“Every minister of the gospel needs encouragement,” says Kevin Walker, director of staff ministry at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn. “So a once-a-year conference provides the opportunity for staff ministers to be refreshed in God’s Word, share ideas, and support one another.”

The 78 attendees of this year’s staff ministry conference took advantage of this opportunity from Sept. 17-19 as they met in Appleton, Wis. As Sarah Enstad, a staff minister for the WELS-affiliated ministry A City for God, notes, “This conference gives staff ministers a chance to connect and share ministry joys and challenges. I think of it like a family reunion! It also offers opportunities to grow professionally through keynote speakers and breakout sessions more specific to staff ministry roles, which other ministry conferences usually don’t provide.”

This year’s keynote presentations and breakout sessions reflected the theme “All Things to All People,” based on Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 9: “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (v. 22).

A highlight of the conference was an update on MLC’s staff ministry program from Walker, who began serving as the program’s director on July 1. He reported that the number of undergraduate and certification students who are pursuing staff ministry is on the rise. Says Walker, “We are continuing to look at ways to attract new students and create awareness about the staff ministry program. We are exploring the idea of adding social media and marketing and clinical mental health counseling options to the program. More work is required to put all the administrative processes in place.”

Walker brought 11 staff ministry students to the conference. By including them in the conference, “students are exposed to real-world staff ministers who can encourage them in the end goal of finishing their program,” explains Walker. “These connections also give students the opportunity to start creating a support network of staff ministers for the future years of ministry.”

Learn more about staff ministry.

In late August, Daniel Kroll and Stephen Gerling and their families arrived in Dakar, Senegal. They are the first WELS missionaries to serve in this area.

As WELS works to establish this new mission field, the first step for the Gerlings and Krolls is a six-month immersion experience designed to prepare them for life and ministry among the Wolof people.

In six months, WELS World Missions leaders will meet with the Gerlings and Krolls to determine what makes sense for the mission as a next step after the missionaries have learned more about the Wolof people.

“We ask for prayers for wisdom, endurance, and patience,” says Kroll. “This is so much in God’s hands.”

To learn more and see what life is like for these new missionaries in Senegal, watch this video update.

Learn more about WELS’ mission in Senegal.

Read about Stephen Gerling’s path to ministry.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

God has entrusted the young people of our synod to the spiritual care of Christian parents, pastors, teachers, youth leaders, and fellow believers. At a time when many teenagers and young adults can feel isolated or disconnected, we have the privilege of surrounding them with God’s Word and with relationships that remind them they belong to Christ and his church. In the following article, Rev. Donn Dobberstein encourages us to consider how each of us can help young people know that they do not walk alone.

Consider two 18-year-olds, both confirmed together, both participants in the church youth group. Five years later, one is still connected to church. The other has not attended since high school graduation.

What made the difference?

I posed that question at a WELS youth leader breakout. The responses were fascinating and revealing. They showed that someone had taken a personal interest in the young person who remained connected. Someone showed up at a game. Someone listened. Someone invited that teenager to participate in the congregation’s ministry—not simply attend a program in the youth room.

Programs end. Relationships do not.

At a synod or area youth gathering, I watch teenagers connect with one another. A young person who may be one of a few teens in the home congregation enters a room filled with Christians his or her own age.

The message is immediate: “I am not the only one who believes this. I am not alone walking with Christ.”

The number of WELS members ages 14 through 24 declined from 48,183 in 2015 to 41,701 in 2025—a decrease of 13.5 percent. The reasons are complex, and the implication is clear: We dare not assume young people will remain connected to Christ and his church without intentional spiritual care.

Young adults need Christians who know their names, listen to them, open Scripture with them, and model a lifelong walk with Christ. Christian relationships allow us to keep placing a better message before them: “You are a baptized child of God. You belong to Christ.”

How can we help them develop healthy independence without severing their connection to their faith and church? Part of the answer is greater spiritual mentorship. The relationships of the Christian home and congregation widen the circle of encouragement surrounding a young person.

That emphasis is reflected in “Christ through us,” WELS’ long-range plan. It calls us to build deep Christian community, engage all God’s people in ministry, provide sound Lutheran resources, and elevate the home as the first mission field. WELS supports that work through resources for parents and congregations, training for youth leaders, online Bible studies, Youth Nights, and the WELS International Youth Rally. These efforts provide another opportunity to place young people within reach of God’s promises—and among God’s people.

Our teenagers are not merely the future of the church. They are Christ’s people today and Christ’s ambassadors now.

So, learn a teenager’s name. Ask a thoughtful question—and listen to the answer. Encourage a parent or youth leader. Invite young people to serve. Above all, keep bringing them to Jesus and his promises.

Programs end. Relationships do not. Through us, Christ continues to assure another generation: “You belong to me. You do not walk alone.”

Rev. Donn Dobberstein
WELS Director of Discipleship

We pray for the young people of our synod. Keep them close to you and your Word. Give Christian parents, pastors, teachers, youth leaders, and congregation members wisdom, patience, and genuine love as they listen to, encourage, and walk alongside the next generation. Use our homes and congregations to assure young people that they belong to Christ and that, in him, they never walk alone.

Serving together with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

Related resources:

• Youth Ministry Modules
• September WELS Connection
• Forward in Christ: Real connections for today’s youth
  
  

Karl R. Gurgel, the tenth man to serve as president of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, was called home to heaven on September 13, surrounded by his wife, Barbara, (pictured with him) and other loved ones. Gurgel, who served as WELS president from 1993-2007, was 84.

Gurgel graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., in 1968. His first call was to begin a congregation in South Windsor, Conn. In 1979, he accepted a call to serve as pastor at St. Paul, Lake Mills, Wis. While at St. Paul he served on the district mission board and as president of the Western Wisconsin District. In 1993, he was elected WELS president. Following his service as synod president, Gurgel served at Asia Lutheran Seminary in Hong Kong and at various congregations throughout the synod.

“President Gurgel’s zeal for mission work was always evident and unashamedly on display in our Conference of Presidents’ meetings,” says John Seifert, who served as Michigan District president during Gurgel’s presidency.

John Guse, who served as South Atlantic District president, noted that when he thinks of Gurgel he remembers “a smile that beamed with the joy of salvation, a heart that reflected the love that Jesus had for him, and a life lived as a humble servant of his Lord and others.”

Karl and Barbara raised 7 children and currently are blessed with 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

Like his father who also served as a pastor, Gurgel concluded his sermons with the words of Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

His family noted in his obituary, “We rejoice that this beloved child of the heavenly Father now fully and completely understands the peace of God through his Savior, Jesus!”

Karl Gurgel’s funeral service will be held at St. Matthew’s, Winona, Minn., on September 25, at noon.

To read more about Gurgel’s life and ministry, visit welshistoricalinstitute.org/histories/personal/president/1993-2007-gurgel.

Story updated on September 22, 2026

Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wis., is investing in a building project for blessings now that have impacts into eternity. Earle Treptow, seminary president, describes why this is the moment to undertake such a project in an era where many schools are moving to online education. This is one in a series of updates about WELS schools preparing students for full-time ministry that will be provided by Charlie Vannieuwenhoven, administrator for WELS Board for Ministerial Education.

For our synod, the start of the school year is not just an annual date on the fall calendar. What happens in our schools is vitally important to the health of our synod and to our ability to carry out the mission that God has given us.

Think for a moment of when and where you first learned the basic truths of Christianity. For most of us, that learning took place first in the home, as faithful Christian parents brought up their children in the training and instruction of the Lord. There as a child you learned about God who created you and the world you live in. There you learned to know your Savior who loves you and died to save you. There you learned to know him from Bible stories and from the prayers and songs your parents taught you at bedtime.

But for many of our WELS members, that learning about Christ continued in Lutheran elementary and high schools. It’s for that reason that we spend vast amounts of resources and energy to establish and maintain one of the largest private Christian school systems in the country—because it’s important and valuable. That work continues with the start of this school year.

And we also provide the kind of Christian education that will supply our synod with well-trained and motivated pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. We do that on three levels. On the high school level, we operate two preparatory schools—Luther Preparatory School in Watertown, Wisconsin, and Michigan Lutheran Seminary in Saginaw, Michigan. At those schools, students are encouraged to prepare to serve someday as full-time called workers. Many graduates of our prep schools do just that. That work continues this fall.

In New Ulm, Minnesota, Martin Luther College continues its work of serving as our WELS college of ministry. The vast majority of its graduates go on to serve as teachers and staff ministers. Others will continue their training to be pastors at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in Mequon, Wisconsin. This fall, another group of students at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary will continue their journey on the path to becoming WELS pastors.

What is happening in all of our schools this fall is nothing routine. It is a special blessing from God and helps our synod to carry out the mission that God has called us to carry out.

Serving together with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

If you or someone you know is considering ministry, visit wels.net/consider-ministry.

In the August WELS Connection, discover how a remarkable 150-year partnership between WELS and Germany’s Evangelical Lutheran Free Church continues to strengthen confessional Lutheranism and spread the gospel across Europe and around the world.

On June 24, the U.S. Geological Survey recorded a pair of earthquakes in northern Venezuela that totaled 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude. The earthquakes occurred 40 seconds apart and caused widespread damage throughout Venezuela. More than 6,500 people have been reported dead, more than 225,000 were injured, and tens of thousands are still missing many months later.

WELS’ One Latin America Team sent Missionary Luis Acosta to the affected area in July to provide gospel comfort and to deliver funds from WELS Christian Aid and Relief to the Christians that the team is working with there. Here is the report from Acosta following that trip:

We finally got in Venezuela. The entrance into the country was not trouble free but nothing that the Lord couldn’t solve. The same day we went to Puerto Cabello to visit Nimia Fuentes and her group. We had a devotional/Bible study focused on answering with God’s Word why the earthquake happened and I encouraged them to spread the gospel with a sense of urgency. We also prayed thanking God for the protection and blessings received, along with our petitions for the country and all people affected. The manifestations of deep thankfulness toward God for the humanitarian aid received were overwhelming, not a dry eye in the room. . . .

From Puerto Cabello we traveled to Acarigua and visited Maireli and Jose Toyo’s group. As happened before, we shared God’s Word to the group and provided his much needed encouragement. Here we saw also how timely and needed was the humanitarian aid they received.

The week ended in Guarenas, 40 minutes east from Caracas, with the visit and worship with José Rolando’s group.

WELS Christian Aid and Relief provided $10,000 in aid to help those in Venezuela. Throughout the summer WELS Christian Aid and Relief also helped congregations in the United States that were affected by flooding, tornadoes, and wildfires as well as those in Colombia following a major earthquake and the Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church in Vietnam following severe flooding. Christian Aid and Relief is also closely monitoring the needs following the deadly flooding in Nepal.

“Every disaster is hard and painful,” notes Dan Sims, director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief, “but each one is also an opportunity to show hurting people the compassionate love of our Savior.”

Learn more about WELS’ outreach in Latin America at wels.net/latin-america. Learn more about WELS Christian Aid and Relief at wels.net/relief.

The 2027 premium rates and updated plan options for the WELS VEBA Group Health Care Plan are now available. To find the 2027 rates for the plan options available in your area, visit the 2027 health rates page.

The following factors affected the 2027 WELS VEBA health plan rates:

• A 5.0 percent increase was applied to all plan options due to continued cost inflation (trend) for health care services and prescription drugs;
• The relative benefit value factor for each plan option was adjusted due to the 2027 plan design update; and
• The geographic regional rating factor was updated for all areas.

The total 2027 health rate change will therefore vary by plan option and sponsoring organization and range from a 4.1 percent decrease to a 20.7 percent increase.

2027 plan design update

The deductibles, coinsurance percentages, and out-of-pocket maximums (“cost-sharing amounts”) for all plan options will change effective January 1, 2027, as described in the summary of the 2027 plan design.

The WELS VEBA Commission reviewed with its consultants and actuaries the benefit levels provided by WELS VEBA and other employer plans in its peer group. The commission found that WELS VEBA benefit levels are generally higher than most other plans mainly because, unlike other plans, the WELS VEBA cost-sharing amounts have not increased in recent years to maintain pace with cost inflation.

Joshua Peterman, director of WELS Benefit Plans, says, “The commission has kept WELS VEBA cost-sharing amounts for plan options 1, 2, and 4 unchanged since 2014 to avoid shifting health care costs to workers and offer flexibility for organizations to determine the best cost-sharing approach given their financial resources and worker needs. However, the recent period of high-cost inflation caused the commission to increase WELS VEBA cost-sharing amounts so that they better align with industry standards and current health care cost levels, and to provide some rate relief to organizations.”

Worker benefit considerations

The commission encourages organizations to carefully review the 2027 WELS VEBA plan design update and consider any potential worker benefit changes that they may wish to make for the 2027 plan year. Additional information and assistance are available through WELS Benefit Plans resources.

Geographic rate region update

The three-year transition to the ultimate five-region rate structure will be complete as of January 1, 2027. The commission approved the new rate regions and rating factors so that WELS VEBA rates will better reflect current health care costs across the country. The regional rating factors applied to the 2027 rates are provided on each rate region’s 2027 health rates page. Incremental adjustments to the rate regions and regional rating factors will be made periodically so that WELS VEBA rates remain in line with local market conditions over time.

Fall 2026 limited open enrollment

The commission is offering a limited open enrollment period this November for new coverage effective January 1, 2027. Eligible workers serving at WELS and ELS sponsoring organizations that participate in WELS VEBA will have the opportunity to enroll for new coverage or make changes to their existing WELS VEBA coverage. Limited open enrollment materials will be mailed to eligible workers by the end of October.

Learn more about the WELS VEBA health plan at welsbpo.net.

WELS ministry recruitment counselors are actively working in support of the “Calling” priority of WELS’ “Christ through us” long-range plan. Don Patterson, ministry recruitment counselor to the South Central, South Atlantic, and North Atlantic Districts, shares more about the work already being done to encourage others to “Consider Ministry.”

Steve wasn’t really eating his lunch. He just pushed his steamed vegetables around his bowl over the noodles. He was searching for words. Then he said, “I know I am supposed to do more with God’s Word to get it out to the world. I’m just not sure yet what that looks like. Is it being a pastor or just leading a Bible study?” Why was he telling me that over lunch? As a ministry recruitment counselor (MRC), I had recently preached at his church. It stirred thoughts in Steve about ministry. He had been having them for a long time. He is a 46-year-old man yearning to serve Christ and people in a bigger way. My job is to help him find a path. You may have heard about a new ministry recruitment project in WELS. We call it Consider Ministry.

Consider Ministry is a new initiative fielding five called workers who are MRCs. They are deployed throughout the United States with a two-fold mission:

1. Help the people in positions of influence (that is, parents, pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and lay leaders) to actively recruit people under their influence for the called worker ministry in WELS, and
2. Help create a culture of recruitment that lasts longer than their years of service!

The MRCs are carrying out the Consider Ministry initiative in support of the goals of “Christ through us” for two reasons:

1. Jesus’ call to believe is also a call to serve. His heart yearns for more workers in his harvest. It pleases him each time one of his followers enters full-time ministry.
2. As a church body we have a shortage of called workers in all three fields of service. Expanding schools, mission work, and growing congregations have made ministry positions hard to fill in a timely way.

Five experienced church leaders known for their zeal for ministry have accepted calls to be ministry recruitment counselors, including me! They are: Mary Heckendorf, Mark Schroeder, David Russow, Sam McKenna, and me. We each have assigned districts in our church body to cover with recruitment efforts. We will go to WELS gatherings, churches, and schools and ask leaders about whom they might know who has gifts and/or passion for ministry. We are also looking for anyone with even a little interest in serving God more. Then we come alongside both influencers and recruits to help them prepare for ministry. We also help churches and schools cultivate a culture of recruitment to last for decades.

And it is working! We each have lots of stories about people who are gaining interest in serving God in full-time ministry. This summer at a camp, I noticed a high school junior hanging around me more after I had led the evening fireside devotion. He told me about his daily devotions in the Bible and how he loved God’s Word. Then he said, “I am not very good with people, so I won’t be a pastor. I’m going to study math in college.” Over the next three days I watched him as a group leader at camp and discovered he was selling himself short. As a junior camp counselor, he showed his people skills in his team leadership. A couple of times I scooted up alongside of him to say, “What you just did right there showed me you are good with people. Don’t count ministry out!” At the end of camp, he came to say goodbye and with a twinkle in his eye he said, “If I ever become a pastor, it’s your fault.” Ministry recruitment is really just encouragement. And encouragement always works!

If you or someone you know is interested in ministry go to wels.net/consider-ministry. You will find a lot of great information and a way to get into contact with an MRC if you need help getting into ministry.

We are thankful to a donor who had the foresight to fund this important initiative for the next few years and appreciate God’s continued blessings to keep this program going for many more years to come.

Contributed by Don Patterson, ministry recruitment counselor to the South Central, South Atlantic, and North Atlantic Districts

We pray for God’s continued blessings on the efforts of our MRCs, the churches and families they work with, and the youth they meet and encourage.

Serving together with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

Related articles:

• Ministry recruitment counselors ready to serve
• Straight talk: Priorities in ministerial education
• Ministry recruitment counselors begin their work

College is one of the most significant transitions a young person faces. For many WELS students, it means moving away from home, building new friendships, and navigating life without the familiar support of their home congregation.

Staying connected to God’s Word and a community of fellow believers during those years is vital. That’s why WELS Campus Ministry works to connect students with local campus ministry programs, congregations, and contact pastors near their schools while also providing resources and encouragement throughout their college experience.

To strengthen those efforts, WELS Campus Ministry has launched a new tool to make sure that distance does not mean disconnection: the WELS Campus Ministry App. The app is the centerpiece of WELS Campus Ministry Online, a new initiative designed to serve students wherever college takes them. Available now on iOS and Android devices, the free app gives students access to Bible studies, ministry resources, student connections, and other tools that support their faith throughout their college years

“One of the strengths of WELS Campus Ministry has always been helping students connect with a local church and family of believers wherever they attend school,” says Thomas Welch, member of the WELS Campus Ministry Committee and campus pastor at Peace Lutheran Church in Houghton, Michigan. “The new app gives students another way to stay connected to God’s Word throughout the week through Bible studies, resources, and other tools designed for college life. It also creates opportunities to serve students who may not have access to a local WELS campus ministry program through online Bible studies and other digital resources.”

As part of the new online initiative, WELS Campus Ministry also will begin offering a weekly online Bible study for students. The first study is scheduled for September 3 and will provide a regular opportunity for students—especially those without a WELS church nearby—to gather around God’s Word and connect with other Christians their age.

Registering helps connect students with a local campus ministry contact pastor when a campus ministry is near their school. Parents, grandparents, pastors, teachers, and friends are also encouraged to refer students and share information about the Campus Ministry app. Students are encouraged to sign up with WELS Campus Ministry at wels.net/college and download the app. It takes only a few minutes, but it can help students remain connected to Christ as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of college life.

• ‎WELS Campus Ministry App – App Store 
• WELS Campus Ministry – Apps on Google Play

Aaron Bush was installed as a home missionary on July 19, 2026, to start a mission in Jarrell, Texas. Bush and his wife, Hannah, are embracing both the excitement and uncertainty of starting from the ground up. Drawn by the opportunity to share the gospel in a rapidly growing community with no Lutheran church presence, Bush is eager to build relationships and serve families with Christ’s message. Encouraged by mentors and supported by his family, he acknowledges the challenges ahead but remains confident that there is no greater calling than proclaiming Christ crucified and helping others find their identity in him. Bush says, “I can’t think of a better thing to do with your life, with your energy, with your time. Solely focus on Christ crucified and sharing that identity with other people.”

Bush is one of several pastors that have been installed this summer to serve in congregations supported by Home Missions:

• On August 9, 2026, Jonah Schulz was installed to a new home mission in Wilmington, North Carolina.
• On July 26, 2026, Alex Dimke was installed at Redeemer in Edna, Texas.
• On July 12, 2026, Micah Neumann was installed to a new mission start in Cedar Lake, Indiana.
• On July 24, 2026, Kyle Lindemann was installed at Christ Alone in Keller, Texas.

The Conference of Presidents, chaired by the synod president, also includes 12 district presidents, the first and second synod vice presidents, and the non-voting synod recording secretary. The respective districts elect their district presidents every two years; the synod president, the vice presidents, and the secretary are elected by the synod convention to four-year terms.

The Conference of Presidents carries out several important functions. First, it is ultimately responsible for overseeing doctrine (what we believe and confess) and practice (how that doctrine is applied and carried out in our congregations). It oversees the process of the calling of pastors, teachers, and staff ministers by providing names for call lists and giving advice to congregations as they issue those calls. It also serves as the synod’s Assignment Committee, assigning teaching and staff ministry candidates from Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota, and pastor and vicar candidates from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wisconsin.

District presidents continue to serve as pastors in their own congregations. We believe that by keeping a district president active as a parish pastor, he continues to have a personal understanding of a congregation and its rapidly changing ministry. But because of the amount of travel they do, the number of meetings they attend, and the time they spend advising and counseling congregations, each district president is provided with a full-time pastor to assist him in his congregational and district duties.

Pictured from left to right: Jonathan Schroeder (South Atlantic), Paul Seager (South Central), Kevin Westra (Northern Wisconsin), Benjamin Tomczak (Dakota-Montana), Stephen Helwig (Nebraska)

This year something very unusual—maybe even unprecedented—has happened. Because of retirements and acceptance of other calls, five new district presidents have joined the Conference of Presidents. Benjamin Tomczak (Dakota-Montana), Stephen Helwig (Nebraska), Kevin Westra (Northern Wisconsin), Jonathan Schroeder (South Atlantic), and Paul Seager (South Central) have all begun their work as district presidents. Last week they completed their official orientation and training for their new positions, for such things as preparing call lists, helping congregations with advice and guidance, their role in the assignment process, etc. That training will continue as they experience the challenges and joys of serving as a district president.

We ask God’s blessings and great wisdom as they serve.

Serving together with you in Christ,

WELS President Mark Schroeder

Get to know the district presidents in this Forward in Christ article.

“This year’s rally was meant to be more than just an event. It was a catalyst to seek deeper faith commitment.”

As memories from the 2026 WELS Youth Rally this past July begin to fade, Donn Dobberstein, director of WELS Discipleship and a member of the 2026 WELS Youth Rally planning committee, reminds teens and youth leaders that the lessons learned continue at the local congregational level.

“The youth rally was never intended to replace the local congregation or family. It’s designed to strengthen both,” he says. “For four days, teens experience something they rarely see—the incredible scope of Christ’s kingdom as they worship alongside thousands of fellow believers from across the synod. That experience often deepens their appreciation for their own congregation and encourages them to reconnect with the everyday means of grace through worship, Bible study, youth ministry, Christian friendships, and faithful parents and youth leaders. The rally serves as a spiritual catalyst that points teens back to those year-round relationships where discipleship actually happens.”

WELS also offers several resources to help teens stay connected—to one another and to their Savior.

• A WELS Next Gen Instagram page has recently been released with content created specifically for teens and young adults. Videos and photos on this social media platform will connect users to one another as well as tackle some of the hard-hitting questions that teens and young adults face, all with the goal of helping young adults grow in their faith. Find the page at instagram.com/welsnextgen.
• The WELS National Online Teen Bible Study provides teens an opportunity to dig deeper into God’s Word and connect with other WELS teens living across the country. A new series of four studies, led by Jon Enter, campus pastor at St. Croix Lutheran Academy, West Saint Paul, Minnesota, will focus on the topics of discovering self-worth, accepting change, resisting temptation, and finding peace. The first study is at 6:00 PM central, September 27. Register at wels.net/national-teen-bible-study.
• College students can sign up with WELS Campus Ministry at wels.net/college to get connected with a local campus pastor.
• A free WELS Campus Ministry app gives college-aged WELS members access to Bible studies, devotions, ministry resources, connections to other WELS students, and more, all in one place. Available now on iOS and Android by searching “WELS Campus Ministry” in app stores.
• Transformed teen devotions offer weekly messages from God’s Word. Access the devotions at wels.net/teen-devotions or through the WELS app.
• The keynote presentations from this year’s youth rally are available for anyone to view at welsyouthrally.net/2026-resources.

“I pray that teens know that WELS as a whole is deeply invested in and cares deeply for them,” says Dobberstein. “I’m so grateful for the hundreds of pastors, teachers, parents, and volunteer youth leaders who invested countless hours to bring teens to Bowling Green. The rally is visible for four days, but after the buses all leave, they get to return home with models and mentors of faith—their pastors and teachers, lay leaders, and parents in congregations across our synod.”

LEADERSHIP RESOURCE INFORMATION

WELS Next Gen promotional material
A digital display graphic to promote the new teen Instagram page to the youth in your congregation.

WELS Youth Night
Materials for running youth-focused events for the teens in your church and community. Additional resources are added as they become available.

Teen devotions facilitators’ guides
Ideas and prompts for leading group discussions based on the Transformed teen devotions.

Youth Ministry series
Bible studies to use in congregational youth ministry groups.

Lynne embarked on a lifelong search for truth that led her from atheism and hostility toward Christianity.

Through the ministry of two WELS home mission congregations, God quenched Lynne’s thirst for truth and gave her a sure foundation for this life and the next. Lynne shares how her journey led to the forgiveness, grace, and certainty found only in Jesus. She says, “There’s nothing he can’t take care of. There’s no hurt, there’s no fear, there’s no insecurity; there’s nothing that he through his Word and his Spirit will not take care of.”

Visit forwardinchrist.net/lynne to learn more about Lynne’s faith journey.

Visit wels100in10.net to learn about WELS Home Missions’ initiative to plant 100 missions in 10 years so that more people like Lynne can hear God’s truth.

Mark Maurice began serving as executive director of WELS Investment Funds and WELS Foundation in June.

Maurice brings more than 30 years of experience in Christian stewardship, charitable gift planning, and endowment development to these roles. “I look forward to serving God’s people by helping them reach their stewardship goals in supporting ministries they love, both now and down the road, through solid gift planning,” he says. “In addition, I greatly want to support congregations and ministries as they look ahead by having additional financial resources to enhance sharing the gospel and serving their communities.”

WELS Investment Funds, a self-supporting subsidiary of WELS, provides cost-effective, professionally managed investment portfolios for more than 270 WELS ministries, affiliated organizations, and congregations. WELS Foundation offers planned giving support to WELS donors through WELS Christian giving counselors and facilitates various giving opportunities, including charitable gift annuities, charitable remainder trusts, donor advised funds, and endowments. “We want to help WELS members support the ministries they care about through thoughtful gift planning, enabling them to create a lasting gospel impact for future generations,” says Maurice.

Before joining WELS Foundation and WELS Investment Funds, Maurice served for four years as vice president for mission advancement at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minnesota. He also served as a philanthropic adviser with the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, where he worked with nonprofit organizations and donors to encourage thoughtful stewardship and charitable giving. He holds a master’s degree in business administration with a finance concentration. He and his wife, Mary-Jane, are members at St. John, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin.

Maurice succeeds James Holm, who retired after 30 years of serving in Christian giving ministries for WELS. Maurice, who has served on the WELS Foundation Board of Directors for the last ten years, knows Holm well. “Jim’s vast knowledge and experience were a tremendous blessing in his dual role. He made board service a pleasure, and the meetings were something to look forward to,” says Maurice. “I definitely have big shoes to fill in following Jim in this important role.”

He’s excited about that opportunity. “It’s inspiring to work with God’s people every day to develop creative solutions to support ministries they love,” he says.

Learn more about WELS Investment Funds and WELS Foundation.

Around noon on Monday, July 27, a tornado ripped through northeastern Wisconsin, causing damage to Bethel, Menasha, a bilingual WELS church with about 500 members. The tornado also damaged the Menasha location of Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Preschool, which is located on Bethel’s property and is a shared ministry of Bethel and Mount Calvary, Harrison.

Watch video: Tornado damage and cleanup in Menasha, Wis.

The National Weather Service has classified the tornado as an EF-3 with sustained winds of 140 miles per hour. The tornado traveled 12.1 miles, significantly damaging property in Menasha, Appleton, and several other nearby communities. No fatalities have been reported.

WELS Christian Aid and Relief is supporting Bethel and area WELS members with recovery efforts and financial aid as needed. About 75 volunteers helped clear fallen trees and clean up properties damaged by the storm. Mount Calvary has served as the relief team’s deployment base and provided food and water for the team.

“The volunteers got an amazing amount of work done,” says Ethan Cherney, pastor at Bethel. “We had so many trees down that it looked like they cleared a small forest. It was so nice to have lots of hands on deck to help.”

Cherney is gradually hearing from members as electricity and cell service are restored, but it’s still not clear how many members were affected by the storm. Many members were able to come together on Sunday, Aug. 2, to worship in a special service at Eternal Love, Appleton, a nearby WELS church. Counselors from Christian Family Solutions, a WELS-affiliated ministry that offers counseling care and services, were available after worship.

Although parts of Bethel’s roof and some trusses were damaged, the interior suffered minimal damage, so Cherney believes that Bethel’s worship services should continue as normal going forward and that Shepherd of the Valley will be able to open for the first day of school at the end of August.

“Overall, we just are filled with gratitude,” says Cherney. “Gratitude to God for the support being offered and gratitude to those who are offering that support.”

For more information on how to support WELS Christian Aid and Relief in these recovery efforts, visit wels.net/relief.

View photos of the impacted areas below:

This is a developing story, and it will be updated as additional information comes to light.

Originally written on July 28, 2026

Most recently updated on August 4, 2026

WELS youth groups—both large and small—from across the US and Canada traveled to Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, for the 2026 WELS Youth Rally July 14–17. More than 2,200 people—1,700 teens and 500 adults—participated in worship, large-scale keynote addresses, and workshops, all emphasizing the theme “Christ through us: We are Christ’s ambassadors.”

“This year’s rally was meant to be more than just an event. It was a catalyst to seek deeper faith commitment,” says Donn Dobberstein, director of WELS Discipleship and part of the youth rally planning committee. “Both keynotes encouraged teens to live out their lives as ambassadors of Christ.”

That message hit home for freshman Oliver Boentges. “One lesson I would like to bring home from the rally is that God called us to be his ambassadors through Christ before we were ready. It is our job for people to see Christ through us.”

Boentges, a first-time attendee, came to the rally with his youth group from Faith, Antioch, Ill. During the day, the group participated in worship, workshops, plus other fun group activities. Each evening concluded with reflections on the theme for the day: reconciled, courage, committed, and contentment.

“Evening reflections equals hundreds of youth groups scattered and gathered across the campus from 10:30 to 11:00 p.m. to reflect on the messages of the day. Some teens asked if they could lead the reflections with their friends,” says Dobberstein. “As I passed these groups night after night, I was reminded that our young people aren’t looking for shallow entertainment—they’re looking for something worth giving their lives to.”

Shawn Wietbrock, one of the group leaders from Faith, Antioch, especially appreciated the workshops (some designed for youth leaders) and that evening reflection time.

“I think this rally helps teens because it also helps youth leaders better understand those teens,” he says. “In one of the workshops, [the presenter] encouraged us to let teens be more involved in discussions and not just give them information. In trying this approach during our evening reflections, I realized that our teens have many insightful observations about God’s Word. We just have to give them the opportunity to share those thoughts.”

While the reflection time brought small groups closer together, teens also were able to meet, talk to, and worship with thousands of other young people.

“One thing that encouraged me about worshipping and connecting with other teens was when a speaker asked us to raise our hands for certain struggles we have in life, most people in the room raised their hands with me,” says senior Johann Boentges from Faith, Antioch. “I was able to see I wasn’t alone, and people can relate to my struggles. We can all go to God together.”

“Having a love for Jesus is an automatic connector,” says Jenna Wietbrock, a high school graduate from Faith, Antioch’s, teen group. “We might not have much in common, but that love can be the root of lots of friendships and support systems. [In the workshops], I got to be engaged in the Word and hear different viewpoints whilst among a hundred or so other teens. I learned more about myself and what best helps me connect to the Word.”

Dobberstein says this hunger for God’s Word was evident in the teens. “What encouraged me most was watching them genuinely engage,” he says. “They sang boldly. They asked thoughtful questions during workshops. They prayed together. They sought out meaningful conversations with speakers and youth leaders.”

“God has already equipped them with everything they need to be ready to live for and share Christ—right now. I pray they understand God’s desire to use ordinary teens in extraordinary ways in order to shape God’s church.”

View photos from the WELS International Youth Rally.

Watch the rally recap video!

Throughout June 2026, Martin Luther College (MLC) shared information regarding the status of the licensure eligibility for all of its education programs as a result of review by the Minnesota Professional Educator Licensing and Standards Board (PELSB). As of June 26, 2026, PELSB temporarily discontinued licensure eligibility for all 16 of MLC’s teacher education programs.

As MLC noted in a statement following this ruling, “The recent PELSB decision to discontinue the license eligibility is not debating the quality of MLC’s graduates. Rather, it relates to how MLC demonstrates, through documented assessment and evidence, that discipline-specific content standards within MLC’s teacher education programs are consistently being met and those programs continuously improved. . . . MLC graduates will continue to graduate as highly qualified Lutheran teachers, fully prepared to serve in WELS schools. They will graduate as ministry-certified and eligible for a call into the teaching ministry.”

MLC leadership has begun to take the steps necessary to resolve this situation and eventually reapply for licensure. To read the full statement from MLC, visit mlc-wels.edu/pelsb-update. Read the WELS Board of Ministerial Education’s response here.

This July, the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) Legacy Endowment Fund and Rakow Endowment Fund provided approximately $20,000 to support the First Public Service Assistance project. Managed by WELS Foundation, the gift planning ministry of WELS, these endowment funds allow gifts made today to support ministry for generations to come. The funding helps new mission congregations reach their communities through direct mail, community outreach, follow-up, and other efforts that create a welcoming first impression and open the door to sharing Christ’s saving message.

“These dollars enable our missionaries to do things above and beyond what our budget allows for, and by doing this it helps them reach further into the community with the gospel,” says Mark Gabb, administrator of WELS Home Missions.

“At our first official service, this grant proved incredibly valuable in boosting conversations through a post-worship meal,” says Ross Chartrand, home missionary at Cornerstone, Bentonville, Ark. “It also enabled continued connections in the following weeks by providing quality follow-up gifts for our guests.” For some visitors, those first conversations become the beginning of a lasting connection to Christ and his church.

To learn more about how endowment gifts are helping bring the gospel to people who may otherwise never hear it, check out this video: Endowment Funds – WELS.