
Confessions of a Timid Evangelist
There were more than a few occasions . . . when I would stand on the steps of a home . . . and secretly, quietly hope no one would be home, or that no one would answer the door.

There were more than a few occasions . . . when I would stand on the steps of a home . . . and secretly, quietly hope no one would be home, or that no one would answer the door.

Outreach tools, resources and idea starters . . . to help you share the hope of our faith LCMS districts, ministries, congregations, partners, and individuals offer an array of tools to help us share the Good News of Jesus Christ in our homes, neighborhoods, and nation. Here are a few resources selected by Rev. Scott

by Terence Groth Some readers will remember the 1966 film The Russians Are Coming! The Russians Are Coming! In this comedy of the Cold War, a Russian submarine accidentally runs aground near a small New England town. Crewmembers come ashore to get help. The reaction of the townsfolk is surprise and fear. They are afraid

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.

M is for the Miraculous gift God gave to mankind. E is for the Everlasting life He left behind. R is for the Richest love He gave to you and me. R is for the Redemption He blessed us with. Y is for the Yearning to meet Him in paradise. C is

Our congregation is conducting its annual stewardship drive. In the past my husband and I have given generously, but because of serious concerns about the direction the church and school are taking, we no longer feel we can support them. We have shared our concerns with several elders but nothing changes. Most of our offerings

I was in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany, in September serving with the Wittenberg English Ministry. I question Pastor Torgerson when he says it will be wonderful when someone can say, “There is a Lutheran church here” (Lutheran Witness, October 2007). There is a strong Lutheran presence in Wittenberg now. The congregations of St. Mary’s (the Stadtkircke)
Thinking about Christmas and Christmas gifts, the love with which they are purchased and exchanged, and the sacrifice that often is involved reminds us that these same factors are descriptive also of the greatest gift of all.

A number of LCMS congregations, schools, and youth groups are using the film “The Nativity Story” as a community outreach tool. If this pertains to you, you may want to use the Dec. 2006 Lutheran Witness story on this movie as a helpful discussion guide.

I was astounded to read in the October 2007 lead article, page 7: “Luther lived in a world with very few ‘evangelism opportunities’ of the sort we in the 21st century have. He met, at most, a couple dozen unbaptized people in his entire life.” This exposes the notion that my baptism seals my salvation

The letter to the Editor in the August issue of The Lutheran Witness, by Jack Pierce, is very informative and well written. Mr. Pierce’s letter was in reference to the article in the May issue of The Lutheran Witness, “Is God Green?” by Rev. Matthew Nelson. I highly commend Mr. Pierce for his letter. It