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About the WELS
As men, women, and children united in faith and worship by the Word of God, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod exists to make disciples throughout the world for time and for eternity, using the gospel in Word and sacrament to win the lost for Christ and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service, all to the glory of God.
WELS, characterized as theologically conservative, is the third largest Lutheran church body in America. With national offices today at 2929 N Mayfair Rd, Milwaukee, WI, WELS began in 1850 when three pastors met in Milwaukee. Today, it has grown to over 1,200 congregations in North America. It has over 400,000 baptized members served by over 1,000 pastors.
Those gathered in the national churches of WELS worldwide mission fields now number over 73,000. Most of these souls continue to be nurtured through the ministry of 122 national pastors and 184 evangelists who have been educated in worker training programs that scripturally equip them to spiritually nurture those they serve. The enrollment in the various fields of 229 Bible Institute students and 65 seminary students also points to a future bright with promise.
The synod operates four ministerial education schools: Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis.; Martin Luther College, New Ulm, Minn.; Luther Preparatory School, Watertown, Wis.; and Michigan Lutheran Seminary, Saginaw, Mich.
In an effort to serve Jesus by serving others, the WELS supports an ongoing program of bringing physical relief to suffering humanity. Tornadoes, floods, famines, earthquakes, and typhoons, both at home and abroad, call for emergency assistance. Cash grants, food, clothing, and medical supplies are made available to those who are the victims of those natural disasters. Here are just a few of the many hundreds of humanitarian endeavors supported by the WELS over the past several years:
- $15,000 in support of inner-city food pantries and programs for the needy.
- $10,000 for SARS humanitarian relief in China.
- $10,000 for forest fire relief in San Diego, Calif.
- $10,000 for humanitarian aid in Haiti.
- $30,000 for humanitarian aid support for WELS world missionaries.
- $30,000 in disaster relief and humanitarian aid for victims of flooding in Europe.
- $40,000 disaster relief for tornadoes in the Midwest.
- $40,000 for seed programs to help the starving in Zambia, Africa.
- $50,000 in humanitarian aid to Native Americans in Arizona, New Mexico, and the Dakotas.
- $50,000 for disaster relief for the earthquake in India.
- $50,000 in humanitarian aid to Afghanistan and Iraq and Sudan.
- $55,000 for forest fire relief in Pinetop, Ariz.
- $80,000 for flooding in various cities in Indiana.
- $85,000 for aid to Latvia and Belarus.
- $375,000 for needy families, house fires, and medical needs.
- $400,000 for grants to hurricane victims in Florida and Grenada.
- $450,000 for tsunami relief ($135,000 actually distributed to date).
- $800,000 for help in humanitarian aid for victims of 9-11.
To find out more about the history, beliefs, and programs of the WELS visit www.wels.net. For those interested in RSS feeds from the WELS website we recommend the following:
