Pastor Josh Sternhagen faithfully served as pastor at Living Hope for many years. Recently, he received and accepted a divine call to serve at Grace Lutheran Church in St. George’s, Grenada. We thank God for his ministry among us and pray for him and his family as they begin this new chapter.

Living Hope is currently in the call process, a unique and prayerful practice in the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS). Rather than applying or interviewing for a position, pastors receive a divine call. This is an invitation from a congregation to serve in a specific place. When a call is extended, the pastor prayerfully considers where he can best use his gifts to serve God’s people, often in conversation with both congregations.

As we move through this process, our congregation has met to seek the Lord’s guidance and has extended a call to a pastor who is now prayerfully deliberating.

In the meantime, we are grateful to have vacancy pastor Philip Kieselhorst from Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church serving both his home congregation and Living Hope. We thank God for his willingness to support us during this transition.

We invite you to join us in prayer—for our church, for Pastor Kieselhorst, and for the pastor currently deliberating the call, that the Lord would provide wisdom, peace, and clarity, and continue to guide Living Hope according to His will.