Giving
Posted on March 12, 2026
by Wanda Pritzel, LISW
Discover how Lutheran Family Service strengthens marriages, protects life, supports church workers, and walks with people through life’s hardest moments. Learn how your gift, made in honor of someone who reflects God’s good design, can create a lasting legacy of hope, healing, and abundant life for generations to come.
Adoption
Posted on March 5, 2026
by Mitch & Angela, Parents
Through LFS, Mitch & Angela have been blessed twice through adoption — first with their son in 2022 and now with their daughter, Maryn Katherine. This is the story of answered prayers, steadfast support, and the tender, joyful love that has grown their family and deepened their understanding of God’s unfailing grace.
Lutheran Family Service News
Posted on March 1, 2026
by Sarah Anderson, LCSW, PMH-C
Meet Sarah Anderson, LCSW, PMH‑C—now providing counseling for church workers in Tennessee through Lutheran Family Service. She offers compassionate, faith‑integrated care grounded in strong clinical practice. As a pastor’s wife and certified perinatal mental health specialist, she brings valuable insight into the unique pressures of ministry life.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on February 18, 2026
by Rev. David Gunderson, tLMFT
When pastors try to do everything — from fixing faucets to mowing lawns — their true ministry suffers. Pastor Gunderson shares why delegation isn’t just practical but biblical, offering five simple steps to empower volunteers, strengthen the church, and help workers focus on sharing Christ.
Mental Health
Posted on February 14, 2026
by Susan Shields, LMHC, LIMHP, LPC
Loving someone with chronic mental illness can be meaningful and exhausting at the same time. This article offers gentle guidance for caregivers — how to support well, set healthy boundaries, stay grounded in faith, and care for your own emotional health. You don’t have to walk this journey alone.
Lutheran Family Service News
Posted on February 10, 2026
by Andy Wyss
Lutheran Family Service has been honored with the 2025 Fred E. Lietz Mission Project Award from Lutheran Church Extension Fund. Recognizing outstanding ministry impact, the award celebrates LFS’s expanding work in mental health counseling, adoption services, and church worker care across the Midwest.
Adoption
Posted on February 4, 2026
by Aaron & Maria, Parents
Aaron and Maria’s journey to parenthood began years before they ever knew it — through summer camps, prayerful waiting, and an unshakable sense that God was preparing a unique path for their family. This is the story of how faith, courage, and love led them to their son, Russell.
Technology
Posted on January 30, 2026
by Mollie Clark
Social media is part of everyday life. It helps us stay connected, informed, and engaged with the world around us. Used well, it can even be a tool for encouragement, learning, and community. Like many powerful tools and technology, social media can quietly shape us. Read for five signs that social media may be influencing your life more than you realize.
Life Advocacy
Posted on January 28, 2026
by Kim Laube
On January 27, LCMS pastors from across Iowa gathered for Pastors’ Day on the Hill, beginning in worship and fellowship before meeting with LCMS legislators at the Capitol. Pastors received guidance on life‑advocacy conversations, encouraged their elected leaders, and affirmed their commitment to protecting life in Iowa.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on January 21, 2026
by Rev. David Gunderson, tLMFT
Church workers pour themselves out for others, often at the cost of their own well‑being. This article shows how the Greatest Commandment offers a simple, biblical framework for self‑care: caring for your body, mind, spirit, and emotions so you can serve joyfully and avoid burnout.
