Saint Mark Mankato, Minn.

Enhancement: Over the past three years, Saint Mark Mankato has experienced steady growth, with weekly worship attendance increasing from 97 to 130 and membership rising from 200 to 283. During this time, the congregation celebrated 24 adult confirmations, with even more expected. With 168 names on its prospect list, Saint Mark Mankato is seeking short-term Home Missions support to hire a manager of ministry, which would allow the pastor to dedicate more time to outreach and further strengthen this growing ministry.

Fast facts:

  • Nearly 62 percent of people in Mankato are currently unchurched.
  • Saint Mark Mankato has implemented new outreach programming in addition to its Christmas and Easter programs, such as Saint Mark Summer Nights, where around 80 people came together for a family-friendly pop-up event on its campus.
  • Saint Mark Mankato is reaching people new to the faith and young professionals, but it also has an established South Sudanese ministry and additional opportunities to reach out to a Chinese community as well.

Prayer: 

Gracious and loving Lord, with hearts full of gratitude and hope, we come before you, asking for your blessing on this mission enhancement at Saint Mark Mankato. We are grateful for the opportunity of a Manager of Ministry—a role that will allow the pastor to focus more deeply on outreach and the continued growth of this vibrant ministry. Lord, we ask that you equip this new leader with wisdom, compassion, and strength. May they serve with humility and grace, becoming a shining light of your love. Bless the leadership and every member of Saint Mark Mankato as they move forward in faith with this enhancement. Inspire in them a generous spirit and a deep commitment to reaching out to families throughout the Mankato area. Pour out your blessings, Lord, on this new chapter. May it bear abundant fruit and be a clear reflection of your endless love and amazing grace. In your holy name we pray, Amen.

Contact:

Rev. Jonathan Bourman, Saint Mark Mankato
[email protected]
507-508-5804

Risen Savior, Lakewood Ranch, Fla.

Enhancement: Risen Savior is a thriving congregation in a rapidly growing community with a second site now established in Parrish, Fla. Since its restart in 2016, the congregation has grown from 66 to 440 members, with 134 adult confirmations in the last three years alone. The church now has 350 families on its prospect list. To help manage the expanding outreach efforts, Risen Savior is requesting short-term Home Missions support to call a second pastor who will assist with these growing ministry opportunities.

Fast facts:

  • Weekly worship attendance has nearly doubled since 2022.
  • Risen Savior operates a preschool and Mornings with Mommy program that serve as successful outreach arms of the congregation.
  • Risen Savior added a third worship service each weekend due to limited seating capacity. The congregation regularly averages 40-50 prospects at worship each weekend.

Prayer:

Risen Savior, you conquered sin and death to remove our sin, destroy death, and give eternal life. You’ve given us the privilege to share that life-changing message and watch as it goes to work in people’s lives. We thank you for the ministry efforts that have been blessed in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., and the opportunity they now have to call a second pastor. Bless them with a servant of your Word and the work they seek to do so that more and more might know the peace their Savior gives. Amen.

Contact:

Rev. Caleb Free, Risen Savior Lutheran Church
[email protected]
941-302-6276

Redeemer, Edna, Texas

Enhancement: Redeemer is a growing congregation with a mission-minded pastor leading the effort. Over the past three years, membership has increased by 26 percent, with 29 adult confirmations during that time. With 279 names on its prospect list and outreach opportunities expanding beyond what one pastor can manage, Redeemer is requesting short-term Home Missions support to call a second bilingual pastor to help connect with the growing community, both Spanish- and English-speakers, and continue reaching more people with the gospel.

Fast facts:

  • Ministries at Redeemer currently include weekly nursing home Bible studies, Sunday school, vacation Bible school, a teen group, a young adult group, a monthly men’s Bible study breakfast, a quilting club, a choir, as well as an afterschool tutoring program that serves 20-30 students from a local elementary school located three blocks from the church.
  • In additional to its weekly Spanish worship service, Redeemer began offering two Sunday morning English services in February 2025 to accommodate the growth it’s seen.
  • Nearly 20 percent of homes in Edna speak Spanish as the primary language spoken in the home.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the growth and blessings you have showered on Redeemer Lutheran Church in the little town of Edna, Texas. Thank you for the 60 years of Word and Sacrament, the 60 years of gospel ministry, the 60 years of grace you have given them. Bless them as they continue to reach out to their community in English and Spanish with a second pastor. Help them continue to grow as a congregation and as individual believers to your glory. Amen.

Contact:

Rev. Andrew Schroeder, Redeemer Lutheran Church
[email protected]
361-782-3793

Living Word, Waukesha, Wis.

Enhancement: Strategically built across the street from the local high school, Living Word has experienced steady growth, with membership increasing by 20 percent since 2022. The congregation has welcomed 50 adult confirmations in the last four years. Now, with 400 names on its prospect list, Living Word will receive short-term Home Missions support to call a staff minister who will assist Pastor John Borgwardt in reaching high school families with the gospel and following up with prospective members.

Fast facts:

  • Since 2022, weekly worship attendance has risen by 30 percent.
  • The staff minister will develop relationships with local high school students by offering music lessons and leading an afterschool program.
  • Living Word also partners with and provides office space for five counselors from Christian Family Solutions to minister to clients.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we ask you to bless the new ministry Living Word is about to launch to high school students and their families at Waukesha West High School. We know many voices claim to be truth that these students are hearing and that are leaving an impression on them, but we ask that your Spirit opens their hearts to actual truth that comes from you and that saves. We pray that your cross and empty tomb impresses their hearts and minds with the good news that goes beyond all understanding, and that they find peace with God through the work you’ve done for all people. We ask this in your holy name, Amen.

Contact:

Rev. John Borgwardt, Living Word Lutheran Church
[email protected]
262-347-9673

Living Word, Petaluma, Calif.

Enhancement (restart): A dedicated core group of members at Living Word are excited to relaunch their outreach efforts with the addition of a full-time home missionary. Situated north of San Francisco, this growing community presents numerous outreach opportunities. Living Word is already actively engaging with the nearby Coast Guard, leading worship and Bible studies at a local senior center, hosting “Stay and Play” events for families, and managing a community garden on its property that fosters gospel conversations.

Fast facts:

  • Petaluma is a city of 60,000 people in Sonoma County. Its proximity to San Francisco offers potential for outreach.
  • This dedicated core group of lay members has put together an extensive ministry plan on its own that it prays to continue implementing with a new home missionary at the helm.
  • The church already owns its own church building and parsonage, lowering costs as members restart outreach efforts.

Prayer:

Jesus Christ, we praise you for your boundless grace by which we are saved and are also privileged to proclaim your goodness to others as it has been proclaimed to us. Thank you for the opportunity to do this in Petaluma, Calif. You have blessed our brothers and sisters there with hearts that desire to reach out to their community. Encourage and equip them to carry out the plans they have formed with the confidence that you will supply all they need and your good and gracious will is always accomplished for the salvation of many! Provide them with the shepherd and missionary they need to guide them in the mission work you have laid before them. In your name we pray, Amen.

Contact: 

Mr. Tom Kopecky, congregational chairman
[email protected]
650-464-5428

Christ, Clarksville, Md.

Enhancement (restart): Christ in Clarksville, Md., is looking for short-term Home Missions support to revitalize its outreach efforts. Located in the Washington–Baltimore metropolitan area, the church is ideally positioned to reach a diverse community. Despite facing challenges due to an unexpected pastoral vacancy and after-effects of the pandemic, the core group remains dedicated and mission-minded. The church aims to grow both spiritually and numerically under the guidance of a full-time pastor.

Fast facts:

  • The River Hill School District, where Christ is located, is the highest-rated school district in the county, making it a desirable location to raise a family. New housing communities are being built directly across the street from Christ.
  • The demographic makeup of the immediate area is mostly Indian and East Asian, and Christ is looking for support ministering to this more diverse population.
  • The core group has been actively participating in outreach efforts such as Mornings with Mommy and an Everyone Outreach workshop as well as having a presence at community events to connect with residents and share the gospel.

Prayer:

Christ Jesus, we praise you for your saving work, which makes us your co-victors over sin and death! We praise you also for joyful blessing of granting mission status to God’s people at Christ Lutheran Church in Clarksville, Md. Use them as instruments of your grace so others might experience more joy than guilt. Whether the work that you have called them to is facing challenges or enjoying blessings, give them comfort and encouragement individually and peace and unity collectively as they serve together as co-heirs with Christ. Abundantly bless the mission restart efforts at Christ Lutheran Church so more might be brought into the freedom and glory of God’s children. Amen.

Contact:

Mr. Jason Miller, Core group member
[email protected]
410-279-8713

San Tan Valley, Ariz.

New start: Located on the eastern edge of Phoenix, San Tan Valley is experiencing rapid growth with no signs of slowing down. Since 2022, the Arizona-California District Mission Board has been working with Heritage in Gilbert, Ariz., to plant a new mission in the area. A core group of 26 adults has been gathering regularly for Bible study and community events, building connections and momentum. In October 2024, they began holding regular worship services and have already identified 127 prospects interested in learning more about the new church.

Fast facts:

  • The population in the target area is expected to reach 103,718 in the next three years, an 18.47 percent increase.
  • There is no confessional Lutheran church in the target area.
  • The core group has been actively participating in local events such as youth art camps, community fall festivals, and holiday markets to connect with residents and share the gospel.
  • After “soft launching” worship in October 2024, an average of six guests visit each week. Four prospective members are currently in Bible information class.

Prayer: 

Heavenly Father, you are the source of all life. Pour out your goodness in the community of San Tan Valley, Ariz., and cause the gospel that your people proclaim there to bear fruit. We thank you for the good and faithful work that Pastor Bublitz and Heritage in Gilbert, Ariz., have done to present this new mission start for our church body to embrace and support. We ask that you not only provide the mission with a new pastor but also bless the core group of people there with an extra measure of your love and kindness that it may overflow from them to their neighbors as they proclaim the good news of our Savior, Jesus Christ. In his name we pray, Amen.

Contact:

Rev. Aaron Bublitz, Heritage Lutheran Church
[email protected]
480-855-3619

Madison, Wis.

New start: The center of Madison is expected to grow by 200,000 in future years, with many residents seeking an urban lifestyle. A core group of 14 adults, familiar with the area, has been working together since 2022—meeting regularly for Bible study and ministry planning—and has also secured a rental space for worship and community activities. Twenty prospects have expressed a strong interest in learning more about this new mission. A new mission plant in the center of urban Madison would allow WELS to reach an entirely new demographic.

Fast facts:

  • Central Madison is undergoing large-scale redevelopment, with significant growth in the city center and construction of high-density housing along major thoroughfares.
  • The core group has been actively participating in local events and holding monthly fellowship/outreach events at the Wil-Mar Center to connect with residents and share the gospel.
  • The core group has chosen a name: Living Hope Lutheran Church.
  • A recent snapshot of downtown Madison stated only about 12.5 percent of the population is attending weekly services.

Prayer:

Lord God, bless the spread of your gospel in every land, and especially in Madison, Wis. Provide opportunities to share your Word with the people of the community and make your witnesses bold in testifying to your saving grace in Christ. As you have told us to ask for laborers, we pray that you would provide a pastor soon to serve in this harvest field. Give patience and continued zeal to the core group of Living Hope as they wait on you, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Contact:

Rev. John Hartwig, Retired pastor and core group member
[email protected]
262-309-5585

Jarrell, Texas

New start: Jarrell is a rapidly growing town located 44 miles north of Austin in northern Williamson County. The county has seen its population surge from 426,000 in 2010 to 671,000 in 2022, with continued growth expected. For the past three years, Pastor Don Patterson has been working with a core group of 11, which began holding weekly worship in October 2024. The group has identified 90 prospects, many of whom they connected with by volunteering in the Jarrell Bible Community Food Pantry. The plan is to rent space for eight years before securing land and constructing a permanent church home.

Fast facts:

  • The greater Austin metro area is projected to be the fastest-growing metro area in the entire United States over the next five years.
  • The Jarrell School District has seen a 96 percent increase in enrollment since 2018–19 and is projected to double in size over the next five years.
  • The core group has been actively participating in local events such as Octoberfest and food drives as well as connecting with community leaders to establish a strong presence in Jarrell.
  • Fourteen Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary students traveled to the greater Austin area in 2023 to assist the core group, mission counselor, and district mission board as they explored the potential of planting a new church in the area. Read more at wels.net/from-the-very-beginning.

Prayer:

Dear Lord Jesus, we are moved by your love, and we want the world to know you too. It’s a profound privilege to be part of the effort to change eternity for people using the simple gospel about your gift for us. You gave it all every second of your earthly life. Now you bless our efforts to create churches where people will find your grace for many years to come. You have recently granted financial support to put a pastor in Jarrell, Texas, to nurture the little flock there and to make inroads to many new families. Thank you for the privilege of serving you in Jarrell, and please help the core group make the most of every opportunity so many will see as their Lord and Savior when you return. Amen.

Contact:

Rev. Don Patterson
[email protected]
512-784-5429

Erie, Colo.

New start: Erie, located 30 miles north of Denver, has experienced a 55 percent population increase from 2010 to 2020, with continued growth expected. The Colorado District Mission Board began exploring this area in 2022. A core group of 10 adults has been gathering for fellowship and Bible study while attending local festivals to share its plans for a new church. So far, 25 people have expressed interest in learning more about the mission efforts.

Fast facts:

  • Erie, Colo., is expected to grow to 90,146 people by 2032.
  • Erie is an attractive location for young professionals seeking more house and open space compared to neighboring Boulder and Denver.
  • The core group has been active in the community, hosting a Christmas party with activities for kids at a local coffee shop, giving out dog treats at a dog park, handing out treats and church information on Halloween, and meeting people through free coffee and donuts at neighborhood soccer games.
  • The town leaders have encouraged the establishment of multiple churches, maintaining a welcoming atmosphere for new church plants.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, you lived, died, and rose for the forgiveness and life of all people. As you have brought us into your kingdom through your gospel, you now call us to share that gospel with others, that they may be brought into your kingdom, too. Thank you for the opportunity to do that in Erie, Colorado! Bless the efforts of this new mission, keep your abiding presence with the core group, grant them a missionary of your choosing in your time, and draw many more souls to you through their work. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Contact:

Rev. Tim Spiegelberg, Carbon Valley Lutheran Church, Firestone, Colo.
[email protected]
720-833-8873