WELS in the News
March 21, 2023
A March 6 article by the Manitowoc County Historical Society highlighted a recent acquisition of photos of the 1904 flood in Mishicot, Wis. The photos were taken by Rev. Gustave Vater, who was pastor at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Mishicot from 1902-1908.
The March 16 edition of the Wisconsin Examiner profiled how a Green Bay company is testing a new benefit for its employees in Richland Center, Wis.—helping cover child care expenses. A new child care center at Bethlehem, Richland Center, Wis., will help provide that care in its community.
On March 17, the Monroe News profiled Zion, Monroe, Mich., and its worship and ministry opportunities.
March 7, 2023
On Feb. 27, the Daily Jefferson County Union highlighted the eight musicians from the band at Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis., who will attend the 2023 WELS National Band Festival in March at Luther High School, Onalaska, Wis.
The March 6 edition of Neighborhood News for New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, Fla., featured an article about Citrus Grove Lutheran Church in Wesley Chapel and its outreach in the neighborhood.
February 21, 2023
The Feb. 18 edition of the Herald Times Reporter included an article about how Noah Lukasek, a junior at Manitowoc Lutheran High School, Manitowoc, Wis., led the efforts for donating more than $1,500 worth of toys and baby supplies to Bellin’s Family Integrated Neonatal Intensive Care Unit by auctioning off his own artwork.
February 7, 2023
On Feb. 6, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel announced that Dr. Joan Prince was named to serve on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents. Prince, a member at St. Philip, Milwaukee, Wis., recently spoke at the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership.
The Journal in New Ulm, Minn., highlighted St. Paul Lutheran Elementary School’s annual Amazing Race competition on Feb. 6.
On Feb. 6, TMJ4, Milwaukee, Wis., featured a story on Kon Knueppel, a basketball standout at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee.
The Jan. 30 edition of The News-Herald featured an article on Rev. Jeffrey Duquaine, who started as pastor at King of Kings, Willoughby, Ohio, last March.
On Jan. 27, NBC 26 included a story about Rev. David Wenzel, coach of the women’s basketball team at Fox Valley Lutheran High School, Appleton, Wis. He recently won his 500th career win and is now up to 503 wins, the 16th most wins in state history.
January 24, 2023
On Jan. 20, CBS Colorado included an article about a fire at Abiding Love, Loveland, Colo. The church suffered water damage. An investigation is underway.
The Jan. 19 edition of the Washington County Insider reported on a fire on the cross of the steeple of St. Paul, Lomira, Wis. Damage was isolated to that area with no fire, smoke, or water damage to the rest of the church.
On Jan. 19, WSMJ featured a story on St. Matthew, Benton Harbor, Mich., which will hold its final service Jan. 29. It is merging with nearby congregation Good Shepherd, Benton Harbor. The new combined congregation will be called Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church.
November 15, 2022
The Nov. 3 edition of the Herald Times Reporter featured an article on the 70th anniversary of Raymond and June Haack. They have been members at St. Peter, Mishicot, Wis., for 60 years.
On Nov. 3, Watertown Radio included information about the completion of the expansion of Great Plains Lutheran High School, Watertown, S.D.
November 1, 2022
On Oct. 25, The Waynedale News announced the dedication of a community walking path at Holy Scripture, Fort Wayne, Ind., built right by the church’s playground. The dedication ceremony was part of Holy Scripture’s Fall Festival.
On Oct. 31, the Daily Jefferson County Union included an article about the accreditation of St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Fort Atkinson, Wis.
October 18, 2022
On Oct. 17, the Fillmore County Journal featured a story on Morgan Pablubicki, a new teacher at St. John’s, Caledonia, Minn.
The Oct. 14 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel included an article about Rev. Aaron Strong, pastor at Grace, Milwaukee, who was killed in a car crash.
October 4, 2022
On Sept. 28, Fox 11 News included an article about fifth-grader Natalie Bendix, a member at Redeemer, Fond du Lac, Wis., who was selected to join the Scholastics Kids Press program.
TMJ4 in Milwaukee, Wis., featured an article about Organ Guy John Miller, a member at St. John, Milwaukee, Wis. Twenty-nine-year-old Miller repairs and refurbishes pipe organs, after studying pipe organ building in Germany.
September 20, 2022
The Sept. 11 edition of the Mankato Free Press included an article about an art exhibit at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minn., that displayed images of Bible stories created by Bethany students for use in Zambian churches. The college worked with WELS Multi-Language Productions on the exhibit.
On Sept. 8, The Las Cruces Bulletin reported on a truck crashing into Cross of Christ, Las Cruces, N.M., on Aug. 20. The congregation has since put up a temporary wall and resumed worship in the building.
On Sept. 1, The Dickinson Press introduced Rev. Joel Prange as the pastor leading a new mission church, Amazing Grace, Dickinson, N.D.
In August, the Pioneer included a story about the new stained glass windows at Redeemer, Big Rapids, Mich. Congregation members worked together to create and construct these eight stained glass windows.
August 23, 2022
KFOX out of El Paso, Texas, recounted a story about a truck crashing into Cross of Christ, Las Cruces, N.M. Two members were in the building at the time. Those members and the pastor shared their experience.
August 16, 2022
In its Aug. 15 edition, the Jefferson County Daily Union included an article about the start of the school year for Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis.
On Aug. 9, the York News-Times highlighted Nebraska Lutheran High School, Waco, Neb., as it started its 44th year. The school is expecting 60 students this year.
In its Aug. 4 edition, the Waupaca County News featured St. Peter, Weyauwega, Wis., and its 150th anniversary celebration this year. The church is having special services throughout the month of August.
On Aug. 3, KARE 11 included a story on Grant Loven, a six-year-old who wished for a new playground for Bloomington Living Hope Lutheran School, Bloomington, Minn., through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
August 2, 2022
The Journal, in New Ulm, Minn., included an article about Prof. Jim Unke, who died June 30. Unke served at Martin Luther College for the past 25 years, including serving as the college’s athletic director since 1997.
July 19, 2022
On July 4, Fox 6 News included a story on the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Viking Steel Drum Band, which participated in the local Wauwatosa Fourth of July parade.
The July 18 edition of the Watertown Daily Times included an article about local WELS members who attended the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society convention in Rochester, New York, in June.
June 21, 2022
On June 13, the Minot Daily News featured an article on Grace, Minot, N.D., and the near completion of its building renovation.
June 7, 2022
On May 24, The Villages Daily Sun included an article on growing local churches in the community, including Open Bible, Oxford, Fla., which would like to start a mission church in The Villages.
Several news outlets covered the May 13 groundbreaking of a new outdoor athletic complex at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis. NFL lineman Kevin Zeitler and his wife, Sara, both alumni of the high school, are major donors to the project and attended the groundbreaking.
May 3, 2022
On April 24, The Verona Press included an article about Rev. Nathan Strutz. He has served at Resurrection, Verona, Wis., since 2010 and recently took a call to Tree of Life, Cary, N.C.
The Third Infantry Division made a video highlighting a chaplaincy symposium held at Fort Stewart Hunter Army Airbase. WELS military contact pastors were able to attend as part of their yearly workshop.
April 5, 2022
The March 29 edition of the Washington County Daily News reported that Morning Star, Jackson, Wis., began construction on an early childhood center as well as an addition to its elementary school.
On March 21, a Green Bay TV station featured a story on how St. Mark Lutheran School, De Pere, Wis., is teaching its students about what is happening in Ukraine and adopting the country as one its mission projects for the year.
March 8, 2022
On March 2, FOX19 Now from Cincinnati, Ohio, featured a story on Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC) Bishop V’yacheslav Horpynchuk and his two sons who are defending their home country. His one son, Vlad, previously served as a vicar at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Cincinnati. The ULC is WELS’ sister church in Ukraine.
February 15, 2022
On Feb. 11, The Monroe News featured a story on Rev. Gregory Sitzman, the new pastor at Zion, Monroe, Mich.
The Feb. 8 edition of WISCNEWS included an article about the 14 musicians from Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis., who will be attending the West Regional Band Festival in March.
February 1, 2022
The Jan. 31 edition of the Seehafer News announced plans from Manitowoc Lutheran High School, Manitowoc, Wis., to start a building expansion in June.
News 8000 included an article about how the community is supporting a freshman at Luther High School, Onalaska, Wis., who is battling a brain tumor.
January 18, 2022
CBS 58 in Milwaukee, Wis., featured a story on filmmaker Mr. Steve Boettcher, WELS member and producer of WELS Connection, who spent 10 years creating a film about Betty White, which was released Jan. 17 on what would have been White’s 100th birthday.
December 21, 2021
On Nov. 27, Southwest Regional Publishing included an article about how two teens from Illinois Lutheran High School, Crete, Ill., coordinated a toy drive to benefit a local children’s hospital.
December 7, 2021
The Milwaukee BizTimes reported Nov. 19 on the progress of St. Marcus School’s expansion and renovations at its third location in Milwaukee.
Rev. Jason Hacker, Grace, Waukesha, Wis., was interviewed by NewsNation on Nov. 22 following the Christmas parade tragedy in Waukesha.
On Nov. 23, Fox 11 highlighted students at St. Mark’s, Green Bay, Wis., who assembled 600 meal kits to distribute to those in need in their community.
The New Ulm Journal featured the four recipients of Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School’s “Spirit of MVL” award on Nov. 24.
On Nov. 25, NBC 15 featured the story of Jonah Heyerholm’s recovery after a boating accident. Jonah is a student at Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis.
November 16, 2021
On Nov. 12, Time magazine included an article about a novel approach to contact tracing and testing that’s being developed entirely on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver, Ariz. Rev. Gary Lupe, pastor at Gethsemane, Cibecue, Ariz., was interviewed for the article.
The Nov. 5 edition of the Victoria Advocate highlighted a new devotion book, 364 Days of Devotion, and featured an article on the book’s author, Rev. Andrew Schroer, pastor at Redeemer, Edna/Victoria, Texas.
October 5, 2021
On Oct. 4, the Watertown Public Opinion included a story on a bike safety rodeo called “Ridin’ with the Son in 2021,” sponsored by the tri-parish Willow Lake, Willow Lake/Bethlehem, Raymond/Peace, Clark, S.D.
The Watertown Daily Times highlighted an upcoming mission festival service at St. Mark, Watertown, Wis.
On Sept. 23, KEYC featured an article about a walkathon hosted by Risen Savior, Mankato, Minn.
September 21, 2021
On Sept. 10, WSAW TV out of Wausau, Wis., highlighted a history class at Northland Lutheran High School, Mosinee, Wis., that discussed the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, an event that happened before the students were born.
September 7, 2021
On Sept. 1, NBC 15 out of Madison, Wis., ran a story on Rev. Nathan Strutz, pastor at Resurrection, Verona, Wis., who just hit 50,000 lifetime miles run.
The Sept. 1 edition of the Hutchinson Leader included an article about the 125th anniversary of Zion, Hutchinson, Minn., highlighting the history of the congregation.
August 17, 2021
The Aug. 16 edition of the Daily Jefferson County Union included an article about the start of the school year for Lakeside Lutheran High School, Lake Mills, Wis.
August 3, 2021
On July 29, The Grand Island Independent in Grand Island, Neb., featured an article on the upcoming school year at Nebraska Lutheran High School, Waco, Neb.
The July 26 edition of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel highlighted music workshops held by the Kids from Wisconsin at several of the Lighthouse Youth Center locations in Milwaukee.
On July 18, WBAY, Green Bay, Wis., featured an article about the 25th anniversary of the F5 tornado that ripped through Oakfield, Wis. Members from St. Luke, Oakfield, Wis., were interviewed about their experiences.
July 20, 2021
9News Denver included two stories on Logan Howard, a recent graduate of Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School, Commerce City, Colo.
A June 13 Prep Rally story told how Howard suffered a stroke at age 13 and worked his way back to pitch for high school baseball.
On July 12, Howard was featured again, this time about how he was honored at the 2021 MLB Draft.
On July 14, the Redwood Falls Gazette introduced Rev. Darren Green as the new inreach pastor at St. John, Redwood Falls, Minn.
The July 7 edition of the Lake Mills Leader included an article about the Lakeside Lutheran High School Warrior Band.
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