Through a program developed by WELS Ministry to the Military, people who are serving their country are also able to serve others with God’s Word.

Distinctive religious group leader training allows active servicemen to become distinctive religious group leaders (DRGL), giving them an opportunity to lead worship services and Bible studies for fellow military members during their deployment.

“Anybody can be trained by their distinctive religious group to serve as a layperson who carries out spiritual services for people in their distinctive religious group,” says Paul Horn, WELS national civilian chaplain. These trained DRGLs then can hold distinctively WELS worship services for WELS members in the military. Says Horn, “Now they’re able to get Word and sacrament in places that [pastors] can’t always be.”

Christopher Robbert and Christopher Crenshaw, both members of the Wisconsin National Guard, have been deployed in the Middle East since May 2025. Before they left, Jonathan Fischer, pastor at Our Savior, Grafton, Wis., took them through the DRGL training. This six-lesson course, originally created by Fischer when he served military members at a naval base in Virginia, covers both practical and theological topics, including how to have a rich devotional life, lead Bible studies, conduct a worship service, and access helpful resources.

“[Pastor Fischer] was able to role model for us a personal devotional life as a foundation to prepare us to be lay leaders,” says Crenshaw. “We also went over Christian doctrine as the Bible teaches it, studying who God is to what we believe about mankind and sin to justification, forgiveness, and more. In a stressful environment, away from home, I think all these things act as a tether that keeps me grounded, sure of my God and my faith. It is my hope that people can see that I’m confident of the hope I have in Jesus and they can be confident in the same hope too.”

Once Crenshaw and Robbert were deployed, they worked with the military chaplain on base to set up worship services for WELS members. Currently they hold weekly worship and Bible study and offer the Lord’s Supper frequently. Fischer serves as their mentor, providing a weekly sermon and worship resources and answering any questions they have. Up to eight people—mostly WELS members but other Christians as well—attend.

Both Crenshaw and Robbert appreciate the opportunity to worship regularly with fellow WELS members. “It provides us with a morale boost and allows us to have that needed fill of spiritual worship,” says Robbert. “It also allows us to come together as a community of believers in a not ranked setting that gets to confess our faith together.”

Says Crenshaw, “It (in my mind) creates a tether to a solid Rock—Christ, the cornerstone. It’s ritual— a regular gathering to worship God with like-minded people. There is strength in unity, and unity where two or three come together in Jesus’ name. It keeps us sane; I don’t have to be Specialist Crenshaw for an hour and a half, I can just be Chris.”

At least 15 WELS members have been through the DRGL training recently, according to Horn. Fischer, Horn, and two others are ready to provide more training to both active military members and veterans. “I think it’s important that we equip our laypeople, let them use their gifts,” says Horn. “When we talk about the universal priesthood of believers, all believers have the right to share the gospel. We should be training them to equip them for these works of service.”

Horn says the DRGL training not only allows these laymen to conduct services while they are deployed but also enriches their personal devotional life and their ability to serve as lay leaders on base or at their congregations when they return home.

“This experience has provided me with structure for my faith life and the ability to maintain it while deployed,” says Crenshaw. “And I’m thankful.”

Learn more about referring military personnel to WELS Ministry to the Military for spiritual growth and support.