CINCINNATI — Although Lutherans For Life (LFL) has spent the last 25 years “convincing in love … [and] listening to the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit,” many people still do not understand that abortion is a “billion-dollar killing industry”…
Fire kills Kenyan pastor in New Jersey
Rev. Peter Gusuta, a Kenyan pastor serving with the Synod’s New Jersey District, died Nov. 16 in a fire that struck his family’s Jersey City home. Gusuta, 56, had worked nearly four years in the district as an urban missionary among…
CHI bestows awards
Dr. Scott J. Meyer of St. Louis Nov. 11 was presented with the Distinguished Service Award by Concordia Historical Institute (CHI). Meyer, a member of CHI’s Board of Governors since 1986, received the institute’s highest award “for his extraordinary commitment to…
LCEF chief urges support for `Ablaze!`
By Joe Isenhower Jr. DALLAS — Merle Freitag, president of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund, encouraged participants at the annual LCEF Fall Leadership Conference here to “get involved, personally and organizationally, in a big way” with Ablaze!, LCMS World Mission’s initiative…
Caring attitude can foster increase in worship attendance
By Paula Schlueter Ross KATY, Texas — On a typical Sunday, 850 to 950 people worship at CrossPoint Community Church here. Only about 600 of them are members. But that’s OK with Pastor Bill Woolsey, who says the LCMS congregation’s goal is “to…
CPH produces first-ever collection of Luther`s music
Concordia Publishing House has produced what is believed to be the most comprehensive collection in English of the hymns, ballads and chants composed or authored by Martin Luther. “Martin Luther — Hymns, Ballads, Chants, Truth” includes 39 tracks and is…
Fall CUS enrollment hits record 17,500
By Paula Schlueter Ross A new school year equals a new enrollment record for the Synod’s Concordia University System (CUS) schools. All 10 of the institutions reported increases in enrollment, bringing this fall’s CUS total to a record high of 17,500…
`Igniting` event links outreach, worship attendance
By Joe Isenhower Jr. GARDNERVILLE, Nev. — Outreach is the key to increased worship attendance, LCMS President Gerald Kieschnick told pastors and laypeople from 18 congregations who met here Sept. 30-Oct. 1. Their meeting was the fifth “One Mission Ablaze:…
Efforts of medical-van staff lead to worship groups in Kyrgyzstan
By Paula Schlueter Ross A single ministry in Kyrgyzstan already has touched the lives of some 112,000 people there — both physically and spiritually — and its director says she’s confident it will reach hundreds of thousands more in the years…
St. Louis sem, CHI get new addresses
Although they haven’t moved an inch physically, Concordia Seminary and Concordia Historical Institute (CHI) on the St. Louis seminary campus have new addresses on a new “main street.” The seminary’s street address — also its new mailing address — is…
Online Bible study released
An interactive Bible study to accompany the “Who Is Jesus?” multi-media presentation on the LCMS Web site was posted to the site Oct. 29. The study may be directly accessed from the Synod’s home page at www.lcms.org/wij . The five-part study provides…
Schreiber named director of armed-forces ministry
Dr. Mark J. Schreiber of Jacksonville, Fla., began serving Oct. 1 as director of the Synod’s Ministry to the Armed Forces, a division of LCMS World Mission. Schreiber, 54, succeeds Chaplain Rodger Venzke, who retired after serving more than eight…
Handcraft Project offers catalog of international gifts
The 2004-05 Lutheran World Relief (LWR) Handcraft Project catalog — featuring more than 600 handmade items from artisans around the world — is now available. Included in the catalog are food and home-decor items, baskets, jewelry, nativity sets, kitchenware, games…
People in the News
Dr. Dale A. Meyer has been appointed interim president of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, effective Nov. 4. That is the day Dr. John F. Johnson, the seminary’s president since 1990, begins as president of Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. Meyer…
LCMS congregations report membership of 2,488,936
By Joe Isenhower Jr. Although statistics that Synod congregations reported for the end of 2003 show a rise in contributions and “weekday religion-class” attendance, “the real story is that membership is still declining,” according Dr. John O’Hara, research analyst for…
CPH offers `Luther` at discount price
Concordia Publishing House is offering “Luther,” the 2003 film about the reformer’s life and times, for pre-release purchase in DVD and VHS formats. CPH will start shipping orders Nov. 30, the release date set by MGM Home Entertainment. The “limited-time” price…
