Resources aim to help with `Ablaze!` outreach

New resources are being developed “to help Synod congregations and their schools use friendship-celebration events to support the Ablaze! initiative by helping them be the best welcoming communities they can be,” says Rev. Larry Reinhardt. Reinhardt is director of Outreach and…

Requests for reinstatement

JOE C. FAIRCHILD, Virginia Beach, Va., and RICHARD A. HOWARD, Summit, Ill., have applied for reinstatement to the Minister of Religion-Ordained roster of The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod.  SUSAN L. WILCOX, Seward, Neb., has applied for reinstatement to the Minister of…

New commentary explores Joshua

The latest volume in the “Concordia Commentary” series from Concordia Publishing House is Joshua, by Adolph L. Harstad. This commentary explores the history, culture, archaeology, and theology of the Book of Joshua, focusing on the faithfulness of God and how He…

Items wanted, available

Note:  Reporter cannot accept notices about items offered for sale or that people wish to purchase.  Items described as “Wanted” or “Available” are sought or may be obtained for shipping costs only. Wanted New or used theological books, biblical reference books,…

`Sourcebook` offers stained-glass info

Sourcebook 2005, a publication of the Stained Glass Association of America, is available free to architects, congregations, liturgical consultants, and other professionals active in fields that commission, maintain, or work with stained glass. The Sourcebook features articles about stained glass, selecting…

CPH offers Spanish-English VBS

Emboscada!  El Buen Pastor al Rescate (“Ambush!  The Good Shepherd to the Rescue”) is the new Spanish-English vacation Bible school program from Concordia Publishing House. It is the fourth Spanish bilingual program produced by CPH, and is the only bilingual vacation…

Pressure Points with Dr. Bruce Hartung

As I write this, I am teaching at China Lutheran Seminary in Hsinchu, Taiwan.  After I addressed members of a mission society here the other day, I was asked a thoughtful question.  I thought I’d report the question and also,…

CPH Spring catalog features new Easter, youth products

Products for Easter, children and teens, parents, educators, and pastors are among more than 100 new and previously released items featured in Concordia Publishing House’s New Releases Spring 2005 catalog. New books include: Things I See at Easter, by Julie Stiegemeyer…

Letters to the Editor

A view from Russia My Russian-born wife and I read with great interest and rejoicing the article in the January Reporter about the proposed LCMS Life Ministries project in Russia.  I thought it might interest you and your readers to know…

Seminaries release Lenten devotions

Some 40 students from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, contributed to this year’s 2005 Joint Seminary Devotional, which was released Ash Wednesday, Feb. 9. The devotional contains a listing of Scripture readings for each day of…

Holding babies is part of this pro-life Bible study

By Paula Schlueter Ross Want to show teenagers how precious God’s gift of life really is?  Let them hold babies! That’s the view of Becky Ferber, whose sanctity-of-life Bible study for seventh- and eighth-graders is now in its 10th year at Immanuel…

`Log Home` video includes cabins at Saxon Memorial

Log cabins of Saxon immigrants who helped form the Missouri Synod in 1847 are expected to be part of “Back to the Blueprint: Log Home” — a new video documentary about the American log cabin scheduled for airing at 1…

Thrivent announces personnel changes

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has announced a number of changes in its executive-management team. “The changes reflect Thrivent Financial’s planned three-year transition from an organization led by dual chief executives … to a single chief executive,” said a Thrivent news release. “The…

Singles to gather at Concordia, River Forest

“Encourage One Another” is the theme for the 18th International Lutheran Single Adult conference, to be held June 30-July 3 at Concordia University, River Forest, Ill. The event is held annually to provide opportunities for fellowship, learning, outreach, worship, and service…

Navy chaplain dies on ship duty

Missouri Synod Navy Chaplain Ed Jack died of a heart attack Jan. 29 while serving aboard the U.S.S. Bonhomme Richard in the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf.  Jack, 51, a lieutenant commander in the Navy, served as chaplain for the…

Conference to focus on international students

International Student Ministry Inc. (ISM), an LCMS mission society, is sponsoring an “enabling and equipping” conference May 26-29 at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The conference is designed for those who reach out to international students on U.S. college campuses, and…