We are happy for you to meet
Pastor Ron Baerbock
God is good. One way that the members of Bethel Lutheran in Arcadia and Galesville measure God's goodness is by considering the way the Lord has sent pastors to serve with us. We are especially grateful for the arrival of our newest pastor, Ron Baerbock.
Pastor Baerbock and his wife Karen (pictured here) have been married since 1970 and have served in congregations and mission fields from 1973 to 2015. The Lord directed them from the suburbs of Milwaukee to the Pacific coast of Washington, from islands in the Caribean to villages in both Northern and Southern Mexico. From serving to Coordinate mission field work to helping to produce multi-language outreach material, Pastor Baerbock has enjoyed a wide range of ministry experiences. One great blessing that the Baerbocks bring to us is that they are both fluent in Spanish as well as English.
There is no doubt that Pastor and his wife count their four children and 18 grandchildren among the greatest blessings that the Lord has given to them. Though their children live at some distance from mom and dad - West coast, Milwaukee, and two in Minnesota - the Baerbocks praise God for the faith in Jesus Christ that binds them all together.
Pastor Baerbock, as a previously retired minister, has been called to serve with Bethel in a part-time role for the next two years. This provides Bethel with extra manpower and the Baerbocks with the opportunity to still enjoy some well-earned retirement. Though their time with us is limited, the Lord will not put limits on the message of Christ to bring spiritual blessings to those whom we serve with God's Word.
We are happy for you to meet Pastor and Mrs. Baerbock. We would be happier still for you to know Jesus through our ministry of the Word at Bethel Lutheran.
From Sunday to Sunday, in Arcadia and Galesville, you will find Pastors Cox and Baerbock opening up the Scriptures to all who attend. Come and hear what good news God's Word has for you to know!
Contact Pastor Baerbock by email - rbaerbock2@gmail.com - or phone (715) 299-0786
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"Peace to you!" from
Pastor Jon Cox
Grace and peace to you from Jesus Christ!
Thank you for visiting the Bethel Lutheran website! We would be especially glad if what you saw here would lead you to visit and worship with us in Galesville or Arcadia.
My wife, Doreen, and I have been married since 1990. We've been at home on the west side of Galesville since 2011. While our five children are growing up and heading out on their own, its nice to live where the neighbors are friendly.
The family at Bethel Lutheran is certainly a friendly group. We love it there and believe that you would too. Our members come from a range of backgrounds and span an age range from little ones on up, but there is a harmony among us that makes being at church there a peaceful experience.
Over the last 27 years of ministry, I've been blessed to serve in a wide variety of settings and situations. From a small mission congregation in central Texas, to a large congregation in central Wisconsin, to Bethel - Galesville and Arcadia. No matter the setting or size, the most valuable feature of life in these congregations is the blessing of being able to share Gods' Word with people who are eager to hear it.
It is so true that people of differing places and cultures face many of the same troubles. We all need the Word of God to counsel and direct our lives. The message of Jesus Christ is the one constant power that both motivates us to reach for success and comforts us when faced with plans that fail. We can always trust the goodness of God to bless and sustain us.
It is always a blessing to meet new people at church. I would be so happy to help you know Jesus Christ. Take a little time, read about what we believe, then come and see for yourself all the good things that God is doing at Bethel!
Contact Pastor Cox by email - jon.nathan.cox@gmail.com - or phone (608) 582-9998
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Faith Related Q and A
| Who, or what is "spirit", when you refer to "body, soul, and spirit"?
While there are some who believe that human beings consist of three distinct parts—body, soul and spirit—the Bible most often describes people as consisting of two parts: body and soul/spirit. The Bible most often uses “soul” and “spirit” interchangeably.
Overall, the Bible uses “soul” in relationship to the body, while it uses “spirit” in a person’s relationship to God.
| I was baptized WELS 29 years ago. My husband was not born WELS, but is a giant history buff, and there are things he sees and points out in out services, traditions, and symbols that even have me questioning why we do them. One such thing is the Christogram (XR) we use on our hymnals, among other things.
I know this is a shortened version of "Christ" but not particularly Jesus Christ.
I know that this was used in Catholicism.
Also, more importantly, it was a sign used (even dreamed up?) by Constantine, to put on their shields and to "go forth and conquer" in this sign.
My question is, aside from it being the first two letters of Christ, why is it still used in our Lutheran churches?
The copyright page of Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal offers this information: “The logo for this hymnal is a version of the Chi-Rho, a symbol for Christ. In the Greek language these are the first letters of the name Christ. He is the center of our faith and worship, our prayers, our praise and thanksgiving. This hymnal reflects in its name, logo, liturgies, and hymns the story of God’s love and salvation in Christ.”
A similar Christogram that you often find in church art is “IHS.” Those letters represent the first three Greek letters of “Jesus.”
Christian art can make use of pictures, symbols or letters to focus our attention on God’s forgiving love in Christ. We do not need to avoid these pictures, symbols or letters because of how people in the past might have used them. If that were not true, then we would need to avoid the use of cross because the Crusaders who carried out their atrocities against Jews and Muslims wore the symbol of the cross, and some explorers who exploited indigenous peoples sailed under the banner of the Christian cross.
The historic Chi-Rho symbol is a good reminder to 21st century Christians that “Christ is all, and is in all” (Colossians 3:11).
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| | » | WELS Connection - February 2019
February: Mentoring Pastors Growing numbers of new pastors are remaining and thriving in the ministry with the guidance of more experienced pastors through WELS’s mentoring program. Cast: WELS
| | » | WELS Connection - January 2019
January: 2018 in Review From the growth in WELS World and Home Missions to the excitement of the WELS International Youth Rally to the release of the updated WELS mobile app, 2018 was a truly blessed year for the synod. Cast: WELS
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Forward in Christ
| How can we help a family with a sick parent?
 In April 2018, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. I never expected to hear a cancer diagnosis at 36 years old. I never expected to have to tell my two young children that their mom was seriously ill. I also never expected the amount of help and support we received from our friends, family, and […]
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