Pastor’s Perch
Jeremiah 23:29 29 Is not my word like a fire? declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?
With technology constantly changing and improving, there is a temptation to think that God’s word must change with the times for it to remain powerful and effective to modern people. However, God’s word is not like our phones that are updated yearly for a profit. God chose an image for us to remember just how powerful and effective his word truly is! Fire! It does not take much for us to be reminded just how powerful fire can be. Just look at the devastation that comes with the wildfires out west. Whole towns can be wiped off the map with one fire. Or look what a hammer can do to rocks. A hammer can pummel rocks until it becomes sand.
God reminds us that his word is all we need to destroy sin in us because his word is all about Jesus and what he came to do for the world…for you. God does not need you to do anything nor to change anything in his word. His word destroys sin and death and gives righteousness and life. God’s word is the only thing that opens heaven to you. Rather than looking to change or make God’s word effective, sit back and marvel at its power to forgive unconditionally. That is where you will find true and lasting Hope! A fire can destroy your home, a disease can ravage your body, thieves can steal all your possessions, the stock market can crash but nothing can undo what Christ our Lord has already done! Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again! You will live with the Lord forever in his kingdom. If doubt ever settles upon you, pick up God’s powerful and effective word and you will find peace in this turbulent world.
Dear heavenly Father! Keep me connected to your powerful and effective word. Let me never look to change it or take it for granted. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen!
A Servant of Christ,
Rev. Patrick Feldhus
Grace’s News
We are offering a Family bible study on familiar Sunday school stories, after worship on Sundays. Our current study is on the Exodus.
Synod News
Thanking God for sowers, waterers, and reapers
The Lord has given each of us our own work to do. I planted the seed. Apollos watered it. But God has been making it grow. So the one who plants is not important. The one who waters is not important. It is God who makes things grow. He is the important one. (1 Cor. 3: 5b-7; NIrV). For the past seven years I have had the privilege of helping you plant seeds, water both tender shoots and mature plants, and harvest souls for Jesus’ sake. It’s now time for another “farmer” to guide and foster this ministry. Occasions like this provide an opportunity to count blessings in the past and anticipate God’s love in the future. Some of the enduring memories I take from my time here are the comments from our students. They tell how our Bible studies have helped them come to know Jesus or know him better, or how they are eternally grateful for all the volunteers. For instance, William, a student in Arizona says: “I enjoy learning and these study guides bring me joy and shine God’s light in this dark place I’ve put myself in. Thank you for all the encouragement!”
Another memory I take with me is the love and dedication of all our volunteers, donors, and staff. Thank you all for your support and service to the Lord that was not in vain. It was especially gratifying to see the enthusiasm of our volunteers as they labored into their 80’s, 90’s and even 100’s. One of my great joys was providing an opportunity for meaningful kingdom work for seasoned Christians who don’t have other options. I’ll also remember the faces of our volunteers who finished their race here and heard their Savior say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Our verse reminds us that there is only one thing that truly matters, Jesus our God and Lord. He gave us the work to do and blessed it. And there is much left to do. I pray our ministry masters and greatly expands digital delivery of God’s saving Word. I pray that our ministry increases visits to current inmates and mentoring former ones. As John the Baptist said: “He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:30, NIV) I commend this ministry and all of you in Jesus’ harvest field into the nail-scarred hands of him who desperately loves us and those we serve. Trust Jesus as you continue to support and serve in his name. Dave Hochmuth, WELS Prison Ministry administrator
Asia Lutheran Seminary celebrates 20 years of gospel ministry
On June 1, 2025, 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 back on two decades of God’s grace but also as a testament to ALS’ transformation into a regional seminary serving students across Asia and beyond.
ALS officially opened its doors on May 29, 2005, in a service led by Dr. John Lawrenz, its first president. The seminary was created to train Chinese-speaking pastors and evangelists in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and East Asia. Since then, God has used ALS to equip church leaders from a growing list of countries and cultures. Today, the seminary reaches students on four continents and operates out of both Hong Kong and Chiang Mai, Thailand. “Asia Lutheran Seminary stands as a beacon of theological excellence, rooted in the unchanging truth of God’s Word,” says Rev. Larry Schlomer, WELS World Missions administrator. “We give thanks for the countless leaders ALS has trained to share the saving message of Jesus Christ. Their work has shaped the church in Asia and inspired our broader mission efforts.”
ALS’ expansion reflects both strategic planning and a Spirit-led response to change. In 2023, WELS World Missions formed what is now known as the Asia-Oceania Team, bringing all Asia-based missionaries together under one vision: “Grace to all in Asia.” ALS was tasked with serving as the regional seminary for this effort, supporting training programs throughout Asia.
The newly formed Regional Theological Education Program, led by ALS professor Dr. Guy Marquardt, now partners with sister churches throughout Asia. In partnership with the Pastoral Studies Institute, this program provides support through curriculum development, visiting instructors, and consultation—helping local theological education efforts become sustainable and confessional. “It’s been incredible to see how the Lord has used ALS to build leaders not only for Hong Kong and Taiwan but now also for Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Nepal, and beyond,” notes Dr. Jonathan Bare, ALS president. “Our students now include English and Mandarin speakers, both lay leaders and future pastors.”
One indicator of ALS’ impact is the growing number of national pastors now serving as faculty. “The best teachers will be local leaders who are fully equipped to serve as confessional Lutheran instructors,” says Bare. That vision is becoming a reality. Many adjunct instructors are now ALS graduates, and recent full-time additions include national leaders Dr. Angus Cheung and Rev. William Zhu.
ALS’ programs are also evolving. While biblical language courses and advanced degrees like the Bachelor of Theology and Master of Divinity remain central, certificate- and diploma-level programs make theological training accessible to more students, empowering students at all levels to make immediate use of their training in their churches, homes, and the groups they gather. The seminary’s online presence has opened doors to a growing Chinese-speaking diaspora, especially in places like New Zealand, Australia, and England.
Additionally, an English-language program has been launched, integrating TELL (Think, Evaluate, Learn, Lead), a curriculum from WELS Multi-Language Productions, into certificate-level training. These efforts allow ALS to serve students across Asia regardless of location or language.
Reflecting on the seminary’s history, Missionary Emeritus Rob Siirila, who helped establish ALS, remarks, “God’s providence was evident at every step. My greatest blessing has been witnessing his hand at work throughout the process.”
As ALS looks ahead, the message that launched its ministry remains just as relevant. “Now is still the time,” says Schlomer, echoing the words from ALS’ founding passage in 2 Corinthians 6:2. “May God continue to bless this seminary as it trains the next generation of gospel proclaimers.”
Read more from Dr. Jonathan Bare, Asia Lutheran Seminary president, in this article from the June 2024 edition of Forward in Christ magazine: forwardinchrist.net/now-is-still-the-time.
James Brandt installed as team leader for the Asia-Oceania Team
The Asia-Oceania Team of WELS World Missions is made up of 17 missionaries serving 18 different countries throughout Asia and Oceania. The missionaries live throughout the region in Thailand, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Australia and work collaboratively with one another, national partners, and WELS-affiliated organizations. Their primary role is to find, train, and support a network of leaders who will, in turn, reach out with the gospel in their own countries. The Asia-Oceania Team, acting on behalf of WELS Board for World Missions, recently called Mr. James Brandt to serve as team leader. He has been led by the Lord to accept that call and has been installed and commissioned for his work.
Brandt will lead and manage team strategy and hold the team accountable for carrying out its plans. He will facilitate good communication and teamwork, coordinate missionary development, and make field visits as necessary. Ultimately, he reports to the Asia-Oceania Team Administrative Committee and to the Board for World Missions. Brandt and his wife, Kathy, will reside in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Following his graduation from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1985, Brandt served as a teacher in Fond du Lac, Wis.; principal of schools in California and Illinois; administrator for WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools; vice president at Wisconsin Lutheran College; and academic dean at Wisconsin Lutheran High School. He also served World Missions as a member of the administrative committee for India missions.
Please join with us in praying for God’s blessings on Brandt’s work in this part of the world where God continues to provide us with incredible mission opportunities.
Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder