1. Spring District Pastoral Conferences
“The Fields are Ripe,…
The Workers are Few…”
Spring District Pastoral Conferences
April 2017

2. The opportunities are great and growing!
Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send our workers into his harvest field.
The opportunities are great and growing!
Our capital campaign will include a “specific ask:” to pray for workers and to encourage someone to consider ministry!
This is a new wrinkle but I’m excited about the opportunity to share with our mission brothers that we will add this recruitment “arrow” into the admission quiver. Each person visited asked to pray. Each person visited asked to encourage one. Any campaign materials will include a brochure from admissions.

3. What’s in the “pastor pipeline?”
Year
Martin Luther College
Wisconsin Lutheran Sem.
2017 33 27
2018 38 25
2019 49 29
2020 48 30
111 vs 125!!
Updated figures as of 21 Feb For MLC class of 2019, it appears that two sem certs will join the cohort next fall. For MLC class of 2020, it appears that two men are switching tracks and will join the presem track next fall.
The decade 75 – 85 had classes each year between low 50’s to low 60’s. An average of the numbers means that roughly 550 candidates presented to the church that decade. Naturally, some since then have left ministry, resigned, died. But the demographic wave is about to break on the beach head of retirement and we need to step up pastoral recruitment . For comparison, the decade of saw 367 men graduate from MLC preseminary program. Naturally, we did not have 100% matriculation to WLS, so consider the “gap.” I am aware of some of Jon Hein’s projections based on his work, but I would still maintain an aggressive recruitment to match our strategic plan: recruit with a “fields are ripe” mentality.
Remember 1975 – 1985 WLS average!

5. Need for teachers!
Talking with several pastors, this state alone could use 100+ teachers in the next four to five years. Comments from pastors…
Main areas of growth: Doral now preschool to grade 12; constant need of teachers. Del Ray Beach opening, similar model. West Palm Beach now part of DSA multi-site and has plans to grow from preschool. (Also possibility of model replicated in TX with Steve Apt. Port Orange looks to grow preschool and build elementary from there. Orlando has built a building, and Brutlag spent a year helping them to develop plans. I believe he refocused them to start with preschool and then build up.
Comments from Donn D. and Carlos L echo similar theme. We need teachers to continue to grow. Opportunities there. Donn said something to the effect, “we’ll willing to move forward with our plan to build facilities, but then can we staff them. The kids will be here.”

6. 12.5% of LES enrollment in WELS MPC 15% of ALHS enrollment in WELS MPC
The choice schools in Milwaukee cannot find enough trained teachers. (the gap was over 50) The choice program has expanded in Wisconsin. Other states have “variations on a theme.” Impact of DeVos? If we believe our schools can be springboards into the community, are we being proactive?
Gap estimate came from CLS; perhaps Paul P can add perspective. Other comments self explanatory.
12.5% of LES enrollment in WELS MPC
15% of ALHS enrollment in WELS MPC
Three year need for teachers – 143
(only 20 assigned from MLC)

7. Last year, only seven graduates opted for overseas service, down from a high of 20 in 2011.
This slide starts with a picture of bulletin board. Seven countries have “adds” up for teachers for next year. Currently, the list is Thailand, St. Lucia, Peru, Antigua, Russia, China, Vietnam. To the right is Professor Tom Hunter, director of international services office. To left is Eric Dorn, student from Crete, IL, who was perusing the info with some interest.

8. Unfilled requests at both MLC and WLS the past couple of years.
Significantly lower number of available teacher candidates in this class.
Currently, CLS preparing lists for 130+ teacher vacancies, not including tutors/dorm supervisors.
Embedded in above number are 18 principal vacancies and 17 ECE director vacancies.
Unfilled requests at MLC between each of the last two years. At WLS, I believe around 15?? each of the last two years. Paul, can you provide more accuracy?
This year the graduation class is smallest class on campus, numbering 126 in all tracks. 89 grads are in one of the teaching tracks. Category 1 grads (able to go anywhere) are estimated at 48! That is an estimate since deadline for declaring is April 1. We also don’t know how many category 1 will come back to assignment from a deferment such as overseas teaching. BUT, normally we have been presenting between 80 – 100 candidates!

9. Enrollment goal over next 5 years is to reach 800. (M. Stein)
Current Projections:
Fall of 17 – 748
Fall of 18 – 757
Fall of 19 – 773
Projections by Mark Stein, who says that they are “conservative.” He says that “the need is higher, the enrollment at our preps and ALHS is higher, and that there is momentum and growing interest in ministry.

10. Recruitment folders on table
With the Savior’s blessing we seek to reconnect God’s people with the great commission mission of MLC.
Recruitment folders on table
Especially through the request for prayer with an eye to recruit one. It will also be an opportunity to change the mindset about “all our schools are dying” and “we don’t need teachers.”