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Every spring, we give thanks as new graduates from Martin Luther College (MLC), New Ulm, Minn., and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, Mequon, Wis., receive their first calls. It is a joyful time as we watch Christ send workers into his harvest field.
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For some, though, the moment may not feel quite as joyful. Perhaps your congregation has called nine times for a pastor and is still vacant. Or your school has scrambled for several years to fill staffing holes. In those situations, it is easy to lament: “Why don’t young people want to go into ministry anymore?” “Why can’t WELS prepare more called workers?” Those are understandable questions, but are they fair?
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Since 1990, when WELS was at its largest, our church body has declined by almost 25 percent—about 100,000 members. Yet WELS has about the same number of pastors today as it did in 1990. It has about 40 percent more teachers. In 1990, WELS had 6 staff ministers; today, there are about 120. WELS has never had more called workers than we do today. That is remarkable.
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This month, the United States of America is celebrating its 250th anniversary. It’s a time to look back to its founding and to the revolution that gave birth to this great nation. In looking back, we certainly have much to celebrate. We celebrate the brave patriots who risked . . .
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Is it fine to worship online? This may be your summer vacation plan. You look at your destination, and you discover no churches close by that share your public confession of faith. What do you do? You could use your regular style of family devotion or even . . .
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The parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) is one of Jesus’ most famous parables. The popular understanding of the parable is something like “Love people who are different from you.” But there is more to the story. The parable isn’t so much about . . .
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