March 14, 2026
St. Croix Lutheran Academy | St. Paul, MN

“Ministry” is the service we bring to God in our Christian lives, both personally as individual believers and corporately as we combine our efforts in churches, schools, and families. The Minnesota Ministry Workshop brings presenters from a variety of areas of ministry to share their knowledge, experiences, and insights. The workshop is open to all WELS members looking for personal inspiration or new ministry ideas. In addition to a keynote presentation, participants will choose two breakout workshops to attend.

EVENT DETAILS

Location: St. Croix Lutheran Academy (1200 Oakdale Ave, West St Paul, MN)

Date: March 14, 2026

Time: Doors open at 9:00am and the event will conclude at 4:00pm.

Cost: $35 (includes lunch)

SCHEDULE

  • 9:00-9:30 Arrival and check-in
  • 9:30-10:15 – Worship & hymn sing
  • 10:15-12:00 – Keynote (Pastor Mark Schroeder)
  • 12:00-1:00 – Onsite lunch
  • 1:00-2:15 – Breakout Session #1
  • 2:15-2:30 – Break
  • 2:30-3:45 – Breakout Session #2
  • 3:45-4:00 – Closing devotion

KEYNOTE (Morning)

Recruiting the Next Generation for Public Ministry, by Pastor Mark Schroeder

God promises that his Word will be preached until Christ returns—but who will proclaim it?

This keynote introduces a new Ministry Recruitment Counselor initiative and explores how you can help encourage future servants in the public ministry. Featuring Arizona Pastor Mark Schroeder, now serving with the Board for Ministerial Education.

Click to learn more.

WORKSHOPS (Afternoon)

Participants will select two of the following breakout workshops to attend in the afternoon.

Christ Through Us, by Prof. Paul Koelpin. For 175 years, Christ has worked through the WELS to share the gospel by grace through faith. In this session, Prof. Paul Koelpin highlights key moments in our Synod’s history, reflecting on the challenges, lessons, and blessings that continue to shape our work together today. Click to learn more.

Hospitality Bootcamp: Evangelism in Action, by Dr Lori Ryan. Fewer people are seeking church programs, so how do we reach them? Dr Ryan shows how biblical hospitality creates space for meaningful relationships and gospel-centered conversations. Learn practical strategies, overcome common barriers, and set goals to share Christ in your home, neighborhood, workplace, and community. Click to learn more.

Resurrection Work: Real Insights for Turnaround Churches, by Pastor Jonathan Bourman, Mr. Galen Holzhueter, and Mr. Bill Freitag. Revitalizing a struggling church takes vision and practical strategy. The ministry team from St. Mark will share lessons from their work in Mankato, MN, offering actionable steps and guidance to help your church thrive. Click to learn more.

Worship Education in the Parish, by Pastor Craig Engel. Worship is more than what meets the eye- heaven comes near, and Christ’s gifts are delivered for life now and eternal. This workshop explores how to help members understand the Word and Sacrament, see how the Divine Service shapes Christian life, and explain the meaning behind Sunday morning practices. Click to learn more.

Clarifying Your School’s Philosophy of Education, by Mr. David Gartner and District President Dennis Klatt. This workshop helps pastors, lay leaders, and school administrators clarify their philosophy of education to maximize ministry impact, guide staffing, and expand kingdom opportunities. Click to learn more.

HOW TO REGISTER

To provide an efficient and secure registration process for everyone, we ask that you pay with a credit or debit card when you register. You will also choose your two preferred workshops when you register.

If you are registering on behalf of someone else, please be ready to enter an email address for them.

If you are registering yourself and a group of people, do not worry about entering their preferred workshops.

Register Now

FAQ’s

Will this event be online? Due to the way we structure this event around small group conversations, this is an in-person event.

Who is allowed to attend this conference? It is for everyone: called workers & lay members, young & old, men & women. Most topics and presentations are especially geared toward church members who are passionate about bringing new ideas to their ministries.

Is there a discount for group signups? No. In order to keep the registration process as simple as possible, there is only one registration rate.

What’s for lunch? St. Croix Lutheran Academy is catering in tacos and Spanish rice with all the fixings. Participants will be able to pick & choose food items to avoid food sensitivities.

Who is the contact person for this event? Send your question to Pastor Ryan Wolfe and he can direct you to the best person for an answer. Email him at rwolfe@salemlutheran.org.

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We put together resources to help you promote this event in your church! Find bulletin announcements, bulletin inserts, and a full-size poster to use as you please at the link below.

Promotional Materials