Workshops

Update on the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Presenter: Thomas Nass
Category: General

Prof. Emeritus Thomas Nass has been interested in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) ever since he met LCMS friends in college in 1973. He monitored the LCMS while on the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations from 1991-2015, and he has been a participant in all of the annual ELS/LCMS/WELS meetings since 2012. He will give an update on the LCMS, sharing highlights from the recent meetings, and he will field questions pertaining to the LCMS.

Thomas Nass grew up in Jefferson, WI, and he graduated from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 1982. For ten years he was a parish pastor, serving in North Mankato, MN, and Milwaukee, WI, and from 1995-2025 he taught Hebrew at Martin Luther College in New Ulm, MN. He has been privileged to serve WELS in inter-church relations for many years, and he currently is the president of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Conference (CELC). He is the author of “The End Times” (NPH, 2011), and “Joel” (Concordia Commentary, 2023). He and his wife Janice have been blessed with four children and fourteen grandchildren.

Strength for the Journey: How Ministry Coaching Fuels Faithful Teaching

Presenter: Shawn Herkstroeter
Category: Teacher

The teaching ministry is more than a job. It’s a calling. But carrying that calling in today’s world can leave you drained spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Join us for a collaborative presentation on how ministry coaching can support your growth and resilience as a Christian educator. Learn how coaching can help you balance your three-legged stool of spiritual, emotional, and physical health so that you can lead from a place of strength and joy.

Shawn Herkstroeter has 28 years of school leadership ministry experience and currently serves as the Director of Coaching for Grace in Action. He is also an adjunct professor at WLC. He graduated from Martin Luther College in 1996, earned a Master of Science in Education from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 2004, and became a Certified Christian Leadership Coach in 2025 through Coach Approach Ministries. He is committed to personal wellness and believes that spiritual, emotional, and physical health is the foundation for every effective leader. Outside of ministry, Shawn loves spending time with family, coaching basketball, working out, hiking, bow hunting, and pheasant hunting with his bird dog, Bella.

AI in Action: Learn It, Try It, Use It

Presenter: Ann Rich
Category: General

AI is everywhere—now it’s time to put it to work for you! This hands-on workshop gives you practical guidance and dedicated time to explore today’s top AI tools. Discover how they can help you save time, spark creativity, and strengthen the work you do every day.

Ann is approaching her 20th year in education, having served in a variety of both private Christian and public schools. Her roles have ranged from classroom teacher to technology director to instructional coach. She is passionate about equipping educators and ministry leaders with practical tools—like AI—that empower them to work smarter and serve others more effectively.

Google Search: “Churches Near Me”

Presenter: Joel Hering
Category: General

What would you do if you were looking for a new church? You would probably google, “churches near me” and start looking at the reviews and profiles of the top 10 churches. If that is what most people do, then how can you get your church into the list of those top 10 churches? Come and learn the few simple steps to improve your Google profile so that your church becomes visible in the place where people are searching.

Joel Hering has been serving as a pastor at Holy Word in Austin since 2020. After graduating from Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary in 2018, he served as a dorm supervisor and teacher at Luther Preparatory School for two years. Joel and his wife Amanda got married in July of 2015. They have three kids, Bobby (7) Bennett (4) and Lucy (2). Joel enjoys hunting, camping, and cheering for the Longhorns.

Threading the Needle

Presenter: R. Bowen Loftin
Category: General

“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world” (John 15:19). This workshop will examine two experiences of a Christian working (as a faculty member and as an administrator) in a public university, balancing their beliefs with the mandates of the government. Attendees will provide their own insights as well as examples of their experiences for discussion. We will also address the ubiquity of video and audio recording devices and their impact on academic freedom and discourse.

R. Bowen Loftin holds a B.S. in physics from Texas A&M University (1970) and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in physics from Rice University (1973, 1975). He retired in 2019 as Professor of Physics at the University of Missouri where he served as its 22nd Chancellor from February, 2014 to November, 2015. In February, 2010 he became the 24th President of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas where he was also Professor of Industrial and Systems Engineering. From June, 2009 to February, 2010 Dr. Loftin served as the university’s Interim President. In May, 2005 Dr. Loftin was named a Vice President of Texas A&M University with the assignment to be the Chief Executive Officer of Texas A&M University’s branch campus in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Loftin’s awards include the University of Houston-Downtown Awards for Excellence in Teaching and in Service (twice), the American Association of Artificial Intelligence Award for an Innovative Application of Artificial Intelligence, NASA’s Space Act Award, the NASA Public Service Medal, the 1995 NASA Invention of the Year Award, and the IEEE Virtual Reality Conference Career Award. In 2020 he was named a Distinguished Alumnus of Texas A&M University. He is the author or co-author of more than one hundred technical publications, as well as a personal memoir, “The 100-Year Decision: Texas A&M and the SEC.”

Called to Influence: Shaping Culture and Lives

Presenter: Rachel Halldorson
Category: General

This workshop helps participants understand the power of influence—how their words, actions, and presence can guide others without a formal position. The reality is that even if you’re not in a formal leadership role, you can still have a tremendous impact on your congregation, school, and in everyday life. Whether you are a volunteer, mother, or team member, you will learn how to lead in a way that honors Christ, builds others up, and transforms lives with intentional influence.

Rachel Halldorson is wife to her favorite pastor who serves Grace Lutheran Church in Scroggins, Texas. She is mother of two young adults who have basically left the nest and stop by occasionally. She teaches at the local public school, is part time secretary at Grace, and serves on the WELS Women’s Ministry Exec Team. On behalf of Women’s Ministry, she has hosted webinars on a variety of topics that are of interest to women and her panelists have represented WELS churches across the US and Canada.

Best Practices in Church Governance

Presenter: Steven Wagenknecht
Category: General

In addition to reviewing recent updates from the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod regarding congregational constitutions and bylaws, this presentation will highlight practical modifications that churches may wish to consider in order to better empower their ministries. By bridging doctrinal clarity with organizational effectiveness, these best practices can help lay leaders, teachers, and pastors implement governance practices that support mission-driven and sustainable congregational life.

Steve has served as a pastor since 1996 – currently at Abiding Savior Lutheran Church in Weslaco, Texas. He is the chairman of the South Central District's Committee on Constitutional Matters. His wife, Brenda, is a certified WELS teacher running Hand in Hand Educational Consulting - offering special education consulting for WELS schools in Texas and Arizona. If you ever play sheepshead with Steve, you should know he will always pick if he has two queens and a jack.

The Death of Jesus: A Medical and Historical Perspective

Presenter: J.B. Stephenson, IV
Category: General

Journey to Calvary in this sobering presentation on Jesus’ crucifixion and death. From a surgeon’s medical perspective, we will explore the forensic evidence of Scripture and history to better understand the physiologic toll suffered by Jesus in the events leading up to his death. From his betrayal in the garden to his final breath on the cross, learn how modern medicine illuminates our Savior’s sacrifice.

A lifelong Lutheran, Dr. J.B. Stephenson IV has been a practicing hand and reconstructive surgeon for over 12 years. An extraordinary patient experience which will be shared in the presentation sparked his interest and investigation in this topic. Raised in the Houston area and trained at Baylor College of Medicine, he currently practices and lives with his wife and 3 children in Tyler, Texas.

Everyone Outreach

Presenter: Nathan Buege
Category: General

Have you ever said, “I’d love to share Jesus with my loved ones - but where do I start?” Or, “I wish my church was more outreach-minded, but I don’t know what to do about that?” “Everyone Outreach” will help you consider do-able steps towards both! What if your congregation became a place where people talked “outreach” more frequently with one another rather than “the usual” - whatever that is? This workshop will explore all of the above, while offering a taste of the “Everyone Outreach” weekend workshop, produced by WELS Evangelism, for your congregation to enjoy in the near future.

Nathan Buege has been serving Victory of the Lamb, Katy, TX as pastor for 23 years. He has enjoyed 27 years of marriage to his wife Amy. They have four children: Abigail (married to Ben Hillmer), Ethan (engaged to Kay Prigge), Marissa and Daniel. Nathan enjoys hiking in the mountains, going to the beach and watching football and baseball.

Harvest Strategy Design: the People, the Principles, the Plan

Presenter: Stephen Apt
Category: General

A Christian school had become one of the biggest opportunities for outreach for the church. How could an intentional strategy impact the church? What does an intentional strategy look like? We’ll talk the people, the principles, and the plans.

Stephen Apt has been a pastor at Divine Savior Church and Academy Santa Rita Ranch since 2015. He has been married to his wife, Anne, for 11 years and they have two daughters.

Good Stuff to Know about Staff Ministry

Presenter: David Kasischke
Category: General

WELS Staff Ministry is an area of ministry that can be invaluable in service to a congregation and personally rewarding for any individual who has the opportunity to serve in this unique way. WELS Staff Ministry is always looking for ways to make our people more aware of the blessing God has brought about through staff ministry, what exactly it is, who can be a staff minister, and how a staff ministry might be a fit for you or your congregation.

David Kasischke is a staff minister at Our Savior Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. After a career with federal intelligence, David received his staff ministry certification from Martin Luther College and has been serving souls in San Antonio for the better part of two decades now.

Hope, Healing & High Potential: Supporting Child Mental Health Today

Presenter: Casey Holtz
Category: Teacher

Dr. Holtz will provide current research on child and adolescent mental health and guide discussion on ideas to support the health of our children in modern society.

Dr. Casey Holtz is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Marquette University. Dr. Holtz provides parent and school consultation, individual and family therapy for a broad spectrum of child and family challenges, along with child specialist and mediation services with a focus on supporting children and families as they adjust to parent separation, divorce, and other significant life changes. Dr. Holtz also holds an academic appointment within the psychology department at Wisconsin Lutheran College where he teaches a variety of classes including child development, child abnormal psychology, applied behavioral analysis, and introduction to counseling.

Child Development and Divorce

Presenter: Casey Holtz
Category: Teacher

Dr. Holtz will explain the impact of divorce on children, providing areas of emphasis for supportive others as they assist children and families through and after the divorce process. Dr. Holtz will walk through child developmental factors to help participants better understand the variety of impact on children based on age and development. Discussion will aim to help participants consider how to help children thrive through a variety of adverse childhood experiences.

Dr. Casey Holtz is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Marquette University. Dr. Holtz provides parent and school consultation, individual and family therapy for a broad spectrum of child and family challenges, along with child specialist and mediation services with a focus on supporting children and families as they adjust to parent separation, divorce, and other significant life changes. Dr. Holtz also holds an academic appointment within the psychology department at Wisconsin Lutheran College where he teaches a variety of classes including child development, child abnormal psychology, applied behavioral analysis, and introduction to counseling.

Lessons on Preaching from Luther’s House Postils

Presenter: Mark Schroeder
Category: Pastor

Sunday after Sunday, Christians gather to hear the Word of God proclaimed, preached, and taught from pulpits across the country. But what does it mean that we are Lutheran preachers? This breakout session will examine samples of excerpts from Martin Luther’s House Postils in order to refresh us in our Lutheran heritage.

Mark Schroeder has served in the public ministry for nearly twenty years both in Home Missions and Ministerial Education. He is currently serving as a Ministry Recruitment Counselor for the Board for Ministerial Education. Mark is married to Alissa and they have three children: Lydia, Elijah, and Mya.

Two Kinds of Righteousness: God’s Design for Human Life

Presenter: Earle Treptow
Category: Pastor

Martin Luther suggested that there are essentially two kinds of righteousness. There’s the righteousness of faith that avails before God and the righteousness of works that counts before the world. Both are necessary for human life as God designed it, but both need to “stay in their lane.” Luther went so far as to describe the distinction between them as “our theology,” the heart of Christian faith and life. This workshop will help Christians grow in their ability to distinguish between the two kinds of righteousness, for their own benefit and to equip them to help others do the same.

Since graduating from the seminary in 1993, Earle Treptow has served in an exploratory mission in British Columbia, as a recruiter for pastoral ministry at Martin Luther College, a parish pastor in Colorado, president of the WELS Nebraska District, and, since 2016, as professor at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. In 2019 he began serving as president of the seminary. He and his wife, Jeanne, have been married for 35 years and have been blessed with a daughter and two sons. He enjoys watching sports and attempting to play basketball.

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