If you have never witnessed the impact a Christ-centered 12-step program can have on an individual, it is truly a humbling experience. Vicar Adam Meyer got involved serving in a Recovery Ministry at the Austin Stone early in 2016 and was amazed to witness as people began to encounter God
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What can a 4-foot 11-inch septuagenarian do for global Christianity? Plenty. I witnessed the work of Mrs. Carol Buckman during a visit to St. Louis. The Missouri District of the LCMS was showcasing some of its excellent work in urban ministry. One stop was in the heart of a decaying
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Ten new word and sacrament congregations were planted in the Texas District in 2016, bringing the total of new churches started since 2004 to 113. That means one new congregation has been planted in Texas every six weeks for thirteen years! We praise God for His Kingdom work among us
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“After this the Lord…sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place.” (Luke 10:1) In my travels around the Texas District, I have discovered that most of the missionaries have a partner in their ministry. The obvious answer is that the Holy Spirit comes alongside these
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I had lunch with Aaron today. It was great! We talked about faith and church and next steps in learning. We talked about getting involved in a small group study and connecting in worship. We talked about baptism and the fact that his baptism from so many years ago is
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We tendered to land at a small town named Kailua-Kona, located on the “Big Island.” What a beautiful venue. Some may know this community as the start of the annual Ironman World competition. We were not there to participate. In fact, my wife and I simply took a leisurely stroll
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Messiah Lutheran Church in Houston is a smaller congregation (averaging fewer than 100 in worship each week), but one that is seeking to make a big impact in its community. Its most recent effort was a community Christmas sing-along and evening with Santa featuring free horse-drawn carriage rides, children’s activities,
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Answered prayer as well as the beginning of something new and exciting was celebrated Sunday, January 8 at Grace Lutheran Church in Killeen. Over 170 people from the community and churches throughout Circuit 17 came together to celebrate God’s provision and Pastor Gerry Harrow’s installation as the church planter to
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Zion Lutheran Church of Dallas is an example of a congregation that has decided to stay put in the city. When many congregations have moved, either through dislocation of their physical addresses or member residences, Zion has decided to stay and expand. It is a regional congregation with a local
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Is it possible to make mission inroads into the wild, remote and independent communities of West Texas? Through the work of Dr. Margaret Peterson, God is opening doors by opening books. Throughout this year, Margaret has been looking at West Texas communities from a missionary perspective. Through much prayer, the
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