Pray and encourage
Jesus directs us to pray for workers. Here are some answers to our prayers. Their stories suggest how we will find the next generation of pastors. In April 2022, 230…
Encouraging others has ripple effects
Souksamay Phetsanghane, a professor at Luther Preparatory School (LPS), Watertown, Wis., remembers vividly a fall day in 1996 when he and his friends were playing basketball in the church parking…
My Christian life: From Air Force sergeant to staff minister
A retired military sergeant follows God’s plan for his life—right into the public ministry. Mike Tracy, a staff minister with Chaplains in Schools, was born with a heart for ministry,…
On mission statements and missions
Corporations grabbed the idea of mission statements from the church. At its best, a mission statement captures the drive, the focus, and the purpose of an entire organization. But most…
District news: September 2022
SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN More than 300 people attended the first church picnic of Living Hope, West Allis, Wis., on July 24. Living Hope is the merger of three West Allis churches—Jordan,…
Getting to know the new district presidents
Daniel Leyrer, Southeastern Wisconsin District president What was your upbringing like? I grew up in Milwaukee as the youngest of seven children and was blessed to have the finest set…
My Christian life: From prospect to pastor
One year out of the seminary, a pastor shares his journey into the public ministry. Jacob Shepherd, pastor at St. Paul, Round Lake Park, Ill., remembers when he started thinking…
District news: June 2022
Happy anniversary! MN—On April 24, Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn., celebrated milestone service anniversaries from the past three years. The 2020 celebrants included Peter Baganz, 25 years; Paul Bases,…
A unique system of schools
WELS enjoys a blessing that no other Lutheran church body enjoys: our ministerial education training system, which has existed in one form or another almost since the very beginning of…