Mission Endowment Fund

Fall Grants totaling $42,629 is the LARGEST Amount Ever Awarded in MEF's 13 year history!

The Fall Grant Recipients were:

• Seminary Scholarships - $15,000
• New Congregations - $5,129
• Campus Ministry - $7,500
• New Ministry Projects - 
• Lutherhill Ministries: $5,000 for Zion Retreat Center
• Zion Lutheran: $2,000 for Heights Community Children's Choir
• Peace Lutheran: $3,000 for Installation of Ropes Course
• Bethlehem: $5,000 for Sophia's Children in New Orleans

New Ministries Supported at St. James in Houston and St. Paul in Freeport

The Rev. Pedro Suarez, Director for Evangelical Outreach, announced grants for St. James – Houston and for St. Paul – Freeport. 

St. James - Houston

Members of St. James Lutheran Church recently voted to redevelop their ministry in hope of doing outreach to the community.  The redevelopment began October 1, 2011.  A redevelopment team consisting of Rev. Raymond LeBlanc, an ordained pastor serving basically only on Sundays, and Aura Suarez, a lay minister, that would begin at 30 hours per week, to do outreach development to the immediate multicultural community, with a specific outreach to Latinos. 

Together, they are developing a missional plan that will invigorate the existing congregation and will create a new worship experience in Spanish as well. This plan will have a focus on children and families.

Saint Paul - Freeport                                                                                         

Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Freeport, Texas for many years has seen the migration of its members out of their town and the growth of a lively Latino population.  St. Paul’s council is interested in reaching out to the Latinos under the guidance of our synod.  Pastor Preston Weatherly is currently helping there on a regular basis on Sundays supported by Pastor Pedro (Pete) Lopez from St. John's in Angleton, and Rosy Delgado from the Latino community in Freeport.

 In spite of having a pastor come only once a week, they began youth activities to reach out to the young population around them. They recently asked the local schools if they might know of a musician that could come and help. Now they have a great keyboardist that livens up their worship.

Rosy Delgado used to live in Wisconsin a few years ago and was instrumental in getting a Latino ministry satellite going there.  Rosy who now lives in the Freeport area is a very gregarious person and knows what to do to get a Prayer Circle/Bible Study going.  Although she is limited in her English, that has never stopped her. Her testimony on how she went from being homeless with her 4 children and how the Lord helped her through the Lutheran church to overcome a multitude of obstacles, continues to be her motivation.

$16,700 in Seminary Scholarships Enabled by Mission Endowment Fund

Fall 2012 seminary scholarships were awarded by the synod’s Candidacy Committee to four Master of Divinity Candidates, Adrienne Merritt a middler taking on-line classes, and three juniors:  Eyeul Bedane at Lutheran School of Theology – Chicago, Ashley Dellagiacoma and Jennifer Kindsvatter both at Luther Seminary – St. Paul.

These four scholarships totaling $16,700 were made possible by the Park Place Fund of the Mission Endowment Fund.  They are intended to help students graduate with minimum seminary debt.

The Park Place Fund is the result of a gift of over $1,000,000 given to the Mission Endowment Fund by Park Place Lutheran Church on its closing.  This fund is to be used primarily for seminary scholarships.

January Mission Moment

Be a “Yes” to others!

The Epiphany season celebrates Jesus as the Light to the nations, beginning with the celebration of the magi, wise men from afar who followed the star to find the Christ child.

Many of us use this season to focus on how the Light of the world is reflected in and through our global work. As a new ELCA missionary, this global work together as a church is now my passion and calling.

My work in the Central African Republic includes developing educational programs for Sunday schools and new elementary schools in remote villages. These programs existed before I arrived two months ago, but the Lutheran church in the Central African Republic asked for an educational adviser to help these pro­grams improve and better serve the people. They recognize, as we do, the importance of education — not only to build leaders within the church, but also to have a better life overall.

In my work, I recently visited one of our newest schools, the Peouri School, which was just built as a permanent structure. It also has three open-air, straw-roof structures and is building one more. The school, first built 10 miles away, had to be moved because of civil unrest seven years ago. The people had fled to town, but insisted that their Lutheran school follow them! After the doors re-opened, others in town are now taking advantage of the Lutheran school’s reputation for good teaching. It has become the largest of the 20 village schools supported by the church, with 720 students enrolled.

My work with this school and others happens only because of people like you. You make it possible for people like me to preach, teach, build, grow, heal and strengthen the global church in over 40 countries. Thank you for the support.

Your undesignated gift helps to support me plus our 240 missionaries around the world — where it’s needed most.

In these challenging economic times, we missionaries rely heavily on your generous gifts to help keep our global mission programs running to share God’s grace and blessings with all.

We are a church that believes Jesus is God’s “Yes” to us. Our lives can be a “Yes” to others. Will you join us in sharing the Light of the world through our global work? Please give today!

Hand in hand with you,

Susan Smith, ELCA Missionary, Central African Republic

Learn more at www.ELCA.org/missionarysponsorship

Make a gift at http://www.elca.org/4missionaries

Christine Donahue
TLGCS Mission Interpreter Coordinator
cedonahue@gmail.com

New Hope in Missouri City Welcomes Julia Miller

Julia Miller graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA.  She was serving as the Director of K-5th Grade Formation at the Church of St. Asaph and as a religion instructor at St. James School, an Episcopal Middle School in suburban Philadelphia.

Julia has roots in Texas, however, originally coming from Sante Fe, Texas.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Texas State University with a Major in Theatre.

Julia's experience and passion are in Youth and Family Ministry, Children's Ministry, Preaching, Evangelism, Pastoral Care and Visitation.

Julia describes her passion for ministry:

"As one who was brought to faith through evangelism, I feel called to do ministry with a congregation that wishes to develop missions or to invigorate its own sense of community and develop new ministries.  As someone with experience with children, I feel called to help children and youth find their own voices as evangelists.

She will be ordained and installed as Associate Pastor at New Hope Lutheran Church in Missouri City this Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 4 pm. Reception immediately following. Clergy and Associates In Ministry are invited to vest. The color of the day is red. 

Synod welcomes Chris Hicks

We are deeply grateful for the dedication, commitment and leadership provided by Sally Ahrens in the many roles she has filled in her service to the synod, especially for the most recent work she has done being Peggy's assistant for 12 1/2 years. Her partnership has been instrumental in attention to details, high quality events and much more. The high integrity of Sally's work is much appreciated.  You can join us in thanking Sally by writing a short note with your own thoughts to Peggy@gulfcoastsynod.org as she will collect them to be gifted to Sally when we celebrate her ministry. 

In order to have a good transition there will be an overlap between Sally and new leadership. We are very happy to announce that Chris Hicks will join Peggy and the whole staff beginning this week.  This is a wonderful time as we celebrate and transition together. 

"God's word. Our hands." Not just words but a challenge, one that Chris has taken seriously at Living Word in Katy, where she and her family have been members for 20 years. Egypt, Bolivia, and Indonesia are all places they have also called home. Whether organizing a Global Mission Festival, teaching, weaving to garbage collectors in Cairo or working with Peggy on this new synod leadership development initiative, Chris is always amazed and excited to see what God is up to!