Becoming Bridge Builders

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Are you discouraged by the current state of our nation?  Are you wondering as a Christian how you should respond and what you should be doing?  Well if you answered yes to either of these two questions this episode is for you.

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I grew up in the great state of Louisiana. It was a very diverse community of people and cultures. When I think about the church on Sunday mornings, it looks more like Tomato soup. Now don’t get me wrong on cold winter day there nothing better than a good bowl of Tomato Soup and a Grilled Cheese sandwich. But imagine if the church looking more like Gumbo. 

My Guest today is Rev. Charles St. Onge. Charles was born in Ottawa, Canada’s capital.  He served in Philadelphia, Houston, and for a few months in Asia. He and his family now serve as missionaries at Ascension Lutheran Church in Montreal, Quebec while he also supervises LCMS mission work in several Caribbean countries. He speaks French, English and “un pocito de espanol.”

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Churches today are facing some tough challenges even before COIVD.  We are seeing many churches experiencing diminishing Sunday morning worshipers and step declines in offerings. Often leaders will turn to a fresh young pastor to reverse those trends.  They hope that their energy and new ideas will revive their struggling ministry.  Today my conversation is with a pastor who was called to accomplish just such a feat.  He will share the stark realities encountered.  The church didn't survive and he had to move them to close.   Pastor Matt shares the lessons he learned and to lead congregation close well and leave a legacy.    

Rev. Matthew Hass is Pastor who has gone through the Specific Ministry Program, which is an alternate route to become a pastor in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod LCMS.  He is a husband and a father.  Matthew was a former missionary through LCMS World Mission in Japan.  

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Today’s podcast is about grief.  People experiencing the loss of a loved one often have difficulty integrating their state of loss with their questioning sense of what comes next. The words of Jesus were intended to calm their anxieties and ours. Jesus answers the ultimate question of our grieving hearts. What happens to our loved ones? And how can I have peace with this separation?  

My guest for this episode is Rev. Michael Newman has been a pastor since 1987 and currently serves as the President of the Texas District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. He served local congregations for over 20 years before spending 10 years helping to start new churches in the Texas District as a Mission Strategist. 
Pastor Newman is the author of many books, journal articles, and Bible studies.  His latest books are: “Hope When Your Heart Breaks: Navigating Grief and Loss” and “Gospel DNA: Five Markers of a Flourishing Church.”

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We are living in some difficult times right now.  Many of the voices of truth are being silenced or marginalized.  For the Christian, Jesus has left us in the world to witness to the world.  How do we do that in an ever-increasing secular society? Today’s episode is designed to explore how do Christians operate and flourish in this politically charged climate. 
My guest today is Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz serves as the Executive Director of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty. Previous to Seltz’s work in Washington D.C. LCRLFreedom.org

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Today I am approaching a rather sensitive topic.  It is one the church often remains silent about.  As I talk with people there are many people who have members of their family in the LBGT community.  The church at times responds that our approach is "love the sinner hate the sin."  The church needs a better answer than that.  What we will try to answer today is how as the church is how do allow people to “belong before they believe.” The Bible is full of people who came into contact with the grace and mercy of the Risen Savior before they were converted.  If you’re going to ask people not to identify with the LGBT community, we better have another community ready for them! Give people a margin for God to work in their lives. Healing and spiritual heart surgery take time.

My guest is Rev. Billy Brath. Billy Brath serves as Director, Ministry Support Advancement, of Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Helping leaders and ministries revive their sense of purpose and reach their creative potential is a great joy for Billy.

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The probing question of the day is: “Can we ever get back to normal?” Now some experts say we will never be the same.  If we give up hope of getting back to normal we are also giving up on many of the things that made us Americans.

The freedom to assemble as believers in groups of larger than 10.  At risk is the freedom to come and go as we please.   In danger is the ability to sit on the beach and attend major sporting events and concerts.
Today my guest Rev. Jon Jahnke is a brand-new pastor who walks out of graduate school into this pandemic.  We are going to talk about what lessons he has learned and how his congregation has managed to maintain relationships through all this pain and craziness.

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Today’s podcast is a conversation with law enforcement.  There are moments in history that forever change how we live our lives.  Before 9-11 boarding a plane and airport security were very different.  You could escort and meet your family at the gate.  You got to keep your shoes on.  Your biggest worry was the plane being on time.  Before George Floyd’s death the police were held in fairly high esteem unless you were getting a ticket.  Today the tide has changed and sadly we have seen police now attacked.  There have been large numbers of police resigning and some even being targeted by rioters.  We don’t get to hear their side of the story.  How all of this is impacting the men and women in blue and their families.  This episode is a chance to hear from them and open our eyes to their sacrifice. 

My guest are two former police officers now pastors Rev. Steve Conradt and Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto.  Rev. Ruffatto has a ministry to police officers you can find it at.  www.peaceofficerministries.org

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In today's episode, we are going to talk about leading your church through a pastoral leadership change.  Jim Collins (the author of Good to Great" said "You're going to die, retire, quit, or get fired. "You'll not pastor your church forever. Now, consider this, what will happen to your church after you are dead, retired, quit, or fired? The greatest hindrance to the ongoing success of an organization is the charismatic leader who founded it,” he continued."
Transition is an inescapable part of leadership, but how you manage the transition is what is the most important. Over my 27 years of ministry, I experienced three major leadership transitions. Today my guest is Pastor Mark Brandt. Administrative Pastor St. Lorenz Lutheran Church Frankenmuth, MI. He is retiring at the end of 2020 and he shares with us wisdom from his vast years of experience. 

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Today’s podcast is a conversation about how what we are seeing today is different from the Civil Rights Movement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Movement is defined in part as "a series of organized activities working toward an objective; also: an organized effort to promote or attain an end" (Merriam-Webster Online).

 The Civil Rights Movement was an era dedicated to activism for equal rights and treatment of African Americans in the United States. During this period, people rallied for social, legal, political, and cultural changes to prohibit discrimination and end segregation.
The Black Lives Matter movement seems to be lacking the support of the religious community and is marked by more riots and violence versus the non-violence approach of Dr. King, Jr.

My guest for this critical conversation is Rev. Dr. Roosevelt Gray. As director of LCMS Black Ministry, the long-established Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) ministry serving predominantly black communities and ministering to African immigrants, the Rev. Roosevelt Gray, Jr. provides leadership and direction for LCMS districts, congregations, schools, and related organizations as they minister to minority groups in their communities across the country. 

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