Work begins at new mission in Reno
Filed Under: BHM, Home Missions, Missions, Nevada
Rev. Steve Hillmer, the new outreach pastor at Shepherd of the Mountains, Reno, Nev., was installed July 13. As outreach pastor, Hillmer is working to start a new mission congregation in Spanish Springs, a growing area just outside of Reno. Shepherd of the Mountains is partnering with WELS Board for Home Missions to fund the mission and is providing lay workers to get it off the ground.
Hillmer and his wife and family arrived in Nevada July 3. "The trip was a blur, three days of driving across the country," says Hillmer, who previously served at Beautiful Savior, Marietta, Ga. "Now we're just trying to unpack and get familiar with the area."
Hillmer is following up on prospects and says he's going to start canvassing in the next couple of months. Hillmer is also working on a Web site and logo for the new mission, which has been named The Springs. He hopes to hold the first service on Palm Sunday.
"Even as we spoke of this bold step by a small congregation in partnership with their fellow Christians through Home Missions, some of the saints were already speaking of where congregations numbers three and four should be, God graciously enabling," says Rev. Harold Hagedorn, administrator of Home Missions. "We give thanks for such outreach mindedness and efforts, and for congregations being willing to be a part of establishing new congregations."
In August, Hillmer will meet with his district mission board representative, Rev. Matt Vogt of Water of Life, Las Vegas, Nev., and Rev. Peter Kruschel, new mission counselor in the Southwest, to discuss plans for the mission and determine how to best utilize members from the existing congregation that live in the target area.
"By God's grace, I hope that we'll be able to get this congregation established and bring people into a more living relationship with their Savior," Hillmer says.
