Commissioning Service
Livestreamed from Taste of Missions on June 13, 2026
Meet the missionaries who will be commissioned on June 13:
Rev. Aaron Bush – New mission start, Jarrell, Texas
Aaron Bush was born in February 1997 in Milwaukee, Wis. He graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis., in 2015 and went on to attend Martin Luther College, where he met his wife, Hannah (née Zoller). Bush graduated from Martin Luther College in 2019 and began attending Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He and Hannah were married after his first semester at the seminary. Bush graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2023 and was assigned to serve as a tutor (dormitory supervisor and instructor) at Martin Luther College, where he has served the past three years.
Aaron and Hannah have been blessed with two sons, Benedict (3) and Abel (1), and are expecting another child. Bush will serve as a home missionary in Jarrell, Texas, a rapidly growing community north of Austin where a new mission start was approved in 2025 as part of WELS Home Missions’ 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. A core group has already been gathering for worship and outreach in the community as the mission continues to grow from its current group of about 40 souls.
Rev. Dr. Francisco Cossio La Rosa – Missionary, One Latin America Team
Rev. Dr. Francisco Cossio La Rosa accepted the call to serve as a missionary on the One Latin America Team in May 2026. He will help teach online courses through Academia Cristo and support students who are planting churches in their own communities. Prior to this role, he served as pastor at Santo Tomás Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Ariz.
Cossio was born in Holguín, Cuba. He earned degrees as a medical doctor and worked as a physician before hearing the Word of God and being brought to faith through the work of WELS missionaries. He was confirmed at Pescadores de Hombres congregation in Cuba in 2001 and served as its pastor while taking classes through the Pastoral Studies Institute’s Hispanic branch. In July 2009, Cossio finished his theological studies and served as a vicar at Santo Tomás Lutheran Church in Phoenix, Ariz. He graduated in 2010 from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Pastoral Studies Institute. After graduating, Cossio continued serving at Santo Tomás.
Cossio has been married to his wife, Martha, since July 1987. They are blessed with two children, Martha Minerva (1991) and Frank Jesus (1999), both of whom were confirmed at Pescadores de Hombres in Cuba. They also have a son-in-law and a grandson, both baptized by Cossio in 2024.
Rev. Alex Dimke – Redeemer, Edna, Texas
Alexander Dimke was born in September 1998 to Mark and Kristi Dimke in Whittier, Calif. Shortly after, his family moved to Olean, N.Y., and following his second-grade year, they moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Dimke spent most of his grade school years at Good Shepherd in Cedar Rapids before attending Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wis. Following high school, Dimke was blessed to live in Alicante, Spain, before attending Martin Luther College, where he met his wife, Noelle Boucher. He and Noelle were married in 2019, following Alex’s year of emergency teaching at the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) mission in Lima, Peru. Alex and Noelle are blessed with one son, Sebastian, who was born in Anchorage, Alaska, during Alex’s vicar year.
Dimke looks forward to serving as an associate pastor at Redeemer in Edna, Texas, reaching both English- and Spanish-speaking communities with the gospel. Redeemer was approved as a home mission enhancement in spring 2025. Alex, Noelle, and Sebastian are excited to meet many new people and to be part of the wonderful community in Edna.
Ms. Louisa Felgenhauer – Teacher, Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran School, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Ariz.
Louisa Felgenhauer will be serving as the kindergarten teacher at Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran School on the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona, where she looks forward to sharing the message of their Savior while reflecting Christ’s love in all she does.
Felgenhauer sees how the Lord’s guidance throughout her life has prepared her for service in a world mission field. She was born in Straubing, Germany, in June 2002. Shortly after, her family moved to Malawi, Africa, where she spent her early childhood. Her grade school years were marked by several international moves, living and attending school in Calgary, Canada; Zwickau, Germany; Watertown, Wis.; Malawi for a second time; and finally, St. George, Kan. She spent her freshman year of high school at Nebraska Lutheran High School before transferring to Luther Preparatory School, where she graduated in 2021. Her family lived in Lusaka, Zambia, during her high school years.
Felgenhauer attended Wisconsin Lutheran College and graduated in June 2026 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary and special education. She is thankful for the opportunity to become immersed in a new culture once again as she begins her ministry in Peridot.
Rev. Dan Kroll – Missionary, Senegal
Missionary Dan Kroll has accepted a call to serve as missionary to Senegal. He and his wife, Karen, will focus on language and culture immersion as they prepare for gospel outreach among the Wolof people, a Muslim population that has had very limited exposure to Christianity. Their early work will center on learning the Wolof language, adjusting to daily life, and laying the groundwork for long-term ministry. They will relocate and begin their work in Senegal in September 2026, pending no unexpected delays.
Kroll graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1983 and spent three years working on an evangelism program for WELS and Reformation in San Diego, Calif., before starting at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. In 1992, Kroll was assigned to Zambia. He served in congregational oversight and general church development through teaching small groups. He later served in Lake City, Minn. (2009-2014); Kumba, Cameroon (2014–2018); and Lilongwe, Malawi (2018–2026) before accepting the call to Senegal. Until they move in September, Dan will continue to serve as the One Africa Team liaison for West African partners in Cameroon and Nigeria and support outreach efforts in Liberia and western Ethiopia.
He and his wife, Karen, were married in 1991. They have five adult children and seven grandchildren: Ezekiel, his wife Amanda, and their children Oliver and Milo (Wis.); Josiah, his wife Becca, and their children Judah, Izzy, Ezra, Joanna, and Phoebe (Texas); Elijah and wife Makilah (Alaska); Jonah and wife Jamee (Fla.); and Gideon (Alaska).
Rev. Stephen Gerling – Missionary, Senegal
Missionary Stephen Gerling graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in May 2026. He was assigned to serve as a missionary to Senegal, a primarily Muslim nation, to serve the Wolof people. He will partner with Missionary Dan Kroll, initially focusing on learning the language, building relationships, and gaining an understanding of this unique culture to formulate a plan for future ministry. God willing, they will also serve as a resource for future outreach in Muslim communities around the world. They will relocate and begin their work in Senegal in September 2026, pending no unexpected delays with visas.
Gerling and his wife, Hannah (née Stellick), grew up as missionary kids in East Asia and were married in 2018. In 2020, Gerling enrolled in the Pre-Seminary Certification program at Martin Luther College (MLC) to pursue becoming a second-career pastor. During their time at MLC and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, they were blessed with three children: Sofia, Silas (now in heaven), and Elisha.
Ms. Cindy Lendt – Women’s Ministry Coordinator, Asia-Oceania Team
Cindy Lendt accepted the call to serve as Women’s Ministry Coordinator for the Asia-Oceania Team starting July 2026. Women have unique challenges in many areas of Asia, and this position is focused on increasing their access to the gospel. Lendt will develop and oversee a comprehensive framework for women’s ministry across Asia-Oceania mission fields and coordinate local teams to amplify existing efforts and implement new initiatives.
Lendt grew up in Minnesota and graduated from Martin Luther College in 2009 with a double major in staff ministry and elementary education. She has taught students from kindergarten through university level in a variety of settings. Previously she served as a teacher and musician at St. John in St. Paul, Minn. (2009-2017), Good Shepherd in Burnsville, Minn. (2017-2019), with Friends Network in Southeast Asia (2019-2022), and St. Paul in Beverly Hills, Fla. (2022-2026). She will be moving to Chiang Mai, Thailand, at the end of the summer.
Rev. Micah Neumann – New mission start, Cedar Lake, Ind.
Micah Neumann, son of Neil and Amy Neumann, was born in January 2000 in Adrian, Mich. He grew up watching both of his parents joyfully serve as teachers at St. Stephen Lutheran School. Neumann attended Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Mich., for high school. He met his wife, Becca, at Martin Luther College, where they both graduated in 2022. Neumann then enrolled at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. The two were married in 2023, and they are eagerly looking forward to the birth of their first child, due in late August.
Neumann graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in May 2026 and was assigned to serve the new mission start in Cedar Lake, Ind., which was approved in 2024 as part of WELS Home Missions’ 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. This area of northwest Indiana is growing rapidly as Chicago commuters look for affordable alternatives to living in Illinois. The Neumann family is excited to serve alongside the core group, grow in God’s Word, and have a front-row seat to God’s hand at work through his saving message.
Rev. Ronny Nguyen – Mount Olive, St. Paul, Minn.
Minh (Ronny) Nguyen was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. In 2014, he came to St. Croix Lutheran Academy in West St. Paul, Minn. There, he was first exposed to the Bible through daily chapel, religion classes, and the godly encouragement of his teachers. The Holy Spirit worked through the Word to bring Ronny to faith and trust in Christ as his Savior.
After high school, Nguyen attended the University of Manitoba before transferring to Martin Luther College. He later attended Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, where he served his vicar year at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel in Madison, Wis. In May 2026, he was assigned to serve Mount Olive in St. Paul, Minn., a mission restart congregation that was approved as a home mission enhancement in spring 2026.
Nguyen is excited to get reacquainted with the Twin Cities and to engage a dynamic, diverse population that has a great need to hear about Jesus. With Mount Olive’s rich history spanning more than100 years—enduring many ups and downs but holding steadfastly to the promise of the gospel— Nguyen is eager to join God’s people in sharing Christ’s love in the St. Paul community.
Dr. Chris Pluger – Missionary, One Africa Team
Missionary Chris Pluger is a new member of the One Africa Team who will primarily work to develop ministry training programs with partner churches across the continent.
Pluger and his wife, Janine, come to the One Africa Team after ten years with Lutheran Bible Translators. During that time, he served as a translation consultant, working alongside mother-tongue speakers to help translate the Bible clearly and accurately into their language for the first time. Chris and Janine spent five years in Petauke, Zambia, with the Nsenga Bible Translation project and later served alongside multiple language projects in Ethiopia, where they lived for five years.
In addition to his Bible translation experience, Pluger has more than fifteen years of teaching experience in the United States and abroad. He served at Wisconsin Lutheran High School and Great Plains Lutheran High School, where he taught Spanish, religion, and Latin, led student mission and study trips, and coached the chess team.
Pluger holds a PhD from South African Theological Seminary, an MA in Applied Linguistics from Dallas International University, and a BA from Martin Luther College (pastor track).
He and his wife Janine live in Chipata, Zambia. Their adult son, Sean, lives and works in Watertown, S.D.
Rev. Nathan Strutz – Home mission counselor
Rev. Nathan Strutz began serving as a mission counselor for WELS Home Missions in April 2026. He is supporting the South Atlantic, Southeastern Wisconsin, Northern Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Colorado mission districts as they work to plant new mission churches and support and encourage existing home mission congregations.
Strutz graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1997 and has served in home missions throughout his entire ministry. His first call was to a dual parish in Holmen and Galesville, Wis. (1997-2010), where the congregation in Galesville established one of the first multi-site ministries in WELS by opening a new location in Arcadia, Wis. Strutz also served at Resurrection in Verona, Wis. (2010-2022), and Tree of Life in Cary, N.C. (2022-2026). New mission efforts were started at both congregations during his time of service. He has served as chairman of the Western Wisconsin District Mission Board and as a member of the Board for Home Missions Executive Committee.
Strutz and his wife, Elizabeth, have been blessed with two sons, Caleb and Elijah, and four grandchildren. Elizabeth teaches piano and music classes. Caleb is an Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) pastor serving in Winter Haven, Fla., and Elijah is an accountant in Milwaukee, Wis.
