History of the Madison Institutional Ministries

Abstract

Derrick D. Bauer’s essay chronicles the development of the Madison Institutional Ministries (MIMI), a WELS initiative providing spiritual care to hospitalized and institutionalized individuals in Madison, Wisconsin. Originating in 1945 to serve distant WELS members, the ministry expanded to include multiple hospitals and facilities. Initially supported by the Synod, funding was withdrawn in 1981, prompting the Western Wisconsin District to form MIMI as a nonprofit corporation. The ministry continued through local support, serving thousands annually and extending part-time chaplaincy to other regional institutions. Bauer highlights the ministry’s resilience, financial challenges, and its vital role in offering Gospel comfort to the sick and dying. The essay underscores MIMI’s dual mission: caring for WELS members and reaching the unchurched, advocating for continued support and awareness of its impact. Abstract generated by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)