720 – Modern Messaging

On this episode of WELSTech, we learn about the tech side of mission outreach via Academia Cristo and TELL Network, including the messaging tool which has had a huge impact on that work. We also share details on a boatload of WELS summer events and classes, plus picks of the week that will have you drawing org charts and getting organized!

The discussion & interview

Mission conversations – Martin and Sallie are joined by Jon Gross, Field Producer for Multi-Language Productions (MLP) Latin America’s Academia Cristo, and Grace Ungemach, Marketing Operations Manager for TELL Network. Jon and Grace share information and blessings about the mission work they support, as well as how Respond.io has positively impacted their broad efforts.

Ministry resources

Summer events

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

We’ll talk AI in the Classroom with Jason & Rachel on the next WELSTech!

Get involved

719 – Leapin’ Through History

We’re celebrating Leap Day WELSTech-style as we leap back in time in 4-year increments to find out what was on the podcast docket on four leap days of the past. We also have details on an upcoming webinar, AI and e-giving picks of the week, and a techie e-newsletter of note!

The discussion

Leap Back with Us – It’s Leap Day 2024, and Martin and Sallie are revisiting four previous leap year’s podcast episodes to check out the topics on our minds and changes over time.

Ministry resources

Register for the upcoming Women’s Ministry webinar – Part 2 of Reviving Relationships Through Biblical Hospitality happening March 7 at 7 pm

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

From WELS Intersections Facebook group

Next time

Jon and Grace from Multi-Language Productions share the global messaging tool that’s having a positive impact on outreach efforts.

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718 – How to Host a Webinar

Webinars may be just the platform your ministry needs to spread a message or host an event. On this episode of WELSTech, we dig into webinar’s purpose and logistics. And we welcome Women’s Ministry to the conversation as executive committee member Rachel Halldorson takes us on a “backstage” tour of their recent webinars. Martin has a pick that will really stick with you, and there’s lots to discuss in WELS Intersections.

The discussion & interview

Webinars 101 – Martin and Sallie are joined by Rachel Halldorson from WELS Women’s Ministry Executive Committee as we discuss what it takes to host ministry-related webinars. The to-to list includes panelist, equipment, promotion, extra hands for moderation and crowd control, and more.

Ministry resources

Women’s Ministry webinars

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

From WELS Intersections Facebook group

Next time

Celebrate Leap Day, WELSTech-style with Martin & Sallie, as we leap back in time in 4-year increments.

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717 – Promptcraft

AI in education and church makes for an interesting WELSTech episode! Tune in for special guest hosts Rachel and Jason and help with crafting and refining useful AI prompts to assist with everything from report card comments to church graphics.

The discussion

PREP and EDIT – Martin and Sallie are joined by edtech gurus Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt to continue the discussion of The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education by Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amanda Fox, and Brad Weinstein. Chapters 6 & 7 are all about the prompts we give AI and what we do with the results.

Ministry resource

Posts on AI for Church from Church Tech Today

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

Women’s Ministry webinars with Rachel Halldorson

Get involved

WELSTech 716: All The Hats

716 – All The Hats

Welcome to WELSTech in 2024! We kick off the new year with a discussion of the challenges around coordinating our many digital personas for work, home, church, and more. NPH has a new book discussion group, Martin has a new-found appreciation of Goodnotes, and we share have a great cheat sheet to get you started with online form creation.

WELSTech 716: All The HatsThe discussion

Staying atop your digital life – From work, home, and church to volunteer responsibilities and extended family, our digital lives overflow with email, tasks, and calendar events. Martin and Sallie discuss their tech solutions for managing and shifting between the varied roles they play.

Ministry resources

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

Our edtech gurus, Rachel and Jason, are back to discuss AI prompts from chapters 6 & 7 of The AI Classroom.

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715 – A Look Back At 2023

Just like that, 2023 draws to a close, and it’s time to wrap up the 16th year of WELSTech! Martin and Sallie reminisce about the year’s best events, ministry resources, interviews, and picks, and look forward to lots more tech-in-ministry goodness in 2024!

Events

Ministry resources

Interviews

Picks of the year

Next time

We kick off the new year with a look ahead at what’s coming on the tech-in-ministry horizon.

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714 – A WELSTech Merry Christmas

The WELSTech Christmas tradition continues as we feature an interview-only show with someone from WELS Headquarters, the Center for Mission and Ministry, to share more about their area of responsibility for WELS. Dan Nommensen, Operations Manager for WELS Congregational Services joins Martin and Sallie to reflect on his first few months on the job and share what’s on the horizon for Congregational Services. Merry Christmas!!

 

The interview

Developing relationships – Martin and Sallie chat with Dan Nommensen, Operations Manager for WELS Congregational Services, on the new role he is filling, the 35,000 video meetings he’s attended since July, and the beacon of light each believer can be, reflecting our love for Christ!

Next time

The spotlight shines on the best of WELSTech in 2023.

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713 – Enough With The Boxes!

Wonderful … Creative … Verbose? This episode of WELSTech features a talent boost that’s sure to entertain while it educates! We’re sharing what we’ve learned about AI during our book discussion with our special guest edtech correspondents. There’s also a special Advent treat, picks to improve your productivity and video production, plus a couple of cool videos explaining multi-grade classrooms.

The discussion

Ped-AI-gogy – Martin and Sallie, along with our well-spoken education technology correspondents Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt, return to this season’s book discussion of The AI Classroom: The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence in Education by Daniel Fitzpatrick, Amanda Fox, and Brad Weinstein. Chapters 4 & 5 are centered around pedagogy and make for an interesting, albeit boxy, look at the continuum of adoption of the current disruptive tool, Artificial Intelligence (AI), in education.

Ministry resource

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

WELSTech celebrates Christmas with an interview of Dan Nommensen

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Worship Visuals featuring and interview with Corissa Nelson, Digital Artist

712 – Worship Visuals

WELSTech is back with a discussion of screen design for worship. Digital artist, Corissa Nelson, joins the conversation to share ideas for getting started designing for screens. AI continues to dominate tech news, and more ideas for church usage are being shared as well. Sallie is excited for home automation, and Martin is reading wisely. Finally, Barna weighs in with a study on Christian’s perceptions of AI usage in church settings.

Worship Visuals featuring and interview with Corissa Nelson, Digital ArtistThe discussion & interview

Aspire to keep it simple – Martin and Sallie are joined by Corissa Nelson, Digital Artist. The topic is worship screens, and Corissa’s advice covers everything from fonts and backgrounds to goals and tools. Corissa is the designer behind many of the graphics in WELS Congregational Services Foundation series for worship planning. Her work can be viewed at corissanelsonart.com.

Ministry resources

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

Rachel and Jason are back to talk more about our edtech book feature, The AI Classroom.

Get involved

711 – Automate All The Things

If you are looking for more time in your day, today’s WELSTech is a must-listen! The spotlight is on automating church and school tasks. We also preview the online Gospel Outreach with Media conference, and Martin has found the world’s greatest bookmarking tool.

The discussion

Make it automatic – Martin and Sallie share ideas for doing away with repetitive tasks in favor of no-code computer magic which you set up once and forget. Check out the cloud services that will literally do your work for you!

Ministry resources

WELS and WELS Congregational Services RSS feeds

Picks of the week

Community feedback & events

Next time

Join us for a conversation with digital artist Corissa Nelson about best practices for worship projection.

Get involved