Brochure 
Contact: Rev. Daniel McMiller, Congregational Services—Missions & Evangelism
Office: (414) 464-8100, ext. 22 or (800) 793-3678; E-mail: mcmiller@swd.lcms.org
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Project name
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Project #
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ONGOING MISSIONS
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Mission Hill (formerly Concordia)/Waunakee
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MS-1
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Oshkosh Mission Start
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MS-2
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CAMPUS MINISTRIES
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Calvary/Madison
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MS-3
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Luther Memorial/Shorewood (UWM)
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MS-4
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Calvary & University/Whitewater
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MS-5
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Apostles/Platteville
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MS-6
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Faith/La Crosse
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MS-7
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CHAPLAINCY MINISTRIES
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Chaplain Gary Ruckman/Milwaukee
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MS-8
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Chaplain Stephen Wenk/Madison
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MS-9
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Chaplain Thomas Fleischmann/Sheboygan
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MS-10
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EDUCATION MINISTRIES
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Leadership Development/Theological Education
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MS-11
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DEAF MINISTRIES
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Missionary-at-Large to the Deaf/West Region
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MS-13
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Missionary-at-Large to the Deaf/East Region
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MS-14
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URBAN/CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRIES
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Hispanic Ministry/Sheboygan
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MS-16
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Hispanic Ministry/Racine
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MS-17
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Hmong Ministry/Oshkosh
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MS-18
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Hmong Ministry/Milwaukee
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MS-19
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Hmong Ministry/Manitowoc
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MS-20
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Mission of Christ/Milwaukee
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MS-22
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Gospel/Milwaukee
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MS-23
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NEW MISSION PROJECTS
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ONGOING MINISTRIES
Mission Hill/Waunakee #MS-1
(Formerly Concordia Lutheran)
Contact: Rev. Jeff Corder, (608) 849-6130
Mission Hill, Waunakee, is a mission located just northwest of Madison and west of Sun Prairie. This rapidly growing area provides an excellent situation for a mission congregation. The congregation is currently holding worship services in the Waunakee Community High School which is about one mile from the land that has been purchased by the District for a future sanctuary to accommodate its growing membership. With help from Fan into Flame funds, the congregation is seeking to expand its ministry to children in order to reach out to all the unchurched families in the area. The congregation is currently in the process of doing a market feasibility study to explore the possibility of incorporating a Christian Child Development Center into its plans. With the need for a Christian day care in the Madison area, Mission Hill is seeking money to make minor building modifications to the current building that exists. The congregation is being served by Rev. Jeff Corder and a lot of dedicated members who are working very hard to serve God by being laborers in His mission field.
Oshkosh Mission Start #MS-2
Contact: Rev. Jeff Prewitt (920) 725-4354
Circuit pastors and congregations have established a partnership program with the District. New Hope in Neenah is preparing to launch a satellite site in Oshkosh to plant a new church with New Hope/Neenah (Rev. Jeff Prewitt) serving as the mother church, and several area congregations serving as partner churches.
CAMPUS MINISTRIES
Calvary/Madison #MS-3
Contact: Rev. Mark Schumm, (608) 255-7214
Calvary Chapel is one of five campus ministries of the South Wisconsin District. It serves the students of the University of Wisconsin with a large and varied program of worship, Bible studies and fellowship activities. The International Friendship Center is an arm of Calvary Chapel, serving the foreign students on campus. Each year new Christians, reached through the International Center, are baptized and nurtured in their faith through Bible study programs. Rev. Mark Schumm was installed as pastor on September 10, 2006.
Luther Memorial/Shorewood (UWM) #MS-4
Contact: Rev. Ken Wieting, (414) 332-5732
Luther Memorial Chapel and University Student Center is located six blocks north of the UW-Milwaukee campus. The vicar and part-time student coordinator work with Rev. Dr. Kenneth Wieting to provide opportunities for worship, study, service, and social activities to UWM students. There are two opportunities each week for attending the divine service, and a Bible study is offered each Sunday morning. Each week, “Table Talk,” an opportunity for an informal presentation and discussion about Lutheran doctrine, is provided at the UWM Student Union. Outreach tables at the Union and dormitories are hosted periodically. Additional opportunities for study and service are available as announced. Students are invited to join in the regular activities of the Luther Memorial parish. Tutors in conversational English for international students are available. Visit our blog at uwmlsf.blogspot.com or the church Web site at www.lmcusc.com.
Calvary & University/Whitewater #MS-5
Contact: Rev. David Emmrich, (262) 473-5274
The UW-Whitewater campus ministry serves the students with worship, Bible studies and fellowship activities. It is located directly on the edge of the university campus and is easily accessible to the students. As an outreach to the campus and community, the congregation operates Little Angels Christian Children’s Center. The congregation is served by Pastor David Emmrich.
Apostles/Platteville #MS-6
Contact: Rev. Tom Reeder, (608) 348-9901
Apostles Lutheran Church is a congregation near the University of Wisconsin-Platteville (UWP). Rev. Thomas N. Reeder, Jr. is the pastor. Apostles serves students of UWP through the congregation with the divine service on Sunday, occasional services in the week, Bible study, and social activities, as well as through Lutheran Student Fellowship (LSF), a recognized student organization on campus. Through the LSF, Bible studies, presentations, and discussions take place on campus. Weekly Bible studies, as well as other social activities, are offered throughout the week both on and off campus. During the summer, with new student registration and into the school year, outreach tables are hosted where information about Apostles and materials for devotional use are handed out. Apostles is in the process of developing international student ministry.
Faith/La Crosse #MS-7
Contact: Rev. Paul Mundinger, (608) 782-3696
The South Wisconsin District under girds the campus ministry carried on by Faith Lutheran Church of La Crosse, which serves the students at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse campus. Faith has welcomed the students into their midst and reaches out to them in worship, Bible studies and fellowship. A volunteer from the congregation coordinates the student activities. Pastor Paul Mundinger was installed as pastor at Faith in summer 2007.
CHAPLAINCY MINISTRIES
Chaplain Gary Ruckman #MS-8
House of Correction/Milwaukee
Contact: Rev. Gary Ruckman, (414) 427-4734
Ex-Offender Ministries:
The South Wisconsin District and Chaplain Gary Ruckman are working in conjunction with the Greater Milwaukee Federation to coordinate new ex-offender ministries and services. They do this in partnership with mercy ministries in Milwaukee such as the SOS Center, Jeremiah Ministries and Crossing-Over (a new ex-offender ministry located at the SOS Center), Lutheran Special Schools and individual congregations in the City of Milwaukee as well as throughout the District. These many ministries are not line items in the South Wisconsin District, but depend upon direct gifts and support from our congregations. Volunteer support for these many ministries is also welcomed. Please contact and support all of these ministries directly or through the District over and above your present District and Synod support so that our existing ministries listed in this booklet need not be reduced.
Chaplain Stephen Wenk #MS-9
Madison Hospitals
Contact: Rev. Stephen Wenk, (608) 265-0255
Chaplain Steve Wenk is the director of spiritual care services at University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. He provides leadership and direction to chaplains at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics to ensure that the spiritual needs of patients, families and staff are met. For the South Wisconsin District, Chaplain Wenk provides Word and Sacrament ministry to LCMS members in Madison-area hospitals. UW Hospital has had an LCMS chaplain since 1935. He is also the executive chaplain of the South Wisconsin District.
Chaplain Thomas Fleischmann #MS-10
Sheboygan Health Care
Contact: Rev. Thomas Fleischmann, (920) 892-2211
Chaplain Thomas Fleischmann was installed in June 1997 to serve as chaplain to Sheboygan County Health Care Centers with a Word and Sacrament ministry. He conducts weekly worship services, Bible study classes and one-on-one counseling, visitations and annual VBS programs. For the private nursing homes, he coordinates worship services, communes residents when regular pastoral care is unavailable and conducts funerals. As of the 2007 fiscal year, the Sheboygan area congregations, working with and through the Sheboygan Chaplaincy Committee, are supporting Chaplain Fleischmann’s ministry directly and in its entirety. The District holds the call to Chaplain Fleischmann, but direct support for this ministry was necessary due to financial challenges of the District and the unique regional nature of the service provided by this important ministry. Please support this work directly through your offerings and gifts. A major fund raiser of the Sheboygan Area Nursing Home Chaplaincy is their annual Chaplain’s picnic, held at the Sheboygan County Fair Grounds each June.
EDUCATION MINISTRIES
Leadership Development/Theological Education #MS-11
Contact: Rev. Daniel McMiller, (414) 464-8100, ext. 22
Working with the Ethic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT), the Deaf Institute of Theology (DIT), the Hispanic Institute of Theology (HIT) and the Distance Education Leading Toward Ordination (DELTO) program of Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and also working with the Lay Ministry Department of Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon) the District has implemented “alternative route” theological education programs available in our Synod. These programs address pressing needs to identify and prepare lay servant/leaders who can assist the pastoral office and our congregations in reaching the ever-changing population of rural and urban Wisconsin. The Deaf Institute of Theology addresses a wide spread unchurched deaf population. Some of the men in these programs of study may become lay ministers and others, in time, ordained pastors. All those who by God’s grace finish the program, will be uniquely qualified for pressing mission opportunities of our District. Some of our immigrant church workers will be trained and resourced by POBLO (People of the Book Lutheran Outreach) for intentional outreach to a growing Muslim community.
Missionary-at-Large for the Deaf/West Region #MS-13
Contact: Rev. John Reinke, (414) 839-9403
Pastor John Reinke serves Our Savior Lutheran in Madison and Holy Cross in Delavan. In Madison, he is assisted by Deacon and DIT (Deaf Institute of Theology) student Ted Pulfer. Rev. Reinke is working with Rev. William (Bud) Palmer in developing many new ministry models to the Deaf including a “church without walls” model for the many unchurced Deaf spread around the country and the globe. Pastor Reinke is co-chair with Pastor Palmer of the Deaf Lutheran Mission Society which receives limited funding from the LCMS and supports all of our Districts in the development of Deaf Ministries across the Synod. Pastor Reinke is also the part-time director of the Deaf Institute of Theology in St. Louis. With the support and involvement of members in our District and LCMS World Missions, pastors Reinke and Palmer are conducting an outreach and leadership training program in Ghana, West Africa and India. The District is in dialogue with the Synod and St. Louis Seminary to look for ways to better coordinate and cover the many responsibilities that Pastor Reinke has undertaken in his various roles in Synod and District.
Missionary-at-Large for the Deaf/East Region #MS-14
Contact: Rev. William Palmer, (414) 839-9178
Rev. William Palmer continues his effective ministry to the deaf in the eastern region, serving Emmanuel Lutheran/West Allis and smaller mission sites. The ministry at Emmanuel includes worship services, Bible classes, confirmation classes, pastoral care and many other activities as in a congregation of hearing people. Pastor Palmer has developed a deaf choir. All activities are done in sign language. As mentioned above, Pastors Reinke and Palmer are conducting an outreach and leadership training program in Ghana, West Africa and India through cooperation between the District and LCMS World Missions.
URBAN/CROSS CULTURAL MINISTRIES
Hispanic Ministry/Sheboygan #MS-16
Contact: Rev. David Paape, (920) 452-7266
Members of Sheboygan area LCMS congregations and the Sheboygan Hispanic task force, working in conjunction with Missionary-at-Large Pedro Lopez of Primera Iglesia in Racine and Rev. David Paape of Immanuel Lutheran in Sheboygan, have begun significant outreach to the large Hispanic community in the area. Concordia University pre-seminary student Luis Beltran has been working in Sheboygan with a stipend to assist this ministry. Luis is bilingual and has assisted with follow up on contacts developed through driver’s education, English as a second language classes and many social and community care programs. Weekly Bible studies and church services have been held in Spanish. Baptisms have been conducted, and our first confirmations are scheduled for the end of the summer in 2007.
Hispanic Ministry/Racine #MS-17
Contact: Rev. Pedro Lopez, (262) 308-9277
Primera Iglesia continues to reach out to the Hispanic community of Racine. Worship, Sunday school and Bible study have expanded; new members have been baptized and confirmed, and an active youth and community outreach is ongoing. Missionary-at-Large Pastor Lopez and the District are working with the Circuit Counselor and area congregations to examine possible ways of continuing the Hispanic ministry in the existing facility at 3001 Carpenter or utilizing other facilities. It is vital to our Mission goals that we continue to reach the approximately 50,000 Hispanic neighbors in the Racine community and beyond with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A Hispanic Music Ministry fund through gifts from congregations and grants has been developed with the goal of having a full-time Hispanic Music Ministry program. It is our prayer that this program can start in Racine no later that the beginning of 2008, and hopefully expand to Milwaukee and beyond in the future.
Hmong Ministry/Oshkosh #MS-18
Contact: Rev. Blong Vang, (920) 426-8725
Hmong ministry reaches out to Hmong people displaced from Laos following the Vietnam War. Begun in 1993 at Trinity Lutheran in Oshkosh, Hmong Lutheran Outreach in Oshkosh is one of the first LCMS Hmong Ministries in the United States. Pastor Blong Vang completed theological education through the LCMS Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT), and accepted the Call to Oshkosh to serve as their pastor in spring of 2007. Hmong Lutheran Outreach in Oshkosh is at the center of a growing Hmong community in the Fox Valley, and expansion of this ministry throughout the area via partnerships with area congregations is our prayer. Pastor Vang is called by Hmong Lutheran Outreach with the support of a partnership grant from the District.
Hmong Ministry/Milwaukee #MS-19
Benediction Lutheran Church
Contact: Rev. Don Hougard, (414) 463-9158
Benediction Lutheran Church, located at 5740 N. 86th St., has a Hmong ministry within its congregation served by Pastor Don Hougard, with assistance from Hmong lay leadership within the congregation. A new candidate for the pastoral ministry is Moua Vang, a member of Benediction Lutheran. Moua is taking pre-EIIT courses that cover Old Testament and New Testament studies, as well as Christian Doctrine. Upon completion of these courses he may enter into the EIIT (Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology) program of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Hmong Hope Lutheran Church
Contact: Rev. Yia Vang, (414) 342-0471
Hmong Hope Lutheran Church meets at Hope Lutheran at 1115 N. 35th Street, Milwaukee. This chartered congregation is being served by Missionary at Large of the District, Pastor Yia Vang. Pastor Yia Vang is called by the District and has been instrumental in starting many Hmong ministries throughout the state of Wisconsin. Hmong Hope is a congregation of about 170 members. Pastor Yia Vang is also developing new ministries in Thailand in coordination with LCMS World Missions. The South Wisconsin District fully supports Pastor Yia Vang’s salary, but all expenses related to Pastor Vang’s trips to Thailand, and recently to Vietnam, are supported by the Hmong Missions Society. New Hmong outreach is needed in Madison and La Crosse.
Hmong Ministry/Manitowoc & Shebygan #MS-20
Contact: Rev. Faiv Neng Her, (920) 684-3989
Manitowoc Hmong ministry is being shepherded by Rev. Faiv Neng Her, who was ordained on October 5, 2003 and has been called to serve Hmong ministry at Redeemer in Manitowoc as a missionary-at-large with assignment to the Manitowoc and Two Rivers area. At Redeemer, the Hmong ministry is done in partnership with the ministry of Redeemer Lutheran (Rev. Rick Miller and Rev. Ben Squires). Pastor Her is in dialogue with pastors of the Sheboygan area and visiting Hmong families in Sheboygan. The Hmong families are being linked to our Sheboygan LCMS congregations and schools.
Mission of Christ/Milwaukee #MS-22
Contact: Rev. Victor Fischer, (414) 264-4050
Mission of Christ Lutheran Church on 9th and Center Streets is being served by Rev. Vic Fischer. A two-year partnership grant has been developed to support the congregation which has a core membership of about 100 souls and a very active social ministry. Pastor Fischer is also mentoring men in the Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology program of Concordia Seminary (St. Louis). One member of MOC is in pre-EIIT training, and four members are taking courses in the pre-DELTO program of Concordia University and Concordia Seminary (St. Louis). Organized in 1973, the congregation, through its active lay leadership, continues to envision a vital ministry to a changing and challenging community. Suburban congregations have partnered with MOC for social ministry projects and summer VBS programs.
Gospel/Milwaukee #MS-23
Contact: Rev. Victor Fischer, (414) 562-1890
Ministry to the African Immigrant Community at Gospel Lutheran is continuing. EIIT Vicar Elijah Ndon is now serving African Immigrant families at Gospel and reaching out to the African Immigrant community with the members of Gospel Lutheran along with the assistance of Missionary at Large, Pastor Chris Ikanih. Deacon Dennis Harmon is finishing his studies at Concordia University and preparing for entrance into the DELTO program of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. Deacon Harmon and Vicar Ndon are preaching, teaching and serving in collaboration and under the supervision of Vacancy Pastor Vic Fischer of Mission of Christ Lutheran.
NEW MISSION PROJECTS
African Immigrant Ministry
Contacts: Mission Executive Rev. Dan McMiller, (414) 464-8100, ext. 22
MAL Rev. Christian Ikanih, (414) 467-2643
All Nations Lutheran Church Mission Start is now worshipping in two groups at two locations. These locations are: Gospel and Hope in Milwaukee. Serving at Gospel is Vicar Elijah Ndon (see Gospel, above). Serving African Immigrant Ministry at Hope are EIIT students Dr. Ben Adetiba and EIIT student Afam Ikanih, under the supervision of Pastor Micah Wildauer.
International Lutheran Church of Zion, French speaking, with Deacon Gui Kasongo Kabeo, continues to meet at Benediction in Milwaukee with the added blessing of generous financial and mentoring support from Immanuel, Brookfield and Rev. Daniel Schneider. Pastor Don Hougard of Benediction also assists in the mentoring process.
EIIT student Gui Kasongo Kabeo is also receiving training from People of the Book Lutheran Outreach (POBLO), which assists ministries in reaching out to the Muslim population. Some of Gui’s members at International Lutheran Church of Zion are former Muslims.
Rev. Dr. Christian Ikanih continues to work with all of these African Immigrant Ministries in the capacity of Evangelist. He is assisting the District in developing different Urban Mercy Ministries and new outreach to African Immigrants in communities beyond Milwaukee.