MLC students learn to drink the Kool-Aid.
Church and Change Board Members:
We did it all, and we stood tall,
We did it OUR WAY!
Did you know Sausage Factory professor Al Sorum has a D.Min. from a Calvinist school?
Yes, they brag about it. See the PDF link below.
Sorum makes Valleskey sound like Martin Chemnitz.
Every single Church and Change/Church Growth leader in WELS took part in this brain-washing extravaganza. Try to imagine, having a Schwaermer love-fest at a college named after the great Reformer. VP Paul Kuske's buddy Floyd Luther Stolzenburg did the same thing, promoting Pilgrim Community Church in a newsletter which read, "Standing where Luther stood."
Read about Martin Luther College's Day of Enthusiasm here.
If I can edit the file, I will post the text.
If you have that capacity, send the text to me.
Even I am shocked, and I thought I was past the shocking point for WELS' brazen apostasy.
Several sent me the text. I am highlighting the known WELS Church and Change members in purple.
Known Church Growth Enthusiasts (albeit not named at Church and Change) are highlighted in red.
Evangelism Day:
January 23, 2008
Martin Luther College
Urban ministry
“Should I not be concerned about that great city?” Jonah 4:11b
WORSHIP SERVICE: 8:30 – 9:15 a.m. All assemble in the chapel.
Preacher: Rev. Mark Bitter
Pastor Mark Bitter served two years as a graduate tutor at Northwestern Preparatory School. He served as associate pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee, WI, and as a mission pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in New Orleans, LA. From 1985-1990 he left the parish ministry to serve as the Dean of Students at Northwestern Preparatory School. In 1990 Pastor Bitter accepted a call from the South Central District Mission Board to do exploratory work in The Woodlands, TX. For the past 17 years he has been the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in The Woodlands. In the South Central district he has served as District Worship Coordinator, First Vice President, and currently as Second Vice President. Since 1999 he has served as the chairman of the WELS Commission on Worship and a member of the
WELS Board for Parish Services, of which he is currently vice president. In his community Pastor Bitter has been the president of the Board of Directors of The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra for the past 5 years.
Liturgist: Pastor John Boeder
Section Divisions:
Group A: Freshmen, sections 1-3 and Sophomores, sections 1-3
Group B: Freshmen, sections 4-6 and Sophomores, sections 4-6
Group C: Freshmen, sections 7-9 and Sophomores, sections 7-9
Group D: Juniors, sections 1-3 and Seniors, sections 1-3
Group E: Juniors, sections 4-6 and Seniors, sections 4-6
Group F: Juniors, sections 7-9 and Seniors, sections 7 -9
Group G: Fifth year, section 1
Group H: Fifth year, section 2
Key Note Address:
For groups C, F, and H (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and
Seniors, sections 7-9, and Fifth Year, section 2): 9:30 – 10:25
a.m.
For groups A,D, and G (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and
Seniors, Sections 1-3, and Fifth Year, section 1): 10:35 – 11:30
a.m.
For groups B and E (Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and
Seniors, sections 4-6): 1:50 – 2:45 p.m.
Speaker: Prof. E. Allen Sorum
Topic: Urban Ministry
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION – E. Allen Sorum
E. Allen Sorum was born in Conrad, Montana in 1956. He was confirmed at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Kent, Washington in 1973. He graduated from Northwestern College in Watertown in 1979 and from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1983. He was assigned as pastor of Garden Homes Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and served there for 21 years until he was called to Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2004 to teach New Testament and to be the director of the Pastoral Studies Institute. Professor Sorum is married to Lisa of Shelby, Michigan. The Sorums have four children ages 22 to 12. Besides serving as a parish pastor, Prof. Sorum was a member of the Board for Home Mission’s Multi-cultural Ministry Committee from its inception. Under commission from the BHM, he authored Change: Mission and Ministry Across Cultures in 1997. After receiving the Masters in Sacred Theology degree from the Seminary in 1995, he earned the Doctor of Ministry degree in 1996 from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, studying under Dr. Harvie Conn, noted urban mission specialist.
The Pastoral Studies Institute
The mission of the Pastoral Studies Institute is to serve non-traditional students of the WELS who aspire to the pastoral ministry by guiding and assisting them along the best path for their pre-seminary and seminary training. The PSI considers a non-traditional student to be any WELS student from North America who, for reasons of language, culture, family circumstances or age may find relocation to our worker training college in New Ulm, Minnesota unfeasible. The goal of the PSI is to train men from the broadest possible cultural spectrum to become missionary pastors who will reach out with the gospel to all nations.
WORKSHOP LEADERS (DEVELOPERS ARE LISTED FIRST)
Freshmen
Workshop 1 – Building Bridges (relationships); Small Talk & Listening Skills
Sharing God’s Word starts with building a relationship with a prospect. When trust is built, people are more willing to discuss personal matters. It all starts with Small Talk. Did you find yourself a little timid among strangers? Do you shy away from mingling in unfamiliar settings? This session will help you to speak to anyone, at anytime, about anything. Learn to read body language and improve social skills.
For Group B (sections 4-6): 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group C (sections 7-9): 10:35 – 11:30 a.m.
For Group A (sections 1-3): 1:50 – 2:45 p.m.
John Wiederhold:
John Wiederhold is a volunteer recruiter for the WELS Kingdom Workers. John is responsible for World Mission recruitment. In addition, John has experience in training layworkers for outreach. His past experience in marketing and sales for IBM has helped him hone his “People Skills.” He teaches a course on basic people skills that includes the importance of “small talk” skills and reading body language.
Rev. Richard Warnecke:
Pastor Richard H Warnecke graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1984. He served as a tutor for two years at Michigan Lutheran Seminary, teaching Old Testament and religion and German. He was reassigned in 1986 to Panama City, FL, to do exploratory mission work. He served as pastor there until 1999. He accepted a call to WELS Kingdom Workers as Administrator of Faith In action, the Home Mission volunteer program for WELS laity. He also has served on the WELS Youth Discipleship Commission for eight years and before that he served as South Atlantic Youth Discipleship chairman for 10 years. He has served on the International Youth Rally Planning Committee for 9 years.
Rev. Jim Skorzewski:
Pastor Skorzewski graduated from the seminary in 1998 and served a congregation in Miami, Florida for four years until he became the associate pastor at St. Marcus. The church added Pastor Skorzewski in 2002, to assist in building a bridge with the children and families from our school. His other ministry responsibilities include teaching catechism in the school, Sunday evening worship, evangelism, counseling, and visitation of school families and those who are unable to attend worship. [Church and Change Board Member, went to hear Babtist Andy Stanley, now doing C.O.R.E., the new stealth mission.]
Workshop 2 – Starting a Spiritual Conversation
“Be Prepared” is direction that the Apostle Peter gives us about witnessing. In this workshop we will prepare ourselves for approaching people and broaching the subject of Jesus. We will discuss ideas for getting a conversation started with an unchurched person and how to turn the conversation to talking about Jesus. Studying some of God’s promises will give us the confidence to start and continue spiritual conversations.
For Group A (sections 1-3): 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group B (sections 4-6): 10:35 – 11:30 a.m.
For Group C (sections 7-9): 1:50 -- 2:45 p.m.
Rev. Michael Hintz:
Pastor Michael Hintz has served as the administrator for the WELS Commission on Evangelism since 2002. Prior to this position, he served as a parish pastor in Kenosha, WI and South Bend, IN, and as a missionary to Malawi, Africa. He received ministerial training at Northwestern Prep (1966-70), Northwestern College (1970-74), and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (1974-1978). Mike and his wife Julie, a graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College, were married in June of 1978. They are blessed with four adult children: Angela, Christopher, Paul, and Rachel.
Rev. Earle Treptow:
Pastor Earle Treptow was assigned in 1993 to serve as an exploratory pastor in the suburbs of Vancouver, British Columbia. After four years of working towards the establishment of a mission congregation there, he accepted the call to serve as Director of Admissions for the Pastoral Studies program at Martin Luther College, serving in that role from August, 1997 to October 2002. At that time, he moved to Zion in Denver, where he has the privilege of serving a congregation of 470+ souls. He has also been blessed to teach on two occasions at the seminary of one of our sister church bodies in Nigeria, Africa. He served on the Commission on Parish Schools from 2003 to 2007. He currently serves on the Synodical Council as the Pastor-at-Large.
Rev. Wayne Schulz:
Pastor Wayne Schulz has served congregations in Aberdeen and Rapid City, South Dakota, for 23 years. During those years he was on the District Mission Board, the Home Mission Board, and he served as District President for four years. He was also a member of the Joint Hymnal Commission that produced Christian Worship and he chaired the committee for Christian Worship: Occasional Services. Since 1989 he has been a mission counselor for the Western Wisconsin, Minnesota, Northern Wisconsin, and Dakota-Montana Districts. For the last ten years he has also been privileged to work with Schools of Outreach all across the nation and in Canada and he is part of the editorial board for Mission Connection.
Sophomores
Workshop 1 – Preparing a Personal Witness
This workshop will explore the scriptural warrant for preparing a personal Christian witness, often called a “testimonial.” What are the benefits of such an approach to evangelism? What are the pitfalls to avoid? How can we find opportunities to tell others how much Jesus has done for us—and for them? What makes for an effective personal witness? Class participants will be given the opportunity to prepare their own personal testimony and also the opportunity to share that message with others.
For Group B (sections 4-6): 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group C (sections 7-9): 10:35– 11:30 a.m.
For Group A (sections 1-3): 1:50– 2:45 p.m.
Rev. David Valleskey:
Rev. Valleskey is a graduate of Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Northwestern College, and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He was assigned in 1962 to St. Paul, Livingston, Montana. He accepted a call in 1965 to start a congregation (Apostles Lutheran Church) in San Jose, California. He left San Jose in 1984 upon accepting a call to serve as professor of New Testament and Pastoral Theology, with emphasis in evangelism, at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He served as vice-president of the Seminary from 1985—1996, and as president from 1996—2004. He continued to teach courses in evangelism and the Pastoral Epistles during his presidency. He retired in 2004 and lives in San Marcos, California, with his wife Janice. At present he is serving part-time as pastor of Beautiful Saviour Lutheran Church, Carlsbad, CA. The Valleskeys have three married daughters, all of whom have been or are involved in the WELS teaching ministry. They have ten grandchildren.
Prof. Phil Leyrer:
Prof. Phil Leyrer is a 1980 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College. Prof. Leyrer has served on the faculties of Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School and Lakeside Lutheran High School and as the Minister of Discipleship at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, Middleton, WI. In 2000 he came to MLC where he teaches in the English Division and serves in the administration. He has had the privilege of serving on the Evangelism Committee in a previous congregation and on the Western Wisconsin District’s Evangelism Commission.
Prof. Lawrence Olson:
Prof. Lawrence Olson was the pastor of Peace Ev. Lutheran Church in Loves Park, IL, from 1983 to 1993. Since that time he has been a professor at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN, where he directs the Staff Ministry Program. He also directs the Congregational Assistant Program, which trains individuals to serve as assistants in ministry in their own congregations. Other service to the church has included membership on the National Board of Christian Life Resources, the Wisconsin Lutheran College Board of Regents, and the WELS commission on Youth Discipleship. He was a member and chairman of the Western Wisconsin District Commission on Evangelism. In addition, he served as the chairman for several national conventions for the WELS, two dealing with evangelism and one dealing with Sunday School. From 1989 through 1991 he served two-thirds time as a Parish consultant for the WELS Board for Parish Services, a role that he continues to fill on a part-time basis.
Workshop 2 – Various Witness Methods: Bible Story, Using a tract, Give an Answer,
Come & See More than One Way to Speak of Jesus—In this workshop the student participants will be the teachers, and the leader will be there to learn. Students will be exposed to a wide variety of methods and philosophies for communicating the Word of Christ. They will be asked to respond to these ideas and evaluate which might be most effective in the contexts in which they live and learn.
For Group A (sections 1-3): 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group B (sections 4-6): 10:35– 11:30 a.m.
For Group C (sections 7-9): 1:50– 2:45 p.m.
Prof. Mark Paustian:
Prof. Mark Paustian was assigned out of seminary to an “exploratory
outreach mission field” in Rockford, IL, where he served for 12 ½ years, through the first building project of “New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church.” He has since published two books addressed to the questions that seekers and skeptics often ask Christians, titled, Prepared to Answer and More Prepared to Answer.
Rev. Jeff Limpert:
Rev. Jeffrey Limpert graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1987. He has served the following congregations: Trinity—Town of Berlin, Merrill, WI, 1987- 1992; Abiding Faith—Pinehurst, TX, 1992-1996, Christ the King—Crockett, TX, 1993-1996 (Additional call: Exploratory group start); and Christ Our Rock—Rochester, MN 1996 to the present. He has served on the Board of Control of Northland Lutheran High School, the Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service Regional Steering Committee, the South Central District Evangelism Commission, the South Central District Mission Board, and the Early Childhood Ministries Task Force for BHM and Parish Schools. He currently is chairman of the Minnesota District Evangelism Commission, serving from 1997 to the present.
Rev. Roger Knepprath:
Rev. Roger Knepprath began his evangelism training in the inner city of Milwaukee as a senior vicar for Jerusalem congregation. It was used extensively in a growing parish area between Milwaukee and Chicago and in the downtown of Canada’s Capitol (sic), Ottawa, ON. He has served as pastor in Redwood Falls, MN. He currently serves as the pastor of St. Paul’s in North Mankato. He has served both the North Atlantic and Minnesota District Evangelism Committees over the past ten years.
Juniors
Workshop 1 – Christian Leadership
Will you be a leader? Volumes have been written on the topic of leadership. But what is biblical leadership? What does it mean that “leadership has less to do with position and more to do with disposition?” This workshop will answer these questions and others as you contemplate your future as a leader.
For Group E (sections 4-6): 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group F (sections 7- 9) 10:35– 11:30 a.m.
For Group D (sections 1-3) 1:50 – 2:45 p.m.
Rev. James Mattek:
Rev. James Mattek is currently CEO of Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service, Inc. He oversees a nursing home, assisted living facility and an independent retirement facility. He also oversees a team of WELS counselors, which includes 2 PhD psychologists, as well as Ministry Support Services which serves WELS clergy with their personal, mental and spiritual issues. WLCFS is also developing a family ministry program called "Faith Stepping Stones" and a teen program called "Peer Leadership Training". He served Immanuel of Findlay, OH for the first 17 years of his ministry. He then served for five years as pastor at Trinity, Watertown, WI. He served the WELS as chairman of the Governing Board at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and as a member of the Board for Ministerial Education. He is married with four children... [Mattek is connected with Church and Change through the WLCFS board - where Don Patterson is also a board member. Patterson is the stealth link in the C and C network.]
Principal Paul Hartwig:
Principal Paul Hartwig has served Fox Valley Lutheran High School
in various capacities since 1979. He was a teacher and coach for the first six years, and then was the assistant principal until accepting the Call to be principal in 1991. Prior to FVL, he was a tutor/coach at one of the prep schools, and then Immanuel, Greenville’s Minister of Education and first principal of a school he started there in the 1970’s. He serves on our synod’s Commission for Parish Schools, is an associate consultant for Parish Assistance and a consultant for the Forward with Lutheran Schools program. He also serves as an MLC adjunct professor for their Leadership Series and as an adjunct professor for Concordia Universty (WI) in the educational leadership program. He is past-president of both the WELS Association of Lutheran Educators and the Association of Lutheran High Schools. He is married (wife Carie) and the father of four adult children.
Rick Loewen:
Rick Loewen serves as a staff minister. He spent three years as the Youth and Family Minister on the Apache Reservation. He spent the next year mentoring an Apache couple who are now serving there. He was then called by Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service (WLCFS) to be a presenter for Christian Leadership Training;. He was then called to serve as the Executive Director of Ministries for WLCFS. This position oversees both Christian Leadership and Ministry Support Services. [Loewen is connected to Church and Change through VP Don Patterson.]
Workshop 2 – Facilitating Change in a Congregation/School to do (more) Outreach
The world in which we are carrying out the Lord’s work has changed. Many WELS congregations have plateaued and declined. How do we help our congregations and
schools to make changes necessary to reach more people with the Gospel. This unit
discusses the things you need to know and understand to facilitate the changes needed to become a missional church or school.
For Group D (sections 1-3): 9:30 -- 10:25 a.m.
For Group E (sections 4-6): 10:35– 11:30a.m.
For Group F (sections 7-9): 1:50 -- 2:45 p.m.
Rev. Dr. Ron Heins:
Dr. Ron Heins has served as a high school and college teacher, author, guest lecturer, campus pastor, home missionary, senior pastor, superintendent of the Wisconsin Lutheran High School Conference, full-time consultant to congregations in North America, developing and directing WELS Parish Assistance for the Wisconsin Ev. Lutheran Synod and now as a consultant specialist to congregations. Beyond the normal training for a WELS pastor, he has done doctoral work both in the field of communication and in the field of church management plus many seminars. He and his wife have four grown children. Ron and his wife Mary, a professor at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, live in Wauwatosa, WI.
Rev. Elton Stroh:
Pastor Elton Stroh grew up on a farm near Tappen, ND. He was assigned from the seminary to start a mission congregation in Kansas City, MO and served there for seven years. He then became the senior pastor of Peace, Sun Prairie, WI and served in that capacity for seventeen years, during which a preschool and elementary school were started. For the past four years he has served as a consultant with WELS Parish Assistance and has just become the director of this vital ministry.
Rev. Bruce Becker:
Rev. Bruce Becker graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1982.
He served Our Savior Lutheran Church, an exploratory mission start, in Springville, New York from 1982 to 1987. From 1987-1995 he served as team leader (administrative pastor) for Trinity in Brillion, WI. From 1995-2002, he served as an administrator for WELS Adult Discipleship. In January, 2003 he accepted the call to serve as administrator for WELS Parish Services. As Parish Services team leader he is currently responsible for coordinating the ministry of WELS Evangelism, Worship, Youth Discipleship, Parish Schools, Adult Discipleship, Special Ministries, and Parish Assistance. He also conducts leadership workshops for WELS leaders all across the synod. [Board Member, Church and Change]
Seniors
Workshop 1 – Welcoming People to Our Churches and Schools
Ideally, all guests and visitors at our churches and schools would have an interest in learning about what we believe, and we would immediately enroll them in a basic doctrine course so they can learn about what Jesus has done for all and have the certainty of eternal life. Then we would move them into deeper Bible study so they could grow in the various aspects of Christian living. But the reality is that guests and visitors, especially worship guests and visitors, come for a variety of reasons. How do we maintain the integrity of Lutheran worship in our churches and Lutheran education in our schools while also making guests and visitors feel welcome? This workshop is designed to address that issue.
For Group E (sections 4-6): 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group F (sections 7-9): 10:35 – 11:30 a.m.
For Group D (sections 1-3): 1:50-- 2:45 p.m.
Steve Granberg:
Steven Granberg began his ministry with his assignment to Pilgrim in Minneapolis in 1986. He served there for eight years, the last six of which were as principal. He then served as principal at Apostles in San Jose for ten years. Both Pilgrim and Apostles utilize their schools as outreach tools, and both strive to connect with people in their neighborhood and community. He is currently in his second year as principal of Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School in Jackson, WI. He also serves on the synod’s Commission on Parish Schools.
Jim Brandt:
Jim Brandt was born in the Midwest, and is married with three sons. His wife, Kathy, teaches at Pilgrim Lutheran School in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, where they make their family home. He serves as administrator for the WELS Commission on Parish Schools, and is a 1985 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College. He received a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in 1995. Jim spent 17 years in parish education, serving as teacher, principal, and school system administrator for Lutheran schools in Wisconsin, California, and Illinois. His most recent parish call was principal of St. Mark’s Lutheran School in Citrus Heights, CA. Jim’s service to WELS includes five years as a member of the Committee for India Missions. He is coauthor of the school ministry planning booklet Positioning Lutheran Schools for Outreach.
Workshop 2 – Strategies for Congregations and Schools to Reach the Un-churched
Our Strategies Workshop begins with the understanding that the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has given us saving faith in our Savior and has also put into our hearts a longing to share him with others, especially those who live in our community. We understand that choosing not to reach the lost and un-churched is not an option for believers. Participants will be given tools to assess the community, so that they might understand the people living near them. We will discuss a number of tools that congregations and school might use to make connections with their un-churched neighbors (a list with more ideas will also be distributed). Finally, participants will work as teams to develop specific real life approaches to the New Ulm community which they will seek to carry out during the remainder of the school year.
For Group D (sections 1-3): 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group E (sections 4-6): 10:35 – 11:30 a.m.
For Group F (sections 7-9): 1:50 – 2:45 p.m.
Rev. John Huebner:
Pastor John Huebner served a mission congregation from 1970-1978 in Dexter, Michigan. The congregation soon became a self-supporting one and then started a Christian elementary school which served more than 40 students when Pastor Huebner left. From there he was called to start a new mission church in Sarasota, FL. That congregation began with about a dozen persons holding services in a funeral home, and then was so blessed by our Lord that it became self-supporting in seven years and ended up going through three major building and expansion programs, with worship attendance of about 200/Sunday at the time that Pastor Huebner was called to be the WELS NE Region Mission Counselor in 1995. As Mission Counselor he serves missions, missionaries and other congregations from Michigan to Kentucky to North Carolina to eastern Canada. [Board Member, Church and Change]
Rev. Mark Birkkholz:
In the summer of 1983 he began exploratory mission work with a "core" of six families in the NE suburbs of Denver. That effort eventually blossomed into a congregation of 500 souls that helped to "spin off" two daughter congregations. Along the way the way the congregation was very much involved with starting up Rocky Mountain Lutheran High School---RMLHS met in Lord of Life's facilities during its first academic year. The congregation also began its own pre-school and elementary school, both of which have attracted significant numbers of unchurched families. In 2006 he accepted a call to work with the members of Grace Lutheran Church in Grenada. Part of that call involved laying the foundation for a Lutheran elementary school. In the fall of 2007 he accepted a call to serve as a mission counselor in four of the synod's
thirteen mission districts.
Rev. Joel Schulz:
Pastor Joel Schulz was assigned to plant a mission church in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, in 1999. Today he is the pastor of that mission church: Cross of Life. The church is run out of the homes of his family and others, and they gather for worship in the local school gym. He serves on the District Mission Board and the Evangelism Commission for the North Atlantic District.
Fifth Year
Workshop One: Equipping Others for Sharing their Faith
God willing, you will soon be called to be full-time gospel ministers, spiritual leaders in the Christian congregation. Part of your leadership involves helping, encouraging, and training God’s saints to share their faith with others. What will your equipping of others for evangelism look like? What skills and qualities will you be looking for in yourself and in the people you are training? This workshop has as its goal to inform and encourage you in this vital part of public gospel ministry.
For Group G: 1:50 – 2:45 p.m.
For Group H: 10:35-11:30 a.m.
Prof. Daniel Leyrer is a 1985 graduate of Northwestern College and a 1989 graduate of
Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. After serving in mission settings in Salem, Oregon, and Marietta, Ohio, Prof. Leyrer was called to serve at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1998. A teacher of New Testament and Pastoral Theology, Prof. Leyrer has responsibility for formal evangelism instruction at the Seminary. Prof. Leyrer serves the church at large as chairman of the WELS Congregational Assistant Program; advisor to WELS Commission on Evangelism; member of WELS Communication Services Commission; and theological editor of Forward In Christ magazine. In 1986 Prof. Leyrer was married to his wife Leah. The Lord has blessed them with three
daughters
Workshop 2: Fostering a Christian Worldview in a Post-Christian Culture
For Group G: 9:30 – 10:25 a.m.
For Group H: 1:50 – 2:45 p.m.
Rev. Donn Dobberstein serves Our Savior’s, Port Orange, FL, where over 60% of the members come from non-WELS backgrounds. He is a member of the WELS Commission on Evangelism and is on the staff that conducts weekend Schools of Outreach.
"FOSTERING A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW IN A POST-CHRISTIAN CULTURE:
Alarming ideas are gripping our culture. "Political correctness" is seeping into the head of the average person on the very streets Christ is calling us to proclaim him. This workshop is meant to help students understand the climate and culture they are stepping into, and instill an urgency to unleash the ageless gospel as sufficient alone!
Electives:
For Groups D, E, F, G and H: 11:40 – 12:40 a.m.
For Groups A, B, and C: 12:40 – 1:40 p.m.
Lunch for groups A,B, and C is from 11:40 a.m to 12:40 p.m. For groups D,E,F, G and
H, lunch is from 12:40 to 1:40 p.m. During lunch hour, you are invited to visit the
displays set up in the commons area of the student union. These displays will also be
available for viewing in the afternoon and evening.
Students and faculty may go to one elective.
Elective 1: Starting a school in an urban or multi-cultural area: Ben Clemons.
Benjamin Clemons is the principal of Risen Savior Lutheran School, an urban outreach school, in Milwaukee, WI, which he helped open in 2003. With nine faculty members (and countless volunteers), Risen Savior serves almost 120 students from 4 year old
Kindergarten to Fifth grade, and there are plans to expand the school up to Eighth
grade over the next several years.
The Joy of Urban Ministry (No boring days here!)
Starting a school in an urban or multi-cultural area requires time, energy, patience, and most of all faith in the power of the Word. While the days can seem long, and exhaustion great, the joys and rewards are even greater. Come to hear practical advice and encouraging accounts for anyone interested in urban ministry.
Elective 2: Perspectives of a Public School Teacher: Carolee Alfred
Carolee Alfred grew up in Bloomington, Minnesota and attended Bloomington Lutheran School and St. Croix Lutheran High School. She attended Bethany Lutheran College and
received her teaching degree in 1990 from Mankato State University. She spent two years teaching in Elko, Nevada. She currently teaches first grade at GFW Elementary in Gibbon, MN. She has taught there since 1992.
What is it like inside the walls of a public school?
Probably very similar to the experiences you have or will have in our own WELS schools...MINUS one very important thing. How do you incorporate the one essential item into your everyday teaching? We will try to answer this question by looking at an average day in the public school classroom.
Elective 3: Work in a multi-cultural setting: Midori Yamaki.
Minori Yamaki graduated from MLC in 2002 and was assigned to St. Matthew’s in Niles,
IL, a suburb located northwest of Chicago. It is a multicultural community. “My first assignment was to teach English preschool and kindergarten. I had students from 14 different cultures in my classroom! I began a morning Japanese preschool program. God continues to bless my ministry. The Japanese program has expanded to two sessions!”
God has a perfect plan for you.
Encouragement that God will use you in the way He knows best! There are many times in life when it could be easy to feel like things are not working out for you, or like you simply aren’t that important. This presentation will remind you that God can use you in unexpected ways---in His way.
Elective 4: Responding to homosexuals: Rev. Tom Trapp
Rev. Tom Trapp is the WELS campus pastor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has served in campus ministry for over 30 years. Students from many different faiths and races attend Wisconsin Lutheran Chapel each week. "It's like preaching on Mars Hill every Sunday and Wednesday," he says. The mission fields are white in Madison and people are responding to God's life-changing Word at the Chapel. In February, 2006 a new 26,000 sq. ft. Chapel-Student Center was dedicated and intentionally designed to do outreach to the neighborhood students (American and international). Every month hundreds of students (many not of our faith) make use of our new facility, pick up free Bibles, seek counsel and biblical guidance. Pastor Trapp has written articles for Forward in Christ, Meditations, church conferences and served on the WELS Campus Ministry Committee for ten years.
"How To Share Christ With A Person Living a Homosexual Lifestyle"
Hear a live interview with a WELS member who left the homosexual Lifestyle and found peace in Christ. She will share ways to communicate Christ with Christian and non-Christian classmates, friends, co-workers and relatives who are struggling with this temptation. A Q&A time is scheduled and biblical resource materials will be available.
Elective 5: Evangelism in times of Crisis: Prof. Ross Stelljes
Rev. Ross Stelljes is a 1989 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. Since then he has served for two years as a tutor at Northwestern College in Watertown, WI; four years at a dual parish in southeast MN (Zion, Hokah; Immanuel, rural La Crescent); twelve years at Living Savior, Littleton, CO (which was an exploratory start-up, located in the Columbine community); and the past year as admissions counselor here at MLC.
Evangelism in times of crisis
“God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform” (CW 420:1). This includes times of crisis, which often prove to be wonderful evangelism opportunities. From my experience as a mission pastor in Littleton, CO, I intend to explore this truth, both from the perspective of personal crises (in the lives of members, prospective members, and even called workers) and also from the perspective of a community-wide crisis, specifically, the Columbine High School shooting (What outreach opportunities were there? Did we seize them? In hindsight, what could we have done differently/better?).
Elective 6: Evangelism Flops: Profs. Sellnow, Doug Lange, Wessel, Paustian
David SellnowProf. Sellnow began evangelistic work in his college days as part of travel-canvass-witness teams. Later, in ministry positions, he was engaged in outreach efforts in Houston, inner city Milwaukee, the outskirts of Tulsa, and then Lubbock TX. He served a mission-oriented congregation in Lubbock, where he also was involved in student ministry and outreach on the campus of Texas Tech University.
Douglas Lange
Prof. Lange was assigned in 1982 to be the first pastor of a new mission in Russellville AR. During his five years in Russellville, Lange was literally a "circuit riding" pastor, getting congregations started in several Arkansas cities: Fayetteville, Mountain Home, and Hot Springs, as well as serving as vacancy pastor in Little Rock for about a year.
Mark Paustian
Prof. Paustian was assigned out of seminary to an "exploratory outreach mission field" in
Rockford IL, where he served for 12½ years, through the first building project of "New Life Evangelical Lutheran Church." He has since published two books addressed to the questions that seekers and skeptics often ask Christians, titled, Prepared to Answer and MORE
Prepared to Answer.
Keith Wessel
Prof. Wessel's parish ministry experience has all been outside of the Midwest, in missionminded churches: as vicar at Christ the Lord, Houston TX (involved also in an outreach mission in Sugarland TX), and then as pastor at Beautiful Savior, Marietta, GA from 1994- 2002, which included doing groundwork for a new mission in the Dallas GA area, now called Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church.
Evangelism Flops: What to learn from them, a panel discussion.
Doing the work of an evangelist can be frustrating and deeply humbling. In this panel
discussion, you will hear stories “from the front lines,” from men whose parish ministry included much evangelistic endeavor … not all of which turned out so well. In addition to hearing vignettes and perspectives about the difficulties of evangelism work, participants in this elective will have opportunity to engage the panelists with questions.
Elective 7: Using early childhood Ministries/Preschools for Evangelism: Dana Leyrer.
Dana Leyrer is a 1995 graduate of Dr. Martin Luther College. She began teaching at Atonement Lutheran in Milwaukee, 5th grade for the first year and 3rd grade for the next three years. In 2000 she accepted a Call to teach Kindergarten at St. John's Lutheran School in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Her husband, David, also teaches 6th grade at St. John's. The Leyrer family resides in Wauwatosa and have 4 children.
Developing a Harvest Strategy from Preschool to School Many WELS congregations have developed strong early childhood programs, but they find it difficult to help young families make the transition from the preschool to the elementary school. Come and learn what one congregation is doing to bridge that gap and also how to develop an effective harvest strategy from your preschool to your school.
Elective 8: Evangelism in Spanish Language
Seth Haakenson serves as Pastor for Hispanic Ministry at Risen Savior Lutheran Church on Milwaukee’s northwest side. Prior to his work at Risen Savior he served as a Vicar in Puerto Rico and as a Missionary to the Dominican Republic. His childhood was spent growing up eleven blocks from the Arizona-Mexican border in a small town called Douglas. It was there that he attended public high school. His ministerial training took place at Martin Luther College from which he graduated in 2000 and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary from which he graduated in 2004. Pastor Haakenson’s current area of focus involves establishing a new Spanish speaking congregation within an already established English speaking congregation.
DOING EVANGELISM IN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: What can you expect when
your neighborhood requires it?
This presentation will highlight the pitfalls and God-given successes of reaching out to the Hispanic community around Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI. Doing evangelism in our own English language is hard enough work. Now try it in a foreign language without a core group of people to start from. What are some of the obstacles you will face when working in a secondary language? More importantly, what are the joys? Come and listen to first hand experiences from one pastor still working at figuring it all out. While at times frustrating, at other times exhilarating, and yet at all times humbling, this is one area of ministry within the United States that won’t be going away any time soon.
Elective 9: Hope Schools of Milwaukee: Kole Knueppel
Kole Knueppel is the superintendent of HOPE Christian Schools, a network of Lutheran, college preparatory schools in Milwaukee’s central city. Under Kole’s leadership HOPE has grown from serving just under 100 students in 2003-2004 to an enrollment today of over 500 students on three campuses. Prior to arriving at HOPE, he led, along with Henry Tyson, the revival of St. Marcus Lutheran School, increasing enrollment from 90 students to 250 and achieving outstanding academic results. Kole is a presenter nationally and internationally on urban educational issues. He is also currently working toward completion of his Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. “Urban Transformation Through Gospel Action: The Story of the HOPE Schools” Learn about principles and practices to inspire and transform children and families living in poverty through the activity of the Gospel. We will focus primarily on issues related to education, but will discuss the broader implications of living the Gospel in our interaction with families who are battling through difficult circumstances.
Elective 10: Worship and Evangelism: Rev. Mark Bitter
Rev. Mark Bitter served two years as a graduate tutor at Northwestern Preparatory School. He served as associate pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in South Milwaukee, WI, and as a mission pastor at Crown of Life Lutheran Church in New Orleans, LA. From 1985-1990 he left the parish ministry to serve as the Dean of Students at Northwestern Preparatory School. In 1990 Pastor Bitter accepted a call from the South Central District Mission Board to do exploratory work in The Woodlands, TX. For the past 17 years he has been the pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in The Woodlands. In the South Central district he has served as District Worship Coordinator, First Vice President, and currently as Second Vice President. Since 1999 he has served as the chairman of the WELS Commission on Worship and a member of the WELS Board for Parish Services, of which he is currently vice president. In his community Pastor Bitter has been the president of the Board of Directors of The Woodlands Symphony Orchestra for the past 5 years.
Worship and Evangelism
Many church shoppers make their decision about a church based on what happens in the sanctuary on Sunday morning. Evangelism has been placed on the doorstep of worship. That leaves WELS churches between a rock and a hard place. Or does it? Imagine visiting a church where each one of the worshipers is wrapped up in the worship, where the person next to you is confessing his sinfulness, and you can tell that he’s not just reciting words, where fathers and mothers are taking to heart the precious promises of God, and their faces are beaming because of the good news, where children are listening intently, where people are singing with all their hearts, and you can tell that what they are doing means the world to them. Would you go back to a church like that? Guests may not understand everything we do in worship. They may not understand the meaning of a hymn or the significance of the Lord’s Supper, but they know joy when they see it. And they also know what it means when they see others seeking the face of God, while I’m seeking the face of my wristwatch. Whether or not the guest in the pew next to me comes back next Sunday might strongly depend on the impression I give. This elective will focus on encouraging genuine and compelling worship
Elective 11: Gospel Outreach to people with developmental disabilities. Steve Balza. Steve Balza serves on the WELS Special Education Services Committee and has been involved with gospel ministry to individuals with developmental disabilities for nearly 10 years. He has coordinated a Jesus Cares Ministry in his congregation, assisted in the development of The Lutheran Home Association’s Summer Ministry Experience program, and volunteered as a special needs camp counselor. Having taught in both WELS and ELS schools, Steve is currently serving as the Director of Alumni Relations here at MLC.
Gospel Outreach to People with Developmental Disabilities
In a fast-paced world where calendars are packed with activities, where scripture study and worship attendance are often shoved aside, a large segment of our population is yearning for such opportunities and eager to become part of a faith community. It is estimated that about 1.5% of Americans (4,500,000) have a developmental disability. These precious souls are an enormous mission field ripe for the gospel. This session will provide an overview of the vast amount of resources available to assist you and your congregation in finding these people and sharing the message of salvation through Jesus with them.
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Elective 12: Youth work at the Lighthouse Youth Center: Jim Buske
Pastor James Buske serves as the executive director of Lighthouse Youth Center, a mission outreach to unchurched youth ages 10-18. God has blessed LYC with over 200 youth making use of the facility in the first year. Seventy youths have attended at least one worship service and six have been baptized! [Buske was one of the pastors, with Ski and Parlow, who went to hear Babtist Andy Stanley at Drive 08.]
Lighthouse Youth Center—The Next Generation in Youth Ministry Outreach
Struggling to reach out to your teens and unchurched youth? Is your congregation looking for its place in the community? Then check out what a new ministry in the Northwest corner of Milwaukee is doing to make connections with its community and youth. Lighthouse Youth Center is a non-profit mission outreach that is a “beacon for Christ” as it links inner city youth with their Savior. It’s a safe structured place for youth to gather, have fun, meet new people, receive Christian mentorship and build a relationship with Jesus!
SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY AFTER 2:45 P.M.
Meeting between advisors and advisees: 2:55– 3:15. Advisors and advises will meet to
discuss the events of the day and consider ways to apply what was learned. Questions for discussion will be supplied.
Evening Meal: Presenters, faculty and spouses, and students are invited to a reception in the cafeteria after chapel. This will offer opportunity for faculty and students to meet the presenters and to discuss any matters of interest with them.
A block schedule for the day is printed on the bottom of the page.
8:30 – 9:15 Opening Worship
9:30– 10:25 Workshop 2
for Groups A,D, G
Workshop 1
for Groups B & E
Keynote address
for Groups C, F, H
10:35– 11:30 Keynote address
for Groups A,D,G
Workshop 2
for Groups B & E
Workshop 1
for Groups C, F, H
11:40 – 12:40 Lunch for Groups A, B, C
Visit Displays
Electives for Groups D, E, F , G and H
12:40– 1:40 Electives for Groups A, B, C Lunch for Groups D, E,
F,G, and H
Visit Displays
1:50 – 2:45 Workshop 1
for Groups A,D,G
Keynote address
for Groups B & E
Workshop 2
for Groups C,F, H
2:55 – 3:15 Advisors and advisees meet in small groups to discuss the events of the dayand consider ways to apply the information
