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By the grace of God, on December 16, 2002, Christian News published its 40th
Anniversary Issue.
There is little doubt that over 40 years, Editor and Publisher Rev. Herman
Otten has published more information about the Bible, Lutheranism, the
Reformation, and religion in general in his weekly periodical, than any
other in history.
Did you notice that he did it without advertising?
What has Christian News got to offer? The truth.
Christian News is worthy of your financial support.
The truth is a rare commodity in the LCMS today.
All through high school this writer can remember copies of Christian News on
the coffee table in our living room in New York City in the early 1960's.
At that time there were 155,000 members in the Atlantic District and most of
the LCMS congregations were owned and operated by members of the Masonic
Lodge.
Ruddy Russmeyer was the Atlantic District President in 1967 who eventually
led most of the District into the ELCA. Russmeyer never saw the day
that he could tell the truth about the Bible. Otten told the truth
about the Atlantic District.
In the summer of 1968, I saw LCMS President Oliver Harms tell a joint
meeting of the Nebraska Districts in the Seward Gymnasium that all of the
Seminary Professors in St. Louis agree with the inerrancy, inspiration, and
infallibility of the Bible. He said he had a signed document in his
briefcase to prove it. Harms loved telling lies about God and the
Bible. Otten told the truth about Harms, the Seminary, and ELIM.
Before he died, Harms publicly endorsed ELIM and disgraced the cross of
Christ.
This writer received his first call to be a Lutheran Teacher at Lutheran
High School North in St. Louis in the fall of 1969. There was only one
other faculty member who publicly supported Jacob Preus. That faculty
member left the next year. In the fours years that I worked there, I
never met so many people who claimed to be Christians and who hated the
Bible. Otten told the truth.
Otten keeps telling the truth. This is why his paper continues to be
such a blessing and a threat at the same time.
Otten has received little if any public acclaim. For telling the
truth, Otten is the most despised man in the LCMS.
Otten has told the truth about doctrine, liberals, evolution, LCMS politics,
worship, Church Growth/PLI, Walther, Church and Ministry and more subjects
than this writers can list.
Otten has championed the Word of God and the Lutheran Reformation with more
intensity and shear volume than any other periodical in the world.
You can order a copy of Christian News from cnmail@fidnet.com
or phone
573-237-3110 or write 3277 Boeuf Lutheran Rd., New Haven, MO 63068-2213
How does one man do all this? Well he doesn't do it by himself.
Otten has also been blessed with an exceptionally capable wife. Grace
Otten, the mother of seven, is the chief financial officer, cook, and bottle
washer, and good looking to boot. He has the support of his sons and
beautiful daughters. Pound for pound, Otten's congregation is made up
of some of the most committed and focused Lutherans on the planet.
Otten is a little bit quicker with the Bible than most of his
contemporaries.
Some guys just get everything.
Dear Herman, none of this, including that breath you took this morning, is
possible except by the grace of God.
So, I pray for your continued good health, commitment to the truth, and love
for God's Word.
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