Mission Support:
Branch Lutheran Schools of Haiti
OUR MISSION:
To provide for the educational, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of Haitian youth
OUR VISION:
As children of God, we are compared to sheep in the Bible—sheep who sometimes stray and need to be found by our Good Shepherd. In Luke 15:4-6, Jesus teaches us that He leaves the 99 to find the one lost sheep, rejoicing when it is brought home. At Branch Lutheran Schools in Haiti, we are blessed to be part of that mission: bringing the "lost sheep"—God's children—closer to Him through education and care.
The importance of your support cannot be overstated. As we watch Haiti endure continued economic and political turmoil, with food prices continually increasing, the opportunity these children have to learn, grow, and be spiritually nourished is more crucial than ever. When they step through the doors of Branch Schools, they receive more than just an education—they receive a foundation built on God's Word, and they know that their Good Shepherd loves them deeply.
WELS Affiliate
In fall 2020, Branch Schools became a WELS affiliate, joining other organizations such as Kingdom Workers and the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society to stand in official doctrinal fellowship with the WELS. We thank God for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead!
Learn more about the WELS through the link below.
To provide for the educational, physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of Haitian youth
OUR VISION:
- Provide nutrition and Lutheran education for orphans and other children in Haiti.
- Identify and nurture children with the potential to serve in ministry to be trained by Pastor Rona Abraham.
- Provide vocational training to prepare children who must leave the orphanage at age 18.
- Grow Lutheran mission congregations at the schools that can expand into the neighborhoods.
As children of God, we are compared to sheep in the Bible—sheep who sometimes stray and need to be found by our Good Shepherd. In Luke 15:4-6, Jesus teaches us that He leaves the 99 to find the one lost sheep, rejoicing when it is brought home. At Branch Lutheran Schools in Haiti, we are blessed to be part of that mission: bringing the "lost sheep"—God's children—closer to Him through education and care.
The importance of your support cannot be overstated. As we watch Haiti endure continued economic and political turmoil, with food prices continually increasing, the opportunity these children have to learn, grow, and be spiritually nourished is more crucial than ever. When they step through the doors of Branch Schools, they receive more than just an education—they receive a foundation built on God's Word, and they know that their Good Shepherd loves them deeply.
WELS Affiliate
In fall 2020, Branch Schools became a WELS affiliate, joining other organizations such as Kingdom Workers and the Lutheran Women's Missionary Society to stand in official doctrinal fellowship with the WELS. We thank God for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead!
Learn more about the WELS through the link below.
World Mission Support:
Ukrainian Lutheran Church
The Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC; Українська Лютеранська Церква), formerly called the Ukrainian Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, is a Byzantine Rite Lutheran Church based in Ukraine. The Eastern Christian denomination consists of 25 congregations within Ukraine, serving over 2,500 members and runs Saint Sophia Ukrainian Lutheran Theological Seminary in Ternopil in Western Ukraine.
- The ULC is a member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC), a worldwide organization of confessional Lutheran church bodies of the same beliefs.
Aid Distribution in Ukraine:
- As Russia continues to wage war against Ukraine, the effort to support WELS’ brothers and sisters in Ukraine has been blessed by our Lord Jesus. WELS has received more than $1.4 million from individuals and groups to support the Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC), WELS’ sister church body in the Ukraine, and its efforts to help members and others affected by the conflict.
- WELS has sent more than $300,000 in aid to Ukraine. Approximately $200,000 has been sent to the ULC (as it has requested it) for clothing, food, medicine, and other supplies. About $100,000 has been sent to Direct Relief, an organization equipped to provide emergency medical supplies to those remaining in Ukraine or who are refugees in Poland. As the conflict continues, and as needs arise, additional funding will be sent. WELS also is anticipating significant rebuilding costs when, Lord willing, the war ends.
- Rev. Roger Neumann serves the Board for World Missions as the WELS liaison to Ukraine. He maintains regular contact with ULC leaders and provides updates about how the aid is being used and how doors are opening to share the gospel, even in trying circumstances.
MN District Home Missions
Hispanic Services and Mission Outreach in St. Paul, MN
In spring of 2022, St John’s in St. Paul, MN installed Pastor Tim Otto to serve as pastor to focus on outreach to the Hispanic community. Over the past year, San Juan (St. John’s) has started up Hispanic services and held various local community events.
In September 2023, San Juan had a table at Fiesta Latina. It served to create a prospect list of around 100. The group gave away over 100 Bibles and a lot of flyers advertising their Hispanic ministry. This event was held next door to the church as CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) is located there. St. John’s rents four classrooms to them.
In January 2023, San Juan started an evangelism program to the community called Kicks and Conversations (in Spanish: Patear y Platicar). They invited the community to come out of the cold and to play soccer or basketball in the gym. Attendees could also practice their English on six Wednesdays in January and February leading up to Ash Wednesday. There was good participation as attendance from the community varied anywhere from 10 to 30.
In September 2023, San Juan had a table at Fiesta Latina. It served to create a prospect list of around 100. The group gave away over 100 Bibles and a lot of flyers advertising their Hispanic ministry. This event was held next door to the church as CLUES (Comunidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio) is located there. St. John’s rents four classrooms to them.
In January 2023, San Juan started an evangelism program to the community called Kicks and Conversations (in Spanish: Patear y Platicar). They invited the community to come out of the cold and to play soccer or basketball in the gym. Attendees could also practice their English on six Wednesdays in January and February leading up to Ash Wednesday. There was good participation as attendance from the community varied anywhere from 10 to 30.
Over the Summer months, San Juan started a summer evangelism program partnering with Raices y Ramas which is the Spanish version of the English pregnancy counseling organization New Day. The program is called Jueves en comunidad (Community Thursdays) and ran for 6 weeks over the Summer. San Juan opened the gym and Anglo volunteers organize and run crafts for the moms. Advertising was done through Facebook, flyers, word of mouth, and WhatsApp.
God is truly blessing the ministry work at St. John’s in St. Paul, MN. St. John’s went from a church that considered closing its doors a few years back to a church that has opened its doors and hearts to a new Hispanic ministry. In St. John’s building the Gospel is preached in Hmong and English and now Spanish. St. John is an old church and they still follow Jesus’ same old command to Go and make disciples of ALL nations.
One of the members at St. John’s reflected that through the years when the congregation’s direction was unclear to them, she clung to that image of the valley of dry bones (Ez, 37) and God’s promise that He can create life where there is none. These days, the vision rests more in Revelation 7:9. What a joy to see God answer in greater fashion than we could ask or imagine: the building now hosts worship in 3 languages every weekend!
The Minnesota District mission board has a direct relationship with St. John’s, Immanuel Hmong, and San Juan. We continue to support and encourage the congregations. God has truly blessed San Juan’s first year and we pray that God would continue to bless this home mission!
For more information on St. John’s/San Juan, please visit their website: www.stjohnev.net
New Minnesota District Missions Board Member
In March 2023, the Minnesota District Mission Board added a new lay member, Glen Schulz, to the board due to the growing focus and work of our home missions and mission enhancements. Glen is from Branson, Missouri and is currently a member at Zion Lutheran in Springfield, Missouri. We welcome Glen to the Minnesota District Mission Board!
New Missions or Enhancements
If you have any Home Mission ideas or questions, the Minnesota District Board would love to work with you to solidify these New Missions and Mission Enhancements.
God is truly blessing the ministry work at St. John’s in St. Paul, MN. St. John’s went from a church that considered closing its doors a few years back to a church that has opened its doors and hearts to a new Hispanic ministry. In St. John’s building the Gospel is preached in Hmong and English and now Spanish. St. John is an old church and they still follow Jesus’ same old command to Go and make disciples of ALL nations.
One of the members at St. John’s reflected that through the years when the congregation’s direction was unclear to them, she clung to that image of the valley of dry bones (Ez, 37) and God’s promise that He can create life where there is none. These days, the vision rests more in Revelation 7:9. What a joy to see God answer in greater fashion than we could ask or imagine: the building now hosts worship in 3 languages every weekend!
The Minnesota District mission board has a direct relationship with St. John’s, Immanuel Hmong, and San Juan. We continue to support and encourage the congregations. God has truly blessed San Juan’s first year and we pray that God would continue to bless this home mission!
For more information on St. John’s/San Juan, please visit their website: www.stjohnev.net
New Minnesota District Missions Board Member
In March 2023, the Minnesota District Mission Board added a new lay member, Glen Schulz, to the board due to the growing focus and work of our home missions and mission enhancements. Glen is from Branson, Missouri and is currently a member at Zion Lutheran in Springfield, Missouri. We welcome Glen to the Minnesota District Mission Board!
New Missions or Enhancements
If you have any Home Mission ideas or questions, the Minnesota District Board would love to work with you to solidify these New Missions and Mission Enhancements.