Fund for Leaders Testimonial

The Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA is now in its fifth and final year. The emphasis for this year is on growing gifts for the Fund for Leaders in Mission. This fund provides 50 full-time scholarships each year for seminarians in the ELCA. Additionally, the NT-NL has its own Fund for Leaders, which allows us to give scholarships locally as well. NT-NL has benefited from these gifts in many and various ways.

Here is a testimonial from the Rev. Edy Santos, Mission Developer / Pastor of Adviento, Arlington:

I think is a blessing the way how Fund for Leaders in Mission is sharing the good news to others, “support for ministry leaders”. Thanks to that support, I confirm what the Scripture says, “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ  Jesus for you” (1 Thess 5:18). I understand that God’s will for our lives is gratitude every time.  For this reason  I express again my gratitude to Fund for Leaders in Mission for your generosity.” This scholarship helped ease the financial pressures of studies and allowed me to place all my focus on becoming a proficient pastor. Thank you for your financial support, which is very much appreciated, and you must know that it will not be wasted. I will work hard to make sure that you feel that you have made a wise decision in selecting me as one of your recipients. My compromise with the church is full of motivation and encourages me to continue supporting each other’s.

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Creo que es una bendición la forma en que el Fondo para Líderes en Misión comparte las buenas nuevas a los demás, “apoyo a los líderes del ministerio”. Gracias a ese apoyo, confirmo lo que dice la Escritura “Dad gracias en toda circunstancia, porque esta es la voluntad de Dios en Cristo Jesús para vosotros” (1 Tesalonicenses 5:18). Entiendo que la voluntad de Dios para nuestras vidas es la gratitud cada vez. Por esta razón expreso nuevamente mi gratitud a Fund for Leaders for Mission por su generosidad “. Esta beca ayudó a aliviar las presiones financieras de los estudios y me permitió centrar todo mi enfoque en convertirme en un pastor competente. Gracias por su apoyo financiero, que es muy apreciado, y debe saber que no se desperdiciará. Trabajaré duro para asegurarme de que usted siente que ha tomado una decisión inteligente al seleccionarme como uno de sus destinatarios. Mi compromiso con la iglesia está lleno de motivación y me anima a seguir apoyando mutuamente.

Bishop Gronberg and the NT-NL Synod Council invite congregations to support the NT-NL Fund for Leaders by considering a special offering this Easter season. Giving thanks for the hope of the resurrection, we encourage congregations to support those discerning a call to ministry and help us keep student debt to a minimum. A matching challenge grant has been given to match dollar-for-dollar the first $10,000 given to this Easter Appeal. Thank you for considering support for the ELCA Campaign and Fund for Leaders. (Gifts may be brought with you to Synod Assembly or directed to the Synod office; please specify Fund for Leaders).

Together, we can invest in leaders for Christ’s church on a scale and scope we never could otherwise. Your gifts to the Fund for Leaders program empowers those whom God calls into ministry to go and serve as the church needs and the Holy Spirit leads.

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2018 Assembly Deadlines

Now that we have a website built from a database and with responsive design (i.e. mobile-friendly), we are opting out of using Guidebook this year and will use our website for all resources needed for Assembly. The Book of Reports has been posted online. If you plan to print and bring with you to Assembly, we strongly recommend waiting to print until the week of Assembly, as we are usually making updates up to that point.

Click here for the form to Submit a Resolution to the Assembly. This is due by April 13.

Online Registration ends April 16.

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Texas Primary Runoffs are May 22

Fewer than 1 in 10 registered voters cast ballots in Texas’ last midterm primary runoffs, the decisive election for many officials. This year, there are more than 30 runoffs that span all levels of government. See all the races and candidates here.

You do NOT need to have voted in the primary on March 6 to vote in the runoffs! But if you DID vote in the primary, you can only vote in the runoff of the SAME party you chose in March. You do NOT have to keep that party affiliation forever. In November, you can vote for candidates of all parties.

And good news, even if you did not vote in March because you were not registered yet, you can still vote in the runoffs as long as you register by April 23. Check to make sure you are registered to vote.

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Save the Dates

Spanish Language and Hispanic Ministry Intensive

May 27 – June 1

Austin, TX

Building Congregational Capacity for Hispanic Ministry

June 10-15

Austin, TX

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Recent Blog Posts

Bishop Gronberg:

Easter Message

(https://www.ntnl.org/easter-message/ – published Apr. 1)

Mosaic Waco Partners in Possibility

(https://www.ntnl.org/mosaic-waco-partners-in-possibility/ – published Apr. 3)

Early Morning, April 4…

(https://www.ntnl.org/early-morning-april-4/ – published Apr. 4)

Pr. Totzke:

Good Shepherd in Irving

(https://www.ntnl.org/good-shepherd-in-irving/ – published Apr. 8)

Easter lives on!

(https://www.ntnl.org/easter-lives-on/ – published Apr. 8)

Our oldest congregation

(https://www.ntnl.org/our-oldest-congregation/ – published Apr. 8)

Welcome to the Heart of Texas!

(https://www.ntnl.org/welcome-to-the-heart-of-texas/ – published Apr. 8)

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Where in the world is?

Bishop Gronberg:

• Apr. 15 – Campus Ministry board meeting, First United, Dallas

Pr. Totzke:

• Apr. 15 – Our Redeemer, Grand Prairie

Pra. Bañales:

• Apr. 9 – Church Council meeting, Advent, Arlington
• Apr. 12 – Immigration: Understanding the Problems & Opportunities, King of Glory, Dallas, TX
• Apr. 15-19 – ELCA Domestic Mission Unit All Staff Gathering & ELCA Mission Support and Stewardship Table, Chicago, IL