In just one week, LCMS World Relief and Human Care has received donations and pledges totaling at least $600,000 to assist victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti. That amount includes a $100,000 grant from the Lutheran Foundation of…

By Kim Plummer Krull An LCMS World Relief and Human Care emergency Mercy Medical Team (MMT) landed in the Dominican Republic Jan. 19, and half of the 13-member team worked through the night to care for patients at the Good…

Dr. Karl Galik, a 27-year veteran LCMS pastor in Gainesville, Fla., has joined Grace Place Lutheran Retreats as associate director for congregational ministry to introduce a new retreat program to strengthen professional church worker health and wellness in congregations. LCMS…

General practice physicians, surgeons, and emergency-room personnel are especially needed to treat victims of the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti, according to LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC). The medical volunteers are needed to serve on at least three…

Synod President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick has launched an “e-journal” titled Perspectives to share his thoughts on a wide range of topics, including family, life matters, church issues, current news, and national and world events. “My goal is to provide…

Information about the 64th Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, to be held July 10-17 in Houston, is posted on the convention Web site at www.lcms.org/?13524. Information on the Web site includes: a “Quick Facts Sheet” about the convention.…

In a 35-minute telephone call early Jan. 15, Rev. Marky Kessa, president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti, updated LCMS pastor Rev. S.T. Williams on the situation in Haiti following a devastating earthquake in the Caribbean nation three days…

By Linda C. Hoops As estimates of the loss of life and destruction in Haiti emerged following Tuesday’s magnitude 7.0 earthquake, LCMS World Relief and Human Care (WR-HC) began responding, while members of LCMS congregations prayed for the safety of…

Lutheran schools and their sponsoring congregations may order a variety of resources from LCMS District and Congregational Services — School Ministry and Concordia Publishing House to promote “National Lutheran Schools Week,” set for March 7-13.  This year’s theme, “Securing Each…

James H. Heine, editor of The Lutheran Witness magazine since 2007, is the new director of News and Information Services for the Synod’s Board for Communication Services (BCS). This month, Heine, 59, accepted an appointment from the board to the…

Dr. Michael J. Stelmachowicz, who served more than 40 years as an LCMS educator and education executive, died in his sleep Dec. 30 at a retirement home in Wauwatosa, Wis.  He was 82. A funeral service was held Jan. 6…

Lutheran Disaster Response is encouraging Lutherans to heed the advice of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services during “National Influenza Vaccination Week,” Jan. 10-16, to “protect yourself, your family, and your community by getting vaccinated” against the H1N1…

A new seven-member Task Force on Theological Implications of ELCA Human Sexuality Decisions appointed by Synod President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick is being asked to develop a “theological statement that addresses issues of biblical authority, especially in matters of human…

More than 30 people representing 18 LCMS mission agencies and congregational groups that sponsor mission work in Sudan, East Africa, met Dec. 14-15 in Omaha, Neb., to share information and better coordinate their efforts. The goal of the third biennial…

The Synod’s two seminaries — Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne — are making a collection of more than 1,100 educational videos available on their Web sites. The videos were originally part of the Distance Education Leading…

The Children’s Christian Concern Society, an LCMS mission organization, is starting new work in January in Cuba and Cambodia. “For 30 years, we depended entirely on the Lord, as we couldn’t officially function as a church,” said Rev. Ishmael Laborde,…