LCMS National Housing Support Corp. awarded $150,000 grant for St. Louis City renewal

ST. LOUIS, March 5, 2014—LCMS National Housing Support Corp. (NHSC) d/b/a Lutheran Housing Support has been awarded a $150,000 Wells Fargo UrbanLIFT™ grant for the corporation’s ongoing revitalization efforts in St. Louis’ historic College Hill neighborhood.

Missouri Synod president shares Lenten message

ST. LOUIS, March 6, 2014—“May the Lord bless you in this period of repentance with joy, knowing that Jesus loves sinners,” says the Rev. Dr. Matthew C. Harrison, president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, in his Lenten message to the church.

Housing Support awarded $150,000 grant

The grant will be used to purchase nine properties in College Hill, four miles north of downtown St. Louis, and perform demolition and site restoration.

Short-term missionaries needed to teach English

The Synod is seeking to place 20 short-term missionaries who can teach English as a foreign language at schools and churches overseas.

Wenthe named president of Concordia University System

ST. LOUIS, March 4, 2014—The Rev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe has accepted the call effective immediately to serve as president of the Concordia University System (CUS), which serves to further the objectives of higher education within The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as carried out by its colleges and universities.

Worldwide KFUO ‘Book Talk’ interviews author of Abuse of Discretion: The Inside Story of Roe v Wade

Clarke D. Forsythe, author of Abuse of Discretion: The Inside Story of Roe v Wade, provides a revealing analysis of the landmark Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand. The program originally aired Feb. 14, 2014, on Worldwide KFUO’s Cross Edges ‘Book Talk’ feature.

Theme for 2016 Youth Gathering: ‘In Christ Alone’

Participants will meet under that theme when they converge on New Orleans in July 2016 for the next LCMS National Youth Gathering.

Urban, inner-city ministry: a ripe mission field

The Synod’s Urban & Inner-City Ministry gets new energy with new director: Rev. Steve Schave.

Great Expectations Newsletter – February 2014

In this issue from LCMS’ Office of National Mission, the need to care for those members of a congregation who are caregivers for older adults in the parish is discussed. Some of the ways a congregation can encourage these caregivers are then outlined and explained.

LCMS chaplain awarded Purple Heart

Captain Michael Frese receives on Feb. 22 one of the nation’s highest honors — the Purple Heart — for his service in Afghanistan.

Wenthe named president of Concordia University System

The Rev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe accepts a call to serve as president of the Concordia University System.

Pressure Points (March 2014)

Should Lutheran congregations consider private confession and absolution?

National board takes up concern for recruitment

The LCMS Board for National Mission also continues work on policy and approves a process to call rostered workers into specialized pastoral ministries.

Black Clergy Caucus sets goals, elects officers

One goal is to be more intentional about reaching out to African immigrants. The group also elected a new president: the Rev. Byron R. Williams Sr. of Dallas.

Arabic catechism aids sharing Gospel with Arab Americans

The resource can help congregations overcome culture and language barriers in their communities.

Sem’s EIIT offers free lecture on Islam

The lecture, “Responding to Islam,” on March 27 at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will be given by the Rev. Dr. Abjar Bahkou.