The LSI display at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary's Missions and Ministry, enabled us to speak with seminary students and professors, visiting students from Martin Luther College and Bethany College, and visiting pastors and missionaries.  We distributed 117 copies of the winter 2019 LSI Journal "Lesson Book" to individuals, and another 141 to two congregations and one school for use in Bible studies and class.  Also distributed were 51 copies of the fall 2018 LSI Journal (dinosaur issue) and two sets of the past 13 issues of the journal.  

About 1,200 grade school teachers from many states attended the WLSTC held at Wisconsin Lutheran High School in Milwaukee, WI.  As often happens at these events, we made several important contacts, such as committee members learning of LSI and planning to have us speak at their events and being invited to participate in various creation apologetic related discussions.  We distributed 525 copies of the LSI Journal to about 300 teachers.  This was the fourth successive year that LSI had a display and spoke with these educators.    

Our first display at a WELS district convention went very well.  We spoke with many delegates and guests at the WELS South-Eastern Wisconsin District Convention held at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee WI. 

We distributed 356 color copies of the winter 2018 issue of the LSI Journal and 115 copies of other issues.  Inserts advertising Martin Luther College’s creation apologetics online courses were included in each LSI Journal.  

It seems that every time we have an LSI display at a convention or pastor/teacher conference we have several important conversations with WELS leaders, congregational pastors, and teachers at our colleges, high schools, and grade schools.  This time we had many such conversations providing new avenues for LSI ministry. 

This was by far the most successful display LSI has had in decades.  LSI president Bergemann spoke with hundreds of delegates and guests at the WELS 64th Biennial Convention in Watertown WI (August 1-2).  We distributed 612 copies of the spring 2017 LSI Journal (500 of this special convention issue were inserted in the delegate bags), 168 of the winter 2017 issue, and 125 of the fall 2016 issue. 

Leaders from two separate Asian church bodies expressed interest in having the LSI Journal translated for use in their ministries. 

About 420 fliers advertising the coming MLC creation apologetics online course were also distributed from our display.   Dozens of pastors, teachers, and laity asked for details on the course and at least five expressed interest in taking it.  In addition, two pastors from overseas expressed interest in having one of their parishioners take the course. 

48 churches registered to receive three free copies of the LSI Journal mailed to them every quarter. 

Nine people joined LSI. 

Morning presentation:

Creation Apologetics Used in the WELS

We will learn that WELS pastors, teachers, authors, and laity are not only concerned that we should address the temptation of evolution, but they are also concerned about HOW we address evolution.  We will examine the great diversity of creation apologetics used in the WELS, and see that several of those apologetics present opposing claims.  My prayer is that we will come to realize the WELS needs a synod-wide discussion about creation apologetics.  That discussion must be held in an atmosphere of brotherly love, and with respect for WELS brothers and sisters holding opposing positions. 

Afternoon presentation

Did God Use Evolution to Create?  

Why do some Christians believe in millions of years?  How do they attempt to make the Bible conform to millions of years?  After answering those questions, let’s examine Scripture and see that Christians who accept evolution place their Christian faith in jeopardy.

About 200 men attended the “Ironmen Of God” conference at St. Paul's Lutheran School in Ixonia, Wisconsin.  LSI had a display along with about a dozen others.  We spoke with many and distributed 110 LSI Journals to about 90 individuals.  Eleven people joined LSI.  Eleven congregations were registered to receive bulk mailings of the print LSI Journal.  Two WELS campus ministries (Madison and Milwaukee WI) also registered to receive bulk Journal mailings.  This was the first many had heard about LSI, yet we also spoke with several men who were already LSI members.   

Nearly 400 teachers and guests attended the National School Leadership Conference (NSLC) held every three years (this year from June 15-18, 2015).  Mark Bergemann spoke with more than 85 attendees at our LSI table at the Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  The primary printed articles we distributed were:

-- 64 copies video transcript “Why Do Some Believe In Millions of Years.”

-- 34 copies “Creation – Evolution Q&A.”

-- 29 copies “Witnessing in a World Where Evolution Claims There Is No God.”

We had extended conversations with about 25 people.  Many were thankful for our LSI ministry.  Ten people joined LSI as Subscribers.  Similar to most such events, we spoke with several high level WELS officials with very positive results.   These contacts have proven to be very beneficial for expanding LSI ministry. 

This was the fourth year we had an LSI display at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary's "Missions and Ministry."  There were 31 displays showing various WELS ministries including ours.
 
Dr. Bruce Holman and Mark Bergemann spoke with many students, professors, pastors, and with those manning other displays.   As in other years, students from MLC attend on one day and students from Bethany on another day.   We spoke to about a dozen seminary professors, many for more than 5 minutes.  LSI received plenty of thanks and encouragement.  Our display was manned from 7:10 am to 1:30 pm all three days (Feb 3,4,5).  We were very busy talking with students, professors, and pastors during the official “display perusal” periods, but also had lengthy private conversations at other times.  Sixteen joined LSI as Subscribers.  Several were workers at other display tables.
 
LSI distributed 61 printed copies of a seven article reprint, “Two Creation Apologetics –with opposing views of science are taught in the WELS.”  We also distributed 91 copies of several other LSI articles. 
 

This was the third year we had an LSI display at Wisconsin Lutherans Seminary's "Missions and Ministry."  There were 30 displays showing various WELS ministries including ours.

Dr. Bruce Holman and Mark Bergemann spoke with many students, professors, pastors, and with those manning other displays.   As in other years, students from MLC attended on one day and students from Bethany on another day.  

We distributed 73 copies of the script for our new LSI video, “Why Do Some Believe in Millions of Years?” This 25 minute video was playing at our display.

Mark Bergemann gave a one hour presentation to the Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class at Good Shepherd’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in West Allis WI.  He compared evolution and creation, looked at a few of the scientific problems evolution faces, and showed why evolution is incompatible with the Christian faith.  Included was a 35 minute question and answer period. 

This presentation was later distributed by LSI as a video:
Why Do Some Believe in Millions of Years?

LSI was represented by Warren Krug at the Operation Science training session at Wisconsin Lutheran College (WLC) on August 1, 2013.  Operation Science is a group providing science materials for WELS schools.  We obtained nine new members from the small group of teachers present for this meeting.

Mark Bergemann gave a multimedia presentation to the 8th grade confirmation class at Good Shepherd’s Evangelical Lutheran School in West Allis WI.  He compared evolution and creation, looked at a few of the scientific problems evolution faces, and showed why evolution is incompatible with the Christian faith. 

This presentation was later distributed by LSI as a video:
Why Do Some Believe in Millions of Years?

This was the second year we had an LSI display at Wisconsin Lutherans Seminary's "Missions and Ministry."  There were 28 displays showing various WELS ministries including ours.

Dr. Bruce Holman and Mark Bergemann spoke with many students, professors, pastors, and with those manning other displays.   As in other years, students from MLC attended on one day and students from Bethany on another day.  

We distributed 52 copies of the LSI Journal essay, "The place of reason in Defending the Christian Faith"  and 56 copies of LSI Journal essay, "Essential Tools for the Lutheran Creationist."

29 people accepted membership in LSI.

Dr. Bruce Holman, Warren Krug, and Mark Bergemann spoke with teachers from across the nation at the WELS National School Leadership Conference, June 26-27, 2012, at the Country Springs Hotel and Conference Center in Waukesha, Wisconsin.  They distributed about 100 copies of several LSI Journal articles.  Twenty-five teachers accepted membership in LSI.

This was the first year we had an LSI display at Wisconsin Lutherans Seminary's "Missions and Ministry"  where displays show various WELS ministries.

Dr. Bruce Holman and Mark Bergemann spoke with many students (WLS, MLC, Bethany), professors, missionaries, pastors, and with those manning other displays.   Students from MLC attended on one day and students from Bethany on another day.  

We distributed 91 copies of the LSI Journal essay, "The place of reason in Defending the Christian Faith."  Twenty people accepted membership in LSI.