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TEXAS MESSENGER

TEXAS SEPTEMBER 2020 / 1

From the president

By Rev. Michael NewmanPresident, LCMS Texas Districttxlcms.org • mnewman.org

In 1937, Rev. E. Eckhardt, editor of the LCMS

Statistical Year-book, looked back at the scattering forces that gripped the na-tion and the church in the early 1900s. Commenting on the statistics recorded for 1918, he said, “As a result of the flu marriag-es decreased to the extent of 4,169, and burials increased to 3,333.”It was the Spanish Flu that cut marriages in the LCMS by more than 30 percent in one year and increased deaths by more than 25 percent. It took two years for the LCMS to recoup its losses from the ravages of the deadly pandemic.In 1919 LCMS baptized member-ship decreased for the first time since the Synod began nearly 75 years earlier. Rev. Eckhardt said: “A decrease of 4,027 souls was caused by the drafting of thousands of our boys for the Army.”The Great War, World War I, caused tragic loss of life and un-speakable heartbreak for families.

After enumerating additional cul-tural shifts that pressed against the church, Eckhardt concluded his comments in a surprising way. He said: “On the other hand, the number of adults baptized and con-firmed is rising from year to year.”On the other hand! By the 1940s, nearly 190,000 new adults con-fessed their faith in Jesus Christ for the very first time at Lutheran altars. Rev. Eckhardt took note of a very important truth: No mat-ter what uncertainty, upheaval or unexpected obstacles may appear, the church of our risen Lord Jesus Christ is always able to declare, “On the other hand!”Why? Because the Gospel will prevail forever! Jesus said to His disciples after He warned them about being scattered before His crucifixion:

“ In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33

In other words, Jesus said, “On the other hand!” Trials will rage. Troubles will bring excruciating challenge. But Jesus has overcome those destructive, demoralizing and frustrating forces. The move-

ment of the Gospel of Christ cruci-fied and risen will not be thwarted.You may feel fatigued and disori-ented today. Our culture is anxious and divided. Churches are literally scattered into homes and neigh-borhoods because of COVID-19. On the Other Hand, the Gospel is making its way into more hearts than ever before. Neighbors are reaching neighbors. Online con-nections are multiplying. God is teaching us new ways to share and steward His saving Good News.May we look back one day, just as Rev. Eckhardt did, and see how our faithful God multiplied His Kingdom even in the midst of uncertainty and change. As the woes of this broken world cascade, may we, by faith and through God’s grace, declare together, On the Other Hand!

Questions for reflection:What new pathways for Gospel sharing do you see personally and through your church?

How has Jesus overcome the chal-lenges we are facing in the world today?

Prayer starter: Thank God for a specific Scripture passage that gives you hope and courage. Ask Him to open a door for you to share that verse with someone in your life.

On the other hand…

2 / TEXAS

TEXAS PARTNERS IN MISSION

SUPPORl •

Mission Work 1 ..... . • Your donation makes it possible for mission work like Mosaic

Mission Network's ASAP (After School Achievement Program)

to bring the Gospel to people who don't know Jesus Christ.

Every dollar given to Texas Partners in Mission goes to the

Texas District mission work and missionaries.

r ..... You can help support

I the Mosaic Mission --------GIME NOW! ! Network today ...

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Want to make your donation go further? Check out the TEXAS DISTRICT CEF TEXAS TWO-STEP. Increase Your Investment. Double Your Donation.* For more information visit texascef.org/texastwostep. *Minimum $5,000 investment required.

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MOSAIC MISSION NETWORK'S ASAP (After School Achievement Program) is an outreach initiative partnering with low-income apartment communities to

provide children with after school programming. In January 2020 ASAP was connecting with

approximately 20-30 school-aged children and their families on a weekly basis.

Your mission focus and self-sacrificial generosity are helping to share the Gospel of Jesus

Christ with more than 9,000 people each week through more than 100 missionaries in the

Texas District. Join us as we continue to follow Christ's call to ...

"Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." - Mark 16: 15

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 3

MISSIONS

The past 60 years have been unprece-

dented for cultural, political and even ecclesiastical stability to the point of being predictable, if not boring. But there were assumptions over those same years about church life that became less and less applica-ble as time went on. The church was the center of the community at one time, but now it is not. Church attendance was expected and robust but has now declined precipitously as options for travel, sports and leisure activi-ty present themselves. The cultural milieu changed before our very eyes and many of us did not see it or even care to acknowledge it. As a result, in many congregations the pastor became the agent of change for the sake of the mis-sion. Industries were created and schools were developed, and movements formed to develop and embolden the pastor to establish “appropriate” missional strategic shifts. “Change Agent for the Sake of Mission” would be his unwritten job description until March 2020 and the introduction of COVID-19 to the world. For a dramatic shift to occur, for congregations to look at their communities through the lens and the force of Scripture, it would take a traumatic event of global impact. A trauma not unlike one 2,000 years ago. I think Bible editors have mis-named the Great Commission as though Jesus said, “Oh, one more

thing before I go.” A quick survey of the Gospels reveals that at least six times, not including Matthew 28, Jesus sent His disciples. He Himself went. He prayed for His disciples not only that they would go, but He prayed for them because of what would happen when they did go. (They would be persecut-ed, and the Gospel would be pro-claimed, resulting in the footprint of faith increasing in places His people never thought the Gospel would go.) He would promise to send them the Comforter as they went because this would be a di-vine calling out of a divine strategy. Going with the Gospel is a ubiqui-tous command for His church and second nature to our confession.In Acts 1:8, Jesus says:

“ You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Did the church go? Not until Acts 8. Until then, going was, perhaps, inconvenient. They were content staying in the place where they

were most comfortable — Jeru-salem. In spite of all the previous encouragement, demonstrations, commands and prayers of Jesus, the church remained in Jerusalem. They liked the status quo, not un-like our recent past. It was not until Stephen was martyred and “Saul approved of his execution” (Acts 8:1) that the church was scattered. It was terrible stuff that was hap-pening, including death. But now, going was expedient. That is exactly what happened in Acts 8:4 and more. “Now those who were scattered went about preach-ing the word.” Things were chang-ing in a way they never expected. They were sent and went with and delivered a fabulous message in places and in ways they never dreamed! They were in foreign ter-ritory, preaching good news. These days the church is going to places of which they also never dreamed. There are people watch-ing online that the church could not previously reach. Because of

A strategy of inconvenienceBy Rev. Steve MischMission Strategist, Area A

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4 / TEXAS

By Rev. Dr. Jerry KieschnickChief Executive Officer

▶ legacydeo.org▶ info@legacydeo.org▶ 800-880-3733▶ 7900 East Highway 290

Austin, TX 78724-2499

hen coro-navirus

arrived on the scene earlier this year, routines and behaviors for many people changed … dramatically.▶ After schools closed, parents had

to become more involved in their child’s education.

▶ Teachers had to help their stu-dents master the art of distance learning.

▶ Many people worked from home. Virtual meetings were routinely held online.

▶ Zoom became a household word. Its stock skyrocketed, more than tripling in value.

▶ People who were accustomed to eating at restaurants cooked and ate at home.

▶ Grocery delivery grew more popular.

▶ Demand for hygiene, cleaning and other staple products soared.

▶ Lines formed outside grocery stores. Six feet of social distanc-ing became the norm.

▶ Face masks became a require-ment. Women could get by with no lipstick.

▶ Demand for bicycles and bicycle equipment such as tires caused delays in supply.

▶ People grew fearful for their own health and the health of loved ones.

▶ Employees worried about job se-curity. Employers worried about their employees.

▶ Business owners worried about the survival of their business.

▶ Churches and church leaders thought and acted creatively.

▶ Attending online worship be-came routine.

▶ Offerings held steady in some congregations but dropped in others.

▶ Air traffic plummeted. Airlines laid off thousands of employees.

▶ Highways were no longer park-ing lots, at least for awhile.

▶ Travel plans were canceled. Va-cations were postponed.

You get the picture, and could readily add other trends resulting from COVID-19. One benefit for many people was unexpected extra

LEGACY DEO

stay-at-home time, allowing for attention to “to-do” lists. Homes were cleaned and painted, and oth-er procrastinated chores were com-pleted. Deferred maintenance was accomplished. Books were read. Movies and TV shows were binge watched.“When Will It End?” is constantly being asked. We don’t know when the depressing conditions caused by COVID-19 will end, nor, for that matter, when our lives here on earth will end. For many, concern about the life-and-death nature of the virus cat-alyzed careful thinking, planning and acting. Last wills and testa-ments have been written. Lists of personal possessions and assets have been compiled and funeral plans have been made.In the event you have not yet taken care of the matters noted in the previous paragraph, now is the time to start. Contact Legacy Deo or go to our website for helpful materials. You and your loved ones will be glad you did.

HAPPENINGS

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 5

WEATHERFORDWith much joy, Trinity Lutheran Church held confirmation on June 7. Confir-mands pictured with Rev. Tim Fraker are, from left, Sierra Tucker, Hayden Baldwin, Gage Cooley, Bethany Kokel, Riley Kokel, Jacob Millet, Carrera Zwieg and Lucas Maschmeier.

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On June 28 at Trinity, from top, Preston Villalovoz, Bradley Bozeman and Colby Nedd read their confirma-tion essays in front of the congrega-tion and then received the Rite of Confirmation by Rev. Ken Bersche. May God continue His blessings on each one of these confirmands.

Trinity members gave out hamburg-ers for supper on May 6 and hot dogs for lunch on July 2. The events were held in the Trinity parking lot, and they ended when all the food was gone. Thrivent Financial provided funding for the community outreach.

6 / TEXAS

HAPPENINGS

BRADYOn June 28 at Mount Calvary, Teryn Moerbe and his sister, Maddie Moerbe, were confirmed. They are shown with their pastor, Rev. Lynn Lubke.

SAN ANTONIOCousins Antonio Ramirez and Mark Ramirez were confirmed at Holy Cross on Pentecost, May 31. They are pictured with Rev. Elder McCants.

BAYTOWNOn June 7, Redeemer Lutheran Church celebrated a blessed Holy Trinity Sunday with baptisms for three siblings and confirmation for three youth.

Top: Baptized into the Lord’s family were Luke, Liam and Natalie, children of Dylan and Shelby Hoel and great-grandchildren of members Frank and Peggy Gibson. Shown are, from left, Frank and Peggy Gib-son (grandparents, with Luke), Dylan Hoel (father, holding Liam), Shelby Hoel (mother, holding Natalie), Autumn Harris Reyna, Victoria Molina (baptismal wit-ness), Bret Miller (baptismal witness) and Jose Reyna (Autumn’s husband).

Right: Confirmed by Rev. Paul Neumann were, from left, Madeline Turner, Emily George and Nathanael Bingham.

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 7

HAPPENINGS

SAN ANTONIOIn June, Mount Calvary held a food drive and collected 326 pounds of food for the San Antonio Food Pantry. The con-gregation exceeded its goal of 300 pounds. San Antonio made national news in early March as more than 6,000 cars were lined up to receive food. So this was a continued need in June. Shown are, from left, Rosalee Elbert, Zoey Goodman, Jessica Elbert, Ada Elbert, Dr. Toby Elbert (elder), Mac Elbert and Zeke Goodman.

HASLETDeaconess Elizabeth Koester was commissioned and in-stalled at Holy Shepherd on July 12. Pictured are, from left, Deaconess Michelle Domin, Deaconess Pamela Buhler, Koester and Rev. Christopher Bramich.

ODEM (WEST SINTONOn May 31, Trinity welcomed John and Gwen Koliba as new members. They are are pictured with Rev. Kevin Jennings, vacancy pastor.

DUMASGod truly blessed St. John’s with three bap-tisms on July 19. Shown with Rev. Troy Scroggins are, from left, Padin Carlile and his cousins, siblings Cameron Carlile and Abbie Carlile.

8 / TEXAS

HAPPENINGS

Faith honors students with ‘safe’ parade

On May 16, faculty and staff of Faith Lutheran School of

Plano hosted a parking-lot parade for students and their families to celebrate the end of the school year. Teachers greeted families from a safe dis-tance with waves, cheers and smiles. Eighth-grade students and high-school seniors were recognized with “Pomp and Circum-stance,” played by a teach-er kazoo choir, and the students were also named on signs in the parade’s honors section. “We are so thankful for our wonderful, supportive school families,” said Rev. Stephen W. Kieser, Faith school headmaster. “This school year has offered unique opportunities and unforgettable challenges.“Hosting this parade allowed us to demonstrate to our families how much we appreciate their sup-port and to show them how much they mean to us.”

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 9

HAPPENINGS

Ready for their first online church service at home are, from left, Isdell Birnbaum Sr., who is 97, and Gus Kroos. The empty “pew” in the middle is for Cheryl, Gus’ wife and Isdell’s daughter, who took the picture. The Kroos are members of Grace, and Isdell is a member of St. Matthew’s, Spring, but has been staying with the Kroos since the pandemic began. Grace pastor Rev. Keith Aschenbeck and staff have worked very hard to get services live on Facebook, and are considering including worship online every Sunday as a mission outreach.

VICTORIA

AUSTIN This is what Bible study looks like for Beautiful Savior on Sunday mornings while everyone is at home.

SAN ANTONIOHouston Russell, 13, a member of Mount Calvary who was born with autism spec-trum disorder, loves to watch church services online every week.

LIBERTY HILLNorah is shown here worshiping at home with her family. On the screen is Rev. Dr. Mike Coppersmith, Mission Liberty Hill Lutheran Church vacancy pastor.

the new and vibrant online presence, worship services and Bible studies are being attend-ed by people from a few blocks away to a few nations away. Vacation Bible schools are being resourced and supported local-ly, and having global impact. Reports include more people lis-tening to Law-Gospel sermons by fabulous preachers from both small and large congregations than ever attended a worship service in person. Families that have not been in church for years have been attending to-gether at home. What some might sarcastically call a virtual church presence is actually accompanied by a message that is not virtual, but rather so real that it offers real life, real hope, real peace, real promise and real forgiveness. For the moment, the world to which we go, no matter how, is not stagnant or boring. As difficult and challenging as this is, this may be the moment of God’s strategy in our inconve-nience.

MISSIONS (CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3)

10 / TEXAS

TIES THAT BIND

Congrats!

These Lutheran friends of yours celebrated or will celebrate wedding anniversaries of 50 years or more.

Serbin, St. Paul Milton and Geraldine Albrecht 51 years, April 26Marvin and Eleanor Berger 65 years, June 26Allen and Mildred Perry 54 years, July 2Bobby and Carolyn Oltmann 57 years, July 6Rev. Paul and Cydell Hartfield 59 years, July 15Marvin and Ruth Lorenz 69 years, July 22James and Janet Oltmann 53 years, July 22Daniel and Ruby Schulze 57 years, July 27Herbert and Frances Roeber 64 years, July 28Wilbert and Carol Jean Noack 51 years, Aug. 2

Manheim, Ebenezer Glenn and Joy Iselt 51 years, Sept. 6

Whitney, Our Savior Frank and Jerrie Schumacher 54 years, Sept. 17Pete and Martha Rousseau 54 years, Oct. 3

Houston, Gethsemene Roy and Sharon Albe 63 years, Sept. 21

Austin, St. Paul Clarence and Lillie Winter 63 years, June 22

Klein, Trinity Ben and Betty Frank 65 years, Sept. 2David and Millie Martin 53 years, Sept. 1Neville and Yvonne Symons 50 years, Sept. 5

Lamesa, Grace Wilbur and Evelyn Heins 68 years, Aug. 10

Austin, Redeemer Frank and Judy Arldt 57 years, May 18

Richard and Doris Lucio, members of Christ, Fort Worth, will celebrate 60 years of marriage on Oct. 8.

Frank and Mary Strouhal, members of Trinity, Klein, will celebrate 65 years of marriage on Sept. 21.

John and Wanda Puffer, members of Living Savior, Montgomery celebrated 60 years of marriage on Aug. 26.

Bob and Glenda Hevle, members of Trinity, Klein, will celebrate 57 years of marriage on Sept. 14.

Jack and Marian Wiederhold, members of St. Paul, Serbin, celebrated 50 years of marrriage on Aug. 23.

Bob and Sharon Dey, members of Ascension, Cleburne, celebrated 50 years of marriage on April 25.

Randy and Joan Konkel, members of Messiah, Plano, celebrated 50 years of marriage on July 11.

Jerry and Jane Baedke, members of Messiah, Plano, will celebrate 50 years of marriage on Sept. 11.

Austin, Redeemer Frank and Judy Arldt 57 years, May 18

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 11

HAPPENINGS

Share your news with us!

Send photos, stories and newsletters for The Lutheran Witness to:▶ txmess@txlcms.org▶ Texas Messenger

LCMS Texas District 7900 E. Highway 290 Austin, TX 78724-2499

Please be sure all pho-tos sent electronically are in color and 300 dpi (high resolution). Texas Messenger is available online at txlcms.org.

Rev. Jack and Carolyn Schneider, members of Light of the World, Fort Worth, will celebrate 50 years of marriage on Aug. 22.

Martin and Florine Werchan, members of St. Paul, Serbin, celebrated 50 years of marriage on July 4.

Mike and Margaret Root, members of St. John, Beaumont, celebrated 50 years of marriage on June 27.

Jon and Janet Thornburg, members of Messiah, Plano, celebrated 50 years of marriage on May 16.

SANANTONIOLast fall, the Mount Calvary Daytrippers, from left, Rev. Craig Meissler, Donald Loomis, Esther Mae Lundy, John Haumann, Bonnie Haumann, Grace Morris, Alex Hansmann and Wanda Laxson, visited the Espada Mission and Aqueduct in San Antonio.

12 / TEXAS

SCHOOL MINISTRY

Browning

NDP is granted to both public and private school administators, and is given by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), established in 1984 to recognize elementary and middle school principals who set high standards for instruction, student achievement, character and climate for the students, families and staffs in their learning communities. It is indeed a significant honor.Principal Browning leads St. Paul with a foundation of data-driven decision-making and is credited for strengthening St. Paul’s instruc-tional culture by providing profes-sional development opportunities to equip staff to work with a variety of student needs. Counseling, EN-RICH and Excel programs in read-ing, math, and academic support are designed to meet the individu-alized needs of students in grades kindergarten through 8. Browning deeply values parent engagement at St. Paul and empha-sizes its importance by involving parents/guardians in the life of the school with activities that strength-en the relationships of teachers, students and their families.

“The most important thing I do ev-ery day is interact with the faculty, staff and students,” Browning said.A St. Paul parent shares: “I have been impressed by his commitment to an excellent academic environ-ment in a Christian setting.”Browning was nominated by his peers and was one of only three private school administrators in the entire country selected by the NAESP. Dr. Rebecca Schmidt, LCMS School Ministry director, an-nually invites education executives of each LCMS district to nominate administrators for the NDP award. An LCMS selection committe then selects one candidate to be con-sidered by the NAESP. Browning will represent LCMS schools and be honored at the NAESP’s annu-al awards banquet on Oct. 23 in Washington, D.C.For selection as a NDP, the candi-date: ▶ Is an active principal of a school

where a commitment to excel-lence is clearly evident through a program designed to meet the academic and social needs of all students.

▶ Has firmly established commu-

By Dr. Bill Hinz Director of School Ministry

Scott Browning, principal of St. Paul Lutheran School, Fort Worth, recently was selected as a 2020 National Dis-tinguished Principal (NDP). Congrat-ulations to Browning and the entire St. Paul church and school community!

nity ties with parents and local businesses.

▶ Is respected by students, col-leagues, parents and the commu-nity at large.

▶ Assumes an active role in the community and distinguishes themselves as a leader in civic, re-ligious or humanitarian activities.

▶ Shows strong educational lead-ership by establishing high ex-pectations for school staff and students.

Browning has served in school ministry for 23 years. He has taught at St. Michael, Fort Myers, Fla., and Christ, Little Rock, Ark., along with serving as Christ’s direc-tor of development and marketing. He has also served as principal of Immanuel, Memphis, Tenn. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in ed-ucation from Concordia University, Nebraska, and a Master of Arts de-gree in educational administration from the University of Arkansas.We had already been blessed to have two NDP recipients serving our Texas Lutheran schools: Dr. Mary Beth Gaertner of Salem Lu-theran Church and School, Tom-ball, in 2012; and Thomas Wrege of Zion-Walburg Lutheran Church and School, Georgetown, in 2013.We thank God for the dedication and leadership of all our adminis-trators, teachers and staff as they strive to help our schools continue to pursue excellence for the sake of our students and families. Every day in our Lutheran schools we are privileged to share Christ’s love and forgiveness with our students and develop their God-given tal-ents to serve Him and their neigh-bors. We thank God for Scott and the St. Paul Lutheran School team.Soli Deo Gloria — To God alone be the glory!

Browning recognized as

DISTINGUISHED PRINCIPAL

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 13

CTX

Concordia University Texas continues to serve students well, even during a global pandemic. Our faculty and staff have put Concordia’s core value of lifelong learning into action, and some of them shared their thoughts.“My prayer in these strange times is that we would rest well, that we learn God’s design for authentic rest.”Ricky Allen, Academic Scheduling Specialist

“I have finally come to fully realize that my belonging is in Christ, and the more I lean into that love, the more my true purpose in life has developed.”Dr. Prairie Burgess, Assistant Professor of Leadership

“It would be easy to turn our focus inward. That’s not to say we shouldn’t continue to care for ourselves, our families and friends, and our community, but we need to remember and care for our neighbor.”Alison Chai, College of Education Accreditation and Compliance Manager

“The pandemic presents an opportune time to think about life. My hope is for your family to create some meaningful memories and make a mark in your family history.”Dr. Lucina Kimpel, Associate Professor of Nursing

“We take our core value of caring for people seriously. We can all make someone feel like they are part of a community — whether the CTX community or your own.”KC Pospisil, Vice-President of Academic Operations

“We must embrace the world of possibilities that work-ing, learning and living differently have opened up.”Dr. Jeffrey Utzinger, Dean of Teaching and Learning

CTX has launched exciting new programs for the Fall 2020 semester! To learn more about each pro-gram, visit concordia.edu/majors. The Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care is designed for registered respiratory therapists looking to develop a deeper knowledge of respira-tory care and become leaders in the field. The fully online program can be completed in 16 months.The Master of Public Health (MPH) is a com-petency-based, ethics focused graduate program to help meet the demand for public-health knowledge and leadership. The online program is open to any-one with a bachelor’s degree and can be completed in 16 months.With the Master of Education (MEd) in Edu-cational Technology and Innovation, you will be able to leverage emerging technology as a tool to enhance learning and meet the needs of your stu-dents or clients, staff and organizations.The Doctor of Education (EdD) has been re-vamped. The three-year program is online with two on-campus residencies and offers you the opportu-nity to specialize in Educational Leadership (with optional Superintendent Certification track) or Curriculum and Instruction.To continue to add innovative programs and grow Lutheran education, we need your help. We ask that you prayerfully consider supporting Concordia University Texas. Please visit concordia.edu/give to donate.

New programs addedLifelong learning

14 / TEXAS

CAN-DO

By Pat FickCAN-DO Director

y dog Espi was obviously alert to something in the corner of the room. Her

little body stood at attention, with her ears cocked and her tail be-tween her legs. She crouched cau-tiously and stared in the direction of the open closet door. I thought it was strange, but then I thought again — perhaps there is a critter in the closet and she is on the hunt. Could it be a snake, a mouse, a squirrel? I certainly hope not! Espi carefully and stealthily trudged toward the box of camping gear and it became obvious to me that what she was afraid of was my new REI jacket. I’m preparing to hike the John Muir Trail in Califor-nia, so I purchased a super light-weight, warm down jacket. I guess it smelled like geese to Espi. (Geese can be a little frightening if they chase you.) I tried to show her the coat up close but she was not con-vinced that it wouldn’t hurt her.Although I am relieved that there aren’t any critters in my closet, I wonder how often we, like Espi, are paralyzed by our fears, especially now during the COVID-19 pandem-ic. What will the future hold? When will we be able to return to school and “normal” life activities? Can we handle the economic stresses? I’ve heard it said that everyone will come out of this pandemic as one of the following: a hunk, a chunk or a drunk. It’s a humorous rhyme, but it does have a certain element of truth to it. I personally struggle with addictions to exercise and food. We tend to look to things oth-er than God to comfort us and give

Donations for CAN-DO Missions are welcome!Make checks payable to Concordia University Texas, with “CAN-DO Missions” in the memo line.

Send to:Concordia University TexasATTN: CAN-DO MISSIONS11400 Concordia University Dr. Austin TX 78726

Or call 512-313-4332 to donate via credit card. Donations may also be made at can-do.concordia.edu

Fear factor

us pleasure when we are feeling down. Whether it’s exercise, food or alcohol, it’s just a “god fraud.” Only Jesus can truly fill us up. Let’s ask Him to continue to turn our eyes away from idols and fill us with confidence that Jesus came to save all of us hunks, chunks and drunks. Thank you Jesus!

Turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth!For I am God, and there

is no other. Is. 45:22

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall

I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Ps. 27:1

When I am afraid,I put my trust in you.In God, whose word

I praise,in God I trust; I shall

not be afraid.What can flesh do

to me?Ps. 56:3-4

I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Matt. 28:20b

Nevertheless, I am continually with you;

you hold my right hand.You guide me with

your counsel,and afterward you will

receive me to glory.Ps. 73:23-24

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 15

TEXAS CHURCH EXTENSION FUND

By Raelyn PrachtCEF Marketing Specialist

Formerly known as 100Plus1, the Texas Two-Step is a simplified and refreshed way to Increase your Investment and Double your Donation.Texas District Church Extension Fund (CEF) and Texas Partners in Mission (TPIM) continue to pair up to support missions in Texas. The name is new, but the important mission to increase financial resources available for starting new ministries in Texas is not.

Introducing…

Just like the dance, this program has only two steps:

An investor opens a new fixed-rate investment of $5,000 or more and gives a gift of at least 10 percent of the initial investment amount to TPIM.

CEF will match the gift 100 percent to TPIM AND pay the investor an additional 1 percent APY during the first term of the new investment.

Every dollar contributed to Texas Partners in Mission goes directly to support missions in the Texas District. You can join the Texas Two-Step program to increase your investment and double your donation today. Take steps across Texas to share Jesus. Learn more at texascef.org/texastwostep.

16 / TEXAS

UPBRING

Upbring.org /UpbringOrg @UpbringOrg UpbringOrg

Carl and Dolores have always had a heart for children in need, but a promise Carl made while serv-ing in the U.S. Army years ago led to their earnest com-mitment to Upbring and to the children in our care. Carl and Dolores met at a Lutheran youth gathering in Dallas in 1942. Soon after, Carl was drafted into the army to serve our country during World War II. Carl and Dolores stayed in touch through letters hoping to be reunited once again. While stationed in the Philippines, Carl spent an un-forgettable night in a foxhole, unsure that he would see another day. “I prayed and I made a promise to God right then that if I made it through, I would use my life to help young people,” he said. Carl survived through the night and when the war ended, he returned home dedicated to keeping his promise. Carl and Dolores were married on Sept. 28, 1947, and

began their life together determined to faithfully care for their community. Dolores first learned about Upbring through her work at Trinity Lutheran Home, Round Rock. They were moved to hear about the compassion-ate care Upbring provides to children. Carl and Dolores later visited New Life Children’s Center and said that they “were so impressed by the girls and the staff.” Several years ago, they decided to help continue Up-bring’s legacy through a special gift in their estate plans. “New Life is close to our hearts and we understand that Upbring is growing and providing much needed sup-port to children across our state,” Dolores said. Gifts from generous donors like Carl and Dolores are the reason we can continue to offer programs and ser-vices that change lives. We are so grateful for the stead-fast support of our friends at Upbring. For more information about our organization, please visit Upbring.org.

hhWXYZA hero’s legacy

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 17

LUTHERAN OUTDOORS MINISTRY OF TEXAS

Camp Lone StarAdventurous, Christ-centered fun▶ 2016 Camp Lone Star Road

La Grange, TX 78945

Lutheran Outdoors Ministry of Texas▶ P.O. Box 457; La Grange, TX 78945▶ lomt@lomt.com▶ 979-968-1657 ▶ LOMT.com

LOOKING AHEAD

v Sept. 4-6 Father and Child Weekend

v Nov. 4-6 Fall Blast (group registration)

CONTACT US

The safety of guests and staff are of the utmost importance to us here at Camp Lone Star.

In an effort to reduce the risks of COVID-19 exposure, we wanted to make you aware of how we are pro-tecting you and your group as you visit Camp Lone Star. We already had many safety proce-dures in place that we have always been committed to. Some proce-dures we are enhancing to reduce risk, and a few are newly imple-mented in an effort to be a part of the solution. Camp Lone Star will continue to follow the orders and recommendations of the governor’s office, the CDC, our Fayette County officials and our regional health department.The key to preventing the spread of the virus is to stop it from even entering camp. As a result, we are asking all retreat guests to fill out our Pre-Camp Self-Screening Form. This will help us mitigate the risk of COVID-19 and other illnesses while walking alongside families to determine the right course of action for everyone’s health and safety. Guests are en-couraged to come equipped with hand sanitizer and cloth masks.Our team has also emphasized hygiene plans for cabins/housing, dining and programmed activities. For more information, visit lomt.com/healthandsafety.htmlDespite all of the ever-changing procedures and safety precautions, our team of outdoors ministry professionals are standing ready to help work creatively with you to design a retreat guest experience that will accomplish your goals. More than ever, we believe that outdoors ministry is necessary at

this time. We want to be a safe place for you and your guests to come experience rest and renewal found in being still before the Lord or encountering God as you go on a camp adventure.We know that at this point there is a lot of fear, trepidation and uncertainty. We do know, how-ever, one certainty: God is on the throne. Know that wherever you are on this journey, we are praying for you. We are also praying that God would continue to give us wis-dom, that He would protect this ministry and that He would bless all the campers and guests who come this fall. We are clinging “By Faith” to Jesus — trusting that He is guard-ing, protecting and helping us as we pursue our mission to trans-form lives through adventurous Christ-centered experiences.We can’t wait to serve you and re-treat with you this fall!

v Sept. 18-20; 25-27 Pre-confirmation Retreat (group registration)

ready to retreat

To learn more about measures being taken to protect the health and safety of retreat guests, visit lomt.com/healthandsafety.html.

18 / TEXAS

LONE STAR DISTRICT LLL/LHM

The Texas District LLL/LHM convention, sched-uled for March in San

Antonio, was canceled because of COVID-19. The next district convention will be held online on Sept. 26. Texas District LLL President Barry Samsel is working on an agenda. Details on presentations, registration and how to partici-pate in the meeting will be avail-able at lhmlonestar.org. For more information about the meeting, contact Barry at bnsamsel@gmail.com. The morning of Sept. 26, Luther-an Hour Ministries will hold an online meeting, which includes a series of presentations, from its headquarters in St. Louis for all LLL districts. The presen-tations will include messages from Rev. Dr. Michael Ziegler, Lutheran Hour speaker; Kurt Buchholz, LHM president and CEO; and Rev. Dr. Tony Cook, LHM vice-president of Global Ministries. Those attending the online event will have opportunities to inter-act with LHM leadership, and a question-and-answer session will be held at the end. The pro-gram will start at 9 a.m. and last about three hours. Members interested in participating in the online meeting could gather at churches. Rom. 8:28 reminds us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him” (NIV). In these strange times, those are very comforting words.

The congregation of Our Savior, Rockwall, had a very special guest to help celebrate Lutheran Hour Sunday on June 21. The Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, speaker of The Lutheran Hour, preached the ser-mon and brought greetings from Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM). The livestreamed service could be watched at livestream.com/ oslcrockwall/events/9180102.Ziegler’s sermon topic was “A Lov-ing Father Behind It All,” based on the creation account in Genesis. He stressed how God, in spite of man’s fall from grace, responded with grace. That grace included sacri-

Lutheran Hour speaker visits Rockwall

ficing His own Son for our benefit. This is a wonderful example of be-ing a loving father for us all. After a time for fellowship and an opportunity to view the LHM dis-plays in the narthex, Dean Ehren-heim and Ben Marriott, LHM Min-istry Advancement officers from St. Louis, gave a presentation on LHM and all the resources it has available and the many ways this ministry is reaching people with the Gospel. Several door prizes of LHM materi-als were given to attendees.

Thanks to Rudy and Dorothy Hunger for the article and photos.

Top: A table display was put together for LHM Sunday.

Right: From left, Rev. Paul Ferguson, Our Savior, Rockwall, pastor; Rudy Hunger, LLL Texas District vice-president; and Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler, Lutheran Hour speaker.

Fall convention is Sept. 26

SEPTEMBER 2020 / 19

LUTHERAN WOMEN IN MISSION

FROM THE PRESIDENT

My heart is full of joy in saying thank you to all who supported our 2020 virtual district con-vention. Past President Debbie Curry’s love for serving the Lord was indeed a sustaining factor as she moved forward with convention plans adapt-ed for the current situation. We are all so grateful and thankful for her leadership over the past four years. As I now begin my term as your president, my sincerest request is for your prayers as we proceed with our lives and our service to the Lord. There is no procedure or instruction manual for this beginning in this time of COVID-19 and the upheaval that is all around us, but with the Lord’s guidance and your support, the plans and ensuing work for this new biennium will fall into place. I eagerly anticipate many wonderful, precious times and memories as we, the members of the LWML Texas District, step forward in faith and hope, knowing all things are possible through Christ. To God be the glory as we fol-low His lead, all the time re-joicing in service and abound-ing in hope!

Frances Molitor

Following His lead

In an ever-changing world, we reaffirm that our hope is anchored in Christ. And so we did this past June 20. Women from all over Texas joined together online for our first ever LWML Texas Dis-trict virtual convention. We had 687 unique users and 1,871 views during the convention. If you missed out or would just like to enjoy it again, the convention can still be viewed on our YouTube channel. Links to the videos of the convention sessions and the con-vention manual can be found at lwmltxdist.org/convention. The convention theme was “Christ is Our Anchor” (from Heb. 6:19–20).This theme will be re-visited for the planned 2024 convention in Corpus Christi so none of the preparations for the original 2020 convention will go to waste.Newly elected officers are:▶ President: Frances Molitor▶ Vice-President of Organizational

Resources: Debra Heckmann▶ Financial Secretary: Kathy Walther▶ Pastoral Counselor: Rev. David

Bass▶ Nominating Committee: Nancy

Beckcom (chairman), Anita Long and Laura Wilson

We adopted a mite goal of $377,500 with a Mission Grant goal of $200,000, and declared a mission abundance of $10,327 from last bienni-um for a total of $210,327 for mission

grants (recipients are on Page 20). The convention offering totaled $25,275, with all praise and honor to God.Convention speakers included Texas District President Rev. Mike Newman, who gave the sermon during the opening worship service, and Deb Burma, who spoke on our convention theme. Don Hoehne, was the Mites in Action speaker and shared information on RioMAC. Rev. John Heckmann and Rev. Mark Moldenhauer were our Bible study leaders. Abby Faske was our humor-ous interrupter, Violet, who helped us all laugh at the bits of ourselves that we saw in her.By the end of the convention day, we were all blessed to reaffirm that Christ is Our Anchor!There are more watch party pictures at thelc.ms/2F8Mybh. It’s not too late to add your own. We would love to see them.

In the convention studio are, from left, Kelli Alsup, Debbie Curry and Abby Faske.

Debbie Curry, the outgoing district presi-dent, watches Frances Molitor, the newly elect-ed president, on the studio monitor.

Christ is our anchor!

20 / TEXAS

LWML DISTRICT NEWS

Post Oak Zone

Scenes from convention watch parties

Mid Coast Zone

Capitol Zone

Panhandle Zone

Gulf Coast Zone

2020-22 Mission Grants▶ Scholarships for Semi-

narians — Texas District, $40,000

▶ Mercy Meals — Orphan Grain Train, $5,000

▶ DCE Scholarships — Concordia University Texas, $24,000

▶ Blessings and Bibles — Lutheran Disaster Care, $15,000

▶ Lutheran Student Center Improvements — Lubbock, $20,000

▶ Urban Base Camp Out-reach — Camp Lone Star, $15,000

▶ Creating a Network of Hope — Driving Hope of Texas, $20,000

▶ Let the Little Children Come — St. Paul, Dallas, $20,000

▶ E-Kids After School Program — Expansion Ministries, Inc., $20,000

▶ Laundry Love — St. Paul, San Antonio, $12,000

▶ Reaching Immigrants and Refugees — Multi-Ethnic Ministry of North Texas, $10,084

▶ Translating LWML Bible Studies — WORDrus, $9,243

Send mites to:LWML Texas DistrictAttn: Kathy Walther, Financial SecretaryPO Box 124, Giddings, TX 78942