2025 Martin Luther College commencement events

Fri., May 16, and Sat., May 17, marked the commencement of the 2025 graduating class of WELS teachers, staff ministers, and pastoral students from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.

Friday night featured a commencement concert, and on Saturday, the synod’s college of ministry held a graduation service and a call service, where graduating teachers and staff ministers learned where they would begin their full-time ministry. Graduating pastor-track students will continue their education at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

Watch the recorded livestreams of the services and view the assignment list.

 

 

2025 synod convention planning continues

The 68th WELS biennial synod convention will take place July 21-24 at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, Minn. Nearly 400 voting delegates—composed of pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and laymen—will attend, along with several dozen advisory delegates.

The Book of Reports and Memorials (BORAM), which contains the information to be considered by the convention, is now available online at welsconvention.net/boram. Hard copies of BORAM have been sent to all delegates, congregations, and male called workers.

Some of the important items to be discussed or decided at the convention are:

  • The declaration of fellowship between WELS and the Africa Mission Evangelism Church (AMEC) of Tanzania. Discussions have been taking place with representatives of AMEC for several years, and those discussions have determined that WELS and AMEC are united in doctrine and practice.
  • Two proposals to change the way synod officers are elected. Both proposals involve seeking nominations prior to the convention and publicizing the final ballot in early summer before the convention convenes. This would give delegates an opportunity to learn more about the candidates and would also give nominees time to think about their decision, if elected, in advance of the actual election.
  • The synod will have the opportunity to adopt a new long-range strategic plan entitled ā€œChrist through us,ā€ which will serve as a guide for the synod as it carries out its mission over the next ten years.
  • Elections will be held for various positions, including first vice president and recording secretary.
  • Every area of ministry will report on its work during the past year and outline plans for the future.
  • The convention essay will be delivered by Rev. Joel Otto, professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., focusing on the 175-year history of the synod. Prof. Paul Koelpin will also give an evening presentation on the history of Martin Luther College.
  • Several memorials (requests for convention action) will also be considered.

We pray that God will bless the decisions of the convention and will provide delegates with important information they will be able to share with their own congregation and congregations in their area.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

 

Virtual high school celebrates first graduation

Amazing Grace Virtual Academy (AGVA), a fully accredited online WELS high school, celebrated a milestone May 15 with its first graduation of fully online learners.

Three students graduated high school in a virtual ceremony, participating from their homes in South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

ā€œThis milestone to be able to issue high school diplomas to its first graduating class is yet another example of how AGVA has been extremely blessed by a gracious God over its first 14 years of existence,ā€ says Dr. James Grunwald, AGVA’s executive director.

Amazing Grace Virtual Academy (known for a time as ALHS Online) has been offering high-quality online courses since 2011 to supplement the class offerings of WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod high schools and elementary schools.Ā With more inquiries from families who didn’t have the opportunity to send their children to one of WELS’ 30 Lutheran high schools, the academy decided to expand its offerings, enrolling its first full-time students in 2022. Currently 18 students are taking classes full time and 381 are taking individual courses.

The academy serves a diverse student population, including Lutheran school students whose schools don’t offer all of the courses that meet their learning interests or specific course needs, home-schooled students, students from public schools seeking additional courses, and learners with medical or personal constraints that limit traditional schooling.

Grunwald is stepping down as the academy’s full-time executive director this year but will continue to serve part time through June 2026. ā€œBeing a part of AGVA since its beginning 14 years ago and working with extremelyĀ dedicated students, partner schools, instructors,Ā and fellow administrators has been a true blessing,ā€ he says. ā€œTo God be the glory!ā€

Learn more atĀ amazinggraceva.org. Read more about AGVA’s first graduation at forwardinchrist.net/online-partnership.

 

 

WELS Christian Aid and Relief cleans up after Wisconsin tornadoes

This past Saturday, about 40 WELS Christian Aid and Relief volunteers gathered in Juneau, Wis., to clear tree branches and other debris caused by a tornado that touched down in the community on May 15. Using supplies from one of the WELS Christian Aid and Relief disaster relief trailers, along with their own tools, multiple volunteers were able to chop up the tree debris and move it out of the way. They made quick work at the home of one WELS member and then moved on to a few others.

Additional local cleanup efforts were organized, including one by Lakeside Lutheran High School, which helped to clear debris for a family from Lakeside whose farm was heavily damaged. In the midst of these hardships, it’s wonderful to see God’s people reaching out with love and compassion to assist those who are hurting.

Learn more about Christian Aid and Relief and how to volunteer at wels.net/relief.

Update provided by Rev. Daniel Sims, director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief

 

 

2025 Grow in Grace retreat

Assignment and graduation days at Martin Luther College and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary

It’s that time of year when we will again see prayers answered. Students at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., will be graduating from our WELS college of ministry. Some of those graduates will continue their preparation to be pastors at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis. Others will graduate on Sat., May 17, having completed their training to be teachers and staff ministers. Later on that same day, candidates will be assigned to their places of service in God’s kingdom. As we see those prayers for workers in God’s harvest field answered, we respond with thanks to God for providing those workers and to the many young people who have answered God’s call with the words, ā€œHere am I. Send me!ā€

The following week, something similar will happen at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Seminary students in their second year will be assigned as vicars. For an entire year, they will see firsthand what the pastoral ministry is all about and gain hands-on experience in serving God’s people with Word and sacrament. Seniors will also be assigned to their first place of service. Some will be assigned as pastors while others will be assigned for a year as tutors in our synodical ministerial education schools.

As of the April meeting of the Conference of Presidents, there were 156 pastoral vacancies in the synod, with 149 of those being parish pastor positions. With 25 candidates available, their assignment will reduce the number of pastor vacancies, but the pastoral shortage will continue.

A similar high vacancy rate is taking place in teacher positions. WELS school enrollments have increased significantly in the last two years—a real blessing—but that has caused a need for more teachers than are currently available. It’s estimated that even after teacher candidates are assigned at Martin Luther College this month, there will still be approximately 100 to 120 vacancies in teaching positions. The Commission on Lutheran Schools has been working with congregations to find ways to fill the vacancies. At the same time, Martin Luther College has been redoubling its efforts to recruit both traditional and non-traditional teacher candidates. It will also be exploring other ideas to provide more teacher candidates.

We thank God for our ministerial training system and for the workers it trains so well. We send them into their new calls with the prayer that God will bless them and the people they serve.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

Visit wels.net/events for more details about commencement and assignment events.

 

 

Equipping leaders

ā€œThe WELS leadership conference offered a fantastic opportunity for our members to learn from experts across the synod and encourage them as leaders at our church,ā€ says Rev. Kurtis Wetzel, pastor at Cross of Christ, Nampa, Idaho.

Wetzel and members from Cross of Christ attended the first two WELS National Conferences on Lutheran Leadership in 2020 and 2023. He and his congregation are planning to send another group to the leadership conference in January 2026.

Cross of Christ in Nampa is a mission congregation established as a second site to Cross of Christ in Boise. Wetzel shares, ā€œSome of the guidance I received early on in our mission was to train up lay leaders quickly and involve members in lots of ministry.ā€

The keynotes and workshops at the leadership conference equipped his members for just that.

ā€œWe are striving to equip and empower the universal priesthood at our congregation and encourage leaders to work alongside the called staff to do more ministry and increase our local impact on souls for eternity,ā€ says Wetzel. ā€œCross of Christ has always encouraged personal witnessing. Because of some of the workshops on outreach and evangelism, our members came back with renewed outreach energy and shared with the congregation even more about the need for personal (as well as corporate) evangelism. This has energized other members at our church for witnessing.ā€

Member Cindy Harris says she was honored to be invited to attend the conference. ā€œI was humbled to be in the company of so many gifted spiritual leaders who passionately shared their knowledge about how to best proclaim the gospel in our communities,ā€ she says. ā€œOur pastors at Cross of Christ in Idaho do a wonderful job of training and encouraging our members for works of service, but this was an opportunity to learn from pastors and teachers in other congregations throughout our entire church body and take it home and share it!ā€

Cindy and her husband are founding members of Cross of Christ. She serves through leading a women’s Bible study and as the coordinator for the spiritual needs committee. She says of her time at the conference, ā€œThe whole time I was there I was thinking how wonderful it would be for every member back home to experience this conference. We ā€˜Western WELS’ members don’t often have the opportunity to personally experience the depth of our synod’s leadership and their passion for proclaiming the gospel throughout the world. It is a taste of heaven!ā€

The next WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership will be held Jan. 19–21, 2026, at the Hilton, Chicago.

Learn more about the conference at lutheranleadership.com.

 

 

 

Together Video – May 6, 2025

Rev. Jon Bilitz, pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel, Madison, Wis., talks about how area college students integrate into a congregation committed to supporting campus ministry work.

 

 

 

 

Conference of Presidents holds April 2025 meeting

The WELS Conference of Presidents (COP) held its spring meeting this month at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry, Waukesha, Wis. The COP comprises the 12 WELS district presidents, the synod president, and two synod vice presidents. Here is a summary of what they discussed.

  • The COP continues to develop sample governance models for congregations developing congregational constitutions and bylaws.
  • The COP reviewed the procedures it will follow as it carries out teaching assignments at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., in May, including clarifying that preseminary graduates (who do not continue at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary) are not automatically certified for non-pastoral ministry. Those called to other types of service (such as teaching) will normally need to enroll in the synod’s teacher certification program.
  • The COP continues to review the calling process, especially in view of the challenges of pastor and teacher shortages.
  • The Assignment Committee will continue to consider emergency teaching calls after the assignments are made in May.
  • The COP was asked to reconsider a proposal to change the synod convention from a biennial to a triennial schedule. The 12 districts heard this proposal last summer, and the majority of districts were not in favor of the change. In view of that, the COP declined to reconsider the proposal at this time, but it did decide that additional rationale could be placed before the district conventions in 2026.
  • The COP reviewed the new long-range strategic plan that will be presented to the synod convention in July.
  • As of the April meeting of the COP, there were 156 pastoral vacancies in the synod, with 149 of those being parish pastor positions. The 2025 seminary graduating class will provide candidates numbering in the mid-20s, meaning that the pastoral vacancy situation will improve only slightly in the near term. Larger classes at the seminary in the coming years, however, will provide some relief in the future. In the meantime, the COP asks every WELS congregation and member to encourage young men to consider training for the pastoral ministry.
  • A similar high vacancy rate is taking place in teacher positions. WELS school enrollments have increased significantly in the last two years—a real blessing—but that has caused a need for more teachers than are currently available. It’s estimated that even after teacher candidates are assigned at Martin Luther College in May, there will still be approximately 100-120 vacancies in teaching positions. The Commission on Lutheran Schools has been working with congregations to find ways to fill the vacancies. At the same time, Martin Luther College has been redoubling its efforts to recruit both traditional and non-traditional teacher candidates. It will also be exploring other ideas to provide more teacher candidates. As in the case of pastors, those in the best position to recruit and encourage young people for the teaching ministry are congregational members, called workers, parents, and grandparents.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

 

 

Home Missions approves new mission starts and enhancements

On April 3 and 4, WELS Board for Home Missions approved 11 new missions and enhancements for the synodwide 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative.

ā€œEach of the five new starts is backed by a mature, mission-minded core group that has been actively sharing the gospel in their communities—even before seeking formal support,ā€ says Rev. Mark Gabb, Home Missions administrator. ā€œThat kind of groundwork helps lay a strong foundation for long-term gospel ministry.ā€

Thanks to the generous gifts received over the past year, WELS Home Missions is also in a financial position to approve up to five additional new missions this fall. Gabb notes, ā€œGiving core groups additional time to prepare their requests will strengthen their proposals for fall.ā€

In the end, Home Missions approved five new starts and six enhancements. The five new mission starts include:

Arlington, Tenn.: Arlington is on the brink of rapid growth with Ford Motor Company set to build a new plant for electric truck production. Since 2022, the South Atlantic District Mission Board has been working with a dedicated group of 60 members and Pastor Jim Turriff from Gloria Dei, Memphis, who plan to relocate and establish a fresh start in Arlington under a new name.

Erie, Colo.: Erie has experienced a 55 percent population increase from 2010 to 2020, with continued growth expected. A core group of ten adults has been gathering for fellowship and Bible study while attending local festivals to share its plans for a new church.

Jarrell, Texas: Jarrell is a rapidly growing town north of Austin. For the past three years, Pastor Don Patterson has been working with a core group of 11, which began holding weekly worship in October 2024. The group has identified 90 prospects, many of whom they connected with by volunteering at the local food pantry.

Madison, Wis.: A core group of 14 adults, familiar with the area, has been working together since 2022—meeting regularly for Bible study and ministry planning—and has also secured a rental space for worship and community activities. A new mission plant in the center of rapidly growing urban Madison would allow WELS to reach an entirely new demographic.

San Tan Valley, Ariz.: Since 2022, the Arizona-California District Mission Board has been working with Heritage in Gilbert, Ariz., to plant a new mission in rapidly growing San Tan Valley. A core group of 26 adults has been gathering regularly for Bible study and community events. In October 2024, they began holding regular worship services and have already identified 127 prospects interested in learning more about the new church.

The Board for Home Missions is also financially supporting ministry enhancements for Christ, Clarksville, Md. (restart); Living Word, Petaluma, Calif. (restart); Living Word, Waukesha, Wis.; Redeemer, Edna, Texas; Risen Savior, Lakewood Ranch, Fla.; and Saint Mark Mankato, Mankato, Minn.

Looking ahead, Gabb shares, ā€œWe have limitless opportunities with a limited amount of resources. The Board for Home Missions is actively looking at ways to reduce costs, even in the current economic climate, so that more people can be reached with the gospel.ā€ Gabb continues, ā€œIt’s all about being faithful stewards of the resources God has given us. We will continue working diligently to aggressively reach the lost with the gospel while also being faithful stewards. We trust God will bless our efforts.ā€

Learn more about these new mission starts and mission enhancements atĀ wels100in10.net.

 

 

Being the hands of God in the Deaf community

This summer, Rev. Dan Frey, pastor at Gethsemane, Lee’s Summit, Mo., and six of his members—four who are deaf and two who are interpreters—are planning to make the trek to Wisconsin for a conference on how to serve the deaf and hard of hearing members of God’s church. The Hands of God Conference will be held July 18–20 at St. Paul, Lake Mills, Wis.

Frey, a member of the WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing committee planning the conference, is excited to gather with others to dig deeper into this important topic.

ā€œThis is a passion of mine—I’m in it now,ā€ he says, referring to his own congregation’s ministry to the Deaf population. ā€œI’m excited to help open the eyes of other people who might be interested.ā€

The conference will feature topics like technology devices in church for the deaf/hard of hearing, how to welcome deaf/hard of hearing guests at church, how the deaf share their faith (panel discussion), and setting up a deaf Bible study. One workshop, which will be led by deaf members, will focus on the Deaf culture, how it is different, and how congregations can bridge the gaps. ā€œThis [conference] is for the deaf [members] to get together but also for anyone interested in working with the deaf,ā€ says Frey.

While the conference focuses on how the deaf can serve and how congregations can support them, the keynote presentation ā€œHands of Godā€ is a message that can resonate with called workers and lay members in any circumstance. ā€œWe want to provide a setting where all can learn how God used his hands to save us and how we now get to be the hands of God in various ways to serve one another in love,ā€ notes the conference website.

Learn more and register for the conference at wels.net/mdhh-conference-2025.

 

 

WELS 175th anniversary events and resources

On Thurs., March 20, the first major event celebrating the 175th anniversary of the founding of the Wisconsin Synod was held at St. John’s on the Hillside in downtown Milwaukee. More than 800 people gathered in this historic church building to hear a joint concert presented by the Seminary Chorus of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., and the Martin Luther College Choir, New Ulm, Minn. St. John’s pastor Isaac Hayes commented, ā€œIt was as though the church building itself were singing.ā€ The concert was presented again on March 29 at the Martin Luther College Chapel of the Christ. That concert was also well attended. The MLC YouTube channel has archived videos of both concerts.

More events are scheduled for the coming months including an anniversary dinner hosted by the WELS Historical Institute on Wed., May 28, at Salem Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. Get details and sign up online.

Resources for congregations and individuals to highlight the anniversary and explore WELS history continue to be developed and made available.

  • Print-ready full-color bulletin inserts of major events in WELS history are being released on a monthly basis. Please consider using these in your congregation.
  • An interactive timeline is now available. This is a useful resource for pastors or teachers desiring to explore WELS history in Bible classes and catechism classes.
  • Subscribe to the WELS History YouTube page for video content. The first video is an interview with WELS President Mark Schroeder.
  • A goal of the anniversary committee is to increase research, preservation, and publications of congregational histories. Several resources are available to help congregations write and preserve their histories, including what material to keep in archives. These resources can be found here.
  • Anniversary commemorative items are now available. See options at welsstore.net/collections/175th-anniversary.
  • The new pictorial history book, Christ Through Us: A Pictorial History of the Wisconsin Synod, 1850-2025, can be preordered at nph.net/175annivbook.

Congregations are encouraged to celebrate the synod anniversary as part of a three-week series in October. Worship resources are available online.

God in his grace has richly blessed our church body for seven generations as the message about Christ has been proclaimed to us and through us. This history is worth studying and celebrating.

Check the WELS 175 website for additional resources in the coming months.

Prof. Joel Otto
Chairman, WELS 175th Anniversary Planning Committee

 

 

Together Video – April 15, 2025

WELS Home Mission Counselor Wayne Uhlhorn details ways that new mission congregations get involved in their communities.

 

 

 

 

New WELS mission work in Australia brings the gospel to growing communities

WELS has launched a new world mission effort in Australia. With a large focus on the country’s growing immigrant communities, two WELS missionaries and their families relocated to Brisbane, Queensland, in the summer of 2024 to plant the seeds of the gospel in a region that has been described as largely post-Christian.Ā 

ā€œPeople in Australia have asked us for help,ā€ says Rev. Larry Schlomer, WELS World Missions administrator. ā€œWELS members who moved there, brothers and sisters from Hong Kong, and longtime partners in Brisbane reached out. It is a joy to meet these needs with WELS missionaries.ā€Ā 

Missionaries Rev. Dr. Matthew Doebler and Rev. Peter Janke, both members of the Asia-Oceania Team, are leading this effort. While they continue to work with contacts throughout Asia, their physical presence in Australia allows them to establish a firm foundation for ministry within local communities. They are collaborating with two existing churches in Australia: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brisbane and Fountain of Life in Maryborough. These congregations, members of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, provide vital connections and a foundation for expanding ministry efforts. This partnership strengthens the mission by providing existing worship spaces, local insights, and a community of believers eager to spread the gospel.Ā 

Australia is highly diverse. ā€œNearly 30 percent of people here were born overseas,ā€ Doebler explains. ā€œLast year, over 500,000 new immigrants arrived. Many are searching for community and deeper meaning.ā€ The missionaries are focusing on relationship-building as the first step in sharing the gospel. Their families have immersed themselves in the local culture, engaging in neighborhood activities, visiting community centers, and forming friendships through English-language programs. Simple interactions, like two little boys playing together, lead to ongoing relationships and opportunities to share the gospel. These small connections are how ministry begins.Ā 

In addition to local work in the greater Brisbane area, WELS’ approach to ministry will model early Christianity—small gatherings of believers meeting in homes to study God’s Word and share in fellowship. The missionaries’ goal is to train and mentor local leaders to establish and lead house churches. This grassroots approach is already bearing fruit. In Melbourne, a new group has formed, including believers from diverse backgrounds.Ā Ā 

Though still in its early stages, the mission in Australia is making an impact. Through everyday interactions and steadfast commitment, the gospel is taking root, one soul at a time. ā€œWherever the gospel is deployed, the Lord is at work,ā€ Schlomer notes. ā€œWe trust his Word will bear fruit.ā€Ā 

Look for this month’s WELS Connection at your local congregation to learn more about mission work in Australia.

Christine Doebler, wife of Missionary Doebler, shares the importance of family ties when serving in a mission field in this month’s edition of Forward in Christ magazine.

 

Continuing challenges and clear blessings

The 2024 WELS statistics have been gathered by WELS Congregational Services. We are thankful to the 95 percent of our congregations that furnished their statistics—an incredibly good level of participation. While some of the statistics indicate continuing challenges in some areas, others provide some very good news and reasons to thank God for some significant blessings. Certainly, our confidence does not rest in statistics. Our confidence and optimism rest in the hands of a gracious God who continues to work through his Word and sacrament. Following are some significant details, both positive and negative, in those statistics:Ā 

  • WELS total membership declined from 330,618 in 2023 to 327,943 at the end of 2024. That is a loss of 2,675 members (-0.8 percent), but on the positive side, it is the smallest annual decline since 2011.Ā 
  • Weekly in-person worship attendance increased from 124,042 in 2023 to 127,594, a 2.9 percent rise. The percentage of WELS members in worship each week is now close to where it was prior to COVID.Ā 
  • There were increases in adult and youth Bible study attendance. Both rose last year by 1.9 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively. This was the fourth year of annual increases.Ā 
  • Spiritual gains have been trending upward, and spiritual losses downward. In 2024, the Spirit blessed WELS congregations with 4,126 adult confirmations. That is the most adult confirmations since 2012 and the second highest total in 50 years.Ā The 4,126 confirmations is a significant increase compared to the average of 3,300 confirmations annually for the last decade. Professions of faith (those coming to WELS from other Lutheran church bodies) remained stable at around 1,700 annually.Ā 
  • Spiritual losses (those who left to join other churches not in fellowship with us or who walked away from church completely—sometimes called ā€œbackdoor lossesā€) are decreasing. In 2024, WELS had 2,315 net spiritual losses, the lowest total of net spiritual losses since WELS began keeping such records. Over the decade prior, the average annual net spiritual loss was approximately 5,300.Ā 
  • In 2024, 2,985 children were born to WELS members, while 3,345 WELS members went home to heaven. That is five straight years when total births were at or fewer than 3,000. In the decade prior, the average annual number of births was 5,700. While the number of deaths has been fairly consistent, 2024 marks the fifth straight year that WELS had more deaths than births.Ā 
  • In 2024, WELS had 3,445 youth confirmations, the lowest in WELS history (a 20-year trend that reflects the declining birth rate).Ā 

Given the demographics of our synod (an aging church population and fewer births), it seems likely that our synod will continue to decline in total membership in the next decade. But if the Lord continues to bless some of the positive trends (increased worship attendance, more spiritual gains, and fewer spiritual losses), it is possible that the losses will flatten out and possibly even be replaced by membership gains. All of this, of course, is in the Lord’s hands. We plant and water, but ultimately, he is the one who makes his church grow.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark SchroederĀ 

NOTE: The full 2024 WELS statistical report is available on welscongregationalservices.net. A more detailed anaylsis will be available in June.Ā 

 

Connecting women around the Word

WELS Women’s Ministry exists to nurture, encourage, and equip women to faithfully use their gifts for service in God’s kingdom. One of the ways it equips Christian women is through its webinars, which are offered multiple times per year.Ā 

ā€œThe webinars continue to be a platform for women across our synod to share what they’ve been doing in their churches, homes, and communities,ā€ says Mrs. Rachel Halldorson, a member of the WELS Women’s Ministry Executive Board and host of the webinars. ā€œTheir passion and love for their Savior shines through and inspires those watching and listening to apply it to their own lives and situations.ā€

During the upcoming webinar on April 10, The Power of Connecting Women in Christ, webinar panelists will share strategies to foster deeper, genuine connections by meeting women where they are at in their seasons of life. Halldorson notes: ā€œThe loneliness epidemic is real and threatens the body of Christ mentally and spiritually. The connections made through social media can have a role but also be a facade. We need each other in real life. God has given us Christian sisters (and brothers) as gifts!ā€Ā 

During the webinars, women from throughout the country and beyond learn from panelists, connect with each other via the chat feature, ask questions in the Q&A, and have access to resources that help equip them to share Jesus with other women in their congregation and with those who may not yet know Jesus.Ā 

As a way to personally connect with others during the webinar, attendees are encouraged to set up ā€œwatch partiesā€ so small groups of women can gather in person to view the webinar together. ā€œThe webinars are not meant to be a how-to for everyone watching because each situation is unique. Our intent is that viewers will be energized by the excitement and stories of what has worked for our panelists,ā€ Halldorson says. ā€œWatch parties offer women the perfect opportunity to take that inspiration and immediately discuss how they might apply it in their own context. Plus, it’s just a lot more fun!ā€Ā 

Learn more about WELS Women’s Ministry and the April 10 webinar at wels.net/women.Ā 

Register for the upcoming webinar.

Ā 

 

Together Video – April 1, 2025

The combined choirs of Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., recently performed two joint concerts to commemorate the 175th anniversary of WELS. The concerts were held at St. John’s on the Hillside, Milwaukee, Wis., and Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.

Watch the entire concert at Martin Luther College performed Sat., March 29,Ā  in this archived livestream.

 

Photos from the concert at St. John’s on the Hillside, performed Thurs., March 20.

 

 

 

Photo gallery – One Latin America Team

Academia Cristo, the primary ministry of the One Latin America Team, seeks to make disciples in Latin America by sharing the message of God’s grace with as many people as possible, identifying and training potential church planters, and encouraging those church planters to make disciples who plant even more churches. Read more in the One Latin America Team quarterly update.

There are 37 Academia Cristo students who have taken steps to plant a church (Grupos Sembrador) with support from an Academia Cristo mission counselor. Meet some of these church leaders, active students, and missionaries committed to spreading the gospel message throughout Latin America.

A Lutheran church body in Tanzania is recommended for fellowship with WELS

The WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations (CICR) has the responsibility of overseeing our synod’s relationships with other Lutheran church bodies in the United States and around the world. The vast majority of the commission’s time is spent strengthening the bonds of fellowship with our sister church bodies. But the commission also monitors what is going on in other Lutheran church bodies with which we are not in fellowship.

The CICR also communicates with Lutheran church bodies that are seeking fellowship with WELS. In recent years, discussions with such churches have led our synod to declare fellowship with Lutheran churches in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda.

This beautiful trend continues as the worldwide fellowship expands. After several years of detailed doctrinal discussions between WELS representatives and the Africa Mission Evangelism Church of Tanzania, the CICR is recommending that our synod publicly and officially declare fellowship with the Africa Mission Evangelism Church at this summer’s synod convention. Such celebrations of newly established fellowship are always one of the highlights of a synod convention.

The Africa Mission Evangelism Church is a growing Lutheran church body that separated from its previous affiliation because of doctrinal reasons. It consists of 12,000 members in 78 congregations and is served by approximately 65 pastors. The head of the Africa Mission Evangelism Church is Bishop Baltazar Kaaya. Bishop Kaaya will be attending our convention this summer to tell us more about our new partner in Africa.

We thank God that he continues to build his church.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

 

God’s plan flourishes in Vietnam

It has been 14 years since Hmong church leaders in Vietnam invited WELS to train their pastors in the truth of the gospel. It has been seven years since the communist government in Vietnam invited WELS to build a theological education center in the capital city of Hanoi. From the very beginning, we knew that the Lord had opened a door to reach the more than two million Hmong people who live in Vietnam and the surrounding countries. We also knew that this door could close at any time. Our WELS World Missions team worked quickly to ensure WELS took full advantage of the time the Lord had provided. And God’s work moved forward in ways we could have never predicted.

With the generosity of faithful donors, we built a sturdy building—complete with classrooms, sleeping quarters, and a kitchen—meant to house 60 students at a time and train pastors for Christ’s service. Almost two years ago at the dedication, it stood ready, a beacon of hope. But government regulations have kept us from using it for now. The paperwork continues, and the delay has a story of its own. A local church body that once supported us began demanding practices contrary to Scripture—insisting we stop baptizing babies and allow non-Lutheran teachers to train our pastors. In a Martin Luther-esque stand, our partner church broke away, choosing faithfulness over compromise. Since then, they’ve lost government recognition, which has slowed the process for gaining occupancy of the theological education center. Yet we trust that access could come any day, because God’s timing is not ours.

Some might see this as a delay, a plan stalled. But God has provided paths we never expected. Since we began, our sister church has grown to over 160,000 souls, hungry for the Word. Fifty-five pastors have been trained—not in that building but in rented spaces and internet classrooms where God gathered them to learn. Another 120 seminary-level students are studying now, their hearts set on preaching the gospel. Catechism classes, led by trained leaders, echo through every congregation in the rural training program that was developed by WELS missionaries and is now being supported by 12 fully trained Hmong pastors. This flock proudly calls themselves Lutheran, not because of a building but because of the truth they’ve learned through WELS training.

Take a pastoral student and his brother, for example. When they feared funding had faltered, they sold their family’s water buffalo—a sacrifice that cut deep in their rural life—so one could join the biblical training they feared might pass them by. Today, that student is a pastor, shepherding souls, his brother’s faith beside him. What earthly hurdles could stop God’s Spirit at work?

These twists and turns and extra red tape have given us more time—time to train, time to grow, and time to stand firm without interference. We thought we needed that building. God knew we needed him—and him alone. In his hands, this work triumphs, brimming with hope for tomorrow.

In Christ,
Rev. Larry Schlomer
Administrator, WELS World Missions

 

Together Video – March 18, 2025

Elise Gross, a missionary on the One Latin America Team, describes her ministry serving women in Latin America. Learn how God is using Gross and her students to spread his Word.

 

 

 

Federal funding for Lutheran organizations

Recently it was disclosed that several Roman Catholic and Lutheran social service organizations have been receiving federal funding for humanitarian aid or community services from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It’s been reported that much of this funding has been directed toward assistance to immigrants and refugees. We have received questions about whether our synod is involved in any of this kind of effort.

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) has no financial or operational relationship with the Lutheran agencies that received these funds. WELS does not provide financial support to them and does not work with them in any way. Our synod has not applied for nor received any grant from the federal government for relief work among immigrants. When you hear the word ā€œLutheranā€ in the news reports, it does not refer to our synod.Ā 

One of the Lutheran groups identified as having received federal dollars (for youth mental health treatment) is Wisconsin Lutheran Child & Family Service, Inc. (WLCFS; known as Christian Family Solutions). WLCFS, which is known for providing quality Christian counseling services to our members and the community, is not a synodical organization; rather, it is an independent ministry affiliated with WELS. WLCFS is not governed or funded by WELS. Ā 

WELS does have its own disaster and humanitarian aid organization called WELS Christian Aid and Relief. This organization receives no federal funding and carries out its work of helping the needy and providing humanitarian grants solely with the generous support of WELS congregations and individual donors.Ā 

Because there are some erroneous or misleading reports in the news and on social media, we are informing you, the members of our synod, in case you have questions about this or receive questions about it from others.Ā Ā 

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark SchroederĀ 

 

Martin Luther College launches programs to accommodate second-career learners

In recent years, Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., has been working hard to address the current shortage of teachers across the synod. MLC has developed two new programs designed to offer alternative pathways for non-traditional, second-career individuals to earn degrees in education, which would aid in staffing growing WELS early childhood centers and elementary schools.

To support WELS early childhood centers with their varied staffing needs, the MLC Office of Continuing Education has launched its four tiers of support for early childhood teachers. Tiers 2 to 4 build upon one another, with Tier 4 culminating in an associate degree. Prospective students—often WELS members already working in some capacity at an early childhood center—can enter the program at any level, depending on their educational backgrounds and career goals.Ā 

As of November 2024, the program has cleared the final hurdle in becoming an accredited program. ā€œThe online Associate of Science in Early Childhood Education for non-traditional adult learners has been approved by the state of Minnesota and the Higher Learning Commission,ā€ says Prof. John Meyer, director of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education at MLC. ā€œSince the program was approved by our accreditor, four adult learners have been accepted, two more have begun the application process, and more have expressed their intention to apply.ā€Ā Ā 

MLC has also recently launched the Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility program, which provides a pathway for non-traditional and second-career students to earn a bachelor’s degree in education. ā€œWe believe there are a great number of candidates who can serve the church and its school system in a way that will help fulfill the existing teacher shortage,ā€ says Dr. Jeff Wiechman, vice president for academics at MLC. ā€œMany people are considering a second career in teaching because they want to support our system.ā€Ā 

This licensure program is structured as a competency-based education program, allowing students to use their knowledge and experience to guide their pacing through the coursework to meet the Bachelor of Science in Education degree requirements and be eligible for a Minnesota Tier 3 teaching license. Wiechman explains, ā€œMany of these students are already working in school settings and can apply their experiences toward their coursework, ultimately earning both their degree and license.ā€Ā 

The development of the licensure program has been years in the making. ā€œThis idea first surfaced in 2017 when we recognized our schools were growing and began exploring alternative ways to serve our church body,ā€ Wiechman explains. MLC called Dr. Nichole LaGrow as the program director and Dr. Martin LaGrow as the instructional designer. Together, they secured accreditation and approvals necessary for the program’s launch and worked with MLC faculty to structure the curriculum.Ā 

MLC started work with returning adult learners interested in pursuing an elementary education degree and license a year ago with the launch of the theology minor. Those students can now continue via the Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility program. New students can join them this fall by applying to MLC . ā€œWe’re excited to serve our church body in this new way,ā€ says Wiechman. ā€œThis has been a long time in the making, and we’re grateful for the support that made it possible.ā€Ā 

To learn more about MLC’s four tiers of support for early childhood teachers, visit forwardinchrist.net/early-childhood-teachers and mlc-wels.edu/continuing-education/four-tiers.Ā 

Visit the MLC Nontraditional Education Blog to learn more about competency-based education and the Alternative Pathway to Professional Licensure Eligibility program.Ā 

 

Together Video – March 4, 2025

Learn how members of home mission congregation Anchor Church in Marquette, Mich., are sharing Christ’s love with those in their community.

 

 

 

Photo timeline – Anchor, Marquette, Mich.

The new mission in Marquette, Mich., was approved as a new mission start in 2023, the first year of the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. Marquette serves as the hub of the Upper Peninsula (U.P.) of Michigan, and 52% of the people in and around Marquette do not have a home church or attend a church. It is also home to 7,000 students at Northern Michigan University. Click through the photos to see a timeline of Anchor’s ministry to date and learn more about planting new churches at wels100in10.net.

 

Large-print Christian Worship hymnal available

In a joint effort between the Mission for the Visually Impaired (MVI), part of WELS Commission on Special Ministries, and Northwestern Publishing House, the large-print edition of Christian Worship: Hymnal is now available.Ā 

The large-print hymnal includes the full content of Christian Worship: Hymnal but in a larger format to aid those with vision problems.Ā Ā 

ā€œOver 20 percent of all WELS members have some type of visual impairment,ā€ says Mr. Lawrence Povinelli, MVI’s chairman. ā€œStatistics show that as we age we lose sight, and it made sense to offer the hymnal in large print.ā€Ā 

Making this available is important, explains Povinelli, because ā€œall want to participate in worship and have access to our worship materials. The reduction in eyesight should not close the door to participating in worship.ā€Ā 

The large-print hymnal is available for purchase by individuals and congregations and is available on the Northwestern Publishing House website for $54.99.Ā Ā 

The Mission for the Visually Impaired was started to provide braille materials to the blind. Over its 60 years, it has evolved into providing audio, large print, flash drives, and now an online listen library. The listen library has major WELS publications, such as Meditations, Forward in Christ, People’s Bible Commentary, and countless other materials in audio. It is password protected as it is only available to those that have visual impairments, as well as those who are print impaired. Anyone can check out the listen library at listen.wels.net.Ā 

 

Special Ministries helps you serve

It is likely stating the obvious that not everyone your congregation has the opportunity to serve with the gospel regularly sits in the pews of your church or the various classrooms of your congregation. Maybe you are aware of those in unique situations who could be served by your congregation, and perhaps you wonder or struggle how to serve them. This edition of Together highlights a number of the resources available through WELS Commission on Special Ministries.Ā Ā 

Special Ministries has several main areas that seek to help God’s people serve those who are not served in the normal course of a congregation’s ministry: Ministry to the Military, Prison Ministry, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ministry, Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Mission for the Visually Impaired, Mental Health Needs Committee, Care Committee for Called Workers, Health and Wellness Committee, and a Chaplain Certification program. Subgroups or partners serve under a number of these areas. Ā Ā 

You can find more information on all of these areas at wels.net/special-ministries. This site also offers opportunities to refer people who might be served by one of these areas.Ā Ā Ā 

So often I hear ā€œI had no idea that our synod had . . . ā€ It is my prayer that this edition of Together helps you better understand all that Special Ministries offers to help you and your congregation get the gospel to those who may be in one of these unique or difficult situations in life.Ā Ā 

The words of our Savior in Matthew 25:40 guide the work of Special Ministries: ā€œTruly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.ā€ Those words remind us that, ultimately, we are serving our Savior in everything we do. The privilege our Savior gives us is to serve others with the life-saving gospel as we serve him. Special Ministries stands ready to assist you in whatever way we can. Feel free to reach out at [email protected].Ā 

In Christ,
Rev. Joel Gaertner
Director, WELS Commission on Special MinistriesĀ 

 

 

Military retreat in Japan

WELS Military Chaplain Rev. Paul Horn and his daughter Calliope (a senior at Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.) traveled to Okinawa, Japan, in January to host a WELS Ministry to the Military retreat for WELS military members stationed in the Pacific. Four branches of the military—Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Army—were represented and included members from Guam, Japan, and South Korea. The weekend was packed with events such as Bible study and Sunday school on the beach, worship that included a teen confirmation, and fellowship activities. WELS Ministry to the Military, a part of WELS Special Ministries, provides live online worship and Bible study every weekend for those stationed in the Pacific, and future retreats are being planned. Refer WELS members in the military at wels.net/military.

 

 

Service member referral

Military members and their families can receive devotions and other spiritual help materials in the mail or by e-mail.

 

Resources from the Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (MDHH), part of the WELS Commission on Special Ministries, seeks to help congregations share the gospel of Jesus Christ with members of WELS and others who are deaf or hard of hearing. The MDHH has various resources to assist members and congregations in meeting the spiritual needs of those with hearing loss.Ā 

Hearing loop grantĀ 

The MDHH is offering $500 grants to congregations that install hearing loops in their sanctuaries. A hearing loop works with people’s hearing aids to provide a clearer sound directly into their ears. Perhaps your church had issues with the audio for the livestream and the sound cut out for a portion of the sermon. Maybe the microphones weren’t set up to hear people singing. These scenarios can put up barriers to worship for those who are hard of hearing.Ā 

The MDHH is encouraging looping projects. If your church is already planning a renovation, it would be an ideal time to install a hearing loop. If your congregation might be interested in installing a loop in your sanctuary, reach out at [email protected] for more information.Ā 

Signed online Bible studyĀ 

The MDHH’s online deaf Bible study is a program specifically for deaf individuals who use American Sign Language (ASL). The pastor is hearing, but an interpreter is provided to facilitate communication. Participants can explore thought-provoking questions and engage in meaningful dialogue with both the pastor and fellow participants.Ā 

The classes are held weekly on Tuesday nights via Zoom. Anyone who is deaf and uses ASL is invited to the Bible study. The MDHH notes the study is not structured for someone trying to learn ASL.Ā 

Gerald Olson, a participant in the study, says, ā€œThe Deaf Online Bible Study is a comfortable place for me to ask questions in my native language, ASL. The answers are clear, and I have gained much understanding of the Bible throughout the years.ā€Ā 

To join, e-mail [email protected] for the Zoom link. The same Zoom link is used for each session.  

Gospel HandsĀ 

Gospel Hands is an online religious sign language video dictionary for the deaf and interpreters to effectively share the gospel. This process has been a three-year project developed by the MDHH. The printed dictionary, ā€œSign to the Lord a new song,ā€ has been updated to an online dictionary with hundreds of videos that are more effectively understood and shared. The online video-based reference library includes not only many religious terms but also the creeds and common prayers used in worship services.Ā 

 

 

175th anniversary resources available

It is interesting how often the Bible speaks of ā€œgenerations.ā€ For example, the church sings in Psalm 145, ā€œOne generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty actsā€ (Psalm 145:4). Paul wrote to the Ephesians, ā€œNow to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amenā€ (Ephesians 3:20,21). The idea of God’s saving work and his rule over all things extending from generation to generation and the encouragement to proclaim his works to the next generation are found throughout the Scriptures.Ā 

Perhaps this is why churches usually celebrate anniversaries in quarter-century increments. Twenty-five years approximates a generation. During this calendar year of 2025, WELS is celebrating its 175th anniversary. This is the first synod anniversary of the new millennium. It is an opportunity for a new generation (and older generations) to review with gratitude the blessings the Lord has showered upon our church body since its founding in 1850.Ā 

To help congregations focus on the anniversary by educating members on the synod’s history, two resources are now available. Monthly bulletin inserts highlighting key events in synod history are being produced. The first two months are available as PDFs in full-color, black-and-white, or text only on the WELS Historical Institute website. Please consider using these in your congregation.Ā 

In addition, an interactive timeline has been put together and is also on the website. The timeline contains short descriptions and photos with links to videos and articles that allow people to dig deeper into various topics. This timeline might especially be useful for teaching a class to confirmation students or adults on the history of WELS.Ā 

Special anniversary events are also being planned. Two coming up this spring involve the choirs of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Martin Luther College. The joint concerts will include sets sung by each choir and then a third set sung by the combined choirs. These joint concerts take place on March 20 at 7 p.m. (Central) at St. John’s on the Hillside, Milwaukee, Wis., and on March 29 at 7 p.m. (Central) at the Martin Luther College Chapel of the Christ, New Ulm, Minn. The New Ulm concert will be livestreamed.Ā Ā 

More information on anniversary events and additional resources are posted at welshistoricalinstitute.org/175th.Ā 

It is my prayer that this anniversary will spark interest and appreciation for the blessings God has showered on WELS for 175 years. By his grace, he has raised up leaders among us who have been concerned about defending the pure gospel, preparing workers who serve the church, and proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ saving work throughout America and the world. By his grace, the message of Christ has come to us and gone out through us.Ā 

By Prof. Joel Otto, chairman of the 175th anniversary committee and dean of students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.