SWD logo  
Mission Update
Rev. Peter Kelm, Missions Executive 
South Wisconsin District
 
414-464-8101 [email protected]
Passionate believers... confessing Christ for the next generation
And when in pow'r He comes, oh, may our native land from all its rending tombs send forth a glorious band, a countless throng, with joy to sing to heavn'n's high King salvation's song!
                         (LSB 966)
  • Sept. 10 - Wausau
  • Sept. 11 - Appleton
  • Sept. 12 - SWD office, Milwaukee
LWML SWD 2015 Fall Retreat
  • Sept. 24-26 at Green Lake Conference Center

Go to www.swd-lwml.org for more information.  

July 2015
All nations

My family moved to Brookfield, Wisconsin (from Wauwatosa) when I was in middle school. In the 1980s Brookfield was a very typical white, middle-class suburb. It was a great place to grow up. I got my first job as a caddy at Westmoor Country Club across from Brookfield Square mall. I'm pretty sure every single member at that prestigious club was white. And so was every caddy. That's just the way it was. The Milwaukee area has always been highly segregated, and the 1980s were no different. I never thought much of it.

 

This morning I traveled back to Brookfield. Not to my old neighborhood, but to one of my favorite churches in our South Wisconsin District, Brookfield Lutheran Church. Their Senior Pastor, Rob Mrosko, is a good friend from Seminary, but that's not the only reason I love this church.

 

Frankly, in my opinion, Brookfield Lutheran is helping to transform its community. And in so doing, it's helping its community to look more like John's vision in Revelation with people from "every nation, tribe, people and language."

 

It's VBS week at BLC. As Rob and I snuck into his office for some conversation, we weaved in and out of groups of kids scurrying to the next VBS station. The sheer number of kids was impressive - over 500. But what put a smile on my face was the diversity of kids at that VBS.

 

For several years, BLC has been supporting POBLO missionaries Praveen and Priya Manuel from India. There's a large and growing Indian population not far away in Waukesha that they are faithfully reaching with the Gospel, with the help and support of BLC. Praveen and Priya couldn't help but share the excitement that they picked up 50 Indian kids on the bus that morning, along with a number of their parents as volunteers, for VBS. ESL classes, sewing classes, cultural exchange gatherings...all happening at a church that wants to reach its new neighbors with the love of Jesus.

Read more 

Keeping our college students connected to Jesus!   

Here we are in the middle of summer, but parents of college students are already making preparations for their students to return to campus life by mid-August!


Whether this will be your son or daughter's first year away from home, or they have experienced life away from home before, you will want them to know that there's a place where they can go to stay connected with God's Word while they are attending school.

Our District has campus ministries, or local congregations, serving the various campuses of the University of Wisconsin. They would love to share God's love with your child! Give them a call:
  • UW-La Crosse, Rev. Paul Mundinger, 608-782-3696
  • UW-Madison, Rev. Dan Anderson, 608-215-9526 (Bulletin insert)
  • UW-Milwaukee, Rev. Ken Wieting, 414-332-5732
  • UW-Oshkosh, Rev. Kelly Leary, 920-235-7440
  • UW-Plattville, Rev. Thomas Reeder, 608-348-9901
  • UW-Stevens Point, Rev. Andrew Weden, 715-345-6510 (Bulletin insert)
  • UW-Whitewater, Rev. David Emmrich, 920-563-8050

Kimberly, a church secretary at Divine Savior in Hartford, shared this handy bulletin-insert-size form for parents and students to fill out before school begins, and give to the church office to pass along to a campus ministry or congregation near to their college or university. You are welcome to use it! (Thanks, Kimberly!)  Campus Ministries form.  

Center for U.S. Missions
1-day convocations


Mobilizing the Mission of God--A Mission Convocation

This is a joint effort of SWD and NWD to mobilize pastors and people for mission! The convocations will be held in three locations...
  • Thursday, Sept. 10, at St. Mark, 600 Stevens Dr., Wausau
  • Friday, Sept. 11, at Shepherd of the Hills, N1615 Meadowview Dr., Greenville Appleton area
  • Saturday, Sept. 12, at the South Wisconsin District office, 8100 W. Capitol Dr., Milwaukee

Easy  to register--just call the District office and ask for Peg, 414-464-8101. Sessions are from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the cost is only $30, including your lunch!

 

Here's the link to all the details.

Stand With Your Community, LCMS Mission Grants  

Beginning August 1, The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod is offering a special grant opportunity, "Stand With Your Community" Grant Program, in recognition of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. $1 million is available for this grant opportunity.

 

A primary focus of the projects funded by these grants is to inspire and empower laity to actively engage in local witness and mercy outreach events and opportunities as a reflection of Martin Luther's unrelenting passion for all to know the true Gospel.

 

These are one-time grants of $1,000 to $25,000 for anything from a single outreach event to a two-year outreach program. The request may be for a new project, the revision of a previous effort or to strengthen an on-going effort of an outreach program or activity. Applications will be received Aug. 1 through Nov. 16.


Here is a link to the website with all of the information and access of the form. 

LCMS Missionary of the Month 
Deaconess Katie Ziegler
 
Deaconess Katie Ziegler serves the Lord through The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) as a missionary in the Dominican Republic. Katie's service includes teaching and mentoring Dominican women who are studying to become deaconesses. Additionally, she visits with and teaches people within the communities where she serves.

More information about Deaconess Ziegler.