Deep Roots on Milwaukee Street Since 1854
Friedens Church stands on Milwaukee Street in Port Washington, Wisconsin, a community perched on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The congregation traces its beginning to 1854, when the first services were held in German - just six years after Wisconsin became a state and seven years before Abraham Lincoln was elected president. The name Friedens itself, German for "peace," captures the congregation's enduring hope in a God who reconciles and restores.
Across more than 160 years, the church has weathered seasons of growth and trial, including a fire that destroyed the sanctuary in 2002. Looking back, members say they are most proud of the moments when the people of Friedens stood at a crossroads and chose to remain faithful to Scripture and the Gospel message. That long memory shapes the present. Friedens describes itself with the phrase "Deep roots. Authentic relationships," and the two ideas are deeply linked - a church with old roots has had time to learn what real relationships require.
The UP-IN-OUT Triangle: How Friedens Makes Disciples
At the center of Friedens' ministry is a simple picture called the UP-IN-OUT Triangle. The triangle is a tool for visualizing what a balanced Christian life looks like: growing in relationship with God (UP), investing in relationships with other Christians (IN), and reaching out to those who do not yet know Jesus (OUT). Pastor Brandon Lemons often points to this triangle when explaining why Friedens does what it does.
The mission statement grows directly out of that picture: Making disciples of Jesus through UP-IN-OUT relationships. It echoes the Great Commission in Matthew 28, where Jesus calls his followers to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching. Friedens pursues that calling in three directions at once, working to equip and inspire people to invest intentionally in each area of life.
The language of relationship is not incidental. Pastor Brandon has said that two of his favorite words in ministry and life are "relational" and "intentional." A recurring saying at Friedens is that the Gospel flows best over the bridge of relationships - the conviction that lasting change happens as people build caring, trustworthy connections across which the good news can travel.
A Gospel That Shapes Everything
Friedens is part of the Evangelical Free Church of America, and the church adheres to the EFCA Statement of Faith. The word "Evangelical" describes a commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to the authority of the Bible. The word "Free" refers to a form of church government in which each local congregation is free to govern its own ministry, rather than being controlled by a body outside the local church. At the same time, Friedens values the support, coaching, networking, and resources that come from being part of the EFCA.
The Statement of Faith begins with the Triune God - one God, infinitely perfect, existing eternally in Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. It affirms that the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments, is the verbally inspired Word of God, without error in its original writings, and the ultimate authority for faith and life. It confesses that human beings, created in God's image, fell into sin and are alienated from God, and that salvation comes only through the saving work of Jesus Christ.
On Jesus, the church confesses that he is God incarnate, fully God and fully man, born of the virgin Mary, who lived a sinless life, was crucified, rose bodily from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now serves as High Priest and Advocate. His atoning death and victorious resurrection are the only ground for salvation. The Holy Spirit convicts, regenerates, baptizes believers into union with Christ, indwells, guides, and empowers them for Christlike living. The church comprises all who are justified by faith in Christ, is manifested in local congregations, and observes two ordinances - baptism and the Lord's Supper - that visibly express the Gospel. The statement closes with the personal, bodily return of Christ, the bodily resurrection of the dead, final judgment, and the believer's eternal blessedness with the Lord in the new heaven and new earth.
Sunday Morning at Friedens
Worship at Friedens happens on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. The service runs about 65 minutes and follows a steady rhythm: a time of music led by a live band, prayer, Scripture reading, and a practical, Bible-centered sermon. During most services, children are invited forward for a brief Children's Message before returning to their seats.
Music at Friedens is blended. The worship team leads a mix of contemporary songs and traditional hymns, giving the congregation a range of musical styles in which to engage. Visitors who prefer one style or the other will find both, and the atmosphere remains warm and conversational rather than formal.
After the service, free coffee and refreshments are available in the fellowship area. People tend to linger, talk, and get to know one another - part of the relational culture the church values. The dress code is "come as you are." On a typical Sunday, jeans and sneakers sit alongside dress clothes, and no one outfit stands out.
Families with children are welcomed into the worship service. The church believes there is value in families learning and worshiping together, and many families stay for part or all of the service. For those who need to step out with a child, video monitors throughout the building let parents keep up with the service. Activity bags and coloring sheets are available, and a nursery is offered for infants through preschool. Visitors are encouraged to choose the option that works best for their family.
At 9:00 a.m., Sunday School classes for all ages meet at the same time as adult elective classes. This overlap lets the whole household arrive, drop off children in their classes, and join an adult study or Bible discussion before the corporate service begins.
Children: Sunday School and iGnite
Children's ministry at Friedens is built around two weekly touchpoints - Sunday morning classes and Tuesday afternoon iGnite.
Sunday School meets from September through May at 9:00 a.m. Classes are offered for children ages 3 through 4th grade, with a nursery available for infants through age 2. The program walks through the entire Bible in a multi-year cycle, with all classes studying the same passage each week. Teaching, games, crafts, and activities are tailored for each age group, but the shared lesson means families with children in multiple classes can talk about the same story at the dinner table that night. Each week, families receive discussion questions and enrichment ideas to use at home.
iGnite meets on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the church from September through April. Designed for kids in 4K through 4th grade, iGnite focuses on prayer and Bible verses, taught through engaging lessons, picture books, skits, puppet shows, experiments, and crafts. Games are part of the mix, and new friends are always welcome to drop in. The church's philosophy is simple: iGnite should be a safe place where kids can explore the Bible with curiosity and feel free to ask any questions they have.
All adults who work with children at Friedens are trained and have passed background checks. The church's Child Protection policy is available upon request.
Motion Student Ministry
The student ministry at Friedens is called Motion, and the name captures its purpose. The ministry seeks to move students towards God, each other, and the world - a direct echo of the UP-IN-OUT triangle applied to teenagers. Motion's tagline is simple: come join us. you belong here.
On Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m., middle school (5th-8th grade) and high school (9th-12th grade) Sunday School classes meet. The middle school class takes students on a journey through the entire Bible in a multi-year cycle, with a lesson order that often matches the elementary classes, so siblings are learning the same big truths. The high school class takes a deeper dive into the Bible's big storylines, major themes, and theological truths, asking how the whole Bible fits together and how key passages like the Greatest Commandments shape how we interpret and apply God's Word. The high school class is discussion-based, with questions designed to spark thinking and honest conversation. The goal is for students to finish high school not only knowing the Bible well but growing in a personal relationship with Jesus and confident in their faith when it is tested.
On Wednesday nights, students in 5th through 12th grade gather from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. during the school year (and 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in June and July) for games, worship, teaching from the Bible, and connecting in small groups. The Wednesday night ministry meets year-round, and new friends are always welcome.
Motion's perspective is rooted in Acts 17:28 - it's only in God that we fully live, move, and have our being. The ministry describes itself as a place where anyone can belong. Motion maintains its own social presence on Facebook and Instagram at @motionstudentswi, where families can follow along with the week's lessons and upcoming events.
Adults: Classes, Growth Groups, and Family Life
Adult ministry at Friedens is built to help people follow Jesus together, experience the life change Jesus offers, and invest in others' spiritual growth. The church organizes its adult offerings around the same three relationships that shape the rest of its ministry - UP, IN, and OUT.
On Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m., adult elective classes run in six-week sessions. Recent offerings have included a class on interpreting the Bible, drawing on scholar John Walton's Wisdom for Faithful Reading, and a study on the names and roles of the Holy Spirit using Tony Evans' teaching. Classes may be joined any week, and the emphasis is on practical understanding and growth rather than passive listening.
Beyond Sunday morning, Growth Groups are the backbone of adult discipleship. These small communities of about a dozen people meet throughout the week in homes and at the church, and they prioritize four things: applying God's Word to everyday life, praying for one another, sharing life together, and engaging the world as representatives of Jesus. Growth Groups have two main sign-up periods each year, typically in August-September and January, but the church helps people find a group outside those windows as well.
Men's and women's ministries offer additional opportunities to connect through social activities, service projects, and conferences. Because Friedens values multigenerational ministry, many activities are designed for the whole family - potluck meals, Christmas caroling, game nights, photo scavenger hunts, and similar gatherings. Friedens also regularly hosts the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University course, a nine-week program that teaches practical, biblical principles for saving, spending, paying off debt, and investing.
Reaching Out: Local Outreach and Global Missions
Outreach at Friedens flows from the conviction that every Christian is called to be a "backyard missionary" in their everyday spheres of influence - neighborhoods, workplaces, families, and friendship circles. The church works to embody the love of Christ both through organized programs and through informal, relational settings, and a central theme of its outreach efforts is the value of ongoing, intentional relationships between Christ-followers and those around them.
One of the church's most concrete local partnerships is with Highpoint Residence, a care facility in Port Washington formerly known as Ellen's Home. Pastor Brandon and a team of volunteers now lead a chapel service at Highpoint on the first Thursday of each month, and monthly hymn sings have brought residents and Friedens members together for an hour of singing, homemade treats, and conversation. Looking ahead, the church plans to lead Bingo events, organize craft supply drives, and find ways for people of all ages - from young children through retirees - to contribute. Highpoint requires background checks for adult volunteers, so visits are planned in advance.
Friedens dedicates 12% of its general contributions to global work. The church partners with eleven missionaries across the United States and other regions of the world, providing encouragement, prayer, and financial support. One specific partnership is with GlobalFingerprints in Nagpur, India, the EFCA's child sponsorship program, which provides healthy nutrition and a good education to help children and families break out of the cycle of poverty.
Other outreach offerings include a monthly Adoption Support Group (with separate men's and women's groups that welcome adoptive and foster parents from the wider community) and GriefShare, a 13-week support program offered about twice a year for people who have lost a loved one. GriefShare is structured so that participants can join at any point - each weekly session is self-contained and includes a video seminar, small-group discussion, and an at-home workbook.
Friedens also serves as a drop-off location for the local food pantry, hosts movie nights and neighborhood parties, and partners in community blood drives. Each year, the church participates in Operation Christmas Child, distributing empty shoeboxes, collecting filled boxes, and supporting the Samaritan's Purse ministry that delivers them to children around the world.
The Staff Who Shepherd the Friedens Family
Four people make up the pastoral and ministry leadership team at Friedens.
Brandon Lemons has been Senior Pastor of Friedens since 2009. He holds a degree in Automotive Engineering Technology from Minnesota State University-Mankato, served in campus ministry with CRU after college, and earned a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Shelly have two children. Outside of ministry, Brandon enjoys bicycling, reading, and time with family and friends.
Matt Hampson joined the staff in 2021 as Pastor of Students & Young Adults. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Biblical Studies and previously served in youth ministry at First United Presbyterian Church in Moline, Illinois. Matt and his wife Sydney have two children, and in his free time he enjoys the outdoors, parks, trying new restaurants, watching the Bucks, Brewers, and Packers, and (admittedly) struggling in fantasy football.
Charissa Toeller has been on staff since 2006, first in 2006-2007 and then continuously since 2010 as Worship Director. In 2018 her role expanded to include Communications. She holds a B.A. in Music and Bible from the University of Northwestern St. Paul and served as Worship Director at Sheboygan Evangelical Free Church between her two stints at Friedens. Charissa serves in student ministry and leads an adult small group. She and her husband David have three children.
Shelly Lemons has been part of Friedens since 2009 and began serving in a staff role in 2020 as Children's Ministry Director. She has a B.A. in Child and Family Studies from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and previously served in college and children's ministries at Salem Evangelical Free Church in Fargo, North Dakota. Shelly is married to Pastor Brandon and is the mother of their two children.
A Building and a Rhythm Designed for Ministry
The Friedens campus at 454 North Milwaukee Street is designed for the variety of ministries the church offers. The sanctuary hosts Sunday worship, while a fellowship hall provides space for refreshments and large gatherings. A student center, multiple classrooms for children and adults, a nursery, and a mezzanine area give the ministries room to spread out and to meet at the same time on a Sunday morning.
For outdoor fellowship, the property includes a canopy area and two parking lots (north and west) that double as flexible event space. Rooms can be reserved for ministry and community events through an event request process on the church's website, and the calendar is maintained through an online system that the congregation can view in a calendar-only view.
For members and regular attenders, Friedens uses an online tool called Realm to manage directories, ministry group sign-ups, event registration, and giving. The Realm Connect app extends that access to a phone. A podcast carries sermons and other teaching for people who want to listen on the go.
Giving can be done online through the church's Realm giving page, with 12% of contributions directed to global and domestic missions. Each year, the church celebrates a Celebration Sunday to remember the many ways God has been at work in and through the congregation - a deliberate practice of "stacking stones" as memorials to God's faithfulness.
Worship services are livestreamed on YouTube, and past services are archived on the church's YouTube channel so anyone can watch again or share with a friend. For those who prefer to listen, recent sermons are also available as a podcast. New visitors who would like to follow up after attending are invited to fill out a simple connect form on the website, selecting whether they are a first-time visitor, a returning visitor, or a regular attender or member.
A Community Held Together by Grace and Humility
More than 160 years after its first services in German, Friedens Church still gathers on Milwaukee Street as a community shaped by Scripture and held together by relationships. The congregation is intentionally diverse in age and spiritual background but remarkably united in its commitment to the Gospel and to one another.
Whether someone has followed Jesus for decades or is simply curious about faith, whether they arrive alone or with a family in tow, whether they prefer a contemporary song or a classic hymn, Friedens extends the same welcome. The church's deepest hope is that everyone who walks through its doors - or joins online - will encounter the grace of God in Christ and find a community where they can grow. The people of Friedens have been doing that work together since 1854, and they intend to keep doing it for a long time to come.