New mission efforts in Nevada
Filed Under: BHM, Home Missions, Missions, Nevada
Rev. Steven Hillmer is finalizing his plans to begin work in the suburbs of Reno, Nev., site of the next mission congregation with significant WELS funding.
Hillmer, who currently serves at Beautiful Savior in Marietta, Ga., accepted the call Mar. 6. He will initially serve as outreach pastor at Shepherd of the Mountains, an existing congregation in Reno that is partnering with WELS Board for Home Missions (BHM) to fund the new mission and to provide lay workers to get it off the ground.
"It's great to see the excitement of Shepherd of the Mountains to start this daughter church," says Hillmer. "It is just encouraging having fellow believers that are close by, praying for you, and are willing to help. By God's grace, I hope we will be able to establish a congregation in the area and bring more people into a living relationship with their Savior."
Hillmer says his plans are to serve in Georgia until mid-June and to begin work in Reno in early July when the new fiscal year begins and BHM funds are available for the call. Initial outreach efforts will be concentrated in a region known as North Valleys. Plans are to hold the first service on Palm Sunday of next year.
After arriving in Reno, Hillmer says he will be intensifying canvassing efforts in this region where an estimated 70 percent of the population is unchurched. "I've been there before," says Hillmer, who completed a summer vicarship in Bellevue, Wash., where an estimated 90 percent of the population is unchurched. "We knocked on the doors of several thousand homes and followed up, and only one of them came to the church and ended up going through Bible class. So it's not easy, but you meet one person at a time and let God's Word work in their hearts."
An installation service for Hillmer is planned for July 13.
