As part of the latest Stories of Faith in Action, we share a story about the Delaware-Maryland Synod and the North Ave Mission (NAM) community (view online or as PDF). “Everything that has sprung to life at North Ave Mission is a vision of the early community. We’re a mix of worshiping community, mutual aid organization, harm reduction, housing, leadership development, even advocacy. But Family Life is our center and our locus.”

View all the Stories of Faith in Action here, and how your offering becomes mission support.

SOFIA: A Blessing for a Pastor and a Church

As part of the latest Stories of Faith in Action, we share a story about the United Evangelical Church in Cuba Lutheran Synod (view online or as PDF). “Yamilka Hernández Guzmán always loved education and had a talent for teaching. A psychologist in an oncology hospital in Cuba, she looked for answers to the daily struggle for life she witnessed.”

View all the Stories of Faith in Action here, and how your offering becomes mission support.

SOFIA: A Kin*dom for Everyone

As part of the latest Stories of Faith in Action, we share a story about the “kin∙dom community,” an ecumenical partnership between the ELCA Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod and the Presbyterian Church (USA) (view online or as PDF). When Pepa Paniagua felt called to a job that didn’t exist, she set about creating it. What resulted was the “kin∙dom community,” a new approach to a term adopted nearly 40 years ago.

View all the Stories of Faith in Action here, and how your offering becomes mission support.

SOFIA: Lutheran Church of Rwanda hopes new seminary can support growing faith

As part of the latest Stories of Faith in Action, we share a story about the Lutheran Church of Rwanda (view online or as PDF). The ongoing construction of Rwanda’s first Lutheran seminary is sparking excitement among church leaders, but with an important government deadline looming, that excitement has been coupled with anxiety.

View all the Stories of Faith in Action here, and how your offering becomes mission support.

ELCA, News, Global ChurchBrian FlatgardFebruary 13, 2023Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2022-2023 Sofia, Lutheran Church of RwandaComment

SOFIA: UP Wild Brings Worship Outdoors

As part of the latest Stories of Faith in Action, we share UP Wild Brings Worship Outdoors (view online or as PDF). Located in the town of Marquette in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, UP Wild Church is among the newest ministries in the growing movement of “wild” outdoor worship communities.

View all the Stories of Faith in Action here, and how your offering becomes mission support.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardFebruary 3, 2023Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2022-2023 Sofia, Outdoor MinistryComment

2020 ELCA Financial Picture

From the most recent Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), we share a snapshot of giving in the ELCA. In 2020, ELCA members gave $1.7 billion in unrestricted offerings to support God’s mission and ministry through the three expressions of the ELCA: congregations, synods, and the churchwide organization.

Thank you for your generosity that enable us to be communities together in Christ serving the world!

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardDecember 30, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2021-22 SofiaComment

Annual report covers

Annual report covers are now available online for congregations that are preparing for their annual meetings. The document includes a letter from Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, a hymn and litany and a story about how change and creativity have helped shape congregations this past year. The digital covers are available as pages or as spreads and can be found at ELCA.org/SOFIA#relevantresources.

ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardNovember 29, 2021Administration Matters, Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2021-22 SofiaComment

Space to Abide: small-group ministry for ELCA members between 18 and 35

This week’s Story of Faith in Action features Abide, a small-group ministry for ELCA members between 18 and 35. The program started in early 2020, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic began, with leadership funding from Mission Support.

Read the story in this post, view as a PDF resource, or visit our SOFIA 2021-2022 page for all resources.

How your offering becomes Mission Support

Each year, ELCA congregations pledge to send a portion of their offerings to fund ELCA ministries in their synods and beyond. We call these funds Mission Support.

Mission Support enables the ELCA’s more than 8,900 congregations and 65 synods to pool resources to love and serve our neighbors in ways that no individual or congregation can do alone.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardOctober 13, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2021-22 Sofia, Living LutheranComment

Bishop Eaton's invitation to Stories of Faith in Action

In her letter introducing Stories of Faith in Action, Bishop Eaton notes that “the disciples in John’s Gospel approach ministry challenges with a scarcity mindset. Jesus shows us a different way: trusting in God’s awesome abundance.”

Bolstered by relationships: San Gabriel Lutheran Church in Alvarado, Texas

This week’s Story of Faith in Action features San Gabriel Lutheran Church in Alvarado, Texas, built up by the generosity of others — church members, nearby ELCA congregations and, through Mission Support funds, the ELCA Northern Texas-Northern Louisiana Synod.

Read the story in this post, view as a PDF resource, or visit our SOFIA 2021-2022 page for all resources.

Four ways to use Stories of Faith in Action

Stories of Faith in Action is a free, annual publication highlighting how God is changing lives through the ministries funded by your congregation’s Mission Support offering, shared with your synod and ELCA churchwide. Visit our SOFIA 2021-2022 page for all resources.

How can you inspire ELCA members with this publication? View this how-to PDF resource or this post which has: links for the digital and print PDF; one-page stories for printing; three videos for social media or mission moment with your congregation (1, 2, 3); and prompts for devotional time.

ELCA, ResourcesBrian FlatgardSeptember 29, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2021-22 SofiaComment

New ways to be faithful: Living Christ Lutheran Church in Flagstaff

This week’s Story of Faith in Action features our very own Living Christ Lutheran Church in Flagstaff, where grants from the Grand Canyon Synod, funded by ELCA Mission Support, helped sustain Living Christ’s ministry.

Read this story and view the video in this post, view as a PDF resource, or visit our SOFIA 2021-2022 page for all resources.

ELCA Mission Support thanks you for your generosity

We share a letter from the directors of ELCA Mission Support about the inspiration to be found in Stories of Faith in Action.

Through your generosity, God is at work across the ELCA.

ELCA, LettersBrian FlatgardSeptember 23, 2021Mission Support, Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2021-22 SofiaComment

Where all may dwell: Augsburg Lutheran, Winston-Salem, NC

This week’s Story of Faith in Action features the Dwelling, an ELCA faith community designed for, but not exclusive to, people in Winston-Salem who are or have been homeless. Funding comes from partnerships with Augsburg, the North Carolina Synod, the Moravian Church in America and the ELCA churchwide organization.

Read this story in this post, view as a PDF resource, or visit our SOFIA 2021-2022 page for all resources.

ELCA, Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardSeptember 22, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2021-22 Sofia, Living LutheranComment

Introducing Stories of Faith in Action (Sofia) 2021-2022

The 2021-2022 Stories of Faith in Action resources are available at ELCA.org/SOFIA. Dive into the latest issue, which is now available in its digital edition or print edition, and includes:

A special message from ELCA Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton.
Nine inspiring stories from around the country and the world.
Your 2020 financial report on Mission Support — the portion of your offering your congregation shares with your synod, and your synod shares with the churchwide organization.
A story-based devotional for use at Bible studies or committee meetings.

ELCA, Resources, LettersBrian FlatgardSeptember 15, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), 2021-22 SofiaComment

SOFIA: God has enlightened us

In this week’s Story of Faith in Action (SOFIA): On Aug. 5, 2019, as the ELCA Churchwide Assembly met to elect leaders and make decisions regarding the future, Salvadoran Lutherans gathered for a similar reason.

For them, the day was historic: the Salvadoran Lutheran Church (SLC) ordained 14 pastors, increasing its roster from 35 to 49. Bolstered in part by Mission Support funds, the SLC provided training and support for these new leaders as they pursued a path to ordination.

Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardJanuary 30, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA)Comment

SOFIA: Empowered to empower others

In this week’s Story of Faith in Action (SOFIA): Leaving her home in Suriname for Augsburg University, Minneapolis, Sarah Abendanon felt frightened and excited.

Abendanon’s home church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Suriname, had endorsed her to pursue her bachelor’s degree in the United States through the ELCA’s International Women Leaders (IWL) program.

SOFIA: 20 years of formative service

In this week’s Story of Faith in Action (SOFIA) we explore Young Adults in Global Mission.

The program, which recently celebrated 20 years, originated from a partnership with the U.K. volunteer organization Time for God. Since then, it has evolved to include collaborations with ELCA companion churches or organizations in Argentina/Uruguay, Australia, Central Europe, Jerusalem/West Bank, Madagascar, Mexico, Nepal, Rwanda, Senegal and the United Kingdom.

Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardJanuary 16, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA)Comment

SOFIA: Chaplain on the Front Line

In this week’s Story of Faith in Action (SOFIA): Ministering to some 700 National Guard and Army troops during New York City’s severe COVID-19 outbreak might seem daunting. But not to Anthony Stephens, an ELCA pastor and an Army chaplain.

Stories of HopeBrian FlatgardJanuary 9, 2021Stories of Faith in Action (SOFIA), The Generosity ProjectComment

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