Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is giving a $1,424,600 grant this year that will fund 18 projects of Synod boards, commissions and other national ministries. Amounts allocated from the grant range from $6,000 for meetings of Synod leaders who prioritized the…

“Lectionary at Lunch,” a Web resource from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, that provides audio files to help pastors prepare sermons, offers a new discussion-group feature.  At www.csl.edu/lection.htm, pastors can hear seminary faculty members translating the Old Testament and Gospel lessons…

Pentecost 2000/Pentecost 2000+, LCMS World Mission’s initiative to encourage the start of 1,000 cross-cultural ministries in the United States, has met its goal. As of this writing, the P2K Web site at www.pentecost2000.com lists 1,008 new ministries, according to Director Marie Biesenthal. “What’s…

Rev. Mitri Raheb, pastor of The Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church in Bethlehem, has written a book about his experiences as a Palestinian pastor living and working in a war zone. In Bethlehem Besieged, Raheb begins his story with the Israeli siege…

Delegates to the national convention of the India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC), meeting June 7 in Nagercoil, India, elected Rev. S. Rajagambeeram as president. The election marks a new beginning for the IELC, according to Dr. Herbert Hoefer, area director…

Delegates to the General Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church–Synod of France and Belgium, meeting May 21-23 in Paris, adopted a resolution commending The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod for its “love and enthusiasm” for missions, particularly the ambitious Ablaze! initiative, and…

By Paula Schlueter Ross LCMS World Relief is providing $15,000 to help fund a bone-marrow transplant for a recently ordained pastor with the India Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELC). Rev. R. Johnson, who is in his late 20s, was diagnosed with…

LCMS World Mission plans to mail to congregations and other mission partners in August a new CD-ROM that includes a variety of resources designed to help them get involved in the Ablaze! effort, including a new “kit” of prayer resources. In…

By David L. Mahsman This year’s LCMS convention will be Rev. Neil Hayen’s third in a row as a voting delegate.  He says that the amount of pre-convention mail he has been getting doesn’t seem any greater than before, but it…

By Paula Schlueter Ross Why let something like a lack of funding stand in the way of a perfectly good ministry?  So say two Missouri Synod pastors, who are continuing to train deaf pastors and evangelists in Ghana, West Africa, even…

Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) has launched a three-month project to collect health and school kits for children in Iraq. In the project, titled “Iraqi Children — Precious in His Sight,” Synod members are encouraged to assemble the kits and mail…

By Paula Schlueter Ross The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod welcomed 94 new congregations in 2003 — 10 more than the previous year and the most in at least 15 years, according to Dr. Robert Scudieri, associate executive director, National Mission Team, for…

Voting and advisory delegates and representatives are reminded that the 62nd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod will be held in the America’s Center in downtown St. Louis, July 10 -15, 2004.  Following an opening service with Holy Communion…

FRANCES CHILDERS, Southgate, Mich.; JO ANN DETERDING, Alton, Ill.; NANCY J. DURKOVIC, Santa Ana, Calif.; KEN HEITSHUSEN, Phoenix, Ariz.; JAMIE KNOWLES HALLET, San Pedro, Calif.; GAYLE JANZEN, Sabetha, Kan.; RONDA KRAUSKOPF, Orlando, Fla.; DEAN W. RAABE, Beatrice, Neb.; CARLYN ROTH,…

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. Available Brass candle followers, 3/4 inches (14 total) and…

The Board for Mission Services seeks applicants for the position of regional director, to lead the development of LCMS World Mission programs along the border with Mexico. The person in this position, who also serves as the executive director of Frontera…