Sharing the saving message of the gospel with the world.
“He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation’” (Mark 16:15).
Multi-Language Productions (MLP), an arm of WELS World Missions, has created more than 2.9 million video, audio, and print materials and is growing their online training resources in more than 56 languages to date. Through these resources MLP can assist and enhance outreach for all churches, especially in places where WELS does not have resident missionaries. The majority of MLP products are evangelism and Bible Study resources to be used by anyone who sees a need for ministering to others in Christ.
Fast Facts
- Publications in 56 languages
- TELL Students from 30+ countries
- 10 rotating TELL teachers
- 6 regional TELL Facebook pages
Digital Outreach
Multi-Language Productions has introduced a new online Bible-based training platform called TELL (Think, Evaluate, Learn, and Lead), in an effort to bring the gospel to English-speakers around the world.
Print Outreach
Multi-Language Productions promotes, supports, and coordinates the development of confessional Lutheran materials for outreach in many languages.
Music Outreach
Multi-Language Productions is creating culturally appropriate worship music and art to be used in sharing the gospel across WELS world mission fields.
Meet the Missionaries
Rev. Dan Laitinen - TELL Missionary
Missionary Dan Laitinen began work with TELL Network in 2019 as the first full-time TELL Missionary to the English-speaking world. TELL is an online Bible learning and multiplication ministry available to people across the world. The team uses social media to grow an audience, post weekly Bible learning content, and sends invitations to join the TELL program. Users download the TELL app, take several self-learning courses, and upon completion are invited to join an instructor, like Missionary Laitinen, in a live group Bible study.
The TELL instructors teach the Bible and Lutheran catechism with the intent that people will learn the TELL teaching method and gather a group of people in their community or tribe and repeat the process. Learners are assigned counselors, like Missionary Laitinen, who follow up with students in-person, create a plan with them, and help them as they begin to gather a group themselves. Over 200 students from 30 different countries have signed up for live group classes, some in places there has never been a Lutheran presence before.
Previously Missionary Laitinen served as pastor at Holy Word Lutheran Church in Austin, Tex., from 2012-2019. During that time he also served as LWMS pastor representative and circuit pastor for the area.
Dan and his wife Hannah, an early childhood center director, were married in 2009 and have four children: Judah, Blythe, Bode and Josiah, plus an Australian labradoodle named Scarlett who thinks she’s just one of the kids and loves playing fetch. They live in Austin, Tex.
Download and read more biographies at wels.net/missionarybios.
Rev. Dr. Terry Schultz - Artistic Development Missionary
Rev. Dr. Terry and Mary Schultz have over twenty-five years of experience in foreign missions. In 2016, Terry accepted a call to serve in the newly created position of Artistic Development Missionary for Multi-Language Productions(MLP).
Missionary Schultz works to encourage and facilitate the use of culturally appropriate art forms (music, art, theater, dance) in service of the gospel among the churches of our WELS world mission fields. He is currently involved in indigenous music projects for churches in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and North America. He has presented music workshops or pastoral training courses in Vietnam, Kenya, Colombia, Ethiopia, and Hong Kong. Missionary Schultz also encourages and partners with local artists in our mission fields to produce pictures and diagrams for teaching biblical doctrines, particularly in cultures with low rates of literacy.
Upon graduation from Bethany Seminary (Evangelical Lutheran Synod), the Schultz’s were sent to Peru, where they served for fifteen years. Mary directed a Women’s Prison Ministry, and Terry taught at the Lima seminary, served as Peru field coordinator, and worked with the indigenous tribal group, the Shawi, in the Peruvian Amazon jungle. The Schultz’s then moved to the Dominican Republic. From a home base in Santo Domingo, they carried out WELS mission work in Haiti with national Pastor Rona Abraham.
Terry, Mary, and their Peruvian cat currently reside in Chicago, Ill., where Mary studies photography and Terry continues to take music lessons to assist in his mission work.
Download and read more biographies at wels.net/missionarybios.
Rev. Joel Hoff - TELL Missionary
Rev. Joel Hoff joined the TELL Network team in September 2022 when he accepted the call to serve as the TELL Missionary in Africa. He served in Cameroon from 2010-2011 and then again in 2012-2013 with his wife, Kate. They look forward to this opportunity to serve, once again, in Africa.
Missionary Hoff has been blessed to serve in our WELS mission fields in Cameroon, Albania, and Ukraine. Stateside, he has served as pastor at Divine Peace in Renton, Wash., and most recently at Trinity Lutheran Church in Neenah, Wis.
Missionary Hoff is eager to partner with the One Africa Team and serve as an instructor and mentor for TELL students throughout Africa. He looks forward to the opportunity to meet the men and women who have studied God’s Word with other TELL instructors. He will assist in their training, walk beside them through their courses, and encourage them as they work toward becoming TELL Bible leaders themselves.
His wife Kate enjoys singing with the church choir and has been very involved as a volunteer at Neenah Lutheran School. Her medical background as a registered nurse has come in handy (perhaps more than she’d like) thanks to their very active and adventurous boys. Missionary Hoff and Kate were married in 2012 and have been blessed with three children: Micah, Caleb, and Josiah. The Hoff’s and their two cats, Bones and Zira, are looking forward to their new lives and ministry based in Lusaka, Zambia.
Download and read more biographies at wels.net/missionarybios.
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