“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Heb. 2:14–15) In this great passage on the incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus performs two works: the destruction of the devil with all his works and ways, and our liberation from the fear of death. The devil is our enemy, but he is destroyed, together with the power of death. Our fear of death enslaved us, but we have been delivered from that fear. Christ is risen! We live in the victory of Christ’s resurrection as the free children of God. The Wyoming District is composed of 60 congregations in Wyoming and the Nebraska Panhandle and 1 congregation in Colorado. These congregations are organized into 44 parishes and 6 visitation circuits. Each congregation was formally visited in the past triennium. With thanksgiving to God, I report that the Word of God and the administration of the Holy Sacraments has been preserved in all our congregations in truth and purity. Furthermore, despite the challenges of our aging and shrinking demographics in many places, our congregations continue to thrive. No district congregation has closed in more than a decade. The district places a high priority on Christian education and formation. District congregations have five classical Lutheran elementary (K–8) schools, two of which also include high school. The district offers an annual classical home school conference to support and encourage the homeschooling members of our congregations. The two district congregations in Casper, Wyo., have coordinated with congregations, pastors, and laymen across the Synod to establish and support Luther Classical College in Casper. The college opened in the fall semester of 2025 with 38 students. The district in convention has asked the district president to exercise ecclesiastical supervision over the college and has asked the Synod in convention to create a pathway to ecclesiastical recognition by the Synod.
The district supports a robust campus ministry in Laramie, Wyo., through St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church and Campus Center. Our congregations also reach out and serve students at their local community colleges. In the fallout of government pressures on the Wind River Reservation, the district suspended its Wind River Lutheran Mission in 2023. Local congregations continue to serve our members from the reservation and have recently begun a renewed effort at outreach and catechesis. The district provides theologically rich pastoral conferences and continuing education opportunities for our pastors. Winkel attendance is very high, and our circuit pastors regularly study Scriptures, the Lutheran Confessions, and pastoral application and casuistry. We enjoy 100 percent participation in the Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support program for our new pastors. The district sponsors an annual Pastors’ Wives Retreat to support and thank our pastors’ wives. The Synod’s Set Apart to Serve initiative is reflected in the educational formation and recruitment of our youth in our congregations, schools, and district activities. We actively recruit church work students for studies at our Concordia universities, at Luther Classical College, and at the seminaries, and we provide generous financial support to these students. The district helps with debt reduction for its former students and present church workers. Our pastors and laymen enjoy an extraordinary unity in doctrine and practice, which also bears the fruit of love and friendship across the many miles. Attendance at our annual evangelism convocation is very strong and includes many youth and young adults. Our annual camp for children and youth strengthens their love of Lutheran worship and hymnody, Lutheran doctrine, and the bonds of friendship. An annual Fathers and Sons Retreat aims at strengthening the fathers of our households in their vocations as Christian men. Under the leadership of its Marriage, Life, and Family fac il it at or, the district has grown in its engagement with state government and local communities. Some of our pastors have also served as teachers in the foreign mission field. The district is active in fostering a culture of Lutheran faith and piety, sound worship and bold confession, marriage and family, and love of church work and church workers. God grant that our labors bear fruit in our midst and throughout the Church!