The Harvest is Plentiful and the Potential Workers are Many: A Study of Ministry Recruitment in WELS Area Lutheran High Schools and Its Effectiveness among Students

Abstract

The Area Lutheran High Schools of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod are ripe fields for ministry recruitment. According to surveys in three ALHSs, 31.28% of the WELS member students have at least considered a career in ministry. Yet, over the past 10 years, only 10.4% of ALHS WELS member students have gone on to Martin Luther College, including only 8.1% in the surveyed schools. There is tremendous opportunity at a time of great need. This thesis is a research study of 20 high schools which uses a “convergent mixed methods” research design. It employs statistics, multiple in-depth surveys at MLC, WLS, and 3 ALHSs, 10 interviews, some ethnography, and more to examine what successfully recruits students from these schools. This study reveals several factors ALHS faculty and other gospel ministers can consider and apply to impact recruitment in meaningful ways. Overall, the study discovers successful ALHS ministry recruitment to be a group effort centered around passionate, personal, and transparent gospel ministry.