Our sister church the Ukrainian Lutheran Church (ULC), along with all the citizens of Ukraine, has been experiencing the hardship and suffering caused by four years of a terrible and destructive war. Families have had to flee to safer locations, homes have been destroyed, and some pastors have had to relocate to areas away from the war zones.

When the war began, WELS members responded with their own personal prayers and with prayers in their congregations. They also responded generously with gifts and offerings. Those gifts, regularly forwarded to the ULC, have been faithfully used to provide food, fuel, transportation, medicine, and clothing. And the members of the ULC did not keep those gifts for themselves. They have responded to our generosity with generosity of their own, making needed supplies available to many people in their communities who have been affected by the brutality and scarcity of war.

Vyacheslav Horpynchuk, the bishop of the Ukrainian Lutheran Church, tells the story far better than I can. This is what he writes:

Here the fifth year of the full-scale Russian invasion began. Thanks be to God this winter is coming to an end. It has been the most severe winter in the recent decades: lots of snow, very low below freezing temperatures and very heavy bombardments of our electrical, heating systems and residential areas of Kyiv, Kharkiv, Odesa, as well as smaller cities and villages. Lord, have mercy.

I would like to thank all the brothers and sisters in WELS who came to help us. Many people did not have any extra warm blankets, and some people requested some help to survive that cold. We provided all our congregation members in need with extra warm blankets to survive the cold in apartments with no heat or with very little heat. We also continued to provide all the needy with thermal wear. All of them send their gratitude to all in WELS for your generous help. Thank you very much!

Yet even in these terrible times, God finds ways not only to bless his people but also to create opportunities for God’s people to carry out his mission. Through the works of love done by the members of the ULC, God has brought many non-Christians into contact with Christian love in action, but more important, with the saving gospel of Jesus and the comforting power of his Word. Many have begun to worship regularly in ULC congregations, and dozens of people have been instructed and confirmed.

Roger Neumann, our WELS liaison to the ULC, adds some of his observations:

While the war rages on and people deal with the elements of nature, the gospel ministry is not stopped. I’m very thankful to our Lord for the faith he has given our brothers and sisters in Christ in Ukraine. The ULC pastors continue to preach the gospel, help those who are in desperate need, and offer encouragement and friendship to many people. So many people suffer from depression and anxiety, not certain if they will survive this ordeal or what their futures will be like. The pastors bring them the reassurance that the Lord loves them and will continue to bless them. They also encourage the people to pay more attention to the spiritual blessings that they have in Christ and not focus on the physical needs that are lacking at this time.

While most ULC churches have lost members who have fled from the war and taken refuge in neighboring countries, there are, nevertheless, four new mission sites. Pictured below is mission work being done in one of those sites in Snihurivka.

People in those towns have welcomed pastors to share the gospel with them. In addition, a number of ULC members have taken refuge near Poznan, Poland. Bishop Horpynchuk will be making a trip there, and it’s hoped that a new mission can be started. God is certainly opening new doors and opportunities, despite the war and adversity. God be praised!

I want to thank all of you who have already responded to this need in Ukraine with your generous gifts and prayers. With the end of the war still not in sight, the need continues. Learn more about the Ukrainian Lutheran Church and how you can support it at wels.net/ukraine.

Serving with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

At its spring meeting, the WELS Board for Home Missions approved three new mission starts, continuing its work of bringing the gospel to growing communities across the United States while navigating ongoing financial and manpower challenges:

Bastrop, Texas
Located about 25 miles east of Austin, Bastrop is experiencing rapid growth fueled by new residential development and expanding economic activity. Major employers now headquartered in Bastrop, including X and Starlink, have drawn new families to the area. As Bastrop continues to expand, many residents lack church connections, and a confessional Lutheran presence remains limited. Members of Holy Word in Austin, Texas, have formed a committed core group that has been meeting regularly, engaging the community through service and outreach, and building relationships with residents.

Greeneville, Tenn.
Greeneville, Tenn., is a growing community positioned between the Johnson City/Kingsport/Bristol metro area and Knoxville. While the area reflects strong Bible Belt culture and openness to conversations about faith, currently no confessional Lutheran church serves the community. A committed core group, supported by nearby WELS congregations in Johnson City and Morristown, has been meeting regularly and actively engaging with the community. The group has already hosted public worship services, drawing more than 40 people to its first service (pictured above) and averaging mid‑20s attendance at subsequent gatherings.

North Marana, Ariz.
North Marana is one of the fastest-growing areas in the Tucson metro area, now home to more than 60,000 residents. A new mission effort—known locally as Mission Marana—is already active in the community, with a committed core group that gathers for Bible study and regularly serves at local events across North Marana.

In addition to the new mission starts, the board approved three Home Missions enhancement grants. Congregations receiving enhancements include Good Shepherd, Holmen, Wis.; Mount Olive, St. Paul, Minn.; and Resurrection, Chesapeake, Va.

Balancing gratitude, needs, and stewardship

Since the launch of the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative in 2023, 31 new missions have been approved for funding by WELS Home Missions. Approving three new mission starts at the recent meeting of the Board for Home Missions is cause for thanksgiving, but it falls short of the desire to approve ten new starts each year. It does, however, reflect current realities. In WELS today there are 150+ pastoral vacancies. Additionally, Congregation Mission Offerings (CMO) and special gifts to Home Missions have not kept pace with the rising costs of establishing and supporting new missions.

“If these are our current realities as we continue with the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative,” says Mark Gabb, WELS Home Missions administrator, “then we respond accordingly. Yes, we trust that God can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. But we’re also told not to put the Lord to the test.”

Gabb goes on to say, “It isn’t about a lack of opportunities but stewarding the finite resources we do have. This is nothing new. God’s people have been wrestling with money and manpower challenges for generations. As we look at new mission opportunities along with the current home missions we continue to support, our aim will be to wisely steward God’s gifts.”

Despite these challenges, Home Missions leaders remain encouraged by what God is already doing through committed core groups and supportive congregations.

“We thank you for your continued prayers, generosity, and encouragement,” says Gabb. “Our home mission congregations continue to reach people with the gospel. That gospel is transforming hearts and lives, and that will last into eternity. What a privilege and joy it is to be a part of that!”

To learn more about these new mission starts and enhancements, visit wels100in10.net.

In late January and early February 2026, Daniel Sims, director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief, and Paul Biedenbender, pastor at Christ, Denver, Colo., and a member of the WELS Christian Aid and Relief Commission, traveled to Thailand to meet with WELS missionaries, administrators, and other church leaders from the Asia-Oceania Team. WELS Christian Aid and Relief works with WELS missionaries in this large mission field by providing funding for humanitarian aid and disaster relief programs.

While there, Sims and Biedenbender also attended the dedication of the new training facility for Thai Village in Chiang Mai. More than two hundred friends, artisans, donors, and partners gathered at the dedication to support Thai Village’s mission to train and employ low-income people; support Christian outreach and education; and create opportunities to share God’s love in the community. Thai Village, an independent nonprofit organization, is a WELS-affiliated ministry that works closely with the Asia-Oceania Team.

WELS Christian Aid and Relief contributed funding for the outreach pavilion at the new facility—the place most used by the community. Sims shares, “We support this mission wholeheartedly! It was a joy to meet their artisans and hear their testimonies about how Thai Village and the gospel shared there changed their lives.”

Registration is open for the 2026 WELS International Youth Rally, July 14-17, at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. The cost is $450 if attendees register by April 30 and $475 from May 1-29.

The rally is open to all WELS teens heading into their freshman year of high school through seniors graduating this spring. Teens from across the country will gather to discover ways to lead and serve, worship with thousands, and attend workshops to share the saving gospel.

The theme for the 2026 rally is “Christ through us,” inspired by 2 Corinthians 5:18-20 and the synod’s ten-year plan, which calls each of us to be Christ’s ambassadors.

Two keynotes will be presented based on the theme. Luke and Rachel Beilke, who have served as missionaries in Latin America since 2022 and also lead the efforts of Academia Cristo‘s ministry, will present “Christ through ordinary you.” Their presentation will explore how Jesus isn’t just something that happens at church, on mission trips, or is limited to missionaries far away, but he uniquely positions all of us to share his love. Jonathan Hein, director of the WELS Commission on Congregational Counseling, will present “Before you were ready.” His presentation will explore that each time God’s people felt they weren’t ready to shoulder responsibility, God had equipped them for the work he gave them.

Workshops will be held for both youth leaders and youth. Topics include encouragement for Christians in today’s world such as “Why youth leaders matter more than ever” and “Illustrations that impact” for youth leaders, and “A day in the life of a home missionary,” “Who are you when nobody’s watching?,” and “Starting a spiritual conversation” for youth.

Learn more about the workshops, recreational excursions, and the rally—and register—at welsyouthrally.net.

The WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership, one of the largest gatherings of WELS and Evangelical Lutheran Synod members, was held Jan. 19–21 in Chicago. The event was a huge success, with attendees offering many positive comments. Jonathan Hein, coordinator of WELS Congregational Services, provides the following reflections on the conference:

—

The 2026 leadership conference centered on the theme of WELS’ recently adopted long-range plan, “Christ through us.” The aim was to draw people back to the heart of Christian leadership: not what we accomplish through Christ, but what Christ continues to do through his people. Some highlights included the following:

• Four keynotes touched on major cultural needs for ministry efforts: courage, character, critical thinking, curiosity, and better collaboration between all God’s people—men and women. (About a third of attendees were women.) One congregation president said, “The final day’s emphasis on critical thinking—paired with a serious call to better recognize the ideas and gifts of women—will force us to ask different questions about whether our structure really encourages the full body of Christ to serve together.”
• Sixty-nine breakouts allowed participants to examine “best practices”—tactical approaches to ministry around WELS that the Lord seems to be blessing. Breakouts on leadership development were especially popular. One lay leader shared, “What struck me was how many breakouts focused on growing as leaders, not growing numbers. The emphasis on character and collaboration was refreshing and deeply needed.” Also popular were breakouts on revitalizing congregations and schools. A pastor noted, “After a tough few years in ministry, this was encouraging in the best sense. Seeing what the Lord is blessing elsewhere didn’t make me feel behind. It reminded me that he’s still building his church, and that faithful work—even in small places—matters.”
• One in ten attendees was under the age of 24. This was an intentional effort, not just to equip the next generation of leaders but also to hear their insights on how to better reach and disciple people their age. One high school–aged attendee wrote, “It was encouraging to know that our perspectives mattered. It felt like my church was inviting us to help shape ministry now.”
• Worship was inspiring and encouraging, grounding everything else in the forgiveness and peace Christ provides. Music was led by 20 students from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis. The three preachers represented different aspects of leadership: in the parish, in the synod, and in training future workers. Twenty area pastors helped with distribution of the Lord’s Supper to the 1,600 WELS attendees.

Rather than minimizing current challenges in congregational life, the conference addressed them openly. Declining participation in some contexts, leadership fatigue, and cultural change were named honestly—yet always in light of Christ’s ongoing faithfulness to his church. One leader shared, “I appreciated the honesty. No one pretended ministry is easy right now. But the focus kept coming back to Christ’s promises instead of our anxiety. That kind of clarity gives you courage to keep serving.”

With that confidence, leaders returned to their congregations, schools, and ministries reminded that the future of the church does not rest on perfect plans or flawless leadership but on a faithful Savior who continues to work through his people.

—

Thanks to Rev. Hein for his summary and to all who planned, presented, and attended this conference.

Serving with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

Video recordings of two keynote presentations as well as materials from many breakout presentations are available on the conference website. The remaining keynote video recordings will be released in coming weeks.

Thirty-seven people attended the annual meeting of the Association of WELS Chaplains on Feb. 6 at the WELS Center for Mission and Ministry in Waukesha, Wis. The purpose was for those who have gone through the WELS Chaplain Certificate Program or are currently going through the program to grow and learn from one another.

The Chaplain Certificate Program is designed to equip called workers and lay members (both male and female) to bring the gospel to places outside the church, such as healthcare facilities, correctional institutions, military installations, and public safety agencies. Online courses offered through Martin Luther College apply biblical truths to issues encountered by chaplains.

The work of WELS chaplains was recently highlighted in both WELS Connection and Forward in Christ. View photos from the meeting.

The Conference of Presidents (COP) met Jan. 6-9. At that meeting, the COP discussed the following items:

• The current number of pastoral vacancies. There are 162 total vacancies for pastor-trained men (unchanged from October), of which 154 are in congregations (up from 148 in October). The vacancy numbers will improve somewhat in the spring, since the graduating class at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., will be larger than it has been in recent years.
• Guidelines for the call process. These guidelines apply to how often called workers can receive calls, how district presidents work together to coordinate when calls are issued and which names can be used on call lists, and how many names should be included. The COP reviewed the current guidelines and the suggestions for changes and decided to keep the current guidelines in place.
• What information should be included in the profiles of called workers that are provided to congregations when they are considering candidates to call.
• The process for assignments of called worker candidates. Assignments will take place at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., in May.

Synod statistics for 2025 and Congregation Mission Offering (CMO) subscriptions are currently being gathered, with Feb. 6 being the deadline for both. Congregations are encouraged to submit their statistics and CMO subscriptions by that date.

The Doctrine Committee of the COP will hold its annual meeting with the Doctrine Committee of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod at the end of January.

Serving with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

Enrollment in WELS schools this school year has decreased slightly from the 2024–25 school year, according to the recently released 2025–26 school statistics. Lutheran high school enrollment continued to climb, up 2.6 percent (from 7,484 students to 7,680 students), while Lutheran elementary school enrollment remained flat. Enrollment at WELS early childhood ministries declined slightly, down 4.9 percent (from 11,338 students to 10,784 students). These statistics match a nationwide decline in school enrollment due to falling birth rates in the US.

“When we take a look at the overall enrollment picture [in WELS],” says James Rademan, director of WELS Lutheran Schools, “about a third of our schools are growing, about a third of them are staying the same, and about a third are actually reducing in enrollment.”

A shortage of called teachers has affected some schools. Rademan says that several early childhood centers have paused their work because they couldn’t get enough workers to staff the centers, and some smaller schools are struggling to get teachers for their classrooms. “The opportunities continue to far outweigh the manpower that we have,” he says.

To combat this situation, WELS Lutheran Schools is encouraging congregations and schools across the districts to recruit, retain, and renew.

• Recruit individuals who could serve well in gospel ministry, be it pastors or teachers. “Our encouragement and how we recruit can go a long way on what kind of reach we can make through our schools,” says Rademan.
• Retain current called workers. “Are we valuing the workers that we have as much as we could?” says Rademan. “Let’s not just say we need more workers, but let’s review how we are supporting the current workers we have.”
• Renew or review the mission of the children’s ministry. “We want everyone to go through this process to make sure they keep examining their ministry needs and goals,” says Rademan. “What are the blessings, the challenges, the opportunities the Lord has provided us with?” This review can help local congregations and schools adapt to changing conditions and make informed long-range ministry decisions.

WELS Congregational Services offers consulting support for congregations that want help with this process. Learn more about congregational consulting opportunities.

On Jan. 9, Charles Vannieuwenhoven was installed as the administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education. Attending the installation and participating in the laying on of hands were the presidents of WELS’ four ministerial education schools and the chairman of WELS Board for Ministerial Education. Pictured from left in above photo: Richard Gurgel, Martin Luther College; Earle Treptow, Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary; Duane Rodewald, WELS Board for Ministerial Education; Charles Vannieuwenhoven; Matthew Crass, Luther Preparatory School; and Mark Luetzow, Michigan Lutheran Seminary. Vannieuwenhoven began his call at the Center for Mission and Ministry in January.

Read Vannieuwenhoven’s recent Forward in Christ article to learn more about his ministry priorities for WELS Ministerial Education.

The synod’s new long-range plan, entitled “Christ through us,” has four main priorities. One of those four involves bringing Christ to the nations through our world mission efforts. Rev. Larry Schlomer, administrator of WELS World Missions, provides the following summary of how we plan, under God, to carry out those efforts in the next ten years.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

Christ through us: Commission

As part of Christ’s church on earth, we believe that God has commissioned us as his ambassadors, sending us out with a purpose: to proclaim the saving message of Jesus Christ to every nation under heaven. Through us, Christ reaches the nations.

Reflecting on 175 years of grace-filled ministry in WELS, we are filled with gratitude for the countless lives transformed by the gospel. WELS now has working partnerships with churches and missions in 49 countries around the world.

Yet, the mission is still unfinished. With renewed urgency and prayerful confidence in Christ, we look to the future, asking God to continue using us to reach lost souls with his Word of salvation.

Borderless support network

To expand the reach of the gospel, we are forging a borderless support network, built on international ministry partnerships.

Read more about WELS’ partnership with a new Latin American synod (scroll to the bottom to “A growing sister church”).

A global missionary force

Historically, WELS has sent missionaries from the United States to plant the gospel in new lands. This model has borne much fruit, but the present reality demands more workers than ever before. The solution lies in empowering pastors and evangelists from our global sister churches. These leaders are uniquely equipped to bring the gospel to their own people, cultures, and regions.

Read more about Juan Reyes, a new church planter in Tenancingo, Mexico, who learned not only what God’s Word teaches but also how to share it through Academia Cristo.

Confessional Lutheran seminaries

As the gospel gains ground in new regions, emerging Lutheran church bodies recognize the need for seminaries grounded in the authority of Scripture and the clarity of the Lutheran Confessions. Our goal is to establish confessional Lutheran seminaries in key global locations.

See recent graduates from Asia Lutheran Seminary, a confessional Lutheran seminary located in Hong Kong.

Multi-language mission efforts

By producing and translating gospel resources, training materials, and worship aids, we aim to make God’s Word accessible to all people, regardless of their language.

Missions in high-risk and unreached areas

Despite progress, vast regions of the world remain unreached, places where sharing Christ’s love is not only challenging but sometimes dangerous. Our vision is to pioneer WELS missions in these difficult contexts, working diligently to identify and develop approaches tailored to each unique situation.

Read more about how WELS is sending missionaries to share the gospel with two unreached people groups: the Wolof people of Senegal in West Africa and the Hindi-speaking population of India.

With hope, humility, and boldness, we entrust our efforts to the Lord of the harvest, confident that he will accomplish far more than we could ever ask or imagine. This is Christ through us!

Adapted from “Christ through us: Commission,” Forward in Christ, December 2025.

Read the full article.

Leaders from The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS), the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS), and the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) gathered last week near Jacksonville, Fla., for two days of theological and church-focused conversation.

Leaders from these church bodies have been meeting annually for more than a decade. As they have been in the past, the meetings were frank, enjoyable, and informative. This year the discussions centered on the synods’ understanding of joint prayer and prayer fellowship and how those have been viewed historically by the three synods.

We give thanks for these continued conversations and for all who serve Christ and his church.

Pictured above are the synods’ three presidents (left to right): Rev. Glenn Obenberger (ELS), Rev. Mark Schroeder (WELS), and Rev. Matthew Harrison (LCMS).

During 2025, WELS has commemorated the 175th anniversary of its founding, 175 years of God’s work among us and through us. Resources have been produced and presentations given. This year of celebration has come to an end, but the history continues. Each year is another year added to the annals of what God is accomplishing in his grace through WELS.

So our focus on what he has done for us—and continues to do for us—does not have to end. You can still make use of the anniversary resources during 2026 and beyond.

Resources include the following:

• Christ Through Us: A Pictorial History of the Wisconsin Synod, 1850-2025, on sale from Northwestern Publishing House
• The Wisconsin Synod Lutherans, Second Edition, the updated telling of the synod’s history, on sale from Northwestern Publishing House
• A Bible study on WELS history that coordinates with Christ Through Us: A Pictorial History of the Wisconsin Synod, 1850–2025. Each lesson closely correlates with a chapter from the book and comes with leader guides, student handouts, and PowerPoint presentations.
• An interactive timeline for individuals and teachers
• Twelve bulletin inserts on major events in WELS history
• Videos about WELS history on the WELS History YouTube channel. Consider subscribing to stay updated when videos are added. Various other presentations are available on the WELS Historical Institute website.
• Anniversary swag (clothing, mug, commemorative Christmas ornament, etc.) at the WELS Store
• Worship resources through The Foundation for a special three-Sunday series
• Resources to assist congregations in preserving and telling their history

We are thankful that God’s people have given more than $325,000 for the WELS 175th anniversary offering. This opportunity to contribute continues. Join WELS in this special anniversary offering to give thanks to our Lord for the blessings of our history and to support future gospel ministry work.

Perhaps this anniversary year has sparked an interest in WELS history. Please consider becoming a member of the WELS Historical Institute.

Many thanks to the planning committee members and others who organized and produced the resources that have been made available.

May God continue to shower his grace on WELS as the message of Christ for us comes to us and goes out through us to others.

Prof. Joel D. Otto
Chairman, WELS 175th Anniversary Planning Committee

“Calling” is one of the four priorities outlined in the synod’s “Christ through us” long-range strategic plan (along with “Culture,” “Congregations,” and “Commission”).

For our synod to carry out its mission faithfully, we need an adequate number of well-trained pastors, teachers, and staff ministers to teach and proclaim God’s Word in our congregations, schools, and mission fields. That need has become more acute in recent years as we are experiencing a significant shortfall in the number of called workers available to serve.

So it comes as no surprise that “Calling” has been identified as one of the priorities of our synod as we plan for the future.

The “Calling” priority has five main components. With God’s help, we will:

1. Expand pathways to ministry. Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., will be examining how we can provide new ways for future pastors, teachers, and staff ministers to enter ministry. Some of those things are already being done. At Martin Luther College, we are already attempting to recruit WELS members who are serving in public schools. Such people already have a teaching degree; MLC provides the instruction needed to become ministry certified in WELS. Other WELS people may have degrees in other fields. We will develop ways to provide them with the educational skills needed to teach, along with the instruction needed to become ministry certified.
2. Innovative recruitment efforts. We will be looking at ways to improve and expand our efforts to recruit traditional students for entry into Martin Luther College. Those efforts will likely expand the current practice of school recruiters meeting with high school students by specifically working with current called workers and congregations to expand recruitment efforts.
3. Ensure ministerial education stability. We will look for ways to ensure that our synodical schools remain on a firm financial foundation and to enlist our members in working toward that goal.
4. Establish a sustainable strategy for called worker development. We will look at how best to deploy the workers that we have now, exercising the best stewardship in how and where we use them.
5. Support called worker well-being. Having spiritually and physically healthy called workers ensures that they will be able to cope with the challenges and pressures of ministry, thus reducing the number of called worker resignations. We will find ways to help congregations provide the best support and encouragement possible.

Of course, we can make our plans. But in the end, it is only with God’s blessing that these plans will bear fruit.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

The Synodical Council met Nov. 7–8 for its fall meeting at the Center for Mission and Ministry, Waukesha, Wis. The Synodical Council (SC) is the group of lay leaders and called workers that oversees the synod’s operations, planning, and budget.

The following issues were addressed at this meeting:

• Mr. Kyle Egan, WELS’ chief financial officer, reported that synod finances remain healthy, with higher-than-expected Congregation Mission Offerings and gifts from individuals this year and lower expenses than forecasted. All areas of ministry reported increased levels in their special funds. The annual audit has been completed with all entities receiving an unmodified opinion—the best that can be given.
• The “Christ through us” long-range strategic plan is beginning to be implemented by all areas of ministry.
• A task force on ministry recruitment is continuing its work. Three new ministry recruitment counselors have been called and are working to define the duties and scope of the program.
• Planning for building projects at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., (classrooms, offices, library remodeling, and a gathering center) and Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis., (music classrooms and auditorium) is proceeding.
• The SC approved calling two new missionaries to begin work in Senegal, Africa; a church planting coordinator in Latin America; coordinators for women’s ministry in Europe and Africa; and a professor at Asia Lutheran Seminary. These positions do not require additional synod operating support, since the funds are available from World Missions special funds. The SC also approved additional staffing in WELS Communications to allow the team to better leverage existing and emerging digital communication tools to reach a new generation while also maintaining valued communication tools upon which older members rely.
• Synod subsidiaries (WELS Investment Funds, WELS Foundation, WELS Church Extension Fund, and Northwestern Publishing House) all reported strong financial results.
• WELS has received more than $4 million in gifts toward the 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative. With the seven recently approved new missions starts, we are slightly shy of the goal of 30 in the first three years of the effort.
• The SC discussed issues relating to WELS VEBA health insurance, the synod pension, and the synod’s compensation guidelines.

This was the first meeting of two new SC members who were elected at the 2025 synod convention: Rev. Bart Brauer (pastor at-large) and Rev. Jon Bauer (pastor at-large). Newly called administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education, Rev. Charlie Vannieuwenhoven, will join the SC after the first of the year.

The next meeting of the Synodical Council will take place in April 2026.

Learn more about the SC.

On Oct. 20, Mrs. Mary Heckendorf, Mr. Samuel McKenna, and Rev. Mark Schroeder were installed as ministry recruitment counselors during chapel at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.

The ministry recruitment counselors will work alongside pastors, teachers, staff ministers, parents, and lay leaders to help them actively recognize gifts in others, share information about ministerial education, and keep gospel ministry top of mind for WELS youth. This initiative aligns with the “Calling” priority of the long-range strategic plan, which focuses on producing more workers for a growing harvest.

Each ministry recruitment counselor has a unique background that will help shape his or her efforts. Heckendorf has served as both a WELS and public school teacher. McKenna is retired from the military and was a recruiter for the Marines and the National Guard. Schroeder most recently served as pastor at Peace, Gilbert, Ariz., and has also taught at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich., and Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.

Their efforts are critical as WELS faces declining birth rates. “2024 was the fifth year in a row that we have more deaths than births in our synod,” notes McKenna. “So it’s important that we find different places and new ways to encourage people to be called workers—pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and missionaries.” Hear more from the counselors about the importance of these positions.

Charlie Vannieuwenhoven, who will begin serving as administrator of WELS Board for Ministerial Education in January, will help guide the efforts of the ministry recruitment counselors.

“Working to increase our recruitment efforts will be an immediate focus,” says Vannieuwenhoven. “The ministry recruitment counselors will play a big role in these efforts. Working with them to help understand their role and see how they can best go about their work will be one of my first priorities.”

Learn more about the ministry recruitment counselors.

Learn more about Charlie Vannieuwenhoven, new administrator of WELS Board for Ministerial Education.

As many WELS congregations hold worship services this month to commemorate the synod’s 175th anniversary, by God’s grace, the special offering launched at this summer’s synod convention has crossed the $200,000 mark. The offering celebrates God’s amazing blessings on our church body over the past 175 years and provides funding for the synod’s “Christ through us” long-range (ten-year) strategic plan.

The synod’s goals for the next ten years focus on culture, congregations, commission, and calling. Gifts to the WELS 175th Anniversary Fund will support these goals through the following categories:

• North American ministry (Home Missions, Congregational Services),
• international ministry (World Missions), and
• worker training (Ministerial Education).

Michael Melott, a member at Good Shepherd, Holmen, Wis., contributed to the special offering, especially giving thanks for WELS’ scriptural foundation. “The thing that I am most thankful for is how our synod has insisted on teaching the true Word of God (law and gospel),” he says. “Through the Holy Spirit, WELS has not wavered in making sure we receive called workers that are well trained in the Word and teachings of Martin Luther.”

Special offering bulletin inserts were shipped to congregations this summer. Congregations can order more free inserts through Northwestern Publishing House.

Learn more about WELS’ 175th anniversary and the anniversary offering on the WELS Historical Institute website.

The Conference of Presidents (COP) met Oct. 7–9 at the Center for Mission and Ministry (CMM) in Waukesha, Wis., to discuss the following areas:

• Pastoral vacancies: The tally of pastoral vacancies includes 148 parish vacancies and 162 total vacancies for pastor-trained men. This represents a vacancy rate of just under 12 percent. The ideal vacancy rate is 6 to 8 percent. Larger classes from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in the coming years will provide some relief for the shortage, but recruitment of candidates for the pastoral ministry needs to be emphasized in our congregations.
• Theology curriculum: The COP provided guidance to the team that is developing the new K-12 theology curriculum (replacing Christ-Light), noting that the materials should be available in multiple translations (New International Version and Evangelical Heritage Version) like the Small Catechism is.
• Assignments: The Assignment Committee will meet via teleconference on Dec. 15 to assign mid-year graduates from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn. The COP resolved that it would no longer assign tutors at the synodical schools (Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Martin Luther College, Luther Preparatory School, and Michigan Lutheran Seminary) for a third year, unless exceptional circumstances require it.
• Retirement advice: The COP will be developing written advice for called workers who are nearing retirement. Ideally, the district president will meet with these workers to help them prepare for retirement.
• WELS 175th anniversary: The COP is encouraging all WELS congregations to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the synod this fall. Worship materials are available in The Foundation, a worship resource provided by Congregational Services.
• Calls: Michael Ewart, pastor at St. Peter, Appleton, Wis., was called to serve as a Christian giving counselor in the Northern Wisconsin District.
• Congregation Mission Offerings: Congregation Mission Offerings continue to be strong. The COP is thankful to congregations and members for their generous support.

This was the first in-person meeting of the Conference of Presidents since the synod convention this summer, where delegates elected three men to serve in the synod presidium: Joel Voss as first vice president, John Bortulin as second vice president, and Tyler Peil as recording secretary. The first and second vice president serve as voting members of the Conference of Presidents and as advisors to the Synodical Council. The recording secretary serves as an advisory member of the Conference of Presidents. All three of these synod offices are part time.

As part of the meeting, Peil was installed into his new role as recording secretary at the CMM’s weekly chapel service. Voss and Bortulin had been installed during the closing service at the synod convention.

Read more about the new synodical officers and learn more about the COP.

Registration is now open for the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership, Jan. 19–21, 2026, at the Hilton in Chicago, Ill.

This conference is the flagship leadership event in WELS, offering called workers and lay members, men and women, and current and future leaders an opportunity to grow in their faith, learn new ministry strategies, and contemplate how they and their congregations can best reach out with the gospel in their communities.

“People will return home from this conference with new ideas, yes, but more important, with renewed hearts,” says Jonathan Hein, director of WELS Congregational Services and part of the conference planning committee. “That’s what strengthens a congregation more than anything else.”

Strengthening congregations is one of the four main priorities of the synod’s new long-range strategic plan, “Christ through us,” which was approved at the synod convention this past summer.

“The WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership is where we honestly wrestle with some of the major strategic challenges in WELS,” says Hein. “For example, at this conference you will see a strong focus on the retention of young members, on the need to better engage women in the ministry of the church, and on the need for a more robust approach to cradle-to-grave discipleship.”

Four keynote presentations will touch on larger strategic and cultural issues that affect every congregation and American Christianity as a whole. Sixty-nine breakouts, divided into tracks for those who want to focus on specific topics, will offer practical ideas for participants to bring home to their congregations, helping transform a long-range vision into real-world action.

Says Hein, “I’m most excited to see what happens after the conference—when the people who attended return home with renewed purpose and their congregations begin to feel that ripple of gospel momentum.”

This conference also will have a strong emphasis on youth participation, with conference planners working to have about 10 percent of attendees be high school- and college-aged members.

The deadline to register for the leadership conference is Nov. 30. Early-bird registration, ending Nov. 15, is $299 per person.

Register for the conference today and get a taste of just some of the breakouts being offered through short video teasers from conference presenters.

The synod’s recently adopted long-range strategic plan, entitled “Christ through us,” establishes four main priorities for the next ten years. Those priorities are

• cultivating a gospel-driven culture,
• strengthening WELS’ backbone in congregations,
• bringing Christ to the nations as our commission, and
• living up to our calling to produce workers for a growing harvest field.

In this issue of Together, we focus on the second priority: strengthening WELS’ backbone in congregations.

Your congregation is a part of the vital foundation that supports our shared gospel ministry efforts. WELS congregations are where the light and truth of God’s saving gospel is proclaimed to members and where God’s truth is shared with people in the community. And, just as important, through their mission offerings, congregations support the proclamation of the gospel around the world and in newly planted congregations in the United States and Canada. Congregations are also places where members identify and encourage young people to consider preparing for a lifetime of service in the public ministry.

For all these things to happen, we need to encourage WELS members to be actively and personally engaged in the life and work of their congregation. Our goal is to better equip all members to embrace their God-given role in Christ’s mission. Members will be encouraged to view their friends and neighbors as their personal mission field and their homes as places where children are led by parents to know and serve their Savior. To succeed in equipping our lay members to carry out these tasks, we intend to provide congregations with the necessary resources to enable all members to serve their Savior and his mission joyfully and confidently according to their gifts and talents.

Beyond encouraging WELS members in our congregations, our goal is to continue to help congregations enhance their ministry efforts. That can happen in a number of ways. Maybe a congregation in a changing setting can adjust its ministry plans to reach people more effectively. Perhaps a congregation can re-evaluate the mission and sustainability of its elementary schools and early childhood ministries. Some congregations will explore collaboration or even merger with other congregations to expand efforts to reach more people with the gospel.

And, of course, when we talk about congregations, we also refer to the new home mission congregations that God will enable us to plant. One of the key strategic elements of our mission planting will be to prioritize starting new congregations—outposts for gospel proclamation—in places where our confessional Lutheran voice is not yet present. Read more about the seven new home missions that were recently approved.

But mission efforts really begin in the home as the first mission field. We recognize that the high school and college years are when many of our young members are tempted to drift away from congregational life and worship. The more that parents lay a firm foundation of faith in the home, the more our young adults will stay connected to the Savior, to worship, and to their congregations.

It all starts in the home with faithful, God-fearing parents. It continues in the congregation as the gospel works in people to strengthen their faith. And then, as we work together to take the saving message to more people in new places, God will work through us to build his church.

The “Christ through us” plan depends on all of us. We encourage you to read more about the plan—and how you can be part of it—at christthroughus.net.

Serving with you in Christ,
WELS President Mark Schroeder

In September WELS Board for Home Missions met and approved seven new missions toward the synodwide goal of starting 100 new missions and enhancing 75 ministries by 2033.

“With the approval of these seven new missions, we’re not just planting churches—we’re expanding the reach of the gospel where there isn’t a WELS presence,” says Mark Gabb, Home Missions administrator. “It’s also a direct step toward our synod’s goals laid out in the ‘Christ through us’ long-range strategic plan. Our goal is to expand WELS’ reach through strategic church planting so that millions more will have the opportunity to hear the gospel. This is at the heart of our 100 Missions in 10 Years initiative, and these new missions bring us closer to that milestone. We thank God for the prayers and support that make this bold outreach possible.”

The seven new mission starts include:

Altoona, Wis.: Altoona is one of the fastest-growing communities in western Wisconsin. With a population nearing 10,000 and projected to grow, Altoona attracts people seeking a small-town feel with access to urban amenities, which are located in nearby Eau Claire, Wis. A core group from St. Mark, Eau Claire, has been active hosting community events, launching monthly devotional services, and building a growing prospect list since early 2023.

Buffalo, N.Y.: Buffalo is one of the largest metro areas in the United States without a WELS church. The target area has about 95,000 residents within a two-mile radius. A dedicated core group has begun gathering for Bible study and outreach, laying the groundwork for a new church plant.

Naples, Fla.: Ranked among the best places to live and retire, Naples is seeing fast growth and demographic change. The district mission board and mission counselor have made multiple visits—talking with locals, meeting community leaders, and learning about the area’s needs. With strong support and a clear plan, the mission is ready to reach the many unchurched residents eager for spiritual connection.

Olathe, Kan.: Olathe, located in the southwest Kansas City metro area, has seen its population surge, and continued growth is expected. Major employers have fueled this expansion, making Olathe one of the most affordable and family-friendly cities in the nation. A dedicated core group from Mt. Olive in Overland Park, Kan., has been hosting regular Bible studies and planning meetings.

The Sandhills, N.C.: The Sandhills area of North Carolina is growing as retirees and young families move in. Its proximity to Fort Bragg also draws military personnel who often settle there permanently. A core group from Tree of Life, Cary, N.C., has begun outreach and canvassing, building momentum and a prospect list in a region where confessional Lutheran churches are few.

West Richland, Wash.: West Richland, located just outside the Tri-Cities, is experiencing rapid growth. A committed core group from Southridge, Kennewick, Wash., has been working to establish a second site in West Richland since 2024. The group has already begun outreach through community service activities and fellowship events and aims to launch regular worship and ministry activities in 2025.

Wilmington, N.C.: Wilmington is in one of the fastest-growing corners of North Carolina. A core group of 18 people from Ascension, Jacksonville, N.C., meets regularly for Bible study and planning. With no WELS church nearby and easy access along U.S. 17, the group is laying the foundation for a welcoming church that blends in-person and online worship, Bible instruction, and plenty of community service.

Learn more at wels100in10.net.