Sessions
Attendees are allowed to select any breakouts they believe would be interesting and beneficial. Some attendees will select breakouts that touch on a variety of topics and issues. Others may want to focus on one topic, learning as much as possible from several breakouts.
If a congregation sends multiple attendees to the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership, consider assigning each one a topic or issue. Those attendees can report back to their congregations, perhaps using what they learned to provide recommendations for congregational ministry efforts.
Below you will find breakouts that deal directly with presentation topics and issues.
There are 69 breakout presentations presented by 80+ presenters. Download the breakout and professional development documents below for more information.
06. BUILDING A CULTURE OF OUTREACH: A Game Plan for Every WELS Church
Rev. Caleb Free
Participants will leave encouraged and equipped to help their church take meaningful steps toward a culture where outreach ...
08. COME AND SEE: Planning Worship so Members Will Invite Guests
Rev. Eric Roecker
This session will explore how to design services that are accessible to the first-time worshiper while also being ...
20. FREELY GIVEN, FREELY GIVE: Building a Culture of Gospel-Driven Generosity
Josh Birkholz
This session will give you tools to lead with integrity and inspire giving that reflects the gospel we’ve freely ...
21. FROM 20/80 TO 100 PERCENT: Breaking the Volunteer Bottleneck
Rev. Frank Italiano
This breakout will inspire attendees to move beyond volunteer scarcity and toward gospel-motivated abundance in their congregation’s life and ...
32. HOPE FOR THE CHALLENGED CHURCH: Diagnosing Decline and Charting a Path Forward
Rev. David Scharf & Rev. Jonathan Bauer
If your congregation is feeling stuck, this session will offer a clear-eyed path forward—one ...
40. MINISTERING TO AN AGING CONGREGATION: A Golden Opportunity!
Rev. David Rosenau
Whether your goal is to reach the next generation or to shepherd your seniors with grace and purpose, ...
53. RETHINKING EVANGELISM: Why Yesterday’s Methods Miss Today’s Hearts
Rev. Joseph Lindloff and Julie Lindloff
Attendees will learn how to shift from “hoping people visit” to building bridges where people ...
58. SHADOW OF THE LEADER: Using the Culture Change Course Map
Kurt Nitz
This breakout will go through those Post Workshop Resources, including a detailed walkthrough of the Culture Change Course Map, ...
59. SMALL CHURCH, BIG MISSION: Making a Kingdom Impact with Limited Resources
Rev. Wayne Uhlhorn
This session equips leaders of small churches—whether rural, suburban, or urban—to maximize their mission potential without overextending their ...


