Commissioning Service
Livestreamed from Taste of Missions on June 14, 2025
Meet the missionaries who will be commissioned on June 14:
Mr. James Brandt – Asia-Oceania Team Leader
Mr. James Brandt accepted the call to serve the Asia-Oceania Team as the team leader in January 2025. In this role, Brandt will guide Asia-Oceania Team efforts by leading vision, strategy, and operational planning; coordinating team functions and the efforts of field liaisons; supporting missionaries and their continued development; coordinating mission advancement with the Mission Advancement and Promotions team; and strengthening relationships with national partners and WELS organizations in both the U.S. and Asia-Oceania.
Following his graduation from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1985, Brandt served as a teacher in Fond du Lac, WI (1985-1989), principal of Lutheran schools in California and Illinois (1989-2002), administrator for the WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools (2002-2009), vice president at Wisconsin Lutheran College (2009-2018), and academic dean at Wisconsin Lutheran High School (2018-2025). He served World Missions as a member of the administrative committee for India missions from 1998-2004. He received his Master of Science in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh in 1995.
Jim and his wife, Kathy, will move to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in August 2025. They have three adult children: Samuel, Zachary, and Jacob (Katie); and one grandchild, Hazel.
Rev. Jacob Bitter – Pan de Vida, Garden Grove, Calif.
Jacob Bitter, son of Pastor David and Stacy Bitter, was born on August 28, 1998, in Helena, Mont. From there, his family moved to Fargo, N.D., in 2004 and Milwaukee, Wis., in 2013. He graduated from Luther Preparatory School in 2017, Martin Luther College in 2021 (B.A.), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2025 (M.Div.).
During his time at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Jacob worked as an international dormitory supervisor at Wisconsin Lutheran High School for two years. He also served as a summer assistant for a number of WELS congregations in Florida, Alabama, and Louisiana. He spent his vicar year in Medellin, Colombia, at Santísima Trinidad under the guidance of Pastor Henry Herrera. This past year he served as a senior assistant at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Johnson Creek, Wis.
He and his wife, Sofia Spiegelberg, were married on July 3, 2021, in Lake Mills, Wis. Jacob and Sofia will be moving to Garden Grove, Calif., where Jacob will serve as a pastor at Iglesia Pan de Vida. He and his wife enjoy spending time outside, at the beach, and exploring new cultures and communities together.
Rev. Jacob Borgwardt – Crossroads, Chicago, Ill.
Jacob Borgwardt, son of Pastor James and Heidi Borgwardt, was born on September 21, 1998, and baptized into God’s family on September 27, 1998, at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Savannah, Ga. In 2011, his family moved to Fond du Lac, Wis., where he was confirmed in the faith at Redeemer Lutheran Church on May 19, 2013. He graduated from Winnebago Lutheran Academy in 2017, Martin Luther College in 2021 (B.A.), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2025 (M.Div.). Jacob and his wife Liz, née O’Connor, were married on August 13, 2021. Jacob and Liz spent his vicar year in Mount Horeb, Wis., serving at Good News Lutheran Church.
On May 22, 2025, Jacob was assigned to Crossroads Christian Church, a home mission church situated on the north side of Chicago. Jacob and Liz are excited to serve alongside the members of Crossroads and share the gospel with their neighbors in Chicago.
Rev. Ethan Schultz – Lamb of God, Williston, N.D.
Ethan Schultz, son of Pastor Michael and Karen Schultz, was born in Flagstaff, Ariz., in August 1995. His family moved to Lawrenceville, Ga., when he was in kindergarten. He attended Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis., for high school where he met his wife, Kylah, née Schroeder. He and Kylah were married after graduating from Martin Luther College in 2018. For one year they served in Southeast Asia through Friends of China.
Ethan and Kylah are blessed with two sons—Ezra (3) and Judah (1)—and are expecting a daughter. Ezra was born in Aiken, S.C., during Ethan’s vicar year, while Judah was born in Watertown, Wis., during his time serving as a tutor at Luther Preparatory School.
Ethan looks forward to serving as a home missionary at Lamb of God in Williston, N.D., a new mission start of about 30 souls that was approved in spring 2024.
Rev. Phillip Valdez – Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas
Phillip Valdez (pictured center) was born on March 3, 1993, in Chula Vista, Calif., and baptized into the family of God on July 31, 1993, at San Felipe de Jesus Catholic Church in Soccoro, Texas. He began attending Risen Savior in Chula Vista, Calif., with his mother in 2002 and was confirmed there in 2007. He graduated from Eastlake High School in 2011, Martin Luther College in 2015 (B.A.), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2025 (M.Div.). During his vicar year, Phillip served at Atonement Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wis.
On May 22, 2025, Phillip was assigned to serve as a home missionary at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Killeen, Texas, a mission congregation serving about 72 souls. Phillip enjoys reading, watching movies, playing video games, and following the sport of boxing. Phillip looks forward to growing in the Word alongside his congregation and reaching the lost souls of Killeen, embracing both the opportunities and challenges of serving a military town as he shares the gospel throughout the community.
