The virtual President’s Equip Conference has lined up over 100 workshops for you to choose from!
Look at them all or choose a focus group. Each list is in alphabetical order by presenter name.
tr>Mr.MatthewBergholtBest Practices for Educational Video RecordingOver the past few months, teachers and administrators alike have found themselves embracing the previously underutilized medium of video communication to connect with students, parents and social media followers. While a good video often seems to go unnoticed but is unconsciously appreciated, a bad video is remembered for all of the wrong reasons. We will explore some basic tips, easy tricks and best practices for video recording so that your videos stand out and are memorable for the right reasons!Educators
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description | Focus Group |
| Dr. | Annette | Anschutz | Image of the Child | Early childhood educators have inside of them an image of the child. This is reflected in how we see each child’s gifts, their potential, and how we relate to them through our everyday conversations, expectations, and daily planning. This abbreviated presentation will encourage participants to reflect, rethink, and celebrate the image of a child in new ways. | Educators |
| Rev. Dr. | Rick | Armstrong | Leadership in Times of Crisis | Crisis times have seemed to take on a whole new meaning for individuals and congregations in 2020. Our discussions in this workshop will help us respond (rather than react) to crisis and transitional times. Participants will reflect on the nature and processes of transitions and crisis including how we respond to anxiety, focus on the future and the importance of self care. | All |
| Rev. Dr. | Rick | Armstrong | Life and Ministry in Times of Crisis | 2020 has been filled with times of crisis and transitions. Our lives, families and ministries have been affected and maybe transformed. Our discussions in the workshop will center around normal reactions during these times and ways that we can be transformed and provide support and care for our families, self and those we serve through anxious times. | All |
| Mr. | Jeremy | Becker | Five VBS Tips for Success | In this session, we will go over 5 things that I’ve learned that help make VBS fun and successful for the planners, volunteers, and participants. From decorating to registration, you will be able to use these tips in your own setting no matter the size or budget. | All, Youth |
| Rev. | Victor | Belton | Connection Crew for Christ (CC4C) | Learn how to start a small group of Christian friends with the focus of sharing Jesus with others. | All |
| Rev. | Victor | Belton | Tune up for Elders | Come discover what the Bible teaches about elders and what they are designed to do. Meet other elders and discuss some best practices. | Leaders |
| Rev. | Victor | Belton | Sharing the Word – Witness | Learn how Jesus has equipped His people to share the Gospel in Word, witness and presence. | Witnessing |
| Rev. | Victor | Belton | Race and the Biblical Record | Learn what the Bible teaches regarding the origins of people groups and how race and skin color impact the biblical record. | Witnessing |
| Rev. Dr. | David H. | Benke | 21st Century Urban Christians | The rapid and now COVID-19 driven changes in the way Christian community is formed and fashioned for mission impact urban and multi-cultural ministry in unique ways. Exploring the Biblical and historical basis of mission expansion reveals that God has always used gatherings of people across lines of distinction in major population areas to bring the message of Jesus in word and deed. How does that work in the 21st century? Tune in. | Educators |
| Mr. | Matthew | Bergholt | Leaning into Online Learning | Up until a few short months ago, “online learning” was an educational model few Lutheran schools had experience in implementing at the classroom or school level. It is a completely different story today where almost every teacher and administrator is exploring how to make their teaching and learning available in an online space. We will explore how to “lean in” to online learning with a little bit of theory and a lot of practical tips in how to connect with students, make your lessons flow better, keep students engaged and much more! | Educators |
| Mr. | Matthew | Bergholt | Best Practices for Educational Video Recording | Over the past few months, teachers and administrators alike have found themselves embracing the previously underutilized medium of video communication to connect with students, parents and social media followers. While a good video often seems to go unnoticed but is unconsciously appreciated, a bad video is remembered for all of the wrong reasons. We will explore some basic tips, easy tricks and best practices for video recording so that your videos stand out and are memorable for the right reasons! | Educators |
| Mr. | Matthew | Bergholt | Preparing Students for Life in 2033 | The Kindergarten students in your ministry today will graduate high school in 2033. Scary right? How are you preparing your students of all levels today for life when they enter college in a drastically changed world of the future? Come learn about a few best practices of today which will equip and prepare your students to succeed in the world of tomorrow. | Educators |
| Mr. | Kurt | Bickel | How to Build a Great Team | The first product of every organization is the relationships. When the relationships of your board, faculty, staff or committee are managed well, you can expect to successfully accomplish your mission. Christian teams are interdependent- we need each other. It is a true sign of our dependence on God, the One who holds teams together. Kurt Bickel teaches the Task/Team model which explains each important step in forming, maintaining and sustaining high performance mission teams. People who have learned the Task/Team Model, say it makes very complex strategies easy to understand and implement. | Leaders, All |
| Rev. | Max | Biesenthal | The Inside-Out Congregation | Congregational life based on 1 Peter 4: There is a rhythm to congregational life. We come in – and we go out. We gather and scatter – and the scattering is as important as the gathering. We come together, to serve each other, investing the gifts God has given us in each other, and then strengthened and refreshed, we spill out into the world, Grace-fully. | All |
| Dr. | Kara | Bratton | Anxiety Strategies for Educators | This video will provide a quick overview of anxiety in school-age students and provide some strategies that educators can implement in their classroom to help students when they notice these signs. | Educators |
| Mr. | Josh | Brink | Growing Your Ukulele Garden: A Practical Approach to Embedding Ukulele into Your Existing Curriculum | In this session, participants will explore the artistry of teaching and crafting a ukulele curriculum; not by creating a new one, but rather by incorporating ukuleles into their already existing curriculum. While participants will gain new lesson content and materials, this workshop will focus mostly on strategies to apply ukulele skills to various types of pre existing lessons, including Orff arrangements, folk songs, and even your own arrangements. | Educators |
| Mr. | Josh | Brink | Special Considerations for Music Educators in the Virtual Classroom | In this session, participants will examine, reflect on, and plan for the inherent challenges of teaching music remotely, both synchronously and asynchronously. | Educators |
| Mr. | Mark Brink, Mr. Rusty Huseman, | & Mrs.Laura Zirbel | Not Even One! | Churches, schools and Christian homes are not immune from incidences of sexual abuse of children. In this session, you will learn how every member of your congregation, every staff person and every parent in your Lutheran school ministry can be trained to recognize the sign of abuse and the tendencies of abusers. The online training is outstanding and is FREE to congregations. “Attending” this breakout could literally, save a life. | All |
| Dr. | Kevin | Brockberg | Where I Belong: A Theology for Dynamic School Discipline | How does a “Three Strikes” or “Zero Tolerance” mantra square with your theology? As clever quips, they appeal as swift solutions to misbehavior in schools. However, transgression followed by penalty/punishment never resolves; in God’s design only a gracious Savior could draw wayward humankind back into fellowship with Him. Restorative Justice pitches two questions to prompt offenders to redress wrongs, pursue just behavior, and return fully restored in the fellowship of school community. Explore school discipline that is Gospel-aligned and mercy-driven. | Educators |
| Dr. | Kevin | Brockberg | THE ULTIMATE ENTERPRISE: Skippering Sustainable School Cultures | Chisel away at the four constructs of school culture and sculpt the sustainable future for your school ministries. Adventures carved in the Third Order tender dynamic norms for sustainable schools. | Educators |
| Mrs. | Susan | Brockberg | Why We Have to Teach Science – Part 1 | When resources are limited and time is running out, science is quite often the subject that has to take a back seat. This talk will convince you otherwise, plus give you ideas for ensuring the time and resources used are well spent. Designing your instruction around real-world phenomena engages students as they learn concepts and vocabulary that increases curiosity and the desire to explore even more. | Educators |
| Mrs. | Susan | Brockberg | Why We Have to Teach Science – Part 2 | When resources are limited and time is running out, science is quite often the subject that has to take a back seat. This talk will convince you otherwise, plus give you ideas for ensuring the time and resources used are well spent. Designing your instruction around real-world phenomena engages students as they learn concepts and vocabulary that increases curiosity and the desire to explore even more. | Educators |
| Mrs. | Gayle | Caruso | Free Money: LWML Mission Grants | Who said there’s no such thing as “FREE MONEY”? Florida-Georgia District LWML has Free money for YOUR mission project. This workshop will give you all the information you need to submit a mission proposal. | All |
| Mrs. | Kathy | Chapin | Innovative Multigrade Education – A panel discussion: Mrs. Diana Meers and Mrs. Christine Nixon from Immanuel Lutheran School and Mrs. Esther Loeffler and Mrs. Kathy Chapin from Trinity Lutheran School in St. Charles, Missouri | Teachers and Principals from Trinity Lutheran School and Immanuel Lutheran School in St. Charles, MO collaborate to share ideas on innovative practices in education. Let’s together explore two models of innovative approaches to education where the students are learning in multigrade/combined classroom settings. Whether you serve 35 students or 500+ students in your school, these approaches to education could provide you with another way to reach your community with the Gospel message of Christ! | Educators |
| Mr. | Kevin | Cook | You Do Not Have, Because You Have Not Asked | Let’s apply the art and science of fund raising and development, already a success in the higher education and medical fields, to the work of our churches and schools. There is no shame in asking for support of the Church and its mission! | Leaders, Funding, All |
| Mr. | Josh | Cromley | That’s in the Bible?! | We all tend to know the major stories in the Bible, but how can we connect with the minor stories? In the scheme of things, we are all minor characters in the great story of God’s love for us, so find out how telling the small stories help us tell our own. | All |
| Ms. | Kiara | Denholm | Connecting New Teachers to Your Ministry and Getting Them Involved | This session will discuss how you can connect and support new teachers to the school and church ministry during their first year at your school. It will look at teachers of all ages, family situations, and years of experience in teaching. We will discuss building relationships so teachers feel welcome and connected and truly feel invested in your ministry and how they are a part of it. | Educators, All |
| Ms. | Connie | Denninger | Visual Faith: Walking with the Lord- Faith Milestones | The story of our faith journey can be documented in shareable formats. Age adaptable processes allow students and teachers to creatively gather Baptism (and Confirmation) information as well as: favorite Bible verses and stories. An Accordion book style will be demonstrated. How do we witness? With a Show ‘N Tell. |
Educators, Youth Ministry |
| Rev. Dr. | John | Denninger | Healing Broken Relationships in the Church | One of the most underused tools in the church is reconciliation. Often the people in the church resort to using tools of the culture when they are wounded by someone in the church: we use fight or flight. In this workshop we will remind participants of the most powerful tools available to all of us and how to make use of it in effective ways. | All |
| Ms. | Aimee | Dierks | Anti-Bias Early Childhood Education: How we can support culturally rich classrooms | Enjoy this session of learning how you can change the world by doing your part in your classroom and in your early childhood center. Learn what questions to ask to truly make early childhood culturally responsive. | Educators |
| Ms. | Anne | Dobbins | Bless and Be Blessed: Working with Lutheran School Teachers in Haiti | See how teachers in the Florida Georgia District have worked with teachers in Haiti in the past and how YOU can be part of this wonderful mission opportunity now and in the future. | Educators, All |
| Rev. | Tom | Eggebrecht | Discovering Your Ministry’s Clear and Creative Message | Whether you are a pastor, a classroom teacher, a DCE, or a lay leader, you need a clear and creative message that will guide and direct your ministry. This workshop will help your find creative clarity so that your ministry is more effective and attractive than ever before. | Leaders, All |
| Mrs. | Coli | Escher | Adapting For the Long Haul | Leaders of schools and churches have been faced with numerous decisions since mid-March and likely haven’t even had a chance to catch their breath. This session is a time to learn some tips and reflect on your recent decision-making and communication. Help prepare your organization to move from barely surviving to thriving during these unprecedented times. Handouts available: www.gracelutheranpsl.com/adaptive | Educators |
| Mrs. | Kelley | Fehn | Couch Talks with Kelley and Karla – Developing Relationships | My presentation is called “Couch Talks with Kelley and Karla – developing relationships” Come and join us as we share ideas and encourage you as you embark on a new school year, possibly a very challenging one. Establishing, fostering and maintaining relationships is key to any successful school year and to the education of the whole child |
Educators |
| Rev. | Pat | Ferry | Lutheran Higher Education: The Future | Challenges faced in higher education, including the Concordia University System, were mounting even before COVID-19. In this session we will explore the threats and opportunities we must immediately anticipate in Lutheran higher education and consider what is at stake for the broader church. | All |
| Rev. | Greg | Finke | 3 Steps to Becoming a Missional Church | There are 3 steps to becoming a missional church that most congregations miss. They are simple, practical, biblical and essential. | Outreach |
| Rev. Dr. | Lloyd | Gaines | Becoming Commission Critical through Christian Education | Christian Education is the engine to making disciples in the home, among our youth, and in the community where we live. | All |
| Dr. | Drew | Gerdes | The Three Pillars of Success For Young Children | What do early childhood students need for success in school – or perhaps into adulthood? This presentation will highlight the importance of self-regulation, executive function skills, and social-emotional learning and how they “package together” to provide a foundation for growth and development. | Educators |
| Ms. | Loretta | Gibbons | Early Childhood | How to make connections with children, families, and teachers by using Conscious Discipline Techniques. Connections are harder to make during Covid-19 without being face to face with families, being able to have physical touch with the hand shakes, hugs, etc. This break out will give some ideas and show some visuals of how we can make it all come together. | Educators |
| Rev. Dr. | Mike | Gibson | The Most Important Leadership Lesson I Know: The Analogy of the Car | In the book, Good to Great, author, Jim Collins taught us that organizational systems have to have the “right people in the right seats on a bus that is going in the right direction.” In the Analogy of the Car, Mike Gibson will reveal why it so important for the seats to also be in the right sequence: Vision, Relationship, Ministry/Product, and Structure. Get it right and your congregation, school, or business will experience health and effectiveness. Mess it up and dysfunction will reign. | Leaders |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | Culture, Change and Leadership | Have you ever heard someone say “we need to change the culture around here”? But what exactly is organizational culture? How is it created? How does that impact change and change efforts? (It’s probably not what you think) What kind of leadership does that require? Scott will answer these questions and more in order to give you some insight into what’s really going on and what you can do about it. | Leaders |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | The Coaching Leader Workshop | Whether you are a lay leader or professional church worker, we can sometimes get stuck and limit our effectiveness. In this workshop, Rev. Scott Gress, author of Lutheran Life’s regular column, “The Coaching Leader” will talk about the principles of coaching, leadership and leading through coaching. Join us to learn about another way to help. | Pastors, Staff, All |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | What’s This Thing Called Coaching? | Is coaching really different from other helping skills? What’s the difference between coaching, mentoring, consulting, advice giving, teaching or other ways to help and support others? In this workshop, professionally certified coach Scott Gress will share with you what coaching really is and how it is not only a powerful way to help but also will compliment who you are as a caring servant. | Pastors, Staff, Leaders |
| Mr. | Steve | Gruenwald | Healthy Parts Safeguard Your Well-Being | Just as the many parts make up the body of the church so, too, are the many parts of wellness that comprise the health of your whole body. Through Concordia Plan Services you have physical, emotional, and financial wellness resources designed to equip you for service to your family and your ministry. Learn how Vault, CRSP, EAP, Omada, Grand Rounds, Livongo, Virta, NaturallySlim, and others can help you Be Well so that you can Serve Well. | All |
| Mr. | Joe | Guagliardo | There’s a Story to be Shared in Almost Everything | How do you get the Bible story across to your students? Do you or a student read the Bible passages aloud, followed by a discussion? Or, do you utilize personal as well as other narrative stories (parables) to get the Bible message across to your students? Join me as we discover the value of using stories when teaching students. | Youth Ministry |
| Rev. | Lincon | Guerra | Breaking the Mono-cultural Mentality for the sake of God’s Mission. / Rompiendo la mentalidad Mono-cultural por el bien de las misiones. | We will identify the greatest challenges we face in doing mono-cultural missions in the United States and how it affects the leadership development and outreach for the next generation. / Vamos a identificar los retos mas grandes que enfrentamos al hacer misiones mono-culturales en los Estados Unidos y como afecta al desarrollo del liderazgo y el alcance de la siguiente generación. | Outreach (Spanish) |
| Ms. | Charlotte | Haberaecker | Lutherans on the Front Lines | What does it mean to be Lutheran social ministry in today’s upside down world? Why is mercy work more relevant than ever and how is it transformed in this time of COVID-19? Join Charlotte Haberaecker, President and CEO of Lutheran Services in America on how Lutheran social ministry is engaging in today’s world in an authentic, differentiated and relevant way. | All |
| Mrs. | Cindy Hammerstrom | & Mr. Austin Wessel | Marketing Your Church in Today’s World | In this workshop, we’ll talk about how churches can brand and market themselves in today’s environment to better reach out to their communities. With tools today like webpages, social media, video streaming, and so much more, the church today has new opportunities to connect people to Jesus. | Outreach, All |
| Rev. | Keith | Haney | My Identity Influences my View of Others | How we view ourselves determines how we welcome others into our lives. Just as God opened Peter’s eyes to expand his work to Gentiles, God can open our eyes to see who He has placed in our lives for the purpose of sharing the Good News of Christ Jesus. | All |
| Mrs. | Karla | Hardies | The 4 Cs of an Engaged Classroom: Christ, Communication, Collaboration, and Choice | Learn quick, easy ways to engage your learners that you can use tomorrow in your classroom. | Educators |
| Ms. | Cheryl | Haun | Strike up the Band! | Early Childhood Education recognizes that quality programs include hands-on experimentation and experiences that support natural inquiry. These concepts are central to the implementation of a STEM or STEAM curriculum. Topical teaching and learning from the STEM prospective, challenges children to use everyday items to solve problems in an integrated, developmentally appropriate manner. | Educators |
| Rev. | Ben | Haupt | Preaching/Teaching toward Multi-Ethnic Ministry | This presentation will lead participants thru a number of New Testament texts that address the multi-ethnic situations in which the Gospel took root. I will then walk participants thru application for today and a sermon series that I will offer to participants for their use either in preaching or for teachers to adapt for the classroom. | All |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | Crafting Your Core Values | Few things illustrate God’s design for your church better than a clear set of core values. What are the things that drive your ministry decisions? Let’s unpack them together. | Leaders, Staff |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | What the Motorola Razor can Teach us about Discipling People | Helping participants work toward innovating approaches to discipleship rather than just trying “newer” versions of the same things that have worked before. | Pastors, Staff |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | Things we Learned When we Had to Change: Discipleship Lessons from the COVID season | Wellspring Church is a 5-year old LCMS congregation. At the beginning of 2020 we were just beginning to see momentum in our discipleship pathway as people were understanding our unique perspective and aligning with where we want to see God take them as they grow around our congregation. Then the pandemic hit. Surprisingly, many of the things we were already doing in the area of discipleship made it SUPER EASY for us to develop a plan for engagement during the pandemic. We think if you implement these core pieces, making shifts as the world changes will be much easier. | Pastors, Staff |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | The Disruption Timeline: How to Leverage the COVID Pandemic for Maximum Organizational Progress | A disruption often feels like a derailment. We assume that an interruption to our plans means a setback in visionary progress. But what if the COVID disruption is actually a great opportunity for visionary progress. How can you leverage this season of disruption to jump ahead toward where God is taking your church in the future? | Pastors, Staff, Leaders |
| Ms. | Gretchen | Huesmann | Reclaiming Staff Unity During Covid-19 | Gretchen will share the results of a survey completed by teachers and administrators in May 2020. Educators from around the country revealed their experiences and shared concerns for the future. She will address the rising mistrust and anxiety brought on by C-19 and offer options for strengthening staff unity. | Educators, Staff |
| Mr. | Rusty | Huseman | Exciting New Supreme Court Cases | New rulings bring new opportunities to our ministries. | All |
| Mr. | Louis | Johnson | Concordia Plans – Supporting You and Your Ministry | Join us as we share with you information about Concordia Plans and the many tools and resources we have available for treasurers and administrators to help them as they serve their ministries. | Leaders, All |
| Rev. Dr. | Jerry | Kieschnick | Money. Gotta have it? You betcha! | How congregations can replace offering revenue lost when generous supporters retire and/or are called home to heaven. | Funding |
| Mr. | David | Kinnaman, President, Barna Group | Reviving Evangelism | The apostle’s question to the Christians in Rome is just as relevant for Christ-followers today, who are heirs of Jesus’ Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19). But a number of factors are curbing many Christians’ enthusiasm for faith-sharing, including the decline of religion in America, a spreading apathy toward spiritual matters and a growing cultural suspicion of people of faith. Where does that leave evangelism? | Witnessing |
| Mr. | Phil | Klopke | More than just a Millennial | Are we done with the buzz word Millennials yet? Pump the brakes because according to Pew research the Millennial Generation have just surpassed the Boomer Generation this past year in population. This means we have a lot of Millennials but none in our pews. So how do we invest and encourage in our Christian Millennials today? Phil Klopke, coDirector of 1,000 Young Leaders with PLI Leadership share ways you can start tomorrow. | All |
| Mr. | Ted | Kober | What Really Makes a Church Healthy? | Family systems theory? Successful business practices? Acquiring characteristics of healthy organizations? In his new book, Built on the Rock: The Healthy Congregation, Ted Kober posits what makes a church healthy is how well its people, especially her leaders, are grounded in God’s Word. Learn what the book reveals from research, the Scriptures, and 25 years’ experience as a church reconciliation consultant. | All |
| Mr. | Dale | Kreienkamp | 4 Tips to Help Congregations Support the Unemployed | Unemployment is a huge issue in our country today and it is impacting every congregation. Many of the 30 + million who are unemployed are in your congregation, but you may not know it. Often people want to help, but do nothing because they don’t know what to do. Don’t let that be your congregation. You care and want to help, this session will help you know how to help, by providing valuable and practical tips that will help you support your members and those in your community (outreach opportunity) who are unemployed. Those who are unemployed will never forget that you cared and helped in their time of need. | Outreach, All |
| Rev. Dr. | Paul | Linnemann | Reflecting the Light of Christ | Christians find themselves in the challenging position of seeking to bring the truth of God’s Word to a culture that is often at odds with the values the Scriptures teach. The question for our time is how can we share a bold Christian witness, staying true to our identity as God’s people, and not alienate the very people we are seeking to reach. This breakout session will ask questions and offer practical suggestions to those who seek to love their neighbors – and not just those with whom they agree. | Witnessing |
| Rev. Dr. | David | Maier | Know the Enemy; Fight (FOR Each Other) to Win In a War ALREADY Won | We will talk about 5 basic truths about: “THE WEAPON IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM. The problem is the ENEMY behind the weapon – the murderer behind the weapon …” | All |
| Rev. Dr. | Rick | Marrs | Making Christian Counseling More Christ Centered | Most Christian counselors are not familiar with Luther’s soul care theology, but are willing to learn from him. Dr. Marrs, a licensed psychologist and seminary professor, will lead participants briefly through Luther’s soul care theology, and then through a few counseling techniques that flow from that theology. How to involve others in the next steps of this project will be shared. | All |
| Dr. | Kim | Marxhausen | Taming the COVID 19 Anxiety Monster | A disrupted school year, months of sheltering, and the prospect of returning to school has created a nasty side-effect to COVID 19 – anxiety. Chronic worry does impact learning, but there are things we can do to tame this monster. Let’s look at what happens to the anxious brain and problems-solve some helpful solutions. | Educators |
| Rev. | Craig | Mathews | Key Concepts of a Balanced Plan | Balanced Discipline: Discipline is an important component in the walk of faith and involves all aspects of our created being – spiritual, intellectual, and physical. The primary focus in this presentation will be on the physical discipline as an important component. | Pastors, Staff |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | Discover Your Community | How well do you know your community? How well does your community know you? Discovering your “Sweet Spot for Ministry” can open doors to new relationships, new disciples, and new ministries. | All |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | Living on Missional Purpose | Discover and share missional habits which bless others and enable you to live the life God desires you to enjoy! | All |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | 12 Principles for Effective Outreach | Discover 12 Biblical principles for evaluating and strengthening your congregation’s mission and outreach. | Outreach |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | Plan Your Personal Prayer Retreat | A personal prayer retreat is a great way to align your planning with God’s purposes for your life and ministry. Here’s how to prepare for and experience the blessings of time alone with God. | Outreach |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | The WHY and the URGENCY of Starting New | Why in the world would we want to start a new faith community? Discover why starting new may be your most effective outreach! | Outreach |
| Rev. Dr. | Dale | Meyer | Your Congregation’s Ministry Is More Important than Ever! | Congregational ministry has always been important. It’s how God gathers us together around His Word and Sacrament. Societal changes that have weakened congregations are, in fact, new and unprecedented opportunities to bring the help and hope of Christ to people struggling in our impersonal society and who must contend with difficult people in our workaday lives. It’s a great time to be the Church! | All |
| Mrs. | Megan | Miessler | Navigating the Many Hats | We all wear many hats in one day – teacher, boss, mother, father, spouse, friend, co-worker, counselor, coach, etc.. How are you managing these hats? Do you acknowledge when you take one hat off and put another one on? What hat allows you to be yourself and share your fears? How does the other person’s hat affect which hat you wear? Megan Miessler, LCSW, knows what it is like to wear many hats and how hard they are to juggle. Join her for a conversation on how to acknowledge the hat you are wearing, communicate when you switch hats, and respect the time you need to take off all hats and be yourself. | All |
| Mrs. | Megan | Miessler | Helping Parents Manage Anxiety | As teachers and administrators we not only have to be aware of students needs but we too often have to navigate difficult interactions with parents as well. In these anxious times we can expect more parent interaction concerning their own anxiety. In this session Megan Miessler, LCSW, will discuss ways to be aware of your own anxiety, tools to help navigate parents’ anxiety and strategies to work to be the less-anxious presence in the room. | Educators |
| Mr. | Nick | Moss | 7 Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry | I will use the resource from the LCMS Youth Ministry Office to present on the 7 Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry | Youth Ministry |
| Rev. | Michael | Newman | What to Do When God Presses Pause | When disruption hits, you may be at a complete loss. What do you do—and what does the church do—when uncertainty and interruption prevail? Join Rev. Michael Newman to hear how God overcomes anxiety and despair in the face of overwhelming challenge, and how faith will always move you forward in life and in mission. | All |
| Rev. Dr. | John | Nunes | Meant for More: Leadership in a Time of Crisis | The crisis facing our nation in 2020 is deeply metaphysical. COVID and racial justice unrest has exposed a crisis of community. There seem to be no social, political, or economic solutions. This workshop will propose some habits for Christian leaders to build a civic righteousness that recognizes the dignity of personhood in an environment of human diversity. | All |
| Mr. | Duane | Nyen | Informal Group called the Barnabas Committee | Barnabas was the name the disciples gave an early convert name Joseph. His new name means, “son of encouragement.” The Barnabas Committee is an informal group of people who can offer encouragement to grieving families at the loss of a loved one. This group does not just focus on immediate support for the family, but long term support that doesn’t put a heavy burden on just one individual. The Barnabas Committee involves the entire congregation/school in caring for those in need. | All |
| Rev. | Shea | Pennington | Discipling in this 21st Century | We are called to make disciples who make disciples. The question is how? What does “discipling” look like in this digital age, in this wilderness of Covid-19, and what perhaps will it look like as we enter a “new normal.” | All |
| Mr. | Jon | Peterson | Accreditation Updates & Response to COVID Concerns | Get updates on accreditation news from the National Accreditation Commission meetings this summer, as well as the initiatives that are being planned to help schools maintain accreditation while dealing with the constant changes caused by the COVID pandemic. | Educators |
| Rev. Dr. | Lawrence R. | Rast, Jr. | Pursuing the Priesthood: The Laity in the Life of the Church | The Church is a kingdom of priests! This sectional explores how God uses each of us in carrying out His mission. | Educators |
| Dr. | Sheryl | Reinisch | Fostering Trauma-Sensitive Schools in 2020 | This session focuses on fostering trauma-sensitive schools amidst COVID-19 and the struggles for racial justice. It begins with an overview of the impact of trauma and then offers systemic strategies for fostering a trauma-sensitive school where everyone thrives. (Note: Sheryl has some resources for EC leaders.) | Educators |
| Mr. | Rick | Ricart | Learn how to get started, be prepared and lead a biblical tour | Todays session will highlight the following points: • What to look for when choosing a Tour Operator/Travel Agent • Frequently Asked Questions on leading a Biblical Tour • Learn How you can “earn a free passage” for you and your spouse • The focus group for this workshop is for pastors, teachers, ministry leaders, etc. • It’s not to late to still plan a trip for Oberammergau & the World Famous Passion Play now in 2022 |
Pastors |
| Mrs. | Heather | Ruesch | Hey, You Matter. Unpacking The Most Important Message Students Need Today. | Take a minute with me and try to think of your life as though it were a storybook. All the best stories have a hero and a bad guy and something valuable they’re fighting over, right? In real life, you’re the thing they’re fighting over. Why? Because you. are. valuable. God knows it and Satan knows it too. What does the enemy in the story always seek to destroy first? That which is most valuable to the good guy. Satan seeks to use you (and I) as pawns in his vengeance against God. Through casual sex propaganda and the defacing of human life, he causes us to question our own value, identity , and place in this world. We see the effects of this all around us: The CDC has announced that we are in the midst of a sexually transmitted infection epidemic in the United States. Suicide rates among youth are the highest they’ve ever been in all of history. Drug & alcohol abuse, bullying, racial tension, political unrest, the breakdown of the modern family… all of it comes back to one single source. We’ve begun to see all human life, that of others and especially our own, as the world sees it: as something casual and disposable. You see, I believe that when our teaching radiates out from and constantly comes back to, God’s un-subjective value of every single life, ALL THE other issues fall back into their proper place. What are they fighting over? It’s you. It’s me. And it’s the young people that we care about so deeply. So how do we get back on track? What do we do to reach at-risk students and help the people we love? Heather Ruesch gives tangible answers to the hard questions and more in her presentation, “Hey, You Matter. Unpacking The Most Important Message Students Need Today.” | All, Educators |
| Rev. Dr. | Leo | Sanchez | I Believe in One Catholic Church: Thinking about Diversity as a Christian | In the wake of the events surrounding the death of George Floyd, including a public statement by the Black Caucus of the LCMS and related conversations on the sin of racism, a great interest in the place of racial and ethnic diversity in the church and her institutions has resurfaced. But how do Christians talk about diversity? In this presentation, Leo Sánchez argues that the church can best approach the issue by talking about the church’s unity in a catholic way. The practical implications of catholicity for the way we think about the church, her unity and mission, and her institutions will be explored. | Pastors, All |
| Mr. | James (Jim) | Sanft | Beans, Bullets and Band Aids: How LCMS entities support ministries and church workers. | The military knows and understands the critical role that logistical units play in the broader efforts of engaging in battle and winning wars. Fighting forces need to be fed, they need to be armed, and they need to be cared for. Although Concordia Plan Services (CPS) is not the hands, the feet or the voice that delivers the Gospel on a daily basis, they do play a role in serving ministries and in caring for workers. President and CEO, Jim Sanft, will share how CPS, as one of many parts of the body, supports the overall mission of LCMS ministries. | Leaders, All |
| Mr. | Mike | Schiemann | Design Thinking for School Leaders | This topic will engage school leaders to start creating a vision around what they’d like to change at their school, and provide ways and ideas to inspire participants to be and enact the changes they’d like to see. | Educators, Leaders |
| Rev. Dr. | David | Schmitt | Preaching to the Whole People of God | Dr. Schmitt will briefly discuss the Scriptural importance of attending to the whole people of God in preaching and then offer guidance on how this might be done in preaching. Participants will learn how to preach with by attending to individual members and yet also cultivating an appreciation for the body of Christ. | Pastors |
| Mr. | Jim | Scriven | Personalized Learning: Leaving the Factory Model of Education Behind | In many schools, instruction is structured and shared in much the same way it’s been done for decades, a model of learning that is teacher-centered and designed to move all students through a similar body of knowledge in a similar manner and at a similar pace, expecting to graduate students with a similar mastery of common knowledge and skills. But it has never worked as designed. With today’s knowledge of how students learn, and supported by instructional capabilities that didn’t previous exist (for example, technology tools), we can and SHOULD create learning environments that look very different than the past, personalizing the content, style, pacing, and assessment strategies for our students in ways that focus on mastery, not seat time. This presentation will very quickly introduce this approach to learning, lighting your fire for knowing more. | Educators |
| Dr. | Jeffrey | Skopak | Serving the Un-churched, De-Churched, and Under-Churched School Community | A look at how a congregational ministry can serve those who are not active in a church community but have chosen a Christian School for their child. | Outreach, Educators |
| Ms. | Cindy | Steinbeck | One Vine; Many Branches | Abiding IN the life of the One True Vine, incorporates a call to live life alive and grow IN Christ’s holy life. Cindy’s message of hope from her vineyard in Paso Robles, CA includes a call rest while bearing prime fruit and a challenge to allow Christ’s healing work to permeate your whole being. | All |
| Mr. | Dave | Timmerman | Youth and FamilyCreating new opportunities for education for parents | How has COVID, hurricanes, and the rise of extra curricular activities impacted Bible Studies for families and parents. Listen in on how you can adapt your future ministry to parents, families, and young adults as we move forward in the church. We will explore different way to help engage adults of all ages into Bible Studies. | All |
| Mr. | Jay | Wendland | Helping the Hurting Amid Disaster | The LCMS Disaster Response ministry responds to immediate and long-term needs following natural and man-made disasters. | All |
| Mr. | Jay | Wendland | Lutheran Church Extension Fund | Where Investments Build Ministry | All |
| Mr. | Jay | Wendland | MissionInsite | Demographic Reporting Tool – Who are your neighbors | Leaders |
| Rev. | John | Yoder | Immigrant pastors: are your young people walking away from the church? | Second generation immigrant young people are walking away from faith in large numbers, across all ethnic and denominational lines. These are digital natives who spend much of their time socializing on their phones. What can we do to bring Christ to them in ways that they perceive as relevant to their lives? | Outreach |
| Mr. | Mike | Zimmer | Don’t lose your balance | While we know our calling is to make disciples, the urgency of tasks and the challenges of our time can distract us from that mission. This presentation will help those who work with Intermediate, Middle and High School students to regain focus on God’s mission in our schools and provide some practical tips to go from the transactional to the transformational. | Outreach, Educators |
| Rev. Dr. | Darrell | Zimmerman | Building Unity: Pastor and People, a Mutual Blessing! | Congregations get the best ministry from pastors and church workers who are at their very best; when they are spiritually, relationally, physically and financially healthy. When church leaders fulfill their responsibility to be a blessing to those who bring the Lord’s blessing week by week, everyone benefits. Learn the Grace Place Wellness keys to the mutual blessing of church workers and church members. | Outreach |
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Dr. | Annette | Anschutz | Image of the Child | Early childhood educators have inside of them an image of the child. This is reflected in how we see each child’s gifts, their potential, and how we relate to them through our everyday conversations, expectations, and daily planning. This abbreviated presentation will encourage participants to reflect, rethink, and celebrate the image of a child in new ways. |
| Mr. | Matthew | Bergholt | Best Practices for Educational Video Recording | Over the past few months, teachers and administrators alike have found themselves embracing the previously underutilized medium of video communication to connect with students, parents and social media followers. While a good video often seems to go unnoticed but is unconsciously appreciated, a bad video is remembered for all of the wrong reasons. We will explore some basic tips, easy tricks and best practices for video recording so that your videos stand out and are memorable for the right reasons! |
| Mr. | Matthew | Bergholt | Leaning into Online Learning | Up until a few short months ago, “online learning” was an educational model few Lutheran schools had experience in implementing at the classroom or school level. It is a completely different story today where almost every teacher and administrator is exploring how to make their teaching and learning available in an online space. We will explore how to “lean in” to online learning with a little bit of theory and a lot of practical tips in how to connect with students, make your lessons flow better, keep students engaged and much more! |
| Mr. | Matthew | Bergholt | Preparing Students for Life in 2033 | The Kindergarten students in your ministry today will graduate high school in 2033. Scary right? How are you preparing your students of all levels today for life when they enter college in a drastically changed world of the future? Come learn about a few best practices of today which will equip and prepare your students to succeed in the world of tomorrow. |
| Dr. | Kara | Bratton | Anxiety Strategies for Educators | This video will provide a quick overview of anxiety in school-age students and provide some strategies that educators can implement in their classroom to help students when they notice these signs. |
| Mr. | Josh | Brink | Growing Your Ukulele Garden: A Practical Approach to Embedding Ukulele into Your Existing Curriculum | In this session, participants will explore the artistry of teaching and crafting a ukulele curriculum; not by creating a new one, but rather by incorporating ukuleles into their already existing curriculum. While participants will gain new lesson content and materials, this workshop will focus mostly on strategies to apply ukulele skills to various types of pre existing lessons, including Orff arrangements, folk songs, and even your own arrangements. |
| Mr. | Josh | Brink | Special Considerations for Music Educators in the Virtual Classroom | In this session, participants will examine, reflect on, and plan for the inherent challenges of teaching music remotely, both synchronously and asynchronously. |
| Dr. | Kevin | Brockberg | Where I Belong: A Theology for Dynamic School Discipline | How does a “Three Strikes” or “Zero Tolerance” mantra square with your theology? As clever quips, they appeal as swift solutions to misbehavior in schools. However, transgression followed by penalty/punishment never resolves; in God’s design only a gracious Savior could draw wayward humankind back into fellowship with Him. Restorative Justice pitches two questions to prompt offenders to redress wrongs, pursue just behavior, and return fully restored in the fellowship of school community. Explore school discipline that is Gospel-aligned and mercy-driven. |
| Dr. | Kevin | Brockberg | THE ULTIMATE ENTERPRISE: Skippering Sustainable School Cultures | Chisel away at the four constructs of school culture and sculpt the sustainable future for your school ministries. Adventures carved in the Third Order tender dynamic norms for sustainable schools. |
| Mrs. | Susan | Brockberg | Why We Have to Teach Science – Part 1 | When resources are limited and time is running out, science is quite often the subject that has to take a back seat. This talk will convince you otherwise, plus give you ideas for ensuring the time and resources used are well spent. Designing your instruction around real-world phenomena engages students as they learn concepts and vocabulary that increases curiosity and the desire to explore even more. |
| Mrs. | Susan | Brockberg | Why We Have to Teach Science – Part 2 | When resources are limited and time is running out, science is quite often the subject that has to take a back seat. This talk will convince you otherwise, plus give you ideas for ensuring the time and resources used are well spent. Designing your instruction around real-world phenomena engages students as they learn concepts and vocabulary that increases curiosity and the desire to explore even more. |
| Mrs. | Kathy | Chapin | Innovative Multigrade Education – A panel discussion: Mrs. Diana Meers and Mrs. Christine Nixon from Immanuel Lutheran School and Mrs. Esther Loeffler and Mrs. Kathy Chapin from Trinity Lutheran School in St. Charles, Missouri | Teachers and Principals from Trinity Lutheran School and Immanuel Lutheran School in St. Charles, MO collaborate to share ideas on innovative practices in education. Let’s together explore two models of innovative approaches to education where the students are learning in multigrade/combined classroom settings. Whether you serve 35 students or 500+ students in your school, these approaches to education could provide you with another way to reach your community with the Gospel message of Christ! |
| Ms. | Kiara | Denholm | Connecting New Teachers to Your Ministry and Getting Them Involved | This session will discuss how you can connect and support new teachers to the school and church ministry during their first year at your school. It will look at teachers of all ages, family situations, and years of experience in teaching. We will discuss building relationships so teachers feel welcome and connected and truly feel invested in your ministry and how they are a part of it. |
| Ms. | Connie | Denninger | Visual Faith: Walking with the Lord- Faith Milestones | The story of our faith journey can be documented in shareable formats. Age adaptable processes allow students and teachers to creatively gather Baptism (and Confirmation) information as well as: favorite Bible verses and stories. An Accordion book style will be demonstrated. How do we witness? With a Show ‘N Tell. |
| Ms. | Aimee | Dierks | Anti-Bias Early Childhood Education: How we can support culturally rich classrooms | Enjoy this session of learning how you can change the world by doing your part in your classroom and in your early childhood center. Learn what questions to ask to truly make early childhood culturally responsive. |
| Ms. | Anne | Dobbins | Bless and Be Blessed: Working with Lutheran School Teachers in Haiti | See how teachers in the Florida Georgia District have worked with teachers in Haiti in the past and how YOU can be part of this wonderful mission opportunity now and in the future. |
| Mrs. | Coli | Escher | Adapting For the Long Haul | Leaders of schools and churches have been faced with numerous decisions since mid-March and likely haven’t even had a chance to catch their breath. This session is a time to learn some tips and reflect on your recent decision-making and communication. Help prepare your organization to move from barely surviving to thriving during these unprecedented times. Handouts available: www.gracelutheranpsl.com/adaptive |
| Mrs. | Kelley | Fehn | Couch Talks with Kelley and Karla – Developing Relationships | My presentation is called “Couch Talks with Kelley and Karla – developing relationships” Come and join us as we share ideas and encourage you as you embark on a new school year, possibly a very challenging one. Establishing, fostering and maintaining relationships is key to any successful school year and to the education of the whole child |
| Dr. | Drew | Gerdes | The Three Pillars of Success For Young Children | What do early childhood students need for success in school – or perhaps into adulthood? This presentation will highlight the importance of self-regulation, executive function skills, and social-emotional learning and how they “package together” to provide a foundation for growth and development. |
| Ms. | Loretta | Gibbons | Early Childhood | How to make connections with children, families, and teachers by using Conscious Discipline Techniques. Connections are harder to make during Covid-19 without being face to face with families, being able to have physical touch with the hand shakes, hugs, etc. This break out will give some ideas and show some visuals of how we can make it all come together. |
| Mrs. | Karla | Hardies | The 4 Cs of an Engaged Classroom: Christ, Communication, Collaboration, and Choice | Learn quick, easy ways to engage your learners that you can use tomorrow in your classroom. |
| Ms. | Cheryl | Haun | Strike up the Band! | Early Childhood Education recognizes that quality programs include hands-on experimentation and experiences that support natural inquiry. These concepts are central to the implementation of a STEM or STEAM curriculum. Topical teaching and learning from the STEM prospective, challenges children to use everyday items to solve problems in an integrated, developmentally appropriate manner. |
| Ms. | Gretchen | Huesmann | Reclaiming Staff Unity During Covid-19 | Gretchen will share the results of a survey completed by teachers and administrators in May 2020. Educators from around the country revealed their experiences and shared concerns for the future. She will address the rising mistrust and anxiety brought on by C-19 and offer options for strengthening staff unity. |
| Mr. & Mrs. | Phil & Kyrie | Klopke | More than just a Millennial | There is a lot of skepticism of the Millennial and younger generations whether they are willing and able to lead the future church. How can they do that if there are no millennials attending our local churches? Come and listen to Phil and Kyrie Klopke, coDirectors of 1,000 Young Leaders with PLI Leadership as they share way your millennials can lead today. |
| Dr. | Kim | Marxhausen | Taming the COVID 19 Anxiety Monster | A disrupted school year, months of sheltering, and the prospect of returning to school has created a nasty side-effect to COVID 19 – anxiety. Chronic worry does impact learning, but there are things we can do to tame this monster. Let’s look at what happens to the anxious brain and problems-solve some helpful solutions. |
| Mrs. | Megan | Miessler | Helping Parents Manage Anxiety | As teachers and administrators we not only have to be aware of students needs but we too often have to navigate difficult interactions with parents as well. In these anxious times we can expect more parent interaction concerning their own anxiety. In this session Megan Miessler, LCSW, will discuss ways to be aware of your own anxiety, tools to help navigate parents’ anxiety and strategies to work to be the less-anxious presence in the room. |
| Mr. | Jon | Peterson | Accreditation Updates & Response to COVID Concerns | Get updates on accreditation news from the National Accreditation Commission meetings this summer, as well as the initiatives that are being planned to help schools maintain accreditation while dealing with the constant changes caused by the COVID pandemic. |
| Dr. | Sheryl | Reinisch | Fostering Trauma-Sensitive Schools in 2020 | This session focuses on fostering trauma-sensitive schools amidst COVID-19 and the struggles for racial justice. It begins with an overview of the impact of trauma and then offers systemic strategies for fostering a trauma-sensitive school where everyone thrives. (Note: Sheryl has some resources for EC leaders.) |
| Mrs. | Heather | Ruesch | Hey, You Matter. Unpacking The Most Important Message Students Need Today. | Take a minute with me and try to think of your life as though it were a storybook. All the best stories have a hero and a bad guy and something valuable they’re fighting over, right? In real life, you’re the thing they’re fighting over. Why? Because you. are. valuable. God knows it and Satan knows it too. What does the enemy in the story always seek to destroy first? That which is most valuable to the good guy. Satan seeks to use you (and I) as pawns in his vengeance against God. Through casual sex propaganda and the defacing of human life, he causes us to question our own value, identity , and place in this world. We see the effects of this all around us: The CDC has announced that we are in the midst of a sexually transmitted infection epidemic in the United States. Suicide rates among youth are the highest they’ve ever been in all of history. Drug & alcohol abuse, bullying, racial tension, political unrest, the breakdown of the modern family… all of it comes back to one single source. We’ve begun to see all human life, that of others and especially our own, as the world sees it: as something casual and disposable. You see, I believe that when our teaching radiates out from and constantly comes back to, God’s un-subjective value of every single life, ALL THE other issues fall back into their proper place. What are they fighting over? It’s you. It’s me. And it’s the young people that we care about so deeply. So how do we get back on track? What do we do to reach at-risk students and help the people we love? Heather Ruesch gives tangible answers to the hard questions and more in her presentation, “Hey, You Matter. Unpacking The Most Important Message Students Need Today.” |
| Mr. | Mike | Schiemann | Design Thinking for School Leaders | This topic will engage school leaders to start creating a vision around what they’d like to change at their school, and provide ways and ideas to inspire participants to be and enact the changes they’d like to see. |
| Mr. | Jim | Scriven | Personalized Learning: Leaving the Factory Model of Education Behind | In many schools, instruction is structured and shared in much the same way it’s been done for decades, a model of learning that is teacher-centered and designed to move all students through a similar body of knowledge in a similar manner and at a similar pace, expecting to graduate students with a similar mastery of common knowledge and skills. But it has never worked as designed. With today’s knowledge of how students learn, and supported by instructional capabilities that didn’t previous exist (for example, technology tools), we can and SHOULD create learning environments that look very different than the past, personalizing the content, style, pacing, and assessment strategies for our students in ways that focus on mastery, not seat time. This presentation will very quickly introduce this approach to learning, lighting your fire for knowing more. |
| Dr. | Jeffrey | Skopak | Serving the Un-churched, De-Churched, and Under-Churched School Community | A look at how a congregational ministry can serve those who are not active in a church community but have chosen a Christian School for their child. |
| Mr. | Mike | Zimmer | Don’t lose your balance | While we know our calling is to make disciples, the urgency of tasks and the challenges of our time can distract us from that mission. This presentation will help those who work with Intermediate, Middle and High School students to regain focus on God’s mission in our schools and provide some practical tips to go from the transactional to the transformational. |
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Mr. | Kevin | Cook | You Do Not Have, Because You Have Not Asked | Let’s apply the art and science of fund raising and development, already a success in the higher education and medical fields, to the work of our churches and schools. There is no shame in asking for support of the Church and its mission! |
| Rev. Dr. | Jerry | Kieschnick | Money. Gotta have it? You betcha! | How congregations can replace offering revenue lost when generous supporters retire and/or are called home to heaven. |
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Rev. | Victor | Belton | Tune up for Elders | Come discover what the Bible teaches about elders and what they are designed to do. Meet other elders and discuss some best practices. |
| Mr. | Kurt | Bickel | How to Build a Great Team | The first product of every organization is the relationships. When the relationships of your board, faculty, staff or committee are managed well, you can expect to successfully accomplish your mission. Christian teams are interdependent- we need each other. It is a true sign of our dependence on God, the One who holds teams together. Kurt Bickel teaches the Task/Team model which explains each important step in forming, maintaining and sustaining high performance mission teams. People who have learned the Task/Team Model, say it makes very complex strategies easy to understand and implement. |
| Mr. | Kevin | Cook | You Do Not Have, Because You Have Not Asked | Let’s apply the art and science of fund raising and development, already a success in the higher education and medical fields, to the work of our churches and schools. There is no shame in asking for support of the Church and its mission! |
| Rev. | Tom | Eggebrecht | Discovering Your Ministry’s Clear and Creative Message | Whether you are a pastor, a classroom teacher, a DCE, or a lay leader, you need a clear and creative message that will guide and direct your ministry. This workshop will help your find creative clarity so that your ministry is more effective and attractive than ever before. |
| Rev. Dr. | Mike | Gibson | The Most Important Leadership Lesson I Know: The Analogy of the Car | In the book, Good to Great, author, Jim Collins taught us that organizational systems have to have the “right people in the right seats on a bus that is going in the right direction.” In the Analogy of the Car, Mike Gibson will reveal why it so important for the seats to also be in the right sequence: Vision, Relationship, Ministry/Product, and Structure. Get it right and your congregation, school, or business will experience health and effectiveness. Mess it up and dysfunction will reign. |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | Culture, Change and Leadership | Have you ever heard someone say “we need to change the culture around here”? But what exactly is organizational culture? How is it created? How does that impact change and change efforts? (It’s probably not what you think) What kind of leadership does that require? Scott will answer these questions and more in order to give you some insight into what’s really going on and what you can do about it. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | Crafting Your Core Values | Few things illustrate God’s design for your church better than a clear set of core values. What are the things that drive your ministry decisions? Let’s unpack them together. |
| Mr. | Louis | Johnson | Concordia Plans – Supporting You and Your Ministry | Join us as we share with you information about Concordia Plans and the many tools and resources we have available for treasurers and administrators to help them as they serve their ministries. |
| Rev. Dr. | Lawrence R. | Rast, Jr. | Pursuing the Priesthood: The Laity in the Life of the Church | The Church is a kingdom of priests! This sectional explores how God uses each of us in carrying out His mission. |
| Mr. | James (Jim) | Sanft | Beans, Bullets and Band Aids: How LCMS entities support ministries and church workers. | The military knows and understands the critical role that logistical units play in the broader efforts of engaging in battle and winning wars. Fighting forces need to be fed, they need to be armed, and they need to be cared for. Although Concordia Plan Services (CPS) is not the hands, the feet or the voice that delivers the Gospel on a daily basis, they do play a role in serving ministries and in caring for workers. President and CEO, Jim Sanft, will share how CPS, as one of many parts of the body, supports the overall mission of LCMS ministries. |
| Mr. | Jay | Wendland | MissionInsite | Demographic Reporting Tool – Who are your neighbors |
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Rev. Dr. | David H. | Benke | 21st Century Urban Christians | The rapid and now COVID-19 driven changes in the way Christian community is formed and fashioned for mission impact urban and multi-cultural ministry in unique ways. Exploring the Biblical and historical basis of mission expansion reveals that God has always used gatherings of people across lines of distinction in major population areas to bring the message of Jesus in word and deed. How does that work in the 21st century? Tune in. |
| Mrs. | Cindy Hammerstrom | & Mr. Austin Wessel | Marketing Your Church in Today’s World | In this workshop, we’ll talk about how churches can brand and market themselves in today’s environment to better reach out to their communities. With tools today like webpages, social media, video streaming, and so much more, the church today has new opportunities to connect people to Jesus. |
| Rev. | Greg | Finke | 3 Steps to Becoming a Missional Church | There are 3 steps to becoming a missional church that most congregations miss. They are simple, practical, biblical and essential. |
| Rev. | Lincon | Guerra | Breaking the Mono-cultural Mentality for the sake of God’s Mission. / Rompiendo la mentalidad Mono-cultural por el bien de las misiones. | We will identify the greatest challenges we face in doing mono-cultural missions in the United States and how it affects the leadership development and outreach for the next generation. / Vamos a identificar los retos mas grandes que enfrentamos al hacer misiones mono-culturales en los Estados Unidos y como afecta al desarrollo del liderazgo y el alcance de la siguiente generación. |
| Mr. | Dale | Kreienkamp | 4 Tips to Help Congregations Support the Unemployed | Unemployment is a huge issue in our country today and it is impacting every congregation. Many of the 30 + million who are unemployed are in your congregation, but you may not know it. Often people want to help, but do nothing because they don’t know what to do. Don’t let that be your congregation. You care and want to help, this session will help you know how to help, by providing valuable and practical tips that will help you support your members and those in your community (outreach opportunity) who are unemployed. Those who are unemployed will never forget that you cared and helped in their time of need. |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | 12 Principles for Effective Outreach | Discover 12 Biblical principles for evaluating and strengthening your congregation’s mission and outreach. |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | Plan Your Personal Prayer Retreat | A personal prayer retreat is a great way to align your planning with God’s purposes for your life and ministry. Here’s how to prepare for and experience the blessings of time alone with God. |
| Rev. Dr. | Peter | Meier | The WHY and the URGENCY of Starting New | Why in the world would we want to start a new faith community? Discover why starting new may be your most effective outreach! |
| Dr. | Jeffrey | Skopak | Serving the Un-churched, De-Churched, and Under-Churched School Community | A look at how a congregational ministry can serve those who are not active in a church community but have chosen a Christian School for their child. |
| Rev. | John | Yoder | Immigrant pastors: are your young people walking away from the church? | Second generation immigrant young people are walking away from faith in large numbers, across all ethnic and denominational lines. These are digital natives who spend much of their time socializing on their phones. What can we do to bring Christ to them in ways that they perceive as relevant to their lives? |
| Mr. | Mike | Zimmer | Don’t lose your balance | While we know our calling is to make disciples, the urgency of tasks and the challenges of our time can distract us from that mission. This presentation will help those who work with Intermediate, Middle and High School students to regain focus on God’s mission in our schools and provide some practical tips to go from the transactional to the transformational. |
| Rev. Dr. | Darrell | Zimmerman | Building Unity: Pastor and People, a Mutual Blessing! | Congregations get the best ministry from pastors and church workers who are at their very best; when they are spiritually, relationally, physically and financially healthy. When church leaders fulfill their responsibility to be a blessing to those who bring the Lord’s blessing week by week, everyone benefits. Learn the Grace Place Wellness keys to the mutual blessing of church workers and church members. |
tr>Rev. Dr.DavidSchmittPreaching to the Whole People of GodDr. Schmitt will briefly discuss the Scriptural importance of attending to the whole people of God in preaching and then offer guidance on how this might be done in preaching. Participants will learn how to preach with by attending to individual members and yet also cultivating an appreciation for the body of Christ.
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | The Coaching Leader Workshop | Whether you are a lay leader or professional church worker, we can sometimes get stuck and limit our effectiveness. In this workshop, Rev. Scott Gress, author of Lutheran Life’s regular column, “The Coaching Leader” will talk about the principles of coaching, leadership and leading through coaching. Join us to learn about another way to help. |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | What’s This Thing Called Coaching? | Is coaching really different from other helping skills? What’s the difference between coaching, mentoring, consulting, advice giving, teaching or other ways to help and support others? In this workshop, professionally certified coach Scott Gress will share with you what coaching really is and how it is not only a powerful way to help but also will compliment who you are as a caring servant. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | What the Motorola Razor can Teach us about Discipling People | Helping participants work toward innovating approaches to discipleship rather than just trying “newer” versions of the same things that have worked before. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | Things we Learned When we Had to Change: Discipleship Lessons from the COVID season | Wellspring Church is a 5-year old LCMS congregation. At the beginning of 2020 we were just beginning to see momentum in our discipleship pathway as people were understanding our unique perspective and aligning with where we want to see God take them as they grow around our congregation. Then the pandemic hit. Surprisingly, many of the things we were already doing in the area of discipleship made it SUPER EASY for us to develop a plan for engagement during the pandemic. We think if you implement these core pieces, making shifts as the world changes will be much easier. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | The Disruption Timeline: How to Leverage the COVID Pandemic for Maximum Organizational Progress | A disruption often feels like a derailment. We assume that an interruption to our plans means a setback in visionary progress. But what if the COVID disruption is actually a great opportunity for visionary progress. How can you leverage this season of disruption to jump ahead toward where God is taking your church in the future? |
| Rev. | Craig | Mathews | Key Concepts of a Balanced Plan | Balanced Discipline: Discipline is an important component in the walk of faith and involves all aspects of our created being – spiritual, intellectual, and physical. The primary focus in this presentation will be on the physical discipline as an important component. |
| Mr. | Rick | Ricart | Learn how to get started, be prepared and lead a biblical tour | Todays session will highlight the following points: • What to look for when choosing a Tour Operator/Travel Agent • Frequently Asked Questions on leading a Biblical Tour • Learn How you can “earn a free passage” for you and your spouse • The focus group for this workshop is for pastors, teachers, ministry leaders, etc. • It’s not to late to still plan a trip for Oberammergau & the World Famous Passion Play now in 2022 |
| Rev. Dr. | Leo | Sanchez | I Believe in One Catholic Church: Thinking about Diversity as a Christian | In the wake of the events surrounding the death of George Floyd, including a public statement by the Black Caucus of the LCMS and related conversations on the sin of racism, a great interest in the place of racial and ethnic diversity in the church and her institutions has resurfaced. But how do Christians talk about diversity? In this presentation, Leo Sánchez argues that the church can best approach the issue by talking about the church’s unity in a catholic way. The practical implications of catholicity for the way we think about the church, her unity and mission, and her institutions will be explored. |
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Ms. | Gretchen | Huesmann | Reclaiming Staff Unity During Covid-19 | Gretchen will share the results of a survey completed by teachers and administrators in May 2020. Educators from around the country revealed their experiences and shared concerns for the future. She will address the rising mistrust and anxiety brought on by C-19 and offer options for strengthening staff unity. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | Crafting Your Core Values | Few things illustrate God’s design for your church better than a clear set of core values. What are the things that drive your ministry decisions? Let’s unpack them together. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | What the Motorola Razor can Teach us about Discipling People | Helping participants work toward innovating approaches to discipleship rather than just trying “newer” versions of the same things that have worked before. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | Things we Learned When we Had to Change: Discipleship Lessons from the COVID season | Wellspring Church is a 5-year old LCMS congregation. At the beginning of 2020 we were just beginning to see momentum in our discipleship pathway as people were understanding our unique perspective and aligning with where we want to see God take them as they grow around our congregation. Then the pandemic hit. Surprisingly, many of the things we were already doing in the area of discipleship made it SUPER EASY for us to develop a plan for engagement during the pandemic. We think if you implement these core pieces, making shifts as the world changes will be much easier. |
| Rev. | Craig | Mathews | Key Concepts of a Balanced Plan | Balanced Discipline: Discipline is an important component in the walk of faith and involves all aspects of our created being – spiritual, intellectual, and physical. The primary focus in this presentation will be on the physical discipline as an important component. |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | The Coaching Leader Workshop | Whether you are a lay leader or professional church worker, we can sometimes get stuck and limit our effectiveness. In this workshop, Rev. Scott Gress, author of Lutheran Life’s regular column, “The Coaching Leader” will talk about the principles of coaching, leadership and leading through coaching. Join us to learn about another way to help. |
| Rev. | Scott | Gress | What’s This Thing Called Coaching? | Is coaching really different from other helping skills? What’s the difference between coaching, mentoring, consulting, advice giving, teaching or other ways to help and support others? In this workshop, professionally certified coach Scott Gress will share with you what coaching really is and how it is not only a powerful way to help but also will compliment who you are as a caring servant. |
| Rev. | Jacob | Hoyer | The Disruption Timeline: How to Leverage the COVID Pandemic for Maximum Organizational Progress | A disruption often feels like a derailment. We assume that an interruption to our plans means a setback in visionary progress. But what if the COVID disruption is actually a great opportunity for visionary progress. How can you leverage this season of disruption to jump ahead toward where God is taking your church in the future? |
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Rev. | Victor | Belton | Sharing the Word – Witness | Learn how Jesus has equipped His people to share the Gospel in Word, witness and presence. |
| Rev. | Victor | Belton | Race and the Biblical Record | Learn what the Bible teaches regarding the origins of people groups and how race and skin color impact the biblical record. |
| Mr. | David | Kinnaman, President, Barna Group | Reviving Evangelism | The apostle’s question to the Christians in Rome is just as relevant for Christ-followers today, who are heirs of Jesus’ Great Commission: “Go and make disciples of all the nations” (Matt. 28:19). But a number of factors are curbing many Christians’ enthusiasm for faith-sharing, including the decline of religion in America, a spreading apathy toward spiritual matters and a growing cultural suspicion of people of faith. Where does that leave evangelism? |
| Rev. Dr. | Paul | Linnemann | Reflecting the Light of Christ | Christians find themselves in the challenging position of seeking to bring the truth of God’s Word to a culture that is often at odds with the values the Scriptures teach. The question for our time is how can we share a bold Christian witness, staying true to our identity as God’s people, and not alienate the very people we are seeking to reach. This breakout session will ask questions and offer practical suggestions to those who seek to love their neighbors – and not just those with whom they agree. |
| Title | First Name | Last Name | Presentation Title | Workshop Description |
| Mr. | Jeremy | Becker | Five VBS Tips for Success | In this session, we will go over 5 things that I’ve learned that help make VBS fun and successful for the planners, volunteers, and participants. From decorating to registration, you will be able to use these tips in your own setting no matter the size or budget. |
| Ms. | Connie | Denninger | Visual Faith: Walking with the Lord- Faith Milestones | The story of our faith journey can be documented in shareable formats. Age adaptable processes allow students and teachers to creatively gather Baptism (and Confirmation) information as well as: favorite Bible verses and stories. An Accordion book style will be demonstrated. How do we witness? With a Show ‘N Tell. |
| Mr. | Joe | Guagliardo | There’s a Story to be Shared in Almost Everything | How do you get the Bible story across to your students? Do you or a student read the Bible passages aloud, followed by a discussion? Or, do you utilize personal as well as other narrative stories (parables) to get the Bible message across to your students? Join me as we discover the value of using stories when teaching students. |
| Mr. | Nick | Moss | 7 Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry | I will use the resource from the LCMS Youth Ministry Office to present on the 7 Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry |