“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25)

5th Edition – Friday, March 27, 2026

God’s Will for St. John’s

What do these things all have in common?

• 34 ministry meetings with 800 responses.

• 4 priorities focused down to 1.

• $10 million narrowed to $5.9 million in construction cost.

• $977,000 in paid down debt to $0 in 6 weeks.

• $0 to $3,800,000 in commitments in 8 weeks.

These are all pieces of evidence of God’s will for St. John’s West Bend.

In 2023, the Leadership Board set out to seek God’s will for St. John’s West Bend and our 30-Year Master Plan. In this 3 year journey the Leadership Board, the Building Committee, the Preparing the Way Committee, the Built on the Rock Committees, Pastoral Team, Management Team and Staff all put in thousands of hours directly and indirectly in seeking God’s will for St. John’s.

And by asking, seeking and knocking over and over and over in the last 3 years, the Leadership Board was ready to ask, seek and knock one last time on Wednesday night at the Special Voters’ Meeting by presenting our recommendation for the Built on the Rock Ministry Expansion Campaign.

If God speaks through His people, He spoke LOUD and CLEAR Wednesday night. With a near unanimous result, the congregation approved the financing and construction of 6 classrooms and support spaces, a new gymnasium and the resurfacing of the parking lots at a cost of $5.9 million.

While we as mortal humans could try to claim credit for these amazing results, we need to recognize that only by connecting, caring and sharing in Christ can we accomplish great things together.

But our work has only begun. As Derrick Iseler pointed out in his introductory speech on Wednesday night, by using this campaign as a springboard to connect, care and share within our own campus, we can continue to accomplish great things through Christ for our membership and our community.

God’s Blessings,

Mike Bryan

Leadership Board President

Building on a Solid Foundation

We discovered St. John’s while trying to decide where to send our oldest daughter for Kindergarten in 2015. As soon as we toured, we knew it was where our kids would attend. The Christ-centered culture and family feel of the school drew us—plus, the wife of Noah’s favorite high school teacher was (and still is) teaching 2nd grade. The connections were clear and the values aligned with our own. We could send our kids there and still remain members of our home church without paying extra for tuition. It was an easy decision.

Fast forward 11 years, our youngest is in her last months of 6th grade. Though staff and structures have changed, the Christ-centered focus remains and we have been very grateful for that. Even though we are not Lutheran, we have felt welcome and valued as partners with the school. It has led to great conversations with our daughters and has given them a solid foundation for their walk with Jesus. We are very thankful for the years that St. John’s has given us!

Blessings,

Billie & Noah McCardell

Thank You Building Committee!

Back Row: Nicole Janisse, John Kuehl, Dan Rudolf, Randy Krell, Pastor Stephen Reynolds. Front Row: Arick Groth, Jim Van Dellen, Marcia Milam, John Steger, Matt Christianson. Not Pictured: Matt Myrhum.

March 25 Voters’ Meeting

Commitment Celebration

If you have questions about the campaign, email Steve Kaphingst (Campaign Director) at skaph1@yahoo.com, call Pastor Jeff Hesse at (262) 334-4901, ext. 319, call the church office at (262) 334-4901 or email the church office at stjohns@stjohnswestbend.org.