Rev. Donn Dobberstein
Tuesday, Jan 24
3:15 – 4:30 pm
A Culture of High Expectations for Discipleship
Too many congregations settle for membership over discipleship, tracking “butts and bucks”—attendance and offerings. That mindset reduces members to how often they show up and what they give. But true discipleship flips that script. If Christ is to work through us, it starts by asking this: What can the church do to help our people grow in Christ? in his Word? in godly living?
This session challenges church leaders to raise the bar on what it means to follow Jesus—calling people beyond passive attendance into active lives of worship, service, and witness. You’ll learn how to cast a biblical vision to move members toward spiritual maturity, build a culture of mission, and call every member into it. We’ll tackle the barriers that keep people on the sidelines and offer practical tools for turning consumers into disciple-makers.
The goal? A church that inspires everyone to grow, serve, and live for something far bigger than Sunday morning!
Rev. Donn Dobberstein has spent three decades serving in mission settings—from Kansas to Florida—and now serves as director of WELS Discipleship. What fuels his ministry is a deep desire to help churches navigate both cultural and congregational challenges, so their members become active, engaged disciples. His work spans the full spectrum of discipleship—from youth ministry (youth rally, teen resources) and adult spiritual growth (congregational resources) to marriage enrichment, women’s ministry, and family faith formation. He and his wife, Beth, are blessed with four adult children and their growing families.
