ELCA Global Links November 2015

NOVEMBER 2015

A new church for a new nation
In the midst of major conflict and war in the world’s newest nation – South Sudan – there is a church striving for peace and reconciliation. With your help, we can make it possible to establish the Evangelical Lutheran Church Africa Mission in South Sudan. By building this center, new worship space will be constructed as well as a new Lutheran center, mission leaders will be trained, outreach programs will be put into place, and a culturally and ethnically diverse church will be created. We need your help. Consider giving a generous donation to this global ministry today and help ensure that the Lutheran Church in South Sudan can continue to be a symbol of peace and reconciliation in this land.

Liturgy and Diaconal Service retreat in Colombia
Curtis and Katie Kline are ELCA missionaries serving in Colombia. Read one of their recent blogs in which Katie shares a recent Liturgy and Diaconal Service retreat she attended. As missionaries in Colombia, Katie and Curtis have been working with the Lutheran Church in Colombia to promote and protect human rights. They have also been working with leaders from almost every congregation/mission in Colombia with the goal of strengthening lay leadership within the church. Take a look at their blog to see the ways in which the ELCA is supporting peace and reconciliation work in Colombia.

The danger of a single story
Most of our Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) volunteers have been in their placement sites for a little over two months now! As they take part in this transformative, year-long program in international service, they are formed and informed in a number of ways. From conversations with host families and worship at new churches, to walking with children to school and being welcomed into strangers’ homes for the first time. But, as Ben in Rwanda writes, there is danger in a single story. After watching Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Ted Talk during orientation, Ben wrote an entry on his blog, sharing some insights into what that means for him.

Refugee crisis
As a church, we are called to respond to the ongoing refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe. A record number of refugees are fleeing war and poverty to make life-threatening journeys in hopes for a brighter future in Europe. Because of this, the number of people seeking safety and basic necessities is on the rise. We have been working with companion churches, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary, the Slovak Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia, and The Lutheran World Federation to provide food, blankets, water and psychosocial services to those who have fled their homes. How can you help? Pray for those affected, or click here to support.

‘I’ll Fly Away’
For the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) serving in Madagascar, a major part of their in-country orientation is language training. Though some of it is memorizing vocabulary, there can be other ways to learn a language and the culture. Watch here as the YAGM in Madagascar sing, ‘I’ll Fly Away’ together with local Malagasy musicians during their orientation.

New Global Church Sponsorship annual directory
Our Global Church: 2015-2016, the latest edition of the Global Church Sponsorship annual directory, has now been published! The annual directory highlights ELCA missionaries, scholarships and ministries, and provides a wonderful overview of our church’s global engagement, including new projects that will be funded through Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. The directory was sent to all congregations and individuals who support Global Church Sponsorship. If you have not received a copy, click here to order a copy!

On social media?
Do you have a Twitter on Facebook account? So do we! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay even more up to date on the stories from the global church.

Give today!
To make an online gift to God’s work around the world, click here. Thank you!

Link to Global Links
Help people to stay informed, be inspired and get involved. Click here to link your website to the latest edition of Global Links.

Learn more
To find out how you can sponsor a missionary or global ministry or support International Leaders through ELCA Global Church Sponsorship, visit elca.org/globalchurch.

Share ELCA Global Links
Please forward ELCA Global Links in whole or in part, for use in publications, websites or blogs.