My parents were married for 10 years and were sad that they were still childless. When they heard in 1930 that the orphanage in Fort Dodge, Iowa (“The Least of These,” November 2011), was opening, my grandmother and my mother went to visit that day and actually came home with a darling baby boy! There

by Rev. Tim Pauls I’m all for hearty praise, good feelings and new insight in worship, but if these are lacking, it doesn’t mean the service is a bust. I offer the hypothetical of a parishioner who is fighting cancer. Given his illness and the withering effects of chemotherapy, he’s low on energy of all

Thank you, Pastor Harrison, for your letter in the November Lutheran Witness. The first thing that came to my mind was Psalm 127. David C. LoomisAyrshire, Iowa Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to Letters, c/o The Lutheran Witness, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295; or send them via e-mail to

2011 was a year filled with disasters, but the Gospel and LCMS mercy work have made an impact around the world.

Get a unique glimpse into how the earthquake in Japan highlighted the convention-mandated Synod-wide restructuring efforts.

by Rev. Gregory Alms Advent is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Church Year seasons. It gets no respect. In the mad rush to Christmas, the season of Advent can get pushed aside like hapless shoppers in the way of a bargain at Wal-Mart. When churches try to keep this time of preparation for the birth

Help your child understand the incarnation–that God took on flesh as a baby in a manger.

by Stan Palmer Although written from a modern evangelical perspective (Fuller Youth Institute), “Silence is Not Golden” is a thought-provoking discussion about the ongoing parental challenge of effectively communicating and nurturing the Christian faith in our children. It is a problem that not only transcends denominational boundaries, but it is one that is worsening in

Did God have to become man to save us? by Rev. Dr. Scott R. Murray The Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). No more sublime words have ever been written. God has become man in Christ! But why? “Why did God become man?” This question has echoed through the centuries in response

by Adriane Dorr Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Williams was raised in the western suburbs of Chicago.  While in third grade, he decided he wanted to become a pastor, and he did, graduating in 1992 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne. Rev. Williams served congregations in Kansas, Wisconsin and Colorado and then on the faculty of

by Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Joersz Gambling is a popular thing today, and more casinos are going up all around us. Why doesn’t our church take a stand against gambling? The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod has, in fact, addressed concerns about this issue. For example, at its 1998 convention, our church adopted a resolution calling attention