Something has changed in America. People don’t seem to want church and religion like
they used to. We’re even being called a “post-Christian” society. The barriers to personal evangelism are numerous. And yet Jesus tells us “the fields are ripe and the harvest is waiting.” What do we make of that? Was he wrong? Or was he just talking about some other fields?

As church leaders we are called to be personal witnesses of our faith, and we are tasked with training the next generation to do the same. Aaron helps groups remove the stigma around the topic of evangelism and find confidence and joy in this work. He will share inspiring stories and practical tips for how we can carry out this Great Commission work right in our own communities and neighborhoods – yes, even in America.

Aaron Wakeman

Aaron Wakeman has been actively involved in mission work since 2004 when he and his wife Cora moved to Wuhan, China to be evangelists and church planters. They returned to China several years later with their three children, Will, Andy and Anna. During that time Aaron served as the Field Coordinator and lead trainer for about 50 evangelists across the mainland. Aaron now serves as the Executive Director of Friends Network, a role he has held since 2018. Friends Network is a WELS-affiliated mission
agency that recruits, trains, sends, and supports missionaries around the world. Over the past several years Aaron has led dozens of workshops and training seminars around the country on the topic of evangelism and outreach.

Aaron attended Martin Luther College where he studied elementary education, and later earned a Masters Degree in Nonprofit Management from Hamline University. He has also received extensive training as a cross-cultural coach. Aaron and his family live in St Paul, MN with their little furball Nugget, and they attend Christ Lutheran Church in Hugo.

Building trust with our members and watching the next generation grow in faith. There are always challenges: Volunteers, staffing, messaging and content. Get the basics to get your children’s church started or suggestions in how to improve the one you have.

Jessica Drumm

BIO: Children’s Ministry Assistant

Sustaining gospel ministry is not just the work of the called minister. Every believer is called to spread the good news of Christ to all who need to hear it. However, without healthy ministry organizations, the work to be done can easily lead to burnout for both lay leaders and called workers. In this session, hear about the possible connection between servant leadership behaviors and minister burnout. Finally, consider how a partnership of lay leaders and ministers of the gospel can work together to help create healthy ministries capable of sharing the gospel.

Bob Martens

Bob Martens is the current Director of Information Technology at Martin Luther College where he also teaches educational technology courses in both the undergraduate and graduate programs. A lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, MN, he has been working to implement a “leadership institute” to help train and support a new corps of both lay and called leaders for the ministry being carried out there. To that end, he completed his PhD in Leadership from the University of the Cumberlands in 2023 where he completed his research and dissertation on servant leadership and ministry organizations. He lives about .5 miles from campus in New Ulm with his wife, Laura, and their four kids.

Did you know the greatest influence on a child’s faith is the faith conversation happening in their own home? While church programs play an important role, studies show that without intentional discipleship from parents, young people often drift away as they mature. Join us for an engaging workshop designed to equip church leaders to inspire, support, and collaborate with parents in the essential role of discipling their children. Through practical insights, shared experiences, and collaborative discussions, we will explore effective strategies for creating a lasting partnership between churches and families, all centered on raising children to be lifelong disciples of Jesus.

Dr. Brandon Steenbock

Dr. Brandon Steenbock is the Family Minister at St. Mark Ministries in De Pere/Green Bay, WI, where he has served for seven years. With over a decade of prior experience at St. Paul’s in New Ulm, MN, Brandon brings a wealth of knowledge in family ministry. He holds advanced degrees in family education and theological education, and in 2024 he completed his Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Theology in Practice from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Known for his passion for teaching theology and empowering families, Brandon also serves as an adjunct professor at Martin Luther College. Outside of ministry, he enjoys crafting coffee, writing stories, and playing board games with his wife, Nikki, and their two sons, Athan and Paladin.

Are your church social media accounts just digital bulletin boards? Or are you creating genuine community and engagement? Do you only post to reach people within your church? Or are you making an effort to reach the broader community?

Social media is a must-have for your church, but it’s challenging to keep up with best practices. Emily will break down practical strategies and provide tips, templates, and resources for improving your presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and beyond.

See examples from other churches and be inspired by their success stories. Come to this session with an open mind and gain immediate takeaways to improve your church social media.

Emily Rae Schutte, MBA

Emily Schutte has managed church social media accounts since 2020 and joined the staff at St. Mark Ministries in De Pere, WI as a Communications Specialist in 2024. She brings years of experience in communications, marketing, and strategic writing to St. Mark. She is also a self-employed content writer and owner of Emily Writes, LLC.

Synopsis:  The goal of providing a safe and secure worship environment has become increasingly challenging over the years for many churches.  Church staff as well as volunteers in various guest services including safety / security teams need to have continuous and updated training.  This session will address topics that church staff and volunteers should be training as well as provide ideas on how to train those topics, all while keeping the focus on the church’s primary mission of bringing others to Christ.

Jeff Engelbrecht

Jeff Engelbrecht has worked for over 28 years as a police officer with the Green Bay Police Department, retiring in July 2024. He retired as a Lieutenant in the Operations Division and was the department’s Emergency Preparedness Supervisor.  His duties with the department included: Patrol Officer, Field Training Officer, SWAT team member, Patrol Supervisor, Field Training Supervisor & Coordinator. Additionally, as a member of the department’s Professional Standards Division he was the Training Unit Supervisor, a Public Information Officer and an internal affairs investigator.

Imagine someone from 20 years in the future steps into your church today. What questions would they ask about what you’re doing? What would they say wasn’t that valuable, and what would the encourage you to focus on? In this session, we’ll explore how to evaluate your ministry through the lens of the future—considering what will matter most to the people you serve, not just now, but in years to come. Using a structured framework, we’ll uncover how to align every decision with love and create ministries that are adaptable, impactful, and ready to meet the future with hope.

Kent Reeder

Kent Reeder serves as the planting pastor at Illume in Seattle, WA, where he’s focused on building communities grounded in love, honesty, and connection. A graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary and Seth Godin’s altMBA, Kent brings a blend of practical ministry insights and a commitment to rethinking how churches can serve people in a changing world. Raised in the Midwest and with ministry experience in the South and the Pacific Northwest, Kent has gained a unique perspective on how faith communities thrive in diverse settings. He has helmed initiatives like Conquerors through Christ, Hearts & Hands, the Great City Network, and Illumine Church in Rock Hill, SC. Outside of ministry, Kent is a musician and songwriter, finding ways to connect with people through music as well as ministry.

Discover how your church can effectively bridge the physical-digital divide through intentional hybrid ministry. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, learn how to transform your church’s approach to outreach and discipleship by creating meaningful connections both online and in-person, while navigating common challenges of technology, staffing, and congregational buy-in. Experience how innovative solutions like hybrid Bible classes and digital community platforms aren’t just adapting to modern times—they’re opening new doors for ministry impact and authentic community building that your traditional members and digital-first seekers will both embrace.

Michael Ewart

Pastor Michael Ewart serves as the Digital Ministry Pastor at 922 Ministries in Appleton, Wisconsin, leading innovative approaches to hybrid ministry, remote discipleship, and virtual community building. His 30-year ministry journey includes 12 years as a missionary in Russia and being a board member for WELS World Missions. These experiences, coupled with a passion for tech, have provided him with unique insights into building communities across cultural and geographical boundaries. 922 Ministries has a thriving 500-member digital community and recently “broke ground” on a remote membership program.

Nicholas Nighbor

Nick Nighbor is grateful to serve as President on the Ministry Governing Board at St Mark Ministries in De Pere, WI. Nick has been married to his wife Deanna for over 20 years. Both Nick and Deanna are involved with their church family. They have three beautiful daughters Eva(19), Audrey(16), and Alice(11).

 Do you want to increase your Bible study attendance? Need more volunteers? Are you striving to grow your school enrollment? These struggles often start due to unclear, inconsistent communication. Wendy Kuschel will walk you through Five Rules of Good Communication, and provide tips on targeting your audience, text messaging, and your website.

Wendy Kuschel

Wendy Kuschel is the Senior Communications Coordinator for St. Mark Ministries.  She came on staff in March of 2020, unknowingly, just a week before COVID struck. Little did she know that her first task would be helping shut down a large church!

She’s been a partner at St. Mark since 2006 and has 10 years’ experience working in a newsroom.  Wendy worked in the broadcast journalism arena as a producer, a live radio and TV news reporter, and as a morning news anchor at both WSAW-TV (Wausau, WI) and WFRV-TV (Green Bay, WI).  Before TV, she worked in radio news in Eau Claire, WI.

Her duties at St. Mark include our website (StMarkMinistries.com), social media, e-newsletters, digital and print event promotions, video production, and text messages.  For fun, she sings in the praise band!

Need more volunteers at church? Discover how to cultivate a culture of volunteerism that goes beyond participation into meaningful engagement. We’ll explore the biblical foundation for serving and how spiritual gifts play a pivotal role in mobilizing volunteers as well as practical strategies to help members find their place in ministry. From an effective onboarding process to ongoing support, this breakout will equip you with practical strategies to empower others to serve and find their place in ministry with passion, purpose, and joy.

Amna Tasior

Amna Tasior  is a spicy meatball for Jesus. In 2014, She walked into The CORE and heard the gospel for the first time. She has been blessed to be baptized, married, and has continued worshiping there since then. In 2022, She was hired as the Assimilation Coordinator at 922 Ministries and is responsible for helping all guests and members alike plant deeper Give Roots at church. She is passionate about educating, equipping, recruiting, training, retaining, and appreciating volunteers.

A big thank you to our DARE To Lead Sponsors for 2025. Stop by and visit their display tables  The conference would not happen without their generous donations/sponsorships. StMarkMinistries.com/D2L/