Faithfulness Amidst Change: Pastor Kristin Engstrom’s Expanding Call in Global Mission

Happy New Year Greetings and Epiphany Blessings to you all.  

I am glad to start this new year by sharing some good news with you all in my January Newsletter!

As you will read, my call as an ELCA global missionary shifted at the end of 2025.  I am still based in Madagascar, but I now have additional responsibilities beyond Madagascar.  I also traveled to West Africa in late 2025 as part of my new call.  I've included several photos from my visit in the newsletter so that you can get a glimpse of our ELCA companions doing God's good work in West Africa. 

The January 2026 newsletter is downloadable here.  You can also find and share a downloadable link to my newsletter on my blog at: https://alongwithpastorkristin.blogspot.com/2026/01/january-2026-newsletter-faithfulness.html .  There is also a bonus photo + story on the blog post that didn't fit into the newsletter. 

Additionally, I was recently asked by the ELCA to make a video to share what it is like to serve as ELCA missionary.   The video is available on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/2_X-TIxIbpc  and on my blog: https://alongwithpastorkristin.blogspot.com/2025/12/serving-as-elca-global-missionary-in.html

I keep you all in prayer, as do our companions around the world.  I know that this is not an easy time in the US, and in many parts of the world.  But as I hear often from our siblings in Christ where I serve, we trust that God is faithful especially in times of difficulty, and will give us the faith, ability, and resources to be bearers of the gospel in all that we are and all that we do. 

Pastor Kristin Engstrom