God's grace goes with them
From the office of President Mark Schroeder
Last weekend my family and I witnessed firsthand the benefits and blessings of one of our synod's ministry programs. My son, Zach, is a member of the Wisconsin National Guard. His unit was mobilized for deployment to Iraq, and for the last two months he and his fellow soldiers have been in training in Fort Bliss near El Paso, Tex. He was given four days of leave at the end of the training before he would depart for Iraq, so we gathered as a family to bid him farewell and Godspeed.
Since 3,000 members of the Wisconsin National Guard are involved in this deployment, you would correctly assume this group would include several dozen WELS soldiers. Recognizing that, WELS Military Services planned a special farewell worship service at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in El Paso. Pastor Paul Ziemer serves in a part-time position as the director of our efforts to serve WELS military personnel and their families around the world. He delivered a powerful and touching sermon that specifically addressed these soldiers and their families. The soldiers and their families also received the Lord's Supper, with its assurance of our oneness with God and with each other as his believers.
It was a bittersweet day for the many soldiers and their families who attended this service. There were some tears and fears. There were eyes filled with concern about the unknown. At the same time, however, with the strength and comfort provided by the Word of God, there was a clear sense that these soldiers and their families had an underlying trust in God and a confidence in his protective care, not to mention a sense of pride and appreciation. I can say this not just as an observer, but as a participant.
I am thankful for the efforts of our synod to serve the men and women of our armed forces and their families. These efforts operate with a very small budget and with limited personnel, but the spiritual benefits provided to our troops are beyond calculation. Please remember this work, along with the brave men and women this work serves, in your prayers.
Serving in Christ,
Mark Schroeder
WELS Military Services wishes to continue serving these service personnel and others during their deployment. If you or someone you know has been called to active duty, fill out a military referral form.
Filed Under: Military, Military Services, Texas
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Compiled by WELS Communication Services
Swine flu impacts WELS
The so-called "swine flu" global pandemic is impacting WELS schools in the United States as well as WELS' sister synod, the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mexico, where the disease is believed to have originated.
Two WELS schools in Milwaukee—Christ-St. Peter and Mt. Lebanon—are closed this week. Christ-St. Peter has one confirmed case and two probable cases of H1N1 flu. Both campuses of the 200-student school could be closed for as many as 14 days but will be reevaluated at the end of the week.
Mt. Lebanon doesn't have any infected students or staff but does share a Title 1 teacher with Christ-St. Peter. Its kindergarten teacher also is married to a teacher at Christ-St. Peter. School officials hope that the 100-student school will be able to reopen next week.
In Mexico, while no members of the church have been infected, the outbreak affects everyone at some level. "People in Mexico are very nervous and concerned, and that's affected people in our churches as well," says Rev. Mike Hartman, missionary in Torreón.
According to Hartman, Cristo Resucitado, the 60-member church in Mexico City, didn't hold worship services on April 26 due to a government order that cancelled all services in Mexico City. Schools, restaurants, theaters, and non-essential businesses in Mexico City also are closed until May 5.
Although the Mexican government has recommended a five-day closure from May 1-5 of all non-essential businesses throughout Mexico, 11 of the 12 churches and exploratories of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church still held worship services on May 3. Hartman says that seminary classes in Torreón for the three full-time students also will continue. Students and teachers have been given face masks for their protection.
"This is the time you really want people to gather together in God's Word to be encouraged," says Hartman, "but at the same time people are afraid to gather."
Filed Under: Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church, Mexico, pandemic, swine flu
Setting ministry direction in Russia
In light of the synod's recent financial cutbacks, World Missions Administrator Rev. Dan Koelpin, together with world board member Mr. Keith Moore and Europe Administrative Committee member Rev. James Hoff, traveled to Russia April 18-28 to assess the future direction of this mission field. While there, they visited seven cities including Novosibirsk, the political and cultural center of Siberia where WELS' mission efforts are centered.
"From the initial days in the early 1990s when we had 800-900 people in English as a Second Language classes, we have settled down to three solid congregations that each have their own worship facility, solid leadership, and a core of mature Christians," says Koelpin.
Approximately 350 members of the national church of Russia are currently being served by one national pastor, three deaconesses, a student training for the ministry, and one WELS missionary; a second missionary is being called.
"The Board for World Missions is extending its commitment to this field for two missionaries for the immediate future to provide opportunity for further pastoral training and leadership development," says Koelpin.
While growth in this field has been difficult due to increasing opposition from the Russian Orthodox Church and the remnants of Communist distrust, Koelpin says the churches are trying everything they can to reach out, including a radio broadcast to a potential audience of 500,000 people and limited periods of religious instruction in public schools.
"It is important to remember that every soul in the church is a marvelous miracle of God's grace, especially considering most of their backgrounds," says Koelpin. "Many of them stated that 15 years ago they were atheists and hated each other. Knowing the gospel has changed their entire perspective on life and given them hope they thought they would never have."
Koelpin says he hopes many more souls come to know their Savior through the work being done in Russia. "God willing, we hope to see increasing Russian leadership and ownership for their mission as well as a continued partnership with WELS as those leaders reach out to the people of their own country."
Filed Under: BWM, Russia, World Missions
WLC expanding curriculum
Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC), Milwaukee, is creating a School of Adult and Graduate Studies and adding six new majors to its undergraduate curriculum.
The School of Adult and Graduate Studies will have two components: one for adults looking to return to school to complete an undergraduate degree and the other to offer graduate degrees in education initially, and business eventually. Degree completion courses for adults could begin as early as this fall, and graduate courses in education will start in January 2010.
College administrators see a twofold purpose in expanding offerings for adults: to create new opportunities to reach out with the gospel to students enrolled in the program and to help secure the strength and future viability of the college.
The six new majors include China Studies, Environmental Studies, Media Design, Sport and Exercise Science, and Human Social Services. These majors are being added without the addition of new full-time faculty.
"As we expand our majors, focus on enrollment growth, and create a School of Adult and Graduate Studies, we do so under the core banner of Christian leadership," says Dr. Daniel Johnson, WLC president. "Recognizing that our communities and country desperately need Christian leaders, we are poised to launch our leadership initiatives forward, weaving their tenets throughout our undergraduate, and now graduate, programs."
WLC is a private liberal arts college in Milwaukee with an enrollment of 750 students. It is affiliated with WELS, but not financially supported by the synod's operating budget. All faculty are members of WELS or ELS congregations. For more information, visit www.wlc.edu.
Filed Under: Wisconsin Lutheran College, WLC
WELS in the news
In the Feb. 2 edition of "Together," Pres. Schroeder addressed a court ruling in favor of California Lutheran High School, Wildomar, Calif., which had been sued for its decision to expel two female students for engaging in conduct characteristic of a lesbian relationship. The April 29 issue of the San Fransisco Chronicle reported that the state Supreme Court has now denied review of an appeal.
The opening of the Granville Neighborhood Health Center, Milwaukee, was featured on Fox 6 news on April 26. This health center, a joint effort between Risen Savior and Wisconsin Lutheran College, offers health screenings to the uninsured in the Granville community.
On April 22, The Rogers Hometown News featured an article about Grace Lutheran School, Lowell, Ark. In the article, parents said that they send their children to Grace due to the Christ-centered environment and small class sizes.
In an April 20 article on bicycle commuting, The Saginaw News featured Rev. Wade Johnston, pastor at Christ, Saginaw, Mich., who rides his bicycle to area hospitals to visit his parishioners.
Spotlight on Streams: graduation services live
One hundred thirty-nine undergraduates from Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., and 39 traditional students from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., will graduate this month.
In addition, three Hmong students will graduate from the Asian Ministry Training Program, a satellite program under the auspices of the seminary's Pastoral Studies Institute. Four teachers will receive a Master of Science in Education from MLC, and two pastors will graduate from the post-graduate study program at the seminary.
The graduation services, as well as all call services and commencement concerts, will be streamed live on WELS' Internet media network, Streams.
