
About Joy
President Matthew C. Harrison looks at the topic of joy in the life of the Christian, reminding us that our ultimate cause for rejoicing comes from Christ Himself.

President Matthew C. Harrison looks at the topic of joy in the life of the Christian, reminding us that our ultimate cause for rejoicing comes from Christ Himself.

by Rev. Matthew Zickler Upon His resurrection, Christ appeared to His disciples and sent them with a particular, unique sending, making them apostles. However, as He did this, He also instituted the apostolic office that we still recognize in the Office of the Holy Ministry (see John 20:1923; Matt. 28:1620; Mark 16:1416; Luke 24:4649). Under

Unpack Lutheran education and the philosophy from which it stems, focusing on the joy of residential seminary education, instructing Christ’s little ones and teaching the faith in the home.

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.

Learn how your donations to Lutheran Malaria Initiative have saved lives and changed communities.

Families who experience disasters often find it hard to recover from them. How can traumatic events bring parents and children closer to God? by Rev. Dr. Rick Armstrong Throughout our lives, we have read or watched the events and aftermath of numerous storms, floods, tsunamis and disasters that have affected nations, communities, families and individuals.

by Rev. Dr. Jerald C. Joersz Q: How do you respond to people who maintain that all sin is the same, thereby saying the sins of Hitler were no worse than a child taking a cookie from the cookie jar when he or she is not supposed to do so? A: The answer to your

by Rev. Dr. Greg Wismar The month of January brings a new start in many ways. New calendars are put up on walls. New pages begin datebooks and monthly planners. In short, personal decisions on how time should be spent are reconsidered at this time of new beginnings. Where and how are we going to

by Rev. Matthew Zickler With the start of the New Year, we celebrate the season of Epiphany. Epiphany comes from the Greek word epiphaneia, which is an appearing or appearance and, according to Danker’s Greek-English lexicon, can relate to “a visible and sudden manifestation of a hidden divinity.” An epiphany occurs “in the form of a

by Melanie Ave The Rev. Jeffrey Kuddes is a Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) pastor of nearly 20 years who has developed an ongoing love for the people of Madagascar, a country 10,000 miles from his southeast Minnesota home. Kuddes currently serves a dual-parish, Trinity Evangelical Lutheran in Waltham, Minn., and St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran in