About the conference

Empowered to proclaim... You will be my witnesses.

—Acts 1:8

The foundation for the 2024 Women’s Ministry conference, “Empowered to Proclaim,” is Luke’s account of the spread of the kingdom of God by the power of the Holy Spirit through God’s chosen apostles and everyday believers. Learn how these early Christians—who had just witnessed or been told of the ministry, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ—were emboldened and empowered by the Holy Spirit to spread the word.

So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly. — Acts 6:7

As 21^st-century citizens of the kingdom of God, we have been called to faith and empowered by the same Holy Spirit through God’s Word and the sacraments of Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. As witnesses of God’s grace through Jesus in our own lives, God has called each of us to share this good news “to the ends of the earth.”

The keynote speakers and breakout sessions of the conference will focus on the work of the Holy Spirit as recorded by Luke in Acts and its application to us as 21^st-century Christian women as we are empowered to proclaim the message of Jesus in our Jerusalem, Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

During our time together, the Holy Spirit, through the words of Acts, will be in front of us to identify with the first people chosen by Jesus to be his witnesses, including the tensions and conflicts that ensued when the Word of the Lord was proclaimed. Despite these struggles and the evildoers who worked to subvert it, the Word triumphed. The kingdom of God spread from the size of a mustard seed to a huge tree, giving refuge and peace to multitudes too numerous to count.

Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace and was strengthened . . . and encouraged by the Holy Spirit — Acts 9:31

Since 2007, sisters in Christ have joined together around God’s Word in a conference presented by WELS Women’s Ministry to be equipped, nurtured, and encouraged in our walks of faith. These conferences include worship and keynote speaker-based presentations from a book of the Bible (this year from Acts). Numerous breakout sessions are being offered, with each participant choosing breakouts that best suit individual needs.

The breakouts will emphasize growing in faith despite fierce cultural adversity as you are empowered by the Holy Spirit to defend your faith while proclaiming the gospel to unbelieving friends, neighbors, relatives, and co-workers. If you attend with a group from your home congregation, we encourage you each to choose different breakouts to gather the most information.

Breakout topics include:

Growing in the Word
Sharing the Word with those around you
Starting a Bible study or hosting a retreat
Taking a deeper dive into Acts
Scripture guidance for dealing with the issues facing women today
Practical guidance and discussion regarding the crisis among teens and young adults in today’s culture
Spiritually focusing your family within your home
Single-life rich in purpose and value as a Christian woman
Connecting within your home church and various WELS (synod) resources

As Paul writes to the congregation in Corinth, “For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 10:33–11:1

Who should attend?

This conference is for any woman who is passionate about the spread of the Good News of Jesus in our world today.

In this way the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power — Acts 19:20.

Do any of these reflect who you are?

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NEW CHRISTIAN

Are you a new Christian? Learn sound doctrinal teaching in keynote and breakout sessions.

SEASONED CHRISTIAN

Are you a seasoned Christian woman who needs to refresh your daily habit of being in the Word? Learn a variety of ways to build the Word into your daily life, making God’s Word a priority.

LAY PERSON

Are you a lay person who feels you have been called to greater influence as a Christian in an increasingly anti-Christian culture? Become familiar with resources available through Martin Luther College, Wisconsin Lutheran College, and Bethany Lutheran College, as well as through Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Northwestern Publishing House.

YOUNG CHRISTIAN

Are you a young Christian woman, struggling in a society that has abandoned God? Learn how to live and witness in a world that does not recognize Jesus. Make connections with others who feel the same isolation.

LOVES TO GATHER

Are you a woman who loves to gather with other women around God’s Word, but don’t know how to start? Learn how to start a Bible study (inside or outside the church) or host your own retreat by gaining wisdom from women who have sound, established practices and resources.

MOTHER OR GRANDMOTHER

Are you a mother or grandmother concerned about raising or assisting the next generation in raising a godly family? Learn how to incorporate the teachings of Jesus into family life in all stages.

SINGLE WOMAN

Are you a single woman who feels isolated when all the conversation is aimed at couples and families? Challenges of living in a culture increasingly hostile to Christianity and God’s guidance for joy-filled and purposeful relationships? Join in scriptural guidance and discussion to be encouraged in your walk with Jesus.

WANT TO SERVE

Want to serve within your own congregation? Learn how to work more closely with your pastor and congregation leadership in your church.

WANT TO LEARN

Want to learn more about the everyday early Christians and how they grew from fear to boldness in their Christian lives? Do an intensive study on the book of Acts and watch how apostles and everyday Christians, empowered by the Holy Spirit, worked together in the spread of the kingdom of God.

About WELS Women’s Ministry

WELS Women’s Ministry exists to nurture, encourage, and equip women to faithfully use their gifts for service in God’s kingdom.

Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. — 1 Corinthians 12:27

guiding principles

Under the guidance the WELS Commission on Discipleship, the Women’s Ministry conference planning team develops a two-day opportunity for women that reflects the guiding principles of WELS Women’s Ministry:

To encourage and model personal study of the Bible and use of the sacraments so that the gospel message may be proclaimed boldly and clearly in our daily lives;
To work together with our Christian brothers to more fully understand from Scripture the opportunities we have to serve God;
To explore scripturally sound opportunities for ministry in every calling of life from home, to church, to the world;
To equip women to fulfill their callings;
To develop fresh approaches to God-pleasing ministries for women;
To offer a variety of venues for communicating and sharing ideas; and
To thank God for the solid foundation of faith and service he has given to us as an example in the many godly women and men in our congregations who have gone before us.

For further information visit:

FAQ WELS Women’s Ministry