Irma Banales has walked an interesting path to become a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. She currently serves as director for evangelical mission for the Northern Texas – Northern Louisiana Synod. But her journey began in Mexico.
Read MoreIn 2013, Juan began the journey to the United States, spurred by extreme poverty and lack of opportunities in El Salvador. He attempted to get on “La Bestia” (The Beast) – a network oftrains used by migrants to travel towards the U.S. border. During his attempt to climb aboard, his legs were trapped by the wheels of the train, causing him to lose both his legs. He almost died.
A block from Juan’s home is Our Redeemer, a congregation of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church (ILS). The pastor, Francisco Aguilar, heard about Juan’s story. Read the full story »
Read MoreFrom the ELCA Advocacy office in Washington, D.C. comes the latest updates on: Disaster Aid | Dream and Promise Act | Equality Act | HUD Noncitizen Rule | Immigration Funding | Webinar: Moving Forward | Global Fragility Act Faith-Voices at Climate Summit | Hunger Advocacy Fellowship
Read MoreWe uplift in prayer the congregation of The Lakes Lutheran Church, in Las Vegas, NV, and Pastor Ronald E. Poe.
Read MoreUnder the theme “Sing a New Song,” 385 attendees from Arizona, Nevada, and Utah gathered at Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa, Arizona, for the Grand Canyon Synod Assembly.
Read MoreI believe in being good to other people, in making art, in trying to be patient, in seeing beauty in the world, in leaving the planet better than I found it.
Having my first novel, “Shotgun Lovesongs” (Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin’s Press, 2014), become an international best-seller and receive positive reviews from the New York Times, among others was bewildering. It was a dream come true in the best and most surreal ways. It was basically like I woke up from one life and began living in another, and that second life was my dream. Imagine waking up into a dream.
Read MoreLutheran Social Services of the Southwest had to bring in the big truck to haul the roomful of donations for families seeking asylum. The pile of clothes, towels, backpacks and food was a testament to your generosity and our concern for asylum seekers.
Read MoreCheck our Facebook page for Synod Assembly photos. Thanks to Pastor Lars Hammar (Lord of Grace in Marana, AZ) for providing many photos of our church together. Please tag yourself and share these photos. And be sure to post your own photos as well with the #gcsynod hashtag.
Read MoreConnie Phillips of LSS-SW was interviewed by Jeff Pegues in a CBS News story headlined “Trump tweets about removing migrants. President Trump tweeted that ‘millions’ of undocumented immigrants will be removed. But he offered no specifics about mass arrests or deportations.”
Read MoreIn our prayers, we uplift Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Phoenix, AZ. We pray for Pastor David M. Marz, Equipping Pastor John Schaumburg, Children and Youth Director Casey Goslin, Minister of Place Tom Berggren, Minister of Administration Carol Carpenter, Contemporary Worship Leader, Daniel Camacho, Bookkeeper Lise Ryden, and Lisa Henderson with the Shepherd’s Foundation.
Read MoreNearly 69 million people have been forcibly displaced from their homes by violence, poverty, war, discrimination and marginalization, natural disasters and the effects of climate change. This year, for World Refugee Day, Lutheran Disaster Response will add our church’s voice to the conversation to build awareness around global migration.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter next week as we explore what is happening both domestically and internationally around global migration and how our church, through Lutheran Disaster Response, other ELCA ministries, and partners, are walking with our neighbors on the move.
Read MoreA letter from Elizabeth A. Eaton, Presiding Bishop of the ELCA and Krish O’Mara Vignarajah, President & CEO of LIRS. Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
The gospels recount the story of Jesus as a migrant, in need of welcome and reception. And Jesus identifies with every wanderer, every displaced person, every refugee, asylum seeker and migrant, when he tells the crowd, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35). Since 1939, LIRS (Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service) has led the Lutheran movement to welcome vulnerable migrants and refugees in America. Meanwhile, as part of the AMMPARO strategy, the ELCA has committed to offering accompaniment to migrants in their communities.
Read MoreOn January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation freed 3.1 million of the nation’s 4 million enslaved people. On June 19, 1865 enslaved Africans in the state of Texas and parts of Louisiana received word of their emancipation 2.5 years later. The celebratory date is known as Juneteenth (June plus nineteenth). The date is honored by remembering the legacy of enslaved African ancestors, worship services, family gatherings and speaking out against racial injustices.
Read MoreFrom the front of the room at the 32nd Grand Canyon Synod Assembly this past weekend, I had an overwhelming sense of Holy Spirit’s presence. Friends greeting one another by name. New faces sparking conversation. Volunteers and staff serving with pride. While we spoke of singing a new song, I was also listening for new songs.
Read MoreIn the ELCA there is no mission “to,” only mission “with” and “among” as its missionaries walk together with those they serve. In this episode of the Three Sides podcast, we hear from ELCA missionaries and ELCA Global Mission staff who talk about what it means to “bear one another’s burdens” by walking together and sharing God’s love in communities throughout the world.
Watch We are one in the Spirit to learn more about Rev. Kirsten Fryer’s journey.
Read MoreThe Rev. Robert C. Blezard continues to provide a “Stewardship Toolkit” for congregations. Fitting for the month with Independence Day, July’s theme is “Stewardship of our civic freedoms.”
It consists of an original newsletter article and RCL-based “stewardship snippets” that they can cut and paste into their publications. It also has resources to explore the theme set out in the newsletter article.
Read MoreYou are invited to learn about the Holy Land Tour on March-April 2, 2020, with an optional extension to Jordan, April 2-5 through Faith Journeys. Senior Pastor Glenn Zorb of Mountain View Lutheran Church, Ahwatukee, will be our Tour Host!
For more details view this flyer and itinerary, or learn more info and access forms via myfaithjourneys.com and use the MVLC group number: 20023. Need more help? Please contact Rhonda Smith at rsmith@mvlutheran.org or call 480-893-2579, ext, 121.
Read MoreIn this video, see how Iglesia Luterana Agustina de Guatemala (ILAG) opened Casa Milagro in 2018 to provide education to young women from rural communities. This program is supported in part by your gifts to ELCA World Hunger. To learn more about how ELCA World Hunger is at work in more than 60 countries around the globe, visit ELCA.org/hunger.
Read MoreRead the minutes from the synod council meeting on June 13, 2019, in PDF format.
Read MoreHerb Chilstrom, ELCA's first presiding bishop, has authored eight books since retirement in 1995. After income of more than $180,000, all donated to ELCA seminaries and colleges, he's "going out of business." Some of his books are on one-half price sale at the Assembly. Come and take a look. Find some bargains!
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