News

LM-A News

We publish a regular newsletter which is distributed via email. Its purpose is to encourage and support confessional Lutherans, by offering

  • devotions

  • teaching articles

  • a weekly memory verse

  • profiles of our members and interviews with a range of interesting people

  • news and upcoming events

  • prayers

The newsletter is available by subscribing below. You can access each issue in printable form on the right-hand side of this page. The lead article from each issue is also available below, so you can catch up on any that you missed.

NEW! Audio recordings of the newsletter devotion are now available, beginning in September 2026. To access the recordings, go to the individual devotion, or look under the Printable Copies for the week. Many thanks to David Harris for volunteering to make the recordings.

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Preparing for Sunday

As you look forward to the Divine Service on Sunday, you may like to meditate on the readings for the week (All Saints’ Day):

To read the Hymn of the Day and the collect for Sunday, please visit the Worship page and download the service order or insert for Sunday. Lectionary Notes are included each week.

2026 Synodical Magazine Print Edition

We have been contacted by a number of people asking that a professionally printed version of the 2026 Synodical Magazine be made available. To minimise double handling and extra workload for LM-A staff, the magazine is available as a Print-On-Demand product which anyone interested can purchase direct from the printer, Mixam Australia.

Magazines are available for $15.50 per copy, plus postage.

The free PDF printable version of the magazine is available in August 2026 of the ‘Printable Copies of Our Newsletters’ below.

Click here to purchase the Synodical magazine

Printable Copies of Our Newsletters

You may know of people in your family or people in your area who would love to read this newsletter but can’t access it for various reasons.

Please feel free to print off the following PDF versions of recent newsletters to share as part of your ministry of love and support for your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Messengers of the Gospel

Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

Revelation 14:6-7

When Luther died in 1546 it gave people pause to consider the true impact and emphasis of his life’s work. What was the essence of what he stood for? What was this Reformation really about? What was the lasting message that Luther himself would have people hold on to?

At his funeral, Luther’s friend and colleague Pastor Johannes Bugenhagen preached and while it might be unexpected to our ears today, Bugenhagen identified Luther with the angel of Revelation 14 who proclaimed ‘an eternal gospel’ to all on earth. This was not some schmalzy spirituality suggesting that people become angels when they die (which of course is not true). Rather Bugenhagen was identifying Luther as God’s messenger (angel) whose primary work was to proclaim the unadulterated gospel and to restore it to its rightful place as the central message and work of the church.

As Bugenhagen honoured Luther with this recognition, he was also rightly defining the essence of the Reformation. Still today some want to focus on the impact the Reformation had on history and the way it helped define the German nation, but it was not primarily a cultural or political movement. In fact the Reformation was not a movement, but rather a message (see Pless: 68-69). A message that God freely justifies sinners through faith alone in Christ alone. A message that calls for confidence in the Word of the Lord that endures forever (1 Peter 1:25) and who’s central message is this same eternal gospel fulfilled in Christ Jesus who ‘died for our transgressions and was raised for our justification’ (Romans 4:25).

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Spread the Gospel; plant Lutheran churches; show mercy.

Report on Rev. Dr. Arthur Rickman’s teaching on ‘Confessional Lutheran Mission and Church Planting’ at the LM-A Pastors’ Conference.

Church planting is something of a buzzword in contemporary Christianity. However, it is not always presented in a realistic way or taught on a sound theological basis. At times, church planting has been put forward as a silver-bullet; something that can save the institutional church from decline or turn it around dramatically. Sometimes the encouragement to plant churches comes with harsh criticism of established congregations that are considered too focussed on maintaining the status quo and holding back the church from its mission.  ‘All we need to do is plant new churches,’ the argument goes, ‘and the people will come.’ For others, the terms ‘church planting’ and ‘confessional Lutheranism’ are so far removed from each other that they are considered polar opposites. The argument goes that Confessional Lutherans are too preoccupied with preserving the church as it was that they are not interested or well equipped for mission, outreach, or planting new churches.

But how much of this is true? How can church planting be a blessing to the church? How can it be a fulfilment of the church’s mission? How is the planting of churches completely compatible with confessional Lutheran theology? In many respects, LM-A is a living example of how it can work. Although more recently, established congregations have been voting to join LM-A, the majority of our congregations are still church plants. Nevertheless, we have much to learn in this area as we come to terms with the calling God has placed on us as a synod.

It was against this background that the Pastors’ Conference planning committee invited Dr Arthur Rickman to present on church planting at the recent conference in Warrnambool. Dr Rickman is currently living in Panama with his family where they serve the LCMS mission in Latin America. His mission work has given him extensive experience in planting churches in various places around the world, and he generously shared from his wealth of knowledge to both encourage and equip LM-A pastors for their ongoing work in this area.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Back to the Catechism: The Creed

This article is the second in a series exploring the six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism. It was written by Rev. Dr. Edward G. Kettner, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton) and was first published in The Canadian Lutheran in April 2017 .

We All Believe in One True God

When Luther outlined the order of the catechism, he noted that first we need to see what God would have us do and leave undone. Then we need to see what provision God has made for us because we have not done or have left undone what God says we should. The commandments clearly give us instruction for our life as we should live it as people of God, and show us that we have not lived up to their standards. From there Luther takes us to the Creed, where we see what God has done to preserve our lives, both on earth and in relationship to Him.

While there are three creeds that have been widely used in the Church down through the ages, the focus in the Catechism is on the Apostles’ Creed. This Creed has become the creed used in baptism, the creed which summarizes what the Scriptures teach about the God Who Is, and the God whom we confess as our saving God.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Imitators of the Lord

Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

1 Thessalonians 1:6-8

As you know from past newsletters, your Seminary is moving rapidly towards the point where we can start teaching students in February 2027. The enrolments have started coming in, textbooks are being chosen and teaching materials are being prepared. Like Paul, Silvanus and Timothy before us, we want our students to know about the ‘living and true God’ (v9) so that they in turn can teach their people the Gospel (v5): the joyous news that God’s Son Jesus, whom He raised from the dead, delivers us from the wrath that we deserve because of our sinfulness (v10).

What you may not know, is that seminary is as much about formation as it is about academic knowledge. We insist on our pastoral and diaconal students studying for five years not only because it takes that long to learn to understand and teach God’s Word, but because it takes so long to be shaped by Him. Note how Paul and his co-workers stress not only learning but action, and not just doing but being. The Thessalonians ‘became imitators of us and the Lord’ (v6) and ‘became an example to all the believers’ (v7). Knowing about God and being His faithful servant aren’t separate concepts; they come as a package. And so the preparation your students receive at LTS-A will be wholistic, shaping future servants of the church through God’s Word, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to be like Him in His love for His people. And note that even when they graduate, students will still have much to learn. One of the joys of studying God’s Word is that it never ends (at least in this life); it truly is an inexhaustible treasure!

Of course, what Paul, Silvanus and Timothy teach doesn’t only apply to seminary students. All Christians are called to hear, understand and share God’s Word. All Christians are called by virtue of their faith and hope in our Lord Jesus to labour in love for others (v3). And that labour isn’t always easy. Often it’s accompanied by affliction (v6). And so all God’s people are invited to dwell in God’s Word to receive the help they need for their labours; to allow God to work on, in and through you.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Back to the Catechism: The Ten Commandments

This article by Rev. Dr. Edward G. Kettner, Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Concordia Lutheran Seminary (Edmonton), was first published in The Canadian Lutheran in January/February 2017 and is reproduced here with permission. It is the first in a series exploring the six chief parts of Luther’s Small Catechism. The rest of the series will be reproduced in subsequent issues of the newsletter.

Why the Law Matters

Not long after Luther rediscovered the Gospel of free grace, he realized how terribly ignorant both the people and the clergy were of the basics of the Christian faith. Beginning already in 1518, Luther preached frequently on the basics of faith. After conducting a visitation of congregations in Saxony in 1527 and 1528, Luther lamented this lack of knowledge and determined to provide a means by which people could be educated in the faith and in the Christian life. Consequently, he wrote the catechisms to explain the content of the faith and a pattern for living out one’s faith in the world in simple form—one that could be used by heads of household as well as by clergy and school teachers.

The idea of a catechism, or a handbook to the Christian faith, was not something new. Instruction in the Creed and Lord’s Prayer, and later also the Ten Commandments, had been common in the Middle Ages, though such instruction had fallen into disuse. Prayer books had also been common, but they tended to be very moralistic rather than Gospel-centered.

In his catechisms, Luther began his teaching with the Ten Commandments, to show the student what a person should do and leave undone in one’s life, showing both what God forbids and desires, and how one continually falls short of doing God’s will.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Update from Tom Krahling

Tom is studying at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary St Catharine’s in Ontario, Canada. He will complete his studies in December.

Grace and Peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

I thank God for all of your prayers and support, and your continued labour in the Gospel. It has been my great joy this month to enjoy the fruits of the Inaugural Synodical Assembly of Lutheran Mission – Australia, which recognised the bond of fellowship which Jesus Christ has established between LM-A and the Lutheran Church Canada. My first two weeks in Canada were mostly spent getting to know the area along with the other students, visiting local attractions, including Niagara Glen and the Falls.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Wangaratta Benalla Service of Reception

On Sunday 4 October, a Service of Reception was held at Wangaratta Benalla Lutheran Mission in Wangaratta.

The congregation was delighted to welcome members from neighbouring congregations St Paul’s Lutheran Mission Shepparton, Trinity Lutheran Mission Echuca, and Lake Hume Lutheran Mission, who came to worship with their brothers and sisters in Christ in Wangaratta instead of holding services in their own congregations. The congregation was also blessed by the addition of visitors from Callington and LM-A President Matt Anker.

The service began with the singing of ‘God’s Word is our great heritage’ (LH 266), skilfully led by visiting organist Joshua Walker. President Anker was the liturgist and preacher.

After the invocation, President Matt led the reading of the Confessional Statement and copies were signed by Wangaratta Benalla Lutheran Mission Chairman Graeme Schreiber, Secretary Shayne Schreiber and Elder Bruce Linke.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Removing the garbage

I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.

Philippians 3:8 NIV

Have you ever heard the story of the ‘fairy garbage man’? If so, you’ve probably talked with Pastor Fraser Pearce, or someone who learned from him like I did. If not, you’re in for a treat! To the best of my ability, let me tell you the story of the fairy garbage man…

Imagine you are sitting at home and there’s a knock at the door. You go and pull aside the curtain to check who it is, and are a bit horrified at what you see. There’s a short man, greasy and grimy, and he is waiting on your doorstep. So, you head to the front door and open it just slightly. As you open the door, you immediately get a strong whiff of the worst garbage smell you’ve ever experienced, but that soon seems insignificant as you notice the man has two little translucent wings sticking out behind his back, fluttering furiously, and he is actually hovering a few centimetres above the ground!

Before you can even speak, he looks at you with a wide and genuine grin, and says ‘Hi! I’m the fairy garbage man, and I’m here to buy your garbage!’

Logically, you try to close and lock the door! But, before you can, he cries, ‘Wait!’ From his back pocket he pulls out a thick wad of clean $100 bills bound in a shiny golden clip. He pulls one out and asks, ‘Got any garbage?’

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Amani ya Yesu! Peace and joy in Shepparton

Sunday, 20 September was a day of high celebration at St Paul’s Lutheran Mission, Shepparton. Over 150 people were in attendance for a joyful Divine Service that included two LM-A congregational receptions, a pastoral installation, two baptisms, and Holy Communion.

President Anker conducted the Rite of Reception for St Paul’s Lutheran Mission Shepparton and Trinity Lutheran Mission Echuca.

This was followed by the Rite of Installation for Pastor Matthias Prenzler. His continuing ministry to St Paul’s and Trinity as pastor was reaffirmed as both congregations have now been received into LM-A. President Matt was assisted by Pastor Christian Fandrich of Lake Hume Lutheran Mission and Pastor Michael Prenzler, Interim Principal of Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia (and Pastor Matthias’ brother).

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Inaugural Synodical Assembly a time of great blessing

Lutheran Mission – Australia’s inaugural Synodical Assembly was conducted on 28-30 August 2026 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Hamilton.

The Synodical Assembly was marked by a sense of joy and unity. The Assembly was attended by 58 member representatives, nine international guests and a large number of volunteers, LM-A staff and observers. Daily numbers varied between 160 and 190, with the Closing Divine Service attended by over 300 people from near and far.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Exceeding Joy at Altar and Pulpit Fellowship Announcements

The Synodical Assembly of Lutheran Mission - Australia has voted to approve altar and pulpit fellowship with three Book of Concord Lutheran churches internationally. The decisions are of great historical and spiritual significance after decades of relative isolation from the international Lutheran community.

The LM-A Confessional Statement commits the Church to pursue altar and pulpit fellowship with church bodies that share our confession of 'the doctrine and all its articles' (FC SD X.31) when it states, 'We welcome into altar and pulpit fellowship sister churches "among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity" and the holy sacraments are "administered in accordance with the divine Word."' (3.c.). Such fellowship seeks to conserve and promote the unity of the true faith (Eph 4:3-6; 1 Cor 1:10) and provides a united defence against schism, sectarianism (Rom 16:17), and heresy. As a nascent church body emerging from a context of false teaching, LM-A is particularly vulnerable to theological 'tunnel vision' which could very easily lead to sectarianism. To this end, it is important that LM-A establish church relations with churches who share our confession and can provide a steadying influence as we find our way.

Altar and pulpit fellowship allows the churches involved to commune together, to exchange pastors and churchworkers, to train in each other’s seminaries and to work together to further the gospel.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation!

Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation:
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation:
Join the full throng:
Wake, harp and psalter and song,
Sound forth in glad adoration.

LH 442, Joachim Neander (1650-1680)
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.

Throughout the Synodical Assembly, God’s Word and the reception of His good gifts in the Divine Service were celebrated with great joy. The Assembly worshipped at the start and close of every day. Throughout the services, there was a powerful sense of unity, from the clear and confident responses to the liturgy, the recitation of the Creed and the reverent reception of the Lord’s Supper at the beginning and close of the Assembly.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

To God be the Glory

A highlight of the Synodical Assembly was the in-depth teaching provided on Friday and Saturday by Rev. Michael Frese, who serves as the Deputy Director of Church Relations for The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Pastor Frese presented a detailed Bible Study on the topic, ‘If Moses Had Glory, How Much More Christ? A Biblical and Confessional Case for Reverent, Liturgical Worship from 2 Corinthians 3:7–11.’

Speaking with warmth and enthusiasm, Pastor Frese shared how he came to love the liturgy when a professor in college took the time to show him how the forms and words we use in worship come from the Bible. ‘It was eye-opening - it blew my mind!’ In the same class, he learnt how these forms originated in the Old Testament, how they were developed through the New Testament and then through the Early Church and the Middle Ages. Using the historic forms reminds us that we are worshipping with all the saints who have gone before us.

Pastor Frese taught that the liturgy brings us into the presence of God to receive His gifts. In worship, God condescends to come to us. We meet Him around His altar in Holy Communion, and when the Word is read and preached. ‘The liturgy brings us into close relationship with God - here we have God speaking, calling us to share in the gospel. Having received this gospel, our hearts are changed. Then our hearts, filled with the Holy Spirit, have the motivation to respond to that great gift.’ This is worship; God gives, and we respond.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Strengthen your brothers and sisters

Read Matthew 16:13-20

Simon Peter seems to have been ‘a larger than life’ personality, a born leader. Matthew calls him ‘the first’ of the twelve disciples (10:2). We know he was married (Mark 1:29-31; 1 Corinthians 9:5). We also know that he was impetuous, inclined to ‘foot in mouth disease.’ Sadly, he denied his Lord three times. But the risen Lord graciously forgave him and restored him to his leadership role among the Twelve (John 21:15-17). In Luke 22:31-32 we read: ‘Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.’

We see Peter standing up and strengthening his brothers and sisters in the faith, beginning on Pentecost Sunday (Acts 2) and continuing to do so, often together with the beloved disciple John, through Acts chapters 3 – 12. And some years later, we see this leading apostle of Jesus Christ strengthening the ‘elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia’ through his first letter to them (a favourite of Luther’s), then following up with 2 Peter.

High up in the ceiling of St Peter’s Basilica in Rome you can see, written in Latin, this quotation from Matthew 16, verses 16 and 18: ‘You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.’ On this basis, down through the centuries to Pope Leo 14th in our day, the popes claim to be St Peter’s successors and the vicars of Christ on earth. In our Book of Concord, we find Philip Melanchthon’s response to these grand claims, entitled, ‘The power and primacy of the Pope.’ On the basis of Scripture and church history Melanchthon argues persuasively that these claims are spurious; the rock on which the Christian church is built is ‘the preaching and teaching office’ entrusted to all pastors.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Book Review: ‘Lift Your Eyes. How to Live Outside Yourself’ by Joshua A. Pfeiffer

his review is part of the ‘Good Books’ series we are running highlighting wonderful books which share God’s wisdom.

Pfeiffer outlines his task this way:

In this book, I use this spiritual posture of looking to explore the Christian life in the context of today’s world. While there are powerful forces at work encouraging us to look inward for hope, identity, purpose, and meaning – indeed, for life itself – Christians are fundamentally to look elsewhere, to lift our eyes from ourselves.   We look up to God in faith, and we look out to our neighbor in love.   Martin Luther was insistent on this point. God and neighbor. Faith and love. Looking up and looking out. When we get that right, we do truly look forward in joyful anticipation to the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come, and there is even a sense in which we can rightly look in at ourselves [i]. 

Lift Your Eyes winsomely fulfils the author’s intentions.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Being reconciled to God

What are you hoping for? Who are you trusting to fulfil your hopes?

Jesus’ disciples often had these questions in mind, especially as they painfully tried to make headway on the tempestuous waters in the Sea of Galilee. After close to nine hours battling the wind-tossed waves in the dark, the disciples would have been desperately hoping to reach the shore at Gennesaret.

They were on their own. This time Jesus wasn’t with them in the boat! They couldn’t wake Him to calm the storm! Then terror struck! They cried out in fear when they saw Jesus walking on the water, thinking Him to be a ghost!  

Immediately, Jesus speaks to them. With His Word, Jesus encourages their faith and overcomes their fear, ‘Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid’ (Matthew 14:27).

Jesus walking on the tempestuous sea has already shown them that He is the Lord and ruler of creation. Yet, it takes His Word to reveal that He is their eternal Lord! ‘It is I’, he says, in Greek, ‘ego eimi’, literally ‘I am’! Jesus reveals that He is truly God. ‘I am’ is the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses (Exodus 3:13-15). The name by which Moses revealed that God was present with His people to save them.

Jesus was not there just to take away His disciples’ fear. He was not there just to overcome their being tossed about by the wind and the waves. The Lord Jesus was there to be their Saviour. He is the Holy One of God they could trust!

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Church Discipline for the Care of Souls Introduced

In advance of our Synodical Assembly, the LM-A Committee of Management has approved the Synodical Order, which outlines the roles, relationships and responsibilities of the different offices and bodies within the Lutheran Mission – Australia (LM-A) Synod, seeking to rightly order our life together in a manner that promotes and fosters the mission of the church.

A significant part of the Synodical Order is Church Discipline for the Care of Souls, which ‍

provides the foundation to deal with all conflicts, disputes, false teaching and sinful behaviours that occur between individuals and entities of LM-A. It must be noted, however, that the chief goal of this approach is not conflict resolution in and of itself, but rather the restoration of the sinner through the power of the gospel of Christ (Luke 15:7; Acts 3:19; Galatians 6:1; 1 John 1:9; James 5:19-20).

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod votes in support of altar and pulpit fellowship with Lutheran Mission - Australia

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - On Tuesday 21 July, the Convention of Synod of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod voted unanimously in favour of Resolution 5-02, ‘To Support and Encourage Recognition of Altar and Pulpit Fellowship with Lutheran Mission - Australia.’ The decision was greeted with applause and the singing of the doxology.

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Libby Krahling Libby Krahling

Ordination joy in Burundi

On Sunday 19 July, Bishop Emile Nkurunziza of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burundi was delighted to ordain eight pastors into Word and Sacrament ministry. This brings the total number of pastors serving this rapidly growing church to 12 pastors serving in 12 parishes.

Among the 12 parishes, six parishes now have church buildings under construction: two are almost finished, one is making good progress and three have a long way to go in their construction. The other six parishes are fundraising and collecting local materials to buy land and start construction. Three of these parishes have now purchased land.

Bishop Emile expressed HELCB’s gratitude to LM-A for our support through the mission appeal. Funds we sent have helped students preparing for ordination and the fundraising to buy land for church construction.

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Preparing for enrolment. An update from Lutheran Theological Seminary - Australia

The latest Sem Vlog has just been uploaded to YouTube and can also be seen on our Videos page. In the video, Pastor Michael Prenzler outlines current developments with the Sem and identifies ways in which students can prepare for their studies with LTS-A in 2027. Information on how to enrol should be announced at the LM-A Synodical Assembly in August.

As the pastoral and diaconal stream courses will be held at a bachelor’s degree level, students should be prepared for tertiary study. Deaconess Kathleen Mills can assist any prospective students to enrol in an Academic Research and Writing unit which begins online at the end of August, and which is designed to build the skills needed to succeed at university level studies. Students should be in contact with Deaconess Kathleen ASAP, as enrolments close mid-August.

The video further distinguishes between general admission students and LM-A sponsored students who are preparing for service as a pastor or deaconess in LM-A. While general interest students and those from other church backgrounds have some flexibility in their enrolment choices, LM-A students must follow a set academic and formational curriculum. LM-A is planning on offering full scholarships to cover tuition for sponsored students.

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