Rev. Brandon Metcalf talks with Steph and Andy about his strategies for Family Ministry and why men play a vital role in the church and home.

Bio:

Brandon Metcalf currently serves as the Associate Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church in Bethalto, IL and previously served as a DCE in the Missouri District. He is a contributing author to numerous books and Bible studies for youth ministries and has spoken at many district and national youth gatherings, including the session "Worth Dying For: A New Model for Dating/Relationships" at the past two LCMS Youth Gatherings. He enjoys playing volleyball, board games, trivia, and writing parody songs, but his greatest joys in life come from being a husband and a father.

Resources:

• Email us at [email protected]
• LCMS Life Ministry www.lcms.org/life
• LCMS Family Ministry www.lcms.org/life

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com.

Rev. Dr. Todd Biermann joins Andy and Steph to talk about why family is so important in Christian theology and gives us simple habits that can make families stronger in both faith and love.

Bio:

Married to Heather Stange of Frankenmuth, MI in 1995, Rev. Dr. Todd A. Biermann has always had a passion for fostering marriages and families in God’s way. This has been true in his role as a parish pastor of the LCMS for 33 years (most recently at Faith Lutheran, Grand Blanc, MI), in his international ministry with Heather, Life in God’s Way, and now as they both are working with Concordia Center for the Family (CCF), a Recognized Service Organization (RSO) of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Dr. Biermann’s educational path (BA at Concordia University Nebraska, MDiv at Concordia Seminary St. Louis and DMin at Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne) along with a wide array of field experience has prepared him for his role as the Executive Director of CCF, which he was called to begin in February 2024. He rejoices in the privilege to promote family discipleship, uniting homes and congregations in making lifelong disciples of Jesus. Learn more about Dr. Biermann and CCF at www.concordiafamily.org. Contact him directly at [email protected].

Resources:

• Email us at [email protected]
• LCMS Life Ministry www.lcms.org/life
• LCMS Family Ministry www.lcms.org/life

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com.

In this episode, our guest Deb Jurchen talks about the importance of intergenerational connectedness as it relates to Family Ministry in churches and homes.

Bio:

Deb Jurchen holds a BFA in K-12 Art Education from Concordia University, Nebraska, and an MSE in Family Life Education from Concordia University Wisconsin & Ann Arbor. Professionally, Deb serves as the Director of University Institutes at Concordia University, Nebraska, an adjunct professor in the Family Life Education Graduate program at Concordia University, Nebraska, as well as the Family Life Ministry Consultant for the Nebraska District LCMS.

Deb is married to Rev. Dr. Pete Jurchen who is Assistant Professor of Lutheran Education and Faith Formation at Concordia University, Nebraska. Together, they have five children and reside in Seward, Nebraska. She loves hiking, gardening, and staying active with her kids!

Resources:

• Email us at [email protected]
• LCMS Life Ministry www.lcms.org/life
• LCMS Family Ministry www.lcms.org/family

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Learn how recognizing milestones and benchmarks in the faith leads to healthy spiritual development for children and adults alike!

Bio:

Mark Cook is a graduate of Concordia Nebraska and is in his 15th year serving as DCE at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. He serves in the areas of family ministry, youth ministry, confirmation, and children’s ministry. He enjoys playing with his kids, music, camping, backpacking, and anything that involves being outdoors and going on adventures with his beautiful wife Libby and children, Micah (8), Karis (6), Ezra (3), Isaiah (20mo), and baby girl (coming soon!).

Resources:

• Email us at [email protected]
• LCMS Life Ministry www.lcms.org/life
• LCMS Family Ministry www.lcms.org/family

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com.

Rev. Dan Galchutt talks about the privilege of parents to pass down the faith to their children, and how the setting of the home is a prime training ground for young believers.

Resources:

• Email us at [email protected]
• LCMS Life Ministry www.lcms.org/life
• LCMS Family Ministry www.lcms.org/family

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com.

What is Family Ministry and why is it so important for our church? Listen in as this episode will discuss what LCMS Family Ministry is all about.

Resources:

• Email us at [email protected]
• LCMS Life Ministry www.lcms.org/family

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Theme music: Hark the Voice of Jesus Calling, used by permission, TheHymnalProject.com.

Members of One Body, a forthcoming workshop through the Office of National Mission, guides members from gathering, to belonging, to prospering as the body of Christ. Trained members guide and support people attached to the congregation to deepen their connection to the mission and to joyfully use their gifts as contributing members. This helps guide members of the church from a mindset of “I go to church here” or “I’m a member here” to “I’m an important part of my congregation’s future.”

Rev. Michael Meyer and Rev. Dr. Heath Trampe discuss the assimilation and incorporation of all members of the congregation so they might joyfully embrace their place in the body of Christ. Dr. Trampe also shares the research findings that increased involvement in the congregations he served. Members of One Body, like all re:Vitality offerings, will be available from the Office of National Mission at no financial cost to the congregation.

Bio:

Heath Trampe serves as the Director of Discipleship Ministry for the LCMS Office of National Mission. Prior to this, he served as a parish pastor to 4,000 souls in Indiana, Nebraska, and North Dakota. Prior to his ordination, Heath and his wife, Andrea (Aunnee) served as G.E.O. Missionaries in Riga, Latvia.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Interpersonal Communication from Concordia Nebraska, as well as a Masters of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry from Concordia Theological Seminary. His dissertational work explored the concept of congregational involvement. He and Aunnee have been married for 20 years, and they have two boys. He enjoys running, reading, playing games, and exploring the city of St. Louis!

The Rev. Michael Meyer serves as the managing director, Witness, in the Office of National Mission (ONM). In this role, he designs, develops and implements ONM's strategic and operational plans and ensures their faithful execution by the various programmatic departments that serve districts, congregations, schools and RSOs throughout the Synod. This includes supervising the day-to-day operations of Discipleship and Evangelism, Church Planting, All-Nations, Stewardship, Schools, Youth Ministry, and Campus Ministry. Meyer facilitates collaboration with district leadership in each program to increase local capacities throughout the Synod. 

Meyer also serves as the lead director for the LCMS Disaster Response Training Program and its affiliated resources, including their implementation nationally and internationally. This includes the creation, management and teaching of robust, multi-level training and preparedness curriculums for LERT teams, LCMS international staff and partner churches for use in disaster response.

Meyer has served in Disaster Response Training since 2013. Previously, he served as the pastor of Emmaus Lutheran Church and School in Denver, CO. A 2008 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, Meyer also holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

Meyer and his wife, Heather, a Doctor of Physical Therapy, reside in Chesterfield, MO, with their three children: Nathan, Kaitlyn and Emily.

Resources:

• Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission
• https://www.lcms.org/church-revitalization

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 aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty in God’s mission field. Get inspired. Be encouraged. Get involved! Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission.

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Shepherding Our Strays guides congregations through the process of intentionally caring for inactive members. Using the imagery of a shepherd and sheep, members are categorized as safe, at risk, straying, and strayed. This directly corresponds to how involved the members are, whether they are decreasing or increasing in involvement, and how frequently they attend church events. A CARE (concern, attention, re-engagement, encouragement) Team is formed that reaches out to these families and individuals with compassion and intentionality.

Rev. Dr. Heath Trampe and Rev. Clark Jahnke, Pastor of St. Andrew Lutheran Church in West Fargo, North Dakota, discuss the often-sensitive nature of ministering to inactive members, the impact of the pandemic on this ministry area, and the blessings of creating a team to engage this important work together.

Bio:

Pastor Clark Jahnke has served St. Andrew Lutheran Church for the past 33 years of 35 years of ministry. There he has served as Associate Pastor, Sole Pastor and Senior Pastor. St. Andrew is located in West Fargo, ND, a part of a greater metro area of over 250,000 people including Fargo and Moorhead, MN. He and his wife, Susan are natives of MN, both graduates of Concordia University-St. Paul. They have four boys (three are married) and 6 living grandchildren spread from West Fargo to Baltimore, MD.

Resources:

• Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission
• https://www.lcms.org/church-revitalization

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 aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty in God’s mission field. Get inspired. Be encouraged. Get involved! Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission.

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Connect to Disciple guides congregations through the process of building awareness for the church, creating connections with people in the community, nurturing and deepening those relationships through shared activities, and then “making disciples.” This last work is the proper work of the Holy Spirit. We can take part in this process by bringing people to the Means of Grace and bringing the Means of Grace to people.

Rev. Dr. Heath Trampe and Rev. Derek Mathers, Mission Executive to the English District, discuss outreach in today’s church, easy ways for congregations to be more connected to the community around them, and the importance of intentionality.

Bio:

Derek Mathers became an Associate Pastor at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada in 2019, but his main gig is Assistant to the Bishop / Mission Executive for the English District of the LCMS, which means he is a pastor to many pastors! He describes himself as a passionate disciple of Jesus who wants to make disciples who can make disciples. When he’s not doing that, he roots for the Blue Jays, reads science fiction (Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett), and works at his cabin.

Derek has served as pastor at St. Luke’s (Toronto), and at congregations in Saskatchewan, Beamsville and Mitchell. Born in Edmonton, he grew up in Minnesota and Okinawa, Japan, but came back to Canada to go to Brock University, where he met and married Deb. They have two daughters and a grandson. He loves to do lunch and, if it’s at Duff’s, you’ll make his day.

Resources:

• Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission
• https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/witness-and-outreach-ministry
• https://www.lcms.org/church-revitalization
• https://www.cph.org/meaningful-outreach-an-essential-guide-for-churches

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 aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty in God’s mission field. Get inspired. Be encouraged. Get involved! Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission.

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Serving in God’s Mission guides congregations through a consensus-based process of strategically planning for the future. This begins with an inventory of all the good things God is already doing in the congregation and community. Working with the entire congregation, a core planning team comprised of several church members identifies their purpose statement, mission statement, vision statements, and SMART goals.

Rev. Dr. Heath Trampe and Rev. Patrick Galligar, Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Lecanto, Florida, discuss the unique dynamics at play in every congregation, the blessings of consensus building, and the importance of planning for the future.

Bio:

Pastor Patrick Galligar began his pastoral life in August 2004 when, after doing many other things vocationally, he was led to attend Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO and become a pastor. He and his wife, Gina, moved with their two young boys, 5 & 10 years old, from Oak Lawn, IL to Missouri. His first call was to serve as an associate at St. Peter's in Columbus, Indiana for 11 years. Following that Patrick was called to Zion Lutheran in Marengo, IL where he served as an associate for 4 years. And finally, he received the call to serve as a sole pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Lecanto, FL.

Resources:

• Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission
• https://www.lcms.org/church-revitalization

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 aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty in God’s mission field. Get inspired. Be encouraged. Get involved! Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission.

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.