WELS Outreach in Las Vegas: Moving Forward with the Gospel by Looking at the Past and Present

Abstract

It may be surprising to hear that there are seven Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) churches in Sin City, USA. With the possibility of a new mission start in the Southwest part of the Las Vegas valley, the total number of WELS churches in Las Vegas could be as high as nine in the next five to ten years. This paper will briefly examine the history of Las Vegas to see how the history of the WELS fits in. The history of WELS outreach efforts will educate how the WELS has continued to grow in Las Vegas. In addition, looking at current outreach strategies of the Las Vegas WELS congregations as well as other non-WELS churches, this paper will prove that the WELS can do better in its community outreach to those living in Las Vegas.