Dear Friend,
Pastors are gifts from the risen and ascended Savior, who sits at the right hand of the Father. Ephesians 4:11-13 says as much. Thanks and praise be to Jesus—the 1,400 active pastors of WELS are gifts from him! The congregation I attend is blessed to have two of those pastors—and a vicar (future pastor, Lord willing). My family and I are very thankful that these men have set their hearts on serving God’s people with Word and sacrament.
The other members of our congregation are thankful too, and I would like to tell you about two of them: a married couple with grown children. About seven years ago, the husband was moved by a Forward in Christ article about the struggles and challenges a pastor was facing. He talked to his wife about the article, and together they asked: What can we do to support the pastors of our church body? After prayerful consideration and some research, he and his wife decided to start the Grow in Grace Endowment Fund at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
Grow in Grace is the part of the seminary that supports pastors by partnering with them for their spiritual and professional growth. Grow in Grace does this in four areas of ministry:
- Formal continuing education: We provide for-credit courses for the pastors of WELS and sister church bodies from around the world. Every biennium, about 200 pastors take such a course.
- Informal continuing education: We produce and distribute informal continuing education resources that pastors can read on their own. We offer not-for-credit presentations. Every biennium, about 600 pastors participate in these learning events.
- Pastor Partners mentoring program: We provide a mentor for pastors during the first three years of ministry. These mentors serve as trusted friends and confidants. Many pastors have told me, “I would not have made it through the first three years of ministry if it weren’t for my mentor. Thank you.”
- Celebration of Ministry retreats: We plan and host three-day retreats for pastors and their wives who have served in ministry for 3, 10, 25, and 35 years. The workshops are tailored to their specific station in life and ministry. Participants return to their congregations with renewed spirits.
Back to the endowment. The husband and wife began the fund in 2019. Every year since then, they have contributed $25,000 from their IRA accounts, encouraging others to join them in this effort. In March 2026, the Grow in Grace Endowment Fund had a balance of about $410,000. The endowment fund is set up to distribute 4 percent of its net asset value annually for the work of Grow in Grace, connecting our pastors (and their wives) to gospel-rich resources and gospel encouragers. In June of this year, this fund will help bring 12 international pastors to our on-campus Summer Quarter, and it will offer tuition assistance that makes the courses more affordable for our 1,400 active pastors.
Pastors are precious gifts from our Savior. Join me in praying for them. Join the Seminary in supporting and encouraging them. Join the couple who began this fund and the many who have contributed since it opened with a contribution to the Grow in Grace Endowment Fund. It is a great way to thank our Savior for the pastors he has provided and to support those pastors for years to come. We welcome your gifts of any amount, and we will use them in service to our pastors. Thank you.
Brad Wordell
Director of Grow in Grace
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for calling pastors into your harvest field. Keep them faithful and humble as they serve. Fill them with your Spirit through your gospel in Word and sacraments, so that as they pour themselves out for others, they are refreshed by you. Bless their continued spiritual and professional growth through opportunities like Grow in Grace and give them wisdom to apply what they learn in the places where you have sent them. Encourage congregations and leaders to support their pastors with time and resources for this work, so that your people are served well and your name is honored. Amen.
