Feature Stories

by Bishop Paul Smith

In the lead-up to Christmas, Bishop Paul Smith reflects on the New Zealand and Australian tradition of Christian churches working together to proclaim the holy birth of the Christ-child.

Early this month, LCA Daily Devotions reached a milestone worth celebrating when the total number of emails sent to subscribers reached 5 million! Since this very popular ministry began in 2017, many thousands of members and friends of the LCANZ have welcomed the devotions into their email inboxes.

Reducing the amount of paper files at the LCANZ Churchwide Office has been a goal for some time, but with preparations underway for the move to the new Church House in Frome Street, Adelaide, next year, that task has become more urgent.

by Reid Matthias

Who was John the Baptist? Just a Grizzly Adams-type mountain man wearing a camel’s hair tunic and eating grasshoppers dipped in honey? Pastor Reid Matthias reflects on the unorthodox life of this desert wanderer, whose role was to ‘go on before the Lord to prepare a way for him’.

Pastor Mark Schultz has accepted a call from the LCANZ to serve as Assistant to the Bishop – International Mission. He has served at Sydney’s multi-ethnic, multisite LifeWay Lutheran Church for 18 years and wasn’t looking to move – but God intervened.

Want to learn more about ALC’s exciting new Midlife Masters program? Then register to attend an online information session next month. A one-off accelerated pathway to the ordained ministry, the program aims to prepare candidates aged 40 to 55 for possible ordination.