New commentary explores Joshua

The latest volume in the “Concordia Commentary” series from Concordia Publishing House is Joshua, by Adolph L. Harstad. This commentary explores the history, culture, archaeology, and theology of the Book of Joshua, focusing on the faithfulness of God and how He…

Seminaries release Lenten devotions

Some 40 students from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, contributed to this year’s 2005 Joint Seminary Devotional, which was released Ash Wednesday, Feb. 9. The devotional contains a listing of Scripture readings for each day of…

Requests for reinstatement

JOE C. FAIRCHILD, Virginia Beach, Va., and RICHARD A. HOWARD, Summit, Ill., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  SUSAN L. WILCOX, Seward, Neb., has applied for reinstatement to the Minister of…

Letters to the Editor

A view from Russia My Russian-born wife and I read with great interest and rejoicing the article in the January Reporter about the proposed LCMS Life Ministries project in Russia.  I thought it might interest you and your readers to know…

CPH offers Spanish-English VBS

Emboscada!  El Buen Pastor al Rescate (“Ambush!  The Good Shepherd to the Rescue”) is the new Spanish-English vacation Bible school program from Concordia Publishing House. It is the fourth Spanish bilingual program produced by CPH, and is the only bilingual vacation…

CPH Spring catalog features new Easter, youth products

Products for Easter, children and teens, parents, educators, and pastors are among more than 100 new and previously released items featured in Concordia Publishing House’s New Releases Spring 2005 catalog. New books include: Things I See at Easter, by Julie Stiegemeyer…

Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung

As I write this, I am teaching at China Lutheran Seminary in Hsinchu, Taiwan.  After I addressed members of a mission society here the other day, I was asked a thoughtful question.  I thought I’d report the question and also,…

Resources aim to help with `Ablaze!` outreach

New resources are being developed “to help Synod congregations and their schools use friendship-celebration events to support the Ablaze! initiative by helping them be the best welcoming communities they can be,” says Rev. Larry Reinhardt. Reinhardt is director of Outreach and…

LWF: World's Lutherans number 69.5 million

Membership in Lutheran churches worldwide increased by 3.57 million in 2004, according to the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), which puts that membership total at 69,527,817. Statistics provided by the LWF show growth of 5.4 percent for all Lutheran churches, from the…

Thrivent announces personnel changes

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has announced a number of changes in its executive-management team. “The changes reflect Thrivent Financial’s planned three-year transition from an organization led by dual chief executives … to a single chief executive,” said a Thrivent news release. “The…

Singles to gather at Concordia, River Forest

“Encourage One Another” is the theme for the 18th International Lutheran Single Adult conference, to be held June 30-July 3 at Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. The event is held annually to provide opportunities for fellowship, learning, outreach, worship, and service…

Outreach Institute set for July

This year’s Outreach Leadership Institute will be held July 14-16 at Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., under the theme “Building Blocks for Today’s Great Commission Congregations.”  The outreach training event is sponsored annually by the Oswald Hoffmann School of Christian…

Navy chaplain dies on ship duty

Missouri Synod Navy Chaplain Ed Jack died of a heart attack Jan. 29 while serving aboard the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard in the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf.  Jack, 51, a lieutenant commander in the Navy, served as chaplain for the…

Wilke announces retirement plans

Dr. LeRoy Wilke, executive director of the LCMS Board for District and Congregational Services (DCS) since 2000, announced last month his intent to retire June 30.   The board, meeting Feb. 4-5 in St. Louis, appointed Rev. Jeffery Schubert, its director…

LWML convention registration opens

Registration opens March 1 for the 31st biennial convention of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League, to be held June 16-19 in Tampa, Fla. Theme of the four-day convention is “Live Joyfully as Salt and Light,” from Matt. 5:13-16. Keynote speaker will be…

Holding babies is part of this pro-life Bible study

By Paula Schlueter Ross Want to show teenagers how precious God’s gift of life really is?  Let them hold babies! That’s the view of Becky Ferber, whose sanctity-of-life Bible study for seventh- and eighth-graders is now in its 10th year at Immanuel…