Rev. Michael Hartman commissioned as a missionary to London
London congregation
In 2010, Caroline McCatty prayed that God would help her and her husband Lawrence to find a really good church. At the time, the couple was in the process of moving from England to the United States. Caroline knew the transition would take them to a new place, and she didn’t have any connections in the area to which she could reach out and ask for a church recommendation. As they settled in the East Coast of the USA, God led the McCattys to a small WELS church. The pastor there taught from the Bible, and focused on Jesus as the Savior of the world. Previously, the McCattys had attended a church in England, but not one that clearly preached the truths of Scripture. At the WELS church in the USA, they learned messages from the Bible that they had never heard before—and quickly grew to love.
Five years later, the McCattys returned to their home country as WELS members. Upon their return, they lifted up a different prayer—one that requested Scripture-based worship and instruction. The couple observed a different scene in England than what they had witnessed at the WELS church in the USA. They asked for that same Christ-centered Gospel message to come to England: they wanted the solid meat that WELS offers, rather than a watered-down version of Scripture they saw throughout England. They prayed for six years; then God led WELS to start up mission work in England.
Missionary Michael Hartman was commissioned as a missionary to London in a special worship service at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary on February 7, 2022. He is working with the McCattys and other CELC members in England to coordinate services and ministry.
The McCattys serve as an example to us of an existing core group of CELC members living in England. Thus far, members of the CELC church bodies on four continents are known to live in England. The goal is that this core group serve as a starting place for gospel outreach to the country. If you know a member or contact currently living in England, please contact Missionary Hartman.
(Email: Michael.Hartman@wels.net / WhatsApp: +13058900560 or +447360712166.)
Submitted by Michael Hartman
