Commissioning Service
Recorded live on June 10, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
Meet the missionaries/teachers were commissioned on June 10:
Mr. Jeremy Seeger – Tech Missionary on the Asia One team
Jeremy Seeger, son of Paul and Jane Seeger, was born March 6, 1987, and baptized at Bethany Lutheran Church in Manitowoc, Wis., on March 14, 1987. He was confirmed in the Christian faith at Bethany on May 5, 2001. He graduated from Manitowoc Lutheran High School in 2005 and received a Bachelor of Science in education from Martin Luther College in 2009. He later earned his master’s degree in education through Martin Luther College in 2019.
Jeremy has served as a teacher at HOPE Christian School: Prima in Milwaukee, Wis. (2009-2012), Rising Eagles Academy in Beijing (2012-2013), Martin Luther in Oshkosh, Wis. (2013-2017), and Divine Savior Academy in Doral, Fla. (2017-present). He has also been serving as an online math instructor for Amazing Grace Virtual Academy since 2018.
He and his wife Grace, née Bey, were married in Milwaukee, Wis., at St. James Lutheran Church on May 30, 2010. They have been blessed by God with two daughters, Liliana and Aurelia.
Jeremy has accepted the call to serve on the Asia One Team as a tech missionary, a role that includes coordinating and developing the in person and online technology used by the team to spread the gospel throughout Asia.
Rev. Nixon Vivar – Latin America Team Missionary
Nixon Gregorio Vivar Gomez, son of Gregorio Vivar and Lucrecia Gomez, was born July 15, 1978, in San Antonio, Cañar, Ecuador. He was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wis., on January 12, 2001.
Upon confirmation, Nixon wanted to continue his theological studies, but there weren’t materials available in Spanish to become a pastor. Due to Nixon’s interest and other prospects, the Pastoral Studies Institute started a Hispanic branch. Nixon immediately started his studies with teachers who knew Spanish, and materials were created along the way. It took Nixon 15 years to become a WELS pastor. During those years he served as a pastoral assistant at all Milwaukee churches that were part of the Palabra de Vida Ministries at the time, including Gethsemane, St. Peter’s, Christ, and Risen Savior.
He graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI) program with a Bachelor of Divinity in 2017. Pastor Vivar served at Christ in Milwaukee, Wis., from 2017 until December 2021, when he was installed as a Latin America Missionary for a one-year call. He accepted a permanent call that includes a move to Quito, Ecuador, in December 2022.
He and his wife Carla, née Falkner, were married on May 3, 2008, at St. James Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wis. God has blessed them with two children, Lucas and Samuel.
Nixon and his family will be moving to Ecuador this summer. He will be teaching online classes and following up and mentoring Academia Cristo students throughout Latin America who want to plant churches.
Mr. Ted and Mrs. Amanda Glodowski – Teachers at Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran School, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Ariz.
Theodore Glodowski, son of David and Diane Glodowski, was born June 5, 1985, and baptized at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Fountain City, Wis., on July 27, 1985. He was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Winona, Minn., on May 7, 2000. He graduated from Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis., in 2004 and Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn. in 2009 (B.S. Education).
Ted has served Trinity in Aberdeen, S.D. (2009-2010), St. John’s in Goodhue, Minn. (2011-2017), and First in Elkhorn, Wis. (2017– present).
Amanda Glodowski, daughter of David and Jean Rohde, was born September 18, 1985, and was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grover, Wis., on October 13, 1985. She was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. John’s on May 7, 2000. She graduated from Coleman Public High School in Coleman, Wis., in 2004 and Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn. in 2008 (B.S. Education).
Amanda has served St. John’s in Goodhue, Minn. (2017) and St. John’s in Milwaukee, Wis. (2017– present).
Ted and Amanda were married on June 28, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Grover, Wis. Shortly, Ted and Amanda will head to the San Carlos Apache Reservation to serve at Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran School where Ted will teach 7th grade and Amanda will teach 1st grade.
Ms. Elsa Ponath – Teacher at East Fork Lutheran School, White Mountain Apache Reservation, Ariz.
Elsa Ponath, daughter of Ann and David Ponath, was born and baptized January 4, 2001, in Stillwater, Minn. She was confirmed in the Christian faith at Christ Lutheran Church in North St. Paul, Minn., in May 2015. She graduated from St. Croix Lutheran Academy in 2019 and Martin Luther College in 2023 (B.S. Education). Elsa will be serving as a first and second grade teacher at East Fork Lutheran on the White Mountain Apache Reservation.
Rev. Caleb King – New mission start: North Collin County, Tex.
Caleb King, son of James and Gwen King, was born on September 23, 1995, and brought into God’s family through Holy Baptism on September 25, 1995. He was confirmed in the Christian faith at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lomira, Wis., on May 2, 2010. He graduated from Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, Wis. In 2014, Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn., in 2018 (B.A.) and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., in 2023 (M.Div.).
Upon graduating from Martin Luther College, Caleb spent one year in Linares, Chile, where he assisted a mission congregation and taught English classes. While at seminary, he worked with the Campus Ministry at Wisconsin Lutheran College for two years. He spent his vicar year at Zion Lutheran Church and School in Denver, Colo.
He and his wife Samantha, née Huebner, were married in Burnett, Wis., on July 23, 2021.
Shortly, Caleb and Sami will be moving to North Collin County, Tex., where Caleb will begin his work as a home missionary to a new mission plant.
Rev. Philip Schroeder – Home Missionary at Christ Our Savior in Collinsville, Ill.
Philip Daniel Schroeder was born to Reverend Daniel Schroeder and his wife Linka on October 4, 1994, in Milwaukee, WI. He became a child of God in baptism on October 9, 1994, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Franklin, WI, where his father had served as a vicar. He attended Lutheran elementary school at Morning Star, Jackson, WI, and Reformation Lutheran School in San Diego, CA. He received his confirmation instruction at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Chula Vista, CA, where his father served as pastor. Philip received his training for the pastoral ministry at Luther Preparatory School (2009-2013), Martin Luther College (2013-2017), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (2017-2021). He served his vicar year at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. In May 2021, Philip was assigned as a dormitory supervisor in Summit Hall at Martin Luther College (2021-2023), a Bible History instructor, and a coach. In May 2023, Philip was assigned to be the first full-time pastor at a new mission, Christ Our Savior, in Collinsville, Ill. This new mission has an active core group of 25 souls. Christ Our Savior has served as a preaching station of Martin Luther, St. Louis, Mo., since 2002. Collinsville is in the Metro East suburban area of St. Louis. The Metro East is a well-populated area of about 300,000 people. Christ Our Savior is the only WELS church in Southern Illinois.
On June 17, 2017, Philip married his wife Sarah (née Hackbarth and 2017 MLC graduate). They were blessed with sons, Solomon, in May 2020 and Isaiah, in August 2022. Philip has four younger siblings: Kylah, wife of pastor Ethan Schultz, who is serving this coming year as a Tutor at Luther Preparatory School; Joshua, who is finishing his service as a vicar at Grace Lutheran Church, Falls Church, VA, married to Sydney (née Cody); Annika, a senior at Minnesota State University, Mankato, serving in the Minnesota Air National Guard, and is married to Sam Boeder, a recently assigned Vicar to Sure Foundation, Queens, New York; and Levi, an incoming freshman at Luther Preparatory School. Philip’s parents recently moved to Palm Coast, Florida, where his father currently serves as pastor at Christ the King Lutheran Church.
Rev. Samuel Schulz – Campus Ministry pastor at St. John/UW-Whitewater, Whitewater, Wis.
Samuel Schulz was born on March 23, 1997, in Baraboo, Wis. He graduated from Lakeside Lutheran High School in 2015, Martin Luther College in 2019 (B.A.), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2023 (M.Div.). During his time at the seminary, he worked as a chaplain at Kingdom Prep Lutheran High School, a high school for inner city boys, and Lighthouse Youth Center, an after-school program for inner city teens. He was assigned to Light of the Valleys in Reno, Nev., for his vicar year. During his final year at seminary, he and his wife worked as international student dormitory supervisors for Wisconsin Lutheran High School.
Samuel and Madison, née Dumke, were married August 15, 2020. Madison received a degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2019 and a master’s degree in social work from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2020. For the past few years, she has worked for New Beginnings, a home for single, at-risk mothers. Their daughter Dorothea (Dot) was born on April 22, 2023.
Samuel and Madison will be moving to Whitewater, Wis., where Samuel will be serving St. John’s Lutheran Church and reaching college students from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with the gospel message through their Campus Ministry program.
Rev. Daniel Spaude – Home Missionary at Mighty Fortress in Red Deer and St. John in Wetaskiwin, AB, Canada
Daniel Spaude, son of Michael and Rachel Spaude, is the youngest of five. He was born January 7, 1997, in Antigo, Wis., and baptized the next day. He attended local public schools throughout his youth and was confirmed in the Christian faith at Ascension Lutheran Church on May 8, 2011. He graduated from Antigo High School in 2015, Martin Luther College in 2019 (B.A.), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2023 (M.Div.). He served his vicar year at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Verona, Wis.
On May 25, 2023, Daniel was called to serve two home mission churches: Mighty Fortress in Red Deer and St. John’s in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada. Red Deer is a steadily growing city of about 100,000 and is situated between Calgary and Edmonton. Wetaskiwin is a town of about 12,000 situated just south of Edmonton.
