652 – A Is For Amazing

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This week’s WELSTech focus is missions as Marissa Krogmann from WELS Missions Promotion office shares details about an upcoming virtual event and more. Martin’s got just the ticket to take your OneNote use to the next level, and we’ll talk through 7 pages which should be on your church website. Ready, set, play!

The interview

Amazing Missions – Marissa Krogmann, Missions Promotions Manager for WELS, shares her excitement about the work of WELS Home and World Missions with Martin and Sallie. In particular, learn about the upcoming Taste of Missions virtual event, happening July 11-17, 2021.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

7 Best Pages to Include on Your Church Website

Community feedback

WELS now

Get involved

651 – Let’s Grow

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This week on WELSTech we take a deep dive into the topic of school marketing with a great interview and discussion on the topic. Guest hosts Rachel and Jason have the perfect tools for designing your next social media post. Crisis planning resources and a call for presenters round out the episode.

The interview and discussion

Dana Kirchoff joins Martin and Sallie to discuss the roots of school marketing – knowing your community and their needs so schools can strategically design programs and communication to meet the needs.

WELSTech’s edtech gurus, Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College and Jason Schmidt from the Oconto Falls School District, also share their perspective on school and church marketing and social media.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

One By One Bible Study

Community feedback

WELS now

WELS National Education Conference

  • Happening June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI
  • Call for Presenters – deadline May 31, 2021

Get involved

650 – Forms Are Your Friend

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Tune in to WELSTech this week for information on church and school communication using online forms. Martin and Sallie share retro picks of the week plus community feedback.  And you’ll want to grab a link to the Martin Luther College Holy Week devotions … in song!

The discussion

Contact Us – Martin and Sallie discuss online forms for churches and schools – the tools, the rules, the data to collect.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

7 integrated online forms your church should be using this summer

Community feedback

WELS now

Martin Luther College Holy Week Devotions – My Song Is Love Unknown

Next time

Guests hosts, education technology, and school marketing are on the horizon!

Get involved

649 – Great City Network

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This week’s WELSTech includes a look at the offerings of Great City Network and the wrap up of The Post-Quarantine Church book discussion. There’s also chat about a Lenten podcast, texting in church, online giving, and capturing parent’s attention as they search online for school options.

The interview

Outside-the-box urban ministry – Pastor Kent Reeder from Illume Church, Seattle, WA and Dan Jaspersen, curator, join us to discuss the formation and three-fold vision of Great City Network – collaborating, training, and skill sharing.

The book discussion

From challenges to opportunities – Martin and Sallie finish their discussion of The Post-Quarantine Church  by Thom Rainer.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

Heart to heart: parent conversations series – Audio and video

WELS now

Jesus’ Passion – 40 days of Bible readings with commentary by Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Professor Stephen Geiger, available in audio podcast and video formats. Here’s a sample:

Community feedback

Next time

WELS has a new Contact Us form and perhaps your church or school needs something similar.

Get involved

648 – Luck Is The Residue Of Design

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We’re breaking tradition to bring you WELSTech on a Thursday this week, but no worries. The “hit parade” is here, just like always! Listen for details on NDI video streaming, unique opportunities to consider as your congregation emerges from the pandemic, a bit of basketball, suspended suspenders, and so much more. Join the conversation!

The interview

NDI video streaming – Teacher Justin Liepert from Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, WI shares details of their recent live streaming hardware upgrades.

The book discussion

The Post-Quarantine Church – Martin and Sallie continue the discussion of Thom Rainer’s book, specifically covering chapters 3, 4 and 5.  Read along and perhaps share and discuss in your congregations.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

Finalweb 2.0 YouTube playlist

Community feedback

WELS now

Marriage Moments now in the WELS app

Next time

Pastor Kent Reeder and Dan Jaspersen share details about a new church communication initiative they are launching, and we wrap up our Post-Quarantine Church book discussion.

Get involved

647 – Rachel and Jason EdTech Favorites

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WELSTech welcomes guest hosts Rachel and Jason for a discussion of our favorite edtech resources. Plus we share picks, events, discussions, and reports to supplement your tech-in-ministry efforts!

The discussion

The best in edtech – Our WELSTech edtech gurus extraordinaire – Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College and Jason Schmidt from the Oconto Falls School District – are back, and the discussion centers on our favorite edtech content.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

Sign up for the Learning with Google event – February 17 from 2 to 3:30 pm Central

Community feedback

WELS now

WELS annual report

Next time

Coming up in two weeks, teacher Justin Liepert is in the interview chair and Martin and Sallie talk about the post-quarantine church.

Get involved

646 – The Post-Quarantine Church

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Happy 13th anniversary to WELSTech! Today’s show includes a new book discussion, changes to Facebook, Edge browser features which may convert you, online collaboration resources for teachers and more. Join the celebration/conversation!

The discussion

To kick off the new year of podcasting, Martin and Sallie start a new book discussion of The Post-Quarantine Church by Thom Rainer.  Today’s show covers the introduction and chapters 1 & 2. We know the pandemic will end at some point and we want the church to be ready to operate in the new normal which emerges. Read along and perhaps share and discuss in your congregations.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource + WELS now

From the Lutheran Schools Office

Community feedback

Next time

Edtech is center stage as we welcome back Prof. Rachel Feld & Jason Schmidt to the guest host chairs.

Get involved

645 – Looking Back At 2020

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WELSTech wraps up year 13 of podcasts with a review of highlights from this pandemic year!

The discussion

Unprecedented – Martin and Sallie consider the blessings (and challenges) of tech in ministry as we close out 2020, a year like no other.

Events

Episode titles

Photos

Ministry resources

Interviews:

Picks of the week

Get involved

644 – Five Below Cables

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WELSTech is back with the final installment of our Atomic Habits book discussion as well as an interview about cyber security training for children. Martin and Sallie make their last picks of 2020, and we learn about captioning video calls. The beautiful Christmas concert from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary closes this last podcast before Christmas, and we send our best wishes to WELSTech listeners for a joyous celebration of our Savior’s birth.

The discussion

Make It Satisfying – Just in time to apply to the new year, Martin and Sallie finish their book discussion of Atomic Habits by James Clear with a look at the 4th law and taking your habits from good to great.

Join us in January for our next book discussion of The Post-Quarantine Church by Thom Rainer.

The interview

Security education – MLC second-career staff ministry student Mike Tracy shares his experience in cyber security training, and, in particular, his thoughts on training children about information security.

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

How to Add Closed Captions to a Video Call

Community feedback

WELS now

Creating digital side doors featuring Pastor Peter Hagen and the Raised with Jesus podcast from the December Forward in Christ magazine.

Enjoy the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Christmas concert.

Next time

2020 is drawing to a close, and that means it’s time to look back at some of our favorite WELSTech moments of the year.

Get involved

643 – Mind Candy

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Tune in to this week’s WELSTech for a great discussion of the 3rd Law of Atomic Habits. Stay tuned in for a little bit of Elon, Van Gogh, virtual team building, and hymn previews plus lots more WELSTech goodness to enhance your public and personal ministry efforts!

The discussion

Reduce friction – Martin and Sallie return to the book discussion of James Clear’s Atomic Habits, this week focusing on the 3rd Law, Make It Easy (chapters 11-14).  Sallie even has a (short) chat with the author!

Picks of the week

Ministry resource

In the Facebook group WELS Educators During COVID-19 and Beyond, Lori Ehlke (St Paul’s, Onalaska, WI) shared an art tutorial video titled Van Gogh Nativity. Check out her YouTube channel for more – Ehlke Art.

Community feedback

WELS now

Christian Worship Hymn Preview

Next time

We wrap up our discussion of Atomic Habits (chapter 15 to the end) and chat with Mike Tracy about cyber security training for schools.

Get involved