One reality facing many of our churches is shrinking congregation size. Between COVID and changing family dynamics, the impact on what were once robust congregations cannot be overstated. What has not shrunk, however, is the faith and fervent desire to be church together. The people of God in the con­greg­a­tions of the Evan­gel­ical Lutheran Church in Amer­ica pro­claim loudly with our denom­in­a­tion’s name­sake, Mar­tin Luther, “Here I stand. I can­not do oth­er­wise. God help me. Amen.”

CONTINUE READING the full story by Pastor John Connolly (St. Paul (Startown), Newton; Cedar Grove, Vale).