St. Paul asks in Romans 10, “How are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Synod’s congregations will need around 2,700 pastors in the next 10 years, an average of 270 each year, just to fill retirement vacancies.
“Lord, make this the shortest operation of its kind on record, and give him a complete healing. Amen.”
Putting Together the Pieces Two-year-old Katelyn was watching the children’s TV show “Blue’s Clues.” The episode featured a pizza, which Katelyn repeatedly referred to as “Pastor’s Pizza.” Pastor’s Pizza? What could that be? Befuddled, her family finally figured it out—the pizza was cut in the shape of a cross. Two-year-olds do see Jesus! —Rev. John
by Rev. Jeffrey Sippy An old adage says polite gentlemen do not speak poorly of another man’s bride. Can you imagine? Can you imagine someone speaking poorly about your spouse? Yet the Bride of Christ is often maligned and insulted by reckless and thoughtless words—sometimes by its own members. Criticism, complaint, and gossip are the
Regarding February’s Family Counselor, “Playing Second Fiddle”: One might point out to the husband who feels like a second fiddle that life is a matter of the choices one makes. He may choose to feel like a second fiddle and put pressure on his wife, making her defensive, and at the same time inducing an
The month of May covers a lot of ground by closing the door on spring and opening the door to summer. In this issue of The Lutheran Witness, we also cover a lot of ground.
A chance encounter leads to a ‘Spirit-bred, Lord-led friendship.’
by Roland Lovstad Regardless of whether rural or small-town communities are growing or declining in population, there is usually an increase in the number of unchurched or uncommitted people, observes Rev. Russell Sommerfeld, president of the Synod’s Nebraska District. “First of all, the challenge is connecting with many of these people,” he says. While younger
by Roland Lovstad “We envisioned a training center that would partner with the Missouri District, a center that would touch areas of rural and small-town ministry but also assist professional church workers and lay leaders wherever they need assistance in ministry.” That’s how Dr. Ralph Geisler describes the Saint Paul Institute for Education (SPIFE). Geisler,
by Paula Schlueter Ross All six of Rev. Arlo Pullmann’s children–ages 14 to 22–left their home in Laurel, Mont., to attend Saint Paul Lutheran High School, halfway across the country. Pullmann, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church, Laurel, and first vice president of the LCMS Montana District, and his wife, Nanette, attended Saint Paul back
The following article is from the Q&A section of the August 1997 issue of The Lutheran Witness, p. 25. We can find no one who has the answer to this. Why do we say of Christ in the Creed that “on the third day He rose again from the dead”? Why “again”? Christ rose only once
The article on restoring broken relationships (February) is wonderful and timely. Every Lutheran, and every Lutheran congregation, should use this to help reconciliation. We all have those we struggle with in our walk together. Thank you, Ted and Eric. However, I am a bit concerned regarding how the Lord’s Supper was talked about, and how