LERT certifies volunteers to FEMA standards, and makes them eligible for access to federal disaster sites. Across Missouri, these trained volunteers are ready to step in when the unthinkable happens. The district’s goal is to have teams in every pocket of Missouri, so LERT volunteers can serve locally, without the...
Lutheran Early Response Teams (LERT) are LCMS volunteers around the country, trained to respond in the wake of natural disasters, such as flooding, earthquakes and tornadoes. Kent Kunkel, a member of the MO LERT team, helped organize volunteers in the immediate aftermath of the tornado. Kunkel has seen many people...
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...
St. Paul is the Christian Church’s preeminent missionary. He traveled extensively throughout Asia Minor and Europe on his missionary journeys as he established congregations and set in place pastors to oversee the spiritual care of the flocks in the various cities. But,he also returned to many of the churches that...
I love you, LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. —Psalm 18:1-2The inscription for Psalm 18 notes that David wrote it after the Lord...
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress my God, in whom I trust.” —Psalm 91:1-2 Basements are quite unusual in certain parts of the country, like Texas and California. But for those of us who...
James Bartok Faith Lutheran Church – Springfield, MO Jeremiah Gensch Child of God Lutheran Church – St. Peters, MO Andrew Lehenbauer St. Paul Lutheran Church – Concordia, MO Alan Mueller Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Immanuel Lutheran Church – Sweet Springs, MO Cory Stallings The Exchange Communities Lutheran Church – Jackson,...
With graduations happening across the world right now, many people are thinking about what the students will become—what majors they’ll pick, what activities they’ll choose, and eventually what jobs will kick-off their futures. However, there’s another often-overlooked angle about what these students will become. They’re going to become alumni. Engaged...
Summer is a unique time for most congregations. While many members are checking out of their routines and going on vacation, seasonal ministries are also ramping up. As many congregations get ready to kick off mission trips, vacation Bible school (VBS) and service projects, they’ll also be seeking more volunteers....