by Rev. Dr. Dale Sattgast Tend the flock of God that is in your charge (1 Peter 5:2a). Recently, every congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod was supposed to return its annual statistical report. Most often, the pastor takes the responsibility for making certain that specific information is gathered and the report is sent. The

After raising $66.6 million, the Synod’s appeal to support witness work around the world is ending.

by Ed and Ruthie Szeto October Baby is a touching movie about a young woman who, upon learning that she was adopted after a failed abortion attempt, embarks on a journey to find her birth mother. The movie’s tagline, “Every life is beautiful,” plays off of Psalm 139: “For You formed my inward parts; You

Once-fertile mission fields around the world now make up the LCMS’ 33 partner church bodies.

Society tells us that we have to work for what we want in life. Christ tells us that it is all ours, freely, on account of Him. by Rev. Barry Long “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:33). When I was

Thanks to Rev. Larry Vogel (January 2012) for addressing a difficult subject that bothers many (if not all) of us as we struggle to make sense out of disasters. I will recommend this article to many who are tempted by the devil to question God and His goodness in the wake of disasters in their

Iwas interested in the article written by the Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Joersz especially due to a recent experience as a young couple left a casino. My wife and I had some friends who wanted to see the inside of a casino, so we stayed inside the car outside and waited for them. As we

We were so pleased to see the article on Rev. Josh Lowe in the latest Lutheran Witness. The article captured Josh perfectly! I always read your magazine cover to cover and then share it with a friend. Thanks for your continuing good work. Carol Ann Sander Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to

by Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Joersz  Q: Do the Lutheran churches have an opinion concerning the Masonic Lodge and other similar organizations? A: Lutheran churches in the United States in varying degrees and at various points in their history have taken positions opposing lodge membership (particularly the Masonic Lodge), although some have relaxed or even removed their

by Rev. Dr. Greg Wismar Many events in the worship life of every congregation happen on a regular basis. Each year, it can be expected that Christmas, Easter, Pentecost and the other major festivals will be celebrated as they occur on the annual Church Year calendar. The weeks from the First Sunday in Advent to