A summer of faith, fellowship and fun
This summer, WELS members have been blessed with countless opportunities to connect with others in fellowship and faith. Enjoy these photos and takeaways from some of the synod’s biggest summertime events!
WELS EdTechLead Summit—June 25-27
About the event:
The WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit (EdTechLead) brought more than 400 teachers, pastors, and other synod leaders together at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., to explore ministry tools, techniques, and best practices.
A unique moment:
John McHugh, director of Corporate Communications, Leadership, Development, and Training at Kwik Trip, Inc., La Crosse, Wis., was the EdTechLead keynote speaker on June 26. He encouraged attendees to promote and participate in a mission-driven culture at their organization.
An attendee’s thoughts:
“I think at times you can work within your little bubble, just teaching a certain subject or working at a certain school. Here you can meet others in related fields. By learning from their experiences, you can implement what they’re doing. You can share your own stories as well.”—Mr. Dan Albrecht, teacher at Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School, Jackson, Wis.
Learn more at welsedtechlead.com.
Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society convention—June 27-30
About the event:
The Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) welcomed nearly 950 attendees from 821 WELS congregations to Des Moines, Iowa, to praise God and show their support for WELS mission work.
A unique moment:
Pastor Titus Tse and members of the Southeast Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission (SALEM) traveled from Hong Kong to join Rob Siirila of Asia Lutheran Seminary onstage for a special keynote presentation.
A first-time attendee’s thoughts:
“It was so exciting to see all of the amazing things happening at home and around the world. The fellowship and support are so encouraging. I can’t wait to go back to my home congregation to share what our synod is doing around the world and hopefully encourage even more outreach into our community.”—Betty Schwede
Learn more at lwms.org.
WELS Night at Miller Park—July 12
About the event:
More than 2,400 WELS members enjoyed a beautiful summer evening of baseball and fellowship at the sixth annual WELS Night at Miller Park. Despite the Brewers’ loss to the San Francisco Giants, WELS members were able to have plenty of fun taking part in the festivities. WELS First Vice President Jim Huebner threw out the ceremonial first pitch, while eight-year-old Addison Bauer, from Good News, Mt. Horeb, Wis., was chosen as a junior announcer.
A unique moment:
Recent Wisconsin Lutheran High School graduate Fernanda Rocha led over 41,000 people at the game in singing the national anthem.
A leader’s thoughts:
“The hundreds of WELS members wearing their bright blue WELS shirts really stood out in the near-capacity crowd, and it was great to greet them as I passed them in the concourse. Many of them suggested dates for me to consider when I schedule next year’s seventh annual WELS Night event.”— Lee Hitter, WELS communications director
Find videos and photos at wels.net/wels-night-a-hit/
Taste of Missions—July 13
About the event:
WELS Missions hosted more than 400 people at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., for the first Taste of Missions event. At the gathering, attendees enjoyed connecting with missionaries, sampling international foods, and participating in a special worship service.
A unique moment:
Three new world missionaries—Bounkeo Lor, Abram Degner, and Dan Witte—were commissioned during the worship service.
A leader’s thoughts:
“God’s people walked away feeling ignited for the mission work that’s taking place both in the United States and around the world! I felt that the atmosphere was electric from the start and just kept building.”—Sean Young, director of WELS Missions Operations
Learn more at wels.net/missions.
Women’s Ministry Conference—July 18-20
About the event:
More than 300 WELS women from 17 different states gathered at Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis., for the Women’s Ministry Conference. The event’s theme—“Living Stones: Positioned to Thrive”—explores God’s design and purpose for Christian women. A dozen breakout sessions and four keynote addresses discussed additional topics such as teamwork, evangelism, family, and more.
A unique moment:
Jenna Keller, Kayla Priebe, and Delaney Leffel hosted a panel to discuss witnessing for Christ and encouraging Christian leadership on secular college campuses. As recent college graduates or as current students, they were able to share unique anecdotes and insights about their challenges and successes.
An attendee’s thoughts:
“I loved everything about the conference. It was an emotional experience for me and gave me insight into my personal gifts. I never realized I had any before this.”—Anonymous
Learn more at wels.net/womens-ministry.
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Volume 106, Number 9
Issue: September 2019
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