Mission Support Memos

Have you ever met a person of faith who shines with the light of Christ even in the hardest of times and places? After meeting the Rev. Leticia Alanis, pastor of Unidad y Fe Lutheran Mission in the Queens borough of New York City, I was in awe of her experiences, her challenges, her love for others and her profound mission of building community.

Imagine a place in the ELCA where you can build community, deepen faith, expand minds, and inspire service with over 11,000 young adults. Where does this happen?

“Welcome to the Grove” was the word on Feb. 22 in the South-Central Synod of Wisconsin. We were gathering not as the whole synod or as a couple folks but as a collection of folks seeking to connect.

The air was clear, crisp and full of the smell of pine as I pulled into Camp Lutherhaven the first weekend in April. Located on the shores of Lake Coeur d'Alene in Idaho, the camp felt peaceful, calm, yet bursting with new things to come.

In the hill country of central Texas, about 45 miles outside San Antonio, lies Immanuel Lutheran Church. In 2020, its members had been without a pastor for a while and had struggled to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, yet as the name “Immanuel” implies, God was with them.

As a church, we are called to build community together. Our Creator God calls us together: “Then the Lord God said, ‘It’s not good that the human is alone. I will make him a helper that is perfect’” (Genesis 2:18 CEB).

On July 4th, many proudly wear red, white and blue; march in hot parades; enjoy sizzling barbeques; and watch bright, voluminous fireworks – yet it’s also a day we reflect on the sacrifices made to secure our nation’s freedom.