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
| Why does WELS not require their teachers (K-12) to have their state teaching licenses? Also, why does WELS call teachers for positions where their degree qualifications do not line up (for example, a teacher with a degree in physical education teaching science)?
Martin Luther College (MLC), where I presently serve, states this on its website: “Students who successfully complete program requirements and meet the Minnesota requirements for licensure are eligible for a Minnesota license. To ensure that all teacher graduates are assignable anywhere in our country, MLC requires all teacher graduates to be eligible for a Tier 3 Minnesota license.”
Once MLC graduates receive their assignments, even though they have their Minnesota license, the state to which they are called may ask the graduates to also be licensed in that particular state.
In addition, Martin Luther College conducts a Post-Baccalaureate Licensure Program to work with teachers who graduated from Dr. Martin Luther College or Martin Luther College before 2002 “to be eligible for their initial Minnesota teaching license or add-on to an existing Minnesota license” (MLC Website).
Schools that extend calls for specific teaching responsibilities might consider the gifts, abilities and teaching experiences of individuals, along with their degree qualifications. It can also happen that a school is not able to find a “specialist” at a time a position needs to be filled and a person with other qualifications is called. As a recent answer explained: “Even though the Call is divine and from God, our process is a human one. That means that, while we try to do the best we can, the process itself might not always work as we intend it to work.”
| What are the differences in Calvinism and Lutheran teachings? My brother recently sent me a video from Truth or Tradition that speaks of how Christmas and Easter are based more on devil worship. And now he is stating that he will not go to any church unless it will not participate in either Christmas or Easter celebration. Early in the video John Calvin is quoted. I see that Calvinism teaches 5 principles: T.U.L.I.P. T: total depravity, U: unconditional election, L: limited atonement, I: irresistible grace, and P: perseverance of the Saints. I am particularly interested in unconditional election as several Scripture verses quote that God has chosen or predestined a few to be saved and not others. What Scripture verses refute these teachings?
This month’s “Light for our path” column addresses the concern about Easter celebrations. This link will take you to that column.
The Bible does not teach double predestination; it teaches an election to salvation only (Ephesians 1:3-14). From the Bible we learn that God wants all people to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). We learn from Scripture that people are responsible for their damnation (Jeremiah 15:6; Hosea 13:9; Matthew 23:37). The over-emphasis on human reason in Calvinism leads to the false teaching of double predestination.
Another very important difference is that Calvinism denies the power of God in the sacraments (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) and considers them only “ordinances.”
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Forward in Christ
| Finding contentment
 Dear Future Self, I’m curious, do you remember the winter of 2019? We had more snow on the ground than I had ever seen in my life. And with the snow came lots and lots of ice and cold and wind. So much ice. So much cold. So many days off of school. Six in […]
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