Update on WELS’ effort in Vietnam
The COVID pandemic that began in 2020 affected the ministry and worship in all our WELS congregations. It also caused the temporary suspension of our synod’s efforts...
More workers for a bountiful harvest
Jesus said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field!”...
150 years of fellowship
The year was 1872. Lutherans had been in America since before the revolution. At that time, Lutheranism in America could be described as a confusing and jumbled...
A unique system of schools
WELS enjoys a blessing that no other Lutheran church body enjoys: our ministerial education training system, which has existed in one form or another almost since...
God’s cure—for everything
The word panacea comes from a Greek word meaning “all-healing.” The ancient Greeks worshiped the goddess of healing named Panacea, who was said to administer...
Lenten repentance, Lenten appreciation
Taking things for granted happens all too easily. The worst part about taking things for granted is that we fail to appreciate and remember the routine and ordinary...
Pray for us
“Brothers and sisters, pray for us” (1 Thessalonians 5:25). With these words, the apostle Paul concluded his first letter to the Christians in Thessalonica....
Plan with wisdom and faith
In the new year, TV news channels often review the past year. The annual ritual includes significant events and achievements in politics, science, medicine, and...
Purposeful discussions
Sixty years ago, our synod was faced with the most difficult decision in its history. For more than 20 years, WELS and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) had been...
Upholding biblical values
Ours is a culture in which values seem to be constantly changing. Invariably, the change is in the wrong direction. The traditional values that have served as the...
President’s message: To judge or not to judge
It’s always a little baffling to me that some of the most familiar words in the Bible can so often be misunderstood, misquoted, or misapplied. How many times have...
President’s message: A field ripe for harvest
Our synod has been involved in world missions for well over a century. From the start, our efforts in world missions focused almost entirely on sending WELS missionaries...
President’s message: Thoughts about the new hymnal
After years of careful development, our synod now has a new hymnal. Someone may well ask the question, “Why a new hymnal? What is wrong with the one that we’re...
President’s message: Cooperating in externals
WELS confesses and teaches that for church bodies to express unity and fellowship there needs to be full agreement in doctrine. Such fellowship is practiced when...
President’s message: Canceling the cancel culture
“Cancel culture” has arrived. Cancel culture is a modern form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles because of something...
President’s message: Making normal a reality
You’re reading this in May, but it’s February as I’m writing. We’re at a time when we are all asking the questions, “When will this COVID thing finally...
President’s message: The fields are ripe for harvest
It was the summer of 1961. The Wisconsin Synod, meeting in convention, had just made the very difficult decision to suspend fellowship with the Lutheran Church—Missouri...
President’s message: The end of the story
The apostle John was nearing the end of his life. He had been a pastor in Asia Minor—modern-day Turkey—but was now living in exile on the Greek island of Patmos....
President’s message: Blessings small and large
It’s easy to be thankful for the big blessings that come our way. But when you stop and think about it, we’re also thankful for the little blessings, even though...
President’s message: Standing on the truth
Pontius Pilate asked the famous question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Pilate wasn’t looking for an answer; he was stating his view that there really is...
President’s message: Peace on earth—but what kind?
The year was 1914. World War I had thrown the continent of Europe into a conflict that would last for four years and kill or wound more than 25 million people. After...
President’s message: Thankful—even now?
The apostle Paul was under arrest in Rome for the second time. His first arrest had ended in his acquittal and release from prison. The second time would end differently....
President’s message: More than dollars and numbers
Fall is the time of year when most congregations begin to discuss and plan their budgets for the coming year. Ministry plans are developed, and then those plans...
President’s message: A time for trust
When do you find it easiest to place your trust in God and to remember his promises? Wouldn’t you agree that it’s easiest to place your trust in God’s care...