During the early hours of Sunday, June 30, a fire broke out and killed Steve Witte and five of his family members. Witte, the team leader for WELS’ Asia One Team and president emeritus of Asia Lutheran Seminary, was home on furlough from Thailand and gathering with his family at a vacation rental home. The others who also lost their lives were his daughters Lydia Witte and Charis Kuehl, as well as granddaughters Stella Kuehl, Lena Henselin, and Merci Henselin. A number of other family members survived. As WELS President Mark Schroeder noted in his special message to members on July 1, “The pa ..read more

Each of WELS’ 12 districts met in convention this June, discussing local ministry topics and weighing in on synodical matters as well. “District conventions are a good opportunity for grassroots review of what the various entities of the synod have done, are doing, and are planning to do,” says WELS President Mark Schroeder. “Since every pastor, male called worker, and congregation is represented, it is a way for called workers and congregations to provide guidance and reaction to the synod’s work.” Jon Buchholz, pastor at Emmanuel, Tempe, Ariz., wishes Joel Heckendorf well as he assumes the ..read more

  Abby Skorenkyi had no idea when she met Kostia at her high school graduation that they would someday be married, much less that she would be able to use her art to tell the story of his family’s flight from the Russo-Ukrainian War. “It feels like it’s my duty to capture their story in the most beautiful way I can,” Abby said when her senior capstone showcase at Bethany Lutheran College, Mankato, Minn., was featured on the local news. Abby Skorenkyi working on one of her paintings. Abby believes that art has the power to tell stories and share truth on a level that words can’t always ac ..read more

To see Martin Luther College’s graduates, visit forwardinchrist.net/2024-mlc-graduates. Volume 111, Number 7 Issue: July 2024   ..read more

  To see Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary graduates, visit forwardinchrist.net/2024-wls-grads. Volume 111, Number 7 Issue: July 2024 ..read more

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28,29). Are you tired? Probably. Perhaps the rigors of daily life, worries about the future, or a grueling schedule are wearing you out. Maybe you’re tired from carrying burdens such as physical pain, emotional ache, or the guilt of past sins. When you are tired and worn out, you need a break. You need some rest. Looking for rest from your burdens In Matthew chapter 11, Jesus offers that rest ..read more

From Ukraine to the United States, God watches over his children through good and bad times. Fifteen-odd years ago, a little boy in Ukraine stood confidently in front of a room filled with people and began to recite a poem by Taras Shevchenko. He knew his lines. He knew his voice. He didn’t know that his voice would take him to the United States to share the gospel as a pastor. He didn’t know his hometown would be ravaged by war after he was gone. He didn’t know his future wife would capture the likeness of each of his family members to tell the story of God’s grace in their lives, that she wo ..read more

What does it mean to be called into the public ministry? How do you deliberate a call? Ministry is a word that means “service.” What is the service we are to perform? Christ gives us our mission Jesus told his followers in Acts 1:8, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem . . . and to the ends of the earth.” In Mark 16:15, Jesus says, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” The service and mission that Jesus has called us to carry out is to preach the gospel! This is called the “Office of the Ministry.” Office comes from two Latin words: opus facere. Literally, it is “the ..read more

The 2023 synod convention adopted an ambitious plan with the stated goal of opening one hundred new home missions in the next ten years. That effort began last year when the Board for Home Missions approved the opening of ten new missions in various locations around the country. When the effort was under consideration, two challenges needed to be overcome: money and manpower. The questions were important and legitimate. Will we have the funds to open that many new congregations and provide the needed synodical support until they become self-supporting? And, how will we have enough pastors whe ..read more

I had almost as much trouble deciding what to write to introduce this topic as actually talking about it with my kids. I guess that’s why I appreciate what the authors shared. It’s comforting to know that talking about sex is a struggle for most parents and to be reminded that just because it’s difficult doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t do it. Nicole Balza I do three things that make my kids cringe: I share my music. They just can’t handle that their dad’s music is better than theirs. I try to let them know it’s not their fault. I text certain acronyms. They may be right on this one. I once t ..read more