In the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America we speak of “God’s Work.  Our Hands.”  – a simple and yet descriptive way of talking about how congregations, synods and the churchwide expression of our denomination link arms to do the work God has given us to do.  Missionaries · Colleges · Social Service programs · Local soup kitchens · Christian Education curricula · Camps · Mission trips ·  Youth ministry · Lay academies · Global mission · Worship · Pre-schools · Synodical and National Youth Gatherings · Hospice care.  The list of things we do to fulfill our God-given mandate to love Christ and serve our neighbor could (and does) fill volumes.  Read about the stories that we love to tell in “2009 Stories of Faith in Action” – a handy booklet found on the ELCA web site.

Your Offerings Support God’s Mission:  In 2008 members of the 10,396 ELCA congregations gave $1.94 billion to support God’s mission and ministry. 

·         $1,811,907,802 (93.2%) remained in congregations to fund local ministries.

·         $65,211,572 (3.4%) supported synodical ministries.

·         $65,286,926 (3.4%) supported churchwide ministries.

The NT-NL Synod has Stories to Tell too:  Working together, the 120 congregations of the NT-NL Synod currently support several new mission starts (including our rapidly growing Hispanic ministries), Briarwood Lutheran Ministries, Campus Ministry, stewardship education, ecumenical endeavors, the Parish Lay Ministry Academy, Youth and Family Ministry, resource support to existing congregations, outreach to our companion church in Sierra Leone, networking communications, the Mission Endowment Fund’s outreach grants, lay leadership development, support to seminarians and so much more.  You can learn more about the many synodical ministries and partnerships on this web site.

And YOU have Stories to Tell:  Think of all the ways God uses your congregation to make a difference in people’s lives.  And think of all the ways God uses you as an instrument of care, hope and redemption for others.  Together we are light for the darkness of poverty, illness, sadness, loneliness, fear and despair.  Together we transform the lives of children, men, women, youth and elderly.  These are the stories we love to tell – of Jesus and his love. 

Mission Interpreters are trained to tell the story of God’s Work Our Hands in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Good Shepherd, Irving) and This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it (Santa Maria, Irving) are among them.  They would welcome a chance to share the stories and resources that will help you and others appreciate the amazing work done by ELCA congregations, synods and churchwide all around the world.  

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To learn more about our ministry partnerships, contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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