Some have asked for the audio and video from the 2025 NWD triennial convention. Find the links at the NWD Convention website HERE.

Three of the four parts are available now, including:

• Day 1 with the President's report, the speeches and election of the District President, and commemoration of the faithful departed.
• Day 2-9am with opening matins, staff reports, voting, greetings from the seminaries, and synodical video.
• Day 2 9am-noon with LCMS President Rev. Dr. Matthew Harrison, elections, installation of new DP Rev. Tim Shoup.
• Part 4 will be posted soon and includes elections, convention resolution business, essayist Rev. Dr. Paavola, and closing.

MinistryFOCUS is an LCMS RSO that provides Historical grants to called church workers to reduce debt. There is a general application for called workers and an application for the limited Ministerial Excellence Fund for ordained workers and deaconesses. Applications can be found online at ministryfocus.org. MinistryFocus determines eligibility for the respective funds. If a pastor or deaconess applies for but does not receive an MEF grant, he/she is eligible for the Historical grant. Applications are open by late November and due by the end of December 31. Grant decisions are announced toward the end of January.

Congregations receive God’s love and mercy in worship. Pastors craft sermons to bring Christ and His Word to their people. Pastors and their members sometimes also feel like they are treading water, or know they want to move forward but are not quite sure what to do. Small Church Clarity (meaning congregations with up to 200 people per week in worship) is a four-week event that will lead congregations to develop and implement a plan for ministry. A cohort of churches is beginning this fall, and a new cohort (six-eight congregations) in the spring of 2026. We give thanks for our partners at LCEF for leading the training, and the NWD Board of Directors for providing the funding to cover the cost. Watch for more information. Consider participating in the next cohort. Contact President Shoup with questions.

The North Wisconsin District Labor of Love grants are for rostered church workers, both full time and part time, employed in NWD congregations, schools, or missions. They are limited to individuals with at least $10,000 in combined educational debt and will assist in repaying college and/or seminary educational loans (excludes post-graduate work or that beyond an M.Div.).

The annual application process opened on Sept. 15, with an application deadline of Dec. 10. Recipients will be notified via email in early January regarding their specific award amounts.

Grants and amounts will be awarded based on the applicant’s overall financial need, current financial commitments, special circumstances, and the District’s availability of grant funds.

Apply HERE.

We are blessed to have another 3 year agreement with our friends at MinistrySafe. Through December 2027 any NWD ministry can provide sexual abuse awareness training to its staff and volunteers at NO COST, thanks to the generosity of the NWD Board of Directors. Contact DJ to get started.

25 applicants recently received over $175,000 from NWD endowed gifts to pursue professional church work through our Concordia University System and seminaries! Below are excerpts of a note of thanks from Sam H: I believe this is the path that God wants me to take, and it has been nothing but a blessing. I really can’t wait for what God has in store for me not only in my second year, but my whole entire journey on becoming a Lutheran education teacher. Thank You!

Set Apart to Serve is a culture of raising up boys and men to preach and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as pastors, and raising up boys and girls, men and women to teach and share God’s Word in other full-time church work vocations.

SAS would like to bring the following resources to your attention:

• The 8 LCMS Church Work Vocations booklet
• Forming a Congregation Set Apart to Serve Focus Team
• For many other SAS resources for pastors, commissioned church workers, parents and laity, please see: https://www.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve

Customized Loans for Your Ministry

Whether you’re building a new facility, renovating your existing space or pursuing a specialized ministry project, LCEF provides solutions designed to support your congregation’s unique goals. With our expertise and commitment to serving LCMS ministries, we’re here to help you navigate every step of the journey toward achieving your mission.

Knowing that no two church bodies are exactly alike, we offer a variety of loans to help meet the specific needs of your congregation. Your LCEF DVP is equipped to guide you through each step of the process as you find the right loan to meet your goals:

• Secured Loans (new and refinanced)
• Construction Loans
• Bridge Loans
• Lines of Credit
• Short-Term Loans
• Specialized Ministry Loans
• Unsecured Loans
• Ministry Improvement Loans

Be sure to check out the details of each at https://lcef.org/church/lending/, and call your North Wisconsin DVP, Bill Jordan, for a specialized appointment to discuss your best option.

LCEF can also help with the financing of your congregation’s school with a School Association Loan. When it comes to financing a loan to purchase, construct or renovate a school property, you can trust our supportive and knowledgeable staff to help you continue Christ’s work while being fiscally responsible.

Enjoy competitive rates that are only available to our LCMS ministry partners, while supporting LCMS church work and workers in the process! That’s the unique “value add” with LCEF.

In His service,

Bill Jordan

District Vice President - LCEF

North Wisconsin District

bill.jordan@lcef.org - 715-845-8241 ext. 102