(RNS) — A group of military atheists have won the backing of U.S. Army officials to hold a “Rock Beyond Belief” concert for nonbelievers at North Carolina’s Fort Bragg next year. The victory came after several church-state separation watchdog groups…

LIVINGSTON, N.J. (RNS) — It started as a simple gesture. But it could have implications far beyond the quiet New Jersey street where Patrick Racaniello affixed a wooden cross on a tree in his front yard. Livingston Township officials say…

By Kim Plummer Krull After seeing firsthand the suffering as starving Somalis pour into the Dadaab refugee camps, the Rev. Dr. Walter Obare, bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK), is requesting additional financial support to meet urgent…

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League in mid-July mailed sample packets of 2011 “LWML Sunday” materials to all LCMS congregations and LWML societies. Although the first Sunday in October — Oct. 2 this year — is the traditional date for congregations…

Darin Storkson and the Rev. Dr. Timothy Quill began serving July 1 in new positions with the Synod’s Office of International Mission. Storkson, 45, who has served since 2005 with LCMS World Relief and Human Care — most recently as…

The registration fee for the 2013 National LCMS Youth Gathering — July 1-5 in San Antonio — will be $295 per registrant. A 12-member Gathering executive team set the fee at a July 17-20 meeting in San Antonio. That team…

For the 16th consecutive year, Concordia Publishing House reached out to its South St. Louis neighbors — many of whom have limited incomes — by giving away food, drinks, gifts and warm (with the temperature over 100 degrees!) smiles. Operation…

Addressing the Papua New Guinea Mission Society at its biennial meeting, Governor Peter Ipatas of the Enga Province of Papua New Guinea noted the contributions of LCMS missionaries to his homeland — particularly in education and health care — and…

Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., have scheduled free visitation events for prospective students: “Contemplate” is the St. Louis seminary’s structured visitation designed for men interested in the pastoral ministry and women considering deaconess service.…

By Kim Plummer Krull Tim Staffeld says he probably could make more money with a “regular” summer job. And the Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, Ill., student has no doubt he would sweat less if he weren’t helping replace more…

The Centre Luthérien d’Etudes Théologiques (CLET), or Lutheran Center for Theological Studies, in Dapaong, Togo, West Africa — a seminary started in 1997 by the Lutheran Church of Togo and LCMS World Mission — celebrated the graduation of four students,…

Two video Bible studies produced by Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) for its “Men’s NetWork” were honored with a total of four bronze (second-place) Telly Awards June 24. The Bible studies — “We the People: Citizens of Two Kingdoms” and “The…

The first of 12 Bible story books combining written language, art work and illustrated sign language to teach hearing and deaf individuals is available from Lutheran Friends of the Deaf (LFD), a ministry of The Mill Neck Family of Organizations,…

The Rev. John Barton “Bart” Day was installed Aug. 1 as executive director of the Synod’s new Office of National Mission (Life Together). In the new position, Day oversees the national mission functions of the ministries based at the International…

TRONDHEIM (RNS/ENInews) — A Norwegian bishop addressing the recent bombing and shooting attacks in Norway said his country has “countered this insane terrorism by demonstrating love and solidarity.” “We have brought out a social capital we maybe even did not…

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — Pilgrims at next month’s Catholic World Youth Day in Madrid will have some high-tech help in their devotions, thanks to a new iPhone app unveiled at the Vatican on July 29. World Youth Day (WYD), an…