Meet the Contributors

A major component of the Missio Dei immersion within The Great Sending is the series of 42 Biblical texts accompanied by theologically grounded commentary by well-known and respected leaders in the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS). Fifteen contributors provided commentaries for The Great Sending, inviting readers to experience the power of God’s Word. Contributors are listed below; for full bios, please refer to The Great Sending book.

Rev. Dr. David H. Benke

*retired President/Bishop of the LCMS Atlantic District
*Pastor of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Brooklyn, New York

Rev. Dr. David D. Buegler

*former LCMS Vice President
* former LCMS Ohio District President
*former guest preacher on The Lutheran Hour
*former Pastor – Trinity Lutheran Church, Jackson, MI; St. Paul Lutheran Church, Napoleon, OH; St. Paul Lutheran Church, Westlake, OH
*former Executive Director of the Cleveland Lutheran High School Association

Rev. Dr. Jon Diefenthaler

*President Emeritus of LCMS Southeastern District
*Church-Relations Advisor for Lutheran World Relief
*Adjunct Professor at Concordia Seminary St. Louis
*former Pastor – Bethany Lutheran Church, Waynesboro, VA; Our Savior Lutheran Church, Laurel, MD

Rev. Ken Hennings

*former LCMS Texas District President
*former Executive Director of Board of Mission Administration and Mission and Ministry Coordinator – LCMS Texas District
*former Chairman of the LCMS Council of Presidents
*former Pastor – Trinity Lutheran Church, Uvalde, TX; St. Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, TX

Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick

*LCMS President Emeritus (2001-2010) *former LCMS Texas District President *founder of Concordia’s Christian Leadership Institute
*CEO of Legacy Deo (former Lutheran Foundation of Texas)
*Founding member and pastoral advisor of Mission of Christ Network

Rev. Keith Kohlmeier

*former Pastor in Iowa West District, leading parishes in Farnhamville and Spencer; and in the Kansas District, in Wichita
*former LCMS Kansas District President

Rev. Dr. David Maier

*LCMS Michigan District President
*current Chairman of the LCMS Council of Presidents

Rev. Dr. Paul Maier

*former LCMS Vice President
*former campus Chaplain for Lutheran students at Western Michigan University
*Professor Emeritus of History – Western Michigan University

Rev. Dr. Dale A Meyer

*former LCMS Vice President
*President Emeritus and Professor Emeritus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
*former Pastor – St. Salvator Lutheran Church, Venedy, IL; St. Peter Lutheran Church, New Memphis, IL; Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Collinsville, IL
*former speaker on The Lutheran Hour
*former host On Main Street, a national television show for Lutheran Hour Ministries

Rev. Dr. Gerhard C. Michael, Jr.

*former missionary in Japan
*former Pastor – St. John Lutheran Church, Merrill, WI; Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Warner Robins, GA
*former LCMS Florida-Georgia District President
*former head of the Luther Institute - Southeast Asia (LISA)
*current missionary pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Dahlonega, GA

Rev. Dr. Dean Nadasdy

*former LCMS Vice President
*former LCMS Minnesota South District President
*former Associate Professor of Practical Theology and current adjuct professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
*former Pastor – Woodbury Lutheran Church, Woodbury, MN; Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN; Grace Lutheran Church, Eugene, OR

Rev. Dr. Robert Newton

*former California Nevada Hawaii (CNH) District President
*former evangelistic missionary to the Philippines’s Kankanaey people
*former Professor of World Missions at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne
*former Pastor – First Immanuel Lutheran Church, San Jose, CA

Rev. Dr. Wilbert J. Sohns

*immersion initiator and general author and editor of the Great Sending: God’s Heart Beating Through You
*former LCMS Wyoming District President
*former member and chairman of LCMS Board for Missions
*former Pastor, serving churches in Cambridge, NE; Casper, WY; Broomfield, CO; Springfield, IL; Cheyenne, WY; and, in retirement, Aleman, TX

Rev. Dr. Russell L. Sommerfeld

*former LCMS Nebraska District President and Vice District President
*Assistant Professor of Theology and Interim President at Concordia University, Nebraska -- Seward

Rev. Dr. Larry Stoterau

*former Chairman of the LCMS Council of Presidents
*former LCMS Pacific Southwest District President
former Pastor – Emmaus Lutheran Church, Alhambra, CA; Epiphany Lutheran Church, Chandler, AZ