WELS commissions new civilian chaplain for Europe
Filed Under: Military, Special Ministries
Rev. Joshua Martin will be commissioned as the new civilian chaplain for Europe at 7 p.m. CDT on Mon., Oct. 22. The service will be held at St. Paul’s, Muskego, Wis.
Martin will be stationed in Spiesheim, Germany, to serve troops and families overseas. “Chaplain Martin is bringing a new dimension to the work because he has already served people in the military at Fort Hood in Killeen, Tex.,” says Carl Ziemer, administrator of WELS Special Ministries. In addition to his work in Europe, Martin may also make periodic trips to the Middle East to supplement other WELS chaplain visits there.
Funding for this civilian chaplain position is provided by special offerings from individuals, congregations, and groups like WELS Organization of Lutheran Seniors, which pledged $55,000 for the current fiscal year. “We are most grateful to the hundreds of individuals and congregations for their continuing prayers and financial support,” says Ziemer. “Without that support, our ministry to American troops would be almost non-existent.”
Martin will replace Pastor Michael Schroeder who served in Europe for five years. Schroeder has accepted a call to a developing mission in Wildomar, Calif. “We are excited to replace our faithful former chaplain with a new chaplain who is equally as committed to this kind of work,” says Ziemer. “We pray that our Lord would use Chaplain Martin to continue the work of bringing God’s Word and sacrament to people in the military and to enhance his outreach to English-speaking people in Europe.”
To refer someone to the worldwide ministry of WELS Military Services, visit www.wels.net/jump/refer. For more information about WELS’ civilian chaplaincy in Europe, visit www.welseurope.org.
