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After these parting words, Jesus ascends into heaven, sending His disciples into various communities with a mission to tell all people about Him. We remember these sending words of Jesus and consider how we live them out in our ordinary lives. One way we share the good news of God's love for all people in Jesus is through outreach. Christian outreach is the idea of connecting with the people in our community through service and genuine care. As grace-filled relationships develop, so will opportuni- ties to care for others, give witness to what Jesus has done in our lives, and—through the workings of the Holy Spirit—invite our neighbors into a relationship with Jesus too. Throughout this issue, we'll consider what outreach looks like today as our communities recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our lives have looked very different—at work and school, with friends and family, and in church too. We'll consider the opportunities we have to engage people during this current season, including outreach to youth, families, and the community at large. We'll learn from the chair of the Department of Theology and Outreach at Concordia University, St. Paul, about urban outreach and outreach to college students. We'll consider ministry to members of the armed forces. We'll also get a peek into a day in the life of a deaconess who works with Middle Eastern refugees in Germany. While this issue highlights several people groups and contexts, it only scratches the surface of what outreach looks like in every community—including yours. Each of us has been placed in communities and neighborhoods surrounded by people who Jesus loves and died for. Learning the context of the com- munity—its history and culture—and forming rela- tionships with the people who live there are ways we can begin to cultivate conversations, find opportuni- ties to serve, and share the difference Jesus makes in our lives. w Amy Bird is a writer and editor, serving as the primary author of Lutheran Life and as a contributing author for various devotional resources. She studied communication and theology at Concordia University Wisconsin and holds an MA in systematic theology from Concordia Seminary. Amy lives in Federal Way, Washington, with her husband, Aaron, who serves as a pastor. A. Trevor Sutton is the senior pas- tor at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Lansing, Michigan. He has published multiple sermons, Bible studies, and devotional books with various Chris- tian publishers. Sutton holds a master of divinity from Concordia Seminary and a master of arts in writing and rhetoric from Michigan State University. Sutton lives in Lansing, Michigan, with his wife, Elizabeth, and daughter, Grace. Ted Doering is an author, pastor, and church planter in central Texas. Through woodworking and home improvement projects, he has dis- covered that if you are willing to be bad at something, you might just become good at it. Married to Chelsey, he enjoys spending his time with her around good friends, baseball, and the outdoors. Lonnie Gonzales graduated with a bachelor's degree in Mexican American studies from Concordia University Texas. He earned his master of divinity degree from Con- cordia Seminary. In addition, Pastor Gonzales recently retired from the United States Army Reserves after serving for eight years as a military chaplain. Pastor Gonzales serves as the Houston City Director for LINC Ministries of the LCMS. Devoted to his wife, Joy, he has been married for over 28 years. They reside in Houston, Texas, with three grown children. About This Issue's Authors Lutheran Life 3

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