A little over three weeks ago, Hurricane Laura hit the Texas/Louisiana coast, leaving behind it a path of destruction. With its powerful winds, families from both states were displaced, and communities remain without power, sewer and water. The Sermon on the Mount lays out what ethical and daily living should
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The president of the German Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio and Other States stepped to the microphone for his opening convention address in 1917. World War I raged. The globe was on the brink of a flu pandemic that would claim 50 million lives. Rev. Dr. Friedrich Pfotenhauer needed
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The past 60 years have been unprecedented for cultural, political and even ecclesiastical stability to the point of being predictable, if not boring. But there were assumptions over those same years about church life that became less and less applicable as time went on. The church was the center of
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In these days of restricted travel and social distancing, scenes like the one depicted here have become commonplace for many of us. In this case, the participants in the Brady-bunch-style screen are Texas District staff people and a group of FABULOUS new professional church workers in the district over the
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In 1937, Rev. E. Eckhardt, the editor of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Statistical Yearbook, looked back at the scattering forces that gripped the nation and the church in the early 1900s. Commenting on the statistics recorded for 1918, he said, “As a result of the flu marriages decreased to the
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My tenure in Texas has given me the opportunity to listen to many pastors, particularly those who lead small congregations in small and remote communities. What I have observed is that pastors who have learned to adapt have a few things in common: • They love the Word; • They
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Have you been hearing predictions about what life will be like after COVID-19? Some church analysts are voicing grave concerns about church workers and congregations. They forecast a “crash” in congregational sustainability and in the mental health of church workers. Similar commentaries are forecasting a less prosperous, fulfilling and stable
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“It will be okay.” That will not cut it. As an urban missiologist, I have been following our nation’s politics and civil unrest with sadness and wonder as to how, I, as a Christian, can present a fitting witness to the grace and mercy of our Lord. What words do
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“The riot was a spontaneous overflow of pent-up aggressions.” That quote is not from a news report regarding the protests resulting from George Floyd’s tragic and senseless death in Minneapolis. It is not from a reaction to the Ahmaud Arbery killing in Georgia. It is not a report of events
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Many missionary colleagues and I have asked about measuring success in mission. In a desire to be accountable to the church through which the Lord has called us to ministry, we measure the fruit of our activities in numbers. This may give the impression that is “bigger is better and
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