If WELS were to lose tens of thousands of members, that affects our ability to send out missionaries both stateside and around the world. If WELS closes hundreds of churches, that has massive implications for our worker training system,

To turn around the statistical decline, we need to open the front door and shut the back door.

Consider that currently our back-door losses are around 8,000 souls per year. Our current communicant member to adult confirmation ratio is 83 to 1.

In one generation, we could grow by 3% if back-door losses were cut by 20% and if adult confirmations are 55:1.

In one generation, we could grow by 14% if back-door losses were cut by 33% and if adult confirmations were 45:1.

Read the “For the Generations to Come” casebook.

Read now

Congregational Services featured videos

Congregational Services programs

C18 is multi-faceted program to assist WELS congregations in their seasonal effort to boldly proclaim Christ. Together, we hope to share the saving gospel message with one million people.
This new movie shows how Paul demonstrated that the good news of Jesus is indeed for all people. Resources are available for congregations to use the movie for outreach.
Better understand the unique way millennials think about church/religion and reach potential members in that generation.
Donate to "For the Generations to Come" resources and assistance

Visit the Congregational Services resource site for free tools and training resources available for all WELS congregations.

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For the Generations to Come

Help support the development of congregational resources that will help WELS congregations reach new members and retain current members.