Church Planting: Partnering to Make Disciples

Faith & Fellowship Magazine
Written By Tim Mathiesen

November/December 2025

Church Planting: Partnering to Make Disciples

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Featured
Joining Jesus for 125 Years
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, 125th Anniversary Celebration
Joining Jesus for 125 Years
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, 125th Anniversary Celebration

25 years ago, on December 17, 1900, five congregations gathered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and made the decision to form the Church of the Lutheran Brethren. 

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, 125th Anniversary Celebration
Why Do We Plant Churches?
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
Why Do We Plant Churches?
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting

The command to go and make disciples hasn’t come to an end. Today we are called to “Go” and reach people with the gospel.

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
“Do You Think You Might Be A Church Planter?”
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
“Do You Think You Might Be A Church Planter?”
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting

As we discussed God’s calling on my life, I remember him asking me, “Do you think you might be a church planter?” I had never planted a church, so I didn’t know how to answer him. But the more I thought about it, the more I thought, “Maybe I am.”

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
The Impact of a Church Plant
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
The Impact of a Church Plant
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting

God has encouraged the hearts of people within our congregation that he is at work. More than that, God has shown us that he will even use us to be part of this bigger mission.

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
Difficult, Yet Rewarding
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
Difficult, Yet Rewarding
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting

When we began talks and prayers for beginning a new work for the Kingdom of God, we didn’t have any idea what some of the unintended positive consequences might be. Little did we know (but should have) that God would do more than we ask or imagine.

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
Fall 2025 Incoming Students
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, Lutheran Brethren Seminary
Fall 2025 Incoming Students
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, Lutheran Brethren Seminary

Get to know Lutheran Brethren Seminary’s Fall 2025 Incoming Students.

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, Lutheran Brethren Seminary
Meet the Waldie Family
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, International Mission
Meet the Waldie Family
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, International Mission

Meet the Waldie family, LBIM’s most recent missionaries called to Chad! Todd and Leah have four children and currently live in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where they are members of Bethesda Lutheran Brethren Church.

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, International Mission
Hands to the Plow
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, International Mission
Hands to the Plow
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, International Mission

LBIM is excited to share the news of the recently completed and printed resource entitled Les mains à la charrue! (Hands to the Plow!).

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, International Mission
Our Plans vs. God’s Plans
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, North American Mission
Our Plans vs. God’s Plans
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, North American Mission

This past June, our Grace Hill team began planning for public worship services. In East Boston, buildings with enough public space to host a service are few and far between. 

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, North American Mission
Grace for Boston
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, Women's Ministries
Grace for Boston
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, Women's Ministries

This experience of church planting has truly been the most challenging ministry season I’ve ever had; God has to work in my heart on a daily basis to remind me that this is his mission and his church. 

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting, Women's Ministries
I Am Not A Church Planter
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
I Am Not A Church Planter
Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting

Church planting might feel like a calling for a prestigious few, but it is what we are all called to, and it is what we are all already doing. This isn’t a matter of spiritual fortitude, but of perspective. I am a church planter, I just didn’t realize it.

Faith and Fellowship Magazine, 2025-06, Church Planting
2026 Presidential Nominees
Biennial Convention, 2026 Biennial Convention, Presidential Election, 2025-06
2026 Presidential Nominees
Biennial Convention, 2026 Biennial Convention, Presidential Election, 2025-06

Rev Michael Edwards (Good News LBC, McAlisterville, PA) and Rev Mark Nienow (True Life Church, Rochester, MN) have been put forward by the Council of Directors and have graciously agreed to be open for nomination as president of the CLB.

Biennial Convention, 2026 Biennial Convention, Presidential Election, 2025-06

Tim Mathiesen
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