Mission of the Cross
Our Pastor
Rev. William
Meet Our Pastor
Rev. William J. Traphagan
Rev. William J. Traphagan was installed as pastor of Mission of the Cross Lutheran Church on January 14, 2023. He and his wife, Stephanie, have five children. He earned a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Theology from Concordia University-Nebraska in 2010. He also earned a M.Div from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2014. He has previously served parishes in North Dakota and Iowa. In addition to his parish duties he also serves as the treasurer for the South Asia Lutheran Mission, Chemnitz Forum, and Brainerd Circuit (Minnesota North District LCMS).
Faithful Pastoral Ministry
The work of a Lutheran pastor is centered in the ministry Christ has entrusted to His Church. That work includes preaching and teaching Holy Scripture, baptizing, absolving sinners in Christ’s name, administering the Lord’s Supper, and shepherding souls with truth and compassion. At Mission of the Cross, pastoral ministry is grounded in the conviction that Christ Himself serves His people through these means.
Teaching the Faith
Pastoral ministry also includes catechesis and ongoing instruction in the Christian faith. Through preaching, Bible study, and teaching, Pastor Traphagan helps equip children, youth, and adults to know the Scriptures and confess the faith clearly. This instruction is not centered on religious opinion or modern trends, but on the unchanging truth of God’s Word as confessed in the Lutheran Church.
Care for Christ’s People
In addition to public worship, the pastor’s work extends into the daily life of the congregation. He brings spiritual care to those who are sick, grieving, burdened, or in need of encouragement. He also assists families and individuals through times of joy, sorrow, uncertainty, and thanksgiving. In all of this, the pastor serves as an undershepherd of Christ, pointing people not to himself, but to the mercy and promises of God.
Christ at the Center
At Mission of the Cross Lutheran Church in Crosslake, our pastor’s task is simple and essential: to preach Christ crucified, to remain faithful to the Holy Scriptures, and to administer the gifts Christ has given for the life of His Church. We give thanks for faithful pastoral care and pray that God would continue to bless the ministry of His Word among us.
