Rev. Joel and Deaconess Clarion Fritsche

Serving the Lord in the Dominican Republic

Bio

The Rev. Joel and Deaconess Clarion Fritsche serve the Lord as missionaries of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in the Dominican Republic. In this role, Joel plants new churches in the country and forms and develops groups of believers into mature, self-sustaining and self-replicating congregations through Word and Sacrament ministry. Joel also serves as the director of Concordia Seminary and Mercy Center in Palmar Arriba. As director, he teaches courses and helps prepare men to be pastors who will proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this country and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

Clarion serves as a deaconess at Iglesia Luterana del Pueblo Nuevo, where she directs Sunday school, vacation Bible school and women’s Bible studies. She works on mercy projects and visits residents in Pueblo Nuevo. She also supports the wives of the seminarians with Bible studies and other activities to help prepare them for their new role as a pastor’s wife. In addition, she assists with curriculum and teaching in the Lutheran schools in Licey and Palmar Arriba.

Joel was born in Houston, Texas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in music from Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb., and received his Master of Divinity from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis (CSL). Before becoming a missionary, he served as a pastor of congregations in Wyoming, Texas and Illinois. He also worked as an admissions counselor at CSL.

Clarion was born and raised in the Republic of Panama. She graduated from Balboa High School in 1996 and received a bachelor’s degree in education from Concordia University Wisconsin, Mequon, Wis., in December 2000. She taught for several years in Lutheran schools before entering the mission field with her family. After much prayer and consideration, she started the deaconess program at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, in 2019. She was commissioned as a deaconess on Sept. 12, 2021.

Prayers

Please pray for the Fritsches as they serve the Lord in the Dominican Republic. Pray that God gives them strength and peace in their family life and as they work to communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ. Ask God to give Joel wisdom and faithfulness as he helps raise up pastors, deaconesses and other church leaders to serve the Dominican church. Pray that the Lord would give Clarion wisdom and strength in her new role. Pray that God continues to bless Joel and Clarion’s service. Let us give thanks that Joel, Clarion and their family are serving God’s children in the Dominican Republic.

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Additional Information

• Birthdays:
  • Joel – Sept. 15
  • Clarion – Oct. 20
  • Viktor – Sept. 14
  • Sergei – Aug. 9
  • Andrei – April 8

• Wedding Anniversary: Dec. 27

• Home District: Southern Illinois

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