Tag Archive for: WM Webinar
(mis)Understanding Mental Health | A Christian Look at Today’s Epidemic webinar
WELS Women’s Ministry hosted a webinar on (mis)Understanding Mental Health | A Christian Look at Today’s Epidemic on Thursday, May 2, 2024, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. (CST). Included below is a list of the resources referred to in the webinar by the panelists.
(mis)Understanding Mental Health | A Christian Look at Today’s Epidemic
There’s been a lot of focus on mental health in recent years. Current generations are growing up using vocabulary that expresses this reality while older generations aren’t used to discussing something they grew up thinking was taboo. This webinar will be unique in that we will be hearing from licensed professional counselors from Christian Family Solutions. Guided by their insight, we’ll get an overview of what is going on, what we can do, and when and where to get help.
According to the statistics, one out of five adults in the U.S. will experience a mental illness during any given year. This means that if you know more than five people, chances are that you are rubbing shoulders with people experiencing some form of mental illness. As a church, you can expect that roughly 20 percent of your membership is currently experiencing some form of mental illness as well. It also means that if you are suffering with a form of mental illness, you are far from alone! In the webinar, we will explore the following topics:
- Finding a healthy and God-pleasing balance to self-care. We will learn how we can best help and encourage someone to get the help they need. We will try to lessen the stigma attached to mental illness and replace it with compassion, understanding, and love.
- Understanding our responsibility as parents to provide for our children in all aspects of life—physically and spiritually. How are we providing for their mental health
- Looking at depression, which has been referred to as the “common cold of mental health.” If that’s true, why do we feel so isolated, and what can we do about it?
Our prayer is that this webinar will shine a light on and bring awareness to the subject of mental health so that the body of Christ continues to minister to the needs of each other in all areas of life. We encourage you to attend the live webinar, where we’ll provide amazing resources and continue to do fun giveaways to participants.
When you finish watching the webinar whether on your own or with a church group, consider the following …
- Discuss as a church how you can be more open and inclusive to those with mental illness.
- What was your takeaway from the webinar? How does that affect you going forward?
- Challenge yourself to learn more about mental health from the list of suggested resources.
Reviving Relationships Through Biblical Hospitality webinar
WELS Women’s Ministry hosted a webinar on Reviving Relationships Through Biblical Hospitality on Thursday, January 18, 2024, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. (CST). Included below is a list of the resources referred to in the webinar by the panelists. Women’s Ministry is currently working hard to put together a free Bible study resource specifically for this webinar on hospitality.
Based on Scripture:
- Share with the Lord’s people who are in Practice hospitality (Romans 12:13).
- Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling (1 Peter 4:9).
- Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:2).
- Now the overseer is to be . . . hospitable (1 Timothy 3:2).
- At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household (Acts 16:33,34).
Purpose: Hospitality can be used as a way to reconnect church members and can also be used as an evangelism tool.
People are still navigating the post-COVID era, trying to figure out how to reconnect as some people switched to online-only church attendance, others decreased their church attendance, some members drifted away, and some people became members during COVID and have not integrated completely into their churches. Hospitality can be the springboard to help members become more involved and connected at church. In this webinar, we’ll hear how one couple has been strategic in their hosting of cocktail parties in an effort to lay the groundwork for future small groups.
The Christian church has been gathering in community since its beginning. Believers in the early church clung to one another for protection, strength, and encouragement. They met in each other’s homes, shared what they had with one another, and helped in any way they could.
What does your church community look like today? Do you feel disconnected? Do you spend any time with members of your church family outside of church? Is that even important? How do guests feel when they walk through your church doors?
Our panelists will speak on the importance of hospitality in the home, at church, and even in public. We’ll discuss the differences between biblical hospitality and Instagram entertaining. We’ll explore some of the challenges that keep us from reaching out to others, inviting them over, or offering them our help. What is it about southern hospitality that gives them such a reputation for bringing people together? We’ll hear from a southern sister for further insight!
How do we bring a church family together that’s multicultural, diverse in background, or spans generations so we see each other and function as one body in Christ? We’ll hear how the church in Toronto has done that and continues to welcome people from all over the world.
How do we cultivate a church culture that visitors are drawn to? How do we take relationships to a deeper, spiritual level that enriches the kingdom of God?
We were designed for connection and relationships. Women especially tend to have God-given gifts that make us more aware and sensitive to the feelings of those around us. We tend to be nurturers—whether we’re giving a needed hug, lending a listening ear, or loving our people with a plate of brownies. Ultimately, we want to be able to share Jesus and his Word in all of our relationships, but how do we do that? Is it easier for some, or have they worked to be intentional in their friendships? How do you keep that from becoming weird and insincere?
This webinar will inspire you to rethink your relationships. It will get you thinking about your own church culture with new eyes. It will hopefully inspire you to step outside your comfort zone for a worthwhile reason!
Tip: Don’t watch it alone; in the spirit of the theme, get a group together and watch this one with friends!
Fostering Faith in the Next Generation
Proverbs 22:6—Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.
This webinar is motivated by Deuteronomy 6:7, “Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you get home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up”, with the purpose to offer encouragement and ideas to Christian parents as they endeavor to pass on their faith to the next generation. And whatever our age or life situation, we can all be working to encourage faith in those younger than us.
How can each of us work to foster faith in the next generation?
We’ve heard the statistic that a massive amount of young people are leaving the church as they enter into adulthood. We personally know some of them and wonder how this could be when they were raised in a family that believes in Jesus and goes to church. If it’s true that 60% of those young adults fall away from the faith, will my child be included in that statistic?
We can lament the degradation of moral values in the culture around us, but we have the ability to create a culture within the home that seeks what God values—that which is true, right, noble, pure, lovely, and admirable (Philippians 4:8).
Our panelists are real parents in the trenches of discipling their children for a lifetime of spiritual growth and following Jesus. They speak to the challenges that come with this desire to live counter culture in a world that is so good at keeping us distracted and busy.
What are they doing to build faith in the home across the spectrum of ages? How do they maintain regular time in the Word when schedules are so hectic? What does devotional time look like as a family? And how are children taught to incorporate individual time in the Word to grow this spiritually healthy lifelong habit?
This webinar offers encouragement to single parents, those spiritually single (without a Christian spouse), and families with kids of all ages!
We speak to the objections Satan wants you to believe. I don’t know enough doctrine to teach my kids! What if I say the wrong thing? I don’t have time. I don’t know where to start. They learn enough in Sunday school or youth group. It’s too late—my kids are too old. I’m too overwhelmed with everything else I’m responsible for.
Are you a grandparent, godparent, Sunday school teacher, or youth group leader? How can you work with families to nurture the faith of their children and help them to fulfill their God-given role in teaching the next generation about Jesus?
We’ll also offer resources that will help you get started right away. Don’t wait for the perfect game plan or the perfect time. Your goal is not to have perfect kids. You want your children in heaven with you someday! All you need is Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word and sacraments. You have the promises of God who wants all people to be saved—that includes your family—and he has given you everything you need to impress his truths on the hearts of your children.
Find out more by listening to the webinar.
Prayer Chains in the 21st Century
Ephesians 6:18 tells us, “Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.”
Our latest webinar interviewed four women to find out what that looks like today.
Here are our takeaways:
The Benefits of Praying Together
Praying together connects us with God and with each other. It builds intimacy with one another as we learn about each other’s needs. During the intimacy of prayer time together, God aligns our thoughts and words with his. Time with others in prayer unites us, as it shows us we share a purpose and we don’t need to struggle with one another. Instead, we become prayer warriors for each other against the schemes of the devil. When we praise and give thanks in prayer for all the good things happening in our lives, we can also rejoice with others in their blessings.
The Challenges of Praying Together
Praying together can be uncomfortable for some people, especially at the beginning. Some people don’t feel empowered or equipped to pray out loud with others. There are many ways to help people grow in confidence and enjoy this beautiful experience of praying together. For example, it can be helpful to use God’s Word and hymns as a basis for prayer. Try writing prayers ahead of time and then reading them out loud. A guide you can use is the A.C.T.S prayer model (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication).
Another challenge is the fear of gossip. Because we bring heart matters to the Lord in prayer, one can feel vulnerable “exposing” their private life. It takes time to build trust. When people share their personal struggles in prayer, everyone should know and agree that private information stays within the group.
Prayer Group Logistics
Many factors play into how often and in what way a prayer group meets. If members live in the same area, they can meet at someone’s house, a coffee shop, a library, or a church. If the group members live far apart, they can use apps like Google Meet or Zoom. Another effective way to get more people involved in praying is by setting up a prayer chain using text or email.
Who Are You Talking to When Praying?
We have many terms of endearment when we speak to loved ones. It is the same with God—our Father and Creator of the universe. When we sin, we humbly address our Savior. When we recognize the countless spiritual and physical blessings, we thank and praise the Giver of all good things. When we are broken, we can call him Daddy, Abba, knowing he will never leave nor forsake us. We talk to God as our best friend and brother, praying he will provide the opportunity for us to introduce him to others. Praying to God in this way with others helps us see the nature of God in a way we wouldn’t see all on our own.
Taking advantage of the blessing of prayer with others is God’s blessing to us. Find out more by listening to the webinar.
Advent by Candlelight Planner’s Forum
Our recent Advent by Candlelight Planner’s Forum offered a variety of fantastic ideas and a wealth of wisdom from seasoned ABC planners from a variety of churches. They answered questions many of us have wondered and tackled those challenges most of us have faced. We learned there’s not just one right way to run this special evening. We also were inspired by their heart for Jesus and desire to serve their community of believers and offer opportunities to connect women outside of the church to the Gospel message of Advent and Christmas. This webinar was recorded and is available to watch anytime you need some inspiration and ideas!
They offered their responses to questions like:
What’s the purpose of Advent by Candlelight?
Yes, Advent by Candlelight is an event to help women focus on Christ during the busy holiday season. Our conversation included how to include those members of all ages that aren’t always heavily involved in other church-based activities and ways we can help them feel valued and loved! We went beyond that and discussed opportunities for evangelism and how unique ABC is in its non-threatening environment that makes it the perfect event to invite our unchurched friends, family, and neighbors.
And that was just the beginning!
- Do you have a budget?
- How long does your program last?
- What time of day do you have it?
- How do you keep it fresh if you’ve been doing it for years?
- Do you have assigned seating?
- Do you allow kids to come?
- How do you keep the hostesses from turning it into a competition of who has the best decorated table? (Yes, we went there!)
And more you do NOT want to miss!