Member News

Congratulations to LSA members who received the Wheat Ridge Ministries Burst Grants that were offered this spring exclusively within our network!

LSA member Wheat Ridge Ministries recently awarded three Joshua Grants totaling $13,800. Joshua Grants are one year, matching grants of $1,000-$5,000 to Lutheran congregations, organizations and agencies committed to launching new ministries of health and hope in their community. The congregation or organization requesting funding must contribute matching funds equal to 50% of the Wheat Ridge grant award.

Titled "Congregations for Change: We Are Church Together," the ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering took place in San Francisco, January 15-18, 2015. Nancy Nielsen, Deputy Director of Lutheran Social Services of Northern California, spoke to the attendees about social ministry and the fight against hunger and poverty, and being the Church together.

A local group of students kicked off the "We-CAN-Du" fundraiser in Duluth, Minnesota to help end youth homelessness in the area in a unique way – by building three structures out of 10,000 cans of beans and displaying them at the Miller Hill Mall shopping center.

Through a new partnership between Lutheran Services of Georgia and the Savannah Bicycle Campaign, newly arrived refugees are able to receive refurbished bicycles. This new mobility helps them with their commutes to work, being able to get around their new neighborhoods, and provides safe and affordable transportation to get to school and doctor’s appointments.

Twice a year, the CEOs of 14 organizations convene to share learnings and trends, and talk about how they can collaborate together. As members of the Lutheran Services in America network and nonprofit leaders in their state, these executives find value in gathering on a regular basis to share candid conversation and support.

Disrupting the idea of a "one size fits all" approach to caring for people as they age, Christie Henrichs recently presented a "TED Talk" at the TEDx Lincoln conference. In her presentation, Christie challenges the current "one size fits all" health care system and proposes instead "the blank page" that views each person as human being and allows freedom of choices based on an individual’s personal desires and circumstances.

We are all impacted on some level by the current crisis concerning unaccompanied children crossing the border in unprecedented numbers. We know that, in addition to your other responsibilities of service, you have been seeking information to decide on how to respond to this crisis.

A representative from LSA's member Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota, Sheri Ekdom, testified at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs on Sept 18, 2014, on the topic of consumer financial services protection. Sarah Meek, the Director of Public Policy and Advocacy for LSA's Disability Network (LSA-DN) also attended the hearing and provided us with photos.

Charlotte Haberaecker, President and CEO of Lutheran Services in America, spent four days traveling across the state of North Dakota visiting LSA members. Read on to see photos and details from her visits.