Cross-Geographic Trends of Outreach in Early Childhood Ministries within the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Abstract

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) has recently experienced a rapid expansion in the number of Early Childhood Ministries (ECM). These ministries which are spread across geographical boundaries have been greatly blessed by God. Enrollments of these ministries are on the rise. Attending these ECM are both members and non-members of the WELS. Congregations are exploring ways to connect families who have children in their ECM to the Word and Sacraments. This paper surveys a sample of congregations throughout the WELS and creates a database of strategies and attitudes being used by WELS ECM. These strategies are coded and trends are identified. The trends are identified with the hope that congregations may be able to improve ECM outreach strategies.