God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7) and richly blesses his children so that they may express their love and gratitude to Christ through financial gifts. Many of those gifts have long supported ministerial education at synodical schools like Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary (WLS).
Before 2005, the seminary president personally visited key donors to maintain relationships and encourage support. Many of these donors contributed regularly to student aid or special projects like the chapel renovation. But as educational costs rose and donations declined, the Wisconsin Evangelical Synod (WELS) recognized the need for a more structured approach. In response, a Mission Advancement department was formally established in 2005 following a resolution at the WELS synod convention.
With the synod subsidy to WLS drastically reduced, the seminary had to find new ways to raise awareness of WLS’s mission and generate consistent support for students. Through consultation with experts in charitable fundraising and visits to other seminaries, WLS developed a comprehensive plan and selected Kevin Keller, chosen from a list of candidates, to lead the new department. Keller’s deep understanding of WELS culture and his ability to communicate the seminary’s story to WELS members made him an ideal fit.
This shift allowed the seminary president to focus on other responsibilities. One of the key themes in those early days of mission advancement was that it takes more than a seminary to make a pastor—it takes a strong synod, area Lutheran high schools and prep schools, a strong college, and gracious donors. WLS wasn’t simply asking people to “shake out their pockets”; instead, they aimed to inform WELS members so members could understand the seminary’s needs and direct their blessings to where they were most needed.
Mission Advancement’s role goes beyond just raising funds—it has built strong relationships with the WELS Ministry of Christian Giving, which helps manage synod donor portfolios. Visits to donors are made to thank, update, and encourage them while always being mindful of their needs and intentions. Over time, Mission Advancement has also helped donors who desire to establish endowment funds, providing a steady stream of income for essential seminary needs, especially scholarships for students.
God has richly blessed the efforts of the Mission Advancement department and Kevin Keller over the past two decades. More than 60,000 gifts have been given by over 10,000 donor units, a testament to the Holy Spirit working in the hearts and lives of believers. Each gift reflects a donor’s faith in Christ and desire to share the gospel with future generations. Thanks to this generosity, WLS has continued to train faithful men for the pastoral ministry.
Looking to the future, Mission Advancement is committed to continuing its work of supporting donors while further raising awareness of the seminary and its mission among WELS members. The vision for the future is clear: to continue nurturing relationships with donors while telling the story of WLS, helping them understand how their gifts make a lasting difference in the mission of the church. As the mission advancement team continues their work, they invite everyone to pray that God moves hearts to continue to support this vital work and serve their Savior in a meaningful, lasting way.
Because of God’s greatest gift—Jesus Christ—we now give with joyful hearts to the work of the seminary, ensuring that more people may come to know the gospel message that has been entrusted to us. God be praised for the incredible support that has sustained Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary!
Barbara Rickaby serves as communications coordinator for Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary.
As of June 1, Kevin Keller retires after twenty years faithfully serving Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary as director of mission advancement. Sean Young steps in as the new director of mission advancement after serving in WELS mission operations since May 2012.