The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) is characterized as theologically conservative. This means the WELS believes the entire Bible is God’s Word which contains no errors. The Wisconsin Synod is the third largest Lutheran Church body in America. Today its national offices are at 2929 N. Mayfair Road in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. WELS begain in 1850 when three German pastors met in Milwaukee. Today it has grown to 1,239 congregations in North America. It has 406,879 baptized members, which includes 315,637 communicants, served by 1,230 pastors.

The Wisconsin Synod operates four ministerial education schools: 1. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, in Mequon, Wisconsin (the Seminary trains men for four years who wish to serve as pastors); 2. Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minnesota (the College trains men and women for four years who wish to serve as teachers. The College also prepares men for the Seminary for four years who wish to serve as pastors); 3. Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wisconsin (LPS is a four year Lutheran High School similar to ALA in Phoenix); 4. Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan (MLS is also a four year Lutheran High School similar to ALA in Phoenix).

WELS congregations support 365 Lutheran elementary schools, 299 early childhood education programs, and 23 area Lutheran high schools served by 2,784 specially trained teachers.

There are over 60 exploratory home missions scattered across North America. At any given time, between 180 to 200 congregations look to home missions for some level of support.

In World missions (which the Apache missions are considered to be) WELS supports 76 missionaries and 2 teachers doing work in 35 different languages in 24 countries on 5 continents, 90 national pastors, 17 vicars, and 244 evangelists and assistant pastors work alongside their missionaries serving 581 congregations and 72 preaching stations.

For more information about the WELS contact their headquarters at (414) 256-3888 or visit their website at www.wels.net or talk to your pastor.

Besides its world missions, in the United States the Wisconsin Synod is divided into 12 districts or parts. We are part of the Arizona/California District.

1903 – 1920: Visited by missionaries from time to time from 1900 and then regularly and weekly from 1917 until September 1920.

1903 – 1912: Carl Guenther

1912 – 1916: Karl Toepel

1916 – 1920: Alfred Uplegger

1920 – 1926: Gustav Schlegel, missionary from October 1920 until July 15^th 1926; a Seminary graduate in 1920; the first resident pastor at Bylas; accepted a call to Hazelton, North Dakota in 1926.

1926 – 1929: Alexander Hilmer, missionary and principal from August 26, 1926 until October 1929; Seminary graduate in 1926; installed by H.E. Rosin on September 5^th, 1926 at Bylas; left the Synod in 1929 together with Pastors Albert Meier and Arthur Arndt.

1930 – 1930: Paul Behn served as vacancy pastor from March 20^th until June 30^th; George Walker was a native helper before, during and after the vacancy.

1930 – 1947: Ernst Sprengeler, missionary and principal from August 19, 1930 until July 20, 1947; Seminary graduate in 1930; ordained and installed at Bylas on August 31, 1930 by Paul Behn; married teacher Erna Albrecht on July 15, 1930 at Hutchinson, Minnesota; preached also at Safford and Morenci; transferred to East Fork as principal in 1947.

1947 – 1951: Allyn Schuppenhauer, missionary from July 1947 until 1951; Seminary graduate in 1947; ordained and installed by Ernst Sprengeler on July 12, 1947; killed in a train accident in Tucson while attending a conference on April 4, 1951; widow and three children returned to Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

1951 – 1952: Edward Rasmussen, a teacher missionary from 1951 until July 1952; missionary during vacancy after Schuppenhauer’s death.

1952 – 1956: Joel Sauer, missionary from July 1952 until November 1956; Seminary graduate in 1952; ordained and installed on July 27, 1952 by Francis Uplegger; accepted a call to Campellsport, Wisconsin.

1956 – 1957: Henry Rosin, served as vacancy pastor.

1957 – 1961: Carlton Palenske, missionary until 1961; Seminary graduate in 1957.

1961 – 1967: Johannes Hering, missionary from 1961 until December 1967; Seminary graduate in 1955; accepted a call to Reedsville, Wisconsin in 1967.

1968 – 1982: Lyle Sonntag, missionary from July 1, 1968 until July 1982; Seminary graduate in 1968.

1982 – 1985: David Miller, missionary from October 1, 1982 until June 1985; Seminary graduate in 1982; current church building built during this time.

1985 – 1997: Paul Schulz, missionary from July 1985 until 1997; Seminary graduate in 1985.

1997 – 1999: Larry Pontel, served as vacancy pastor from 1997 – 1999; Pastor Pontel served bylas as a dual parish with Peridot.

1999 - ??: Matthew Kuske, missionary from 1999 - ??; Seminary graduate in 1999; installed on August 1, 1999 at Bylas by Pastor Jeff Gunn.

Since 1920 Our Savior’s Lutheran Church has been served by 15 different pastors over a time period of 81 years. God has greatly bless Our Savior’s Lutheran church with many pastors who have served the members here at Bylas since 1920.

The Lutheran church here at Bylas has many things to be thankful for. We can be thankful to God having his word preached and taught to us in its truth and purity. We can be thankful to God for blessing us with a church to worship in, pastors to serve us, and faithful members who serve the Lord. We can also be thankful to God for the Wisconsin Synod and the many years of care, support, and Christian love they have shown to the members of Our Savior’s. May we as followers of God, as part of the Wisconsin Synod, as members of this church, go Forward in Christ together.