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View the musical tributes produced by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Martin Luther College. Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary tribute | Martin Luther College tribute To see Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary's graduates, visit forwardinchrist.net/2020-wls-grads. …
“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one…
In June, Dan Sims will begin his work as the new full-time director of WELS Christian Aid and Relief. “As much as I will miss parish ministry, I’m really excited…
WELS Missions and the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) are partnering to offer Taste and See, a first-of-its-kind free online mission event, from June 27–July 11. This new opportunity to…
WELS Commission on Discipleship is offering devotions developed for the entire family to use. The devotions coincide with the previous Sunday’s Bible readings. Each devotion is complete with a set…
One of the many groups served by WELS Commission on Special Ministries is military service members and their families. One way the commission does this is through military contact pastors—pastors…
They’ve been referred to as “a model of can-do blindness”—and those who know Sue and Larry Povinelli would certainly agree with that description. Sue, a federal government employee, and Larry,…
WELS President Mark Schroeder shares the following about the June district conventions: After thorough discussion and with great reluctance, the Conference of Presidents (COP) has concluded that the district conventions,…
Volume 107, Number 7 Issue: July 2020 To see Martin Luther College's graduates, visit forwardinchrist.net/2020-graduations.
We are to forgive others, but the journey can be difficult. I needed to forgive my father. But for the life of me, I could not figure out how. Trying…
WELS Multi-Language Publications has officially changed its name to WELS Multi-Language Productions (MLP). This change reflects how the work of MLP has evolved with technology and has expanded beyond printed…
GEORGIA | NEW YORK Four congregations in Georgia—Abiding Grace, Covington; Faith, Sharpsburg; Beautiful Savior, Marietta; and Sola Fide, Lawrenceville—sent a 16-foot truck to Sure Foundation, Queens, N.Y., filled with supplies…
Sam Kleinschmidt, a member at Crown of Life, a multi-site congregation in California, perhaps didn’t know what to expect when he agreed to serve as power of attorney for an…
WESTERN WISCONSIN St. John, Barre Mills, Wis., celebrated its 150th anniversary on March 1. The congregation first worshiped together on March 2, 1870, in a farmhouse that is still standing…
To help introduce WELS members to the hymnal and additional resources coming out in late 2021, the WELS Hymnal Project and Northwestern Publishing House have developed a new website, christianworship.com.…
Victorious! It’s a message that the world needs to hear today. “Many people in our country feel defeated by life. Many are being defeated by disease. All will eventually be…
ARIZONA-CALIFORNIA St. Peter, Clovis, Calif., held its first live nativity in December 2019. MINNESOTA On Jan. 26, St. Paul, New Ulm, Minn., held a dedication service and…
What a difference a year makes. On Oct. 10, 2018, Hurricane Michael blew through Panama City as a category five hurricane, severely damaging the church and parsonage of Amazing Grace…
For the past five years, teens from St. John, Wauwatosa, Wis., have hit the road each summer to drive across the country. What were they doing? Helping mission churches reach…
WELS Congregational Services hosted the first ever WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership in Chicago, Jan. 21–23. Approximately 800 people, representing about 350 WELS congregations, met to hear five plenary…
Last summer, St. Peter, Modesto, Calif., decided to try something new with its summer programs for kids. The congregation had been conducting a morning soccer Bible camp each year aimed…
In 2018, God's grace opened the door to an unprecedented mission opportunity for our synod. The communist Vietnamese government invited WELS to build a theological education facility in the capital…
This month’s “This is WELS” features photos from congregations about how their members show Christian love. Here are a few stories behind the photos: St. Croix Lutheran Academy, West St.…
Dakota-Montana Student volunteers from Great Plains Lutheran High School, Watertown, S.D., held a Christmas party for its New Friends group in the school gymnasium on Dec. 15, 2019. This gathering…
South Central The core group of WELS’ newest home mission congregation, Hope, Houston, Texas, has been meeting for Bible studies in a community room/co-working space that a local realty office…
Minnesota St. John, St. Clair, Minn., celebrated its 150th anniversary on Nov. 3, 2019.
Southeastern Wisconsin St. John's on the Hillside, Milwaukee, Wis., (pictured) celebrated its 171st anniversary on Dec. 5, 2019. St. Matthew, Port Washington, Wis., celebrated its 40th anniversary on Nov. 3, 2019. On…
Arizona-California Gloria Dei, Belmont, Calif., reports that it completed a “refresh” of its sanctuary in November 2019.
The WELS Retirement Strategy Committee, a special committee appointed by the Synodical Council several years ago, has announced proposed changes to the WELS retirement program. It is proposed that the…
World Missions missionspromotions@wels.net; 414-256-3237 The Russian Lutheran Church celebrated 25 years of God’s blessings on Nov. 3, 2019. Members gathered together in Akademgorodok for a joint worship service celebrating the…
Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., held its mid-year graduation on Dec. 19, 2019. Three students graduated with their bachelor of science degree, and nine students graduated with their bachelor…
God provides exciting new mission opportunities through a Christian from South Asia. “Put the best minds in World Missions in a room. Tell them to come up with a plan…
In celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2020, Martin Luther College (MLC), with the approval of the Conference of Presidents, has begun a two-year capital campaign called “Equipping Christian Witnesses.”…
“Your gifts, God’s blessings: An annual report to our members” is available in January. The 2020 report highlights the blessings that God has showered on WELS through the gifts of…
Richard Gurgel has accepted the call to serve as president of WELS’ college of ministry, Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn. He will begin his new call on July…
The Board for World Missions has decided to pull the East Asia Team missionaries and families out of their focus country because of security concerns. The East Asia missionaries and…
Ever ask yourself, “Who are these people who write for Forward in Christ?” Through this series, you can find out. David Scharf, professor at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm,…
In celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2020, Martin Luther College (MLC), with the approval of the Conference of Presidents, has begun a two-year capital campaign called “Equipping Christian Witnesses.” The…
After every school day, Lighthouse Youth Center provides safe, encouraging, Christ-centered environments to children ages 10 to 18 in Milwaukee. Through its healthy outlets for recreation, consistent support for education,…
In celebration of its 25th anniversary in 2020, Martin Luther College (MLC), with the approval of the Conference of Presidents, has begun a two-year capital campaign called “Equipping Christian Witnesses.” The…
Opportunities for gospel connections are flourishing across Africa. Christian groups in Uganda, Liberia, Mozambique, and more are learning about WELS and Lutheran doctrine and reaching out for fellowship. One of these church bodies, Lutheran Congregations in Ministry for Christ in Kenya, reached…
WELS Congregational Services will host the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago on Jan. 21–23. Two of the presenters at that conference, Adam Mueller, pastor at Redeemer, Tucson, Ariz., and Luke Thompson, pastor at St.…
A friendly counselor shares what the message of the Reformation means to him and to those he serves in South Asia. As soon as they opened the door of my…
WELS Congregational Services will host the first WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership at the Sheraton Grand in Chicago, Ill., Jan. 21-23. WELS Congregational Services works under the Conference of Presidents to help congregations…
Representatives from church bodies in Kenya and Taiwan traveled a long way to be at the synod convention in Minnesota this summer—and not just in miles. Their journeys were very…
In April 2018, WELS Board for Home Missions approved funding for a new mission in Joplin, Mo. In May 2019, Jordan Bence was assigned to serve as the home missionary…
As part of its Welcome Home initiative, WELS Congregational Services has released a series of videos to address some of the most common reasons Christians stop attending church and how to show love and minister to these members. Nate Bourman, pastor at Mount Lebanon,…
A new translation of the Bible—the Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV)—is now available from Northwestern Publishing House (NPH). More than one hundred people—pastors, professors, teachers, and laypeople—have been working on the translation since 2013,…
This summer, WELS members have been blessed with countless opportunities to connect with others in fellowship and faith. Enjoy these photos and takeaways from some of the synod’s biggest summertime events! WELS EdTechLead Summit—June 25-27 About the event: The WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit (EdTechLead)…
Vietnam In April, WELS leaders, including Mark Schroeder, WELS president; Larry Schlomer, World Missions administrator; Sean Young, director of Missions Operations; and Bounkeo Lor, Hmong Asia ministry coordinator, traveled to Vietnam to…