Faith Lutheran Church will host the 2017 North Texas Free Conference on Friday, January 27 and Saturday, January 28 at Faith Lutheran Church in Plano, Texas.  The conference, themed “Luther and the Reformation,” will feature guest speaker Rev. Ken Schurb discussing a variety of topics including the Bible, church history, Martin Luther and the Reformation.

“The year 2017 marks the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.  On October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted Ninety-Five Theses.  Instead of gaining the forgiveness of sins by the purchase of an indulgence paper, Luther argued that only the Gospel of Christ forgives sin,” said Rev. James Woelmer, Senior Pastor of Faith Lutheran Church. “The Reformation was, first and foremost, all about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  It was then, and the Reformation is still all about Jesus.  The task of the Reformation never ends.  Everyone needs to hear the good news of their Savior from sin, death and the devil.”

Since 2002, Schurb has served as Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Moberly, Missouri. A graduate of Concordia Teachers College, Seward, Nebraska, Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and The Ohio State University, he has taught as an adjunct professor at Moberly Area Community College. Previously, he served as pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, Berne, Indiana and as a professor at Concordia College, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Schurb has been a member of the Board for Youth Ministry, the Commission on Theology and Church Relations, and the Committee for Convention Nominations. He currently sits on the Board of Governors of Concordia Historical Institute. During the 1990s he worked for seven years as an assistant in the office of synodical President A. L. Barry. While serving in Moberly, he was a Vice-President of the Missouri District for five and a half years.

Pastor Schurb and his wife Lana met at church in Columbus, Ohio. They have two children and two grandchildren.

Faith Lutheran Church is located at 1701 E. Park Blvd. in Plano. The conference is free, but free will offerings will be accepted to offset conference expenses.  Registration is encouraged. For complete conference schedule, additional information or to register, call 972.423.7447 or visit www.faithplano.org.