Ben and Jennifer Freudenburg of Ann Arbor, Mich., have received an award named in their honor by the Association of Marriage and Family Ministries (AMFM). The couple were the first recipients of the “Ben and Jennifer Freudenburg Pioneering Award” presented…

Ninety-five Lutheran schools — 11 high schools, 73 elementary schools, and 11 free-standing early childhood centers — received accreditation from the National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) Commission at its meeting July 31-Aug. 2 in St. Louis.  Accreditation is granted following…

Repeating the LCMS position that the Bible condemns homosexual activity, Synod President Gerald Kieschnick issued a statement Aug. 24 that also offers “loving encouragement” and “our willingness to provide appropriate support” to like-minded pastors and lay people of the Evangelical…

As students head back to classrooms, LCMS World Relief and Human Care Director of Disaster Response Rev. Glenn F. Merritt is fielding more questions and requests for information about the H1N1 flu virus, especially from school administrators. “As the CDC…

When it comes to differences in worship practices and attitudes among Synod congregations, a 2008 survey of two groups of LCMS congregations on that topic found “it’s less about what they do and more about how they communicate,” said Rev.…

“Crossing Over” is the theme for Lutheran Education Association’s (LEA) next triennial convocation, set for March 24-26, 2011, at the Duke Energy Center in Cincinnati.  Physically, the convocation theme relates to the many bridges that span the Ohio River at…

The worldview of today’s teenager will be the focus of Youth Ministry 2010 (YM 2010), Jan. 8-10 at the J.W. Marriott Hotel at the Galleria, in Houston. LCMS District and Congregational Services — Youth Ministry sponsors the annual symposium designed for…

Dr. John Nunes, president of Lutheran World Relief (LWR), Baltimore, will address “Finite and Infinite Games,” the theme of “Lutherhostel 2009,” presented Oct. 3-6 by Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. The event is designed for adults ages 55 and older to…

The Synod’s Board for Campus Ministry has appointed Jon E. Jensen of St. Louis as interim executive director of the Lutheran Campus Ministry Association (LCMA), an LCMS-affiliated mission society also known as LCMS Campus Ministry. Jensen, a member of the…

In a statement released Aug. 14, Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick acknowledges that the health-care reform issue is “complicated and still evolving,” but stresses that the Synod “would not endorse any component of a plan that includes funding…

Concordia Publishing House is offering two new Bible studies written especially for women.  Both of the four-session studies are available only as “downloads” from CPH’s Web site.  Beautiful Feet ($30, item no. 20-3482WEB), by Deb Burma, is based on Rom.…

Two Christians from the Enga Province of Papua New Guinea expressed appreciation to The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod for both the Gospel message and for economic development during an Aug. 3 visit to the International Center.  The visitors were Ezekiel Peter,…

Concordia Publishing House employees handed some 600 neighborhood school children new backpacks, along with school supplies and Christ-centered literature during the Synod publisher’s 2009 “Operation FUN (For a United Neighborhood) –– Tools for Schools” event Aug. 5. Providing school supplies — mostly purchased…

As of July 30, Fan into Flame, the capital campaign to raise $100 million for new Ablaze!-related ministries, was halfway to its goal, having raised more than $50 million in gifts and pledges since it was authorized by the Synod…

Lutheran Church Extension Fund (LCEF) President Merle Freitag announced July 22 that he will retire from that position Jan. 15. “In 1998, when I interviewed with the [LCEF] Board of Directors, I indicated that I would serve for 10 years,” Freitag…