellowship is imminent* The most recent meeting took place in early December 2024 these discussions have proven to be beneficial and productive We have spent much time identifying the many areas in which all three synods are in perfect agreement we are agreed that the Bible is the inspired We are in agreement that the Lutheran Confessions are a true and faithful summary of the teachings of Scripture We all stand firmly on the four great “alones” of the Reformation: salvation by grace alone All three synods officially confess that Communion is to be “closed Communion,” shared only with those who confess a common faith We all believe in the sanctity of human life in God’s design for marriage and sexuality and that God has directed that only men serve as pastors We have also had the opportunity to dispel caricatures and false assumptions that we have had about one another’s doctrinal positions and how those doctrines are applied and practiced Another benefit has been that these talks have opened lines of communication between our synods that were not open before We have spoken publicly with one voice about the principle of religious freedom Our mission boards speak to one another about plans and provide advice on specific issues A procedure has been put in place as to how to communicate with each other when a pastor or teacher decides to leave one synod and join the other discussions about the several doctrinal issues in which we are not in full agreement We have spent much time talking about church and ministry and the role of men and women in the church While we have found that the differences in some of these areas are not as great as we might have thought we still recognize that differences remain We all pray that God would use these talks to bring about full unity someday there are many good reasons to continue these discussions *WELS and the ELS share doctrinal fellowship with one another Modern travel has a way of making things impersonal you notice the cars but pay little attention to the people in those vehicles and they are forgotten as soon as you pass them Riding in an airplane causes you to pass over homes but you don’t stop and wonder who lives there or what their lives might be like and we give little thought to who they are or what they are experiencing we can feel like God is just one more person who is far away or removed It can be easy to think of Jesus as someone who is near but doesn’t really understand what we are experiencing The writer to the Hebrews reminds us that Jesus was tempted in every way that you are tempted He can sympathize with you in your weakness He knew hunger and had tears running down his cheeks He had his friends leave him and knew what a long day of work feels like remember that Jesus has experienced all the joys and pains that you have he never fell into the sin of pride or failed to give thanks to God he did not lose hope or fall into anger or despair He faced our challenges and was tempted in every way yet was without sin He has been through what we have been through a fire broke out in the famous Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris but by the time the blaze was under control The effort required 1,500 trees and 46,000 cubic feet of new limestone They restored the organ with its 8,000 pipes They re-tuned the cathedral’s massive bells they carefully scrubbed 450,000 square feet of surface cleansing it of centuries of ancient grime France has reopened this historic structure to the public The final result of this restoration is truly breathtaking the restoration of spiritual ruins is something else altogether An enemy nation has carried them off into captivity They realize they are the ones responsible for having turned their backs on their God They realize they are the ones responsible for having brought their lives to ruin But their Savior-God is a God who keeps his promises He’s promised to send a Savior from sin this Savior will wash them clean of their guilt He will cover them in the holiness of the holy life that he will live on their behalf God has kept that promise for you and me too Our lives with him are now fresh and clean and new Are you set on getting outside with the warmer weather and doing some springtime planting Are you perhaps just itching to get out fishing notice how much of your life revolves around your mindset you are now getting all the things prepared and purchased you’re working to prepare gear and tackle so that everything is ready to go We are just a few days removed from Easter Sunday Do you remember what Christ’s heart was set on He made it his entire life’s goal and passion to win our eternal salvation by crushing the head of Satan If Christ had been distracted by the things of this world—power Praise God that Jesus set his heart on things above—on doing his Father’s will so that we might now have forgiveness The apostle Paul shares with us what it means to have our minds set on things above That is to say that the controlling power of the sinful nature inside each of us is now dead Christ has set us free and truly made us alive just as Christ Jesus is alive and alive in us by faith May our hearts and minds always be set on things above may we also reflect what’s in our hearts and on our minds as we speak to one another about Christ’s victory over sin It’s the best mindset to have and an even better one to share WELS Board for Home Missions approved 11 new missions and enhancements for the synodwide 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative “Each of the five new starts is backed by a mature mission-minded core group that has been actively sharing the gospel in their communities—even before seeking formal support,” says Rev “That kind of groundwork helps lay a strong foundation for long-term gospel ministry.” Thanks to the generous gifts received over the past year WELS Home Missions is also in a financial position to approve up to five additional new missions this fall “Giving core groups additional time to prepare their requests will strengthen their proposals for fall.” Home Missions approved five new starts and six enhancements Tenn.: Arlington is on the brink of rapid growth with Ford Motor Company set to build a new plant for electric truck production the South Atlantic District Mission Board has been working with a dedicated group of 60 members and Pastor Jim Turriff from Gloria Dei who plan to relocate and establish a fresh start in Arlington under a new name Colo.: Erie has experienced a 55 percent population increase from 2010 to 2020 A core group of ten adults has been gathering for fellowship and Bible study while attending local festivals to share its plans for a new church Texas: Jarrell is a rapidly growing town north of Austin Pastor Don Patterson has been working with a core group of 11 which began holding weekly worship in October 2024 many of whom they connected with by volunteering at the local food pantry has been working together since 2022—meeting regularly for Bible study and ministry planning—and has also secured a rental space for worship and community activities A new mission plant in the center of rapidly growing urban Madison would allow WELS to reach an entirely new demographic the Arizona-California District Mission Board has been working with Heritage in Gilbert to plant a new mission in rapidly growing San Tan Valley A core group of 26 adults has been gathering regularly for Bible study and community events they began holding regular worship services and have already identified 127 prospects interested in learning more about the new church The Board for Home Missions is also financially supporting ministry enhancements for Christ “We have limitless opportunities with a limited amount of resources The Board for Home Missions is actively looking at ways to reduce costs so that more people can be reached with the gospel.” Gabb continues “It’s all about being faithful stewards of the resources God has given us We will continue working diligently to aggressively reach the lost with the gospel while also being faithful stewards Learn more about these new mission starts and mission enhancements at wels100in10.net That’s what a man told me only months after I moved to Mississauga when I mentioned that I was pastoring a church in the northwest part of the city Whether or not he knew what he was talking about I think we can agree that planting a church in Mississauga looks challenging on paper Mississauga is the third most expensive city in Canada (only behind Vancouver and Toronto) extremely transient (more than 50 percent of Mississauga residents have lived here for less than 5 years) and highly post-Christian (although about 50 percent of residents claim to be Christian less than 25 percent of them are regularly in worship on a Sunday) And the historical fact is that WELS has tried to plant a church in the Mississauga area two times previous to the current version of our congregation (in the 1970s and early 1990s) But despite the challenges on paper and in ministry our synod continued to “have concern for the great city.” (Jonah 4:11) was the 25th anniversary of our congregation and many blessings accompany that celebration: 116 people have received the gift of Baptism and 216 have been confirmed in the faith after studying scripture with one of our pastors We have received over 70 new visitors in the last six months who are refugees from five different African nations We were able to mobilize humanitarian aid and spiritual care for these folks this started only a month after I said to a brother pastor except we don’t really have anyone from Africa.” Oh we chose to stop receiving subsidy from our synod to operate our church After literally millions of dollars spent to keep a church in this city We have made a deal to purchase a 10,000 square foot building to be our church home We are waiting for city permission to close the deal Pray that God would give us this home or a better one We have started two men on the path to becoming WELS pastors in Canada through a partnership with Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary We get to dream what God is planning for us in the next few years as those men near graduation and can serve full-time in the ministry all these blessings ultimately come from Jesus so thank him as you hear how he is blessing us But these blessings are also the result of the generous Congregational Mission Offerings of congregations like yours and because of the commitment of our synod’s leaders to planting and supporting churches in major cities thank you also for your offerings and your prayers and please keep praying for God’s work to be done here Written by Rev. Caleb Schultz, home missionary at Cross of Life in Mississauga As we recently passed the six-year mark of worshiping as a new mission congregation in Lehi I find myself talking to our gracious God about different things than I would have expected at this point in our ministry When we moved across the country to start a new church We wouldn’t say they were overly lofty plans—they reflected what we thought made good sense with the information we had We had a rapidly-growing community and a family happy to help I talked to God about the visible blessings he gave us: riches poured out in a beautiful setting a fast-growing school system for our young kids and what was sure to be scores of people longing to hear the Good News and now I talk to God about all the change our small mission church is going through I ask for patience as we get plenty of visitors but not exactly scores of folks longing to join I ask for humility as we reach out to those who aren’t able to reach back I seek God’s wisdom and assurance while as a congregation we look for different opportunities to share our space and rent with community partners on evenings and weekends I thank God for his invisible kingdom found in visitors who maybe come one time but leave with a message they had never heard before I humbly give thanks for the dozens of people who return for special services but aren’t really looking for a new church I thank God for his visible kingdom: for the respite our church provides for those of us living in a hidden and unexplored culture in Utah County; for our established members and the new who come with questions and seek clarity; for the random texts or e-mails from long-time connections who have questions about something they heard at one of our services years ago I thank God for his patience in my life as he continually helps us grow even in the face of what seems like frequent failures There were new families too who were joining us for the first time Extra service folders were hastily printed The service focused on Psalm 23 and the harsh reality of the valley of the shadow of death and the only answer found in our Good Shepherd The sermon was plain talk about sin and grace Later conversations with one of the families would reveal why the message had seemed so personal but exactly what they needed from God’s Word On what seemed like an unlikely Sunday for outreach the Holy Spirit worked through the Word as God has promised he would Two new families who visited for the first time on All Saints Sunday have continued to come back They have started taking Bible Basics classes and are well on their way to becoming members but most of it unexpected and completely undeserved home missionary at Good News Lutheran Church in Lehi The WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR) has the responsibility of overseeing our synod’s relationships with other Lutheran church bodies in the United States and around the world The vast majority of the commission’s time is spent strengthening the bonds of fellowship with our sister church bodies But the commission also monitors what is going on in other Lutheran church bodies with which we are not in fellowship The CICR also communicates with Lutheran church bodies that are seeking fellowship with WELS discussions with such churches have led our synod to declare fellowship with Lutheran churches in Ethiopia This beautiful trend continues as the worldwide fellowship expands After several years of detailed doctrinal discussions between WELS representatives and the Africa Mission Evangelism Church of Tanzania the CICR is recommending that our synod publicly and officially declare fellowship with the Africa Mission Evangelism Church at this summer’s synod convention Such celebrations of newly established fellowship are always one of the highlights of a synod convention The Africa Mission Evangelism Church is a growing Lutheran church body that separated from its previous affiliation because of doctrinal reasons It consists of 12,000 members in 78 congregations and is served by approximately 65 pastors The head of the Africa Mission Evangelism Church is Bishop Baltazar Kaaya Bishop Kaaya will be attending our convention this summer to tell us more about our new partner in Africa We thank God that he continues to build his church