Podcasts about national mission

Why does worker wellness matter—and how can your congregation get involved in a pilot project to support it? Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor (Managing Director of the LCMS Office of National Mission) joins Andy and Sarah to talk about why congregational leaders should care about the well-being of church workers. She shares who we consider to be church workers, what “worker wellness” really means, what participation in the pilot project looks like, how it benefits both congregations and workers, and what steps leaders can take to get started. Visit https://reporter.lcms.org/2025/congregations-needed-for-worker-wellness-pilot-project to find more information as well as the questionnaire for the Pilot Program. Please email workerwellness@lcms.org if you have any questions. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

How can we show love to our neighbors through acts of mercy? Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor (Managing Director, LCMS Office of National Mission), the Rev. Dr. Brian Heller (Manager of LCMS Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry), and the Rev. Andy Becker (Manager of Family Discipleship) join Andy and Sarah to talk about the Mercy: Love Throughout Life conference happening March 14-15, 2025. They discuss why this conference is so timely, the variety of topics the conference will cover, who this conference is for (everyone!), and the unique in-person + online hybrid format. Learn more and register at calendar.lcms.org/event/mercy-love-throughout-life-conference-2025. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

The 2025 March for Life is Friday, January 24! Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor, Managing Director with the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about what happens at the National March for Life, why the LCMS has had a consistent presence at The March for Life, what is unique about this year, the invitation for President Harrison to be a speaker at the Rally, and how people can connect with the LCMS presence at this year's National March for life. To register and find more information, visit lcms.org/life. As you grab your morning coffee (and pastry, let's be honest), join hosts Andy Bates and Sarah Gulseth as they bring you stories of the intersection of Lutheran life and a secular world. Catch real-life stories of mercy work of the LCMS and partners, updates from missionaries across the ocean, and practical talk about how to live boldly Lutheran. Have a topic you'd like to hear about on The Coffee Hour? Contact us at: listener@kfuo.org.

Good morning, Welcome to Top of the Morning by Mint, your weekday newscast that brings you five major stories from the world of business. It's Friday, November 29, 2024. This is Nelson John, let's get started. At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, the focus was all about climate finance, but the outcome left many wanting more. Initially aiming for $1.3 trillion annually, negotiators ended up agreeing on $300 billion a year by 2035, which didn't sit well with developing countries. They found the amount too low and the decision unambitious, expressing disappointment over the developed countries' reluctance to commit more. The conference also felt the impact of geopolitical tensions, particularly with Donald Trump's re-election, raising concerns about the U.S.'s commitment to climate finance. This scepticism influenced the negotiations, contributing to the lower-than-expected financial commitment. P Anima takes a deep dive into the happenings of the recently-concluded COP29 in the Azeri capital. Stellaris Venture Partners just launched its biggest fund yet at $300 million, sticking to that number despite heavy interest. Similarly, other investment firms like Blume Ventures and Peak XV are either holding steady or shrinking their funds, pointing to a shift towards more cautious investment strategies. Venture capital firms are getting more selective, influenced by past fund performances and the current economic climate, which demands realistic startup valuations. Priyamvada C reports on how VC firms are finding smaller fund sizes a better fit for the Indian market.  India just kicked off a massive ₹2,481 crore National Mission on Natural Farming to help 10 million farmers go chemical-free. The plan? Roll out 10,000 bio input resource centers and train farmers using model farms. The government is also deploying 30,000 krishi sakhis who will guide the farmers. What's the difference between natural and organic farming, you ask? Both avoid chemicals, but organic farming needs strict certification and a few years to switch from conventional methods. Natural farming lets farmers switch at their own pace, which is great for flexibility but might make it harder to sell produce at premium prices like organic goods fetch. In today's Primer, Sayantan Bera explains how natural farming can affect the kind of food you consume and whether the method will make it safer to eat.  This year, one company wants to hire an IITian at a salary of ₹1.9 crore. The catch? The AI company from San Francisco wants aspirants to create a Google-proof questionnaire that ChatGPT can't solve. Devina Sengupta and Pratishtha Bagai write that other AI companies like Turing, Graviton, and Da Vinci are also looking to hire students by providing remote working options and hefty salaries of more than ₹2 crore. Students well versed in machine learning seem to be the top choice as of now. Traditional employers like Goldman Sachs and Microsoft too are emphasising on AI-forward roles.  There are a couple of new 10-minute delivery players in the market. Yes, their names start with an S and Z, but they're Swish and Zing. These startups are aiming to capitalise on the growing demand for quick commerce in India. Sowmya Ramasubramanian writes that these companies focus specifically on 10-minute food deliveries, catering to impulsive consumers seeking convenience. Gross merchandise value for quick commerce deliveries is projected to reach $9.9 billion in five years in this sector. Turns out, hunger can't really wait after all.  COP kicks the climate can down the road, againIndia's venture capital firms are finding that leaner might be betterMint Primer | Natural farming: Will it make your food safe?Battle of AI versus the rest as offers promise ₹2 crore and above at IITsNew 10-minute food delivery startups are ready to test your impulse control

What does Hispanic Ministry look like in Southwest Detroit? The Rev. Ricardo Granado, Michigan District Missionary for Hispanic Ministries, joins Andy, Sarah, and translator the Rev. Stephen Heimer (Manager of All Nations Ministry with the LCMS Office of National Mission) during our Hispanic Heritage Month series to talk about his Lutheran heritage and growing up in Venezuela, his journey to become a Lutheran pastor and how he served the Church in Venezuela, his family's journey to the United States and how he has served the church here, and the amazing ministry happening in Detroit. Learn more about Pan de Vida on their Facebook page: facebook.com/pandevida1820. Read more from Rev. Granado at michigandistrict.org/commission/granado-leads-michigan-district-hispanic-ministry. Learn more about LCMS Hispanic Ministry at lcms.org/how-we-serve/national/hispanic-ministry.

Bayes was ordained in the Church of England, made a deacon at Petertide 1979 (1 July)[6] and as a priest the Petertide following (29 June 1980), both times by Ronnie Bowlby, Bishop of Newcastle, at Newcastle Cathedral.[7][8] He was an assistant curate at St Paul's Church, Whitley Bay for three years (1979–1982). He then became a university chaplain in west London from 1982 to 1987.[3] Bayes moved to High Wycombe for seven years where he initially as Team Vicar (1987–1990) and then Team Rector (1990–1994) before becoming Team Rector of Totton for nine years (1995–2004). While he was at Totton, Bayes was also the Area Dean of Lyndhurst from 2000. Upon leaving Totton, he joined the Archbishops' Council staff team as National Mission and Evangelism Adviser until his ordination to the episcopacy. He was also an honorary canon at Worcester Cathedral from 2007 until his consecration.[3] Episcopal ministry On 7 July 2010[3] it was announced that Bayes would succeed Christopher Foster as Bishop of Hertford upon Foster's translation to Portsmouth.[5] Bayes was duly consecrated a Church of England bishop on 21 September 2010 at St Paul's Cathedral[9] and installed at St Albans Cathedral on 25 September 2010.[10] On 7 May 2014 it was announced that Bayes was to become the next (8th) Bishop of Liverpool; his canonical election was confirmed on 23 July 2014.[2] Bayes was installed at Liverpool Cathedral on 15 November 2014. Bayes is the Visitor of St Peter's College, Oxford;[11] he was chosen from among the Church's diocesan bishops, and may serve until he ceases to be one.[12]

Each day of the Omer has its own unique personality and lessons for personal growth. Let's journey together from now until Shavuos, trying to make the most of this amazing period. omer #sefira #countthedaysandmakethemcount #jew #jewish #torah #torahfortoughtimes #rabbiroodyn #bringthemhome #rabbi #torahanytime #Judaism #Israel #shiur #responsetotragictimes

Ezra lists the heads of households who make the journey to Jerusalem with him. These people are known not only to Ezra, but also to the LORD. The list especially emphasizes the needed workers for service in the temple. Prior to beginning the journey, the people fast in humility for three days in order to rely solely on God for their safe travel. The people faithfully carry with them vessels and other offerings for use in the temple, and God brings the entire group and their possessions safely to Jerusalem. Rev. Charles St-Onge, missionary pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, through the Office of National Mission for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Ezra 8:1-36. "God Brings His People Home” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the books of Ezra and Nehemiah. After 70 years in exile, the LORD began to fulfill His promise to bring His people back to the Promised Land. In the years that followed, faithful clergy and dedicated laity worked together to rebuild Jerusalem physically and restore the people of God spiritually. Through it all, God was at work to keep His promise of bringing the Savior into the world in the fullness of time.

Ryan and Shannon discuss how the US Cyber Command deployed cyber specialists to more than a dozen countries last year to fortify networks and expose tools that hackers are using. These deployments, known as 'Hunt Forward' missions, were conducted by the Cyber National Mission Force. Other countries have also sought assistance from the US in dealing with cyber threats. The Defense Department is seeking $14.5 billion for cyber activities in fiscal year 2025, indicating a growing recognition of the importance of cybersecurity. Article: Secretive US cyber force deployed 22 times to aid foreign governments https://www.c4isrnet.com/cyber/2024/04/10/secretive-us-cyber-force-deployed-22-times-to-aid-foreign-governments/ Please LISTEN

Lamentation is a poetic masterpiece that captures the profound sorrow of a once-glorious Jerusalem now laid to waste. Chapter 1 paints a vivid picture of the city personified as a lonely widow, utterly deserted and mourning her losses after the Babylonian invasion. It's a poignant exploration of the themes of suffering, the consequences of turning away from God, and the stark reality of exile. The Rev. Brian Heller, manager of Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry for the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study Lamentations 1. Embark on a journey through the Book of Lamentations, a deeply moving poetic reflection on the destruction of Jerusalem by the Babylonians. This book is a profound expression of grief, portraying the desolation of a city and a people who have experienced immense suffering. Each chapter brings its unique perspective, from the vivid portrayal of Jerusalem as a lonely, grieving widow to the poignant pleas for mercy and reflection on the unyielding justice of God. The imagery is stark and emotive, encapsulating the pain of exile and the consequences of turning away from God. Yet, amidst the mourning, Lamentations also offers glimmers of hope and the possibility of redemption. It's a powerful exploration of human sorrow, divine justice, and the enduring faithfulness of God, even in the darkest of times.

Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor — Managing Director for Human Care and Ministerial Support and Director of Life Ministry with the LCMS Office of National Mission, and Rev. Ken Krueger — Vice President and Chief Customer Officer for Concordia Plans, join Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about how each of them became church workers, why worker wellness is important to them, what worker wellness and the wellness wheel are, how the Synod is addressing worker wellness, and how different ministries across Synod work together to ensure worker wellness. Learn more about Church Worker Wellness at lcms.org/wellness and Concordia Plans at concordiaplans.org. Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve. Christ's church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

In this episode of The Concordia Publishing House Podcast, host Elizabeth Pittman is joined by Rev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa to talk about his next book, Faith That Shines in the Culture. In his upcoming book, Al shows readers how we can reflect the light of Christ to the world around us. Pre-order Al's newest book on CPH's website by visiting cph.org/faith-that-shines-in-the-culture. Show NotesBeing part of society as a Christian means living out your faith in the church, the government, and the family. At the same time, every individual is called by God to do something in the world, known as your vocation. Both your vocation and living in The Three Estates are beautiful and rich parts of being a Lutheran. In his upcoming book, Al Espinosa examines both of these theological concepts to help you see how to take up God's greatest call: showcasing God's light through you and into the world. During the episode, Al talks about how Christians can learn how to express Christ's light in each portion of their life as they go about their daily routine. He also discusses how this new book fits in with his two previous Faith That… books with CPH and what listeners should expect from the work.   QuestionsHow does your new book fit into your previous writing?What is vocation? What does vocation look like?What are the Three Estates?What advice do you have for church members to help underscore how important it is for every member of the local congregation to be active and involved?About the GuestRev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa is a graduate of Concordia University Irvine (BA) and Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana (MDiv). He received an MA in Christian apologetics from Biola University and a Ph.D. in theology from the University of Birmingham (England) in 2009. Dr. Espinosa is the senior pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Irvine, California, and a member of the Board for National Mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. In addition to writing the faith-and-culture trilogy, he has served as an author for The Lutheran Difference, a study notes team member for The Lutheran Study Bible, and a contributor to the Biblical Response series. 

Rev. Dr. Alfonso Espinosa, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Irvine, CA, Chair of the LCMS Board for National Mission, and author of the forthcoming book Faith that Shines in the Culture from Concordia Publishing House, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about how this book fits into his trilogy of books about faith and culture, how we understand vocation as Lutherans, our vertical relationship with God and horizontal relationships with our neighbors, what "light" has to do with all of this, and how we understand vocation within the three estates. Find your copy of Faith that Shines in the Culture at cph.org/faith-that-shines-in-the-culture.

EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE, KNOWING JESUS. Well talk about a big vision! How can it become a reality?  Dr Rachel Jordan-Wolf will be joining us at this year's LAUNCH (See launchcataylst.org for the best deal available for you and your team.   Rachel is executive director of HOPE Together in the UK, having worked closely with the initiative since 2010, when she was the Church of England's National Mission and Evangelism Advisor, and this episode is FULL of encouragement that you may not be aware of, and doesn't tend to get spoken about anywhere near enough.  “I'm committed to evangelism being at the heart of the church,' says Rachel, “Committed to mission and to the local church in villages, towns and cities, and committed to do this together across denominations and across ethnicities to make Jesus known with words and action. We are also committed to a new generation, engaging with Millennials and with digital culture as well. You'll hear how as well as being an expert on the stats and demographics from surveys she has commissioned we can have a great deal of hope for the future church. Rachel as a passionate evangelist herself is seeing God move in exciting ways as she personally finds opportunities because people are way more ready to hear the good news of the gospel than most Christians are to pass it on! This podcast serves to help you to do that, and help others to do so too - so please rate it, share and subscribe, and connect with Rachel in person at LAUNCH or at hopetogether.org.uk and please check out talkingjesus.org to not only be encouraged but equipped!   

Jon Carter finishes off our series ‘The Beauty of the Gospel' using an interview with Rachel Jordan-Wolf, the Church of England's National Mission and Evangelism Advisor, as he unpacks the call to action in Matthew 28.

Rev. Dr. Mark Wood — Managing Director for Church Planting, Renewal and Support with the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about his life and career before seminary, how he made the decision to pursue seminary education and church work vocation, the challenges of moving to seminary as a second career family, how seminary life was for his family, and his encouragement for men to consider second-career pastoral vocations. Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve. Christ's church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

Resuming after a short break, The Think WIldlife Podcast returns with a new episode discussing the role of ecological economics with Nandan Nawn. We discuss the ideas and trends in ecological economics, how it varies from environmental economics, how the field is growing in India. We also discuss how nature can be valued and the role of local communities in conservation. We also discuss the recently launched National Mission on Biodiversity and Human Well-being and some of the great work being done by Biodiversity Collaborative.Nandan Nawn recently became a Professor at the Jamia Millia Islamia. Classical Political Economy, Ecological Economics and, Environment and Development have been his persistent academic interests. His present focus is on Economics of Ecological Restoration.  He has designed/co-designed 13 and taught 21 courses across levels and programmes in four institutions across two cities of India. He has supervised 28 Master's thesis, 1 MPhil dissertation and 1 PhD thesis. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit anishbanerjee.substack.com

Rev. Brian Heller, Manager of Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry with the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy and Sarah for our Set Apart to Serve Series to talk about who is served by professionals in Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry (formerly Specialized Pastoral Ministry), in what ways chaplains serve, how he began considering formation to be a chaplain, the special training that professionals in Specialized Spiritual Care Ministry receive, and how to begin the steps to becoming a chaplain. Learn more at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/specialized-pastoral-ministry. Learn more about the Set Apart to Serve Initiative at lcms.org/setaparttoserve. Christ's church will continue until He returns, and that church will continue to need church workers. Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative of the LCMS to recruit church workers. Together, we pray for workers for the Kingdom of God and encourage children to consider church work vocations. Here are three easy ways you can participate in SAS: 1. Pray with your children for God to provide church workers. 2. Talk to your children about becoming church workers. 3. Thank God for the people who work in your congregation. To learn more about Set Apart to Serve, visit lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve.

Rev. Eric Andrae — pastor of First Trinity Lutheran Church in Pittsburgh, PA, and Lutheran Student Fellowship Pittsburgh, and Rev. Michael Meyer — managing director in the LCMS Office of National Mission, join Andy and Sarah to talk about why ministry to college students is important today, how campus ministry made a difference for both of them when they were students, what campus ministry looks like today, and how campus ministry staff and leaders will be equiped in the LCMSU Campus Ministry Staff Conference 2023. Find Lutheran Student Fellowship Pittsburgh at lsfpgh.com and register for the LCMSU Campus Ministry Staff Conference at calendar.lcms.org/event/lcms-u-campus-ministry-staff-conference-2023.

Rev. Charles St-Onge, missionary pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in Montreal, Quebec, Canada through the Office of National Mission for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study John 18:15-27. As Jesus goes to His trial, Simon Peter faces his own. John's connection to the high priest gives Peter access to the high priest's court. When Peter is questioned there, he denies that he is one of Jesus' disciples three times, in accord with Jesus' Word. Meanwhile, Jesus is questioned by the high priest and gives faithful testimony. Though Jesus is on trial, His responses end up putting the high priest on trial for refusing to put faith in Jesus. As Jesus clearly remains in control of the events of His Passion, He goes forward willingly to save the very people who are sinning against Him and to save all. “The Word Made Flesh” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the Gospel according to St. John. The disciple whom Jesus loved wrote his Gospel account as an eyewitness to Jesus' life and ministry. As we read the Word of God recorded by St. John, the Holy Spirit works in us so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so have life by faith in His name.

Deaconess Emma Heinz and Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor join Mark and Julianna to talk about how we approach life issues in youth ministry and teach a full theology of life in all things to our youth. Find LCMS Life Ministry resources at lcmslife.org and life resources on the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com/life. Bio: Deaconess Emma Heinz lives in St. Louis and is married to Seminarian Ben Heinz. She has served as a Deaconess intern in the Office of National Mission, including helping with the LCMS Gathering registration. She currently serves as registrar for Higher Things and in her spare time likes to read and write.   Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor serves as director of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's Life Ministry.  After a first career in marketing, she received an M.A. from Concordia Theological Seminary and earned a doctorate from Bethel University. She is married to Rev. Jonathan Manor, and they have five children and two grandchildren. 

Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra is the Technical Advisor to the NIUA and was previously the Director General for the National Mission on Clean Ganga. In this episode, ‘Understanding The Urban River Management Plan' with Shri Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, he helps us understand in-depth Urban River Management and why it has become a necessity for our cities and challenges due to urban sprawls. He explained how we can clean our rivers, and water bodies and develop an alliance for the cities on the same river. We discussed in-depth working on the basin and sub-basin levels, how to effectively manage STPs of various capacities, and how we can move towards integrated urban water management. We discussed the need for healthy rivers and developing public-private partnerships in developing the infrastructure to manage the water and developing the whole ecosystem of river management. We further discussed the new innovations and leveraging the river without harming the river. He also helped us understand the administration challenges, and how city officials can take the initiative from the Urban River Management Plan and its other guidelines for the benefit of the city. We also discussed the concept called River Cities, how it functions, what are the initiatives, and what is its reception on the field. Lastly, we discussed the different skill sets required to develop a good Urban River Management Plan. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Gaana, JioSaavn & Youtube. Also, follow Climate Centre for Cities on Social Media for more updates on podcasts, blogs, and newsletters. Respective links can be accessed here: https://linktr.ee/ccube To know more about the Climate Centre for Cities: http://c-cube.niua.org/ To know more about the Climate Practitioners India Network (CPIN): https://niua.in/c-cube/climate-practitioners-india-network Special thanks to the members of the Design Team, National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA), and Climate Centre for Cities for their constant support. Also, a special mention to Manjaree Dutta and Arunav Moitra for supporting the development of the podcast. The podcast is conceptualised, produced & hosted by Punit Gandhi: https://www.punitgandhi.com/ Music Credits: Navdeep Music https://www.navdeepmusic.com/ Disclaimer: Climate Centre for Cities (C-Cube) is providing this podcast as a public service, but it is neither a legal interpretation nor a statement of C-Cube's policy. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the C-Cube. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by C-Cube employees are those of the employees and do not necessarily reflect the view of the C-Cube or any of its officials. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/climate-centre-for-cities/message

What does it mean to be a “theologian of the cross?” Martin Luther gave the Church this language to rightly confess the paradox of Christ's revelation of Himself in suffering. As part of a lengthy disputation, he wrote that “we apprehend the things of God not in glory, but in the suffering and death of Jesus.” So what does this mean? How does this affect the way Lutherans approach life issues? And finally, what does this mean for our vocations? Join Steph, Tiffany, and special guest Pastor Robert Zagore for another episode of “The Floor is Yours” as they put legs on this rich aspect of our Lutheran theology. Bio: Rev. Robert Zagore received his Master of Divinity in 1990 from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., and completed additional coursework toward a Master of Sacred Theology, also from the seminary. He holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind. Before becoming a pastor, Zagore worked as an accounting consultant for Cleveland Business Consulting Services. Zagore grew up in a blue-collar, immigrant Cleveland neighborhood and has served as a pastor for over 30 years in small, medium and large congregations, both urban and rural, and in the LCMS Office of National Mission. He and his wife, Gwen, have been married for 32 years and have four adult children. Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org. Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

Chaplain Brian Heller, Manager of Specialized Pastoral Ministry (SPM) in the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his journey into serving as a pastor and in chaplaincy, the difference between institutional chaplaincy and military chaplaincy, how chaplains serve, the training chaplains receive through Specialized Pastoral Ministry, and what he's looking forward to in his new role. Learn about Specialized Pastoral Ministry and serving as a chaplain at lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/specialized-pastoral-ministry.

Pr. Robert Zagore of the Office of National Mission for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod LCMS Office of National Mission Making Disciples for Life

If you're baptized, if you have baptism sponsors, if you are a sponsor, then this episode is FOR YOU! Ever wonder what the difference is between a godparent and a baptism sponsor? Have you grown up confused by the role of baptism sponsors? Are you considering who to choose as a sponsor for your own children? What is the role of a sponsor and what does it mean to agree to that responsibility? All of these questions and more are answered in this episode!   For Bibles and Hymnals and other Baptism Gifts, shop at www.cph.org. Bios: Erin Bauer is a wife, mom of three, sister, daughter, friend, and baptized Child of God. She resides in Brookings, SD where her husband serves as pastor and she serves as head teacher at Bauer Lutheran Homeschool. She has a Masters of Arts in Deaconess Studies from Concordia Seminary. While she is not currently serving as a deaconess, she uses her degree in all vocations, especially exemplary Bible Study student and as she teaches the faith to her littles.  Gwen Zagore has been married to Rev. Robert Zagore for 36 years and now lives in St Louis, MO. They are blessed with 4 adult children, 3 wonderful “kids in law” and 2 grandchildren. Gwen graduated from Valparaiso University and received a Masters degree in Natural Resource Management from Michigan State University. She worked in various jobs in soil conservation as her husband served 3 different congregations in Michigan. However, her favorite use of the degree came recently when she became a part of the East African Agricultural Consultancy short term mission team. Throughout the years in the parish, Gwen has served as children's choir director, Bible study leader, school music teacher, and interpreter for the deaf.  Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor has been called by the LCMS Office of National Mission as the director of Life Ministry. She previously served the LCMS New England District as an executive focused on church worker wellness, human care and school ministries. She has also served at LCMS Recognized Service Organizations; at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and at various congregations. After a first career in business, a B.A. in Marketing and studies in an MBA program, Deaconess Tiffany received an M.A. from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne and earned a Doctor of Ministry from Bethel University. Her research is focused on congregation and family care. She is married to the Rev. Jonathan Manor, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Savior in Bedford, Mass. The Lord has blessed Tiffany and Jonathan with five children, and a granddaughter.  Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org. Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

In this episode, recorded 30 March 2022, the CBI's Director of Regions and Clusters, Ahmed Goga was joined by Stephanie Hyde, Chair of the newly established Thriving Regions & Nations board and Chief Executive Officer of JLL. They took part in a wide-ranging discussion on the government's levelling-up agenda, the CBI's plan for clusters, and how businesses can help power places. Chaired by James Harding (Managing Editor and Partner, Tortoise Media) CBI @10am is a free webinar, hosted every Wednesday at 10am GMT. To find out more and to listen and watch previous episodes, visit https://www.cbi.org.uk/cbi-10am/

Have you come across articles in a magazine or social media that don't always paint motherhood in a positive light? What about headlines that speak about children as a burden to begrudge, rather than a gift to care for and delight in? Host Steph Neugebauer reads some disturbing headlines to begin this episode and invites LCMS Life Ministry leaders Tiffany & Kris to discuss the dangers and harm of them, while also devoting quite a bit of time to encourage mothers in their vocations. Much of it hinges on mindset – do we see parenthood and children as God's gift to us? Scripture applies both Law and Gospel on this very issue and sets our minds on things above.   Bios: Deaconess Dr. Tiffany Manor has been called by the LCMS Office of National Mission as the director of Life Ministry. She previously served the LCMS New England District as an executive focused on church worker wellness, human care and school ministries. She has also served at LCMS Recognized Service Organizations; at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis; and at various congregations. After a first career in business, a B.A. in Marketing and studies in an MBA program, Deaconess Tiffany received an M.A. from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne and earned a Doctor of Ministry from Bethel University. Her research is focused on congregation and family care. She is married to the Rev. Jonathan Manor, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Savior in Bedford, Mass. The Lord has blessed Tiffany and Jonathan with five children, and a granddaughter.  Kristin Freeman has served in the LCMS for more than 20 years. She is married to Alan and has two college-aged children, Holly and Samuel. Kris served as a high school Spanish and French teacher and registrar at Concordia Preparatory School (Baltimore, Md.), Spanish instructor at Towson University (Towson, Md.), teacher for Genesis Virtual Academy through Mayer LHS (Mayer, Minn.), and coordinator in the LCMS School Ministry in St. Louis, Mo. Kris now serves as manager of the LCMS Life Ministry office in St. Louis, Mo. In her free time, Kris enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling.  Learn about LCMS Life Ministry at lcms.org/life, and email us at friendsforlife@lcms.org. Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.

MineralPolitik: REEs, If the Price is Right— Aditya PareekThe global contention for securing Rare Earth Elements(REE) supply chains is in full swing. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, three countries have primarily been the movers and shakers of the REE world, the current market hegemon China, Australia, and the US. This is directly consequential to India’s national interests, as China is its strategic adversary, and the US and Australia are its Quad allies willing to cooperate with New Delhi to counter China. However, apart from a Competition Commission of India(CCI) probe into India’s state-owned India Rare Earths Limited(IREL) for abuse of “its dominant position”,  “by indulging in prohibitive increase in the sillimanite prices”, there has been little movement or development in India’s own REEs sector. ChinaChina has moved to centralise and consolidate a major chunk of its heavy REE industry under one state-controlled and supervised company, China Rare Earth Group. As this briefing by renowned business consultancy, Dezan Shira & Associates says, The new conglomerate will make up 62 per cent of China’s national heavy rare earth production.The move is meant to ensure China’s effective control on the pricing of key heavy REEs “such as dysprosium and terbium”, this will have consequences for the worldwide pricing of these heavy REEs and their supply chains.The prohibition of  “foreign investments in exploration, mining, and beneficiation of rare earth, radioactive minerals, and tungsten”, under broader state-issued negative lists. Contrary to the Hainan Free Trade Port negative list, which says no restrictions on foreign investment will be applicable in the REE sector.Another consolidated conglomerate with light REE producers and processing companies in China may be constituted soon for similar reasons of controlling the price of REEs.Consistent with the picture painted by Dezan Shira & Associates, this report in Bloomberg talks of a meeting between China’s automakers, electronics producers and the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The meeting was reportedly aimed at discussing measures to bring down the surging prices of REEs, which is leading to higher production costs and affecting several key high tech industries.It is also interesting to note that the Laotian Ministry of Plans and Development has been warm to China’s Tong Lee Seung Industrial Development Company exploring REEs on Laotian territory. To make matters a little complicated, this Radio Free Asia report talks about the possible uprooting of villagers from the Laotian land in question.  AustraliaAmong the Quad countries, Australia has emerged as the most proactive threat to China’s REEs sector dominance. The much talked about Lynas Rare Earths Ltd has seen record profits and revenue, which, according to this Reuters report is due to strong demand for Electric Vehicles(EV). Lynas was the recipient of much Australian government aid and investment recently, and the growth in its revenue and business is a positive development. According to this FT report, Australia is looking to repeat this success with another company called Hastings Technology Metals which has set up a mine called Yangibana REEs mine in Western Australia’s Gascoyne region. The Australian government will provide “A$140mn (US$100mn)” of the total A$400mn( approx. US$ 286mn) borrowed capital needed for the project. As the FT article says, If all falls in place, It is likely that Hastings can become the second-largest exporter of Australian REEs. Hastings can potentially supply as much as “8 per cent of global demand for neodymium and praseodymium”, which are critical REEs used in manufacturing high-efficiency magnets for industrial and defence applications, among others.The REEs supplied by Hastings will primarily go to the European auto industry, including vendors like Thyssenkrupp(which also makes naval submarines and warships under its HDW subsidiary). Australia can capture as much as 30% of the total REEs market globally in the future. This is in contrast to China’s existing control of 70-90%(according to varying estimates) of the worldwide REEs market.USA new bill has been introduced in the US Senate, sponsored by Republican Sen. Tom Cotton and Democrat Sen. Mark Kelly, aimed at breaking China’s vice on the global REEs supply chain. Called the “Restoring Essential Energy and Security Holdings Onshore for Rare Earths (REEShore) Act”, it seeks to stop the use of Chinese REEs in US Department of Defence supplies. Under the bill, US Defence contractors will be required to source their REEs from elsewhere within a 4-year time frame(by 2026), with waivers applicable only in special cases. The waivers will only be allowed if REEs of the required “quantity and quality are not available at reasonable prices from sources outside of” China, and if “such a waiver is in the interests of national security”.The manufacturers of weapons supplied to the US Department of Defence will be required to declare where the REEs used in their products were sourced from.The US would need to establish a strategic REEs and REE products reserve that can support them even in case of a supply chain disruption for over a year.The US will investigate China’s policies and practices in the REEs sector and if any sanctions by the US for any transgressions are required.The US would encourage the production and use of REEs sourced domestically and from its allies instead of adversaries like China.CyberPolitik: Moving ahead on deep synthesis tech regulation— Sapni G K2022 started with interesting developments on the technology regulation front. As discussed in the previous edition of this Newsletter, China’s regulatory experiments on emerging technology are underway in full swing. This week we have more information and analysis on further tech regulation experiments from China. The Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) released the draft Provisions on the Administration of Deep Synthesis Internet Information Services last week. These draft regulations cover a broad range of technologies that use deep synthesis, which is defined as the use of technologies using generative sequencing algorithms to make text, images, audio, video, virtual scenes, or other information, as represented by deep learning and virtual reality. Media coverage of the same appears to place more emphasis on deepfakes, which is only one amongst the many use cases of deep synthesis technologies. The provisions envision regulation as a mix of increased self-regulation alongside state supervision. Unlike other laws and drafts published recently, this draft misses a lot of granularity in the approach towards institutional capacity on regulation. It provides for contentious and controversial provisions such as real-name identity verification for users of deep synthesis services. Interestingly, this might be one of the first pieces of regulation that may have been drafted with the metaverse in mind, as the draft points to Virtual Reality as a field of application. The lack of free rein to experiment in a space where American companies have a demonstrated advantage could result in displeasure from Chinese Tech giants. This could also have interesting consequences in the application of deep synthesis technologies in military tech, as my colleague Megha wrote here. The presumed leaders of developing global norms on regulation have been slow in catching up against such technologies. Law and regulation have historically trailed miles behind technology. It is fascinating to see changes in this dynamic. However, caution must be exercised in replicating such exercises. Multitudes of emerging technology essentially expand the horizon of expression. Deepfakes have been famously used as media of criticism, parody, and sarcasm. It is not to discredit the harms that have been perpetrated through the use of deep synthesis technology – notoriously the cases of revenge porn and financial crimes. Clearly, the line between regulation and censorship is thin. This draft also reflects the continued trend of China's heightened attempts to regulate cyberspace under the guise of preventing the propagation of false information in the interest of national security and social stability. It can only be hoped that the Chinese population and their freedoms are not sacrificed for these regulatory experiments.Matsyanyaaya: A Four-Point Action Plan for Quantum Technologies (An edited version of this article came out in the Hindustan Times on January 15th, 2022)— Arjun GargeyasIn the 2020 Budget speech, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the National Mission for Quantum Technologies and Applications (NM-QTA) with a total outlay of ₹8000 crores over five years for strengthening the quantum industry in the country. A Lok Sabha question posed in July 2021 enquired about the status and progress of the mission. In response, the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Jitendra Singh, mentioned that the mission had not yet received approval. Singh also announced that no funds were allocated, disbursed, or utilised under NM-QTA during the financial year 2020-21.With no credible advancements made by the government, there is a need to rethink how the proposed NM-QTA will evolve if India plans to harness the benefits of quantum technology. The focus should be to develop an overarching strategy for the next 10-15 years.  Adequate attention to those who can contribute to developing quantum technology must be the government’s top priority. In the current scenario, our view is that the government must follow a four-fold path to build a robust quantum ecosystem in the country.First, the primary focus must be on establishing centres of excellence dedicated to quantum science and technology within academic institutions as well as government research institutes. Quantum technology remains a field highly concentrated in long-term research and development (R&D). Even the famed quantum industry of China started in a university laboratory, led by Pan Jianwei at the University of Science and Technology of China in 2008. In 2022, China boasts of developing the world’s first quantum satellite, creating a quantum communication line between Beijing and Shanghai, and owning two of the world’s fastest quantum computers. This was the result of a decade of research carried out in the hope of achieving critical breakthroughs. Hence, a majority of the Indian government’s outlay has to be pumped into institutions specialising in quantum R&D.Second, the establishment of “quantum innovation hubs” in partnership with selected state governments can help direct investments efficiently and build a well-connected quantum research network in the country.  These hubs, set up with the help of government resources, can serve as centres of collaboration between academia and the private sector. Finally, it is the responsibility of both the union and state governments to establish a conducive fiscal and legal environment to foster innovation. This can potentially attract international firms to conduct their research in the country while involving local talent.Third, the power of startups and large corporations, like Google, Microsoft and IBM, involved in developing quantum technology and applications must be harnessed. The government must recognise the leaps made by these companies. While academic institutions are largely involved on the research side, quantum tech corporations and startups are vital in converting and commercialising this research into products that can be of use. The government must facilitate connections between academic institutions and industry to translate research into real-world applications.Finally, the necessity of international cooperation cannot be ignored. The quantum value chain remains highly complicated, and it will be hard for India to remain self-reliant to build a successful quantum ecosystem. The first step could be for the government to engage with its allies in key groupings such as Quad and BRICS. Technology alliances are gaining traction, and India must look at signing some bilateral or multilateral agreements to leverage others’ growth in the domain. This is imperative for India to win critical technology transfer deals, get external technical advice or mentoring, and establish state-of-the-art facilities for joint R&D on quantum technologies.The government has taken the first step by acknowledging the importance of quantum technologies through its plan of kick-starting a national mission in the country. The global quantum industry has already taken incredible strides and seen massive investments made by both governments and the private sector in recent years. India, which has fallen behind other technologically advanced states in the field of quantum technology, cannot afford to miss the bus this time.Read the full discussion document on ‘Building India’s Quantum Ecosystem’ published by The Takshashila Institution.Matsyanyaaya: Pardesi, Pardesi, Aana Nahin! — Pranay Kotasthane (@pranaykotas)Over the last few weeks, a few reports suggest that Technopolitik has intensified in another critical dimension: cross-border movement of high-tech human capital.Nikkei reported that South Korea intends to keep a close tab on the movement of chip engineers across its borders. The purported objective is to discourage Chinese companies from poaching engineers and prevent tech leaks.In January, SCMP reported that Australia and Japan now require foreign students enrolled in "sensitive" science and technology subjects to hand over detailed background data. Of course, the primary motivation, in this case, is again China.These actions follow related developments in the US. In the first week of the year, a Chinese national pleaded guilty to stealing trade secrets from Monsanto and transferring it to the Chinese government. There was also a rather embarrassing case against an MIT professor of Chinese descent, alleging that he had failed to disclose his affiliation with Chinese institutions. The US government subsequently dropped the case.All these incidents point towards a significant shift in technology geopolitics. As some technology areas get labelled as "critical" or "strategic", movements of professionals and international tie-ups involving China will be scrutinised closely. In other words, human capital movement restrictions will be the next frontier in pursuit of high-tech self-sufficiency.The movement of human capital is an underrated aspect of technology geopolitics. It is a force multiplier in high-tech research and is perceived as such by nation-states. This is especially true in today's high-tech areas where international collaborations are easy, efficient, and effective. For instance, MacroPolo, a think tank, notes that over half of all top-tier AI researchers are immigrants or foreign nationals working in another country.The host and source countries both benefit due to a dense comingling of researchers. While the benefits for the host country are obvious, the source country benefits over a longer-term — through connections to a better research ecosystem, by way of returning immigrants, or in rare cases, through blatant economic espionage.China's attempt at tech self-sufficiency through talent transfer has three independent aspects. First, the party-state has tried to use industrial espionage for strategic advantage. Second, attracting human capital is seen as a legitimate path to indigenisation. Talent poaching may sound evil but is a fair strategy to build a local ecosystem by attracting talent from outside, in the hope that their prior knowledge will accelerate homegrown efforts. Third, there has been an organic movement of Chinese researchers back home with better living conditions and opportunities — outcomes of robust economic growth for nearly three decades.It is tough to estimate which of the three aspects have contributed more to China's rapid strides in gaining high-tech expertise. Regardless, as a whole range of technologies gets labelled as “strategic”, the first of the three aspects will gain narrative dominance, leading to stricter controls on tech transfer and people movement.Such moves will have significant costs to both China and the host countries. But once technologies start getting defined in national security terms, cost-benefit calculations fall aside. While other countries might suffer costs, they are likely to go ahead and put barriers to the movement of people into China. To be sure, China has invited these moves onto itself because of its geopolitical conduct.The mileage of restricting human capital movement may vary widely. For instance, nearly 10 per cent of Australia's university students are Chinese. For the government to align interests and develop the capacity to effectively screen them all is going to be a gargantuan task. Similarly, the flow of technology ideas and professionals from China into the US is too large to restrict.Ultimately, the second-order effects at the level of international collaborations might be more significant. Scientists from these countries are likely to reduce collaborations with their Chinese counterparts, fearing government restrictions on funding and higher scrutiny on outputs.This augurs well for India and Indians though. The China sized gap in students and researchers can only be filled by one other country. We will keep a close eye on this dimension of Technopolitik.Our Reading Menu[Opinion] US hawks and Chinese communists agree: no rare earths for Pentagon by Alex Lo[Column] The Future Of EVs Depend On Rare Earths. Should The US Still Delegate To China? by Ken Silverstein[Opinion] Rare Earths: Fighting for the Fuel of the Future by y Brendan P. Dziama, Juan Manuel Chomón Pérez, and Andreas Ganser[Article] How Quantum Tech Could Upend Global Power Structures by Taylor Owen[Report] Is seeing still believing? The deepfake challenge to truth in politics by William A. Galston This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit hightechir.substack.com

The Holy Spirit works the same today as in any time in history—through the power of the Gospel! In this episode, Rev. Dr. Mark Wood — Director of LCMS Witness & Outreach Ministry and LCMS Revitalization Initiative, joins host Rev. Dr. Mark Larson, Manager of Church Planting in the Mission Field: USA initiative, to explore emerging insights on how to connect the eternal Gospel to our generation. Rev. Dr. Mark Wood About Rev. Dr. Mark Wood: The Rev. Dr. Mark A. Wood serves as the director of LCMS Witness & Outreach Ministry and the LCMS Revitalization Initiative. He is the creator of the Every One His Witness evangelism program and the re:Vitality revitalization program. Prior to joining the LCMS Office of National Mission in June 2014, he served as the founding pastor of Lamb of God Lutheran Church in Lithia, Fla., a daughter congregation of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Brandon, Fla., where he served as the evangelism pastor from 2000 to 2008. A second-career pastor, he served for six years on active duty service in the U.S. Air Force and then worked 14 years in the aerospace-defense industry, primarily in project management systems. A 2000 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, he also holds an associate's degree in computer programming, a bachelor's degree in business administration, and Doctor of Ministry degree with an emphasis in Church Planting and Renewal from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. He is married to Mary Ellen, who works as a recruiter for a hospice and home health care personnel services agency. They have five adult children, six grandchildren, and three great-granddaughters. Sign up to receive email notifications of new podcast releases and other church-planting ministry news. Registration only requires your email address, name and zip code. Check the “Church Planting” option on the form. Sign up > mailchi.mp/lcms/resources

#artificialintelligence #nextbillionusers #ai #piventures #artpark #billionusers Umakant Soni is the co-founder of AI foundry, focused on “building leapfrog AI ventures for next 6bn users”. Before this, Umakant co-founded pi Ventures -India's only Artificial Intelligence-focused $32 m early-stage venture fund. Currently CEO at ARTPARK-AI & Robotics Technology Park A one-of-its-kind, not-for-profit (section-8) foundation promoted by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru with support from AI Foundry in a public-private collaborative model, to promote technology innovations in AI & Robotics. With seed funding of INR 230 Cr ($32mn) from the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Govt. of India, under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS) & from the Govt. of Karnataka, the ecosystem is designed to bring about a collaborative consortium of partners from industry, academia, and government bodies. He spent the early part of his career growing 3 Intra company ventures as part of Wipro's Innovation arm (India's leading IT services company) and creating strategies for investment and growth in advanced technologies(focusing on web services and SOA). He has 2 patents published in the area of autonomic process systems. He is an alumnus of IIT Kanpur and enjoys painting abstracts in his spare time. ARTPARK is launching a $100 million venture fund for India exclusively for startups in Artificial Intelligence, Deep-Tech and Robotics space. https://in.linkedin.com/in/soniumakantwww.artpark.in https://twitter.com/umakantsoni6 https://www.aifoundry.ai Kindly Subscribe to CHANGE- I M POSSIBLE youtube channel www.youtube.com/ctipodcast

In this episode we understand the Mission and all the challenges it would address. Dr Chellam explains the importance of the mission and why it is important that we act NOW.

The 5th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) was kicked off on 10th December 2020 virtually. The event was inaugurated by Shri Ratan Lal Kataria, the then Minister of State for Jal Shakti. The objective of IWIS 2020 was a Comprehensive Analysis and Holistic Management of Rivers and Water Bodies. IWIS 2020 has being organised by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Centre for Ganga River Basin Management and Studies (cGanga) to discuss water-related issues and steps taken to save the planet's most precious resource. The theme of IWIS 2020 was Arth Ganga: River Conservation Synchronised Development. The conference had a comprehensive analysis and review of river rejuvenation and Local River. It also had deliberation about Arth Ganga, i.e. how river conservation synchronised development can take place. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/vaidicsrijan/message

Last month, the Union government announced that it would invest ₹11,000 crores under a centrally sponsored scheme, The National Mission on Edible Oils—Oil Palm (NMEO-OP), to promote oil palm cultivation. The stated objective of this scheme is to reduce India's dependence on edible oil imports by boosting domestic production of oil palm. Many, however, have expressed concerns over this push for oil palm cultivation, especially in bio-diversity hotspots such as the Andamans and the North-east. Critics have claimed that the monoculture of commercial oil palm plantations would destroy bio-diversity as well as the livelihood autonomy of farmers. How valid are these fears and what are the likely outcomes of the government's ambitious plans to boost oil palm production? Guest: Sudhir Kumar Suthar, Assistant Professor at the Centre for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The Hindu Write to us at socmed4@thehindu.co.in

Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, Director Witness and Outreach & Revitalization with the LCMS Office of National Mission, joins Andy and Sarah to talk about his book Connected to Christ: Witnessing in Everyday Life available from Concordia Publishing House, including defining the terms "evangelist" and "witness," who is called to be a witness, some misconceptions about witnessing, and how witnessing is about sharing Jesus' love with those around us in our lives. Find Connected to Christ: Witnessing in Everyday Life at cph.org/p-34258-connected-to-christ-witnessing-in-everyday-life.aspx.

The Indian Railways are the backbone of the country, connecting the various remote parts of our country. It is the largest network in the world by size. Beyond the immense utility of the railways, there is also a rich cultural and historical significance to it. In this episode, we delve deeper into the history and culture of the Indian Railways. An officer with the Indian Railways, Vinita Srivastava is presently the Executive Director, Railway Heritage heading the Heritage Directorate of the Railway Board in Rail Bhavan, New Delhi. Ms Srivastava qualified as a Mechanical Engineer (IMechE) in 1996, and studied for an Executive Masters in Management from IIM Ahmedabad in 2011. More recently, in 2017 she became a Chevening Science and Innovation Fellow from St Cross College, Oxford University. Her work experience spans two decades in rail transportation and her previous posting was in the Ministry of Culture where she developed her knowledge of cultural studies, museology and conservation architecture. She took up her present post in April 2019 after three years administrating the National Mission on Cultural Mapping and the IGNCA. In 2018 she was instrumental in developing a bilateral MoU for cultural and conservation information for the UNESCO WHS temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Her remit includes the UNESCO protected Railway Industrial Heritage sites like the CSMT building and the Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Shimla & the Nilgiris.

The Indian Railways are the backbone of the country, connecting the various remote parts of our country. It is the largest network in the world by size. Beyond the immense utility of the railways, there is also a rich cultural and historical significance to it. In this episode, we delve deeper into the history and culture of the Indian Railways. An officer with the Indian Railways, Vinita Srivastava is presently the Executive Director, Railway Heritage heading the Heritage Directorate of the Railway Board in Rail Bhavan, New Delhi. Ms Srivastava qualified as a Mechanical Engineer (IMechE) in 1996, and studied for an Executive Masters in Management from IIM Ahmedabad in 2011. More recently, in 2017 she became a Chevening Science and Innovation Fellow from St Cross College, Oxford University. Her work experience spans two decades in rail transportation and her previous posting was in the Ministry of Culture where she developed her knowledge of cultural studies, museology and conservation architecture. She took up her present post in April 2019 after three years administrating the National Mission on Cultural Mapping and the IGNCA. In 2018 she was instrumental in developing a bilateral MoU for cultural and conservation information for the UNESCO WHS temple complex of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. Her remit includes the UNESCO protected Railway Industrial Heritage sites like the CSMT building and the Mountain Railways of Darjeeling, Shimla & the Nilgiris.

Gathering and deploying a team to launch various aspects of ministry is a key goal of a church planter. In this episode, Rev. Jim Woelmer — Senior Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas, joins hosts Rev. Dr. Steven Schave, Director of LCMS Church Planting, and Rev. Dr. Mark Larson, Manager of Church Planting in the Mission Field: USA initiative, to explore strategies and advice to build this core team. Rev. Jim Woelmer About Rev. Jim Woelmer: Rev James Woelmer is pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas, 2002-present. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1990. He served St. John Lutheran Church in Madison, Nebraska from 1990-2002. He received his Master of Family Life degree from Concordia University in Seward in 1999. Pastor Woelmer is the Texas District Circuit Visitor, Circuit 13, 2015-present. He is the secretary for the Randolph Foundation, 2014-present. He served as the Chairman of the Lutheran Mission Alliance, 2014-2019. He serves on the Board of Regents Concordia University Nebraska, 2016-present. He is the Dal-North Zone LWML Pastoral Counselor, 2017-present. He is on the steering committee for Multi-Ethnic Ministry in North Texas, 2017-present. He was involved in the establishment of two new congregations: St. John Lutheran Church in Frisco (2015) and Faith Lutheran Church in Wylie (2020). Pastor Woelmer enjoys jogging and gardening.  He and his wife have five children and seven grandchildren. Sign up to receive email notifications of new podcast releases and other church-planting ministry news. Registration only requires your email address, name and zip code. Check the “Church Planting” option on the form. Sign up > mailchi.mp/lcms/resources The "Mission Field: USA – Church Planting" podcast series, provided by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's Office of National Mission, offers a theological background and best practices for launching new congregations and ministries within a Lutheran framework.

Today’s sermonette based on Mark 4:21-41 is given by Rev. Todd Kollbaum, Director of Rural and Small Town Mission, LCMS Office of National Mission. This is a rebroadcast from February 18, 2016.

Planting churches is joyous indeed but it's not easy and requires commitment, energy and resources. Should it still be a priority? The Rev. Dr. Detlev Schulz — full professor of pastoral ministry and missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, dean of graduate studies, director of PhD Missiology Program and co-director of International Studies, joins hosts Rev. Dr. Steven Schave, Director of LCMS Church Planting, and Rev. Dr. Mark Larson, Manager of Church Planting in the Mission Field: USA initiative, to explore the biblical and practical reasons why new churches should be planted even today. The Rev. Dr. Detlev Schulz About the Rev. Dr. Detlev Schulz: Dr. Schulz joined the Concordia Theological Seminary (CTSFW), Fort Wayne, faculty in the fall of 1998. He serves as professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, dean of Graduate Studies and director of the Ph.D. in Missiology Program. In 1984, Schulz earned his B.A. degree at the University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. In 1988, he successfully completed his M.Div. studies at the Lutherische Theologische Hochschule in Oberursel, Germany. In 1990, he earned his S.T.M. degree at CTSFW. He then served in the Independent Evangelical–Lutheran Church in Germany (SELK) as vicar in Heidelberg, Germany, from 1990–1992. In 1994, he concluded his studies at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, by earning a Th.D. in Systematics. From 1994–1998, Dr. Schulz was a missionary in Serowe, Botswana, for the Lutheran Church Mission of the SELK.  He also served as a guest lecturer at CTSFW during the Fall Quarter in 1997. Sign up to receive email notifications of new podcast releases and other church-planting ministry news. Registration only requires your email address, name and zip code. Check the “Church Planting” option on the form. Sign up > mailchi.mp/lcms/resources The "Mission Field: USA – Church Planting" podcast series, provided by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod's Office of National Mission, offers a theological background and best practices for launching new congregations and ministries within a Lutheran framework.

Andy Bates, Program Director for KFUO Radio, and Rev. Robert Zagore, Executive Director of the LCMS Office of National Mission, drop into the Student Union for one final time to talk about making disciples for life on college campuses. 

How do you speak the truth in love to your LGBTQ neighbors? Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, director of Witness and Outreach in the LCMS Office of National Mission talk about it in The Student Union. Learn more about the Every One His Witness resources at everyonehiswitness.org. This is a rebroadcast from November 20, 2019.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann of Norfolk, NE, works, in part, as a Worker Wellness Advocate for the LCMS Office of National Mission. Her husband, David, is the pastor of Christ Lutheran in Norfolk, an LCMS U chapter serving students at Northeast Community College. Check out Heidi's website heidigoehmann.com, her blog article of the same name as this episode, and check out her study of the Book of Colossians available from our friends at CPH: cph.org/p-33003-the-mighty-the-mysterious-a-study-of-colossians.aspx.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann of Norfolk, NE, works, in part, as a Worker Wellness Advocate for the LCMS Office of National Mission. Her husband, David, is the pastor of Christ Lutheran in Norfolk, an LCMS U chapter serving students at Northeast Community College. Check out Heidi's website heidigoehmann.com, her blog article of the same name as this episode, and check out her study of the Book of Colossians available from our friends at CPH: cph.org/p-33003-the-mighty-the-mysterious-a-study-of-colossians.aspx.

How do you speak the truth in love to your LGBTQ neighbors? Rev. Dr. Mark Wood, director of Witness and Outreach in the LCMS Office of National Mission talk about it in The Student Union. Learn more about the Every One His Witness resources at everyonehiswitness.org.

Deaconess Heidi Goehmann of Norfolk, NE, works, in part, as a Worker Wellness Advocate for the LCMS Office of National Mission. Her husband, David, is the pastor of Christ Lutheran in Norfolk, an LCMS U chapter serving students at Northeast Community College. Check out Heidi's website heidigoehmann.com, her blog article of the same name as this episode, and check out her study of the Book of Colossians available from our friends at CPH: cph.org/p-33003-the-mighty-the-mysterious-a-study-of-colossians.aspx.

After making aliyah (moving to Israel) from the US in 2000, Gitler began his food rescue efforts from his car by rescuing meals from catering halls and delivering them to local nonprofits that serve the needy. Eventually, Gitler founded Leket in 2003, working with 200 partners to collect and redistribute more than 28 million pounds of fresh, perishable, quality food that would otherwise be considered waste from farms, hotels, military bases and catering halls.

"The Joys and Challenges of National Mission in a Post-Christian Age" with Rev. Bart Day, Executive o" the LCMS Office of National Mission and soon to be President/CEO of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund in St. Louis MO.

"Using Talents to Serve the Church with Lutheran Young Adult Corps" with Julianna Shults, Program Manager for Lutheran Young Adult Corps in the LCMS Office of National Mission. Connect with LYAC and learn how you can serve at lcms.org/yacorps. If you're 20-29 years old, take the survey Julianna referenced at http://remarksurvey.lcms.org/cgi-bin/rws5.pl?FORM=yasurvey.