For the 700th time, welcome to WELSTech, a show about technology and ministry and where those two intersect! Martin and Sallie look way back to 2008 when the show started and explore the changing landscape of tech-in-ministry which they’ve observed through the years. Church texting platforms, fancy social media posts, and AI-generated text are some of the 2023 tech-in-ministry topics discussed on this episode as well.

A big milestone – Martin and Sallie suited up to celebrate this 700th episode of WELSTech with a look back at where and why it started, tech-in-ministry topics then and now, retro WELSTech images, and book reviews through the years. Plus, the WELSTech “ace in the hole” is revealed!

Top 28 Church Texting Platforms – Comparison chart in the PDF

Amanda Klemp from WELS Communication Services shares tips for great e-newsletters

Things are lively on this week’s WELSTech as we return to our Incredibles of EdTech series. Tech infrastructure is the focus, and we learn about challenges and strategies for managing this invisible force. Outreach, working genius, chair wheels, and grammar are just a few of the other topics which fill to overflowing this episode. Enjoy!

Invisible Infrastructure – The podcast table has 5 seats this week as we welcome our semi-regular classroom technology correspondents, Prof. Rachel Feld, Director of Academic Computing and Online Learning from Martin Luther College (MLC), and Jason Schmidt, Executive Director of Wisconsin Virtual School, along with special guest Bob Martens, Director of Information Technology at MLC.

We continue with the third installment of our school year series – The Incredibles of EdTech. Like Violet, the oldest Incredible child, whose superpower is invisibility, tech infrastructure is an invisible, yet incredibly important, component of educational technology. Bob is freshly off teaching a new MLC Graduate Studies course on the topic and shares details about what’s involved, determining expectations, and partnering with local experts to support ever-changing infrastructure needs.

Everyone Outreach

From the WELSTech Google Group

Join us for a very special episode as WELSTech turns 700! We’ll take a look at tech in ministry, then and now.

Recorded in the Grand Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton, a site visited by President John F. Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth II (among others), WELSTech is covering WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership in style! Listen in as Martin and Sallie are joined by WELS Tech team member Dan Retzlaff to reflect on the mountain of information gained as well as the incredible worship experiences and fellowship opportunities which happen when you spend time together with 1,300+ fellow WELS members.

Martin and Sallie are joined by Dan Retzlaff, Director of WELS Software Services, for a discussion of their experiences at WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership. Dan also shares a behind-the-scenes look into the work of his Software Services team.

The Incredibles of EdTech series continues with a lively discussion of the invisible superpower of infrastructure.

Join Martin and Sallie for a look back at WELSTech 2022 featuring our favorite ministry resources, interviews, and picks. As we wrap up the 15th year of WELSTech, we look ahead to our upcoming 700th podcast and beyond, with lots more tech-in-ministry goodness planned for 2023!

Wait for it! We’re delaying our next release so we can record from WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership. Look for that episode on January 20.

Tis the season for the WELSTech Christmas special! Each year at Christmas we host an interview-only show with someone from the Center for Mission and Ministry to share more about their area of responsibility for WELS. This year Pastor Dan Sims joins the conversation as we talk about the work of WELS Christian Aid & Relief. Merry Christmas!!

Compassion ministry – Pastor Dan Sims, Director of WELS Christian Aid & Relief, joins Martin and Sallie to share details on the work of this group including the three areas of support carried out under theme verse –

“Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” Galatians 6:10

Enjoy the MLC College Choir singing Away in A Manger.

We close out 2022 with a look at the best of WELSTech throughout the year.

On today’s WELSTech Wendy Kuschel shares a preview of her upcoming session on communication planning happening at the WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership, and Martin chats with Nicole Balza about the Forward in Christ December feature on favorite Christmas hymns. You’ll want to explore the fun, interactive online experience they’ve created!

Martin and Sallie talk with Wendy Kuschel, Senior Communications Coordinator for St Mark Ministries in Green Bay, WI, about her upcoming session at WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership on Creating a Congregational Communications Plan.

You can still register for the Leadership Conference through December 5. It’s happening January 16-18, 2023, at the Hilton in Chicago, IL.

Martin joins Nicole Balza on this week’s Together Video Update to talk about the Forward in Christ Favorite Christmas Hymns survey results. Check out the December magazine and the interactive Christmas hymn experience at forwardinchrist.net.

The WELSTech Christmas special will feature an interview with Pastor Dan Sims from WELS Christian Aid and Relief.

WELSTech is back with our Incredibles of EdTech series. We welcome Rachel Feld to the discussion of multi-purpose tools that would make Elastigirl proud. MLC Spring registration is open, there’s still room for you at the Lutheran Leadership Conference, and picks of the week includes buttons for all things, including starting your car, and a presentation zooming utility.

Tools to do it all – Prof. Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College joins Martin and Sallie this week as we continue our school year series – The Incredibles of EdTech. Just like Elastigirl, the discussion features versatile tools which can stretch to fill many edtech needs.

Martin Luther College Continuing Education/Graduate Studies Spring 2023 classes

Communication planning with Wendy Kuschel

Thanks for tuning in to WELSTech! This week we have fun graphic design tools to share, both free and fee-based, which do the heavy lifting when it comes to creating social media graphics which look professional. The rest of the show is packed with goodies including Bible study resources, an affordable classroom document camera, Leadership Conference news, and a look ahead at tech of the future. Join the conversation!

Get creative – A picture is … an expected and well received method of communicating on social media. For those who feel graphically challenged to design social media image masterpieces, Martin and Sallie share some of their favorite sites for creating professional images to share on social media. Check out the sample image library they created using some of the tools discussed and reference this article on the 10 Best Tips for Social Media Photos for additional inspiration and guidance.

WELS Bible Studies

WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership early bird discount extended

WELSTech is coming to you this week from the offices of WELS Technology West, a.k.a., Sallie’s living room, as Martin and Sallie enjoy the rare circumstance of being in the same place for the recording. Today’s topic is brainstorming, and we have a myriad of tools to assist with the process. There are also multiple events to share, plus Martin has details on gadgets with waterproof lasers!

Capturing great ideas – No matter the setting, church or school, there are constantly new projects, events, and initiatives to kickstart, and a group brainstorming session is a great way to do that. Martin and Sallie share tools and methods to brainstorm with a group, even from a distance, and to capture all the great ideas which are generated.

Common Sense Education Digital Citizenship Week

Get ready for Computer Science Education Week – December 5-11, 2022

Welcome back to WELSTech listeners and to a very special returning co-host, Gail Potratz. Our discussion focus of the day is school technology planning. We have an exciting announcement about (more than one) lectionary in Google Calendar as well as picks to improve your focus and to create tech plans and more, with flair. Plus, Martin is making notes all over the web – even in his digital Bible – and managing them in one place!

Image by Wokandapix from Pixabay

Welcome back – After a long hiatus, Gail Potratz shares hosting duties with Martin and Sallie once again. (You’ll have to tune in to WELSTech Episode 443 from May 2016 for Gail’s last appearance.) Gail’s insights related to Educational Technology have only gotten better with time, and today she shares ideas around the importance of creating and updating formal School Technology Plans.

Check out the WELSTech Wiki for sample Tech Plans and templates to create your own. Add yours to the mix!

Google Calendar Lectionary is back and expanded! Subscribe to the calendars for …

Tap into the WELS Google Schools group on groups.io