The WELSTech Summer interview series kicks off today. We’re taking a look at the many faces of ministry during a pandemic from across the synod in an effort to spark ideas and encourage excellence in all ministry, whether in good times or challenging times. There’s also some awesome community feedback on everything from smart tech to VBS and Summer Sunday school to free Bible images.

Unique ministry ideas – Pastor Rob Guenther from St. John’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN joins Martin and Sallie to share his ministry experience during and beyond COVID-19.

Check out the unique video ministry experience from St John’s, New Ulm, MN, where they spliced the current readings and sermon into full church worship recordings from 2019, making the safer-at-home worship experience feel a bit more normal.

Summer interviews on pandemic ministry continue

WELSTech Summer has arrived with an abbreviated show format and a break from pandemic discussions this week. We’re talking productivity, including tips to stay productive long term. A new Googly podcast, wired internet solutions, progressive web apps, online lesson planning tools, and an awesome song are all part of the conversation. Press play now!

Productive summer ahead – Martin and Sallie kick off the WELSTech Summer with a discussion of a recent blog post titled 7 Rules for Staying Productive Long-Term. The conversation also includes ideas for cleaning up your digital footprint this summer.

Is He Worthy? by the Fellowship Bible Church of Northwest Arkansas

We kick off our summer interview series on pandemic ministry

We wrap up another school year on WELSTech with a discussion of teachers’ pandemic summer plans. Rachel Feld joins the conversation and shares an exciting virtual conference announcement from Martin Luther College. Enhance your PC clipboard capabilities with martin’s pick of the week, plus there’s loads of community feedback to learn from.

Unknown summer plans – Martin and Sallie talk education, technology, and the unknown with Professor Rachel Feld, Martin Luther College’s Director of Academic Computing. The end of a very unique school year has arrived! Congrats to everyone for surviving the major shift to distance/online education. Now teachers and administrators have time to rest and assess the past few months before moving into planning for the unknown school year which lies ahead.

YouVersion Bible Lens is ending May 31

Unique Online Learning Assessment Ideas from Ditch That Textbook

Way back in January we announced the 2020 WELSTech theme of Bible Study. And then … our world changed in response to a global pandemic. Worship and Bible Study became almost entirely dependent on technology. Today we talk with a pastor podcaster who had the platform in place to share God’s Word effectively in the midst of this crisis. We also celebrate MLC Day and share a plethora of news, picks and resources to assist you.

Podcasting experience – Pastor Peter Hagen serves Resurrection in Maumee, OH and is the voice behind the Raised with Jesus podcast. WELSTech listeners will also remember him from episode 591, where he introduced us to the idea of Digital Side Doors. Today he joins Martin and Sallie to share his “Bible 100” podcasting series experience.

iOS COVID-19 Contact Tracing

WELS Family Devotions

Listen (again) to our favorite song from Martin Luther College – I Will Rise

Rachel Feld co-hosts the last of our edtech shows for the 2019-2020 school year as we look ahead teacher’s (pandemic) summer.

WELSTech once again leads off with the topic of the year, COVID-19, as we welcome Mr. Sunshine, Jason Schmidt, and discuss the impact the pandemic is having on education. We’ve got lots of news, picks, and community feedback to share as well as a link to the amazing synod-wide Easter hymn that brought Sallie to tears.

What does this mean? – This week’s round table includes Martin, Sallie, and Jason Schmidt, Instructional Technology Coach for Oconto Falls School District, as we discuss the current and future impact of the rapid transition to distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MLC Day is May 6 – honoring the class of 2020 at Martin Luther College

Worship daily at 9 am Central (or access the archive at any time) with the Luther Preparatory School Chapel

Enjoy the WELS virtual choir singing I Know That My Redeemer Lives

Together at the Tomb – WELS Easter Worship Service 2020

WELSTech is “safer at home” this week with a focus on making the most of your remote work environment and routines. This episode also includes a preview of Easter Sunday’s “Together at the Empty Tomb” live streaming event plus other updates and tech support for ministry efforts during COVID-19.

Adjusting to work “safer at home” – Martin and Sallie discuss their shift to working from home and share techniques to consider as you make the transition including healthy habits, workspace considerations, communication advice, and more.

Zoom security and privacy questions

Together at the Empty Tomb – Synod-wide Easter service Sunday at 6 pm Central

As we face COVID-19 – Updates from WELS

Exporting audio from video

View President Mark Schroeder’s Palm Sunday Message

And a preview of the Easter evening (at 6 pm Central) Together at the Empty Tomb

Jason Schmidt shares some “safer at home” edtech sunshine.

Tune in to this week’s WELSTech for a ton of resources to support the new “normal” of online ministry. Professor Rachel Feld joins us to share ideas for teachers adjusting their classrooms to function from a distance, and Missionary Mike Hartman is with us as well, graciously sharing knowledge and experience around carrying out church online. Plus there’s more resource links than you can shake a stick at!

Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

Education from a distance for everyone – Martin Luther College’s Director of Academic Computing Professor Rachel Feld joins Martin and Sallie as we reflect on the past days and the immense shift to online education.

A little help from a friend – Missionary Mike Hartman from the One Latin America Team shares lessons learned during work with Academia Cristo and advice on online ministry.

Postponed/canceled events …

Resources from WELS and NPH – includes …

From Bread for Beggars – The Chosen–How to Watch for FREE and an Opportunity to Discuss

Watch the trailer …

From the Kettle Moraine Lutheran High School Echoes – Do Not Let Your Hearts Be Troubled, a mix of individual singers recorded March 25, 2020 during “Safer At Home”

This special WELSTech episode is dedicated to sharing resources to assist congregations and schools as they adjust to COVID-19 challenges and opportunities.

Photo by Bruno Figueiredo on Unsplash

Martin and Sallie discuss the impact of the changing COVID-19 restrictions on church and school and technology resources which can help.

How Will the Church Look During Coronavirus and WHY?

We’ve got a packed show this week on WELSTech. Our lead-off discussion covers ideas for family Bible study from a distance. We learn about the amazing plans for the upcoming Bread for Beggars Festival, and we discuss the hottest topic of the week, the coronavirus, specifically planning for the unknown in your church and school. There’s also picks of the week, audio/video planning resources, and free Bible images to round out the discussion. Don’t delay … Press play!

Family Bible study from a distance – Martin and Sallie share ideas for gathering your spread out family around God’s Word using technology to bridge the distance. They cover everything from finding materials for Bible study to tech tools for connecting to blessings and challenges they’ve encountered in the process.

Upcoming Festival – Pastor Mark Parsons, who serves at Faith in Fond du Lac, WI and is the chief content creator for Bread for Beggars, shares details about the first ever Bread for Beggars Festival, happening June 11-13 in Fond du Lac. Festival attendees will leave full of the feast on God’s Word through sight, song, and story. Registration is open for the full festival (cost $195), or you can attend the Free Friday Night events.

Preparing for the coronavirus in …

Worship the Lord series on Audio, Acoustics, and Video in the Worship Setting

Contact DSH Audio for assistance

FreeBibleImages.org

Learn more about Smithsonian Open Access.

Professor Rachel Feld from Martin Luther College brings edtech to the discussion.

Tune in to this week’s WELSTech for an education-focused discussion including favorite Android apps for Chromebooks, classroom headphone recommendations, eRate, and the Issues in Lutheran Education blog. Plus, we’ve got you covered with details on the 2020 WELS International Youth Rally, Digital Learning Day, and atomic habit forming.

Android apps on Chromebooks – Jason Schmidt, Instructional Technology Coach for Oconto Falls School District, joins Martin and Sallie to discuss Chromebook support and management of Android apps. And Jason throws in a side of headphone recommendations for classrooms to sweeten the conversation.

Apps

Headphones

Image courtesy of Masahiko OHKUBO via Flickr. License: Creative Commons 2.0

Registration opens March 2 for 2020 WELS International Youth Rally

Issues in Lutheran Education – Martin Luther College Graduate Studies and Continuing Education blog

Enjoy this short introduction to Jason’s pick of the week – Rivet: Better Reading Practice for Kids.