62nd annual LWMS convention held in Tulsa

The 62nd annual Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) Convention took place at the Arvest Center in Tulsa, Okla., June 26-29, under the theme “Sowing the Seeds of Faith.”

About 650 women (and men) met at this annual event for mission support, spiritual renewal, inspiration, and fellowship.

In his sermon for the opening worship service, WELS President Mark Schroeder encouraged convention attendees to “Embrace the mission. Seize the opportunities. Remember God’s promises. And, as you plant the seed of the gospel, watch as God makes it grow.”

Ms. Kelly Mitchell, a member of Mt. Calvary, Redding, Calif., reflected on the opening worship service: “I loved the singing. I come from a small church; maybe 100 people worship at a time. And so, hearing all of us singing just filled my heart. I loved it.”

Convention attendees learned about the expanding outreach in Asia and Latin America. In addition, home missionaries shared updates and experiences with church planting in northwest Arkansas and establishing a campus ministry in Waco, Texas.

Workshops included TELL Network: Training Leaders for Christ, A Blue Sky and a Big Heart: God’s Power and Promises in the High Plains of Texas, Sowing Seeds Always Works! (just not always the way you think it should), Church Planting from a District Mission Board Perspective, A Beautiful Neighborhood, and a special live Zoom presentation with a missionary team in Australia.

Ms. Tammy Heckendorf, a member of Mt. Olive, Overland Park, Kan., was attending her first LWMS convention. She noted, “It’s good to be around a large body of Christian women from throughout the United States. Having recently moved from Wisconsin to Kansas, I don’t have as many people in my fellowship, and to have this encouragement is wonderful.”

The convention marked the end of Jacky Stoll’s term as president of LWMS. As Melinda Sims assumes the presidency of the organization, she wants women of WELS to know about the service opportunities LWMS provides: “Most people know LWMS as an organization that supports and promotes missions. But another large aspect of it is giving a space for women to move into leadership positions. Within their own church, they can be a reporter and share mission information at a more regional level. We have our circuits where they can take officer positions. And then, of course we have the international board for those women who are looking for a chance to spread their wings a little bit more beyond their local congregation or even their region.”

The 63rd annual LWMS convention is scheduled to take place at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center in Madison, Wis., June 25-28, 2026. The theme of the convention will be “Cast Out Your Nets.”