Tag Archive for: anniversary

700 – Celebrating 700!

For the 700th time, welcome to WELSTech, a show about technology and ministry and where those two intersect! Martin and Sallie look way back to 2008 when the show started and explore the changing landscape of tech-in-ministry which they’ve observed through the years. Church texting platforms, fancy social media posts, and AI-generated text are some of the 2023 tech-in-ministry topics discussed on this episode as well.

The discussion

A big milestone – Martin and Sallie suited up to celebrate this 700th episode of WELSTech with a look back at where and why it started, tech-in-ministry topics then and now, retro WELSTech images, and book reviews through the years. Plus, the WELSTech “ace in the hole” is revealed!

Ministry resource

Top 28 Church Texting Platforms – Comparison chart in the PDF

Picks of the week

Community news & feedback

Next time

Amanda Klemp from WELS Communication Services shares tips for great e-newsletters

Get involved

583 – Year of the Multi-Colored Llama

Kick off a new year of WELSTech with a look back at 11 years of shows and look ahead at our plans for 2019. Martin and Sallie share a bit of their Christmas technology along with the first ever WELSTech anti-pick from Martin. The WELSTech community buzz is about a sample Chromebook Program Handbook from Winnebago Lutheran Academy.

The discussion:

Happy anniversary – Martin and Sallie kick off year twelve of podcasting and make no promises about keeping the show under 30 minutes! They also talk about their Christmas technology.

News in tech:

WELS now:

Picks of the week:

Ministry resource:

Give+ Mobile App from Vanco

Community feedback:

Featured video:

Learn more about this year’s Doodle 4 Google contest with this behind the scenes look.

And hear the new contest announced by 2019 honorary judges Jimmy Fallon and Kermit the Frog.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 584 – Join us for the kickoff of a new series focused on church and school intranets.  Release date: Wednesday, January 16.

Get involved:

500 – 500 … And Counting

This week we observe WELSTech’s milestone recording of episode 500 with a history making interview. For the first time in 9+ years, Martin and Sallie are in the interviewee chairs as Nicole Balza questions the WELSTech co-hosts about the show history and future. Pastor Mike Hinz also drops by to share information on WELS Daily Devotion. Let the celebration commence!

The anniversary celebration:

Together with WELSTech – The 500th episode of WELSTech is cause for celebration, including a refreshed website design thanks to webmaster Julie Duran, along with updated music and video imagery. There was even delicious cake shared at the Center for Mission and Ministry.

In the recording studio, episode 500 seemed like the perfect time to break new ground on WELSTech by having the interviewers (Martin and Sallie) become the interviewees. Nicole Balza, host of the Together and Heart to Heart video series, is in the driver’s seat and explores a bit of WELSTech history, the community that has grown around the show, favorite memories, and a look at the future of WELSTech.

The interview:

Reaching out with Daily Devotions – Pastor Mike Hintz, director of WELS Commission on Evangelism, shares the history of WELS Daily Devotions as well as a behind the scenes overview of production of the written and podcast versions of the devotions whose archives are over 3,900 strong and growing.

Featured video:

From the WELSTech “Like’s” list on Vimeo, enjoy Martin Luther College Choir’s performance of I Will Rise.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 501 – Join Martin and Sallie for the kickoff of the WELSTech summer focus on Ministry Resources. Release date: Wednesday, June 14.

Get involved:

426 – A Virtual 2016

Welcome back to WELSTech 2016 – the 9th year! Today’s show features a discussion of virtual reality, a fun new free photo app, ad blocker options for iOS and a group of social ways to study God’s Word.

The discussion:

18013664463_af890882b4_k 145x125VR in ministry – With eight years of podcasting behind them, Martin and Sallie kick off year nine of WELSTech with a discussion of affordable virtual reality using smart phones and Google Cardboard and how it might intersect with ministry.

WELS now:

If you’re in the Milwaukee area on Saturday, January 9, stop in for a tech-in-ministry Intersections breakfast with fellow WELSTech-ers, including Martin, at Divine Peace at 3203 South 7th St. Fellowship begins at 8:30 am with discuss from 9 to 10:30 am. Learn more and RSVP via the Intersections Facebook group.

Picks of the week:

Ministry resources:

Start 2016 with one of the great social opportunities to study God’s Word online:

Featured video:

Check out Google’s big jump into virtual reality from The Verge on WELSTech’s Product Demo YouTube Playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 427 – Next week Martin and Sallie share tips to keep your project on time as they discuss chapter 5 of their project management book, With All Your Heart. Release date: Wednesday, January 13

Get involved:

Image courtesy of Maurizio Pesce

400 – WELSTech Celebrates 400!

This episode of WELSTech is a live recording from WELSTech Conference 2015 held at Country Springs Hotel and Resort in Waukesha, WI. Martin and Sallie celebrate episode 400 with a live audience and special guests from the conference talking about church branding, technology planning and church intranets.

The discussion:

400Selfie145x125Anniversary celebration – Martin and Sallie broadcast the 400th episode of WELSTech from WELSTech Conference 2015 in front of a selfie-worthy live audience! There were plenty of shiny tech giveaways throughout to keep things fun. Special guests and topics include …

  • Ian Welch – Church branding
  • Bob Albrecht – Technology planning
  • Pastor Rob Guenther – Church intranets

Picks of the week:

Featured videos:

Visit the WELS Live Stream archives for recordings of other group sessions held at WELSTech Conference:

A special giveaway:

Little Luther enhances the celebration, and Martin and Sallie commit to race Martin Luther to 500 in 2017 as we look forward to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation and the 500th WELSTech Podcast.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 401 – Martin and Sallie share lessons learned, old and new WELSTech connections and special memories from WELSTech Conference 2015 – Tuesday, July 14 @ 4 pm Central – welstechlive.wels.net

Get involved:

399 – WELSTech Then And Now

It was 399 episodes ago that WELSTech began its podcasting journey. We’ve seen some significant technology changes along the way. Today Martin and Sallie take a walk down technology lane to explore those changes and note some of the things that really haven’t changed. They also say RIP for old friends like Google Reader and Picnik.

The discussion:

Retro WELSTechRetro podcasting – In anticipation of the milestone 400th episode of WELSTech, Martin and Sallie roll back time to the beginning of WELSTech in January 2008 and review the transformation of tech-in-ministry over our 7.5 years of podcasting.

WELS now:

News in tech:

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Ministry resources:

Featured video:

Keeping the WELSTech retro theme, we circle back to our featured artist from episode 001, WELS Musician Mike Westendorf. Check out his “Songs We Carry” Behind the Album video on the WELSTech Music YouTube playlist.

Coming up on WELSTech:

Episode 400! – Live from WELSTech Conference 2015, Martin and Sallie celebrate the milestone episode on a special day – Friday, July 10 @ 4 pm Centralwelstechlive.wels.net

Get involved:

300 – And Many More

We’re celebrating on WELSTech this week as we broadcast our 300th episode from WELS Synod Convention. Tune in for WELSTech by the numbers, not one or two interviewees … but five, and even special party cupcakes.

The discussion:

Celebrating tech in ministry – Martin and Sallie are side-by-side for this special episode, the 300th WELSTech filmed from the floor of WELS 62nd biennial convention and for the first time in front of a live audience. They take at look back at WELSTech by the numbers. Just how many picks of the week have been made in 5.5 years?  And they are joined by a host of interesting convention delegates who share their perspectives on tech in ministry.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(44:18) Episode 301 – Our “Church and School Website Content” summer series continues next week with a discussion of the many ways to use forms to enhance web sites and support the needs of the church and school data collection. (Release date – 08/06/13)

The featured artist:

(44:52) We close the podcast with the music of Koine (www.koinemusic.com | Facebook) – Lord Jesus, You Have Come In Love

Get involved:

217 – Better Browsing

This week the WELSTech Podcast includes a special anniversary celebration, and the discussion topic is optimized web browsing.

The discussion:

Ministry resources:

(32:24) Pastor Guy Marquardt from Christ in Lodi, CA reviews the PastoralCare app for iPad

Picks of the week:

Community feedback:

Coming up on WELSTech:

(51:06) Episode 218 – The WELSTech book discussion continues with a look at Chapter 4 of The Church of Facebook. (Release date – 01/11/12)

The featured artist:

(51:35) We close the podcast with the music of  Mike Westendorf (www.mikewestendorf.com and mikewestendorf on Twitter) – The Child Remains from his CD titled “Undefined”

Get involved:

100 – WELSTech Celebrates the Century Mark

This week on WELSTech Martin and Sallie commemorate their 100th podcast with tech-in-ministry success stories from the listeners.

The discussion:

WELSTech BabyWELSTech and YOU! – The 100th WELSTech podcast anniversary is dedicated to the success stories WELSTech listeners have experienced using technology in their personal and public ministry.  Join Martin and Sallie as they share stories of audio and video editing, social networking, personal time management, Bible study, RSS reading, blogging, and more.

Coming up on WELSTech:

(39:50) Pastor Aaron Frey shares the latest news from Logos (Release date 10/14/09)

The featured artist:

(41:18) We close with music of WELS praise band Koine (www.koinemusic.com) – Jerusalem the Golden from their CD titled “Koine II”

Get involved: