by Paula Schlueter Ross Anita Olvera’s passion for her ‘family’ opens doors—and hearts Anita Olvera still has trouble thinking of what she does as “evangelism.” As the self-described “social-ministries person” at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Fresno, Calif., Olvera took the congregation’s “adopt a family at Christmas” ministry to a new level when she suggested “adopting”
A growing number of congregations see a need for outreach help, and “The 72–Partners on the Road” are ready to lend a hand.
Jonah wasn’t keen on sharing his faith with the Ninevites, but just as God called Jonah to bring His Word to those people, so also He calls us to share our faith today.
Imagine: Confirmation classes so enjoyable that young people invite their friends. New York youth events build relationships with Jesus & community among young people.
From California, Montana, Georgia, and across the globe, a collection of faith-sharing stories with one common thread–outreach.
LCMS partners bring care, hope, and Good News to the Dominican Republic, a country with one of the fastest economic growth rates in this hemisphere.
You have in your hands a very special issue of The Lutheran Witness. Its focus is on people and institutions of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to a world that needs so very much to hear God’s Good News.
We all enjoy receiving cards and letters at Christmas. Whether from family far away or friends across town, they remind us of the relationships with which we have been blessed. Often, even in this aggressively secular age, those same cards and letters remind us of the great gift our heavenly Father gave us that first Christmas long ago in Bethlehem.
The December Letter to the Editor (below) titled “Wake Up Call” was so sad to see. The confilct between the beliefs of the Masons and LCMS are clear. What is also clear is Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 18:15-17. Has this man been privately apporached to discuss the conflict between the Masons and LCMS? Do we
by Rev. Ronald E. Nelson Mision Gracia (Grace Mission), East Moline, Ill., is a ministry of the Central Illinois District, partially funded by gifts to Fan into Flame. District Missionary-at-Large Pablo Dominguez directs the ministry. Currently serving the Quad Cities community from a 1,000-square-foot, three-room storefront, the mission is seeking a larger, permanent facility. About
by Rev. Terence Groth “Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother’s house we go.” This poem and song, whose “dapple gray” originally pulled his sleigh-riders through “the white and drifted snow” to Thanksgiving dinner, also has versions where the object of the journey was the pumpkin pie and pudding of Christmas Day. Every
by Theresa M. Shaltanis, M.A., L.P.C. I have a long and complicated medical history. I could have yet another surgery, but I may end up worse than I am now, or even die during the operation. I would rather go on like this than risk dying and not seeing my children grow up. My husband