The next generation of WELS leadership is already here, as evidenced by the largest teen attendance at the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership since the conference’s inception in 2020.

“It is critical for our young people to attend events like this to know that they matter, they are valued, their voice will be heard, and that we have serious interest and intent in them being the next generation of leaders in our synod,” says Phil Huebner, campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis.

Huebner took a group of 24 students to Chicago in January to attend the conference. One of those students was senior Chad Gaston. He was nominated by his teachers and then chosen from the nominees to represent the school at the conference, giving him the opportunity to learn and grow in his faith. This is particularly poignant for Gaston, who was confirmed only one year ago at Atonement, Milwaukee, Wis.

With a growing knowledge of the Bible, Gaston knew he wanted to put his faith into action. “The number one reason I was interested in attending the leadership conference was so that I would be able to express my faith in the Lord with other people and I wouldn’t get judged or talked about because I believed in Jesus Christ,” he says. “It allowed me to really learn different ideas and perspectives of the church and our faith in the Lord.”He continues, “My favorite experiences from the conference were being able to meet so many new people who were kind and had the same faith as me, and learning so many new things that I have never experienced or heard talked about while discussing faith.”

The messages Gaston heard at the leadership conference will be relevant for him in the upcoming chapters of his life, as he looks to attend Waukesha Area Technical College next year to become an electrician. He says, “The key takeaway from the conference that I will carry with me throughout my adulthood is that, regardless of where you are or who you are around, you should always stay strong in your faith and continue to spread the Word.”

Featured image at top shows the twenty-four students from Wisconsin Lutheran High School, Milwaukee, Wis., who attended the 2026 WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership. One hundred teens from ten different WELS high schools attended the conference.