Dear Fellow Member of WELS,
Easter reminds us that when everything seemed finished—when the stone was sealed, and hope looked lost—the risen Christ was already at work. Because Jesus lives, his gospel keeps moving forward, often in ways we don’t expect. That’s what we see happening through the work of WELS World Missions today.
Across French-speaking regions of Africa, people are reaching out to WELS asking for help with God’s Word. And by God’s grace, we can respond.
French is an official language in 29 countries worldwide, and remarkably, 21 of them are in Africa. That shared language makes French a key connection point for gospel outreach across borders and cultures. In many of these places, faithful, Bible-based teaching is hard to find. That’s why these contacts matter—and why the opportunities before us are significant.
One example comes from a French-speaking church body called Mission Évangélique Luthérienne au Congo (MELC). Its leaders searched for theological support, found WELS, and reached out because they wanted clarity grounded firmly in Scripture. They see the challenges around them—especially the spread of false teaching—and they want to grow in the truth of God’s Word.
Faithful mission work in situations like this isn’t rushed. It involves careful doctrinal conversations, opening Scripture together, verifying unity in teaching and practice, and walking patiently with those who want to learn. This kind of work doesn’t always draw attention, but it is essential if the gospel of the risen Christ is to be proclaimed clearly and faithfully.
The work also requires flexibility. Because of political unrest, WELS missionaries cannot currently travel into parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Rather than stopping, conversations continue just across the border in Zambia, where it is safer to meet. There, missionaries and church leaders are able to build relationships, study doctrine together, and plan next steps. Trusting the Lord’s guidance, the work continues.
To support this growing outreach, we’ve made a focused investment in people and preparation. Missionary Jake Vilhauer, serving with the One Africa Team, received intensive French language immersion—including time living and studying in France and Cameroon. Because of that training, when French-speaking contacts across Africa reach out, we are ready to respond with clarity, compassion, and confidence in the gospel.
This is where you come in. We ask you to prayerfully consider supporting this work with a special gift. Your support makes it possible for WELS World Missions to carry out this work on the ground: engaging in careful doctrinal study, maintaining ongoing communication, and meeting face to face when those conversations matter most. And this need is not limited to one place. We are seeing similar requests for collaboration and support coming from countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, and beyond—all from people asking for faithful Lutheran teaching rooted in God’s Word.
As we celebrate Easter, we rejoice that Christ is risen—and that his living gospel continues to open doors in places near and far. Thank you for standing with WELS World Missions as we share that message throughout Africa.
In Christ’s service,
Larry Schlomer
Administrator, Board for World Missions
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for working through us in new and exciting ways. Bless Missionary Jake Vilhauer as he leads ministry efforts with French-speaking people in Africa. Guide our synod’s process of working toward possible fellowship with the Lutheran church body in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We thank you for blessing our work with them so that they have been able to discover more great truths in your Word and combat false doctrine. May our French language outreach connect with many more people in the 29 French-speaking countries of Africa, so that even more may come to know the salvation you have earned for us. Amen.
