Christian Aid and Relief responds to Hurricane Helene

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Hurricane Helene roared ashore on the evening of Sept. 26 bringing a huge swath of destruction in her path from the Big Bend region of Florida all the way to southern Appalachia. The death toll from this terrible storm stands at 120 and is rising. Millions are still without power or water.

WELS Christian Aid and Relief has been in contact with district leaders and pastors in the impacted areas to ascertain needs. I am pleased to report that none of our churches experienced major damage and none of our members lost their lives. However, many experienced extensive damages to their properties. Some even lost their homes entirely. Many of our brothers and sisters are in need.

I am working with our pastors to provide immediate financial assistance to those who need it. In addition, our assessment team will soon visit congregations in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee to assess needs before potential deployments to the region.

Many of you have reached out to ask how you can help. Currently, the best way to help is to give a donation through our disaster relief fund. You can do that by visiting wels.net/CARgift. You can also send a check to the following address:

WELS Christian Aid and Relief
N16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive
Waukesha, WI 53188-1108

Thank you for your compassion, support, and generosity.

In Christ, our compassionate Savior,
Pastor Dan Sims
Director, WELS Christian Aid and Relief

Update from South Atlantic District President Rev. Charles Westra

Thanks to all of you for your prayers for our brothers and sisters affected by Helene. Our prayers continue for the many affected.

At this point, we still have no reports of loss of life among our WELS congregations. Many of our congregations celebrated “Michael and all angels” last Sunday. We give thanks to our God for his protection among us.

Pastor Paul Zell in Hendersonville, N.C., shared that communication has been very difficult because cell service is spotty at best. He has spoken to most of his members, and all are safe, but there are many in the greater Asheville, N.C., area that are still missing. Widespread flooding and mudslides were a severe threat. Many members suffered significant damage to homes and property. WELS Christian Aid and Relief representatives will be in Asheville on Saturday to do assessment and begin the coordination of assistance.

Pastor Jonathan Neumann in Martinez, Ga., told me this morning that they are on day five without power. A shortage of drinking water is also a problem for many. Extensive cleanup is needed on the church property. Many members have suffered significant damage to homes and property. WELS Christian Aid and Relief will be on site there early next week.

Pastor David Priebe shared that six families at Bay Pines, Fla., have been displaced from their homes on the barrier islands due to the storm surge. Most of the damage was confined to the narrow strip of Pinellas County along the beach. Three families from Living Savior in Valrico, Fla., also suffered significant damage to their homes. Pastor Priebe also reported that two families from Peace in Trinity, Fla., lost all the contents of their homes.

 

 

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Together Video – October 1, 2024

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A new home mission in the greater Houston area was just approved by the WELS Board for Home Missions. Rev. Nathan Sutton, district mission board chairman for the South Central District, discusses the next steps for the core group and the greater culture of mission-mindedness in the South Central District.

 

 

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Preparing new home missionaries

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“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands” (Psalm 90:17).

For millennia this has been the prayer of God’s people; any success in our mission efforts comes only because of God’s favor and blessing. Now, in year two of the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative, we give great thanks to the Lord our God for his many blessings:

  • With the addition of one new start (Cypress/Waller, Texas) and one enhancement (Barre/Montpelier, Vt.) in September, the Board for Home Missions has approved a total of 16 new missions and 18 enhancements toward the goal of starting 100 new missions and enhancing 75 ministries from 2023–2033.
  • All ten new mission starts approved in 2023 have a home missionary, and three of the six new mission starts approved in 2024 have a home missionary.
  • Of those 13 home missionaries, 8 pastors accepted calls from the field to new home missions and 5 Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary graduates were assigned.
  • New missions in Marquette, Mich.; North Collin County, Texas; and Wichita, Kan., launched weekly Sunday worship in September.
  • Generous gifts to Home Missions in September will enable Home Missions to approve 10-plus new home missions in 2025.

As Home Missions plants new churches throughout North America, we take great care in preparing new home missionaries. This past August, seven home missionaries and their wives attended the Church Planter Intensive at Carbon Valley Lutheran, Firestone, Colo.

View photos from the Church Planter Intensive in Colorado

WELS Home Missions - Church Planter Intensive - August 2024

I was able to attend the training and see firsthand the blessing it is for new missionaries. They learn not only the essential aspects of church-planting but also the systems and processes that will help prepare them to launch and establish a new mission. By the time the missionary goes home from the Church Planter Intensive, he has a basic ministry plan for the next 18 to 24 months. Each missionary is also paired with a coach, who is a church planter himself. During the next two years, the coach and missionary meet monthly. The coach helps the missionary troubleshoot issues and challenges that arise and provides encouragement and accountability.

The Church Planter Intensive and coaching program have been well received by many home missionaries. I give great thanks for the many experienced missionaries who have helped make the program what it is today.

In the end, why do we do all this? “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all” (2 Corinthians 5:14). As a result of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have peace that the world is seeking but is only found through Christ. Through the work of our home mission congregations, more people are finding this peace as we see the Lord blessing our efforts. We thank God for this. As we continue our work together as a synod, our prayer continues, “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us—yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Rev. Mark Gabb, administrator, WELS Home Missions

WELS 100 missions in 10 years

“It was amazing. It was the greatest thing . . . just to know that Jesus still loved me and still cared about me and wanted me to be part of his family again. That meant the world to me.”

The 100 Missions in 10 Years effort is all about sharing the kind of peace that only Christ offers. Sean O’Doherty found that peace at Cross of Christ, a home mission congregation in Nampa, Idaho.

 

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Three home missions launch weekly worship

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Three home missions launched weekly worship services in September: Divine Savior—North Collin County, Celina, Texas; Anchor Church, Marquette, Mich.; and Victory, Wichita, Kan.

“A grand opening is important in the life of a mission church because it signals that from here on out you are fully operational for worship,” says Rev. Joseph Lindloff, home missionary at Anchor Church. “It’s like the gun going off at the beginning of a marathon. It signals that we can now get to work reaching one soul at a time as a full-fledged church, bringing people regularly into the house of God and before the means of grace. What a joy that we get to do this work, joining Jesus on his mission!”

Divine Savior—North Collin County, Celina, Texas: Seventy-one people attended the launch service on Sept. 8. Divine Savior’s core group has been meeting for planning and Bible studies since 2021; it was approved as a mission site in 2023. Celina, a northern suburb of Dallas, is the fastest growing city in the United States.

Following the launch service, the real work begins, says Rev. Caleb King, home missionary at Divine Savior—North Collin County. “The reality is we’re a church of about 25 adults and a handful of children. We could sit and ‘play church’ and think that we made it, or we can recognize that the launch was a great milestone but not the mountain peak. The next step, then, is to continue to engage people one by one with the gospel so that they can know the Savior who changes their life; to care for individual souls in ways that the rest of the world doesn’t.”

Anchor Church, Marquette, Mich.: On Sept. 15, 75 people (including 20 visitors) attended the grand opening under the theme “Hope in Christ, Firm and Secure.” Approved as a mission site in 2023, Anchor Church has a 24/7 ministry space in downtown Marquette where it hosts community service events, Bible studies, youth ministry, and now weekly worship.

Lindloff says that the community has been welcoming to the concept of a new church: “We are right where we need to be, downtown in the heart of Marquette, serving it spiritually and physically.”

Victory, Wichita, Kan.: Started as a home mission in 2022 as part of a multisite effort for Messiah, Wichita, Kan., Victory launched worship at its second location on Sept. 15, with a full day’s worth of events. More than 100 people attended, including 15 first-time visitors.

While the festivities and food were a hit, the message is what made an impact. Rev. Jacob Jenswold, Victory’s home missionary, shares this reaction from a visitor who hadn’t been in church for months and had never been in a conservative Lutheran church. “He told me, ‘This felt different. The service felt more focused, like everything came back to God’s words for me. I like that. I want to come back for that.’ We will see if he comes back for that, but that’s what we are going for! Jesus for you!”

All three missionaries are thankful for the continued support of Home Missions and WELS members. “Our mission’s work and ministry wouldn’t be possible without you,” says King. “You may never meet a person that is impacted by the work you support. But you will meet them in heaven someday. . . . Keep us in your prayers as we hold on to God’s promises in his Word.”

WELS is committed to starting 100 new missions in the next 10 years. Learn more about this initiative at wels100in10.net.

 

 

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New director named for WELS Church Extension Fund

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Mr. Brian Roser has been named the new executive director of WELS Church Extension Fund, Inc. (WELS CEF). Roser started in the position in July 2024, after the retirement of Mr. Scott Page.

Roser brings a wealth of experience to the role, having served in both the corporate and non-profit worlds in the past. His prior banking experience included management roles in client relations, consumer lending, and loss mitigation. He also served as executive administrator for Lutheran Association for Church Extension, Inc., for six years. Roser has been with WELS CEF since 2016, working as a loan manager.

Roser says that he appreciates being part of the mission of WELS CEF, which is to support the spreading of the gospel primarily by providing loans and grants to WELS Home Missions congregations. “When you work in the corporate world, it’s a job to support yourself. Working in the non-profit world has a whole different feeling. It becomes a part of who you are,” he says. “There’s a higher meaning to it than just a job. I feel blessed to be working for WELS.”

An active member at Star of Bethlehem, New Berlin, Wis., Roser hopes to build on his years of serving as a church volunteer to help him communicate and work through the process with church treasurers and building committees. “I just pray that I can use whatever skills God has given me for the good of the church,” he says.

WELS CEF helps provide financing to mission congregations so they can purchase land and either build or renovate a worship facility. It also works with established congregations on building projects as funds are available. Loan demand has been high the last few years, according to Roser, with more than $40.8 million of loans disbursed for new construction, facility expansion or purchase, or land purchase in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024.

Almost 2,800 WELS members, congregations, and affiliates have entrusted WELS CEF with $111 million in member investments. Operational surpluses over the years have enabled WELS CEF to provide $48 million in matching grants to mission congregations and $15.8 million in special grants to Home Missions since 1993.

WELS mission congregations recognize the significance of WELS CEF in getting a building project off the ground. Started as a mission in 2018, Sure Foundation, Brandon, S.D., recently broke ground on a 7,500 sq. ft. facility, which includes a worship space that seats 200, a gathering space, a multi-purpose room, a kitchen, and two classrooms. WELS CEF provided the congregation a grant and loan to purchase land and then another loan to build the church facility. “I appreciate the work of CEF because it allows us to do something that we would never otherwise be able to do—have a permanent space,” says Rev. Craig Wilke, pastor at Sure Foundation. “In our context, a permanent space is a big deal. And while a building will not convert souls, it will give us more opportunities to preach the gospel and connect with people.”

Learn more about the work of WELS CEF at wels.net/cef.

 

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Encouraging opening enrollment numbers at WELS synodical schools

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Fall classes have begun at the four synodical schools. The opening enrollments at the schools are encouraging.

The best news comes from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., which opened with a total enrollment of 154, compared to 134 last year. First-year student enrollment is 49, a significant increase from last year’s total of 37.

The enrollment at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., showed only a slight decrease in total enrollment. This year’s enrollment is 614 compared to 620 last year. But the 2024–25 freshman class of 174 is significantly larger than last year’s class of 150, an encouraging sign for a growing enrollment in the coming years.

Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis., began the school year with 415, a small increase compared to last year’s opening enrollment of 412. The size of the freshman class increased from last year’s 102 to 112 this year. For the first time in some time, the boys in the freshman class outnumber the girls (63 boys and 49 girls). This is significant because that high number of boys is likely to translate into more candidates for the pastoral ministry.

Finally, enrollment at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich., is at 190, down only slightly from 192 in 2023. This year’s freshman enrollment is 49, the same as last year.

These numbers are evidence of God’s blessings on our recruitment efforts—efforts not only undertaken by the four synodical schools but also by pastors, teachers, parents, and grandparents in our congregations. Given the significant shortage of both pastors and teachers, our commitment to encourage young people to prepare for the public ministry needs to continue and increase in the years to come. Continue to ask God to send workers into his harvest field. He will hear and answer those prayers.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

 

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Kids Connection celebrates 30 years

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Nearly 30 years ago, Kids Connection was born out of a desire to encourage young children to “stay connected to Jesus.” Modeled after its adult counterpart WELS Connection, this monthly video gives school children a glimpse into interesting ministries, stories, people, and programs from around the synod—with the goal of illustrating how kids too can live lives of faith in Jesus.

A ministry of WELS Discipleship, Kids Connection is produced by Mr. Steve Boettcher and Mrs. Kris Snyder, each of whom has been with the program since the very beginning. When they were just getting started, Snyder explains, “we wanted to provide a way for kids to see other kids serving Jesus by serving others and to use the gospel to connect them to each other, to others in WELS, and, most importantly, to Jesus.”

Together with Rev. Tony Schultz, who has been creating and sharing memorable Scripture lessons on-screen since the very beginning, the Kids Connection team has reached kids across multiple generations. Now, as this unique children’s ministry embarks on its milestone 30th season, the team is eager to continue encouraging kids in their walks of faith.

The newest season of Kids Connection introduces two new teen hosts—Ty and Erika. Both are looking forward to acting as role models for their younger peers. “I am most excited about the fact that I get to share God’s Word with students through humor and videos,” says Ty. “It is an awesome opportunity to let my light shine and share the good news with others.” Erika adds, “Having the opportunity to be a role model for Christian kids brings me so much joy just thinking about it. To know that the work that I am doing will help kids connect to their Savior is so special to me.”

While the program currently reaches about 95 percent of WELS schools, the producers ultimately hope to be in every WELS church, school, and early childhood center. They share multiple ways this seven-minute video can be used:

  • Play it during an all-school chapel.
  • Play it in each classroom or at the early childhood center during lunch.
  • View it in church on a different week from WELS Connection.
  • Share it with families with young children who do not attend a WELS school.
  • Share it with homeschooling families.
  • Keep a copy in the church or school library for families to check out for home use.
  • Watch it in after-school programs and youth group gatherings.

Says Snyder, “We pray our audience is using Kids Connection to share the love of Jesus, to inspire each other, to learn, to produce fruit of faith, to grow in faith, to be encouraged, and to ‘stay connected to Jesus.’ ”

Learn more and subscribe at wels.net/kidsconnection.

Kids Connection wants to connect with you!

The production team is compiling a video to celebrate 30 years of ministry. Whether you’ve seen all 30 seasons or just discovered it recently, what is your most memorable Kids Connection moment? How has Kids Connection impacted you, your school, your students, or your ministry? Send your one-minute video, photo, or e-mail to [email protected] by Dec. 31, 2024.

 

 

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2025 VEBA open enrollment and rate changes

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The WELS VEBA Commission will offer a limited open enrollment this fall for eligible workers at participating organizations to join the WELS VEBA health plan, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Limited open enrollment materials will be mailed to eligible workers and organizations by the end of October.

Due to the rising costs of health care and prescription drugs, 2025 VEBA rates will increase by seven percent for all plan options. This inflation-driven increase is in line with projected average national increases in 2025 and is necessary to ensure that the VEBA plan remains well funded to provide benefits for called workers and their families. In addition, new geographic rate regions and rating factors—determined now by zip code rather than state—will be implemented beginning in 2025. This means that the total 2025 VEBA rate change for an organization will be determined by its location and will comprise a combination of the overall seven percent increase and the organization’s regional rating factor. Total 2025 VEBA rate changes will vary from a 0.7 percent decrease to an 18.9 percent increase, depending on the rating factor that applies to a particular region.

The WELS VEBA Commission approved the new rate regions and rating factors so that WELS VEBA rates will better reflect current health care costs across the country. The new regional rating factors will be implemented over three years (2025 through 2027) to ease the financial impact to organizations. With the three-year transition period, the regional rating factor that applies to an organization’s rates for 2025 will also apply to that organization’s rates for 2026 and 2027.

Learn more about the 2025 rate change and find the 2025 VEBA rates for your organization.

 

 

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Musical energy and talent a highlight at the National Worship Conference

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The following summary of the recent WELS National Festival for Worship, Music, and the Arts, held July 31–Aug. 2, in Kenosha, Wis., was written by Rev. Bryan Gerlach. He has served as the director of the WELS Commission on Worship since 1996 and was involved in the development of the new WELS hymnal. He will be retiring this month. He has provided steady and solid leadership in the area of worship, emphasizing the importance of worship that is Christ-centered, focused on law and gospel, and retains the principles of faithful Lutheran worship while incorporating variety and freshness in the liturgies and hymns used in our congregations. We thank God for this gift to his church, and we thank him for his faithful service. —WELS President Mark Schroeder

After a seven-year hiatus, rather than the three-year pattern that began in 1996, it’s not surprising that this year’s conference unleashed a lot of musical energy and talent. One first-time attendee said, “I had heard it would be awesome, but it far exceeded my expectations.” Some regular past attendees said “best ever” about the caliber of the orchestra . . . and the superb cafeteria menu choices.

The conference theme was “Sing to the Lord a New Song.” While the song of the gospel is always new, this conference made extensive use of new songs from the 2021 WELS hymnal suite and beyond, accompanied by a wide variety of instruments in different styles.

Those who couldn’t attend can still enjoy concerts and services at welsworshipconference.net/media. This link also includes service folders, some presentation handouts, and photos. While the impact from these videos isn’t the same as being present with 1,000 people (like a photo of the Grand Canyon can’t compete with standing at the rim), viewers can still enjoy these events. Here are some “not to miss” items:

  • Festival concert: Don’t miss the thrilling final movement of Saint Saens’ “Organ Symphony” and excellent choral music from a 115-voice choir.
  • Plenary address: Jonathan Bauer presented “Lutheran Worship: What Now?” In a context of rapid change, Bauer demonstrates how, as we, confessional Lutherans, are fully equipped to answer this crucial question. It’s available in both video and print.
  • Morning “Alive in Christ” sermons: Hear sermons by Prof. Aaron Christie (Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary), President Richard Gurgel (Martin Luther College), and President em. Paul Wendland (Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary).
  • Closing concert: A rendition of “Amazing Grace” starts with a whisper from the children’s choir (50 voices singing with beautiful tone) accompanied by harp, handbells, and flute. It keeps building until the last stanza, a sonic roar from 1,200 people, full orchestra with lots of percussion, and a kilt-clad bagpiper. (The hymn begins at 1:15 in the video)

The conference wasn’t only for musicians and pastors. Non-musical laypeople from congregations of all sizes selected from many presentation topics. A first-time non-musical attendee said, “My wife twisted my arm to come, but I won’t miss another!”

View all the materials and presentations online.

Note: This conference marked the retirement of Rev. Bryan Gerlach, who has helped plan all nine worship conferences. Conference planning committee chair Rev. Jon Zabell presented Gerlach with a collection of organ music commissioned in thanks to God for his years of service. Gerlach said, “This conference has been quite the going away party. But, seriously, these conferences have been a highlight of my ministry.”

 

Attendees share their edifying experiences at the 2024 WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts

 

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WELS endowment funds continue to provide ongoing ministry support

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Thanks to the generosity of God’s people, WELS Foundation distributed $1.4 million for our Savior’s gospel ministry in July from the WELS endowment funds. Established by delegates at the 2005 synod convention, these funds provide ongoing, dependable support for the Lord’s work in WELS Ministerial Education and WELS Home, World, and Joint Missions.

The WELS Joint Missions Endowment managed by WELS Foundation provides support to cross-cultural ministry efforts like the Vietnamese outreach ministry at King of Kings, Garden Grove, Calif. Missionary Trung Lê was installed at King of Kings in August 2023 after graduating from the Pastoral Studies Institute at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Lê leads the congregation’s ministry to its Vietnamese community, which makes up about 40 percent of Garden Grove’s population.

King of Kings shows its love to its Vietnamese-speaking neighbors in a number of ways, including offering U.S. citizenship classes, after which the students are invited to stay for Bible study. Lê has also begun providing English as a Second Language classes twice per week. In addition, he leads two Bible information classes in Vietnamese and is working to form a core group, with the prayer that within the next year or two, he will begin a Vietnamese worship service. “Everything is in God’s will,” Lê says, “but we try our best and see what can happen.”

Lê is grateful for the support provided to the Vietnamese ministry at King of Kings from the Joint Missions Endowment: “It has been a wonderful blessing to have such wonderful help from WELS Joint Missions,” says Lê. “I praise the Lord for that.”

WELS Foundation also manages endowments that are set up by individuals, congregations, and other WELS-affiliated ministries. In total, WELS Foundation distributed $4.5 million from more than 375 endowments this year, providing ongoing financial support for Christ’s gospel work throughout WELS.

“An endowment fund can provide a source of predictable financial support for ministry like the Vietnamese outreach being done in Garden Grove for years to come,” says Mr. Jim Holm, executive director of WELS Foundation. “That’s what makes endowments so impactful and such a blessing to gospel work.”

There are a variety of ways to give to an endowment: cash or appreciated assets; through a will, trust, or beneficiary designation on a retirement account; or with insurance proceeds. To learn more about adding to an existing endowment or establishing a new endowment for a ministry that you love, contact your local WELS Christian giving counselor at wels.net/giving-counselors or call 800-827-5482.

Read more about Trung Lê and the ministry in Garden Grove in Forward in Christ:

https://forwardinchrist.net/huu-trung-le/

https://forwardinchrist.net/one-campus-three-languages/

 

 

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New pictorial book will highlight synod history

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As WELS prepares to celebrate the 175th anniversary of its founding in 2025 under the theme “Christ through us,” Northwestern Publishing House is producing a special book entitled, Christ Through Us: A Pictorial History of the Wisconsin Synod, 1850-2025. In seven chapters, the synod’s history will be told in a fresh and engaging way with over 600 images and numerous short vignettes about important people, places, and events in the history of the Wisconsin Synod.

“The past has shaped who we are,” says Rev. Joel Otto, chairman of the WELS 175 Committee and coauthor of the book. “Learning about God’s work through us and among us leads us to appreciate his grace. And it helps us see where we also fit into his answers to the prayers of his people for new generations of faithful witnesses.”

A special preorder sale for this pictorial history is going on through the end of September. Place your order today to guarantee delivery of this unique volume and receive a 20 percent discount. Find sample pages and ordering information at online.nph.net/175annivbook. Order deadline is Sept. 30, 2024.

This book is just one way that WELS is planning to commemorate its founding. Numerous other resources are being produced to help congregations and individuals celebrate this anniversary and learn more about WELS history, including:

  • documentary-styled videos to accompany the pictorial history;
  • an update of The Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, a book recording the history of the Wisconsin Synod;
  • an online interactive timeline of the synod’s history;
  • worship resources for anniversary services; and
  • multiple articles in synod publications like Forward in Christ, Wisconsin Lutheran Quarterly, and the WELS Historical Institute Journal.

Learn more about WELS’ 175th anniversary at welshistoricalinstitute.org.

 

 

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Together Video Update – August 20, 2024

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Attendees share their edifying experiences at the 2024 WELS National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts, which was held July 30 – Aug. 2 at Carthage College, Kenosha, Wis. Videos of concerts and worship as well as additional resources from the conference are available at welsworshipconference.net.

 

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The Obadiah Lutheran Synod expresses its thanks

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Last January, I had the privilege of attending a special worship service of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) in Uganda. Nearly 1,000 members of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod, some traveling for hours, attended this special service celebrating the fellowship that had been declared between our two church bodies at WELS’ 2023 synod convention.

Our synod does not provide operational support for the Obadiah Lutheran Synod. But thanks to special gifts received from WELS members, we are able to help with pastoral training, church building projects, and other special programs.

As you might expect, travel in Uganda can, at times, be very difficult due to bad weather and roads that can become nearly impassable. Since Pastor Makisimu Musa, the president of the synod, spends much time visiting the various congregations and pastors of his synod, reliable transportation is a vital necessity. Thanks to generous gifts from WELS members, the Obadiah Lutheran Synod was able to purchase a used Toyota Land Cruiser.

Pastor Musa would like to express thanks from his entire church body for this gift. He wrote, “It is my pleasure again to say thank you, brother, for your gift of the vehicle to the OLS. This is helping us a lot to do church ministry work in Uganda. Please extend our heartfelt appreciation to the brothers and sisters in WELS for the gift. The gift (vehicle) reminds me of the day you visited us in Uganda to attend our celebration of fellowship and unity in the faith. Thank you for blessing our ministry of the Word in this region of Africa. May the Lord of the church Jesus Christ continue blessing you all for your generous support to the OLS.”

We pray that the gospel ministry being carried out by our brothers and sisters in Uganda will continue to be blessed richly by the Lord.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

View a short video from the service.

 

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Conference aims to empower women to share God’s Word

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More than 450 women gathered at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, Wis., from July 28–30 for the WELS Women’s Ministry Conference. Focused on the book of Acts, the conference theme, “Empowered to proclaim: You will be my witnesses,” was carried out in the conference’s worship, Bible study, and presentations.

“The intent of our conference this year was to mobilize women through the work of the Holy Spirit to spread God’s Word and share the saving message of Jesus in their homes, communities, workplaces, local congregations, and anywhere else God has placed them,” explains Dawn Schulz, chair of WELS Women’s Ministry Committee.

Interest in this conference continues to grow since the initial conference in July 2007. This year women came from 25 states and four countries to hear about ministry topics that are relevant to Christians today. Fifteen breakout sessions (with time for each attendee to attend four) complemented the four keynote presentations as well as the opening worship service and three devotions. Conference organizers put together a five-week reading schedule to encourage all attendees to read the entire book of Acts before the conference.

As one attendee noted, “I loved the focus around the Word.”

Learn more at welswmconference.net. Videos of the conference’s keynote presentations and opening worship service will be released there in the coming months.

Reactions from those who attended the National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts will be published in the Aug. 20 edition of Together.

Watch highlights of the Women’s Ministry Conference in this Together video update:

 

View photos from the Women’s Ministry Conference:

2024 WELS Women's Ministry Conference

 

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WELS summer events involve thousands

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For a church body the size of WELS, our synod is blessed to be able to provide a wide variety of spring and summer events. Each of those events presents opportunities for worship, spiritual growth, supporting the synod’s mission, training for service in various ways, and Christian fellowship. Some of the events held in 2024 feature all five elements.

Two of the synod’s summer events happen next week:

  • WELS Women’s Ministry Conference
    The WELS Women’s Ministry Conference will be held July 28-30 at the Ingleside Hotel, Pewaukee, Wis. It is a sold-out conference with 450 attendees planning to come.

Several other events occurred earlier this summer:

  • Taste of Missions
    Nearly 500 people attended the annual Taste of Missions on June 15 at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., for a day of food, fellowship, fun, and learning about WELS mission work. The event kicked off with a special worship service in the morning, during which nine new home and world missionaries were commissioned.

2024 WELS International Youth Rally

  • WELS International Youth Rally
    From June 25-28, WELS teens had the opportunity to worship together, learn and study God’s Word, grow in faith and fellowship with one another, as well as enjoy recreation and entertainment at the 2024 WELS International Youth Rally. Around 2,200 teens and 600 adults convened at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. This was the second largest rally ever, second only to the 2005 rally in Orlando, Fla.
  • Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society convention
    The 61st annual convention of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) in Sioux Falls, S.D., on June 27-30 drew more than 1,000 people for the opening service. This year’s convention theme was “Being Built into a Spiritual House.” Convention highlights included the presentation of more than $100,000 to support WELS Home and World Missions projects and an opportunity to hear about the latest developments from mission administrators. In addition, the LWMS kids c.a.r.e. program received more than $43,000 in 2023–24 to support annual retreats for children of world missionaries who assimilate back to American culture.
  • WELS Night at the Brewers
    More than 2,000 members from around the Midwest enjoyed an evening of fellowship, fun, and baseball at the annual WELS Night at the Brewers on July 12.

    Rev. Paul Lindhorst sang the national anthem at WELS Night at the Brewers.

In addition to those synodwide events, summer is also the time throughout the synod when district or regional gatherings are held. Those include such things as district conventions, Sunday school workshops, marriage retreats, Lutheran summer camps, handbell festivals, and lay leadership retreats.

The popularity of these events indicates that we are a synod whose members are willing to give their time to events that support the mission of the synod and provide them with opportunities to grow in their knowledge and be equipped for service.

Learn more about upcoming events at wels.net/events.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

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Apache congregations look to offer aid after fire

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Two WELS congregations and one school—Grace Lutheran Church, San Carlos, and Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran Church and School, Peridot—were spared any damage when a wildfire swept through parts of the San Carlos Apache Reservation in Arizona on July 11, burning more than 2,000 acres. The fire destroyed 15 homes, displacing 75 people in those communities.

Larger relief organizations provided immediate aid with food, clothing, and personal items to those affected by the fire, but more help will be needed in the weeks and months following the fire. “Now the Lord is giving us an opportunity to help those who aren’t part of our church,” says Rev. Dan Rautenberg, team leader of the Native Christians One Team, who could see the fire burning from his back porch in Peridot.

He continues, “You can’t build a home that quickly. Some of these families will be displaced for quite a length of time. We’re part of the community, and we want to be there and be part of the ongoing support as they get back to their lives.”

Rautenberg says that after reaching out to the families to talk about their needs, the congregations are looking to provide cleaning supplies, tools, and transportation help as these families get back on their feet. They also are working to put together community seminars with counseling for the victims.

The Native Christians One Team will be working closely with WELS Christian Aid and Relief. “In the immediate aftermath of a disaster there is always a lot of help, often more than can be used. Later, interest often wanes and with it the needed assistance,” says Rev. Dan Sims, director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief. “We are excited to be partnering with our Native Christians Mission Team to provide ongoing support to those in need.”

Learn more about Native American Missions at wels.net/missions.

 

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Together Video Update – July 16, 2024

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See a compilation of highlights from the WELS International Youth Rally, held June 25-28 in Fort Collins, Colo.

 

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LWMS meets in South Dakota for annual convention

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“We are here tonight, and we are here this weekend to remember and to rejoice again that God too has a long-range building plan. And that includes me and you and every single person that our ministries might touch.”

Rev. Jonathan Schroeder from Sharpsburg, Ga., set the tone for the 61st annual convention of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) in Sioux Falls, S.D., with those words from his sermon in the convention’s opening service.

More than 1,000 people gathered for the opening service. Among them was Paula Pease from Maitland, Fla. Attending her first convention, Pease noted, “The opening service was just phenomenal. Hearing a thousand people singing was just very—I’m going to say it—inspiring.”

This year’s convention theme was “Being Built into a Spiritual House.” Attendees learned about the expanding outreach by One Europe and Native Christians Network mission teams.

Conifer Berg presented information on his work as a missionary to the United Kingdom. He explained the importance of attending the convention—his first: “Our church is a group of maybe 70 people, and they feel really alone. So, I think for them to know that there are 1,000 people in this room who believe the same things they do, it’s huge! It’s like we’re not doing this ministry alone. It really is everything to have that support.”

“The convention,” Berg said, “is such a warm event. It’s like a big hug.”

In addition to world missionaries, home missionaries also shared experiences on outreach in Brandon, S.D., and West Des Moines, Iowa.

Workshops included: The Impact of Indigenous Art and Music on Missions, Trends in Engaging Your Community, Navigating Changes with an Unchanging God, The Real Missionary Wives—A Panel of Current and Former Missionary Wives, and a special Zoom presentation: The Lord Is With You, Mighty Warrior from a missionary in Boston, Mass.

Jacky Stoll from Oconto Falls, Wis., the current president of LWMS, marveled, “How amazing it is to hear from the missionaries in the field, engage with them and their families directly, and network with fellow believers from all over the United States and really the world!”

Convention highlights included the presentation of more than $100,000 to support WELS Home and World Missions projects and an opportunity to hear about the latest developments from WELS Home and World Missions administrators. In addition, the LWMS kids c.a.r.e. program received more than $43,000 in 2023-24 to support annual retreats for children of world missionaries who assimilate back to American culture.

For Mary Watson of Tucson, Ariz., the convention did more than inform her about missionaries who serve where she cannot go in person. She remarked, “What impressed me was just how many missions there are and how many of them just start with a single person connected with another single person, and—maybe that’s what I need to learn more about—making connections with other people in my everyday life. You just don’t know where that’s going to end up.”

The 62nd annual LWMS convention is scheduled to take place June 26-29, 2025, in Tulsa, Okla.

View additional photos:
LWMS 2024

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The Word of the Lord grows—from Hong Kong to New Zealand

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The South Asian Lutheran Evangelical Mission (SALEM) is a sister church body comprised of ten congregations located in Hong Kong. This week, five members of SALEM visited our synod’s headquarters in Waukesha, Wis. They had attended the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society convention and now were visiting various WELS sites in Wisconsin.

What made this visit especially interesting was the report this group shared about a new mission effort in New Zealand. Since 2020, about two dozen members of SALEM moved from Hong Kong to New Zealand. With the help of SALEM, they formed a new mission congregation called SALEM New Zealand Lutheran Church. In the three years since, their group has grown to about 40 Chinese-speaking members. They joyfully described the blessings of their fellowship in this new land, and they were very excited to be sharing the gospel with other Chinese-speaking people there. SALEM will be continuing its support of SALEM New Zealand in the coming years.

The WELS Board for World Missions has provided some modest funding to support their effort. In addition, Missionary Matt Doebler, located in Thailand, will also be providing additional guidance and encouragement to this group.

This is a beautiful reminder that our sister church bodies around the world are not content to keep the gospel for themselves but are also dedicating time and resources to take the gospel to new places and new people.

To get a small glimpse of their faith and mission zeal, you can watch a brief video introducing you to these brothers and sisters in Christ.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

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Teens gather for 2024 WELS International Youth Rally

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From June 25-28, WELS teens had the opportunity to worship together, learn and study God’s Word together, grow in faith and fellowship with one another, as well as enjoy recreation and entertainment at the 2024 WELS International Youth Rally. Around 2,200 teens and 600 adults convened at Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo. This was the second largest rally ever, second only to the 2005 rally in Orlando, Fla.

The rally started Tues., June 25, with an opening worship service in the evening. Wednesday and Thursday were packed with keynote speakers, small group workshops, and excursions. After closing worship on Friday morning, it was time for everyone to head home.

Rev. Donn Dobberstein, director of discipleship, the area of ministry that holds the event, said, “Keynotes and breakouts were practical and relatable. To sum up what I heard from others regarding the two keynotes—the speakers, their stories, and the Scriptures on which their presentations were based connected with our heads and hearts. Most importantly, they pointed to and connected young hearts and heads with Christ.”

Rev. Dr. Phil Huebner, campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis., along with a panel of high school students, presented the first keynote, titled You Are Not Alone! The teens who joined him shared their own journeys filled with mountains and valleys and how God, Christian friends, and family supported them.

“I was really looking forward to speaking to WELS teens because I know how much they are hurting and suffering in very challenging times, and I viewed it as an absolute privilege to be able to encourage them with the message that they are not alone,” says Huebner. “I hope that the teens clearly understood that, most importantly, they are not alone in what they are going through because Jesus is with them every step of the way. Secondly, in Christ we have a family of brothers and sisters, and there are many teens who are going through the same things they are. We can look for opportunities to encourage one another as we find strength in Christ and fellow Christians.”

Rev. Alex Groth, Beautiful Savior, Cincinnati, Ohio, presented the second keynote, titled Certainty from the Mountaintop. Groth says, “When I accepted the invitation, it struck me how important it would be to put a spotlight on God’s grace to this giant gathering of young people. Our culture is pulling them in a million directions, and most of those directions are dangerous. Having a chance to talk about Jesus and the means of grace felt like both a great privilege and a serious responsibility.”

He continues, “I pray that those who heard my presentation first understood the importance of clinging to the means of grace and, second, grasped the reality that our time on earth can be so short. We aren’t guaranteed a certain amount of time on this earth. Therefore, let’s focus on both hearing God’s Word for our own eternal benefit and sharing it with those who haven’t heard it yet.”

Throughout Tuesday and Wednesday, the attendees had a variety of small group workshops to choose from, with topics ranging from tips on how to study the Bible, apologetics, outreach through creating a community and relationships, and Christian vocation.

While in Fort Collins, attendees had the opportunity to enjoy optional recreational activities, including the popular whitewater rafting option, hiking, horseback riding, or the Fort Collins museum.

Mrs. Kris Snyder, event organizer, says, “The comment I hear over and over is how incredible it is to be with so many teens who face the same struggles but have the same hope in Jesus—that WELS teens from around North America get to be with so many other teens who all believe the same thing.” She adds, “Worship in that setting with 2,800 people is incredibly powerful. When do you get the chance to do that? When I heard the musicians, assembly, and choir all join to sing ‘Praise to the Lord, the Almighty’ at closing worship, it was overwhelming!”

View more photos from the event.

 

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Together Video Update – June 25, 2024

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World Missions brings the light of God’s Word to the world through evangelism efforts, church planting, training national workers for ministry, and providing religious materials in foreign languages through Multi-Language Productions. God is blessing the work of WELS World Missions as it strives to go into all the world. Learn more about how WELS is spreading the gospel by watching the archived videos from this summer’s Taste of Missions celebration of WELS mission work.

 

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2023 WELS statistical summary

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Rev. Jonathan Hein, WELS Congregational Services coordinator, serves as the guest writer for President Schroeder’s Together column this week.

Each year, WELS collects data from all congregations and schools. WELS Congregational Services compiles this data into a comprehensive statistical report and publishes a statistical summary and analysis.

The 2023 statistical summary shares some good news for which we give thanks to God. Last year, even though WELS total membership declined by about 5,300 (-1.6 percent), the number of WELS members participating in in-person weekly worship increased by almost 8,000 (+6.7 percent). Adult Bible study and Sunday school also saw large increases in participation. 2023 also saw WELS congregations blessed with almost 5,800 adult spiritual gains, the highest total in over a decade.

The statistical analysis for 2023 also digs into the shortage of called workers. In 2023, WELS congregations reported having 264,500 communicant members, a decline of almost 17 percent from the statistical high year of 1990. Yet, WELS has 46 percent more teachers today than in 1990 (about 970 total) and almost the exact same number of active pastors today as in 1990. So, the reality is WELS has more called workers active today than at any point in WELS history. So how can there be a high vacancy rate? The Lord has simply increased the gospel opportunities before us: to grow our local ministries (particularly school expansion), to start new congregations around the country, and to plant new outreach locations around the world.

The statistical analysis discusses the importance of strengthening our efforts to recruit people for gospel ministry as well as creating new pipelines by which one can enter ministry. It also reviews the growing challenge of those efforts in light of the fact that the need for called workers is growing at approximately 2 percent annually at the same time WELS membership is declining at approximately 1.3 percent annually.

You can find the WELS 2023 Statistical Summary and Analysis at welscongregationalservices.net/stats.

Your input is requested! The Together newsletter is produced four times per month and features news articles and videos about mission and ministry news at WELS. Your input has been requested because you have viewed Together content. Thank you for helping WELS Communication Services serve WELS members with news from their synod.

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Two district presidents elected at district conventions

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During this summer’s district conventions, two districts elected new presidents. The Pacific Northwest District elected Rev. Daniel Lange, and the Arizona-California District elected Rev. Joel Heckendorf. They will replace the outgoing presidents: Rev. John Steinbrenner from the Pacific Northwest District, who accepted a call to serve as pastor at Martin Luther, Oshkosh, Wis., and Rev. Jon Buchholz, who chose not to stand for reelection in the Arizona-California District.

Rev. Daniel Lange, Pacific Northwest District president

Rev. Daniel Lange currently serves as pastor at Light of Life, Covington, Wash. Lange was born in Arkansas where his father, Rev. Douglas Lange, was assigned to plant a mission church.

During his childhood summers, Lange, with his family, had the opportunity to stay at a family property near Eagle River, Wis. “This place holds a special place in my heart,” says Lange. “It was here that I received most of my ministry encouragement from my grandfather, Robert Otterstatter. It was at his side, fixing a broken pipe or shingling a cabin roof, where he spent hours talking to me about ‘the good Lord.’”

Lange met his wife, Sara, at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn. “I didn’t know at the time how tremendously the Lord would bless me through Sara,” remarks Lange. “For all the sermons I’ve given, my wife has given more. Her text is ‘Love your husband!’ and her sermons are preached through her daily actions in our house, at our church, and everywhere in our life together.” The Langes have been blessed with three children—Madelyn (14), Olivia (12), and Zachary (9).

As he begins his new role, Lange is grateful for the support and advice he has received from the outgoing district president. “John Steinbrenner continues to teach me many lessons,” says Lange. “In all things, he has placed the kingdom first.”

He continues, “I look forward to visiting our churches and schools. I’m eager to witness how Jesus is blessing them, to pray with them, and to serve them in any manner possible.”

Rev. Joel Heckendorf, Arizona-California District president

Rev. Joel Heckendorf currently serves as pastor at Light of the Valleys, Reno, Nev. As a Wisconsin native who grew up on a dairy farm in Jackson, Heckendorf remarks, “When I took the call to start a mission in Reno, it was the first time I lived outside of Wisconsin and it was the first time I was part of a congregation with less than one thousand members. Being in a mission has helped me gain a whole new perspective on ministry.”

Heckendorf has gathered insights from various people and congregations throughout his life. First, he learned from his parents, who were both involved in their home congregation. But it wasn’t until his senior year in high school that he considered becoming a pastor. “The summer before my senior year, I’d spend a few mornings a week lifting weights and playing basketball with a seminarian from my congregation,” explains Heckendorf. “As he let 17-year-old me hang around his seminary buddies, I started to consider pastoral ministry because of their peer influence.”

Now as he considers his new role as district president, Heckendorf can see how the Lord has prepared him for this path. For example, while serving as pastor at Immanuel, Greenville, Wis., Heckendorf served on the praesidium of the Northern Wisconsin District and learned a great deal from its president, Rev. Joel Zank. Additionally, Heckendorf explains, “Being on Synodical Council the past few years, I admired the laymen and administrators of our synod. Also, serving as Multi-Language Productions’ administrative chairman has broadened my experience to consider many cultures and to work alongside many gifted people.” He also notes how God prepared him through his wife, Mary. “Whether it’s watching her use her gifts or receiving her support, I thank God for providing the perfect complement.”

Heckendorf says he is grateful for all the prayers and words of encouragement through the years. “The number of people who have said they’d love to be my ‘Aaron’— to help hold me up—is amazing,” he says. “No matter what challenges we experience in our personal or professional lives, we can rejoice in the Lord, knowing that he is our Savior.”

Learn more about the role of district presidents in WELS President Rev. Mark Schroeder’s column in this month’s Forward in Christ.

Your input is requested! The Together newsletter is produced four times per month and features news articles and videos about mission and ministry news at WELS. Your input has been requested because you have viewed Together content. Thank you for helping WELS Communication Services serve WELS members with news from their synod.

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Vacancies remain after pastoral assignments

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Students and their wives at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS), Mequon, Wis., learned where they will be serving as vicars, teachers, and pastors in two special services held May 22 and May 23 in the auditorium on campus. The Conference of Presidents announced a total of 79 assignments in all 12 districts of WELS.

On the evening of May 22, 40 second-year pastoral ministry students received vicarage assignments, and seven of their wives received teaching assignments in WELS schools either connected to the congregations where their husbands were assigned or in the area. While most of these assignments are to WELS congregations, one man will vicar in Medellin, Colombia, through the WELS World Mission office. Through careful planning with the WELS Home Mission office, 29 of the men were assigned to serve as Vicars in a Mission Setting.

Pastoral formation, including the year of vicarship, is the heart of what WLS does. This formation happens because of self-supporting congregations and missions around the country that partner with WLS in this work. We thank God for the supervising pastors in the field who are willing to give so much time to each vicar, for the supportive people of WELS, and for these men who have offered themselves for service in Christ’s church.

On the morning of May 23, 26 men received their first calls into pastoral ministry, one man returned to the Assignment Committee to receive his first parish call, and five recent WLS graduates were reassigned to their present fields of labor. Six of the graduates were assigned to serve Home Mission congregations. Four of the candidates were assigned to congregations that had been vacant for more than two years.

There had been 97 requests for candidates. With the 27 candidates available, 70 of those requests went unfilled. After the Assignment Committee did its work, there are still 146 vacancies for pastor-trained parish men synodwide, an 11 percent vacancy rate. Although 45 men graduated in the preseminary program at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., this year with plans to enroll at WLS next year, they will not be available to serve as pastors for four more years.

Because of the high vacancy rate, two floor committees at the 2023 synod convention asked Pres. Schroeder to appoint a Ministry Recruitment Task Force. This task force is presenting its first report to the districts in convention this summer. That report predicts that the pastoral vacancy rate will return to five percent in ten years as larger WLS classes matriculate, WELS congregations close and merge, and current pastors retire at age 70.

The task force is also suggesting 20 more immediate remedies for the synod’s current pastor and teacher shortages. We ask the Lord’s blessing on the district conventions discussing the remedies. We pray that the Lord of the harvest will send more workers into his harvest field.

Read the Ministry Recruitment Task Force’s report in the Report to the Twelve Districts.

Rev. Paul Prange, administrator of WELS Board for Ministerial Education

 

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2024 humanitarian aid grants approved

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In May, WELS Christian Aid and Relief announced humanitarian aid grants totaling $490,154 for Fiscal Year 2024-25. WELS Home Missions will receive $64,258 in assistance, and WELS World Missions will receive $425,896.

WELS home and world missionaries develop humanitarian aid projects to reflect Christ’s compassion to the people of their communities and to build relationships that lead to opportunities to share the gospel.

Each year home and world missionaries, in conjunction with their mission boards and administrative teams, submit applications for grants to help them carry out humanitarian aid projects in their mission fields. These grants help to supply basic needs like water for the thirsty, food for the hungry, medical care for the sick and dying, mosquito netting for people who live in areas where malaria is a problem, school supplies for underprivileged children, and many other needs. At a spring meeting, WELS Christian Aid and Relief meets with representatives of WELS Home and World Missions to review these requests and designate funding for approved projects.

While many of the humanitarian aid efforts are ongoing, new projects are approved too. This year, Christian Aid and Relief is providing funding to Cross of Life, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. Cross of Life is located across from a motel used by the Canadian government as a shelter for international refugees. Though the government provides some basic supplies, the refugees still need more assistance. This grant will help Cross of Life supply basic needs like clothes, cases of water, and baby supplies like formula and diapers.

Intown, Atlanta, Ga., is also receiving funding for a new effort to provide transportation assistance. One of the greatest needs for low-income families in Atlanta is transportation. Many low-income families struggle to attend worship, Bible study, and other church events. This grant supplies Uber or Lyft rides for these families so they can come to church to worship their Savior and study God’s Word.

Rev. Dan Sims, director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief, says “Most of us in America are spoiled. We flip a switch, and the light comes on. We turn the handle, and the water flows. Many in our world lack the basic needs that we tend to take for granted. Our humanitarian aid grant program allows our home and world missionaries to supply basic needs to people who are struggling and show them the compassion of Christ. This, of course, leads to many conversations about our Savior.”

The following Home Mission congregations are receiving grants:

  • Hope, Ontario, Canada
  • Living Hope, Commerce City, Colo.
  • Christ, Denver, Colo.
  • Christ the Rock, Farmington, N.M.
  • Cross of Life, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
  • Intown, Atlanta, Ga.
  • Living Hope, Chattanooga, Tenn.
  • New Mission, Bentonville, Ark.
  • Amazing Grace, Amarillo, Texas
  • Christ Our Refuge, Hewitt, Texas
  • Christ the Rock, Hutto, Texas
  • Abiding Savior, Killeen, Texas
  • Divine Peace, Rockwall, Texas
  • Our Savior, West San Antonio, Texas
  • St. Peter, Milwaukee, Wis.
  • Hope, Deerfield, Wis.
  • Bethlehem, Richland Center, Wis.

The following World Mission fields are receiving grants:

  • Africa—Malawi, Zambia, Nigeria, and Uganda
  • Asia—Indonesia, Nepal, and Pakistan
  • Europe—Albania and England
  • Latin America

To learn more about the work of WELS Christian and Relief or to support its ministry, visit wels.net/relief.

 

 

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Everyone Outreach gets a refresh 

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WELS Congregational Services has recently revised Everyone Outreach, a popular program designed to help congregations discover their thought habits and develop new thinking and behaviors that build a culture of outreach. While maintaining its original elements, the revised program will now be a five-hour event instead of the original eight hours.

Rev. Eric Roecker, director of WELS Evangelism and co-developer of the program, says the goal of this revision is to encourage more participation. “Not only might this allow more congregations to participate, but we also hope a larger percentage of each congregation’s members will get involved,” he says. “This is important because the more people who participate, the better chance an outreach culture will be built in each congregation.”

More than 125 congregations have already hosted Everyone Outreach workshops since the program debuted in 2021.

Saving Grace, Mobile, Ala., was one of those congregations. “[Everyone Outreach] challenged deep-seated ideas about how we go about reaching those in our neighborhoods and looked at principles that held us back in our outreach and attacked those thoughts and changed those ideas,” says Rev. Thomas Spiegelberg, pastor at Saving Grace. “I do think it changed a lot of people and how they think about their church and their connection with how they share the gospel.”

Since the workshop, the congregation is focusing more on its children’s ministry and being more intentional with its community outreach events. It also is working on creating a welcoming environment at church for visitors and nonmembers, including extending its Sunday morning experience and encouraging its members to be friendly and open. “We have heavy food and snacks after church,” explains Don Baldwin, a member at Saving Grace and participant in the Everyone Outreach workshop. “When we have food, people stay and visit. And for the new folks, they really enjoy visiting and having conversations and fellowship. That fellowship is important for evangelism.”

He continues, “Everyone Outreach made us talk more about these and get organized.”

Saving Grace has had between 15–20 adult confirmations in the last year, and its new members are also sharing the message they discovered.

“You just want others to have what you have,” says Baldwin.

Learn more about Everyone Outreach and how your congregation can participate at everyoneoutreach.com. Read a story about how Don and Ammie Baldwin plant gospel seeds in their neighborhood in this month’s Forward in Christ magazine.

 

 

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Join us at Taste of Missions on June 15

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Taste of Missions is less than two weeks away! Join us on Sat., June 15, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., for a fun day of food, fellowship, and learning about WELS mission work. The event kicks off with a special worship service at 11 a.m. (Central) when we will commission nine new home and world missionaries:

  • Nathan Wagenknecht—Native Christians Network missionary
  • Peter Janke—Missionary to Australia
  • Jake Vilhauer—One Africa Team missionary
  • Matthias Borgwardt—Peridot-Our Savior’s Lutheran School, San Carlos Apache Reservation, Ariz.
  • Ben Bitter—Peace, Trinity, Fla.
  • Clayton Fury—New mission start: Conway, Ark.
  • Tristan Pankow—Living Shepherd, Laramie, Wyo.
  • Eli Steinbrenner—Good Shepherd, Plymouth, Wis.
  • Jacob Ungemach—New mission start: Cincinnati/Oakley, Ohio

All WELS members are invited to attend the commissioning worship service whether you register for the event or not! Doors open at 10 a.m. It will also be livestreamed at tasteofmissions.com/commissioning-service-2024.

By registering for the entire event, attendees will receive tasting tickets to three ethnic food trucks. Mingle with home and world missionaries and enjoy live music by a Latin American trio under the large outdoor tent. A kids’ activity station will feature a bounce house, passport scavenger hunt, mission-themed activity booklets, and more. Enjoy Home and World Missions headlines, Moments with Missionaries presentations, and a Q&A with the newly commissioned missionaries during the afternoon presentations from 2-4:15 p.m. There’s something for the entire family to enjoy! Find all the details at tasteofmissions.com/event-details.

Can’t be there in person? Register as a virtual attendee to watch the events via livestream, view new on-demand video updates from other home and world missionaries, and try one of the new recipes posted on the website on June 15.

Registration is $15 per person, with children 13 and under attending for free. Or attend virtually for free! Learn more and register at tasteofmissions.com today.

 

 

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Together Video Update – May 28, 2024

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Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., held its Call Day on Thurs., May 23. All 27 men available to receive an assignment were assigned. There were 97 requests for candidates, leaving 70 requests unfilled. Living Hope, Peoria, Ill., knows the struggle of a vacancy all too well. After more than two and half years without a shepherd leading the flock, new graduate Rev. Duane Backhaus was assigned to Living Hope.

View the graduate and vicar assignment list from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.

 

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Together Video Update – May 21, 2024

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On Sat., May 18, 175 students graduated from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn. Forty-five men graduated from the pre-seminary program, now prepared to continue their pastoral studies at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis. A total of 131 teacher candidates received assignments to serve in WELS elementary schools, high schools, and early childhood centers. In addition, five staff ministry candidates received assignments to full-time ministry. View the assignment list.

To kick off graduation weekend, MLC’s musicians performed a concert Fri., May 17. The graduation service and call service were held Saturday. All three events were livestreamed and can be viewed online. Pray that God bless the ministries and continued studies of these graduates.

 

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WELS Synodical Council spring 2024 meeting

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The Synodical Council (SC) held its spring meeting on April 26-27.

In my president’s report, I noted that:

  • Synod finances remain strong, with another year of record Congregation Mission Offerings and special fund balances all at a healthy status.
  • The newly established Capital Projects Fund will provide planning support for needed building projects at the synodical schools and will potentially provide support for servicing capital debt if needed.
  • Two missionaries have been redeployed from Thailand to Australia. WELS World Missions will also be working with a new Chinese congregation in New Zealand.
  • A special committee is working on plans to celebrate the synod’s 175th anniversary in 2025.

Rev. Paul Prange provided an update on the work being done by the Ministry Recruitment Task Force. The task force will provide detailed information to the district conventions this summer.

Rev. Jonathan Hein presented an overview of the draft of the synod’s new long-range plan, which is entitled “Christ through us.”

Several new office spaces will be created in the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry, providing offices to administrators who need them.

The Administration Committee received reports from the synod’s subsidiaries (WELS Foundation, WELS Church Extension Fund, WELS Investment Funds, Northwestern Publishing House) and from various synodical departments (Human Resources, Technology, Communications, Ministry of Christian Giving, WELS Benefit Plans). Appointments to various board positions were approved by the SC.

The committee also received a report from the Compensation Review Committee, which reminds congregations that paying “synod code” includes full health insurance premiums, cash housing allowance, cost of living increases, and reimbursement for the self-employment aspect of social security. Before making any major changes to the compensation code, the committee will survey congregations and other calling bodies to determine how actual compensation compares to the synod code.

The SC reviewed the summary of FY24 financial results, noting that total unrestricted support is trending better than planned, while overall expenses are trending lower than planned through the first nine months of FY24. FY24 special funds reserves through March 2024 increased to $92.7 million, a $10 million increase from FY23, and a $50.0 million increase in the last five years, more than doubling special funds reserve balances.

The SC approved the support forecast for the next biennium (an estimate of the financial support that will be available to fund the synod’s ministry). It’s estimated that synod support levels will be $35.3 million in FY26 and $36.4 million in FY27. The SC also approved the initial planning assumptions, including:

  • Congregation Mission Offerings projected to increase 0.5% each year,
  • called and non-called worker wages to increase on average 3.5% in FY26 and 2.0% in FY27,
  • healthcare expenses to increase 10% each year,
  • no increase in retirement plan expenses in either year, and
  • operational/program expenses and school subsidy to increase 3.0% each year.

The SC discussed the continued progress that the WELS CFO, Mr. Kyle Egan, has been making in helping to improve the process for planning, organizing, and prioritizing capital projects for the synod. His office has started to have conversations with firms that could assist with comprehensive site-planning across all synod locations and will work with the SC Executive Committee with the goal of getting that process started in the next few months.

The SC received reports from Home Missions, World Missions, Ministerial Education, WELS Christian Aid and Relief, and Congregational Services.

Mr. Steve Hansen, Mr. Kennith Gosch, and Mr. Thomas Schermerhorn all completed 12 years of faithful service on the SC. We thank them for all that they have done.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

 

 

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