News from LCMS universities and seminaries.
New This Week

New missionaries complete first week of orientation
The session was geared toward preparing the missionaries for the first part of their work: visiting congregations and building a network of support.

Impact of Hurricane Ida continues days after landfall
In the days since the Category 4 storm made landfall and continued inland across the Southern and Eastern United States, it is estimated to have caused at least 65 deaths and more than $50 billion in damages.

Youth workers and leaders meet in Houston
LCMS Youth Ministry hosted the triennial National Lutheran Youth Workers Conference (#NATIONAL21), and YouthLead (formerly Lutheran Youth Fellowship) met for its annual retreat in Houston July 11-14.

New gift-matching opportunities for first-time givers
In addition to the first-time gift matches, two additional gift-match opportunities are open to all, both first-time contributors and those who already have a record of giving.

PALS facilitators gather for learning, support
PALS, or Post-Seminary Applied Learning and Support, is an ongoing effort of the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education to help new pastors and their wives transition from seminary through the first three years of ministry.

Obituary: Rev. Norman Luther Groteluschen, former president of the LCMS Mid-South District
Groteluschen died on July 23 at the age of 96.

LCMS missionaries displaced by Ethiopia flooding
The seminary of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) in Addis Ababa was also severely damaged, and several people died.

‘To live is Christ’: Pohjola consecrated as bishop of Finnish Lutheran Church
The consecration took place amid persecution from the Finnish government stemming from Pohjola’s endorsement of a 2004 booklet written by Dr. Päivi Räsänen, a medical doctor and longstanding member of the Finnish parliament.

Suicide prevention resources focus on biblical response
National Suicide Prevention Week is Sept. 5–11, and World Suicide Prevention Day is Sept. 10.

After a pandemic year, CUS heads back to school
After a year of cancellations, postponements and multiple adjustments in classroom and campus life, CUS students are anticipating a more typical academic year.

August ‘Witness’: Church workers needed
In the August issue of LW, the Rev. Dr. James Baneck, executive director of the LCMS Office of Pastoral Education, explains why and how the Church Worker Recruitment Initiative will be vital to the work of the LCMS.

Haiti suffers 7.2 magnitude earthquake
LCMS World Relief and Human Care Disaster Response has begun to evaluate and respond to the situation.

Concordia Deaconess Conference celebrates 40 years
The organization was not able to observe its 40th anniversary last year due to the pandemic, so chose instead to commemorate the anniversary at this year’s conference.

From the mission field — Everyday miracles
The Rev. Dr. Christian Tiews, LCMS missionary to Germany, shares a story about how God is using Word and Sacrament to build up His church.