Tag Archive for: women
(mis)Understanding Mental Health | A Christian Look at Todayās Epidemic webinar
WELS Women’s Ministry hosted a webinar on (mis)Understanding Mental Health | A Christian Look at Todayās EpidemicĀ 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 Todayās Epidemic
Thereās 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 arenāt 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, weāll 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 lifeāphysically and spiritually. How are we providing for their mental health
- Looking at depression, which has been referred to as the ācommon cold of mental health.ā If thatās 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 weāll 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. Womenās 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 Lordās 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 Godāhe 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, weāll 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 otherās 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. Weāll discuss the differences between biblical hospitality and Instagram entertaining. Weāll 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? Weāll hear from a southern sister for further insight!
How do we bring a church family together thatās multicultural, diverse in background, or spans generations so we see each other and function as one body in Christ? Weāll 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 nurturersāwhether weāre 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: Donāt watch it alone; in the spirit of the theme, get a group together and watch this one with friends!
New 2023 Advent by Candlelight Resources
Advent by Candlelight is an event to help women focus on Christ during the busy holiday season. It can be designed as an outreach to the community or an opportunity to encourage believers. Through narration, readings, prayer, and music, Christ will shine as the Savior. Enjoy creating a beautiful ambiance, but know that the power is in the message of the Gospel.
New for this year: āThe King Shall Comeā
We are in the season of Advent, which means ācoming.ā When someone is coming over, what do you do? It depends on who is coming and why they are coming. If itās a good friend popping in for a quick visit, you donāt worry too much about how the house looks or serving a meal. But imagine the governor is coming over for an evening to give you some sort of citizenās award. Thatās a big deal. There is work to be done: deep cleaning, planning a menu, getting the yard looking its best, and so on.
So, is Advent a big deal? It depends on who is coming and why they are coming. During Advent, we get the answer to that question. We see that our King, Jesus, is coming. We see why King Jesus came on that first Christmas and why he will come again on judgment day. In this season of Advent, we also cherish the way King Jesus comes to us today in his Word, establishing his reign in our hearts.
This corresponds with the worship planning resource in Year B of the Foundation Resource provided by WELS Congregational Services.
Fostering Faith in the Next Generation
Proverbs 22:6āStart 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,Ā āImpress 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 upā, 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?
Weāve 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.Ā If itās 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 valuesāthat 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 donāt know enough doctrine to teach my kids! What if I say the wrong thing? I donāt have time. I donāt know where to start. They learn enough in Sunday school or youth group. Itās too lateāmy kids are too old. Iām too overwhelmed with everything else Iām responsible for.
Are you a grandparent, godparent, Sunday school teacher, or youth group leader? How can you workĀ withĀ families to nurture the faith of their children and help them to fulfill their God-given role in teaching the next generation about Jesus?
Weāll also offer resources that will help you get started right away. Donāt 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 Godās Word and sacraments. You have the promises of God who wants all people to be savedāthat includes your familyāand 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.
The relationship between anxiety, fear, and worry
By Karen Fischer, M.S., Ed., LPC, BC-TMH, Christian Family Solutions Counseling Care & Services
The word āanxietyā is used often in conversation today. Many people are dealing with it. Even if your situation has not reached the clinical definition for anxiety, the term bounces around a lot as we discuss life situations with others.
Letās clear up a few things about anxiety. First, itās important to know that clinical anxiety is not an emotion. It is a condition.
The emotion related to anxiety is fear. And what we do with that emotion produces a number of things, one of which could be anxiety.
Worry is the action related to fear. Itās a thought process that says, āIām going to take that fear and think about it.ā
Itās OK to tend to fears when they arise. Fear is supposed to be there and God created it to help you be mindful and safe. Your brain is designed to look forward and backward and provide you with that information in hopes that it informs the now. While your brain may be doing its job, your it is not always doing you a favor in this. Be careful not to let fear run too far.
There are things we can do to address our fears and prevent them from growing into anxiety:
- Question whether your fear is reasonable. Discern which are normal, reasonable fears you should attend to, and which ones are starting to dominate your thoughts.
- Recognize what unchecked fear does to your body. Physical Symptoms include headaches, stomachaches, rapid heartbeat, tension in your muscles, shortness of breath. Then there are emotional symptoms, such as irritability, impatience, mood swings. Behavioral symptoms include becoming withdrawn, losing your temper, restlessness, over-sleeping, or avoidance.
- Use and practice skills that reduce those symptoms in the moment. Mindfulness exercises help you take control of your thoughts, either ahead of a situation or when youāre in the middle of a fear-inducing situation. (Find examples of these exercises in the full article linked here.)
- Take care of yourself. We know that God created us body, mind, and spirit, and these are all connected. Taking care of ourselves helps prevent anxiety.
If you (or someone you know) needs counseling services, please contact Christian Family Solutions at 800-438-1772 or visit ChristianFamilySolutions.org. CFS is a WELS parasynodical organization with more than 100 mental health clinicians who provide evidence-based care that is integrated with the healing power of the Gospel.
This is an excerpt from a longer article on the Christian Family Solutions website. Read the whole article here.
View a video: Karen Fischer talks with Pastor Bill Limmer about the relationship between Fear, Worry, and Anxiety.
Welcome! ā Two new members to the Executive Board
WELS Womenās Ministry is blessed to add two new members to the Executive Board. Professor Joel Russow from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary will serve as our Seminary Pastoral Advisor. He is replacing Professor Paul Wendland who is retiring this year. Meredith Bitter will serve as Secretary and manage communication.
We look forward to the perspective, insight, and wisdom they bring to the work of nurturing, encouraging, and equipping woman to use their gifts for service in Godās kingdom. Find out more about them below and make sure to say, āHi!” on social media!
Prof. Joel Russow
Joel Russow began his pastoral ministry in 2010 at Faith Lutheran Church in Tallahassee, Fla. In 2022, he began serving as a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary where he teaches courses in counseling, doctrine, and pastoral theology. He holds two masterās degrees (M.Div., STM in Pastoral Care) and is pursuing a third in clinical mental health counseling.
He has been married to Jill since 2006. Together they are blessed with four children: Jude, Elijah, Rachel, and Isaiah. The Russows love Jesus, sports, traveling, camping, and delicious cheesecake.
Meredith Bitter
Meredith Bitter, (nee Koltz) was born in Madison, Wis. and attended Eastside Lutheran for elementary school and St. Matthewās, Oconomowoc for middle school. She graduated from Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, WI and then went on to earn her Bachelorās Degree at Martin Lutheran College in New Ulm, Minn., with a double major in elementary education and secondary Spanish education.
Upon graduation, Meredith taught Spanish for 1 year at Shoreland Lutheran High School before moving with her husband, Pastor Lucas Bitter, to Georgia. Meredith and Lucas have served in Georgia for the past 10 years ā four years at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Marietta and six years at Intown Lutheran Church in the center of Atlanta.
During her 10 years in Georgia, Meredith has worn many hats including substitute teacher, public school HS Spanish teacher, and stay-at-home mom to 6-year-old Elijah and 4-year-old Gabby. She currently serves in a part-time role as worship coordinator and tech admin at Intown Lutheran Church and feels so blessed to be part of WELS Home Missions and urban ministry.
Meredith is excited for the privilege of serving on the Womenās Ministry Executive Team. She has always been passionate about encouraging women in their many vocations, both in and outside of church. Raising a daughter has especially inspired Meredith to equip and encourage women from many generations to be filled up in the Word so they may go out and reflect his love in their homes and communities.
Prayer Chains in the 21st Century
Ephesians 6:18 tells us, āPray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion.ā
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 donāt 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 donāt 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 Godās 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 āexposingā 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 someoneās 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 Godāour 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 wouldnāt see all on our own.
Taking advantage of the blessing of prayer with others is Godās blessing to us. Find out more by listening to the webinar.
Thank You! ā Kathie Wendland
Thank you for your service, Kathie Wendland!
This January 2023, Kathie Wendland stepped down from the WM Executive Team. Since the formation of WELS WM in 2007, Kathie has served as a mentor, advisor, and conference liaison.
Over the years, Kathie has worked diligently to ensure women have resources and access to doctrinally sound, biblical content. Her fervent prayer is that these would deepen their understanding of Scripture, propel them to spiritual maturity, and give them the confidence to boldly share the message of Jesus with those outside the church walls.
Kathie has also served as a confidant and personal mentor to many women throughout WM. Her input on doctrinal discussions, Bible study materials, WM conference themes, and her sense of humor will be missed.
As much as WM is blessed by her service, we know that the ripple effect of her godly character, servant’s heart, and bold adherence to Scripture will continue to be felt around the world and for generations to come.
All is not lost. We are thankful Kathie will continue to put these gifts to use on the teaching team of WM (Titus 2 Team) and as an influence on the WM conference in 2024.
Join us in thanking God for using the gifts of Kathie Wendland to bless many from the foundational years of WELS Womenās Ministry until now! To God be the glory!
Kathie’s Background
Kathie Wendland grew up on a farm in Wisconsin. She has served in various capacities in three countries on two continents, ranging from secular positions such as US Navy Officer (Nurse Corp); Frontier Nursing Service in Hyden, KY; ICU nurse at Milwaukee County General Hospital; night administrator of nursing at a large hospital in Milwaukee; home health nurse in Milwaukee; in a nurse practitioner role (without the degree and before a degree was required) at both the Canadian High Commission and American Embassy in Lusaka, Zambia; to serving in WELS ecclesiastical positions such as Central Africa Medical Mission assistant āsister in chargeā with the Salima Lutheran Mobile Clinic in Salima, Malawi, Africa; relief nurse at Mwembezhi Lutheran Rural Health Centre, Zambia; nurse recruiter and advisor on the WELS Central Africa Medical Mission Committee; and currently as parish nurse for her home congregation in Mishicot, Wis.
Presently Kathie is employed taking care of little calves, about 60-80 of them, on a dairy farm. Sheās been privileged to lead womenās Bible studies for over 20 years.
Kathie’s husband, Ernst, served as a missionary in Zambia for 21 years and she was with him for 5 of those years. They were married just short of 25 years when the Lord took Ernst to heaven.
Of the above activities, only the medical mission nursing in Malawi was part of āher planā for her life and that only sort of. She would say the Lord opened doors and shoved her through them. Some days were great, but most were filled with challenges of some sort. Many days ended in tears. Some started that way.
Kathie knew the world says to put me first and demand my rights, but Paul wrote to the Romans, āTherefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of Godās mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to Godāthis is your spiritual act of worship.ā Putting this passage into practice has been a life-long challenge for her. One that, by the grace of God, was eased by Christian mentors.
Kathie said, āIāve always looked for mentors and was richly blessed whenever I found them. Now Iāve come to realize Iām at the age where I am one and need to closely examine Paulās words, āFollow me as I follow the example of Christā, (1 Cor. 11:1) for guidance in being a Christian mentorāwho by the grace of God will be a blessing to others.ā
A year in review for WELS Women’s Ministry
2022 has been an exciting year for Womenās Ministry. To begin, over 2,000 subscribers are receiving our newsletter! Thatās double last yearās number at this time.
Enjoy walking through a review of the year with us!
UPDATES
Connection Call
Connection Call (formerly Talk on Tuesday) is an opportunity to talk through your ministry questions and ideas. Check it out!
Restructure
We continue to restructure our teams and workflow in order to make better use of resources and create opportunities for women to get involved serving the synod through Womenās Ministry. E-mail us if you are interested in finding out what serving with Womenās Ministry looks like.
Social Media Presence
By adding dedicated personnel to social media, weāve been able to make a better connection with all of you. Over 1,000 followers are connected on Instagram alone! Make sure to like, subscribe, and share on Facebook and Instagram.
NEW
Advent by Candlelight Webinar
We hosted our first webinar on Advent by Candlelight. It was very well attended and received. (Watch the recording.) Make sure to tune in to our next one on Thursday, January 26, at 7:00 p.m. CST. We are talking about encouraging personal and corporate prayer among believers.
Advent by Candlelight
āCome, Lord Jesus,ā based on the theme for Church Year A in The Foundation, was developed for use throughout the synod. Look for a new Lent by Candlelight coming soon!
Advent Devotions
Almost 1,000 subscribers are enjoying the Advent devotional series āCome, Lord Jesus.ā You can subscribe to receive this edifying e-mail in your inbox through this link.
Online Classes
Bible Basics for Bible Study Teachers (a 401 course to Equip Women to Teach the Word) and Heirs Together were offered online this year. Look for new sessions starting in 2023.
Bible Study
An Ephesians Bible study used as resource material for the 2022 Womenās Ministry Conference was updated and made available in September. Check out our Bible studies.
WELS Womenās Ministry Conference
We hosted our fifth triennial Womenās Ministry Conference! Over 300 women gathered in July to be encouraged with the message we are Won to be One from the book of Ephesians. Three days of Godās Word, inspiring speakers, engaging breakouts, joyful worship, and uplifting encouragement from Christian sisters left us nurtured, encouraged, and equipped to bring grace and peace to the world we live in.
New Advent by Candlelight Resources
Advent by Candlelight is an event to help women focus on Christ during the busy holiday season. It can be designed as an outreach to the community or an opportunity to encourage believers. Through narration, readings, prayer, and music, Christ will shine as the Savior. Enjoy creating a beautiful ambiance, but know that the power is in the message of the Gospel.
New for this year: āCome, Lord Jesus!ā
The season of Advent. Some may wonder whatās so important about this time. Many consider the season following Thanksgiving to be āthe Christmas seasonā already. They donāt know the importance of these precious weeks leading up to Jesusā birth.
The word Advent literally means ācomingā or āarrival.ā When related to Christmas, it has to do with the coming of Jesus Christ. During Advent, we eagerly wait and prepare our hearts for the celebration of his birth AND the time when he comes again.
Jesus is our King . . . our Judge . . . our Messiah . . . and our Immanuel. He needed to be all of these things to guarantee our salvation. He needed to be true God capable of accomplishing these things and also true man able to experience them as one of us. Because he became all of these, we know what to expect when he returns. Our triumphant King will gather all those he loves, saved, and who believe in him as Savior to be with him forever in heaven.
Because of this, we can confidently and joyfully say, Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!
This corresponds with the worship planning resource in Year A of the Foundation Resource provided by WELS Congregational Services.
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!
WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership
Iām happy to invite you all to the second WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership. It will be held January 16-18, 2023, at the Hilton Chicago. This conference is not only for those who serve in formal leadership positions in their congregation: called workers, church council members, school board members, and the like. This conference is for anyone who is passionate about the mission of the church. It is for everyone who, by encouragement and example, wants to lead others to engage in that mission. So, all are welcomeācalled workers and laity, men and women, retirees and high-school students, lifelong WELS members and those new to the church.
The conference includes five keynote presentations that will discuss the larger strategic issues and challenges facing every congregation. Attendees also will be able to choose from almost 50 breakout sessions. Some breakouts will focus on aspects of leadership: leadership development, planning, management, church polity. Others will share some ābest practicesā in various ministry areas: evangelism, worship, schools, youth ministry, adult discipleship. There will be a variety of panel discussions: teens, educators, worship leaders. Still other breakout sessions are purely devotional in nature. There is something for everyone and for every congregation. To take full advantage of all the breakouts, Iād encourage you to consider having a delegation from your congregation attend.
When WELS Congregational Services planned the first National Conference on Lutheran Leadership three years ago, it was hoping to have 400 people attend. In the end, 800 registered; the enrollment had to be capped due to capacity limits. This yearās venue has more capacity.
I believe the reason so many were interested in the conference is simple to understand. We all know the challenges confronting American Christianity. Our congregations wereāand still areāexperiencing those challenges. Coming together to hear Godās Word and to discuss our path forward was both edifying and encouraging. All the presenters at that first conference encouraged us to see those challenges as opportunitiesāopportunities to trust in the power of Godās holy Word; opportunities to explore new ministry tactics; opportunities to recommit ourselves to doing all we can with the gospel.
The second WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership will do the same. I look forward to seeing you there.
Serving together with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder
Learn more about the conference and register at lutheranleadership.com.
Conference highlights purpose and identity in Christ
More than 330 women attended the WELS Womenās Ministry Conference July 21ā23, 2022 at Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis., to learn how toĀ
- identify barriers that get in the way of knowing our purpose,Ā
- stand firm on Scripture in the face of conflict, and
- extend grace in everyday relationships.
The conference, under the theme āWon to be One,ā dug deep into the book of Ephesians and Godās grace that gives us our identity in Christ. āAs a woman, I constantly ask what my role is in the church and in the ministry. I cannot be a pastor and I am not a teacher, so how can I be an asset to my congregation and to the church of Christ as a whole? This conference put the Great Commission in the forefront of everything and refocused our place and identity as ambassadors of Christ. We minister in everything we say and in all we do,ā says Janet Block, a member at New Hope, West Melbourne, Fla.
In his āKnow the Love too Big to Knowā presentation, Rev. Paul Wendland, professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., examined Ephesians chapters 1 and 3, where Paul shares Godās perspective on our purpose grounded in his grace. In his presentation, Rev. Benjamin Kratz, pastor at Our Savior, Birmingham, Ala., reminded attendees that they are united in one Savior who gives us our identity. Rev. Snowden Sims, pastor at St. Paul, Columbus, Ohio, and Rev. Ryan Kolander, pastor at Palabra de Vida, Detroit, Mich., showed how unity with Christ and unity in mission are hard work, but Godās plan for ministry opens unexpected doors for opportunity through his grace. Prof. Tingting Schwartz from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., shared how she learned that her Christian identity unifies her other identities of being an immigrant, a mother, and an educator.
Tara Dezso, a member at Shepherd of the Hills, Tucson, Ariz., was thankful for these scriptural reminders from Ephesians. She says, āThere just have been so many lessons Iāve taken away from the general sessions and the breakout sessions that I can apply to my life. When I go back home, itās just going to be incredible.ā
For the past 20 years, WELS Womenās Ministry, part of the WELS Commission on Discipleship, has nurtured, encouraged, and equipped women to use their gifts for joyful service in Godās kingdom. Learn more about Womenās Ministry and access conference resources and livestreamed videos. You can also sign up for a twice monthly newsletter to keep up to date on upcoming events and new resources.
