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The Commission on Special Ministries covers a broad area of ministry. One of its appeals to me is that the Lay Person’s involvement is often a key part of the ministries.
The Mission Statement of Special Ministries reads: “Special Ministries offers spiritual and practical guidance and training to congregations and individuals as they share God’s love to those with special needs or in special circumstances.”
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“The Commission on Special Ministries offers spiritual and practical guidance and training to congregations and individuals as they share God’s love to those with needs or circumstances that prevent them from being served through the congregation’s usual ministry.”
- WELS Special Ministries reaches out to individuals, congregations, and families to offer specialized services and resources to address the special need(s) with which they are confronted.
- We serve people who are physically, mentally, or emotionally in need of special assistance, affected by their ability to learn, worship, participate in local ministries and everyday living situations.
- Special Ministries also serves thousands of people who are away from their church home, such as military personnel, people living overseas, and those in prison or in some other institution.
The commission carries out this work via appointed committees focused on specific areas of special need, and district special ministries coordinators who bring our work to the district level.
While the commission is devoted to serving WELS members, our Lord continues to provide opportunities to also proclaim the gospel to people who are unchurched or have fallen away from their former church.
The Commision on Special Ministries employs three full-time called workers—the director of Special Ministries, a civilian chaplain to the military serving in Europe, and a prison ministry administrator. Our national civilian chaplain to the military serves part time.
The positions of European civilian chaplain and prison ministry administrator are supported entirely by special gifts and grants. Under the direction and support of these and other leaders, the commission mobilizes thousands of unpaid volunteers in a worldwide effort to meet the spiritual needs of people who might otherwise be ignored or forgotten.
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Isn’t this awesome? Thousands of people are involved! The BORAM states “thousands of unpaid volunteers.”
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Are they really volunteers? This may sound like hair splitting, but I feel its an important distinction. I don’t volunteer when I’m doing ministry. I’m serving.
What’s the function of the WELS Special Ministries? Is it volunteering or serving in ministry?
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I didn’t even get past the first paragraph and my question is answered. The words ministry, ministries, and serve are used repeatedly. The WELS Health and Wellness Committee encourages and assists WELS members and their congregations.
[su_spoiler title=”They offer spiritual and other services in the following areas” icon=”arrow”]
- The aging
- Nursing and parish nursing
- Hospital ministry
- Nursing home ministry
- Assisted living ministry
The committee currently has a special concern for the needs of caregivers for those with long-term illness or disability.
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The work of the commission, as well as that of its eight committees, is described in the following paragraphs
The Organization of WELS Seniors
According to WELS.net: “The Organization of WELS Seniors (OWLS) offers an active alternative to inactivity for people retired and/or 50 years old. To hundreds of members throughout the United States, this organization provides a sense of active purpose. Through involvement, fellowship, mutual support, life enrichment activities and service to others.”
OWLS Areas of Ministry Include
[su_spoiler title=”Nursing Home Ministry” icon=”arrow”]
The nursing home ministry is an outreach program to the un-churched in nursing homes. This is an opportunity to share the Word with the promise of a Savior who died for all sinners and ensures a heavenly home for all believers. Instructions and devotions will be provided to chapters and members-at-large who would like to participate.
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[su_spoiler title=”Gospel outreach” icon=”arrow”]
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). This is reason enough to be involved in evangelistic outreach. In word and deed, members of this organization share the gospel through individual and group efforts and by supporting the evangelism work of the congregation and synod.
Christians with lots of life experience have much to offer young people and can also find great blessings in working with them. You can request a booklet, “Crossing Generations” which is full of suggestions for young people and older members to benefit from each other and be a blessing across generations.
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[su_spoiler title=”Prison ministry” icon=”arrow”]
OWLS chapters and individual members support WELS Prison Ministry financially and through volunteer participation. Activities include distributing materials, serving as pen pals, correcting tests, and making greeting cards and bookmarks for prisoners. The organization’s spiritual advisor writes a special letter every few months to prisoners who have no pen pal. Some congregations collect used copies of Meditation devotions and forward them to the WELS Prison Ministry office. There volunteers prepare them to be distributed them to thousands of waiting prisoners.
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OWLS is justly proud to be the major supporter of the WELS Civilian Chaplaincy to military and civilians living in Europe. Every year OWLS members and OWLS chapters raise enough money to fund the salary of the Civilian Chaplain who visits our service people and civilians who are in Europe.
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When a person has used and enhanced his or her gifts and abilities over the course of many years, it is not only good stewardship but an extension of godly love to share such skill and knowledge with others. Wills and estate planning and charitable gifting are part of Christian stewardship and God-given opportunities to put love and faith into action for one’s family as well as for the Lord.
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This organization is keenly aware of the need for continual spiritual growth. Hostel, retreats, and workshops all provide a rich source of encouragement, fellowship, and information that is part of that growth. The organization’s spiritual advisor writes a message for each issue of the newsletter, New Horizons, mailed to members four times each year.
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An active and fulfilling life involves the whole person. The mind as well as the body and should must be fed. Tours like the “arm-chair” tours at convention or vacation tours planned with a Christian agency provide members with God-pleasing activities that contribute to the nourishment of the mind.
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The OWLS know how to have fun and appreciate the lighter side of life as much as anyone. Recreational activities are a regular part of its activities. Hobbies, collectibles, and items from the past are shared at conventions, and new ideas for personal growth are presented at workshops and hostels and in the newsletter where a good joke can always bring a laugh.
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When a person has used and enhanced his or her gifts and abilities over the course of many years, it is not only good stewardship but an extension of godly love to share such skills and knowledge with others. This organization makes a practice of counseling and coaching especially in the area of finance.
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The WELS Nurses Association states specifically that their mission is to “work together as servants of Christ.” More about this ministry can be read at welsnurses.net.
This is another area of WELS ministry I was aware of, but never educated myself about it. I just discovered Wisconsin Lutheran College offered an online course this summer. I wonder how many people in our congregations would have been interested, if they knew about it!
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Wisconsin Lutheran College is offering an online non-credit certificate course in parish nursing that will run from June 5 to July 28, 2017. Designed for the experienced RN and the novice, the coursework will develop a Christian understanding of tools needed to develop or work in a parish nurse program, including how to:
- Foster a relationship with your church’s leadership team.
- Utilize health assessment skills to evaluate and address your parish’s health care and nursing needs.
- Prepare for and understand the process of Faith Community Nursing Certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
The fee for the course is $600, but WELS Nurses Association is offering ten scholarships of $200. This will be awarded if the nurse contributes $200 and the congregation contributes $200, which ensures that both the nurse and the congregation are invested in a future parish nurse ministry.
Register by May 15 at: commerce.cashnet.com/wlcemarket?itemcode=EMKT-NURSING
Questions about the course may be directed to:
Professor Lisa LeBlanc, MSN, RN, CNL
414-443-8613 lisa.leblanc@wlc.edu
Parish Nursing provides a practical way for congregations to demonstrate loving Christian care and a clear gospel witness to members and the community. For helpful guidelines on how to begin a program, contact the Special Ministries office, 414-256-3241.
I wonder how many other types of educational opportunities for Lay People are out there. My thoughts come back to budgeting for continuing education. Is this an area for your Board of Stewardship to pursue?
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[su_spoiler title=”WELS Chaplaincy Certification” icon=”arrow”]
This initially addresses the needs of Pastors and their continuing education. It encourages congregations to budget funds for their pastor’s continuing education in this area. However, it also mentions how a layperson may be involved in this type of ministry and educational opportunities available to them.
Many congregations feel the layperson isn’t equipped for spiritual ministry. I encourage congregations to budget money for the continuing education of their members who wish to serve in these areas.
More information about this programs can be found at wels.net/chaplain-certification-program.
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The WELS Military Services Committee provides spiritual services to WELS members and others who serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. The committee carries out its mission through a full-time civilian chaplain in Europe and a national civilian chaplain and liaison to the military who coordinates stateside ministry and communicates with WELS members who are deployed in military service.
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WELS Prison Ministry administers an extensive ministry-by-mail program and provides training opportunities for laypeople and pastors who would like to begin a local jail or prison ministry.
You just read that this is a ministry and it involves educational opportunities for lay people. The BORAM reports more than 400 volunteers have been recruited to bring the Gospel to inmates. I thank God that he has equipped his people for service.
For more information, contact Mr. Brad Price, administrator of WELS Prison Ministry, at prisonministry@wels.net, 507-354-3130, or P.O. Box 452, New Ulm MN 56073.
I haven’t looked into Prison Ministry myself. I wonder if there Bible Studies would be suitable for an Assisted Living type ministry. I am please to read that “Almost all jail and prison ministry resources are available free of charge.”
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The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ministry promotes and encourages active participation in ministry to people with special needs in our synod. This area of Ministry holds a special place in the hearts of many people. There are a lot of ways to carry it out.
This is sort of neat. As I am writing this post I discovered one of the ways Synod helps the layperson support special needs people is through a referral program found at https://gf.wels.net/referral-form/. I just took a couple of minutes and referred a young woman who is a member of our church. It took about three minutes of my time. The hardest part was getting her address out of the Member Directory. What a simple way for us laypeople to be involved in ministry!
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One of the neat things I love about this ministry is they encourage congregations to include the participation of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the life of the congregation. Let me give you an example.
Jenny
Video taped during a practice session.
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A young lady in our congregation is intellectually challenged. She is about 30 years old. She is a very loving woman who is full of love and always giving hugs. Jenny has never had a unique opportunity to serve at Church.
We did something several years ago. Jenny and I sang a song in church as part of the pre-service music. We sang “Do Lord.” I grant you that this isn’t one of our traditional Lutheran Hymns. Please bear in mind that Jenny can’t read. We had to do this from memory.
There were contradictory reactions to this. Many people told me they were edified and encouraged by Jenny’s singing. I even had another member, who never participated in a service (other than worship), ask if she could sing with Jenny and me.
Now I don’t know what Spiritual Gift(s) Jenny is equipped with. She is a Christian, so I know she has at least one. In my opinion, she has a unique gift of encouragement. I think it is awesome she was able to use her Gift in this way.
I feel compelled to restate what was in last year’s Report to the Twelve Districts. “Include your special needs members in regular worship.” Don’t just shuffle them off to special programs/services like Jesus Cares.
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The Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Ministry promotes and encourages active participation in ministry to people with special needs in our synod.
The ministry develops resources and provides information to parents, caregivers, children, adults, pastors, teachers, and congregations about education programs, mentoring networks, support groups, and printed and digital materials.
To access these supports, visit wels.net/iddm.
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This ministry works with Jesus Cares Ministries, a program of The Lutheran Home Association, with resources for Bible study, worship, and socialization needs for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Currently, the ministry is forming a team of WELS members, both those with a developmental disability and those who are family members. This team will promote participation of people with intellectual or developmental disabilities in the life of the congregation.
For more information, contact Teacher Thomas Heuer, chairman, at tgheuer8450@gmail.com.
As noted, Jesus Cares Ministries is a program of The Lutheran Home Association. View their online information at http://www.tlha.org/jesus-cares-ministries. I wish to stress that this is a great program, but it should not totally replace regular congregational life participation. Don’t shuffle your special needs people off to Jesus Cares and feel you have fulfilled your responsibility.
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People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities aren’t the only special needs members. Hearing becomes a bigger issue as our population ages. This isn’t just about member care either. This is an issue which should be addressed when talking about reaching out to lost souls. A Board of Outreach can learn from this.
The WELS Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing seeks to help congregations share the gospel of Jesus Christ with members of WELS and others who are deaf or hard of hearing. One in three people over 65 years of age and one in two over the age of 80 have a hearing loss. These percentages are also true for WELS churches and the communities they serve. Addressing the needs of these individuals will improve gospel ministry in worship services and Bible classes.
For more information, contact Pastor Robin Robbert, chairman, at mdhh@wels.net.
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It seems that most of us suffer some extent of hearing loss. What about people who are visually impaired? I was looking or large print edition of Forward in Christ several years ago and was surprised to discover they aren’t available through Northwest Publishing House. Rather a group in St. Paul does this. You can access their online catalogue here. https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/special-ministries/visually-impaired/
Internet and other digital technologies are opening doors for ministry to people with visual impairment, and the Mission for the Visually Impaired has begun the process of getting their resources available in ways that work with the new technology. Our resource catalog of Braille, large print, and audio materials is now available at wels.net/mvi.
To order materials or to learn more about this ministry, contact WELS Mission for the Visually Impaired, 651-291-1536, or 375 Bridgepoint Dr, South St. Paul MN 55075-2466.
For more information, contact Mr. Bill Bremel, chairman, at welsvimp@wels.net.
More information for this Ministry can be found at https://wels.net/serving-you/christian-life/special-ministries/visually-impaired/
An online catalogue of resources is located at csm.welsrc.net
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The Care Committee for Called Workers exists to assist WELS calling bodies in the spiritual, physical, intellectual, and emotional care of their called workers. The committee functions by providing congregations and other organizations with called workers with resources and guidance for supporting called workers and their families, encouraging workers in their ministries, and enhancing their quality of life.
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The committee provides a free resource, “Care to Care,” which includes printed study materials that provide more detailed information about Care Committee work, including how to start a Care Committee; suggestions for the types of questions to ask during the visits; and suggestions for activities that the committee can carry out. A “Care to Care” video (online or DVD format) provides a general overview of the purpose of the local care committee and portrayals of the three types of visits (entrance, annual, and transition) for which the local Care Committee is responsible.
This past year the committee has published resources for congregations to help their called workers plan for retirement. Care Committee materials can be found at csm.welsrc.net/called-worker-care.
For more information, contact Mr. Kurt Holzhueter, chairman, at kpholz@juno.com.
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The Committee on Mental Health Needs assists WELS congregations, institutions, called workers, and lay members as they minister to one another in love, especially to those who are experiencing mental health needs.
Mental health needs are often addressed by professional counselors. This committee helps congregations and individuals find or provide the care needed. The committee has developed brochures (also available in digital form) that are helpful for members of WELS as they seek to find a therapist, interview a therapist, and understand therapist language.
The WELS/ELS Christian Therapist Network has constructed a website that contains a listing of therapists in fellowship with WELS and the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) throughout the nation. Visit christiantherapistnetwork.com.
The committee also works closely with WLCFS—Christian Family Solutions, which now offers video counseling so that WELS/ELS members who do not live near a counselor of our faith may still receive professional Christian counseling.
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Conquerors through Christ is a committee that helps Christians who struggle with the temptations of pornography, a growing problem now that the Internet brings such temptations to the privacy of a computer or mobile phone. Their website, conquerorsthroughchrist.net, has already been effective in bringing people to seek help from their pastors or professional counselors.
A Bible study, “Bought at a Price,” and downloadable e-books that provide parenting resources can also be found on that website.
They also have a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/WELSCTC/. Another great resource, but how do we get the information out to our people? I know WELS Communications Services works hard to do this. There is just soooo much information to share and so little time to read it all. And here I am with by blog contributing to the flood of information!
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Their website states: “Freedom for the Captives seeks to empower the Christian community to respond with excellence to the sin of child abuse. To this end, we provide resources to pastors, teachers, and lay Christians that will deepen their understanding of child abuse and improve the Christian response to the physical, emotional and spiritual impact of maltreatment.
We also have resources for survivors including recommended readings and guidance in selecting counseling or other services. In addition to the resources on our website, we also offer direct assistance to individual survivors who may have a spiritual question not addressed on our website or who need assistance in finding a counselor.
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The Lord is blessing the work of Special Ministries as the number of lay volunteers continues to grow and as our resources for ministry become more easily accessible via the Internet. The resources that we have developed for one field of Special Ministry are finding applications in other areas of the ministry and in missions.
Special Ministries accepts the challenge and privilege of training and equipping the many men and women who are passionate about ministry to the “least of these.” Much of this work is done by volunteers or by called workers assuming extra duties without pay. In the next biennium, such programs as chaplain certification, jail ministry team training, and military contact pastor conferences will equip and strengthen those whom the Lord is calling to serve.
We plan to expand Internet resources for families of those with intellectual or developmental disabilities, addictions, and mental health needs. Under God’s blessing, WELS members who serve as nurses and those who are training for that vocation will find increasing support and encouragement through the WELS Nurses Association.
We will need even more creative, talented, and dedicated lay people as well as pastors, teachers, and staff ministers to selflessly devote their time to developing materials and training others to bring the gospel to those who cannot access it through the usual congregational channels. Our work will require closer cooperation with the many WELS organizations that have sprung up to carry out the work not funded in the WELS budget. The leaders of our special ministries will also need to increase their attention to communicating the financial needs of Special Ministries for the sake of financial support by interested Christians and organizations.
All this ministry is in the hands of Christ, the head of the Church, who has shown that he has all authority in heaven and earth. He goes before us in our labors, creating opportunities and blessing the gospel, whether shared in a military contact pastor’s living room or via sign language in a Sunday morning worship service. The prisoner and the Christian struggling with depression are finding that the Lord has compassion on them. We know that the Lord will hear our prayer, “Your kingdom come!” Our calling is to go into all the world. Join us in sharing the love of Christ our Savior in the forgotten parts of our communities.
For more information on any or all of the areas of Special Ministries, visit wels.net/special-ministries or contact
Pastor Jim Behringer, director of the commission, at 414-256-3240 or jim.behringer@wels.net.
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The Synodical Council has listed $50,000 for WELS Prison Ministry as #9 on the Unfunded Priority List in its report to this convention (see p. 79). Its outreach efforts far exceed the amount of incarcerated WELS members who receive its spiritual resources.
Prison Ministry continues to receive support from the Schwan Foundation and the AntiochII Foundation, though in smaller grants than in the past. The WELS ministry plan does not currently fund any of the work done by Prison Ministry’s called administrator, staff, and volunteers.
The proposed ministry plan includes an additional $30,000 annually to be divided between WELS Prison Ministry and Military Services. We urge that future WELS ministry plans continue to restore support of prison ministry in the synodical budget.
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The SC is responsible for presenting to the synod in convention a list of desirable ministry programs that were not included in the proposed ministry financial plan. This priority list, included as part of the ministry financial plan, will guide the SC in the event that additional financial resources become available. The list of unfunded programs to be considered by the convention are:
- Synodical Council $100,000 Publication Coordinating Commission theological works
- Missions $200,000 Home Missions start and World Missions enhancement
- COP $100,000 Christian Giving Counselor (one year earlier than planned)
- World Missions $50,000 Ethiopia/Sudan worker training support
- Ministerial Education $180,000 MLC Financial Assistance
- Ministerial Education $150,000 Capital projects
- COP $50,000 Special Ministries Military Services Committee
- Home Missions $125,000 New Home Missions start
- COP $50,000 Special Ministries Prison Ministry
- COP $100,000 Commission on Lutheran Schools associate director
- Synodical Council $100,000 Catechism and Bible history curriculum
- Home Missions $125,000 New Home Missions start
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A large section of last summer’s District Convention “Report to the Twelve Districts” devoted a lot of ink to the topic of Special Ministries. They also encouraged incorporating special needs members into regular congregational life. (see Jenny’s Story)
I had the pleasure of serving as our congregations delegate to that convention. When I came home I divided up the three inch binder of material and distributed the pages to our Boards where the information was relevant. Our Board of Elders got a good sized stack of paper. There are a lot of areas of ministry and resources available.
What good does it do to attend a convention or church leaders’ workshop if the information isn’t shared with the congregation or acted on by the relevant boards?
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Caring for Souls: People Matter
An essay was presented at the 61st Biennial Synod entitled “Caring for Souls: People Matter.” This served as the foundation when our congregation first started its Member Support (care) group. It is a good read and can be found at Caring for Souls: People Matter
Equipping the saints: Where do you find the time?
I’m closing this blog post with thoughts the Director of WELS Special Ministries expressed in a newsletter.
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2017/05/05/in His Hands, Newsletter
Jim Behringer is Director of WELS Special Ministries
A pastor confided that, when he prayed “forgive us our trespasses” in the Lord’s Prayer, he would recall all the work he had left unfinished that week.
Similar clouds of guilt loomed over me as I read Ephesians 4, then thickened as I noted yet another responsibility I was failing to fulfill: equipping the saints for works of service. “Great!” I thought. “I hope I can find time to do that someday.”
The idea found lodging in my brain, though. I started the Sunday School year orienting our teachers for their work. New church councils started in January with a review of what serving on council meant. The ushers, the new office assistant, and the EFT (early field training) seminary student all needed training. At least I could equip my members for the tasks they’d been chosen for.
It took years for me to realize that many neglected tasks should be delegated to someone “equipped for service.” (I admit that I learned to delegate long before I learned to equip.) Pastors, I recommend that you delegate most special ministries tasks. Rather than investing a lot of time on a handful of members or prospects, you can delegate this work to a caring member or a committee. But how do you equip those members so the project doesn’t fail for lack of knowledge?
Enter WELS Special Ministries! Equipping someone for ministry—to the deaf, or the incarcerated, or special needs students in Sunday School—doesn’t have to be in the hands of a busy pastor. You can connect your members with Special Ministries, where veterans of this work will gladly share their experience, knowledge, and guidance with lay volunteers.
Our Mission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has assisted many lay people as they set up looping in their churches. Special Ministries has helped organize support groups for addictions and other needs. We’ve worked with Sunday School teachers who plan to teach a deaf child or one with developmental disabilities. Bring us your challenges, and we’ll offer suggestions for overcoming barriers to your ministry.
Pastors, is there some member with special needs who comes to mind when you pray, “Forgive us our trespasses”? Recruit someone to contact Special Ministries for possible solutions. (Remember: delegate!) Have them call us at 414-256-3241 or e-mail specialministries@wels.net and we’ll get the conversation rolling.
It will be one less thing you have to ask forgiveness for.
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I like how addresses the need to “Equip Saints for Service.” Those Saints are you and me. It is true. Many areas of ministry in the church are neglected. Compare this blog to the activity in your church and I think you will have to agree.
I totally agree with his solution: Delegation! This can be one of the hardest skills to learn. It often takes more initial work and effort in the beginning. I think this is why Pastors and Lay Leaders ofthen think “It’s easier to just do it myself.”
He also talks about ways to equip the Saints for Service and names a few resources. It seems to me that skills used in Special Ministries can be adapted to many areas of ministry. They offer help and practical solutions to overcoming challenges and barriers.
The old question comes back to haunt us. “How am I equipped to serve?. Remember: The Holy Spirit has equipped every Christian (read that as you) with special and unique gifts. These gifts are given to serve other, and isn’t serving others what Special Ministries is all about? They are also given to build up the Church. It’s not about us, folks. It’s about how God has equipped us.
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