Studies have shown that, after public speaking, the second fear people have the most is death. It is not something people are eager to talk about or even acknowledge. Since we don’t know precisely or even approximately when we are going to die, planning for our death is far from easy. Last year, a report surfaced about a BC woman who was given the runaround by PayPal, an online payment company, after she tried to recover the $800 in her late husband’s account. It took a mountain of paperwork and the media getting involved before she finally saw the money....

“Our God remains active in the world, already engaged in mission. It is the essence of the vibrant, faithful church to participate in this mission.” When it was founded in 1986, the ELCIC had 207,674 baptized members in 653 congregations. As the ELCIC approaches its 30th anniversary, it has 114,592 baptized members in 525 congregations. “With attendance in decline in many congregations and faced with a growing number of people who do not seem interested in any religion, members are concerned about the future of their churches. Congregations and denominations are facing significant change.” What is a missional church approach? The...