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Tues - Thurs
Sept 30th - Oct 2, 2025

2025 Host: Woodbury Lutheran Church
7380 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN 55125

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2025 WALi Summit

The Worship Arts Leader Initiative (WALi) Summit connects leaders of worship together for common support, empowered learning, and professional inspiration. WALi leaders share a commitment to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, especially within the LCMS. WALi also welcomes all who are eager to engage with its mission.

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Concordia University Irvine Campus

What is WALi?

WALi is an initiative of Concordia University Irvine’s Center for Worship Leadership (CWL), which envisions a supportive and encouraging community of theologically faithful leaders engaged in contextual artistry throughout the LCMS.

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Designed for Your Whole Worship Staff

The WALi Summit is designed so that churches can bring their entire worship staff, offering specialized training and shared experiences (group discounts available). Grow together through engaging plenaries, worship services, and ministry-specific breakout sessions, deepening your team’s unity and impact in ministry.

Church Musicians / Worship Leaders

Church Musicians / Worship Leaders

Come experiences over 5 services with excellent music of both traditional and contemporary genres, breakouts on relevant topics of theology, leadership, and practical skills, and fellowship with other church musicians.

Pastors

Pastors

Engage in our thoughtfully planned services, featuring dynamic preaching from outstanding preachers. Deepen your craft through in-depth preaching seminars led by seminary-level educators, then debrief with your whole team to process insights and apply them in your unique context.

Tech Arts Directors

Tech Arts Directors

Dive into practical training tailored for those who serve in audio, video, and lighting. Learn best practices for church technology and collaborate with other tech directors who share your passion for supporting worship with excellence.

Church Work Students

Church Work Students

Gain valuable insight into the intersection of theology, worship, and leadership as you prepare for a future in church ministry. Network and learn from experienced servants in the church.

Plenary Speakers

 

Christina Hergenrader

Christina Hergenrader
Creating a Culture of Grace in Your Ministry
University of Houston, TX

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Dr. Matt Engel

Dr. Matt Engel
Serving Innovation in Four Acts
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ

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Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing
Worship as Spiritual Warfare: What Does the Old Testament Teach?
Concordia University, St. Paul, MN

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To Be Announced

To be announced
Our speaker list is growing! Come back soon to see who’s been added.


Christina Hergenrader

Christina Hergenrader is an internationally recognized author, executive coach, and speaker with more than 25 years of experience in faith formation, biblical storytelling, and emotional resilience. Her work draws on both theology and real life, reaching Christians who are navigating doubt, pressure, and the quiet weight of daily responsibilities. Known for her clarity, warmth, and gospel-centered insight, she writes for those who keep showing up—sometimes weary, sometimes wondering, but always within reach of grace.

She is the author of 13 books, including Last Summer at Eden, Family Trees & Olive Branches, Everlasting: Peaks, Valleys, & Grace in the Psalms, and the Novel Devotions series. For over two decades, her partnership with Concordia Publishing House has shaped Bible studies used by churches and schools across the country. Christina has spoken to thousands—students, parents, and church leaders—at retreats, national conferences, and international gatherings. Her teaching invites listeners into Scripture with depth, honesty, and a clear connection to their everyday lives.

Christina holds a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Houston and is certified in Executive Coaching through the International Coaching Federation. Her work integrates theology, narrative, and emotional insight—helping others connect modern life to the enduring truth of God’s Word.

She lives in Houston with her husband of 28 years. They have four nearly-grown children and a small pack of retired racing greyhounds. Her favorite place is their Galveston beach house, where she walks the shoreline and thinks about grace, grit, and what’s for dinner.

Dr. Matt Engel

Dr. Matt Engel has held a distinguished position as a senior leader and adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University. During his tenure, he employed data, analytics, and strategic messaging to achieve notable advancements in student enrollment and retention rates over nine years. Following his impactful tenure in academia, Matt was called to apply his expertise as a pastor at his local church in Arizona. The dramatic impact within the church and community in Arizona led him to assist numerous churches in becoming more Spirit-led and Christ-centered while incorporating a data-informed approach to their ministries. His contributions have influenced some of the largest churches in the nation toward meaningful growth and development.

As a speaker and author of the novel, "Fourteen Fridays", he is regarded as a subject matter expert in Decision Science and Organizational Growth Engagement Strategy. His proficiency in these fields was further demonstrated through his leadership in the largest privately funded city transformation project. This initiative focused on decentralizing city transformation, where Matt documented significant outcomes and has since transitioned to spearhead the largest network of innovation-driven churches, encompassing some of America’s most prominent congregations, all leveraging Engagement Frameworks and Platform Theory Strategies.

Matt’s expertise is notably recognized in assisting leaders in achieving their God-given missions. He excels in transforming interesting data into actionable insights, leading to measurable outcomes through rapid experimentation. His academic background includes a master’s degree in organizational design and development and a doctorate in Christian leadership, specializing in innovation and liminality. On a personal note, Matt, alongside his wife Denise and their two children, resides in northern Arizona. They have recently embraced the responsibility of caring for their elderly parents, reflecting their deep commitment to family values and the importance of intergenerational support and connection. This aspect of his life highlights his professional accomplishments and underscores his dedication to family and community.

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing serves The Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Additionally, he directs the university’s Center of Biblical Studies and pre-seminary program. Reed is also the Associate Pastor at Cross View Lutheran Church in Edina. He has authored books in the Concordia Commentary series that include Isaiah 40–55, Isaiah 56–66, Amos, Jonah, Zechariah, and Lamentations. He has also written for CPH Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Learning from Jeremiah, Deliver Us: God’s Rescue Story in Exodus, and Hope in the Wilderness: Practical Insights from the Book of Numbers. Reed has co-authored three CPH books with Andy Steinmann: Prepare the Way of the Lord: An Introduction to the Old Testament, The Messianic Message: Patterns, Predictions, and the Presence of Jesus in the Old Testament, and Wrestling with God: Shedding Light on Difficult Passages in the Old Testament.

Breakout Speakers

 

Anthony Celia

Anthony Celia
Pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church; Co-Founder of Parched
Austin, TX


Caleb Rodewald

Caleb Rodewald
Creative Director
Audio & Visual Ministries
Prince of Peace Ministries, Fremont, CA


Cara Berg

Cara Berg
Director of Music & Worship Arts
Prince of Peace Ministries, Fremont, CA


Chase Reihmann

Chase Reihmann
Director of Parish Music
Faith Community Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, NV


Dr. Matt Engel

Dr. Matt Engel
Expert in Decision Science & Christian Leadership
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ


Jon Jordending

Jon Jordending
Director of Worship Arts Ministry
Las Vegas, NV


Rev. Dr. Kent J. Burreson

Rev. Dr. Kent J. Burreson
Louis A. Fincke and Anna B. Shine Professor of Systematic Theology
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO


Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing
The Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies
Concordia University, St. Paul, MN


Dr. Matt Engel

Dr. Matt Engel has held a distinguished position as a senior leader and adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University. During his tenure, he employed data, analytics, and strategic messaging to achieve notable advancements in student enrollment and retention rates over nine years. Following his impactful tenure in academia, Matt was called to apply his expertise as a pastor at his local church in Arizona. The dramatic impact within the church and community in Arizona led him to assist numerous churches in becoming more Spirit-led and Christ-centered while incorporating a data-informed approach to their ministries. His contributions have influenced some of the largest churches in the nation toward meaningful growth and development.

As a speaker and author of the novel, "Fourteen Fridays", he is regarded as a subject matter expert in Decision Science and Organizational Growth Engagement Strategy. His proficiency in these fields was further demonstrated through his leadership in the largest privately funded city transformation project. This initiative focused on decentralizing city transformation, where Matt documented significant outcomes and has since transitioned to spearhead the largest network of innovation-driven churches, encompassing some of America’s most prominent congregations, all leveraging Engagement Frameworks and Platform Theory Strategies.

Matt’s expertise is notably recognized in assisting leaders in achieving their God-given missions. He excels in transforming interesting data into actionable insights, leading to measurable outcomes through rapid experimentation. His academic background includes a master’s degree in organizational design and development and a doctorate in Christian leadership, specializing in innovation and liminality. On a personal note, Matt, alongside his wife Denise and their two children, resides in northern Arizona. They have recently embraced the responsibility of caring for their elderly parents, reflecting their deep commitment to family values and the importance of intergenerational support and connection. This aspect of his life highlights his professional accomplishments and underscores his dedication to family and community.

Rev. Dr. Kent J. Burreson

The Reverend Dr. Kent J. Burreson is Louis A. Fincke and Anna B. Shine Professor of Systematic Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri and has served on the faculty for 24 years. He teaches courses in systematic theology, and liturgy and worship. A graduate of Valparaiso University and Concordia Seminary, he did his doctoral studies in liturgical history and theology at the University of Notre Dame. He has a strong interest in the development of worship practice in all periods of church history, the theological meaning of what is said and done in worship, and the exploration of the interaction between culture and worship. He lives in Saint Peters, Missouri, with his wife, Cindy. They have two grown daughters and are excited to become first-time grandparents in October. Kent is an avid home brewer and wishes he could have brought some homebrew to share with all the participants at WALi.

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing

Rev. Dr. R. Reed Lessing serves The Edwin F. and Esther L. Laatsch Chair of Old Testament Studies at Concordia University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Additionally, he directs the university’s Center of Biblical Studies and pre-seminary program. Reed is also the Associate Pastor at Cross View Lutheran Church in Edina. He has authored books in the Concordia Commentary series that include Isaiah 40–55, Isaiah 56–66, Amos, Jonah, Zechariah, and Lamentations. He has also written for CPH Overcoming Life’s Sorrows: Learning from Jeremiah, Deliver Us: God’s Rescue Story in Exodus, and Hope in the Wilderness: Practical Insights from the Book of Numbers. Reed has co-authored three CPH books with Andy Steinmann: Prepare the Way of the Lord: An Introduction to the Old Testament, The Messianic Message: Patterns, Predictions, and the Presence of Jesus in the Old Testament, and Wrestling with God: Shedding Light on Difficult Passages in the Old Testament.

Steve Zank

Steve Zank
Center for Worship Leadership, Director
Director of Parish Music Program
Irvine, CA


Steven Mueller

Steven Mueller
Vice President, Chief Mission Officer, and Professor of Theology
Concordia University, Irvine, CA


To Be Announced

To be announced
Our speaker list is growing! Come back soon to see who’s been added.


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