Trinity Lutheran Church

The story of many, many Lutheran churches in America begins with small groups of immigrants that crossed the ocean and carved out a new life in this land of opportunity.  There is a new story being written today.  It is the story of the Karenni (Kah-REN-ee), and it begins much the same way.

The Karenni people are natives of Myanmar, but were driven from their homes by persecution.  Many of them found refuge in camps in Thailand, and through refugee resettlement programs have been making new homes around the world.

In early 2009 Karenni people began moving into Milwaukee.  With assistance from local Christians, they began learning the ropes of our complicated social, medical, and education systems.  In the process friendships were formed between the first Karenni immigrants and these local Christians, who were members of Trinity Lutheran Church-Freistadt.

As time passed the Karenni people in Milwaukee became more independent, but the bonds formed by those early days continued to grow stronger, and eventually led some of the Karenni to become interested in the Christian faith exhibited by their first friends in America.  A congregation of Karenni Lutherans was born and has been growing ever since.

A group of nearly 100 Karenni people worships each Sunday afternoon on the south side of Milwaukee at Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church.  Almost fifty students attend Lutheran school at either Trinity Lutheran School in Mequon or Milwaukee Lutheran High School.

One young graduate of Milwaukee Lutheran, Su Reh, has begun classes at Concordia University Wisconsin in preparation to become a pastor.

Donations made on this page will support Su Reh's education.  The eight years of higher education that he needs in order to be ordained in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod will cost in excess of $100,000.  This page is one way that we are working together so that the Karenni people can hear God speaking to them fluently in their own language, as He provides them with a Karenni pastor.

Thank you for being a part of the story.  May our efforts be a blessing to Karenni people for generations to come!

Want to know more?  Learn about Trinity and the Karenni people.