Are planned church programs or congregational community outreach efforts essential to effective cross-cultural ministry? Or can we work for the Lord’s harvest with people of all nations in everyday life? LCANZ member Beverley Heidenreich thinks God often provides opportunities for evangelism.

Hundreds of members of the LCANZ family – from small children to the elderly –shared their creative talents through the Living Water Churchwide Simultaneous Art Exhibition last month. There have been 15 exhibitions staged across Australia.

Every LCANZ congregation is being encouraged to recognise and give thanks for the Christian care provided by congregational ministries, individuals, and Lutheran aged-care and community services. A suite of resources to support a Sunday celebration of care was launched recently.

Having noticed the lack of a genuinely rural Australian devotion resource, Pastor Stephen Jaensch encouraged his congregation at Emerald in Queensland to join him in producing something to fill the need.

Change is not an option – it is life in God’s kingdom. Pastor Adrian Kitson says that not only is change possible for a local church, but it is also always needed in congregational settings. ‘Change does not need to be feared’, he says.

For many years, among the hundreds of folks who volunteer to ensure a warm welcome and hot cuppa for worshippers has been nonagenarian couple Grace and Les Dodt.