Celebrating Seven Ordinations in 2025: Your Mission Support Makes It Possible

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Your Mission Support Is Raising Up Leaders Across the Synod

Because of your congregation’s faithful mission support, the Grand Canyon Synod is celebrating a historic milestone in 2025: six ordinations so far this year, with a seventh—Vicar Wanda Frenchman—scheduled for December 11. This is the largest number of ordinations in a single year in our synod’s history. Even more, for the first time, we have welcomed two deacons into Word and Service Ministry. Your generosity is forming leaders who will serve congregations and communities across Arizona, southern Nevada, St. George, and Navajo Nation.

Bishop Hutterer has written a special letter sharing one of these stories in depth: the remarkable journey of Rev. Solomon Kuch, who was ordained on August 24, 2025, and now serves Emmanuel Sudanese Lutheran Fellowship in Glendale.

Download the full story here: English and Spanish.

A Story of Calling, Courage, and Community

Pastor Solomon’s path to ordination has been shaped by perseverance, faith, and the strength of an immigrant congregation. A refugee from South Sudan, Solomon has led Emmanuel for five years—working 12-hour night shifts at the Arizona State Mental Hospital, raising six children alongside his wife Elizabeth, completing seminary studies, and providing faithful pastoral leadership long before receiving official recognition as a rostered minister.

Emmanuel Sudanese Lutheran Fellowship is a vibrant congregation of more than 200 South Sudanese refugees and second-generation families. Spread across 11 cities and more than 1,000 square miles, this community is young, resilient, and growing—70% of the congregation is under age 18, with more than 140 children and youth.

Now ordained, Pastor Solomon is deepening pastoral care for families near and far, mentoring the congregation’s young people, and nurturing a spiritual home where Dinka and English speakers worship together in hope.

Your Mission Support Makes Stories Like This Possible

Congregational mission support provides the foundation for raising up leaders across the Grand Canyon Synod. Because of your gifts, we are able to accompany candidates and congregations through:

  • Synod candidacy support, walking with leaders through every step of the discernment and formation process.

  • Seminary financial assistance, reducing the burden of tuition and student debt.

  • Ethnic-specific ministry support, including staff accompaniment for vulnerable and multilingual communities.

  • Congregational transition support, including interim ministry as congregations prepare to welcome new pastoral or diaconal leadership.

These ministries allow every congregation—regardless of size, language, culture, or location—to welcome leaders whom God is raising up.

Thank You for Being Church Together

As Pastor Dan writes, “Your stewardship is actively empowering leaders across our synod.” Your congregation’s generosity is not just sustaining ministry—it is multiplying it. Each ordination this year represents years of prayer, discernment, support, and God’s faithfulness at work in community.

We invite you to read and share Bishop Hutterer’s full letter in your newsletter, bulletin, or council meeting to highlight the real impact of mission support in raising up new leaders.

Download the full story here: English and Spanish.

Thank you for your faithful partnership in this shared ministry.

Grand Canyon Synod, Bishop HuttererBrian FlatgardBishop Hutterer Letters, Mission Support, Stewardship, Mission Support ImpactComment