Mission Interpretation is telling the stories of Our Hands doing God’s Work. Mission Interpreters share the stories of the ELCA’s mission and ministry within their congregations. Your congregation may already have someone who tells the story of how our offerings and gifts are transformed into effective ministries. Mission Interpreters remind us of how we make a difference in Christ’s mission and the work of the church, and they thank our people for their faithful giving. Your gifts are making a difference and changing lives.
For more information or to submit a story about how your congregation is “Doing God’s Work, with Our Hands and making a difference in the world,” contact Claudia Harrington!
Where is the ELCA in our fight against malaria?
This is the question a Liberian health official asked. “We have heard about ELCA Malaria Campaign. We need your help, and we need it now.” Malaria is the leading cause of death in Africa, claiming the life of a child every 45 seconds. In Liberia, malaria accounts for 30 percent of all deaths in hospitals. Since the launch of the ELCA Malaria Campaign last year, Lutheran churches in Angola, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have ramped up their efforts to control this disease – distributing mosquito nets and medicine as well as educating communities on prevention. Beginning on April 25th, World Malaria Day, our ELCA asked individuals and congregations to help raise $200,000 to bring hope to our brothers and sisters in Liberia. There are active congregations that can be mobilized to help prevent malaria in their communities. There are two well respected hospitals, community based health care programs and development and education ministries that serve tens of thousands of people. The health officials know what it takes to prevent and treat malaria, they just need your partnership. At the 25th Anniversary of the DE-MD Synodical Women’s Organization of Women of the ELCA Convention held on April 28th, participants had an opportunity to purchase a corsage to help fund a net for a family of five. The net on the corsage is a reminder that mosquito nets are a source of prevention. Thanks for making this ministry possible.
Where does my offering go?
Did you know that part of your offering, sent in to our DE-MD Synod, helps our Churchwide ELCA award grants to local congregations in our synod? Your ELCA World Hunger Appeal gifts help feed 600-800 people in the Wilmington/New Castle, Delaware area 365 days a year. Help comes through the three Emmanuel Dining Rooms run by the Ministry of Caring (supported by many Lutheran congregations in the Wilmington/New Castle area). This program is receiving a $2,500 grant from our ELCA World Hunger Appeal Domestic Hunger Fund Grant Program. One in four people in Delaware use emergency food aid – which they get from places like the Emmanuel Dining Rooms – at least once a year. The God of grace and love is at work through us and through our support of ELCA World Hunger bringing help and hope to the “least of these” our brothers and sisters in need. Your gifts make it possible to do God’s Work, with Our Hands.
If you might like to be involved with Mission Interpretation, here are the qualifications:
- Faith-filled: a love of Christ and the church
- A heart for mission and ministry
- Good Communication Skills (speak, write, share information)
- Knowledgeable about the ELCA
- Active member and supporter of an ELCA congregation
- Willing to attend a training session
Download the full mission interpretation brochure here.
Mission Moments:
May, 2012
Jean Warren sends this story from Lutheran Community Services. Barbara W. approached us last spring seeking assistance with a security deposit to move into Luther Towers ‘ Assisted Living Program. Program Director Sandy Betley met with her and found her to be somewhat confused and seemingly depressed. At that time, Barbara was living with her nephew and his wife and was sleeping on their couch. Her nephew explained that she had been diagnosed with the beginning stages of dementia. Barbara received security deposit assistance from us and moved into Luther Towers, Several months later, Sandy met with her again – coincidentally – to give her a ride to her doctor’s appointment as part of the LCS LIFT program. Sandy said she was amazed at the change. Barbara was upbeat and animated as she describes how she keeps herself busy at Luther Towers. She has a dog that she walks several times a day, and she volunteers at the gift shop and the front desk. She stated that she is so happy to be living at Luther Towers in the Assisted Living Program because they help to monitor her medication and her health and are all set up for her if her dementia worsens. Stories like these warm our hearts and remind us how important our work with seniors is.
April, 2012
Observe World Malaria Day on April 29th
Did you know that in Africa Malaria kills more people than war? Did you know that a child dies from Malaria every 45 seconds? Most of these deaths are children under the age of 5. For most of us mosquitoes are a nuisance, but in Africa mosquitoes carry a parasite that enters the body and kills blood cells. What starts out as flu-like symptoms can quickly lead to death. This is especially true in times of drought when communities are hungry and immunity is low. Our companion synod churches are helping to coordinate training in prevention and treatment of Malaria. Bishop BVUMBWE of Malawi shares this, “The ELCA is our trusted brother and sister. Wherever we have journeyed together, Christ has journeyed with us.” In Africa Lutheran churches are not just places of worship, but community centers where people gather. These provide an opportunity for learning about prevention and get treatment for the disease. World Malaria Day is April 25th, but your congregation may consider observing it on April 29th. Join hands with 11 African companion churches in the global effort to prevent, treat, and contain Malaria.
March, 2012
A new ministry helps provide household items and repairs for neighbors of the Feagaville Lutheran parish. Pastor Kenneth Gill has been seeking ways to reach out to the community. The new ministry has a two pronged emphasis: one called Neighbor to Neighbor will provide clothing and household goods to needy families, while the second, Hearts and Hammers, will provide minor home repairs for people who need them but can’t afford them. Pastor Gill states that stepping out into the community to help people is a good way for parishioners of St. Luke and Mt. Zion to share their faith. Of the 80 adult members of the Feagaville parish, 50 are participating in the ministries. “Hopefully, people will find this a fulfilling thing. There’s really just a lot of need in the area,” said Pastor Gill.
February, 2012
This story comes from Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries. What a difference Diakon made in Sheldon Fees’ life. In Sheldon’s words… “After my mother died, my father must have been overwhelmed. Childcare was not something normally performed by men in the spring of 1941, and in my father’s case he abandoned his responsibilities, which were assumed by my great-grandfather. In a few short months before his death, my great-grandfather buried his granddaughter (my mother), saw to my baptism, and made arrangements for my admittance to The Lutheran Home at Topton. I received love and care when I needed it most.” This is Diakon’s mission of love and caring.
January, 2012
Big Hearts Gathered to send Christmas Cheer
This ministry story is shared by Bethany Lutheran Church in Brunswick, MD. Big hearts, willing hands, and some creativity from members of Bethany Lutheran Church in Brunswick ensure that soldiers in Afghanistan will experience the joys of Christmas. Soldiers deployed there will receive Christmas gifts, cards and notes that will make the season bright even in the midst of war, courtesy of this small congregation. Every year at Christmas, as well as other times, the members of Bethany send packages to deployed soldiers. Wrapped boxes are filled with candies, toys, reading material, toiletries and Christmas decorations. Each package also contains Christmas cards with notes of thanks, as well as special cards and pictures made by children to let their heroes know they matter. Each year, church members pray it will be the last Christmas a shipment will be needed. This year, Bethany’s Soldier Christmas project surpassed its goal of 50 Christmas packages, and also filled an assortment of goodies to be distributed by an officer to any soldier in need of a spiritual lift. Most members of the congregation are involved, as people purchase and donate items and write cards for weeks leading up to the Nov. 20th pack-up. “This activity reveals the best of this congregation: extraordinary caring, joyful fellowship and generous giving,” said Pastor Andrea Ernest. “The only thing better for the Christmas spirit than this loving project, would be having no soldiers in harm’s way. We keep praying for peace for all.”
December, 2011
Did you know that a simple water well can transform the life of a community? Here is the story of Hawa and her village. In the town of Geles in Sudan, a girl named Hawa and her friends had to walk to a village well every morning, fill their water jugs, and then carry the water home in time to go to school. But people began fleeing the civil war and took refuge near the village. More and more people were in need of fresh water, and the well was the nearest source. As people lined up to fill jugs and wait for a turn at the pump, Hawa and her friends found that they could not bring water back to their families and go to school. Now thanks to the generosity of people like you, Hawa and her friends are able to fetch water and attend school. New wells have been dug in the countryside and in the village. Thanks to people like you, ELCA World Hunger has been able to make an amazing difference for Hawa and her neighbors. Every dollar that you contribute toward water projects actually yields up to $34 in value to the community.
November, 2011
Pastor Gerry Rickel shares this story from the Community of St. Dysmas. One of the women who attended a recent worship service told of the difference the congregation has made in her life. The woman had been in solitary confinement for two months. She made productive use of her time by reading through the Bible twice and studying Luther’s Small Catechism, memorizing many portions. Following her release from confinement, she asked to be baptized. She has asked Pastor Rickel to help her get an interview at a Roman Catholic Home, Marian House, in Baltimore City. She realizes that she needs to be with Christians in community. She cannot return to her old community, because it is too easy to fall back into bad habits and old ways. Our prison ministry is making a difference and transforming lives. Please pray for Pastor Rickel and the men and women who worship behind bars.
October, 2011
Mission Moment: Thoughts on Co-Pastoring in Mt. Airy
The Revs. Anke and Eric Deibler recently became co-pastors at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mt. Airy. They were ordained together in 1994 and have been co-pastoring for 17 years. With Calvary offering both a contemporary and traditional service, the Deiblers plan to alternate preaching each week and in the future share their musical gifts. Anke says that she is more story-oriented in her preaching, while Eric likes to focus on spirituality and faith formation. “Past congregations have said they like that it’s not the same old, same old every week,” Anke said. “The congregations really like the change and the variety.” The Deiblers received help when 17 members of Calvary met the moving truck and helped to move in belongings. “They’ve been so welcoming, it’s been a joy,” she said.
September, 2011
Here is the story of Faith Kajwiria, a social worker for the ACT Alliance in the Dadaab refugee complex in northwestern Kenya. Faith’s day begins at 5:00 in the morning as she tries to visit as many of the elderly as possible. Faith has worked in the Lutheran World Federation managed refugee camp for two years.
“At a recent leaders meeting I was described as the one who decorates the camp with white flowers – meaning all the tents that I have distributed.” Faith describes her work as not just about distributing goods. It is about giving moral support. “These people need a lot of support, but we do not always have a lot of things to give them. Just going to see them, talking to them, and seeing how they live means a lot. Sometimes if you can do something small for them, they make you feel as though you have conquered the whole situation. And when people are happy, I am happy.” The Lutheran World Federation is a member of ACT Alliance, churches and organizations working together. You make this kind of ministry possible.
August, 2011
Jean Warren shares a story from Lutheran Community Services. In early February, a pregnant young woman who was applying for housing assistance began to have contractions. She’d never had a baby before and was unmarried, so she was scared and asked some of the women in the office if what she thought was happening actually was. But she didn’t want to stop the application process. That’s how desperate she was. An hour later she was on the floor, and the contractions were much stronger. Then they were two minutes apart. The EMS team was called and an ambulance whisked her away to the hospital. Program Director Sandy Betley followed up with her to finalize the application. This was not a typical day at LCS!
July, 2011
This month’s story is taken from an article by Charles Austin.
Veterans Help Former Foe: Two World War II veterans, Ebb Culp and Shelton Rimer, have changed their war-time mindset of seeing Japan as an enemy to a neighbor in need. Both men served in the Pacific in the last year of the war. When the earthquake and tsunami struck Japan and the Pacific Rim in March 2011, something Christian and compassionate made the two veterans want to respond to the survivors in Japan. Both Ebb an d Shelton became generous contributors to the ELCA Disaster Response fund. They are members of Lutheran Church of Our Savior, in the South Carolina Synod, which is a companion synod to the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church. For Shelton and his wife, Dorothy, giving generously to the ELCA is a natural thing to do. “We’ve been blessed,” Dorothy says, “and we have received, so we give. I don’t know any other way to put it. We give with our love to the church.”
June, 2011
Deaconess Jean Warren is sharing this story from Lutheran Community Services in Delaware.
What’s it Like to be Evicted? One day last month a local family was evicted by the Sheriff. They had come to LCS a few weeks before, and we made a commitment of $1,500 to help them with their rent. The total amount they owed was somewhat more, so they were contacting other agencies – and dealing with their many other problems. But now, they were out on the street, suddenly homeless, with a padlock on the door. They returned to LCS. Program Director Sandy Betley went to work, documenting that all the pieces of the financial puzzle were in place. Then she contacted the landlord, who lifted the eviction order and told the family that it was okay to return to their home. We wish all our cases had a happy ending like this!
As we celebrate our independence, please keep in mind another country about to become independent. On Saturday, July 9, South Sudan will become an independent nation. Please pray for peace and safety for these children of God, as reports of violence increase.
For most major newspapers, the flooding in Minot, North Dakota, is no longer front page news, but for the ELCA, response has been quick and assessment of ongoing needs continues. ELCA Disaster Response has committed to providing two staff positions to Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota to aid in the recovery. Also, emergency grants totaling $25,000 to LSS and the ELCA Western North Dakota Synod, Bismarck have been received. Several congregations have been impacted by the flood waters. Both Augustana Lutheran Church and Christ Lutheran Church in Minot are flooded. First Lutheran Church, Minot has some water in the basement, while Peace Lutheran Church in nearby Burlington has about six feet of water in the basement. There will be economic difficulties throughout the synod due to loss of property and loss of farm crops. Pastors and members of the congregations have been able to keep in touch via Facebook. Congregations are partnering and members of the Western North Dakota Synod have helped by providing food, blankets, and other supplies. “It’s definitely a family of brothers and sisters in Christ, across all views, thoughts, and beliefs coming together in this crisis,” says Pastor Michon Weingartner, Augustana Lutheran Church. You can help with a donation to ELCA Disaster Response.Barbara Robertson is an ELCA missionary in Morogoro, Tanzania. She is receiving some missionary support through some individuals and congregations in the DE-MD Synod. Here is Barbara’s story. “It was my great privilege to spend a morning with a group of young men I fondly refer to as my garage boys. Over the years, I have come to know quite a few of these young men and have watched them grow and mature. Because I had done an HIV and AIDS seminar before, the older fellows have hounded me to have another session for the new boys, who have joined the garage. Seventy men attended the session! The main themes were ‘have long – term goals, be responsible, and get tested.’ Joseph, the owner of the garage, told me, ‘It matters that you come. They have changed because of you.’ And I’ve changed because of them. How honored I am that they should listen to what I have to say.”
April, 2011
Did you know… You can be a sponsor for Dr. Derrick Matthews who serves at Arusha Lutheran Medical Centre and Selian Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania. Help to minimize his travel time and maximize his effectiveness while he is on home leave. Visit www.elca.org/missionarysponsorship/ or call 800-638-3522, ext. 2657.
Pastor Andrea Ernest, Bethany Lutheran Church in Brunswick, MD, was elected president of BEACON (Brunswick Ecumenical Assistance Committee on Needs). BEACON volunteers share God’s love and make a difference in people’s lives by sponsoring a monthly pantry-on-the-go, a school supply drive, a senior community event, Thanksgiving baskets, community secret Santa program, and an emergency relief fund.
ELCA members have responded to the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami by donating $750,000. Some of these funds help pay for an emergency response advisor to prepare a strategy to respond to church infrastructure damage, needed livelihood, and food relief. While other funds are helping the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church and Church World Service distribute food and water to churches that are serving as shelter and evacuation sites. Rice, vegetable juice, water, instant soup, toilet paper, bananas, and Miso are being distributed. Continue to keep the people of Japan in your prayers.
One of the success stories from Haiti is a thriving coffee cooperative that was started years before the 2010 earthquake, through a gift from the ELCA World Hunger program. The cooperative is now a $1 million – per – year business. It employs 200 local women in the community and is part of the ELCA’s commitment to sustainable development.
March, 2011
Ten ELCA missionaries arrived safely in Istanbul, Turkey, on February 1, 2011. They had left Cairo, Egypt, on a chartered flight provided by the US Department of State. The missionaries were among hundreds of US citizens who were advised to leave the country amid the protests, some of them violent, against the government of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
One of the ELCA missionaries, Pastor Peter Johnson, is the pastor of St. Andrew’s United Church and the director of St. Andrew’s Refugee Services. Pastor Johnson’s mother, Mary Ann, had been visiting the family when the protests began. Peter was distressed when he learned that his mother would need to travel separately, and that he needed to leave her in the hands of a taxi driver who would take her to the terminal. The local taxi driver, who knew Pastor Johnson well, said, “Don’t worry, Peter. She is my mother now.” Peter responded, “I guess that makes us brothers.”
January, 2011
This is the story of 3 year-old Jauvalda Francique of Haiti. She is eager to start school in a new building in Leogane, Haiti. The building is designed to withstand earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes. With help from the ELCA Disaster Response, family and neighbors helped in the planning and construction of the new school. The children chose the colors, and the shutters were painted with words in Creole, French, English, and Finnish. The words represent the nationalities that were involved with the project. Jauvalda can’t wait to go to school. You made this new start possible.
