Food insecurity affects nearly one in four college students nationwide. In response, campus ministries across the Network of ELCA Colleges and Universities (NECU) operate pantries offering food, essentials, and compassionate support. These ministries reflect Christ’s call to feed the hungry and ensure all can flourish. Read the full article on Living Lutheran: That all may flourish — NECU pantries address food insecurity.
Read MoreReformation is more than an annual celebration—it is a living tradition calling us to embody grace, justice, and courageous discipleship in daily life. In this reflection, Pastor Ralen M. Robinson invites us to remember that the Spirit continues to stir reform in our communities as we advocate for change, love our neighbors, and allow faith alone, Scripture alone, and grace alone to guide us year-round. Read the full reflection on Living Lutheran: My take: A living tradition — The Reformation was meant to be continued.
Read MoreThis Deeper Understandings reflection revisits the ELCA’s 2003 social statement Caring for Health: Our Shared Endeavor, which calls Christians to affirm health care as part of our baptismal vocation to love our neighbor. The statement highlights the need for equitable access to care, support for providers, faithful decision-making, and compassionate community engagement.
Read MoreIn Wisconsin, Share Our Best Furniture Ministry partners with Breaking the Chains Church to furnish homes for people reentering society after incarceration. By providing essential items—beds, tables, and home goods—local Lutherans help families rebuild stability and dignity during a vulnerable transition. Learn how congregations collaborate to embody Christ’s love in tangible and practical ways in Living Lutheran.
Read MoreTwo Texas Lutherans—Pastor Brad Otto of Acts of Wisdom and Dick Moeller of Water to Thrive—answered God’s call to support safe water access and education in Africa. Their ministries now provide vital resources in Ethiopia, Liberia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, impacting more than a million people through well-building and school support.
Learn how mustard-seed faith grew into transformative ministries serving thousands in this Living Lutheran article.
Read MoreFleeing abuse and seeking safety, Magali Sanchez-Hall found healing and purpose through Trinity Lutheran Church in Brooklyn and the guidance of Pastor Hector Carrasquillo. His steadfast support helped her rebuild her life, pursue education, and become a powerful advocate for justice. Today, her journey from survivor to community leader shines as a testimony to the light of faith and the church’s call to see every person as beloved and capable. Read the full story on Living Lutheran.
Read MoreBorn to Honduran parents in Waukegan, Illinois, Carlos Ferrera found strength and belonging through Sagrado Corazon Lutheran Church. After facing isolation abroad and hardship at home, Ferrera returned to his faith community—and to himself—through mentorship from Pastor Hector Carrasquillo. Now leading youth ministry, Ferrera brings joy and connection to young people, showing how faith can turn adversity into purpose.
👉 Read the full story on Living Lutheran.
Read MoreAt Calvary Lutheran Church in Richland Hills, Texas, children are learning what it means to lead and serve through their own “Little Lutherans” congregational meetings. The gatherings teach stewardship, worship, and service while giving kids a sense of ownership in church life—complete with budget discussions, art projects, and joyful learning. Read more at Living Lutheran ».
Read MoreAcross the wide plains of North Dakota, eight ELCA congregations have joined together in an innovative shared ministry called Christians in Action. By pooling resources, training lay leaders, and supporting one another in worship and mission, these rural congregations are expanding their reach and deepening their connections in Christ. Read the full story at Living Lutheran ».
Read MoreKathy Lueders, retired NASA associate administrator and member of Lutheran Church of the Resurrection in Florida, reflects on her career in human spaceflight, her commitment to community service, and her grounding in faith. Her story highlights how vocation and discipleship intertwine in surprising ways. Read her story in Living Lutheran,
Read MoreFive years after its release, All Creation Sings continues to shape worship across the ELCA, offering prayers and songs that reflect diverse voices and expansive images of God. David Sims, Augsburg Fortress’ senior music editor, shares how ACS serves congregations and inspires faithful action. Read the full interview in Living Lutheran.
Read MoreThe ELCA’s social statements are not political add-ons, but expressions of Lutheran faith lived in the world. Kristin Johnston Largen explores the statement The Church and Criminal Justice: Hearing the Cries, highlighting its call for dignity, equity, and a transformed mindset. As Lutherans, we are invited to move beyond vengeance and violence, embodying God’s mercy in criminal justice and in all relationships. Largen, who is also one of the featured speakers at our 2025 Bishop’s Fall Gathering, brings these insights into conversation with our synod life. Read more in Living Lutheran →
Read MoreFrom the ocean depths to the farthest galaxies, creation invites us to marvel at mysteries we cannot solve. Writer Elise Seyfried reflects on faith, humility, and wonder in an age of scientific discovery. She reminds us that while our striving for knowledge is good, God also calls us to rest in questions that remain unanswered. We are cradled, like children, in the vast love of the Creator who holds both ocean and sky. Read more in Living Lutheran →
Read MorePastors are often pulled in many directions, juggling meetings, preaching, teaching, and community care. But what if the most essential task of ministry is prayer itself? Pastor Mindy Roll reflects on the biblical story of Mary and Martha, the neuroscience of prayer, and her own renewal through contemplative practice. She invites congregations to support their leaders in rhythms of prayer—so that ministry flows not from busyness, but from Jesus’ presence. Read more in Living Lutheran →
Read MoreAt the U.S.-Mexico border, the Border Church brings people together for worship on both sides of the wall. Rooted in prayer, accompaniment, and a ministry of presence, the congregation serves migrants and asylum-seekers while witnessing to Christ’s call for peace and justice. Despite barriers and fear, this community testifies to unity in Christ and hope for a world without walls. Click here to read the full story at Living Lutheran.
Read MoreAn Ohio congregation has transformed a farmland bequest into an ongoing ministry that feeds both local and global communities. Since 2001, St. Mark Lutheran in Van Wert has dedicated all proceeds from its 100 acres to hunger ministries, raising tens of thousands each year to support food banks, shelters, ELCA World Hunger, and more. Rooted in the stewardship of Lutheran farmers, this model continues to multiply gifts for those in need. Click here to read the full story at Living Lutheran.
Read MoreEven in challenging times, hope shows up in the everyday witness of ELCA congregations and ministries. This roundup from Living Lutheran lifts up stories of resilience, leadership, and compassion—reminders that God is active through community and commitment. Click here to read the full feature.
Read MoreIn a new interview with Living Lutheran, author Kaethe Schwehn reflects on her novel The Gospel of Salome, a bold reimagining of biblical times through the lens of fiction. As a Lutheran writer and professor, Schwehn discusses the role of faith, storytelling, and vocation in shaping characters and communities. Click here to read the full interview.
Read MoreKendra Hernandez shares her story of faith shaped by church communities from Las Cruces to Budapest to Baltimore. A lifelong Lutheran and young adult leader, she reflects on finding belonging, serving through YAGM and Global Refuge, and discovering grace in action beyond Sunday mornings. Read her full story in Living Lutheran — click here to learn more.
Read MoreThe ELCA’s 1991 social statement The Church in Society: A Lutheran Perspective continues to guide how we live our baptismal promises in today’s complex world. Grounded in the gospel and Lutheran theology, the statement calls us to serve neighbors, advocate for justice, and respond with courage and compassion to society’s needs. Read Craig L. Nessan’s reflection in Living Lutheran—click here.
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