“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.” ⁠ —2 Corinthians 4:1 Since the fall into sin, work has been marred by frustration and futility. At times, even those who serve in congregations and schools have been disappointed by the lack of apparent fruits from their labor....

Rev. Donald F. Jenkins, age 84, of Edison, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, July 19, 2019 at his home. He was born August 18, 1934 in Maquoketa, Iowa to Stanley and Emelia (Gnade) Jenkins. Donald served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. He...

Teens and adults use social media very differently. Where adults tend to see social media as a place to keep in touch and share funny memes, many teenagers see it as a way to figure out how they fit in the world. The concern is that they’re interacting with kids...

The isolation that comes with being an administrator isn’t a challenge everyone knows about, but it means administrators can’t easily compare ideas and experiences freely with people in similar roles. There’s no sitting with a colleague at lunch or after a long day. It begs the question, who leads the...

My unscientific poll of churches suggests the vast of majority of us—church workers and volunteers alike—consider church meetings more obligation than joy. There are many reasons to blame, but frequently I field concerns over the need to address two issues: volunteer commitment and simplified church governance. You can read more...

William Unzicker III, 72, was called home to glory Wednesday, July 24, 2019 at his residence in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was born August 19, 1946 in Herrin, Illinois to William and Lelle (Baker) Unzicker. Bill was teacher and athletic director at Lutheran School Association in Decatur, Illinois (1983-95) and...

Many of our congregations have seen an increased median age among members and fewer children and youth. Some congregations send youth to the LCMS National Youth Gathering, while others send groups on servant events or to a Higher Things Conference. Other congregations simply do not have enough young people involved...

Just off of Southwest Boulevard, in the shadow of downtown Kansas City, Jesus El Buen Pastor (JEBP) Lutheran Church serves up the love Christ with weekly community dinners, bible study and prayer. Hundreds of people flock to the church each week for the comfort of a home-cooked meal, lovingly prepared...

For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ...If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.—1 Corinthians 12:12, 26The church at Corinth was a church divided against...

As a pastor, you have a lot of responsibility, including sermon preparation, funerals, marriage counseling and leadership—not to mention the financial management and security of the congregation. Although it probably isn’t the highest profile part of your job, keeping a church financially healthy is no easy task. It’s possible that...