Tag Archive for: Called to Support 2017

WELS benefits

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The WELS Benefit Plans Office (BPO) serves WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) workers and organizations through administration of the WELS Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) Health Plan, the WELS Pension Plan, and the WELS Shepherd Plan.

One of the important advantages of participating in WELS Benefit Plans is that the coverage and benefits provided are uniform throughout all 50 states. This supports the WELS ministry and call process because worker call decisions are not influenced by health insurance and retirement benefit decisions.

Visit welsbpo.net for more information.

Did you know? The WELS Pension Plan pays more than $1 million in total retirement benefits every month to nearly 2,200 retired workers and surviving spouses.

Financing for mission congregations

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Beautiful Savior, Moncks Corner, S.C., dedicated its first church in May 2016 with the help of Home Missions and WELS Church Extension Fund.

WELS Church Extension Fund, Inc., (WELS CEF) provides financing through loans and grants to mission congregations so they can acquire land and ministry facilities to be used for gospel outreach in coordination with WELS Home Missions. WELS CEF also provides loans to self-supporting WELS congregations and schools for land and facility projects. The money to carry out CEF’s mission comes from investments and gifts from WELS members, congregations, and affiliated organizations.

In fiscal year 2015–16, $32.8 million of new loans and $4 million of new grant requests were approved. WELS CEF’s loan portfolio ended the year at $139.7 million with 208 loans to WELS congregations and affiliates.

For more information, visit wels.net/cef.

Professionally managed investment portfolios

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WELS Investment Funds is a self-supporting subsidiary of WELS. Its mission is to provide cost-effective, professionally managed investment portfolios exclusively for WELS affiliated ministries. By pooling investment resources through WELS Investment Funds, congregations can take advantage of lower cost, institutional priced investment alternatives that would not otherwise be available.

WELS Investment Funds currently manages $180 million in assets, which includes $36 million for 171 congregations and 35 affiliated ministries.

Visit wels.net/welsfunds for more information.

Helping people support ministry

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WELS Foundation exists to help God’s people support gospel ministry through WELS. Planned gifts provide funding for WELS congregations, schools, missions, and other affiliated ministries. In 2016, WELS Foundation administered and distributed $6.6 million in donor directed gifts to various WELS ministries. Visit wels.net/foundation for more information.

NPH celebrates 125 years in 2016

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Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) exists to deliver Christ-centered, biblically sound resources within WELS and beyond. NPH publishes Forward in Christ and Meditations, Bible studies, books, music, elementary and Sunday school curriculum, and worship materials. In 2016, NPH released more than 50 Christian resources in print and digital formats, including:

  • two titles in the Bible Discovery series—A Chosen Land for a Chosen People and Time Between the Testaments;
  • seven devotional/inspirational books;
  • fourteen books and other resources in anticipation of Reformation 500;
  • two resources for pastoral growth;
  • Christ-Light homeschool curriculum;
  • summer vacation Bible school program, Christmas for Kids, and Easter for Kids;
  • twelve music offerings for children and adults; and
  • six new Bible studies for large and small groups.

In 2016, NPH also reached WELS members through 95 book fairs in churches and schools along with displays at 29 WELS conferences.

Visit nph.net or stop by the NPH Christian Books and Gifts store in Milwaukee, Wis., to learn more.