Tag Archive for: Together08062024

The Obadiah Lutheran Synod expresses its thanks

Last January, I had the privilege of attending a special worship service of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod (OLS) in Uganda. Nearly 1,000 members of the Obadiah Lutheran Synod, some traveling for hours, attended this special service celebrating the fellowship that had been declared between our two church bodies at WELS’ 2023 synod convention.

Our synod does not provide operational support for the Obadiah Lutheran Synod. But thanks to special gifts received from WELS members, we are able to help with pastoral training, church building projects, and other special programs.

As you might expect, travel in Uganda can, at times, be very difficult due to bad weather and roads that can become nearly impassable. Since Pastor Makisimu Musa, the president of the synod, spends much time visiting the various congregations and pastors of his synod, reliable transportation is a vital necessity. Thanks to generous gifts from WELS members, the Obadiah Lutheran Synod was able to purchase a used Toyota Land Cruiser.

Pastor Musa would like to express thanks from his entire church body for this gift. He wrote, “It is my pleasure again to say thank you, brother, for your gift of the vehicle to the OLS. This is helping us a lot to do church ministry work in Uganda. Please extend our heartfelt appreciation to the brothers and sisters in WELS for the gift. The gift (vehicle) reminds me of the day you visited us in Uganda to attend our celebration of fellowship and unity in the faith. Thank you for blessing our ministry of the Word in this region of Africa. May the Lord of the church Jesus Christ continue blessing you all for your generous support to the OLS.”

We pray that the gospel ministry being carried out by our brothers and sisters in Uganda will continue to be blessed richly by the Lord.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

 

View a short video from the service.

 

Conference aims to empower women to share God’s Word

More than 450 women gathered at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, Wis., from July 28–30 for the WELS Women’s Ministry Conference. Focused on the book of Acts, the conference theme, “Empowered to proclaim: You will be my witnesses,” was carried out in the conference’s worship, Bible study, and presentations.

“The intent of our conference this year was to mobilize women through the work of the Holy Spirit to spread God’s Word and share the saving message of Jesus in their homes, communities, workplaces, local congregations, and anywhere else God has placed them,” explains Dawn Schulz, chair of WELS Women’s Ministry Committee.

Interest in this conference continues to grow since the initial conference in July 2007. This year women came from 25 states and four countries to hear about ministry topics that are relevant to Christians today. Fifteen breakout sessions (with time for each attendee to attend four) complemented the four keynote presentations as well as the opening worship service and three devotions. Conference organizers put together a five-week reading schedule to encourage all attendees to read the entire book of Acts before the conference.

As one attendee noted, “I loved the focus around the Word.”

Learn more at welswmconference.net. Videos of the conference’s keynote presentations and opening worship service will be released there in the coming months.

Reactions from those who attended the National Conference on Worship, Music, and the Arts will be published in the Aug. 20 edition of Together.

Watch highlights of the Women’s Ministry Conference in this Together video update:

 

View photos from the Women’s Ministry Conference:

2024 WELS Women's Ministry Conference