Engaging Truth

Join host Bill Prewitt as we continue our tribute to father/son pastoral pairs with an interview featuring the Rev. Tim Dinger, Pastor Emeritus at Peace Lutheran Church in Groves, TX, and his son Andrew, currently serving as lead pastor at Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO. As a young boy watching his father serve in East Texas, Andrew was first headed to Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, where he studied mathematics, but he later attended Concordia Texas and then pursued his Divinity degree at Concordia Seminary.

A pastor’s son will sometimes follow in his dad’s footsteps. The Reverends William Knippa and son Michael are examples of multiple generations in ministry. Michael knew from an early age that he wanted to be a pastor someday. From early life and knowing God’s direction, to father and son collaborating professionally, theirs is a family in ministry. Michael currently serves as Associate Pastor at Redeemer Lutheran in Austin, Texas. Pastor John Cain hosts. www.redeemer.net

Rev. Dr. Mark Drengler and Rev. Micah Drengler have a lot in common: they are both pastors in the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS), they both serve in the parish ministry, they both earned a M.Div. from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO, and Mark is the father of Micah. While that is quite a list, Pastor Drengler and Pastor Drengler share that they are the most recent pastors in a legacy of pastors that now extends to six generations. The LCMS' program, Set Apart to Serve, will be discussed along with other resources that are available to...

We live in times of increasing spiritual opportunity. Following COVID lock-downs, many people are searching for joyful expressions of community and Biblical faith in Christ. We welcome back for a conversation the Rev. Michael Newman, President of the Texas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS). Newman notes that there is a “pent-up” demand for new congregations. The LCMS has about 400 congregations in Texas alone. In the Texas LCMS, no new congregations were formed during the COVID difficulties, but more than 40 have been formed since! Joy can be a spiritual gift from God (Galatians 5:22), and we are seeing that...

Guest Pastor Richard Mittwede serves through The University Lutheran Church, ministering in a context shaped by intense academics, complex social dynamics, and a fast-paced urban environment. He highlights the church’s role as a sanctuary and discusses the unique challenges of campus ministry. Listeners are encouraged to think of university students they know and connect them with Pastor Mittwede or other campus pastors to help fulfill Jesus’ mission. The conversation is hosted by Rev. Dr. Douglas Krengel.

"Garuna" means grace, mercy and compassion across many Southeast Asian languages. Since 2001, Garuna Ministries (www.Garuna.org) has been offering training to local, indigenous church leaders working in Thailand and extending into Laos and Cambodia. Missionary Rev. Dr. Jeff Ehlers, Chairman of Garuna, talks about Biblical teaching. By working with locals to form churches and schools, the grace-filled message of Jesus, and the eternal life he gives, is shared with ever-increasing numbers of new believers. Pastor John Cain hosts.

Join host Bill Prewitt as he welcomes Pastor Jeff Prewitt of Mission of Christ Network to discuss ministry outreach among the Hmong people of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Pastor Prewitt and his ministry partners help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to a people hungry for the Gospel.

Part Two of Pastor Michael Salemink's, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life, presentation on sexuality from the recent "Spotlight on Life" gathering hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church and co-sponsored by Houston Lutherans for Life and the national organization of Lutherans for Life.

Part One of Pastor Michael Salemink's, Executive Director of Lutherans for Life, presentation on sexuality from the recent "Spotlight on Life" gathering hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church and co-sponsored by Houston Lutherans for Life and the national organization of Lutherans for Life.

Part Two of Sr. Pastor Dr. Laurence White's presentation on “The Godly Family” from the recent "Spotlight on Life" gathering hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church and co-sponsored by Houston Lutherans for Life and the national organization of Lutherans for Life.

Part One of Sr. Pastor Dr. Laurence White's presentation on “The Godly Family” from the recent "Spotlight on Life" gathering hosted by Our Savior Lutheran Church and co-sponsored by Houston Lutherans for Life and the national organization of Lutherans for Life.

Bill Hahn, Chairman of MOST Ministries, (Ministry Opportunities Short Term) agrees that MOST Ministries is not like most ministries. Join him as he talks with host Bill Prewitt about the unique projects and opportunities for service MOST offers as it spreads the Gospel while serving the needs of others around the world. mostministries.org

When you are a nurse in a facility with mostly indigent people, how are you to consider treating them? Many have not been shown love, compassion and simple care in much of their adult lives. Yet, it is imperative for their nurse to treat them as any other. Join us to hear Nurse Danielle Talent describe her care for them and why. Host is Dave Schultz.

Many people have fond childhood memories of a week at summer camp. This week we speak to Rev. Ryan Neuhaus, Director and CEO of Camp Lone Star in LaGrange, Texas. Ryan talks about the history of Camp Lone Star, the value of summer camp, and the advantages of choosing a Christian summer camp for your child or grandchild. Rev. Josh Knippa hosts.

What can one person do to improve our world? Short-term missions are a great opportunity to make an important and lasting impression through Christian service!

Nicole Sinders is the Logistics Coordinator with the Central American Lutheran Mission Society (CALMS.org). CALMS organizes mission service trips to Panama, Costa Rica, and Guatemala and is connected with local missionaries at each location. Pastor John Cain hosts.

For more than 20 years mission groups led by Trinity Ablaze in the Houston area have offered a vision care ministry to Kenyan communities. Now that effort has blossomed into schools and rescue centers for young Kenyan women. Host Bill Prewitt welcomes Ray and Flora Tacquard and Richard and Marilyn Lynch to discuss their work with Kenyan Schools of Hope.

It’s almost impossible to visualize, but if you listen carefully to our guest, Linda Kurtz, Executive Director, Hope and Care Outreach, you will see the incredible working of the Holy Spirit in the lives of our friends in Liberia. Coming to faith in Christ, being baptized, confessing Christ, and living for Jesus, is the exciting ministry Linda tells of as she speaks. Join Linda and host Pastor David Schultz as she uncovers the miracles of the Hope and Care Outreach. hopeandcare.org

God is giving the growth, PLI is equipping the churches experiencing explosive growth! How does a church keep up when it is growing by "leaps and bounds?" The Rev. Dr. Scott Rische is Director of Training for the Pastoral Leadership Institute (PLI). Scott and others are working with Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania (ELCT) pastors, evangelists and their spouses, (also resourcing many other local church bodies) to deliver needed training and encouragement. Tanzania, southeastern Africa, is a country where the number of ELCT Christians is increasing by hundreds of thousands of people per year https://PLILeadership.org. Pastor John C...

What would your congregation look like if it grew dramatically, adding members by over 10% every year? Your congregation would look like a special movement of God's Spirit and His grace! The Rev. Shauen Trump is Regional Director for Africa with the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/international-mission). He and other LCMS missionaries work to serve, train, and to resource partner churches in Africa. This mission field is filled with joy as millions upon millions are becoming Christians to the Glory of God! Pastor John Cain hosts.

Listen as host Bill Prewitt welcomes Pastor Dave Welch, the founder and CEO of the U.S. Pastor Council, as he describes his organization's AMERICA plan to help pastors energize their congregations to carry the Gospel beyond the church doors and take an active Christian role in civic affairs.

With the start of each new year, many people take stock of their life and its direction. What is it about a new year that makes us want to start over or be better? What can we do to strengthen our relationships in the new year? Giving us some important new year encouragement is the Rev. Joshua Knippa, pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Nederland, TX, and the new program director for this ELM Houston radio program, "Engaging Truth" (elmhouston.org). Interviewer is Pastor John Cain.

When you are a nurse in a facility with mostly indigent people, how are you to consider treating them? Many have not been shown love, compassion and simple care in much of their adult lives. Yet, it is imperative for their nurse to treat them as any other. Join us to hear Nurse Danielle Talent describe her care for them and why. Host is Dave Schultz.

Join host Bill Prewitt as he welcomes spiritual counselor Kathy Baker to discuss ways to recharge your spiritual discipline in the new year. From finding a new Bible study to revitalizing church attendance, there are many ways to enhance your spiritual life.

The Christmas season often brings back sweet memories, reminders of Christmases past. Because of the memories, Christmas can hit some people hard with a sense of loss when loved ones are not together. There is, however, a healthy way to face a seemingly empty space. The Rev. Benjamin Meyer (Hope Lutheran, Sunbury, Ohio) will talk about how he worked with many people the year that he had 6 funerals between Thanksgiving and Christmas. God has granted forgiveness and a future for every Christian, helping to highlight the necessary reason Jesus was born, to be the answer to our need. Pastor J...

God intends the Christmas Gospel to be a blessing to all who hear it. However, consumerism, strained time management, and financial restraints can keep Christians from enjoying the Lord’s loving intention. In addition, the Christmas season, at times, triggers individuals who are grieving. Once triggered, individuals may become unsettled when their loved one is not sitting with the rest of the family around the Christmas tree. Pastor Christopher Paavola provides listeners with sensitive and sensible pastoral care that can assist Christians in reorienting themselves to the presence of Christ during this Christmas season. Put down those Christmas lights, le...

Join us as host Bill Prewitt welcomes Rachel Potts, Director of Ministry Relations and Strategic Partnerships for Lutheran Braille Workers. The organization's mission is to provide Braille and large-print Bibles and devotional materials for the blind and visually impaired. It currently produces products distributed free of charge in 40 languages to more than 160 countries. Listen in for the passion this ministry has for spreading the love of Christ.

One of the most heartfelt issues to deal with is the unwillingness to forgive. Some folks have been hurt so long and so often that they finally say, “I will never forgive.” But how do you reconcile that with what Jesus says in Mark 11:25, where he says “if you have anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in Heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Join our conversation on forgiveness as host Jonathan Schultz queries his father, Pastor David, on this issue.

At the site of a tragedy, when the first responders are gone, who arrives to help the hurting? The nationally famous LCC Comfort Dogs! The highly trained Golden Retrievers have a gift for empathy and serve as a bridge between the hurting and human counselors. There are also “Hearts of Mercy,” crosses that people write on with personal messages, again at the site of a tragedy and as part of a path to healing. These are the first two of several opportunities to help, offering "Hope for the Hurting."

Join us as we welcome back to the prog...

Pastor Tim Ahlman entered the Office of the Holy Ministry through a traditional path: his great-grandfather, his grandfather and his father were LCMS pastors. However, through formal study, and through years of experience serving as a congregational pastor, Pastor Ahlman has discovered that there are many ways in which the risen Lord Jesus calls workers into his harvest field. In this interview, Pastor Ahlman describes some of the new ways leaders in the church are being raised up at Christ Greenfield Lutheran Church and School in Gilbert, AZ. Men, women, full-time workers, part-time workers, pastors, teachers, Directors of Christian...

The need is indeed great and God is directing people to answer His call to serve. Most of us have heard about supply and demand. Right now, most Christian denominations are trying hard to keep up with the demand for more church workers. "Set Apart to Serve" is one program that is showing results in the effort to recruit and train future pastors and others for church work vocations. Talking with us is the Rev. Dr. James Baneck, Executive Director of Pastoral Education and "Set Apart to Serve." He is a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, a to...

The Rev. Dr. Greg Seltz of the Lutheran Center for Religious Liberty in Washington D.C. joins host Bill Prewitt to discuss the appropriate role of Christians in the electoral process.

From inflation and elections to wars, our world seems to be putting increasing pressure on people emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. How can the 500-year-old writings of "The Great Reformer", Rev. Dr. Martin Luther, inform us with clarity and internal peace? We welcome back to the program the Rev. Michael Newman, President of the Texas District of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (txlcms.org), who will share with us the importance of the Reformation's "Three Solas: Faith Alone, Grace Alone, Scripture Alone." What God has done for you, He has done completely! The interviewer is Pastor John Cain.

In an era of polarization, what's a Christian to do? How should Christians engage in the political process and elections? Political science professor and lifelong Lutheran, Dr. Steven Galatas, examines our experience of living under "two kingdoms" at once, the spiritual kingdom and the political one. Dr. Galatas is Associate Professor of political science at Stephen F. Austin State University. He teaches courses on the European Union, Transatlantic Relations, European Governments, and national security policy. He also teaches core curriculum courses on Texas government. His research focuses on elections and voting behavior in British, German, and Canadian elections, as wel...

Jesus made water into wine. God used Johannes Gutenberg to transform wine-making technology into thousands of Bibles. The primary topic of this interview is the history of Gutenberg’s moveable type printing press and its effects on the Reformation and society in general. This interview also features Dr. Cameron MacKenzie reflecting on the role of modern technology in the work of the church today (e.g., the technology being used to present the listener with MacKenzie's interview). A tertiary topic found in MacKenzie's comments involves the collaboration of science, engineering, entrepreneurship, and scholarship in such a way that the mo...

Ever wonder what the heart of God looks like? For what or who does it beat? The heart of God is a missional, sending heart, evident throughout Scriptures and in the call to the church to be connected and guided by this heart. In today’s interview, Pastor Jeff Doria interviews Rev. Dr. Will Sohns who has spent a lifetime involved in the Mission of God (Missio Dei) through his time as a pastor, church planter, District President, LHM, and more. As an author and teacher, Will shares insights into his book, "The Great Sending", and the heartbeat for the wo...

Join host Bill Prewitt as he welcomes Rev. Dr. Rich Rudowske, Executive Director of Lutheran Bible Translators, to discuss his work as a missionary in Botswana and his new role as LBT's leader. Lutheran Bible Translators works around the world to translate God's word into languages that have no written Gospel.

Why early childhood education? And, why the expense of that education when mom and dad should be able and willing to give the children what they need to know at home? And, does it guarantee their future faith walk?

That and many other questions will be answered by Tiffany Bunker, Director of the Early Childhood Center at St. John Lutheran Church, Cypress, TX. Rev. Dr. Douglas Krengel will host.

Is there really a difference anymore between a Christian school and a secular setting? And how does Christian/Lutheran schools help the family deal with the social engineering done in the culture? Secular and Christ-centered education is the center of discussion today with Pastor Dr. Dan Molyneux as he articulates this truth with Dave Schultz. Join us for this inspirational conversation.

Kate Thoelke, Principal at Our Savior Lutheran School in Houston, TX, is a strong advocate of the classical Christian education model. Listen as she joins host Bill Prewitt to examine the state of Christian education in an increasingly secular society.

How does a Christian university balance sharing God’s truth found in Jesus while teaching and developing a diverse student body that comes from all walks of life in this “woke culture” in which we live? Host Rev. Jeff Doria interviews Dr. Kristi Kirk, Provost and Executive Vice President for Concordia University Texas (CTX), on the great faculty, mission, and opportunities that exist at CTX and the balance they walk being a Christian school while following the laws of the land.