New national coordinator of early childhood ministries

This summer, after 14 years of foundational service and leadership, Mrs. Cindi Holman retired from her role as the WELS national coordinator of early childhood ministries, which she established in 2011. In all, she served as a called worker for 40 years.

Beginning July 1, Mrs. Jamie Walta (pictured in the center) stepped into her new role as the WELS national coordinator of early childhood ministries. Walta brings extensive experience working both as a teacher and a director in early childhood settings. Since 2015, Walta has served as the early childhood director at Faith Lutheran School, Fond du Lac, Wis., where she was called to help launch the school’s now flourishing preschool program.

Over the years, other early childhood ministry (ECM) programs and directors across the country have also benefited from Walta’s support. As a New Teacher Induction (NTI) mentor through Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., Walta mentored new ECM directors during their first two years of ministries. More recently, she has served as a ministry coach through Grace in Action, a WELS-affiliated, Bible-based ministry that provides leadership training and tools. “I love connecting with people, hearing their story, learning how I can support them, and reminding them of their identity and purpose in Christ,” Walta explains. “That has been a really cool experience for me to be able to touch base on a monthly basis with some of our teachers and directors. I feel like [these experiences] have prepared me for this call.”

More than 11,000 children attend a WELS early childhood ministry each week, and 32 percent of those children come from families with no church affiliation. “Americans are flocking to our schools looking for Christian values,” says Mr. Jim Rademan, director of WELS Commission on Lutheran Schools (CLS). “Our team sees this as a critical time to provide resources, support, and training to assist ministries in connecting not only children but also their families to Jesus.”

Rademan and the CLS team are confident in Walta’s ability to lead and forge relationships at this crucial time. Says Rademan, “Jamie is the model of an experienced early childhood director who has served in both small and very large settings. She understands the unique early childhood role and will carry that humble, faithful, and positive spirit into this role.”

Walta plans to work closely with schools and congregations—building relationships and connections, encouraging directors and teachers, helping new programs get started, and identifying or developing helpful resources. “There are many early childhood programs around the country, and I want to be in touch with them all!” she says. “I want them to feel strong and fully supported by their church families and by the synod as a whole.”