Training strengthens ability to respond to next disaster

The need for disaster-response training hit home with Tom Brown last year when flash floods turned lives upside down throughout Indiana, including those of hundreds of fellow LCMS members. “All but five of our 92 counties were impacted,” said Brown,…

Korean church thanks Synod for 'mission start'

By Joe Isenhower Jr. Dr. Samuel Nafzger decided to wait some 10 weeks — until Epiphany Day (Jan. 6) — to formally present Synod President Gerald B. Kieschnick with the plaque for the Synod that he received Oct. 26 on…

Lutheran Blind Mission suspends 'Witness' production

Lutheran Blind Mission (LBM) is suspending production of some of its Braille, large-type, and audiocassette magazines, including The Lutheran Witness, said Rev. David Andrus, LBM executive director. “As you are well aware,” Andrus wrote in a letter to Witness Managing…

111th Congress includes four LCMS Lutherans

The 111th United States Congress includes four Missouri Synod Lutherans — two of them new members of Congress.  All four serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Those new representatives — sworn in Jan. 6 — are Republicans Cynthia Lummis…

'Journey' program involves senses in Passion, Easter accounts

By Linda C. Hoops How much more would the events of the week leading up to Christ’s death and resurrection mean to you if you could actually taste the vinegar Christ was given on the cross or hear the crack…

St. Louis sem hosts outreach conference

“Reaching Out Together” — a conference for pastors, evangelism boards, church leaders, and laypeople — will be held from 8:30 to 3 p.m. Feb. 14 in Wyneken Hall at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. “For years a group of St. Louis…

Neuhaus dies of cancer

Funeral services were held Jan. 13 in New York for Rev. Richard John Neuhaus, a Roman Catholic priest and former LCMS pastor who championed conservative issues in the church and society through his writing and participation in public forums. He…

Alliance to hold first conference

The National Lutheran Alliance will hold its first national conference titled “Faith and Freedom” March 19-21 in Washington, D.C. The conference will feature speakers discussing the role of faith in citizenship and the benefits of religious freedom.  Highlighted will be an…

Order resources for Lutheran Schools Week

Lutheran schools and their sponsoring congregations may order a variety of resources from LCMS District and Congregational Services — School Ministry to promote National Lutheran Schools Week (NLSW), set for March 1-7.  To guarantee delivery in time for that week,…

Get 'March for Life' news, resources online

Even if you can’t travel to Washington, D.C., for the “March for Life” on Jan. 22, you can still get up-to-date information and insights from marching Lutherans through online coverage by LCMS World Relief and Human Care, at www.lcms.org/marchforlife. The…

Kieschnick issues statement on inauguration

LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick on Jan. 16 issued the statement which follows, sharing his thoughts as inauguration day approaches. Barack Obama will be inaugurated January 20, 2009, as the 44th president of the United States of America. As he…

LWML convention registration opens

Registration opens March 2 for the 33rd Biennial Convention of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML), set for June 25-28 in Portland, Ore. The theme of the upcoming convention is “Look to the Hills … God Reigns” from Ps. 121:1-2…

Sudan church leader dies

Rev. Andrew Mbugo Elisa, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sudan (ELCS) — an emerging Lutheran church body that works with LCMS missionaries and others — died Dec. 31 as the result of an aggressive glioma (tumor) in the…

Order resources for Lutheran Schools Week

Lutheran schools and their sponsoring congregations may order a variety of resources from LCMS District and Congregational Services — School Ministry to promote National Lutheran Schools Week (NLSW), set for March 1-7.  To guarantee delivery in time for that week,…

LHM Sunday set for Feb. 22

Lutheran Hour Ministries has designated Feb. 22 for a special Sunday to emphasize its mission and services. The LHM Sunday will tap volunteers to make announcements or presentations about the ministry during worship services, Bible studies, or special gatherings. Lutheran Hour…

Seminary offers men's retreat

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, will hold a men’s retreat titled “Real Men Follow Jesus” Feb. 1-2, on its campus. The retreat is designed to re-engage men in their local congregations.  Studies have shown that while women and children thrive…