For students at Wisconsin Lutheran High School (WISCO) in Milwaukee, Wednesday mornings feature a late start to allow time for faculty meetings. Rather than sleeping in or squeezing in some additional studying, however, students now gather for student-led Bible studies.

The studies stem from Wisco Witnesses in the World (WWW), the school’s largest service and outreach organization. Hannah Strong, outreach chair for the WWW leadership team, worked closely with Phil Huebner, WISCO’s campus pastor, to develop these teen-led studies.

Several groups of about 13 students each meet in open classrooms to go through a brief devotion written by Huebner. Guided by a handful of trained senior leaders, the groups work their way through Scripture and respond to the provided discussion questions. Around 60 to 70 students take part each week, and the groups shift from one session to the next, giving teens a chance to encounter new people and perspectives.

Strong explains that she particularly enjoys “the intimate setting and the authentically vulnerable conversations about the struggles we face.” She adds, “The small groups allow for us to share our unique experiences while also building up fellow teens in faith.”

Luke Carlovsky, one of the senior group leaders, emphasizes the impact of students openly discussing their faith. He says, “Maybe it will lead to more students participating in teen ministry at their home congregations or to students who are not members of a WELS church showing more interest in membership.”

Strong’s hope is that the morning devotion groups continue to grow and reach even more students. She would also like to see a “prayer buddies” program, in which students are paired together to pray for and encourage each another.

Strong and Carlovsky agree that the strength of these small groups is not found in having perfect leaders or complex lessons. Instead, as Strong explains, “Our calling is simply to meet in his Word, let our lights shine boldly, and remain persistent.”