man and woman standing in front of house smiling

Community news: February 2025

Every year at the last chapel service before Christmas, Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis., recognizes those who have anniversaries for service at the school....
black and white photos from throughout WELS' 175-year history

175th anniversary photos

During WELS’ 175th anniversary, Forward in Christ magazine will be spotlighting historic photos and sharing more about what is taking place in those photos....
WELS podcast graphic headphones

WELS podcasts: Faith Footnotes

Podcast: Faith Footnotes Description: “Faith Footnotes: Christian Conversations with Northwestern Publishing House (NPH) is a Christian podcast all about practical...
FIC Top ten Top 10

Forward in Christ top 10 of 2024

Check them out today: Tragedy strikes world missionary and his family My Christian life: God reunites a mother and her daughter My Christian life: I have depression,...
food line serving military

Serving neighbors with compassion

On Thanksgiving Day, members of New Life, Lake Zurich, Ill., drove a couple of passenger vans to Great Lakes Naval Station to pick up 28 naval recruits. These young...
group of people on trail wearing hats stone trail

Mapping Paul’s journeys

At a scholarly conference in ancient Ephesus in 2008, Dr. Glen Thompson, an early-church historian then serving as professor at Wisconsin Lutheran College, Milwaukee,...
group of students in choir singing in blue robes

Community news: January 2025

Kingdom Workers, a WELS-affiliated ministry, celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. Its mission is to partner with Christians to share Jesus’ love while helping...
Group of young artists standing in church

Serving through art

Lydia Kratz, a member at Our Savior, Birmingham, Ala., doesn’t remember how she got started in art. “I just never stopped,” she says. “I was drawing all...
Large group of adults standing in from of an alter posing for a photo. All have lanyards around their neck

Conference encourages staff ministers

More than 70 individuals attended the WELS Staff Ministry Conference, Sept. 19–21, at Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn. This was the first time conference...
Group of adults and kids standing outside with mountains in the background

Community news: December 2024

Comforter Ministry, Inc., celebrated the milestone of receiving its one thousandth quilt in June. This ministry reaches out to women with cancer with God’s Word...
Bethel Zabell using a walker and three generations of students

Fostering a love of music

Music has always been an important aspect of the ministerial education system at all levels for WELS called workers. Luther Preparatory School (LPS), Watertown,...
Hurricane Helene aftermath at a church trees down on driveway

Community news: November 2024

On Sept. 13, Truth in Love Ministry celebrated the 20th anniversary of beginning its formal mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with souls trapped in Mormonism....
June Keller teacher and student Aurora at Aurora’s baptism.

Planting seeds to bear eternal fruit

When Tammy Thorson was having her granddaughter, Aurora, baptized, she wanted a godly godparent for her. Since Thorson’s family had just joined St. Paul, Tomah,...
Rev. Donn Dobberstein presenting to people in pews at the Western Wisconsin District Sunday School Conference

Community news: October 2024

On Aug. 9, Divine Savior Academy–Sienna, Missouri City, Texas, celebrated the grand opening of its new building, which includes 27 new classrooms, a gym, and a...

Diary of a missionary’s wife

Missionary Ronald Baerbock and his wife, Karen, spent more than 17 years serving in various Latin American fields. Karen, who passed away in 2023, recorded ministry...