WELS news briefs: August 2025
WELS MISSIONS In June, Asia Lutheran Seminary (ALS) celebrated its 20th anniversary with a special worship service and banquet in Hong Kong. The milestone served not only as a look…
Moments with missionaries: Steven Saatkamp
What do you do when it suddenly becomes possible for your mission church to hit its long-term goals in months rather than years? That’s the question we’ve been asking ourselves…
Home Missions approves new mission starts and enhancements
On April 3–4, WELS Board for Home Missions approved 11 new missions and enhancements for the synodwide 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. “Each of the five new starts is…
God’s plan flourishes in Vietnam
Larry Schlomer, administrator for WELS World Missions, shares an update on the mission work in Vietnam It has been 14 years since Hmong church leaders in Vietnam invited WELS to…
Moments with missionaries: Ben Bitter
Do you remember your first Bible? Mine is an old study Bible that some relatives gave me at my confirmation. The margins have accumulated helpful notes and comments, different dates…
My Christian life: Missionary wife values family ties
A missionary wife shares the importance of family ties when serving in a mission field. In March 2014, our family of five wearily deplaned at Hong Kong International Airport. My…
Training future church planters
In January 2025, three different groups of students from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS) went on Winterim trips as part of a special partnership with WELS Home Missions. These trips were…
Moments with missionaries: Ross Chartrand
My wife and I were standing in an empty living room of a new house filled with dust and echoes and not much else until our moving truck arrived. Neither…
Three home missions launch weekly worship
Three home missions launched weekly worship services in September: Divine Savior—North Collin County, Celina, Texas; Anchor Church, Marquette, Mich.; and Victory, Wichita, Kan. “A grand opening is important in the…