Happy June 26! You may be wondering what makes today so special. Well, it’s not National Donut Day, not National Go-to-the-Beach-Day, or even National Campfire Day. However, if you guessed National DCE Day, you are correct! And to show all the wonderful DCEs out there how much we appreciate them we decided to make a list of the Top Ten Reasons you should thank your DCE!

In her book Hero: Being the Strong Father Your Children Need, physician Meg Meeker says, “A father is not a coach. A Father is a leader.”

As a father, have you ever had that moment when in the midst of disciplining your kids you have an almost out of body experience listening to the sound of your own voice?

Father's Day is fast approaching! Use these ideas to celebrate the dads, granddads, and other male role models in your church.

"Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come." (Proverbs 31:25)

As your church prepares for a likely influx of visitors during the Christmas season, now is a great time to refresh everyone on ways to welcome new faces. Here are a few ideas to help your church create a welcoming environment during this busy season.

After I graduated high school and went to college, I didn’t stop going to my home church. Since I lived in the same town as I had before, I didn’t feel the need to leave. Rather, I avoided my campus ministry at first because I thought that there was no point in going to a new ministry when I already had one. I eventually found my way to the campus ministry in town; my brother, on the other hand, traveled two and a half hours south to go to school in St. Louis, and found a church home far away. Since he now had a new congregation for the next four years, there wasn’t really a reason for his first church home to keep in contact with him, right?

From the time I was young, I was a bit of a planner. Most things in my life were carefully considered—and my professional path was no different. I knew what I would study after high school. I had already decided what university I would attend. I had already identified the job I wanted after graduation. And, if I am completely truthful, none of these things dealt with the Concordia University System, the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, or the church at all. So . . . what happened?

Children love to celebrate Jesus’ birthday at Christmas. And they love to celebrate their birthdays, the day they were physically born. Equally important is helping them treasure their Baptism birthdays, the day they were spiritually born as God’s children, and reminding them of all the blessings they receive from being in His family. Here are twelve traditions you can start with that goal in mind.

This is an important time of year. It is a time filled with celebration, parties, and transition. It is a time when many people transition from one phase of life to another. It is a season in which many young people are excited, yet anxious; parents are both rejoicing and mourning; and teachers take a collective deep breath.