My house has a sizable patio, bordered by a row of Christmas palms. It’s truly lovely, but for years, I barely used it. I’d traipse across it to get to the built-in storage shed in the corner when my water pump needed maintenance. I’d do a quick pass to eradicate the grass poking through the cracks while pulling weeds. I’d collect fallen palm fronds and sweep up piles of inedible, nutlike fruits.

Since its beginning in 2024, the food bank Arch^® Book program from Concordia Gospel Outreach (CGO) has been picking up speed. This grassroots effort to share Christian children’s books at food banks nationwide has expanded to hundreds of locations. One of them is based at a Lutheran church in southwest Iowa.

On May 16, 2025, a devastating tornado struck the St. Louis area and left substantial destruction in its wake. Bethlehem Lutheran Church in North St. Louis stepped up immediately following the storms to serve their community and offer encouragement to neighbors whose homes were severely damaged or destroyed. Concordia Gospel Outreach (CGO), CPH’s charitable arm, brought Christ-centered resources into the community to bring the comfort of the Gospel as cleanup efforts began. 

It was almost eerie. It’s attributable to none other than the Holy Spirit, but it was uncanny the way every experience I’d ever had and every person I’d ever met prepared me to a T for the career missionary role I was interviewing for in early 2017.

Since Concordia Gospel Outreach launched its Food Bank Arch Book Program in 2024, it has truly come to life, now sending Christian children’s books to dozens of food banks and care programs to be distributed to families in need. Today, we’ll hear from one of our partner food banks—one based at a Lutheran church in Lake Worth Beach, Florida.

Food insecurity is a silent battle. You cannot always tell who is struggling with hunger. And too often shame is placed on those who are unable to access food and are under the federal poverty level. Frequently, it isn’t just those under the federal poverty level who experience food insecurity but instead a group known as the ALICE population: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed.

Luke 18:17 says, “Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it” (ESV).

If you asked me about my earliest memories in the Dominican Republic (DR), I’d list being sandwiched between two then-seminary students farthest afield (Chile and Spain) in an airless backseat, a steeply inclined road with a sheer drop-off on one side, neon-colored chicks, and a little boy nestled between his grandmother’s legs in prayer posture.  

These snippets can only add up to one thing: visits.  

Every year, Concordia Gospel Outreach partners with Lutheran organizations to provide them with resources and support to continue serving their communities. These nonprofit groups span all across the country, helping to bring the Gospel and love of Christ to those in need.

Missionary Erin Mackenzie reflects on some of her most cherished roles and experiences with her Latin America and the Caribbean missionary connections—especially at the latest regional conference.