Engage: When They Say… You Say…

Pastor James Hein

This Bible study workshop will delve into the difficulties to live and share one’s faith when the odds seem so against a Christian and the fallout can be so harsh.

Pastor Hein is a 2008 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He was assigned to Resurrection & Life Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, where he served for 7 years. In 2016 he accepted the call to serve as Lead Pastor of St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. An older millennial, Pastor Hein is heavily into producing digital content and has maintained online blogging, podcasting, and video presence throughout his ministry with the goal of helping Christians gain an appreciation for changeless truth in an ever-changing world.

Engage: Dare to Care in the Congregation

Mrs. Helen Fleischmann

This workshop will focus on engaging members to become more active in their congregation by starting a “Care Committee.” This ministry can play a critical role in keeping members connected as a church family through team visits: to those considered “shut-in” and unable to come to church on their own, those recovering from health issues, or those who may need encouragement and prayers. There are other ways to care as a congregation. Find out how a Care Committee could be a blessing in your congregation!

Although Mrs. Helen Fleischmann retired from her work at Christian Life Resources some years ago, that did not stop her from volunteering in various capacities at her church, St. Paul Lutheran in Slinger, WI. Helen was approached by her son, Pastor Robert Fleischmann (CLR’s National Director) to organize and start a Care Committee to serve as a lifeline to those in need, homebound, or physically unable to attend services at St. Paul. She enthusiastically agreed and headed the group for many years. Helen is still actively involved in reaching out to others through visits, cards, and conversation as a part of this vibrant Care Team. Helen has been married to her husband, Robert, for 63 years. She has been blessed with 4 sons, 11 grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren. She enjoys spending time with her family, and she loves her grandkids and great-grandkids.

Engage: Maintaining Family Ties in a Tattered World

Mrs. Karen Fischer

In a me-oriented society even the family has become a casualty. Traditional values have been cast aside in favor of individual values and ambitions. In this workshop, we will explore steps that can be taken to maintain family ties and deal with the disrupted elements that endanger family unity and the Christian faith.

Karen joined Christian Family Solutions in 2019. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Wisconsin with an undergraduate degree in psychology from Wisconsin Lutheran College and a Master’s of Science–Education in Professional Counseling from Concordia University–Wisconsin.

Karen’s passion is helping individuals engage in the practice of re-learning thought processes that are more likely to increase their well-being and decrease their anxious and depressed patterns. Her belief is that mental health therapy is akin to other therapeutic activities and as such is a practice that individuals can learn and cultivate given the proper tools and feedback.

Currently, she specializes in intensive outpatient mental health groups and using a combination of Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and brief solution-focused therapy to aid individuals. Karen has experience in the young adult population and a special interest in mental wellness education as well as incorporating experiential learning.

Engage: When Christian Values Collide with Social Norms

Mr. LeRoy Reed

Some companies are moving towards formal policies on religious conversations or other controversial matters (i.e., an employee undergoing a gender change). This workshop will explore how to handle these matters in the setting of one’s employment.

LeRoy Reed is a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Slinger, Wisconsin, and teaches a weekly teen Bible class. He also serves as the Chairman of the Christian Life Resources National Board. He, his wife Jean, and his children, Alex and Alicia, live in West Bend, WI.

Engage in the Political Climate without Overheating

WI Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt

Why politics as a means of engagement? How a pro-life Christian can get involved, and how can he or she make a difference when politically engaged.

Representative Thiesfeldt was born in Fond du Lac County in 1966 to a family of eleven children. He has been happily married to his wife Cindy for 27 years and they have been blessed with four children.

Following his graduation from Martin Luther College in 1989 with a BS in Elementary Education, Jeremy began 21½ years of teaching and involvement in administration in two Lutheran elementary schools and a Lutheran high school. He has extensive experience in coaching varying athletics and was honored to coordinate Veterans Day events at Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac.

In 2005 he was elected to the Fond du Lac City Council, and was subsequently reelected in 2007 and 2009. He served three years as the Vice President of the City Council. Jeremy was elected to the Wisconsin State Assembly in November 2010 and has been reelected since 2012, and currently serves as the chair of the Education Committee.

Engage: When You Just Can’t Agree to Disagree

Rev. Robert Fleischmann

This workshop explores how to deal with challenging life and family issues on a one-to-one basis. Focus would be on bridge building and dealing with objections and concerns.