Last week Kerry Pamperin, our former WELS Kingdom Worker, headed home. She had served in Torreon for a year teaching English. This fall she will head back to Martin Luther College (MLC). She’ll spend the next year and a half there, finishing up her studies to become a teacher.

Kerry was replaced by two volunteers: Derek Bartelt (left) and Andrew Gerlach. These men are also from MLC. They’re both studying to be pastors, and are currently taking a year off of school in order to help out with outreach efforts in Torreon. They’ll be teaching English classes during their time here.

Many thanks (muchas gracias!) to Kerry for her dedicated service here, and we wish God’s blessings on our new volunteers, Derek and Andrew.

Learn more about our English program here.

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. And so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” – 2 Corinthians 1:20

Amen! You may think things are mixed up here. Generally, “amen” is the word you hear at the end of the message. But this time, the word that means “so be it” is at the very beginning.

If you were to take a look at all that has been going on in the last few months here at the WELS Mission in Thailand, you might say the same thing: things are all mixed up here. As severe budget constraints have brought about the recall of missionaries serving in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a lot has changed lately in the shape and scope of the mission. In spite of the challenging circumstances, the country’s national leaders have been working with the missionaries and with each other to formulate a strategy of how to proceed in sharing God’s Word with others and continue to equip more individuals to do the same.

One change in particular has been the downsizing of rented buildings in Chiang Mai. The former sites of Promise Lutheran Church, as well as the women’s dorm, have closed their doors and are now sharing space in Promise House, which formerly served as the men’s dorm. Now it’s a time of rearranging worship, work, and living spaces to continue to provide for the needs of congregation members and students preparing to serve in the ministry here.

Although the location has changed, the mission of Promise Lutheran Church has not. As the sign once situated at 28 Wiangkaew Road, but now standing at 76 Wiangkaew Road, indicates from John 14:6, Promise Lutheran is a place where people learn that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. It’s a promise that we can rely upon regardless of anything that changes around us. And it’s because of that promise that we can say a loud and confident “amen” as Promise Lutheran begins the same blessed work in a different location. For our confidence rests not in our earthly address, but rather in our heavenly address that awaits us.

Amen!