God's Mission Here — LCMS National Mission

Join Rev. Sean Daenzer and Concordia Irvine students Shane, Noah, Joshua, and (CUI adjacent) Jacob as they reflect on their formative experiences at the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music this past July, and as they discuss how the liturgy, psalms, and the habit of praying the daily offices has deepened and expanded their growth as young Christians as they study for future...

LCMS Worship partnered with the Lutheran Witness for a whole series of monthly articles on worship in 2024. The series kicked off with the January issue devoted to the Divine Service, perfect for guiding new Lutherans gently into the Church’s ways of worship and veterans into the depths of its riches. Rev. Roy Askins joins Rev. Sean Daenzer to discuss these resources and how to help bring Christia...

God’s Word is a rich treasury of comfort, instruction, admonition, and truth for the Christian. Rev. Christopher Nuttelman joins Rev. Sean Daenzer, LCMS Director of Worship, to discuss our calling as Christians to dwell regularly in the scriptures through meditation, prayer, study, and devotion, and how the Holy Spirit uses the Word - especially the Psalms - to shape us in the pattern of faithful...

LCMS Worship aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence, and integrity in the presentation, distribution, and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in the Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to deepen an understanding of and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the...

Rev. Dr. Brian Heller and Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Nehrt discuss all things prison ministry, including ways for both church workers and laity to get involved as well as helpful resources available for congregations.    Learn more about LCMS Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (lcms.org)  Bio: Rev. Dr. Jeffery D. Nehrt received his Di...

Deaconess Rojas describes the work that she does in specialized and diverse contexts and also provides insight into how LCMS church workers can productively engage clinical training programs like Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).  Learn more about LCMS Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry - The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (lcms.org)  Bio: Deaconess Raquel A....

Pastor Grimmer describes how the relationship between the LCMS pastor and the LCMS church worker serving in a chaplaincy role at a local institution is an incredible blessing to all involved, and also provides helpful suggestions for ways that congregations can care for residents of senior living communities.   Bio: Pastor Daniel Grimmer was raised in metro Detroit. He has been pastor of Zion Luth...

Rev. Dr. Brian Heller and Deac. Dr. Tiffany Manor discuss the ins and outs of LCMS Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry, highlighting the joys and challenges of serving in specialized contexts, training opportunities available for church workers, resources produced for church workers serving in chaplaincy roles, and prison ministry, to name a few.   Learn more about LCMS Specialized Spiritual Care...

You’ve heard it’s a good idea to have a first aid kit close at hand. But what about a Mental Health First Aid kit? Kelly Menke joins Tiffany and Steph to talk about being trained in Mental Health First Aid and why it’s also an important toolkit to have on hand!   Bio: Kelly joined Concordia Plans in May 2022 as a Health and Wellness Educator. She holds a Master of Science in public health from Sou...

Is there a link between forgiveness and mental well-being? Join Steph and Dr. Mark Rockenbach for a discussion about how forgiveness affects mental health and how withholding forgiveness affects not just the soul, but the body and mind.   Bio: Dr. Mark Rockenbach received his B.A. from Concordia College, Seward, NE; M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO; M.A. in counseling from Doane Colle...

Steph is joined by guest Julianna Shults to give a “state of the union” on the mental health of our young people.   Bio: Julianna Shults is a DCE serving as Program Manager of Resources and Leadership for LCMS Youth Ministry. With a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Community Development, Julianna served congregations in Florida and Chicago. She co-authored Relationships Count and contributed to o...

Dr. Karge and Dr. Bratton join Steph to talk about building mental resiliency in ourselves and in our young people.   Bio:  Dr. Belinda Karge devotes her career to ensuring that all students have successful opportunities and leaders are equipped with tools to transform education environments. She is a Professor in the School of Education Doctoral Program at Concordia University Irvine. She has tau...

Join Steph and Sarah Gulseth as they talk about some very practical ways we can care for our own mental health.   Bio: Sarah Gulseth currently works for KFUO Radio as Digital Media Manager, which includes co-hosting The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge podcast and The Coffee Hour with Andy Bates. She is a baptized child of God, INFJ Lutheran Lady, lover of First Article Gifts, certified #hymnnerd, history...

How do Christians approach the topic of mental health? Why should Christians care about their own mental health, as well as the mental health of those around them? Join Tiffany and Steph as they introduce this season on mental health!  Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com. God’s Mission Here spotlights the work that God is doing through His people....

Dig into the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry with LCMS Youth Ministry Director Mark Kiessling and Program Manager Julianna Shults. Hear about how we came up with these practices and what you might learn in our new book from Concordia Publishing House. Learn more about LCMS Youth Ministry at lcms.org/youth. Get the Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry book from CPH at cph.org/seven-p...

As students leave high school many of them go on to colleges and universities. LCMS Campus Ministries, often called LCMS U chapters, provide a place for them to find other Lutheran students, and ongoing support of their walk with Jesus. In this episode, we hear how parents, supportive adults, and especially chapter leaders can provide this care for students they love.   Resources in this episode:...

LCMS Youth Ministry has supported LCMS Servant Events for over 40 years, and in this episode, we hear more about their benefits to young people, those who serve alongside them, and those they serve in the name of Christ.   Service on longer, intensive weeks like servant events or mission trips gives youth a chance to live out their faith through the work of the Holy Spirit and build relationships...

LCMS Youth Ministry offers a variety of ways we engage and empower young leaders, including YouthLead. For over 40 years, YouthLead has equipped teens to develop and use their leadership skills as they serve Christ within their congregations and communities. In this episode, Mark and Julianna discuss the YouthLead trainings, curriculum and more. They also share an interview from 2021 with YouthLea...

The biggest event put on by LCMS Youth Ministry is the LCMS Youth Gathering. Held every 3 years since 1980, the LCMS Youth Gathering provides thousands of youth and adults the opportunity to come together as a community of God’s people to be encouraged in their walk with Jesus Christ and learn about the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity. Join the staff in talking about the five days of t...

LCMS Youth Ministry strives to lead, serve, resource, and network youth and adults with Christ and His gifts at the heart and center of everything. Rev. Michael Meyer interviews Rev. Mark Kiessling, the Director of LCMS Youth Ministry, about the resources and events they provide and support. Learn more about LCMS Youth Ministry lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/youth-ministry. Theme music: Hark the V...

Learn about the Genesis School Start project and Lutheran School Consulting Service. Find details at luthed.org or contact your local Education Executive. Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com. God’s Mission Here spotlights the work that God is doing through His people... and this work is  closer to home than you might expect! Listen as we chat with...

Learn about National Lutheran School Accreditation. Find details about NLSA at nlsa-lcms.org. Learn more about LCMS School Ministry at luthed.org. Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com. God’s Mission Here spotlights the work that God is doing through His people... and this work is  closer to home than you might expect! Listen as we chat with some ve...

Learn about School Leadership Development. Find details about SLED at luthed.org/school-leadership-development-sled. Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com. God’s Mission Here spotlights the work that God is doing through His people... and this work is  closer to home than you might expect! Listen as we chat with some very down-to-earth people who ar...

Learn about LCMS School Ministry as we discuss a variety of resources available to congregations and schools. Dr. Alan Freeman, the Director of LCMS School Ministry, shares the important work of supporting Lutheran schools and resources for planting new schools. Learn more about LCMS School Ministry at luthed.org. Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.c...

How does Synod partner with others in advancing the Gospel? How does Synod support individual churches, schools, church workers, and families? Listen in as Dan and his returning guests discuss what it means to be the body of Christ, partnering within the Church to serve its members. Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com. God’s Mission Here spotlight...