St. John Ev. Lutheran Church is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) and contributes toward the mission work carried on through the synod.  The WELS, based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is the third largest Lutheran church body in America. It began in 1850 when three German pastors met in Milwaukee. Today, it has grown to over 1,200 congregations in North America.  The WELS has over 400,000 baptized members, which includes over 300,000 communicants, served by over 1,000 pastors.

The synod operates four ministerial education schools: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.; Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.; and Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich.

As members of the WELS, we share with our fellow believers in our synod's stated mission:

“As men, women, and children united in faith and worship by the Word of God, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod exists to make disciples throughout the world for time and for eternity, using the gospel in Word and Sacrament to win the lost for Christ and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service, all to the glory of God.”

Bible is God’s Inspired Word

St. John Ev. Lutheran Church accepts and confesses all the canonical books of the Old and New Testaments as the inspired Word of God. We do not add, we do not subtract, and we do not change any of God’s words as found in the Bible. Since the Scriptures are God’s Word we let Scripture interpret Scripture. We also agree in full with the confessions contained in the Book of Concord (1580) as a correct exposition of Christian doctrine, drawn from, and in full agreement with, the Holy Scriptures. We believe what the Bible says even if it goes against our human reason, science, or popular opinion.

We believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

There is only one God, who has revealed himself to be triune - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God created the world in six days, and made it perfect, without sin.

We believe we are all sinners.

Adam and Eve were tempted by the fallen angel, Satan, and sinned. Because of the fall of Adam and Eve all people have a sinful nature and do sinful things. Sinners deserve physical and eternal punishment.

We believe Jesus died to save us from our sins.

Jesus is both true God and true man. Jesus took our place and was punished for the sins of all people as he died on the cross. Three days after his death Jesus bodily rose from the dead.

What we teach about salvation

God does not want anyone to go to hell, but being a just God, he will condemn unbelievers. By Jesus' perfect life, death and resurrection, he paid the price for our sins and earned eternal life for all people. We sinners are declared innocent by God's grace. Whoever believes what Jesus did to pay for their sins and has faith personally has the forgiveness of sins. It is the Holy Spirit who gives us this faith. He uses the Word of God to create faith in us. The Holy Spirit continues to use the Bible, Baptism and the Lord's Supper to strengthen and preserve faith.

What we teach about Baptism

God has told Christians to baptize, applying water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Baptism washes away sins because the water is connected with God's Word. Infants also are to be baptized, for God has commanded that all nations be baptized.

What we teach about Holy Communion.

Together with the bread and wine of the Lord's Supper we receive the true body and blood of Jesus.. Through the body and blood of Jesus Christians are given the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation in heaven.

Click here for more information about what the Bible teaches about the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. 

To find out more about what we believe and the Scriptural source for our beliefs, contact one of our Pastors. You can also check out “This We Believe” from our synod's website by clicking the WELS image.