ELCA Global Links October 2015

OCTOBER 2015

International Women Leaders initiative supports inaugural class
Six international women have received scholarships to pursue higher education at three Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) colleges. These women received scholarships as part of the first year of the International Women Leaders initiative, part of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA. The initiative seeks to expand opportunities for at least 200 women leaders from around the world through leadership training and scholarships to colleges and universities over the course of the campaign.

ELCA supports the emerging church in Myanmar
As part of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, the ELCA is supporting the emerging church in Myanmar. As one of the 14 Global Ministry projects within the campaign, the ELCA is supporting an initiative to create opportunities for four of the Lutheran churches in Myanmar to work together in joint ventures and to provide leadership training for the churches and capacity building. This project in Myanmar will help strengthen each Lutheran church and help bring them together in mission and outreach. To donate to this project, or to any of the 14 Global Ministry projects of the campaign, click here.

Aid provided after South Carolina flooding
ELCA members offer prayers for those affected by the devastating flooding in South Carolina. To date, 14 people have died as a result of the storm that began Oct. 1 and has brought the heaviest rainfall in the state since 1989. According to news reports, about 26,000 homes were without power and 40,000 residences were without running water. Lutheran Disaster Response is working with partners in the region, including Lutheran Services of the Carolinas, to provide care and comfort to those impacted by the flooding, focusing on long-term recovery.

Aiding and assisting European refugees
The ELCA continues to support the humanitarian efforts of its European companion Lutheran churches and partners as they assist people seeking refuge by providing life-saving support through the distribution of food, water, blankets and other materials. Tens of thousands of refugees have fled their home countries with few personal belongings. With winter approaching, the need for warm clothing and shelter will only increase.

ELCA Malaria Campaign hits $15 million goal
The ELCA is celebrating a significant milestone in reaching a five-year goal of raising $15 million for the ELCA Malaria Campaign! Since the start of the campaign, ELCA members and others have joined with Lutheran companion churches and partners in 13 African countries to support programs designed to prevent malaria deaths. Join in celebrating all that has been accomplished through this campaign by watching this video.

ELCA companions gather for HIV and AIDS conference
Recognizing the role faith communities play in helping restore the dignity of those infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, Asian and Pacific companion churches and organizations of the ELCA gathered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Sept. 21-25 for a conference on HIV and AIDS. The theme was “Our Positive Stories: Reducing Stigma by Building Community.” The conference focused on increasing knowledge about the epidemic, best practices in HIV and AIDS programs, and the importance of the faith community in advocacy efforts.

Raising money for Nepal
Lutheran Disaster Response has collected more than $1.9 million to respond to the Nepal earthquakes. The ELCA will continue to work with trusted partners – The Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Relief and United Mission to Nepal – to provide assistance in the affected areas. Aid began the day after the earthquake and many emergency distributions have been completed.

Scholarships awarded to students attending ELCA seminaries
In its commitment to supporting seminary students preparing for ministry, the ELCA awarded scholarships to students attending the eight seminaries of the ELCA for the 2015-16 academic year. This academic year the ELCA Fund for Leaders as a whole will support 235 students studying at all eight ELCA seminaries, distributing around $1.6 million; 112 students will receive full, half or partial tuition scholarships from the general ELCA Fund for Leaders; 123 students will receive scholarships of varying amounts from ELCA synod partners.

The little church that could
“Over time it’s become known as ‘the little church that could,’” said Karen Leedahl, describing Christ the King Lutheran, a renewing congregation in Sebastian, Fla. When Leedahl first arrived as part-time pastor in 2010, she found a small congregation of about 68 members with a big heart for serving their community. She also discovered a congregation that was “pretty distraught.” The congregation was financially strapped with no money in the budget for a full-time pastor or to support their outreach. But that didn’t stop members from serving a community that was experiencing a challenging economy. An ELCA renewing congregations grant made it possible for Leedahl to be called part-time to encourage the congregation in their ministry and help move them toward hiring a full-time pastor.

Give today!
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Learn more
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