By Sarah Schafer Harold and Harriet Fritz were two of dozens of volunteers from across the country to help with tornado relief at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Martin Luther School in Joplin, Mo., over Memorial Day weekend. “It’s the least…

By John Oberdeck “I personally had no idea how far or in what direction my training as a lay minister would take me. I simply know that it would not have all happened without my training and experience at Concordia.”…

LARRY R. GORLITZ, St. Cloud, Minn.; MAX L. GERTZ, Purvis, Miss.; and FREDERICK C. HILL, Arlington Heights, Ill., have applied for reinstatement to the Ministers of Religion–Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. KELLY SINGER, Billings, Mont., has applied for reinstatement…

The Board of Trustees of The Lutheran Church Missouri–Synod (LCMS) Foundation herewith calls for nominations for the position of president of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod Foundation. The president reports to the Board of Trustees of the Foundation and relates to…

The following institutions of the Concordia University System are seeking candidates for positions: Concordia College–New York, Bronxville, N.Y., seeks to fill the following position: director of Graduate Program in Childhood Special Education. Other part-time positions include health care financing, bioethics,…

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. Email notices to karen.higgins@lcms.org. Wanted Chair lift or…

Iowans can tie yellow ribbons around their old oaks and other trees to welcome home returning National Guard soldiers after the Des Moines chapter of Operation Barnabas distributes free ribbon kits on Memorial Day, Monday, May 30, at Camp Dodge…

In a video released May 25, LCMS President Dr. Matthew C. Harrison asks Lutherans to pray for all those affected by recent storms — especially the devastating May 22 tornado in Joplin, Mo. — and to “give generously” to those…

Twenty-one religious agencies providing chaplains to the U.S. military sent a joint letter to the U.S. military’s chiefs of chaplains May 23, voicing concern over the absence of religious-liberty protections if openly practiced homosexual behavior is sanctioned in the military.…

Both LCMS seminaries will hold visitation events for high school students this summer. Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., will hold a two-week “Christ Academy — High School” June 19-July 2 on its campus for high school-age men. The program for…

Rodger Hebermehl, who served as executive director of Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM), St. Louis, from 1996 to 2003, died May 22 after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Hebermehl, 67, died at his home in Mount Carmel, Ill.…

By Kim Plummer Krull Two children, ages 6 and 8, from a member family at First Lutheran Church in nearby Neosho, Mo., are among 132 confirmed deaths from the devastating twister that ripped through Joplin, Mo., on May 22.  The…

Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, announced May 21 that Dr. Lawrence R. Rast Jr. will serve as its 17th president. Rast, 48, currently serves the seminary as academic dean and professor of American Christianity and American Lutheranism.  He will succeed…

By Kim Plummer Krull Lillie Lightford desperately wants to return to the mobile home where she and her sons lived in Huntsville, Ala., before a tornado peeled off the roof and rain drenched her possessions. Rich Stimson probably shouldn’t sleep…

LCMS President Rev. Matthew C. Harrison has received two honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Laws from Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich., during the university’s May 7 commencement ceremony. a Doctor of Divinity during the May 20 commencement at Concordia Theological…