By Paula Schlueter Ross A single ministry in Kyrgyzstan already has touched the lives of some 112,000 people there — both physically and spiritually — and its director says she’s confident it will reach hundreds of thousands more in the years…

By Paula Schlueter Ross  A new school year equals a new enrollment record for the Synod’s Concordia University System (CUS) schools.  All 10 of the institutions reported increases in enrollment, bringing this fall’s CUS total to a record high of 17,500…

An interactive Bible study to accompany the “Who Is Jesus?” multi-media presentation on the LCMS Web site was posted to the site Oct. 29.  The study may be directly accessed from the Synod’s home page at www.lcms.org/wij . The five-part study provides…

The 2004-05 Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Handcraft Project catalog — featuring more than 600 handmade items from artisans around the world — is now available. Included in the catalog are food and home-decor items, baskets, jewelry, nativity sets, kitchenware, games…

Dr. Mark J. Schreiber of Jacksonville, Fla., began serving Oct. 1 as director of the Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces, a division of LCMS World Mission. Schreiber, 54, succeeds Chaplain Rodger Venzke, who retired after serving more than eight…

By Joe Isenhower Jr.  GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — Outreach is the key to increased worship attendance, LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick told pastors and laypeople from 18 congregations who met here Sept. 30-Oct. 1.  Their meeting was the fifth “One Mission Ablaze:…

Dr. Dale A. Meyer has been appointed interim president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, effective Nov. 4. That is the day Dr. John F. Johnson, the seminary’s president since 1990, begins as president of Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. Meyer…

‘It’ and the English language Regarding the debate on Amendment A to change Art. XI. F. 2. of the Synod’s constitution (Oct. ’04 Reporter), the following observations: Anyone with a sense of  English syntax has no difficulty seeing that the pronoun “it”…

The audits and summary budgets of the Synod’s 35 districts have been completed and are available upon written request.  Write or contact your district office directly.  The address of each district is published in the 2004 Lutheran Annual. The audits and…

Two Synod commissions appointed by Synod President Gerald Kieschnick — the Commission on Worship and the Commission on Ministerial Growth and Support — have met and elected officers for the next three years. Kieschnick also appointed three members to the Commission…

Teams from five districts and the Synod’s International Center have been trained or are being trained for crisis management, thanks to a $32,283 grant to the Board for Communication Services from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. “It is very important that the…

By Joe Isenhower Jr.  Although statistics that Synod congregations reported for the end of 2003 show a rise in contributions and “weekday religion-class” attendance, “the real story is that membership is still declining,” according Dr. John O’Hara, research analyst for…

Note: Reporter cannot accept notices about items offered for sale or that people wish to purchase.  Items described as “Wanted” or “Available” are sought or may be obtained for shipping costs only. Wanted Copies of Manna devotional book by Carl Manthey-Zorn. …

Concordia University, River Forest, Ill., invites applications for faculty positions in various departments and disciplines.  The number of positions to be filled will be determined by budget availability and the qualification of the applicants.  The university will assign the academic…

Concordia Publishing House is offering “Luther,” the 2003 film about the reformer’s life and times, for pre-release purchase in DVD and VHS formats.  CPH will start shipping orders Nov. 30, the release date set by MGM Home Entertainment. The “limited-time” price…