Taste of Missions

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.