Title Slide

WELS ANNUAL REPORT 2014

CHRIST’S LOVE,OUR CALLING

CHRIST’S LOVE,OUR CALLING

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

“The synod” is a spiritual family united in a mission to share the Savior faithfully and efficiently across the world.

I pray this annual report gives you a glimpse of God’s blessings on our common mission, reminds you of the privilege we have to do that work, and encourages in you a zeal to participate.

CREATING MINISTRY CONNECTIONSWELS facilitated the connection of Peter Bur, a South Sudanese man enrolled in our synod’s Pastoral Studies Institute, with other South Sudanese men in the U.S. and Ethiopia, and with the head of the Lutheran seminary in Ethiopia.

As a result, a number of WELS pastors have begun training South Sudanese men in the U.S., and South Sudanese men who are refugees in Ethiopia are growing in their understanding of the gospel on the way to becoming Lutheran pastors.

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

Rev. E. Allen Sorum of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary’s Pastoral Studies Institute (PSI), Peter Bur (back row, third from the left), and another South Sudanese PSI student recently visited with five South Sudanese pastors in Ethiopia.

RUSSIAN ORDINATIONS

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

On Easter 2014 two native Russians were ordained and installed as pastors—the only two national pastors for the 312-member church body. “It’s just a new chapter for the church—to have the Russians in charge and leading,” says Rev. Larry Schlomer, administrator of the Board for World Missions.

WORLD MISSIONS Has a presence in 23 different countries Serves 76,500 baptized members in Lutheran churches Serves 52,000 more souls through correspondence

and workshops Is training 170 men to become pastors in their own

countries Is assisting national pastors to train hundreds of

people to be congregational leaders in their home countries

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

WORLD MISSIONS Is exploring outreach possibilities in five additional

countries Supports 41 missionaries, 9 teachers, and more

than 70 lay workers in our missions Produces digital and print materials for more than

45 different languages through Multi-Language Publications

Maintains www.wels.net/missions to tell WELS members about the amazing work being done

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

HOME MISSIONS Called to proclaim God’s Word in English-speaking

North America Includes campus and multi-cultural ministries

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADASaviour of the Nations, Vancouver, British Columbia held its first worship service in March 2009 but for most of its existence has shared a pastor with two other congregations and only had a pastor to lead worship services once a month. The congregation is excited to now receive funding from Home Missions to fully staff its ministry and move forward on the opportunities that it feels God is placing before it.

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

MINOT, NORTH DAKOTAGrace, Minot, N.D. began worshipping together in the mid-90s, served 1-3 times per month by pastors living hours away. With the influx of people to the state due to the energy boom, WELS Home Missions authorized funding for full-time pastor Nate Walther. Walther says, “You have no idea how much your prayers and support mean to us. Thank you.”

CALLED TO PROCLAIM

MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE, New Ulm, Minn.MLC student Rachel Brokmeier spent her summer at St. John, Wood Lake, Minn., paid by the congregation to give free music lessons to the community. On the way to the piano at the front of the church one student asked about the Bibles and hymnals, and Rachel was able to talk to him about Jesus. The boy and his siblings later returned to attend the church’s VBS.

CALLED TO PREPARE

MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE, New Ulm, Minn. Training for pastors, teachers, and staff ministers; offers

continuing education for called workers Enrollment: 727 students on campus; 120 in graduate

program Office of Graduate Studies and Continuing Education served

894 people in 2013-14 Master of Science in Educational Administration degree

being created

CALLED TO PREPARE

MARTIN LUTHER COLLEGE, New Ulm, Minn. New Teacher Induction guides beginning teachers

through their first two years of teaching through seminars and mentors

Programs to give students mission experience

CALLED TO PREPARE

WISCONSIN LUTHERAN SEMINARY, Mequon, Wis. Has prepared more than 3,500 pastors since 1863 Offers continuing spiritual and professional growth

opportunities for pastors Pastoral Studies Institute guides and assists non-

traditional students through their pre-seminary and seminary training

CALLED TO PREPARE

LUTHER PREPATORY SCHOOL, Watertown, Wis. and MICHIGAN LUTHERAN SEMINARY, Saginaw, Mich.

Prepare high school students to attend Martin Luther College and serve as called workers

Enrollment: 441 at Luther Prep and 231 at Michigan Lutheran Seminary

Students given opportunities to do ministry on campus or during mission trips, shadow called workers

CALLED TO PREPARE

CALLED TO PREPARE

Luther Preparatory School is celebrating its 150th anniversary. The celebration will culminate with a special worship service on Nov. 15, 2015.

A Michigan Lutheran Seminary student participates in a Taste of Ministry opportunity at Emanuel, Lansing, Mich.

CONGREGATION AND MINISTRY SUPPORT GROUP EVANGELISM: Daily Devotions to nearly 10,000 people, 200th

School of Outreach, third outreach movie by Christmas 2015 LUTHERAN SCHOOLS: online Bible courses for high school

students, support for early childhood ministries, school accreditation

YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY: 1,400 teens and 400 youth leaders attended International Youth Rally in Knoxville, Tenn.

WORSHIP: More than 1,000 attended 2014 national worship conference

CALLED TO SERVE

CONGREGATION AND MINISTRY SUPPORT GROUP ADULT DISCIPLESHIP : Shanna and Tyler Miller

joined 49 other couples in Hood River, Ore., for a weekend in October for a marriage retreat presented by WELS Adult Discipleship. “We loved every minute,” said Tyler. “We loved having the time to focus on each other, as well as sharing our faith with dozens of other like-minded couples seeking to strengthen their marriages.”

CALLED TO SERVE

CONGREGATION AND MINISTRY SUPPORT GROUP SPECIAL MINISTRIES:

Helps churches conquer barriers to ministry like member disabilities and distance from a congregation

Prison Ministry: During any given month 1,700 prisoners were studying the provided Bible study resources

ConquerorsthroughChrist.net helps people who struggle with the temptations of Internet pornography. Since the launch WELS counselors are reporting a marked increase in people seeking help for this temptation.

CALLED TO SERVE

COMMUNICATION SERVICES: Forward in Christ magazine celebrated its 100th anniversary

MINISTRY OF CHRISTIAN GIVING: Optimized online giving site for mobile and added tribute gifts option

CHRISTIAN AID AND RELIEF: Provided $324,000 toward humanitarian aid projects that helped build bridges to proclaim the gospel

TECHNOLOGY: Launched faster, more reliable, and easier version of WELS Mobile app

CALLED TO SERVE

WELS FOUNDATION helps God’s people support WELS gospel ministry at their congregations, schools, synod, and other affiliated ministries through planned gifts.

CALLED TO SUPPORT

WELS INVESTMENT FUNDS provides professionally managed investment portfolios. Currently serving 154 congregations and 33 affiliated organizations.

NORTHWESTERN PUBLISHING HOUSE released Meditations Daily Devotional app, which has been downloaded 20,000 times in 138 countries; has more than 115 e-book titles

CALLED TO SUPPORT

WELS CHURCH EXTENSION FUND provides loans and grants for home missions through funding from gifts and investments from WELS members, congregations, and affiliated organizations. In fiscal year 2013-14, $22.1 million of new loans

and $0.9 million of new grant requests were approved

CEF’s loan portfolio grew to more than $141.5 million with 206 loans to WELS congregations and affiliates

CALLED TO SUPPORT

WELS BENEFIT PLANS Office administers the WELS Voluntary Employees’ Beneficiary Association (VEBA) Health Plan and the WELS Pension Plan. About 80 percent of WELS and ELS calling bodies currently provide this nationwide, long-term health coverage to their workers.

CALLED TO SUPPORT

FINANCIAL PICTURE We thank our gracious God for his many

blessings on WELS ministries In 13-14 congregation mission offerings of $20.9

million, plus $7.7 million from bequests, foundation grants, and gifts from individuals funded $28.6 million of ministry

Due to a reduction in 2014 subscriptions, congregations reconsidered their commitments, resulting in a one percent increase over 2013.

FINANCIAL PICTURE

FINANCIAL PICTURE

WELS IN BRIEF

Third largest Lutheran church body in the United States 1,272 churches 376,177 baptized

members 298,899

communicant members

One of the largest parochial school systems in U.S. 318 elementary

schools 409 early childhood

ministries 23 area Lutheran

high schools

WELS’calling: Nurture the faith of members and spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world

WELS IN BRIEF

• Twelve districts allow for more area-specific ministry

• Member of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference, an organization of 24 confessional church bodies throughout the world

• Headquarters in Waukesha, Wis.

Thank you for your support!

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran SynodN16W23377 Stone Ridge Drive

Waukesha, WI 53188-1108Phone: 414-256-3888

Web site: www.wels.net