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  • 678 – Web Excellence

    We’re talking web sites on this week’s WELSTech, and we’re joined by WELS Web Developer, Tim Sinclair. This episode also includes information security guidelines for congregations, book recommendations, and a recap of the recent XR Festival sponsored by Christ in Media. Geeks will be especially excited by Martin’s incremental backup pick!

    The discussion

    Congregation Web Development – Tim Sinclair, WELS Web Developer, talks with Martin and Sallie about best practices and resources for congregation web development.

    • Wix
    • Squarespace
    • Ekklesia 360
    • Tithe.ly
    • Finalweb
    • WordPress.org | WordPress.com
      • ThemeForest by Envato
      • Lightstock
      • ShareFaith
      • Ministry Resource

        WELS General Information Security Guidelines

        Pick of the week
        • Scrum: The Art of Doing Twice the Work in Half the Time co-authored by Jeff and J.J. Sutherland
        • Robocopy | How to Run Robocopy Incremental Backup on Schedule
        • Community news & feedback

          Sallie shares highlights from the Christ in Media XR Festival, held recently at Bethany Lutheran College

          • Oculus Quest 2
          • Grove XR
          • Writing on the Wall by Tom Standage
          • Brand Luther by Andrew Pettegree
          • WELSTech 656 – Dominick Olson
          • Next time on WELSTech

            Pastor James Behringer, Administrator for WELS Special Ministries, shares updates on prison ministry tech

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              • 48 min
              • 677 – On a Desert Island with Rachel & Jason

                Not quite a three-hour tour, but Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt have us thinking of desert islands on today’s WELSTech. Rachel shares details on her upcoming WELS Education Conference presentation, plus there’s a fair share of Google goodness, tools for mass communication, and a real book, complete with that new book smell. Join the conversation!

                The discussion

                Higher Order Thinking – Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt join Martin and Sallie to preview this summer’s WELS Education Conference. Rachel shares details of what participants can expect in the session she’s presenting – Using Technology to Spark Creativity and Higher Order Thinking Skills. The conference will take place June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI.

                • Top 10 Skills of 2025 [Infographic]
                • Conference details and registration – Early bird pricing ends May 1
                • Ministry Resource

                  Let’s Go evangelism video Bible study

                  Picks of the week
                  • Media Literacy for Young Children: Teaching Beyond the Screen Time Debates
                  • Extempore App
                  • Google Apps for Beginners
                  • Google Drive for Desktop
                  • Community news & feedback
                    • BrightArrow for mass communication – Intro video
                    • Christ in Media XR Festival happens April 1-2 at Bethany Lutheran College
                      • Registration is $40
                      • Conference Overview
                      • Coming up next on WELSTech

                        Web excellence with Tim Sinclair.

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                          • Image by Charlie Jones from Pixabay

                            41 min
                          • 676 – Spotlight on LWMS

                            On this week’s WELSTech we talk with Beth Taticek from Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) about the tech that makes LWMS tick. Sallie’s under the weather so Martin flies solo and shares his pick of the week as well as events, resources, and community recommendations and questions.

                            The discussion

                            LWMS – Martin and Sallie welcome Beth Taticek, Administrator of Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS), to WELSTech. Beth’s career with LWMS spans 25+ years. During that time, she’s had a front row seat to the technology revolution and its impact on LWMS administration and communication. This includes the introduction and recent update of the LWMS website, lwms.org.

                            • Follow LWMS on Facebook
                            • 59th Annual LWMS Convention – June 23-26 in Rochester, NY – Learn more and register
                            • Sign up for LWMS Notes
                            • Be the Future of LWMS – Apply for the new Director position
                            • Pick of the week
                              • ATR2100 USB/XLR Mic
                              • Community news & feedback
                                • DocuSign
                                • Register for Taste of Missions – June 11 at the Seminary and online
                                • CLOZEit Google Docs add on for creating worksheets – Video overview
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                                    • 36 min
                                    • 675 – Staying Productive: At Home & Office

                                      WELSTech headlines with a discussion of tools to keep you productive, wherever you are. Also in this episode, learn about a great blog to follow for ministry tech topics, organizing passwords, taking smart notes, and live streaming devices.

                                      The discussion

                                      Top productivity tools – Martin and Sallie each share the 5 tools that keep them on top of their productivity game.

                                      • The Cloud – Google Drive & SharePoint
                                      • Alfred & Keyboard Maestro
                                      • Genius Scan
                                      • Obsidian
                                      • Followupthen
                                      • One Outlook
                                      • Trello
                                      • LastPass
                                      • Bullet Journaling – WELSTech 565
                                      • iPad Mini & Apple Pencil
                                        • 7 Best Notetaking Apps for iPad
                                        • Ministry resource

                                          Church Leaders blog > Ministry Tech

                                          Picks of the week
                                          • How to Organize Your Password Manager in 7 Steps
                                          • How to Take Smart Notes by Sonke Ahrens
                                          • Community news & feedback
                                            • WELSTech Google Group > Live streaming device discussion
                                              • YoloLiv
                                              • Monarch HD
                                              • ATEM Mini Pro
                                              • Get involved
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                                                  • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
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                                                  • Process icons created by Freepik – Flaticon

                                                    54 min
                                                  • 674 – Let’s Get Together

                                                    This week on WELSTech we discuss techniques and tools to manage scheduling calendar events with ease. In addition, we tour WELS Online Yearbook, play some Wordle, expand some text and unpack the community feedback mailbag. And it’s Thursday!?!

                                                    The discussion

                                                    Calendar management – Martin and Sallie discuss frustrations and best practices for calendar and meeting management as well as tools to assist with coordinating schedules.

                                                    • Doodle
                                                    • FindTime
                                                    • YouCanBook.me
                                                    • Meal Train
                                                    • Volunteer Sign Up
                                                    • Google Workspace calendar time slots
                                                    • With All Your Heart: Project Management for Faith-Based Organizations
                                                    • Ministry resource

                                                      WELS Online Yearbook – yearbook.wels.net

                                                      Picks of the week
                                                      • Wordle
                                                        • Make your own at myWordle.me
                                                        • Wordle archives
                                                        • TextExpander 
                                                        • Community news & feedback
                                                          • Every day with Galatians from Forward in Christ magazine
                                                          • Iorad online tutorial creator – Overview video
                                                          • Comparing GoodNotes to Noteability
                                                          • Get involved
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                                                              • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                              • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                              • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                              • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                              • Photo by Brett Jordan from Pexels

                                                                49 min
                                                              • 673 – Green or Blue Bubble?

                                                                WELSTech welcomes co-hosts Rachel Feld and Jason Schmidt along with interviewee Dr. Phil Huebner. “Dr. Phil” previews his upcoming WELS Education Conference presentation on the current teen crisis and its tie to technology. We also have news from the IRS, windows power tools, highlighted links, and refreshing water to wash it all down.

                                                                The discussion

                                                                Take captive every thought – Dr Phil Huebner, campus pastor at Wisconsin Lutheran High School, shares a preview of his mini-keynote scheduled for this summer’s WELS Education Conference. His topic, The “Who Am I? Crisis Among Teens Today is also the subject of Pastor Huebner’s recent book release, available from Northwestern Publishing House.

                                                                • Read “Who I am in Christ” from the February Forward in Christ magazine
                                                                • WELS now
                                                                  • WELS Education Conference registration is open! The conference will take place June 20-22, 2022 at the Ingleside Hotel in Pewaukee, WI. Early bird pricing ends May 1st.
                                                                  • Become a sponsor
                                                                  • News in tech
                                                                    • IRS will require taxpayers to sign up with ID.me to access their online accounts – CBS News
                                                                    • True or false: You need to submit a selfie with your taxes this year – MSN.com
                                                                    • Picks of the week
                                                                      • Owala FreeSip water bottle
                                                                      • Windows Power Toys
                                                                      • 13 Predictions for K-12 and Technology in 2022
                                                                      • Copy Link to Highlight in Chrome & Edge browsers
                                                                      • Ministry resources
                                                                        • 2022 WELS International Youth Rally
                                                                        • Transformed Teen Devotions – Subscribe
                                                                        • Coming up next on WELSTech

                                                                          Calendaring and Scheduling in the Church and School Office

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                                                                            • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                            • Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

                                                                              55 min
                                                                            • 672 – Service Builder

                                                                              On WELSTech this week we welcome 2022 with a deep dive into an exciting new tech-in-ministry worship planning solution, Christian Worship: Service Builder. Additionally, we announce a new podcast around weekly sermon preparation, Martin has a foldable keyboard which Maxwell Smart would appreciate, and we share a bookkeeping software recommendation.

                                                                              The interview

                                                                              Christian Worship: Service Builder – Pastor Caleb Bassett from Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fallbrook, CA serves as Chairman of the Technology Committee for the new Christian Worship hymnal. He talks with Martin and Sallie about the exciting release of Christian Worship: Service Builder, a cloud-based and collaborative worship planning solution which can also create service folders and presentations using the new Christian Worship settings and easily integrate readings, prayers, hymns and psalms.

                                                                              • Learn more
                                                                              • Start a free trial
                                                                              • Visit the Knowledge Center
                                                                              • Request a subscription to Christian Worship: Service Builder
                                                                              • Access the free lectionary calendar
                                                                              • Video resources

                                                                                • Overview (1:39)
                                                                                • Cloud-based for anywhere access and collaboration (1:27)
                                                                                • Adjust service elements quickly and simply (1:37)
                                                                                • Upload custom content (1:48)
                                                                                • Preview webinar (1:09:43)
                                                                                • Related articles

                                                                                  • Christian Worship: Service Builder is the exclusive digital platform for Christian Worship
                                                                                  • Christian Worship: Service Builder provides a generous trial mode at no cost
                                                                                  • Christian Worship: Playlist is the successor to HymnSoft
                                                                                  • Christian Worship: Service Builder supports service plans for multiple locations
                                                                                  • How Christian Worship: Service Builder will fit in your congregation’s workflow
                                                                                  • News in tech

                                                                                    Instagram’s chronological feed is coming back

                                                                                    WELS now

                                                                                    Tune in to WELS’ new Preacher Podcast, part of The Foundation series from WELS Congregational Services. It exists to help churches allow the gospel message to be heard in worship and to echo throughout the week. Listen to multiple pastors discuss sermon topics for the church season.

                                                                                    • Subscribe in iTunes, Stitcher, or Spotify.
                                                                                    • Picks of the week
                                                                                      • How to Input Data Into Excel Spreadsheets Using Your Phone’s Camera
                                                                                      • Arteck HB006 Bluetooth Keyboard
                                                                                      • Ministry resources

                                                                                        3 Proven Ways To Seamlessly Promote Recurring Giving

                                                                                        Community feedback
                                                                                        • Church bookkeeping recommendation – Quickbooks
                                                                                        • Next time

                                                                                          Our classroom technology correspondents are back, and we talk #EDU22 with Jason and Rachel.

                                                                                          Get involved
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                                                                                          • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                          • Join the WELSTech community:
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                                                                                            • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                            • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                            • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                            • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                            • 1 hr 3 min
                                                                                            • 671 – 2021 Retrospective

                                                                                              Year 14 of WELSTech is in the books. Tune in for Martin and Sallie’s favorites from 2021!

                                                                                              Events
                                                                                              • Subscribe to WELSTech e-News
                                                                                              • Martin is blogging
                                                                                              • WELSTech video is back starting with Episode 663
                                                                                              • Sallie is a Grannie, and you can meet our youngest WELSTech fan on Episode 667
                                                                                              • 2021 included a WELSTech book discussion of A World Without Email by Cal Newport
                                                                                              • Shout out to WELS LEGO Masters – Caleb & Jacob
                                                                                              • Ministry resources
                                                                                                • New Christian Worship hymnal digital lectionary
                                                                                                • One By One Bible Study
                                                                                                • All the 2021 ministry resources
                                                                                                • Interviews
                                                                                                  • Dana Kirchoff – 651 Let’s Grow
                                                                                                  • Marissa Krogmann – 652 A is for Amazing
                                                                                                  • All the 2021 interviews
                                                                                                  • Picks of the year
                                                                                                    • Silhouette Cameo
                                                                                                    • Day One
                                                                                                    • Ripl
                                                                                                    • Google Photos
                                                                                                    • Genius Scan
                                                                                                    • iPad Mini
                                                                                                    • All the 2021 picks
                                                                                                    • Get involved
                                                                                                      • Add a comment
                                                                                                      • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                      • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                      • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                      • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                      • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                      • Join the WELSTech community:
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                                                                                                        • WELSTech on Google+
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                                                                                                        • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                        • 47 min
                                                                                                        • 670 – Forward in Christ

                                                                                                          The WELSTech Christmas week special this year features Nicole Balza, and she updates us on all that’s happening with Forward in Christ magazine and especially with their digital offerings. Merry Christmas WELSTech-ers!

                                                                                                          The interview

                                                                                                          Two years in – Martin and Sallie welcome Nicole Balza, who many will recognize from the Together video update, but you may not know that Nicole is also an editor for Forward in Christ magazine.

                                                                                                          We spoke to Nicole about Forward in Christ previously on Episode 619, and she’s back to update us on their digital emphasis over the past two years. Check out everything available at forwardinchrist.net.

                                                                                                          • Archive
                                                                                                          • Community
                                                                                                          • Follow Forward in Christ on Facebook and Instagram
                                                                                                          • Subscribe to Forward in Christ
                                                                                                          • Next time

                                                                                                            Martin and Sallie share favorite memories and picks of the year from WELSTech 2021.

                                                                                                            Get involved
                                                                                                            • Add comments
                                                                                                            • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                            • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                                              • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                              • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                                              • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                                              • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                              • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                              • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                              • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                              • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                              • 19 min
                                                                                                              • 669 – Sharing Christmas Joy

                                                                                                                WELSTech welcomes the Advent and Christmas season with 5 ways to share the good news of our Savior’s birth. Also listen for ideas for building your church bulletin, Martin’s latest hardware pick (with a wire), and tools for telling the next generation. Plus, Sallie’s go-to video editor saves the day, and we announce the Bible verse of the year!

                                                                                                                The discussion

                                                                                                                Go, Tell It – Martin and Sallie give you five ideas for sharing your Christmas joy.

                                                                                                                1. Change your Facebook profile picture and cover photo
                                                                                                                  • Canva
                                                                                                                  • Share Advent and Christmas imagery with a verse or message
                                                                                                                    • Lutheran Stock Photos
                                                                                                                    • Free Bible Images
                                                                                                                    • Share devotional resources
                                                                                                                      • Martin Luther College devotional series
                                                                                                                      • Share online Christmas concerts
                                                                                                                        • Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary – Sunday, December 12 at 3:00 pm
                                                                                                                        • Martin Luther College Christmas concert archive
                                                                                                                        • Share YouTube Christmas videos
                                                                                                                          • Christmas Story told through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wikipedia, Amazon…
                                                                                                                          • For King & Country Christmas Concert
                                                                                                                          • News in tech

                                                                                                                            Computer Science Education Week – December 6-12

                                                                                                                            • Hour of Code from Code.org
                                                                                                                            • WELS now

                                                                                                                              Christian Worship: Service Builder webinar archive – Coming Soon.

                                                                                                                              Related articles:

                                                                                                                              • Christian Worship: Service Builder is the exclusive digital platform for Christian Worship
                                                                                                                              • Christian Worship: Service Builder provides a generous trial mode at no cost
                                                                                                                              • Christian Worship: Playlist is the successor to HymnSoft
                                                                                                                              • Christian Worship: Service Builder supports service plans for multiple locations
                                                                                                                              • How Christian Worship: Service Builder will fit in your congregation’s workflow
                                                                                                                              • Picks of the week
                                                                                                                                • Camtasia Studio for the virtual Advent by Candlelight win!
                                                                                                                                  • Logitech G502 HERO High Performance Gaming Mouse
                                                                                                                                  • Ministry resources

                                                                                                                                    Telling the Next Generation

                                                                                                                                    Community feedback
                                                                                                                                    • YouVersion Verse of the Year – Matthew 6:33
                                                                                                                                    • WELSTech Google Group – Wireless Access point discussion
                                                                                                                                    • Next time

                                                                                                                                      Nicole Balza, hostess of Together video updates, joins us with an update on Forward In Christ magazine.

                                                                                                                                      Get involved
                                                                                                                                      • Add comments
                                                                                                                                      • Send us an e-mail [email protected]
                                                                                                                                      • Join the WELSTech community:
                                                                                                                                        • WELSTech Google Group
                                                                                                                                        • WELSTech on Facebook
                                                                                                                                        • WELSTech on Pinterest
                                                                                                                                        • WELSTech on Instagram
                                                                                                                                        • Add to the WELSTech wiki welstechwiki.gapps.wels.net
                                                                                                                                        • Contribute to the #WELSTech Twitter conversation
                                                                                                                                        • Follow us on Twitter – welstech, mspriggs and salliedraper
                                                                                                                                        • Share with the Diigo group welstech
                                                                                                                                        • Image by u_gzwjc5ts from Pixabay

                                                                                                                                          36 min

                                                                                                                                        About WELSTech Audio

                                                                                                                                        From the publisher's feed

                                                                                                                                        WELSTech explores the use of technology to further the spread of the gospel. This show is sponsored by the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).