12141…

Is it a zip code?  Or password? A combination to a lock?  A clue..  when I say “12141? the students immediately form two lines and have big smiles on their faces.

Continue reading at the Kingdom Worker blog.

Join us in giving thanks for a special Reformation service held in the Sonora area. 148 people gathered together on Sunday, November 9th, at the church el Buen Pastor (The Good Shepherd) in Altar, a small town just two hours south of the Arizona border.

After the service, 78 children attended Sunday School and 50 adults went to an adult Bible class. Then everyone enjoyed a traditional meal of barbacoa (tender barbecued meat), refriend beans and salad.

According to Missionary Ron Baerbock, who serves the Sonora area, the theme of the service focused on the power of the Word and its importance in both the Reformation and in our church work today. A history of the Reformation from the catechism was handed out for reading at home to familiarize new members and visitors with the history of our church.

What a great time! Here are some more pictures from the day:
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Mark 11:24: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”

WELS Ministry of Christian Giving puts together this monthly prayer calendar using requests from people leading WELS efforts around the world.

Mark 11:24: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.”

WELS Ministry of Christian Giving puts together this monthly prayer calendar using requests from people leading WELS efforts around the world.

Some words carry along the baggage that is often associated with them.  The word “merger” paints the picture of a giant company taking over a smaller company and essentially absorbing its identity.  For that reason, it is a word that I hesitate to use when two churches combine.  Perhaps marriage is a more fitting term for a couple of reasons.  No marriage is possible without Christ.  With Christ’s love engaging souls, each puts the other first and the marriage is blessed.  I am grateful to share the story of such a marriage.[slideshow=3]

In 1998, Crown of Life Lutheran Church began as plain words on a white label, “Pueblo West Exploratory.”  Ten miles away, Grace Lutheran Church in Pueblo assisted Crown of Life by sharing members of its established church family with the upstart congregation.  As time went by, Crown of Life grew to become established as a mission congregation while Grace’s growth had them in pursuit of property on which to build a new facility.  Down the road, questions arose in the futures of both congregations.  Crown of Life’s dependence on “Mother WELS” was decreasing, but mom would have to cut the strings eventually.  Grace’s growth was stunted by a small facility on a land-locked parcel, but there wasn’t enough money coming in to fund a building project.  A church needs growth to fund a building and a building to accommodate growth…the all too common “Catch 22” among churches.

Two churches with less than ideal circumstances for their futures were also two families with like-minded goals.  Both shared a common mission to reach the lost with the Gospel.  Read more ›