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President’s message: Standing on the truth

President’s message: Standing on the truth

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/12/28
  • Post category:00spotlight-topslider/FIC Features/Forward in Christ

Pontius Pilate asked the famous question, “What is truth?” (John 18:38). Pilate wasn’t looking for an answer; he was stating his view that there really is no such thing as…

Continue Reading President’s message: Standing on the truth
President’s message: Peace on earth—but what kind?

President’s message: Peace on earth—but what kind?

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/11/29
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

The year was 1914. World War I had thrown the continent of Europe into a conflict that would last for four years and kill or wound more than 25 million…

Continue Reading President’s message: Peace on earth—but what kind?
President’s message: Thankful—even now?

President’s message: Thankful—even now?

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/10/28
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

The apostle Paul was under arrest in Rome for the second time. His first arrest had ended in his acquittal and release from prison. The second time would end differently.…

Continue Reading President’s message: Thankful—even now?
President’s message: More than dollars and numbers

President’s message: More than dollars and numbers

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/09/28
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

Fall is the time of year when most congregations begin to discuss and plan their budgets for the coming year. Ministry plans are developed, and then those plans are prayerfully…

Continue Reading President’s message: More than dollars and numbers
President’s message: A time for trust

President’s message: A time for trust

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/08/31
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

When do you find it easiest to place your trust in God and to remember his promises? Wouldn’t you agree that it’s easiest to place your trust in God’s care…

Continue Reading President’s message: A time for trust
President’s message: Future unknown, future certain

President’s message: Future unknown, future certain

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/07/28
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

Earlier this year, I was asked to make a presentation on the topic, “What will the Wisconsin Synod look like one hundred years from now?” It was a daunting assignment…

Continue Reading President’s message: Future unknown, future certain
President’s message: God’s work does not stop

President’s message: God’s work does not stop

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/06/29
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

Last spring, the United States and countries around the world responded to the COVID-19 pandemic in unprecedented ways. In most states, many businesses were forced to cease operations, and schools…

Continue Reading President’s message: God’s work does not stop
President’s message: A lesson to be learned

President’s message: A lesson to be learned

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/05/31
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

As I write this in April, our world is in the midst of what most would agree is an unprecedented crisis. The COVID-19 virus has had serious effects on almost…

Continue Reading President’s message: A lesson to be learned
President’s message: Having the right tools

President’s message: Having the right tools

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/04/30
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

I’ve done a lot of remodeling and woodworking projects over the years. Most of what I’ve done has been self-taught, and my lack of expertise means that projects take a…

Continue Reading President’s message: Having the right tools
President’s message: What kind of leaders?

President’s message: What kind of leaders?

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/03/31
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

Six billion, 450 million. That’s not the world’s population. That’s how many results you get if you Google the word leadership. What exactly does it take to be a good…

Continue Reading President’s message: What kind of leaders?
President’s message: What’s love got to do with it?

President’s message: What’s love got to do with it?

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/02/25
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

From time to time I receive questions about why our synod puts a particular doctrine into practice the way we do. I had such a question recently about closed (or…

Continue Reading President’s message: What’s love got to do with it?
President’s message: Whose finest hour?

President’s message: Whose finest hour?

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2020/01/20
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder In June 1940, fear and despair gripped the people of Great Britain as the Nazi German armies rolled across northern Europe, conquering Belgium, the Netherlands, and eventually…

Continue Reading President’s message: Whose finest hour?
President’s message: Safe in the power of God

President’s message: Safe in the power of God

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/12/07
  • Post category:FIC Features/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder It’s easy to forget that gospel ministry—and even living as a confessing disciple of Jesus Christ—can be risky. Recent political unrest in Ethiopia caused some frightening moments…

Continue Reading President’s message: Safe in the power of God
Focus on what is ahead

Focus on what is ahead

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/12/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder People who are near-sighted can see clearly what is right in front of their eyes. But when objects are farther away, they get blurry and out of…

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Looking for perfection

Looking for perfection

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/11/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder How would you describe the perfect congregation? Would the perfect congregation be one in which every sermon is clear, interesting, practical, and holds your attention for 20…

Continue Reading Looking for perfection
Bringing Back Some Memories

Bringing Back Some Memories

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/10/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder Twelve years ago, I was first given the privilege of serving as your synod president. And now, after serving three terms, you have given me that privilege again. I thought it would be…

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No contradiction at all

No contradiction at all

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/09/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder Apparent contradictions—with the emphasis on the word apparent. Apparent contradictions happen when two true statements appear to contradict each other, but in the end, there is no contradiction at all. Here are some examples: God…

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More about the divine call

More about the divine call

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/08/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder The news usually comes in an announcement after worship. Your pastor or one of the teachers in your school has received a divine call to serve in another place. That announcement comes as…

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A few words about the divine call

A few words about the divine call

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/07/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder What does it mean when your pastor or teacher receives a call to serve somewhere else? How is it that they were chosen to receive a call? If a call is divine (from God), why do they get to choose whether to accept…

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An unexpected mission field

An unexpected mission field

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/06/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder Every congregation has them. Every member in our congregations knows them. They may be out of sight, but in Christian congregations, they should never be out of mind. “They” are members of…

Continue Reading An unexpected mission field
In defense of millennials

In defense of millennials

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/05/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder “One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts” (Psalm 145:4). There is no doubt that every “older generation” tends to view the “younger generation” with a…

Continue Reading In defense of millennials
No time for silence

No time for silence

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/04/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). David knew. He knew that his life began not when he…

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Hindsight shows God’s blessings

Hindsight shows God’s blessings

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/03/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder Twenty-five years ago, in the spring of 1994, our synod was facing a time of uncertainty and divided opinions. Eight months earlier at the 1993 synod convention, the synod approved,…

Continue Reading Hindsight shows God’s blessings
Not just an emotion

Not just an emotion

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/02/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder It was their wedding day. The bride and groom stood in front of me, looks of excitement, nervousness, and happiness on their face. It was time for the wedding sermon.…

Continue Reading Not just an emotion
A very safe prediction for 2019

A very safe prediction for 2019

  • Post author:Mark Schroeder
  • Post published:2019/01/01
  • Post category:FIC Features/FIC Series/Forward in Christ

Mark G. Schroeder My wife and children absolutely hate it when I made predictions. That’s because my predictions more often than not are wrong. They cringe when I predict a…

Continue Reading A very safe prediction for 2019

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