On behalf of the SWD Conference Planning Committee, we would like to take this opportunity to invite you to the 2024 Spring Pastor’s Conference scheduled for April 15-17 at Holiday Inn in Manitowoc under the theme: Helping People through Their Struggles. Our conference speakers are Rev. Jason Braaten & Rev. Stephen Preus.
Pr. Braaten is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Tuscola, Illinois. He is a graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary (MDiv, 2006) and Concordia University Chicago (BA, 2000). He is the logic instructor for Wittenberg Academy and the host of The Gottesdienst Crowd podcast. Braaten also serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund of the LCMS. His presentations have been especially focused on virtue and deadly sins such as: “Consider the Ant: Overcoming Sloth with Zeal.” He and his wife, Lauren, have five children (three boys and two girls) and live in Tuscola, Illinois. Pr. Braaten’s presentation is entitled: The Greatness of Difficulty.
Pr. Preus is the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church, Vinton, Iowa, where he has served since his ordination in August 2012. He trained for the holy ministry at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, receiving an MDiv in 2011, and an STM in 2018. Stephen and his wife Margaret have five children: John, Christopher, Joseph, Lucy, and Martin. Pr. Preus’ presentation is entitled: Preaching at the Funeral and the Bedside.
The venue for this spring’s event will be the Holiday Inn (4601 Calumet Ave in Manitowoc, WI). Please make reservations by calling 1-920-682-6000 and ask for the group discount when making the reservation to get the reduced rate of $99.99+tax/night. Rooms must be reserved by April 1.
The conference will officially begin on Monday, April 15 with our opening Divine Service at Redeemer Ev. Lutheran Church (1712 Menahsa Ave in Manitowoc, WI) at 1:00pm. SWD President, the Rev. John Wille, will be the Preacher. Please make every effort to attend!