On Sunday evening, August 24^th, standing in front of the large, wood beam cross suspended over the stone fireplace in the fellowship hall at Camp Luther, the voices of approximately 20 pastors echoed throughout the room. We were singing, If Christ had not been raised from death our faith would be in vain, Our preaching but a waste of breath, Our sin and guilt remain. But now the Lord is ris’n indeed; He rules in earth and heaven: His Gospel meets a world of need—In Christ we are forgiv’n.

It was my honor to preach for the opening chapel service for our overnight circuit visitors’ retreat. We heard from Isaiah. He does not hold back. “The heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die… but my salvation will be forever… and for my arm they wait” (51:5,6). God is a spirit. We see His works, like the massive white pine trees towering about at Camp Luther, but we do not see Him. And of course He does not actually have an arm, but He does have a Son. The Ruler from eternity and Creator of everything sent Him to come with full force to smash sin and death to bits. A Roman cross, hammer, and nails, Jesus’ death, Joseph’s tomb, Jesus’ resurrection… and it is finished. He accomplished His world-saving mission. Sin and death will crash upon us, but they have no lasting power over us.

Crash upon us, they did. Little did we know, or anyone else, that by Wednesday afternoon a photo would be all over social media showing a mother, with her back to the camera, holding a shoe in each hand and running barefoot toward the school. Shots had been fired. Another account tells of a father who normally goes to work after dropping his kids off at the school but attended chapel that day instead. He stood in the back, heard the rapid pop pop pop and knew it was gun fire. The shooter, a deeply troubled young man, tried to enter the church, but it was locked. He resorted to peppering bullets through one or more stained glass windows, if I heard correctly. I can try to imagine the heart-racing fear in the children huddled under their church pews after the principal told them to get down. One child who was shot used his body to shield another child. And what was it like to be the mother running toward the church, or the father standing in the back? And then, eventually, the children in the church were told, “You can stand up now,” or something similar, and they did. But not all of them. Two children, 8-year-old Fletcher and 10-year-old Harper, died in the pews of their church during the first week of school.

We do not sing and proclaim Christ and His Word to people for no good reason. Ultimately, a secure building is not our Savior from evil, not even a church building. I talked with a teacher a couple days after the tragedy. She teared up. “Pastor, this just breaks my heart. Those kids were in church! It is so sad, and I can’t imagine being their parents!” The devil is a wicked, powerful spirit being. Our sinful natures are opposed to whatever our Lord says is good and pursue the opposite. Our sinful natures pursue unbelief and death. This past Wednesday we witnessed a full dose of it.

In the original German of the familiar hymn many will sing next month for Reformation Sunday, the 3^rd and 4^th stanzas are meant to be read together. Nearing the end of stanza four, the translation many of us grew up with reads,

And take they our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife,

Let these all be gone, They yet have nothing won;

The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Wait, what? And take they our life? Goods, fame, child, and wife? Who exactly are they? Who is doing all this taking? The answer is stanza 3.

Tho’ devils all the world should fill, All Eager to devour us,

We tremble not, we fear no ill, They shall not over pow’r us.

This world’s prince may still Scowl fierce as he will,

He can harm us none, He’s judged; the deed is done;

One little word can fell him.

The devils and demons and our own sinful natures swarm and attack, and may even “take our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife,” but Luther assures, “They yet have nothing won,” and then we ask again, who are they, who has not won a thing? Does Luther mean we can let our goods, fame, child, and wife all be gone because they, our loved ones and worldly things, have won nothing for us? I don’t think so. I think once more he is referring to the devils and demons. Even if they, the devil and his minions take our lives and loved ones, they have won nothing, because, The Kingdom ours remaineth.

The Kingdom is ours and remains ours forever, because Christ smashed sin and death, and His Word makes Jesus’ victory our victory by creating and keeping faith in our hearts. May He guide us to bring His saving Word to the people entrusted to our care in our homes, churches, schools, communities, and across our North Wisconsin District. Is anything more important?

It is my honor to serve you and to serve others with you.

God’s peace and joy to you in Christ Jesus,

Pastor Shoup

Rev. Timothy J. Shoup

District President, North Wisconsin District LCMS

Hymn Text – If Christ Had Not Been Raised from Death – LSB 486, st. 1.

Hymn Text – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God – TLH 262, st. 3 & 4

Congregations receive God’s love and mercy in worship. Pastors craft sermons to bring Christ and His Word to their people. Pastors and their members sometimes also feel like they are treading water, or know they want to move forward but are not quite sure what to do. Small Church Clarity (meaning congregations with up to 200 people per week in worship) is a four-week event that will lead congregations to develop and implement a plan for ministry. A cohort of churches is beginning this fall, and a new cohort (six-eight congregations) in the spring of 2026. We give thanks for our partners at LCEF for leading the training, and the NWD Board of Directors for providing the funding to cover the cost. Watch for more information. Consider participating in the next cohort. Contact President Shoup with questions.

New District President Rev. Tim Shoup has been busy with the duties of NWD District President. He has hit the ground running, creating and implementing a mission and vision that describes the work we are doing from the NWD office in Wausau.

NWD Mission

We bring Christ and His Word to people.

NWD Vision

• Fostering Lutheran education
• Building families and children of faith and character
• Freeing them to live in His image - to serve
• Revitalizing our smaller congregations
• Helping them reach the lost.

Rostered church workers in the NWD, please take note of the following information concerning a unique opportunity for educational debt relief in our district. The NWD’s annual Labor of Love application and granting process begins on Monday, Sept. 15. The updated application with instructions will be available at www.nwdlcms.org from Sept. 15 through Dec. 10 (the application deadline), with all grant recipients being notified of their amounts in January of 2026.

Labor of Love grants:

• are for rostered church workers, both full time and part time, currently employed in NWD congregations, schools, or missions.
• are limited to individuals with at least $10,000 in combined educational debt.
• are awarded based on the applicant’s overall financial need, current financial commitments, and special circumstances based on the information provided in the application, loan/bank statements and applicant statement.
• assist in repaying college and/or seminary educational loans (excludes post-graduate work or that beyond an M.Div.).

Please make a point to visit the District web site (www.nwdlcms.org) on or after September 15 to complete the updated application for 2025.

May the Lord continue to bless our NWD church workers!

In Jesus,

Bill Jordan

District Vice President - LCEF

North Wisconsin District

bill.jordan@lcef.org - 715-845-8241 ext. 102

We give thanks for those elected to serve on the NWD Board of Directors. This group meets quarterly, supporting the District President as he carries out the Ministry Plan of the NWD. Committee assignments were given, governance responsibilities were reviewed, and the NWD Ministry Plan/Mission/Vision were approved. Keep these servant leaders in your prayers. 

Row 1 – DJ Schult, David McFarland, Lori Kavajecz, Pauline Jerabek, Rev. Ryan Fehrmann–3rd VP. Row 2 – Craig Timm, Bryon Graff, Dwayne Maroszek–District Treasurer, William Zick, Rev. Travis Kleinschmidt–District Secretary. Row 3 – David Mellem, Rev. Don Engebretson–1st VP, Dr. Jeff Nielsen, Rev. Tim Shoup–District President, Rev. Preston Paul–2nd VP. Absent – Rev. Richard Neely Owen, Marie Fenske.

Christ Community Lutheran School in Almena opened this school year, offering classical education. A solid back to the basics education of Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic will be central to the lower grades and continue into the upper grades The study of History, Science, Music, and Language will form young minds to be upstanding citizens who can think for themselves. Godly, natural, & Biblical morals, of what is right and wrong, holy and evil, will mold young hearts to seek God. The curriculum and education at CCLS will be guided by its Consortium of Classical Lutheran Education Accreditation. The Study of God’s Word and the Catechism, along with Worship, will mark the daily routines of the students. Pastor Ike Nicholson is the headmaster. They will also offer Christ Community Lutheran Cooperative, to build a community for classical homeschooling families in Northwest Wisconsin. Learn more at https://christcommunityls.org/.

Central WI Lutheran High School is planning to open in 2026-27 in the Stevens Point/Plover area. Educating grades 9-12, they will equip students with a faithful education as they transition into adulthood. They will uphold traditional Christian values and world-view as students experience God’s love and discover their roles in His kingdom. They will provide a comprehensive curriculum for all students, no matter what path they pursue after high school. Their community is Scripture-based and Christ-centered. Every truth that they teach, from algebra to chemistry, from composition to history, is an opportunity to explore how God continues to work in our world. The Board is currently calling a principal and doing the work needed to be ready to open in a year. Learn more by contacting board member Mary Glade at mglade001@gmail.com.

LCMS Discipleship Ministry - Evangelism Program

The Every One His Witness® Lutheran evangelism program combines sound doctrine and practical actions for sharing the faith with people in everyday situations. Participants will learn the “how-to” of witnessing using the LASSIE approach — Listen, Ask, Seek, Share, Invite and Encourage — with non-churched friends, co-workers, neighbors and family members. This program consists of two parts, with on-site core module training led by a local leader and online module training that focuses on specific contexts. View resources - HERE.

God's Mission Here

The congregations and schools of the LCMS are teaching God’s Word and caring for souls every day. National Mission partners with districts to walk alongside, offering support. The monthly newsletter, God's Mission Here, will highlight several items each month. BECAUSE GOD’S MISSION IS RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE.

• The Concordia Plans website contains a wealth of information.
• Stay informed with Connecting the Dots newsletters - HERE.
• Visit the Concordia Plans page of the NWD website listing the main contacts for churches using their services - HERE.