The Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI), a combined effort of WELS Joint Missions and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, teaches courses to PSI students around the world. Pastor Peter Schlicht of West Bend, Wisconsin, accompanied Prof. E. Allen Sorum on a recent trip to Latvia. Pastor Schlicht explains how this invitation came about:

“Ugis (a Latvian pastor) and I connected during 2024 Summer Quarter classes in Mequon. He invited me to come to Latvia. In the weeks that followed, he was very kind and sincere. A plan soon began to take shape with the guidance of Prof. Sorum.”

From July 31 through August 11, Pastor Schlicht preached in various Latvian Lutheran (CELC) congregations and taught his course, “Christ in the Old Testament,” to the Latvian pastors, pastoral students, and young men interested in studying with the group. Prof. Sorum taught a course on biblestorying as a format for devotions and evangelism. Pre-trip coordination enhanced both of their courses. Pastor Schlicht’s musical abilities greatly added to the group’s devotional and fellowship
experiences. All participants enjoyed this opportunity even as it stretched into the late hours of the evening.

WELS in convention during summer 2025 adopted a ten-year vision, the first point of which is to “forge a borderless global support network.” Pastor Schlicht’s time in Latvia with fellow Lutherans is a superb fulfillment of this first objective of our vision. Pastor Schlicht reflects on the value of this borderless global support network in action:

“On the final Saturday, I spent some time with one of the theological students who shared with me that
participating in the classes and singing hymns together was ‘just what I needed right now’ and that it is ‘easy to feel alone.’ Moments like this underscore the privilege of walking alongside these brothers in Christ and, if only in a small way, encouraging them to rejoice in Jesus and in our shared Lutheran fellowship.”