Commission on Evangelism
414-256-3287; coe@sab.wels.net
The Commission on Evangelism has developed materials to assist congregations with holding an Evangelism Sunday in 2008. The theme—Declare His Praises: Everyday, Everywhere, to Everyone—stems from the theme of the 2007 synod convention. Materials include several sermons, worship helps, a children’s message, and two Bible studies. You can download the materials on the Evangelism Web site, archive.wels.net/evangelism.

Commission on Parish Schools
414-256-3222; cps@sab.wels.net
The Commission on Parish Schools is sponsoring a National School Leadership Conference on June 16-19, at the Country Springs Hotel, Waukesha, Wis. This conference exists to give WELS educators a large-scale opportunity to come together to learn from God’s Word, from experts in the field of educational leadership, and from each other, so that their ministry competence and commitment to Christ grows. This year’s theme is “Abide in the Vine.” Keynote speakers include Mark Paustian, professor at Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; Jeff Gunn, pastor at CrossWalk Lutheran Ministries, Phoenix, Ariz.; and Dr. Harry Wong, author of The First Days of School. For more information or to register, go to archive.wels.net/jump/leaderconf.

Board for Home Missions
414-256-3286; bhmadmins@ sab.wels.net
At its December meeting, the WELS Board for Home Missions decided to work with district mission boards and neighboring congregations to establish new congregations near Reno, Nev., and Battlement Mesa-Parachute, Colo. The board also authorized pastoral positions at Trinity, St. Lucia, West Indies; Bethlehem, Lakeville, Minn.; and Beautiful Savior, Clarksville, Tenn.; staff minister positions at Abiding Love, Loveland, Colo., and Saving Grace, Mobile, Ala., and preschool director positions at Christ the King, Palm Coast, Fla., and Grace, Spring Hill, Fla. The board is also providing funds that will allow a Sudanese immigrant assisting with a Sudanese outreach program at Lincoln Heights, Des Moines, Iowa, to work full time.

The new positions bring the total number of ministry positions authorized for 2007 to 19. All of the positions are funded within the board’s current budget.

These updates are from the offices of the synod administration building at 2929 N Mayfair Rd, Milwaukee WI 53222-4398.