When Redeemer Lutheran in Austin opened its new 15,000-square-foot cafetorium late last year, it was just the latest physical manifestation of a grand spiritual vision. Redeemer’s church and school for
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The shrink-wrap never used to come off the book. Like many, perhaps most, pastors, busy with the demands of congregational ministry, early in my ministry I felt no particular need
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In the southwest corner of the Texas District, the towns of Kermit, Monahans, Fort Stockton, and Alpine are served by one pastor. His name is Pastor Mike Fickenscher. Pastor Fickenscher
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I heard from my dear friends recently about life in a remote village in West Africa. I’ll keep the details confidential so I don’t endanger anyone’s life. The village is
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Martin Luther began his 95 Theses by stating: “When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ‘Repent’ (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of
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A few years ago, during a fourth-of-July sermon, a pastor asked the congregation we were visiting, “What would your slogan for America be?” My daughter, being a dog enthusiast, leaned
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“For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” Rom. 7:7B I feel the need to say, from
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When local churches determine to serve their surrounding communities, it’s not always clear whether their efforts are truly making a difference. So they continue to extend themselves in love, uplifted
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Did you know that Texas District reflects a new church demographic for the twenty-first century? While general statistics in the LCMS show a declining, aging, mono-cultural church body, God’s mission
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After His death and resurrection, Jesus told his disciples: “Go and share the blessing given to Abraham. Don’t keep it to yourselves. It’s time to extend the Message everywhere and
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