WELS church damaged by Gustav

At least one WELS congregation is reporting damage in the wake of Hurricane Gustav that made landfall along the Louisiana coast Monday. So far, there are no reports of any serious injuries to any members.

Connie Greenlee, wife of Rev. Willilam Greenlee at Cross of Glory, Baton Rouge, La., reports that winds of 60 to 90 mph toppled large trees on their property, seriously damaging the church, preschool, and neighbors’ homes. The Greenlees' home was one of about 1.4 million left without power in Louisiana.

At Crown of Life in New Orleans, which was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina three years ago, Rev. David Sternhagen reports the church and parsonage came through unscathed. While his family evacuated, he stayed behind in part because it is so difficult for residents to get back in once they leave.

Rev. John Guse, president of the South Atlantic District, says he has had no contact with Trinity in Abita Springs, La., but that news reports indicate the community came through quite well.

"We thank the Lord for answering our prayers and protecting our brothers, our sisters, and the many people of Louisiana," Guse says. "We pray that his promises might be an encouragement to those who have suffered severe damage to their homes."

Filed Under: Baton Rouge, Hurricane, Louisiana, New Orleans

New faces on faculty at MLC

Seven new faculty members were installed at Martin Luther College (MLC), WELS' worker-training school in New Ulm, Minn., as a new academic year began Aug. 25. For the most part, the new members are replacing faculty who retired or took calls elsewhere.

"What we're really looking at here is the future leadership of the college," says Dr. David Wendler, vice president for academics at MLC. "You're looking at the fresh ideas that are coming from the field that will be incorporated into the future direction of the college."

Among those installed was Mr. John Meyer, who served previously at Salem Lutheran Elementary School in Stillwater, Minn. He will become director of graduate studies in 2010 once he completes doctorate work.

Wendler, who is also serving as the interim director of graduate studies, says he's looking forward to Meyer taking over the program, which began in 2004 and offers a Master of Science in Education degree through online course work.

The program, Wendler says, is necessary if congregations are to recommit themselves to the importance of Christian education—and to reach out to non-WELS families. "If we want our schools to be vibrant, if we want our schools to be leaders, and if we want our schools to be outreach tools, we have to have people with credentials in those schools," Wendler says. "We live in an increasingly credentialed society."

For a list of the other professors installed, view the latest MLC Update.

Filed Under: BME, Ministerial Education, MLC

Campus Ministry revamps communication

To help college students grow in their faith and to raise awareness about issues college students are dealing with, WELS Campus Ministry—which works to help proclaim Christ on college campuses and connect students with campus pastors in their area—is coordinating a new bimonthly column in Forward in Christ magazine called Campus Cornerstone, which debuts this month.

The column, which touches on topics relating to college students today, replaces the Campus Ministry publication, Lightsource. "We had done some revamping of Lightsource, and produced what we thought were some really flashy issues–but then we did a reader survey and got less than two dozen responses from it," says Rev. Ken Brokmeier, chairman of the campus ministry committee and campus pastor at South Dakota State University.

So the committee began rethinking its communication methods and even held focus groups with teens at last year's international youth rally about ways to stay in touch with college students. According to Brokmeier, this led to not only a new column in Forward in Christ, but also a Web site redesign. Students can now search for WELS churches and campus pastors in their area, sign up for materials online, subscribe to receive e-mail devotions, and download MP3 sermons.

The committee is also exploring Internet-based networking opportunities, like Facebook and instant messaging. "We're trying to reach more teens in today's mobile culture," says Brokmeier. "Eight years ago, when students moved into the dormitories they automatically had the phone in the dorm hooked up, and pastors could access those numbers. Now if you don't have a student's cell phone number or e-mail address, how do you get a hold of them?"

With many colleges now already in session, Brokmeier hopes students, their families, or home congregations will send in updated contact information, which is essential to the committee's ministry to students nationwide. "We want to keep our college students connected with the means of grace, through worship, because that's finally what keeps us close to our Savior," he says.

To update contact information and sign up for free publications, visit www.wels.net/cm

Filed Under: Campus Cornerstone, Campus Ministry, Forward in Christ

Workshops to introduce hymnal supplement

In an effort to familiarize all interested WELS members with the new Christian Worship: Supplement, the Commission on Worship has initially scheduled 45 introductory workshops throughout the 12 districts beginning Sept. 13 and continuing into 2009. The three-hour workshops will cover each section of the book and explain how the supplement fits into worship life in WELS.

"There are new hymns, but there are other things in the book that we want to help people see and appreciate," says Rev. Jon Zabell, chairman of the supplement introduction committee. "And I think the experience of being with others and trying some of the things is a benefit you can't get just flipping through the pages on your own."

The supplement was introduced in July at the National Conference on Music, Worship, and the Arts in St. Peter, Minn. Since its release, the pew edition has already sold out and is in its second printing.

"It's exciting to have a sellout in less than a month," says Rev. Bryan Gerlach, administrator for WELS Commission on Worship. "We are hearing of very high interest when we talk to people out in the districts."

This is the first hymnal supplement in WELS history, and includes new hymns, gathering rites, divine services, psalm arrangements, meditations, and a supplemental lectionary. Additional resources are also available in the electronic pew edition, guitar edition, and accompaniment edition, which includes a CD of alternate accompaniments, MIDI files, and instrumental scores.

"This publication offers the most creative variety of any worship publication we've done to date in terms of instrumental variety," says Zabell. "I wouldn't be surprised if a vast majority of congregations in WELS use at least something from the supplement."

Gerlach hopes that the supplement will enrich worship in WELS. "I think the breadth of variety will be very appealing in many congregations," he says. "We want to strike a balance between comfort and familiarity and some good, new resources that are solidly Lutheran with excellent texts that proclaim the gospel with depth and substance. This book helps us do that."

For more information about the supplement or to register for an introductory workshop, visit www.wels.net/jump/cwsupplement 

The second printing of Christian Worship: Supplement and the accompaniment edition will be available at the end of September; the guitar and electronic pew edition will be available at the end of October. Visit www.nph.net for ordering information. 

Filed Under: , Christian Worship, supplement, Worship

National conference on special ministries

For the first time in eight years, the Commission on Special Ministries is hosting a national conference on special ministries, which will be held in Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 3-5. WELS members from across the United States can attend presentations, ministry huddles, and panel discussions to learn practical and effective ways to serve people with special needs.

"It's not just for called workers or those with special needs, it's for everyone," says Rev. Carl Ziemer, administrator of Special Ministries. "Every individual in every congregation has opportunities within their extended family or in their community to demonstrate Christian love by assisting someone with special needs. We hope this conference will inspire, encourage, and enable people to do ministry in their own congregations."

Presentations will focus on health and wellness, special education, mental health care, prison ministry, called worker care, military services, and ministry to the visually impaired and deaf and hard of hearing. "We learned from the conference in 2000 that there is benefit in presenting on all areas of Special Ministries," says Ziemer. "By having the wide range of offerings, people will learn about other disabilities and rub shoulders with people who have different struggles. Oftentimes they'll see that their congregation has people with several other special needs."

In 2000, approximately 150 people attended; Ziemer hopes more will participate in this year's conference, especially since it has not been determined when another national conference can be held. "People have opportunity, in one weekend, to be exposed to the many areas of ministry," says Ziemer. "Congregational life is ever-changing, and we need to continually reevaluate, reassess, and refocus our ministries to be relevant. We don't want to miss opportunities to demonstrate Christian love and gain that audience for the gospel."

For more information, or to register online, visit www.wels.net/jump/smconference

Filed Under: , conference, CSM, Special Ministries

Latest on Year of Jubilee

District leaders will be presenting details about WELS' Year of Jubilee celebration at fall pastors and teachers conferences taking place across the country between mid-September and end of October.

Year of Jubilee—to be observed by congregations in worship services between Nov. 23 and Dec. 14—was launched at this year's district conventions in response to the 2007 synod convention authorization of a special offering to eliminate our synod's debt.

Rev. Ken Brokmeier of Brookings, S.D., says his congregation is already planning to make the offering a priority during those weeks later this fall. "We've talked about the whole aspect of our responsibility and taking ownership of this," he says. "We benefit from the work of the synod and so we want to help be part of the solution."

To date WELS has received about $650,000 in Jubilee offerings. Year of Jubilee worship and Bible study resources will focus on God's love for us as shown by the Old Testament Year of Jubilee foreshadowing a Savior, Jesus, who frees us from the debt of sin. Eliminating the synod's $22.4 million debt would free up as much as $2.7 million each year for other ministry.

Congregations are encouraged to prepare members for the upcoming worship services by putting up posters that were mailed as part of a Year of Jubilee resource package and by including the monthly Jubilee insert in worship folders.

We want to hear how the Year of Jubilee celebration is being highlighted in your congregation. Share your plans and ideas at csc@sab.wels.net

Filed Under: Christian Giving, donation, gift, Year of Jubilee

Spotlight on Streams: WELS Connection

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If you didn't catch the August edition of WELS Connection, you have another chance. Each edition is posted on Streams the month after it is shown in congregations. August's edition focuses on efforts to recruit high school students from outside WELS' traditional prep school system. Watch it online

Filed Under: Streams, WELS Connection