How do we encourage and train as many men and women for ministry as possible? This is one of the most pressing questions facing WELS at this time. With the current shortage of pastors and teachers, expanding mission opportunities, and a lower birth rate, we have challenging times ahead.

But every challenge that confronts us presents an opportunity. These challenges give us a great opportunity as a church body to talk about the high calling of serving as pastors, teachers, and staff ministers. We have a natural opportunity to encourage more people to consider serving full time in the public gospel ministry. As I start in my new position as administrator of the Board for Ministerial Education, this is the highest priority before me.

A key element to promoting ministry among our members is our new ministry recruitment counselors. These counselors are working to increase the discussion of the public ministry in our midst. Their job description explains their work: The ministry recruitment counselor provides gospel-centered encouragement and guidance to called workers, parents, students, and lay influencers, helping them identify and nurture individuals who may be suited for public ministry. Their tagline is “Encourage the Encouragers, Influence the Influencers, and Recruit the Recruiters.” They will be working with pastors, teachers, staff ministers, and lay members to influence ministry encouragement in churches and schools.

Challenges give us a great opportunity as a church body to talk about the high calling of serving as pastors, teachers, and staff ministers.

We currently have three ministry recruitment counselors. Mary Heckendorf is working in the Arizona-California and Pacific Northwest Districts, Pastor Mark Schroeder is working in the Western Wisconsin and Northern Wisconsin Districts, and Sam McKenna is working in the Southeastern Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Atlantic Districts. We have plans to call two more counselors in 2026. All these counselors are privately funded through generous donors for the first four years. We are thankful for these gifts and excited to see the blessings that God will bring to our church body through their work.

Another of my priorities is to work with our WELS ministerial education schools. WELS Ministerial Education is at a critical time as WELS faces the challenge of needing more called workers when there are fewer young people to step forward for that work. Our church body has been blessed by a three-tiered, four-school system. We have two preparatory high schools: Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich., and Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis. Our WELS college of ministry is Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn. Our pastors then continue their training at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis. Each of these schools plays an important role in our collective work. WELS Ministerial Education is committed to maintaining this system. We will be looking at creative and strategic ways to maintain and increase enrollment at our schools to ensure that they are positioned to meet the called worker needs of our church body.

While some significant challenges are ahead for WELS Ministerial Education, these are exciting times to see how Christ can work through us to proclaim his Word to the world. I encourage every member to look for men and women who have the gifts to serve as pastors, teachers, or staff ministers. Take the time to encourage them to pursue this vocation for their lives. God can and will do amazing things when his people are faithfully proclaiming his Word and about his mission. I am excited to be part of this integral work.