February 15, 2025
Dear members of St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church,
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”
We pray this letter reaches you well. The verse above reminds us of the most important item God has given to us, that we are children of God! What a blessing it is to not only have been washed clean in the baptismal waters personally, but also to have the honor and opportunity to preach and teach the Word publicly. What a privilege it has been to prayerfully consider where my wife and I, with our gifts, could best serve the interests of God’s kingdom. Deliberating this call has allowed us to see the blessings God is working through you in the Beaver Dam area and has been a truly humbling process to consider serving God among you.
After evaluating the needs of both St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church and School, Trinity Lutheran Church, and St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, and consulting with several leaders and members from all congregations, and lots of prayers, we have decided to accept the calls to St. Stephen’s. We thank you for the prayers over the last several weeks and we ask for continued prayers for our family as we make this transition. We look forward to meeting you and starting the work alongside you sometime this summer.
Please also keep in your prayers the ministries in southwest Michigan as they seek new servants to guide their ministries.
May God’s “grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Matthew and Katrina Reis
