When Rev. John Perling first traveled to Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Robert, MO, he was working on his Ph.D. at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. He was not seeking a Call at the congregation. However, as he continued to preach there as part of the seminary’s Pulpit Supply,...
Ten years ago, things were very different at St. Trinity Lutheran Church. With about 35 members, it had come down to a vote of whether to close the congregation. The vote tied. Fast forward a decade, and you’ll find a vibrant congregation of approximately 70 members always looking for ways...
“The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” —Luke 10:2 Many congregations will be praying, watching and waiting, as our seminaries hold call services for our new pastors this week. Whether you or your...
This past February, 65 people from 20 congregations and mission stations gathered in Springfield to discuss mission opportunities in the region through ministry partnerships. They represented rural and city, small and large churches, pastors and laity, all putting their hands together in prayer seeking ways to engage their communities. The...
Pray for Bourbon! Do I have your attention? I’m not talking about “spirits” you can bottle, but the Spirit at work among the saints in the small town of Bourbon, Missouri, population 1601. About an hour southwest of St. Louis, I-44 zooms past their quaint community where Concordia Lutheran Church...
My “10:02 Prayers” this week have been for the Holy Spirit to stir up surprises in new mission initiatives among our congregations. In fact, I’m challenging all of us to use the month of February to pray daily at 10:02 (mindful Jesus’ call to prayer in Luke 10:02) for new...
Thanksgiving kicks off a great migration. This one holiday will generate a movement of over 54 million travelers for holiday gatherings. As Christmas nears, more and more will be added to their numbers. While we lament over the vanity overtaking the season, more people are led to take a step...
Our cell phones chime and buzz with many daily alerts. We have reminders from our friends and family, our calendar, current events, traffic, weather and news. In Luke 10:02, Jesus makes a big announcement. It’s a mission alert and a call to prayer: “The harvest is plentiful, but the...
During hardship, feeling alone can be the tipping point that pushes someone from hope to despair. Ken Oziah knows this firsthand from his experience with kidney disease. While kidney disease comes serious medical complications, it can also wreak havoc on daily life, careers and cherished relationships. Ken Oziah’s harowing experience...