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Practical Planning . . . Worship Space | Todd Dvorak

Todd Dvorak and Mike Tiefel

Practical Planning Steps to Renew Your Worship Space

As a building ages, there can be many challenges to address in order to best serve both congregation and community. Some projects may seem approachable, such as audio/video upgrades or new flooring and paint. Other challenges may feel more daunting, such as accessibility improvements, lighting, or expanding your building, while also being sensitive to the historical character of the church. Sometimes these goals can feel overwhelming. This presentation will help congregations, no matter the financial starting point, develop a roadmap to renew their worship spaces. We will take a closer look at the renovations planned for Emanuel in New London, Wis., and learn how design professionals can assist a congregation’s leaders to determine a meaningful path forward. Projects from other churches will also illustrate possibilities.

Bio | Todd Dvorak

Todd DvorakTodd Dvorak, AIA, ACLS, is an architect and senior project manager with GROTH Design Group. Todd has over 20 years of experience in the architecture and construction industry and has been blessed to serve many WELS congregations on their journey toward expanding or renewing their worship spaces. Todd is currently a member at St. Paul in Appleton and serves on the church’s properties committee.

Bio | Mark Tiefel

Mark TiefelPastor Tiefel serves at Emanuel, New London, Wis., and is worship coordinator of the WELS Northern Wisconsin District. He previously served in Houston, Texas, and as worship coordinator of the WELS South Central District. He was a member of the hymnal committee and has contributed to past worship conferences in service design and presentations on the practical history of worship.

21st-Century Preaching | Caleb Kurbis

Caleb Kurbis

21st-Century Preaching in a Mission/Outreach Setting

Do you think it’s getting easier to preach? Listeners are living frenetic lives inundated with news and distracted by the noise. Parishioners and prospects recall more about recent social media feeds than the lives of Abraham or Moses and teachings of Jesus—and all of this in a post-Christian culture that breeds apathy, skepticism, and anti-institutionalism (read “anti-church”). Does today’s preacher need to be a perfect combination of scriptural and societal exegete, apologist, compelling communicator, and winsome storyteller all in one? That wouldn’t hurt. But is that realistic or even necessary? Whether your ministry setting is best described as “mission” or “traditional” or “diverse” or “visitor-friendly” or whatever, this presentation will explore how God has given us exactly what we need to reach the products of these modern times.

Bio | Caleb Kurbis

Since 2011 Pastor Kurbis has served at Living Savior in Asheville, N.C. In 2017 Living Savior started a second location in Hendersonville as one church in two locations. God continues to provide many visitors and opportunities to reach people who come from all backgrounds. This quickly growing population is an eclectic mix of traditional Southern, weird hippie, skeptical transplant, culturally diverse, and professional meets blue collar. Caleb also serves as circuit pastor and coordinator for the South Atlantic District Discipleship Committee.