Welcome Home – Elder Training

You have discovered Welcome Home—a video-based program designed to help equip lay leaders of your congregation identify and reach out to missing members from your church family.

The goals are:

  1. To provide online-training that allows a pastor and elders (current or new) to gather together and work through a training program at a pace that best fits their timeline. The videos are short yet focused. Accompanying guide sheets facilitate discussion and a step-by-step approach toward greater ministry activity.
  2. To encourage a more faithful Means of Grace contact by creating a culture within your congregation determined to deal lovingly yet aggressively with church members who begin to drift. Creating that culture requires congregational leaders who themselves are strengthened and encouraged for this endeavor. That is why “before” and “after” devotionals are included with every video chapter.

May God bless you with a loving heart and a caring attitude as you and your congregation prepare a “welcome home” ministry that displays the same heart and attitude of Jesus to those who need it most!

Rev. Donn Dobberstein
Director, WELS Commission on Discipleship

**Updated study guides are now available.

Preparations BEFORE Visiting Missing Members

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 1

Defines the term "missing members" and gives an outline of the training videos.

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Chapter 1: Introduction - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 1 Videos

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Chapter 1: Opening DevotionDownload
Chapter 1: Introduction - Part 1Download
Chapter 1: Introduction - Part 2Download
Chapter 1: Closing DevotionDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 2

Keeping track of membership information.

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Chapter 2: The Census - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 2 Videos

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Chapter 2: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: Census: Doable and NecessaryDownload
Part 2: Census: Using Church SoftwareDownload
Part 3: Census: Who to Train, What to TrackDownload
Part 4: Census: Carrying out the PlanDownload
Part 5: Census: UpdatingDownload
Chapter 2: Closing DevotionDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 3

Best practices for tracking worship attendance.

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Chapter 3: Tracking Worship Attendance - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 3 Videos

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Chapter 3: Opening DevotionDownload
Tracking Worship Attendance: Best PracticesDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 4

Identifying the missing members.

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Chapter 4: Who is Missing? - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 4 Videos

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Chapter 4: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: You are Looking!Download
Part 2: Jesus is Looking!Download
Chapter 4: Closing DevotionDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 5

What is the goal when working with missing members? What shouldn't be? What tools are useful?

Individual file downloads:

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Chapter 5: Goals and Tools - study guide (Updated)Download
Chapter 5.2: The Importance of Corporate WorshipDownload

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 5 Videos

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Chapter 5: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: The GoalDownload
Part 2: The ToolsDownload
Part 3: Practical SuggestionsDownload
Chapter 5: Closing DevotionDownload
Practical Matters DURING a Visit with Missing Members

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 6

Communicating with missing members.

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Chapter 6: Communication - study guide (Updated)Download
Chapter 6.2: Elder WorksheetDownload

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 6 Videos

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Chapter 6: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: Communication OverviewDownload
Part 2: Communication ContentDownload
Part 3: Communication ToneDownload
Part 4: Communication TypesDownload
Part 5: Communication ProcessDownload
Chapter 6: Closing DevotionDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 7

Encouragement to visit the missing members along with practical advice.

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Chapter 7: Visiting Missing Members - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 7 Videos

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Chapter 7: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: Go!Download
Part 2: Before You Get to the DoorDownload
Part 3: At the DoorDownload
Part 4: In the HouseDownload
Part 5: Things You Thought of That We Didn'tDownload
Chapter 7: Closing DevotionDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 8

How to respond to excuses from missing members.

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Chapter 8: Dealing with Excuses - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 8 Videos

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Chapter 8: Opening DevotionDownload
Chapter 8: Dealing with ExcusesDownload
Chapter 8: Closing DevotionDownload
The Reaction AFTER Visits with Missing Members

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 9

What to do while waiting for your visitation to be fruitful. What to do when there isn't fruit.

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Chapter 9: Official Acts - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 9 Videos

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Chapter 9: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: Official Acts: The Waiting GameDownload
Part 2: Official Acts: When the Waiting Is OverDownload
Chapter 9: Closing DevotionDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 10

Be patient when things move slowly and make repeated efforts.

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Chapter 10: Staying the Course - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 10 Videos

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Chapter 10: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: Don't Be Surprised, Be PatientDownload
Part 2: Going Back AgainDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 11

How to prepare for the return of missing members.

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Chapter 11: Rejoice! - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 11 Videos

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Chapter 11: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: Prepare for Their ArrivalDownload
Part 2: Welcome Them HomeDownload
Part 3: Follow Up With ThemDownload

Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 12

Making work with missing members a priority and celebrating the efforts of those who do the work.

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Chapter 12: The Family Celebration - study guide (Updated)Download

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Welcome Home Elder Training - Chapter 12 Videos

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Chapter 12: Opening DevotionDownload
Part 1: Celebrate with the AngelsDownload
Part 2: Celebrate Faithfulness to the WordDownload
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