All Leaders

The issue of children not attending is affecting congregations of all sizes all across our LCMS. Statistics recently released from LCMS Youth Ministry (Seven Practices of Healthy Youth Ministry, Page 20) reflect that only 1 in 5 children baptized in the LCMS are remaining active in faith into adulthood. To address this, LCMS ONM leaders, seminary professors and my RSO, Concordia Center for the Family (CCF), are uniting to help congregations shift their thinking on youth ministry. It is a shift away from short-term programs for children TO long-term support for parents/caregivers as they raise children in the faith EVERY DAY in the home with regular support from their congregation. This is the one approach that has proven to be most effective at re-claiming and retaining children in the Christian faith. I invite you to check out our resources and other information at www.concordiafamily.org . One of the best ways to make a long-term change is to encourage pastors, other church workers and lay leaders in our congregations to receive training from CCF as "CCF Facilitators" through 5-day training events on either seminary campus that will take place next spring. Find out more about this by going to https://concordiacenterforthefamily.org/CCF-Facilitator-Information . Have your pastor get in touch with me. I'd LOVE to share how, together, we CAN turn the tide in our LCMS to not only survive, but thrive as our children become engaged as life-long disciples of Jesus with the guidance of loving parents/caregivers who are supported by their congregation. Such an approach will take us back to our Lutheran roots, doing as Luther instructed in his Small Catechism..."as the head of the household should teach it in a clear and simple way." This will yield reformation by the power of our Lord's precious means of grace once again. Jesus guarantees it!

Hopeful for Reformation in our LCMS!
Rev. Dr. Todd A. Biermann, Executive Director of CCF