612 – Be a Social Media Maker

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WELSTech is back with a timely discussion topic of social media for churches as you head into the busy holiday season. Martin shares what interests him from the recent Amazon event, and Sallie has lots of options for listening to the Bible. Christian apologetics is in the limelight (and the video archives) following the recent Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Symposium on the topic. And the WELSTech community feedback is great, as usual!

The discussion & interview:

Get Social – Martin and Sallie share tips for enhancing your church or school’s social media presence. Also Trish Nitschke, Social Media Manager for Time of Grace, joins the conversation to share her social media expertise.

News in tech:

Echo everything

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

5 Audio Bible Listening Options – Overview video

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Learn more about the Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary Symposium on Apologetics from this Together Video update.

Get involved:

611 – iBullying

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This week we welcome Jason Schmidt back to WELSTech for a classroom technology conversation on the latest version of status symbol bullying. We also talk with Justin Liepert about Google Administration. There’s device news, a slick update to the WELS online Yearbook, and church homepage advice along with picks of the week and an amazing theme song for the new school year. Listen up!

The discussion:

Classroom technology chat – Jason Schmidt returns to the co-host chair as our semi-regular classroom technology correspondent and brings his own flavor of Wisconsin sunshine to the podcast. He’s the Instructional Technology Coach for Oconto Falls School District.

This week we’re talking about tech-flavored bullying, which is simply a new version of the status symbol envy which we experienced for Air Jordan or Ralph Lauren clothing in the past.

The interview:

Google Administration – Justin Liepert, Technology Coordinator at Winnebago Lutheran Academy, shares highlights from his summer EdTechLead19 sectional on Google Administration.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Learn more about Lutheran School’s Ministerial Growth and Evaluation process at many of the upcoming Teachers’ Conferences

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

WELS Online Yearbook now has District, Conference, and Circuit info on Churches and Schools

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Enjoy More Than a Conqueror, the theme song for this year at Immanuel Lutheran School in Greenville, WI, written and performed by Pastor Jeremy Mattek and Joey Schumann.

Get involved:

610 – The Word And Your Photos

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This cat-friendly WELSTech school-year season opener marks the return of our extended format, including news in tech, WELS now, and ministry resources. We’re talking about apps for creating verse images, updates to the Google Lectionary Calendar, and church video connections. Plus, we are happy to welcome Dr. Tom Kuster to the conversation as he shares details on an extended-reality-in-ministry project!

The discussion:

Sample Bible Lens verse image featuring Mia Draper – Click to view larger

Create verse images – A smartphone can fill a key role in church, school, and personal communication efforts. Martin and Sallie discuss the many apps that make it easy to create images with Bible text overlaid, perfect for sharing on social media.

The interview:

How can XR technology be used to serve the Lord? – Dr. Tom Kuster from the Christ in Media Institute shares details on their current XR (extended reality) Project and Festival and how schools can get involved. The first 10 schools to sign up will receive a $200 Oculus-GO VR headset to further their research.

News in tech:

The Google Lectionary Calendar has been updated with the next three church years! Learn more on the WELSTech Wiki.

WELS now:

WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership – Register now for early bird pricing

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

WELSTech Challenge Album – Search flickr using WELSTechPhotoChallenge

Community feedback:

Featured video:

This week we feature a double-header of congregation “Connection” video examples. First up is the Fall 2019 Good Shepherd Connect from Good Shepherd, Sioux Falls, SD.

And second is the September 2019 Pilgrim Connection from Pilgrim, Menomonee Falls, WI.

Get involved:

609 – Military Ministry

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This week on WELSTech we wrap up our summer focus on WELS Congregational Services with a look at the important work done by the Military Services Committee. We also have feedback, advice, and picks on a variety of topics including online giving, counting files in Google Drive, setting up a new computer, and a collaborative programming platform.

The discussion:

Serving those who serve our country – Pastor Paul Ziemer joins Martin and Sallie to share details on his role as WELS Civilian Chaplain to the military and the work of the WELS Military Services.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Get an insider’s look at Glitch in this Welcome to Glitch! video.

Get involved:

608 – For The Generations To Come

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The WELSTech Summer series continues this week with an interview with the Coordinator of WELS Congregational Services. Sallie’s learning new programming skills on her phone while Martin is keeping things doubly secure with Google. In the Community Feedback segment, one listener shares his experience with an affordable digital display solution.

The discussion:

Congregational Services – Pastor Jon Hein serves as both Director of WELS Commission on Congregational Counseling and Coordinator of WELS Congregational Services. Martin and Sallie chat with him about another important job he filled at the recent Synod Convention, that of convention essayist (with a modern twist). He also shares info on several new initiatives in Congregational Services.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Watch Pastor Jon Hein’s Synod Convention presentation.

Get involved:

607 – Synod Convention 2019

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WELSTech comes to you from WELS Synod Convention 2019 where Martin and Sallie talk with four of the attendees about their convention experience. And we even have video this time!

The discussion:

Paperless for the win – Many hands (and a dash of technology) make the Synod Convention experience a success.  Even more impressive is this year they did it without one click of a binder! Martin and Sallie learn about the convention experience from a variety of perspectives.

Get involved:

606 – Women’s Ministry

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Beat the summer heat with the cool voices of Martin and Sallie on this week’s WELSTech. We take a look at WELS Women’s Ministry, yet another area where WELS Congregational Services supports ministry. Martin alerts us to an “iconic” celebration, plus Sallie shares tips for recording on the go.

The discussion:

Living Stones – Fresh off attendance at WELS Women’s Ministry Conference, Sallie shares her experience. Check out resources from the conference and learn more about Women’s Ministry at wels.net/womens-ministry.

Interviews include …

  • Michelle Birschbach – Breakout leader on the topic “Professing Your Faith: When Water Cooler Talk Can Land You in Hot Water”
  • Alycia Cameron – First-time conference attendee and women’s ministry leader at St. Paul in Howard’s Grove, WI.
  • Pastor Donn Dobberstein – Administrator of WELS Discipleship and breakout leader on the topic “How do I …? Equipping Christian Women for Action”

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Enjoy archived videos of all devotions, worship and keynote speakers from the WELS Women’s Ministry Conference, courtesy of Luther Preparatory School. Watch Pastor Mike Novotny’s kick-off keynote, focused on 1 Peter 2:4-5.

Get involved:

605 – Prison Ministry

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This week the WELSTech summer series on WELS Congregational Services focuses on Prison Ministry, part of Special Ministries. Plus, there’s afterglow to enjoy related to the recent Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit, including presenter resources and photos. Community feedback covers social media ideas, QR codes, and multiple monitors for worship.

The discussion:

Prison Ministry – Dave Hochmuth, WELS Prison Ministry Administrator, shares some of the history of the group and the current blessings and challenges of ministry to prisoners in the digital age.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Check out the EdTechLead19 photo album and this slideshow video of the event.

Get involved:

604 – WELS Ed Tech Lead 2019

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Recorded in front of a live audience at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit, WELSTech hosts Martin and Sallie talk with four of the attendees about their conference experience.

The discussion:

Reaching the Summit – Attendees, presenters, vendors, and planning committee members who were a part of #EdTechLead19 each walk away with unique experiences. Hear from four people who played a variety of roles at the conference.

Get involved:

603 – Conquerors through Christ

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Tune in to WELSTech for a discussion about the gospel response to Internet pornography offered by Conquerors through Christ. The community feedback buzz includes sign up for a taste of missions, classroom speaker recommendations, and a variety of ways people are offering catechism lessons online.

The discussion:

Pastor Mike NovotnyFrom Dirty to Dancing – Pastor Mike Novotny from The CORE in Appleton, WI serves as the chairman of Conquerors through Christ, a WELS Special Ministries taskforce to help Christians deal with the temptations and devastation caused by Internet pornography. He chats with Martin and Sallie about the work of the taskforce.

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Check out a sample Catechism lesson with companion video on The Seventh Commandment which are featured in this blog post from Northwestern Publishing House.

Get involved: