2026 Confirmation Class — Joplin Missouri — On May 3, 2026, the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Immanuel Lutheran Church celebrated the Rite of Confirmation as eight young members of the congregation publicly confessed the Christian faith into which they were baptized. After years of studying Luther’s Small Catechism under the guidance of Rev. Christopher Ramstad, these confirmands stood before God and His Church to affirm the faith delivered to them in Holy Baptism and to receive the Lord’s blessing as communicant members of the congregation.
Meet the 2026 Confirmation Class
Each confirmand chose a Bible verse and wrote a personal faith statement sharing what Jesus means to them. Below are their names, confirmation verses, and a brief excerpt from their faith statements.
Freja Elizabeth Elsif C.
Confirmation Verse: Genesis 17:1 (ESV) — “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless.”
Freja writes that this verse is a promise and reassurance from God — that as long as we walk before Him, we are blameless no matter our transgressions. After sharing how God sustained her through difficult times in her early life, she concludes: “Jesus means life to me. He is the reason that we are connected with God because Jesus died to save us from our sin. That’s what Jesus means to me: life, grace, and love.”
Neriah A’letha Elouise C.
Confirmation Verse: 1 Peter 5:7 (ESV) — “Cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”
Neriah chose this verse because it reminds her that when she is anxious or worried, she can give it to her heavenly Father. She shares a powerful testimony of how God answered a simple prayer on a porch and transformed her life through the gift of a loving family. “What does Jesus mean to me? Well, He is my personal Savior and He is the answer to all of my prayers.”
Ella Grace D.
Confirmation Verse: Colossians 3:17 (ESV) — “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Ella discovered this verse on a t-shirt in her closet while searching for her confirmation verse and believes Jesus led her to it. “This verse means a lot to me personally. It reminds me to remember God and do everything through him. To do everything for his glory and not my own. It helps me to remember God in my everyday life, not just at church, not just at school, but all the time.”
Christopher Anton K.
Confirmation Verse: Ephesians 6:18–19 (ESV) — “To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.”
Christopher confesses Jesus as his God, his best friend, and his Savior — the truth, the way, and the life. His memory verse means to him that God will give him the words and strength to teach and proclaim the Gospel. He shares that he feels God is leading him to become a meteorologist to help keep people safe and warn them of danger.
Kylen Michael K.
Confirmation Verse: Psalm 23:1–2 (ESV) — “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.”
Kylen writes simply and powerfully: “I shall not want because God provides everything for me. I am the sheep in this and God is my shepherd.” He remembers being baptized on August 24, 2014, and what it means to be welcomed into God’s kingdom. Looking ahead, Kylen shares his goal of becoming a pastor so he can share the Gospel through the light of Christ.
Kelly Marie M.
Confirmation Verse: John 3:16 (ESV) — “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Kelly has been going to church since she was six months old and has learned many lessons from her religion classes at Martin Luther School. “John 3:16 is my confirmation verse. This reminds me that God loved me before the world was created.” Her favorite Bible story is Moses and the Israelites in the wilderness, where she learned that God will provide what you need.
Katheryne Marie R.
Confirmation Verse: Joshua 1:9 (ESV) — “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Katheryne shares that her faith means she is forgiven, and her baptism is important because she knows her sins were washed away. “I chose Joshua 1:9 as my confirmation verse. I don’t have to be afraid, because I’m never alone. Sometimes I need to be reminded that God is with me every second of the day.” She hopes to become a teacher at a Christian school and teach kids about how much Jesus loves them.
Auriel Shigeno U.
Confirmation Verse: 1 Peter 1:5 (ESV) — “You by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Auriel writes that her faith means a great deal, knowing that Jesus sacrificed Himself for all people. “It means that I always have someone on my side, no matter what. Even if my faith in humanity fails, I’ll always have a reliable faith I can depend on.” She is inspired by the hymn “My Redeemer Lives” and shares that Jesus calls us to serve — and she can be one to do so.
The Rite of Confirmation in the Lutheran Church
In the Lutheran tradition, the Rite of Confirmation is a solemn and joyful occasion in which young Christians who have been baptized and catechized make a public confession of the faith before God and the congregation. The rite is found in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB), the hymnal of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
The pastor begins by addressing the catechumens with the Great Commission — Jesus’ words to His apostles to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching them. He reminds them that they have been baptized and catechized in the Christian faith, and calls them to confess Christ before others, just as Jesus promised to confess before the Father those who confess Him before men.
The confirmands then answer a series of solemn questions: they acknowledge the gifts God gave them in Baptism, renounce the devil and all his works and ways, and confess the three articles of the Apostles’ Creed. They affirm that they hold the Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God, confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church as faithful and true, and pledge to hear God’s Word and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully. They commit to live according to God’s Word and to remain steadfast in this confession even to death, answering each time: “I do, by the grace of God.”
The pastor then speaks words of joy over the confirmands, declaring that they have confessed the faith and been absolved of their sins, and assuring them that God who has begun a good work in them will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. Each catechumen kneels to receive the confirmation blessing as the pastor places his hands on their head and makes the sign of the cross on their forehead, praying that God would strengthen them with His grace to life everlasting. The congregation responds: Amen.
The rite concludes with a prayer of thanksgiving — praising God for bringing these young Christians to the knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ, and asking that they may continue steadfast and victorious in faith until the day when all who have fought the good fight shall receive the crown of righteousness. The pastor then speaks the blessing: Peace be with you. And the congregation responds: Amen.
About Confirmation at Immanuel Lutheran Church
At Immanuel Lutheran Church, confirmation instruction prepares young people to make a public confession of the Christian faith as taught in the Bible and explained in Luther’s Small Catechism. Students study the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. Upon confirmation, these young Christians are welcomed to receive the Lord’s Supper and take their place as communicant members of the congregation. We give thanks to God for the faith of these eight young people and pray that He would keep them steadfast in His Word and Sacraments throughout their lives.
Immanuel Lutheran Church is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), located at 2616 S Connecticut Ave, Joplin, MO 64804. We gather each Sunday for Divine Service at 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM. To watch the Confirmation Day worship service, visit our Fifth Sunday of Easter sermon post. Learn more about our congregation at immanueljoplin.com.