This cat-friendly WELSTech school-year season opener marks the return of our extended format, including news in tech, WELS now, and ministry resources. We’re talking about apps for creating verse images, updates to the Google Lectionary Calendar, and church video connections. Plus, we are happy to welcome Dr. Tom Kuster to the conversation as he shares details on an extended-reality-in-ministry project!

Sample Bible Lens verse image featuring Mia Draper – Click to view larger

Create verse images – A smartphone can fill a key role in church, school, and personal communication efforts. Martin and Sallie discuss the many apps that make it easy to create images with Bible text overlaid, perfect for sharing on social media.

How can XR technology be used to serve the Lord? – Dr. Tom Kuster from the Christ in Media Institute shares details on their current XR (extended reality) Project and Festival and how schools can get involved. The first 10 schools to sign up will receive a $200 Oculus-GO VR headset to further their research.

The Google Lectionary Calendar has been updated with the next three church years! Learn more on the WELSTech Wiki.

WELS National Conference on Lutheran Leadership – Register now for early bird pricing

WELSTech Challenge Album – Search flickr using WELSTechPhotoChallenge

This week we feature a double-header of congregation “Connection” video examples. First up is the Fall 2019 Good Shepherd Connect from Good Shepherd, Sioux Falls, SD.

And second is the September 2019 Pilgrim Connection from Pilgrim, Menomonee Falls, WI.

This week on WELSTech we wrap up our summer focus on WELS Congregational Services with a look at the important work done by the Military Services Committee. We also have feedback, advice, and picks on a variety of topics including online giving, counting files in Google Drive, setting up a new computer, and a collaborative programming platform.

Serving those who serve our country – Pastor Paul Ziemer joins Martin and Sallie to share details on his role as WELS Civilian Chaplain to the military and the work of the WELS Military Services.

Get an insider’s look at Glitch in this Welcome to Glitch! video.

The WELSTech Summer series continues this week with an interview with the Coordinator of WELS Congregational Services. Sallie’s learning new programming skills on her phone while Martin is keeping things doubly secure with Google. In the Community Feedback segment, one listener shares his experience with an affordable digital display solution.

Congregational Services – Pastor Jon Hein serves as both Director of WELS Commission on Congregational Counseling and Coordinator of WELS Congregational Services. Martin and Sallie chat with him about another important job he filled at the recent Synod Convention, that of convention essayist (with a modern twist). He also shares info on several new initiatives in Congregational Services.

Watch Pastor Jon Hein’s Synod Convention presentation.

WELSTech comes to you from WELS Synod Convention 2019 where Martin and Sallie talk with four of the attendees about their convention experience. And we even have video this time!

Paperless for the win – Many hands (and a dash of technology) make the Synod Convention experience a success.  Even more impressive is this year they did it without one click of a binder! Martin and Sallie learn about the convention experience from a variety of perspectives.

Beat the summer heat with the cool voices of Martin and Sallie on this week’s WELSTech. We take a look at WELS Women’s Ministry, yet another area where WELS Congregational Services supports ministry. Martin alerts us to an “iconic” celebration, plus Sallie shares tips for recording on the go.

Living Stones – Fresh off attendance at WELS Women’s Ministry Conference, Sallie shares her experience. Check out resources from the conference and learn more about Women’s Ministry at wels.net/womens-ministry.

Interviews include …

Enjoy archived videos of all devotions, worship and keynote speakers from the WELS Women’s Ministry Conference, courtesy of Luther Preparatory School. Watch Pastor Mike Novotny’s kick-off keynote, focused on 1 Peter 2:4-5.

This week the WELSTech summer series on WELS Congregational Services focuses on Prison Ministry, part of Special Ministries. Plus, there’s afterglow to enjoy related to the recent Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit, including presenter resources and photos. Community feedback covers social media ideas, QR codes, and multiple monitors for worship.

Prison Ministry – Dave Hochmuth, WELS Prison Ministry Administrator, shares some of the history of the group and the current blessings and challenges of ministry to prisoners in the digital age.

Check out the EdTechLead19 photo album and this slideshow video of the event.

Recorded in front of a live audience at WELS Education, Technology, and Leadership Summit, WELSTech hosts Martin and Sallie talk with four of the attendees about their conference experience.

Reaching the Summit – Attendees, presenters, vendors, and planning committee members who were a part of #EdTechLead19 each walk away with unique experiences. Hear from four people who played a variety of roles at the conference.

Tune in to WELSTech for a discussion about the gospel response to Internet pornography offered by Conquerors through Christ. The community feedback buzz includes sign up for a taste of missions, classroom speaker recommendations, and a variety of ways people are offering catechism lessons online.

From Dirty to Dancing – Pastor Mike Novotny from The CORE in Appleton, WI serves as the chairman of Conquerors through Christ, a WELS Special Ministries taskforce to help Christians deal with the temptations and devastation caused by Internet pornography. He chats with Martin and Sallie about the work of the taskforce.

Check out a sample Catechism lesson with companion video on The Seventh Commandment which are featured in this blog post from Northwestern Publishing House.

Summer arrives on WELSTech this week as we begin a series on the various areas of WELS Congregational Services, with Special Ministries in the lead-off position. Martin and Sallie share hardware picks with mom in mind, and the community feedback bag includes media content, brave browsing, and STEM career options in agriculture!

All the hats – Pastor Jim Behringer, Administrator for WELS Special Ministries, joins Martin and Sallie to kick off our summer series on Congregational Services. We learn about the many and varied audiences Special Ministries serves and the army of behind-the-scenes volunteers who assist with the ministry efforts.

Here’s a sample video from WELS Special Ministries – Luther’s Seal (Captioned) for deaf and hard of hearing.

Spring has arrived on WELSTech as we wrap up our season-long book discussion of Faithfully Connected with guest host Jason Schmidt and an interview with the authors. Jason shares a “life changing” Google tool and a great book recommendation for summer. Plus, there’s news from Last Pass, a recommendation for Pear Deck, and the debut of the BORAM. Listen now!

Dr. Ben Boche and Dr. Jake Hollatz

Finding balance –  Jason Schmidt, edtech co-host extraordinaire, joins Martin and Sallie to wrap up our book discussion of Faithfully Connected. We cover chapter 9, Digital Security, and the conclusion.

And, as a special bonus, Martin and Sallie talk with the authors of Faithfully Connected, Dr. Ben Boche and Dr. Jake Hollatz, to learn more about the motivation and message of the book.

Learn more about Pear Deck for Google Slides in this introductory video.

Episode 602 – Pastor Jim Behringer, administrator for Special Ministries, kicks off our summer focus on WELS Congregational Services.  Release date: Wednesday, June 5.