ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering

Embracing Hope-Taking Action-Moving Forward

Houston, Texas 

ELCA’s Slogan is, “Until All are Fed!” From February 1-4, 2024, synod hunger teams from over 50 ELCA synods and other key ELCA World Hunger leaders gathered to celebrate the 50th anniversary of ELCA World Hunger at the 2024 ELCA World Hunger Leadership Gathering.  

The Gathering was a diverse assembly of Hunger Leaders with the sole purpose of reducing food insecurity at all levels and in all places.  

This event invited leaders for a time of networking, idea sharing, learning and planning for the shared ministry to address hunger and its root causes in our local and global communities.  

The gathering centered on 1 Peter 4:10 and the theme “Embracing Hope — Taking Action — Moving Forward.”

Sunshine Evetts from Hope Lutheran in Eagle, Idaho, Ryan Lawrence from Cameron Emmanuel in Kendrick, Idaho, and Pastor Ethan Bergman from Ellensburg, Washington represented the Northwest Intermountain Synod at the Gathering. 

In addition to celebrating the work of ELCA World Hunger, Sunshine, Ryan and Ethan met with other representatives from synods in Region 1 to discuss ways of sharing resources and expertise among the Region. Region 1 is Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. 

ELCA World Hunger runs out of funding before we run out of ministries and hunger issues to support. In response to this need, Sunshine, Ryan, and Ethan discussed NWIM Synod World Hunger goals for the coming year. 

The goals set are to increase Synod wide giving to ELCA World Hunger to over $200,000 in the coming year; to increase the number of NWIM Synod Congregations giving to ELCA World Hunger from the current 32 to over 50 congregations in the coming year; to provide ELCA World Hunger education materials directly to an identified group of ELCA Churches that do not currently give to ELCA World Hunger. 

If you have questions concerning ELCA World Hunger please contact Pastor Ethan Bergman at bergmane25@gmail.com.

Region 1 - Disaster Preparedness and Response

Read Hammer and Dance Newsletter here.

ELCA World Hunger

ELCA Domestic Hunger Grants

Congratulations to Yakima Union Gospel Mission for receiving a Domestic Hunger Grant for the 2022-2024 three-year period! Many thanks to Christ Lutheran Church, Yakima for working closely with Yakima UGM to accompany those benefiting from this ministry.

Yakima Union Gospel Mission joins Shalom Ministries of Spokane, who received a three-year Domestic Hunger Grant in 2021 with support to accompany those in need in Spokane. Shalom Ministries works closely with St. Mark Lutheran, Spokane.

We are church together, working toward a just world where all are fed.

ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Grants accompany congregations and their partners throughout the United States and Caribbean as they draw on the strengths of communities to address local issues such as food security, clean water, housing, job readiness, human rights, policy change, leadership development and more. Together, these ministries are part of a comprehensive approach to breaking the cycle of poverty and hunger — for good.

Including Yakima Union Gospel Mission ELCA World Hunger gives thanks that 57 ministries across the ELCA have been recommended for 2022 ELCA  World Hunger Domestic Hunger grants for a total 3-year (2022-2024) investment of over $1,000,000.

Join us in celebrating these transformative, holistic, and integrated ministries that are casting a vision of God’s just world where all are fed in each of their communities through their work and relationships.

The 57 ministries awarded 2022 Domestic Hunger Grants (majority 3-year awards) will join 85 current Domestic Hunger Grants awarded in 2020 and 2021 that are already at work including Shalom Ministries, Spokane, WA.

The total award list is posted here.

This year’s timetable for DHG applications starts with registration from March 18- May 6, 2022. Applications are then accepted from April 11 until May 20, 2022; Application review occurs from June through October. DHG Award announcements will occur in November, 2022.

Big Dream Grants

Twelve ministries have been awarded Big Dream grants of up to $75,000 each, representing more than $1.4 million in investment from ELCA World Hunger. Responding to this moment of opportunity for significant and immediate action with our partners across the ELCA, these grants will support projects promoting access to affordable housing, racial equity, intersections of agriculture with faith, and more. Together, these “Big Dreams” will demonstrate the powerful collective possibilities for this church to impact domestic hunger and poverty. 

Daily Bread Matching Grants

In addition to Domestic Hunger Grants, ELCA World Hunger also offers the opportunity to apply for Daily Bread Matching Grants. These matching grants support congregations and their partners as they work toward a just world where all are fed. ELCA congregations with feeding ministries are eligible to participate.

As part of the ELCA’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ELCA World Hunger Daily Bread Matching Grants will be made available to congregations on a first-come, first-served basis as they provide daily bread for neighbors in need. Registrations and applications for 2023 Daily Bread Matching Grants wil open April 25, 2022. Visit ELCA.org/dailybread to learn more!

ELCA World Hunger is Transformative

Transformative ministries work to break down barriers, reduce inequality and build strong relationships that can move us toward a just world where all are fed. Transformative ministries build relationships across the lines that divide our communities with an eye toward justice for all. This might look like projects focused on reducing disparities based on race, gender, economic status, sexuality or citizenship.

Hear About Kenneth’s Story

ELCA World Hunger is Holistic

The ELCA is called to be both a serving and a liberating presence in the world, meeting the immediate needs of neighbors through mercy and working for long-term, systemic change through advocacy. For example, many holistic ministries start with food — and then address the broader challenges that lie at the root of hunger and poverty. Holistic ministries may address these root causes by creating opportunities for people facing hunger to advocate for meaningful policy change, or they may organize the people most affected for collective community action. 

Hear about Holistic Feeding Ministries

ELCA World Hunger is Integrated

Integrated ministries draw on the many strengths of communities to respond to need in multiple, related ways. Maybe this means providing food for families while advocating for affordable housing, building case management into a financial literacy program, or providing safe space for people who are vulnerable while offering job readiness assistance. Addressing multiple causes of hunger and poverty through integrated services can make ministries and projects more sustainable and effective.

Read the story of Table Grace Café, an integrated ministry in Omaha, Nebraska

ELCA World Hunger promotes the presence of God in all of creation because we are church together, working toward a just world where all are fed.

Tumaini Girl's Scholarships

UKD Tumaini Lutheran School

After our Companion Synod partnership was formed, Bishop Keller and his wife Betty went to visit Ulanga Kilombero. While there, Betty developed a passion for the girls to be able to go to secondary school that at the time cost $150 for a year.  She found that it was sometimes more than a family made in a year and if they did make enough to send a child, a son would have priority.  She brought her concern to the Synod Women’s Organization at our next convention after they came back.  From that our women’s board developed a plan to raise that $150 each for 10 girls to continue their education.

We sent out Sunbonnet Sue quilting kits that the board put together and asked the women’s units to raise $150 and put the quilt square together as they raised the money and to send both to the SWO.  We built quilts out of the blocks and raffled them off at gatherings and added that money to the fund.  We started a Mission Investment Fund account for the funds and with ongoing donations from churches and individuals we have been sponsoring 10 girls every year for almost 30 years.  The cost has gone up over the years and now takes $800 for each girl. 

The last two years has been a struggle but generous donations from fewer sources has helped us accomplish it.  Now we have to build the account back up again.  My church puts a donation basket out on the refreshment table after church every week and has been able to raise our $800.  This year we dedicated it to the memory of Marj Nishek and Elaine Peterson who were strong Global Mission people and supporters of this scholarship program as will as members of our church.

Checks can be sent to the Synod office and payable to: NWIM Synod. Please note that the contribution is for the girls’ scholarship fund. Please mail to 245 E 13th Ave., Suite A, Spokane, WA 99202.

Thank you for your support!

Carole Dinning

Global Mission News | December 2021

Harvesting The Plenty

Our Siblings in Tanzania Need Us Now More Than Ever

With everything that is happening in the world it's important to remember and lift up the good things that are occurring in so many places worldwide. Our synod has a direct relationship with the Ulanga Kilombero Diocese in Tanzania. You may know of the work that our gifts have enabled, along with other church and support organizations in Europe, to make the Gospel known in their region.

Through the Tumaini School and Seminary projects, many young students have been supported and sustained through education. The school director, Pastor Moses Nwaka, has been a guest here in our synod and shared his enthusiasm and effort for the school and their community. Many of his posts on Facebook are about the hard work that he and others are doing, including the farming of maize and rice to feed the students! It is blessed work but also hard and laborious, but without that work there would be no harvest.

Our synod's territory is deeply immersed in agriculture. To harvest, someone had to trust their instincts, training, and God's abundance to make sure that the soil was prepared, the seed planted, the crop tended so that a future bounty could be harvested and enjoyed.

Right now, there is a significant need to meet the scholarship goals for Tumaini School. The coronavirus has impacted Africa and Tanzania, which changed life for many students. Now, there is increased interest in attending Tumaini but for some young women their families are not able to fund their schooling.

Has God been generous to you? Of course, He has! For many of us with resources, especially investments, the stock markets and financial industry has seen substantial growth even during our past year of uncertainty. I would ask that you consider how you might use those gains for helping others, but especially the scholarship needs of a growing number of students in Tanzania. The investment in a child's education means significant improvements in the lives of the student, their families, and their future.

Donations through charitable distributions are able to be received for these purposes. Speak to your tax specialist and investment advisor to determine how you might make a contribution that would have a powerful impact on young student lives going forward.

Recently, the leaders of the UKD shared the status of the Spiritual and Conference Center being constructed on the grounds of the diocese in Ifakara. Over multiple years, they have done much of the construction of the facilities using their own resources. Recently, a request was made for funding to help finish the construction and make the Center useable.

Initially, there was no funding available. Once the need was made known to a wider audience, an anonymous donor offered to make a Charitable Distribution to match the request, almost $25K. This would not have been possible if there was no early work, no past investment, to enable the 'harvest' of funds to help reach the goal.

Help us by supporting Tumaini, the school staff and teachers as they 'plant' knowledge and anticipate the 'harvest' of students with bright futures. Thanks be to God for His abundance in our lives, that we might share with others.

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Rev. Wayne Shipman

Pastor - Good Shepherd (Pocatello, ID) and Emanuel (Blackfoot, ID)

Dean, Upper Snake River Cluster, NWIM Synod, ELCA

What Are ELCA Good Gifts?

ELCA Good Gifts are a creative, meaningful way to support the ministries of the ELCA that mean the most to you and your loved ones. These gifts are real examples from projects currently supported through ELCA churchwide ministries:

• The ELCA Fund for Leaders,

• ELCA Global Church Sponsorship,

• ELCA New Congregations,

• ELCA Vision for Mission,

• ELCA World Hunger, Disability Ministries

• Lutheran Disaster Response.

Each of these programs is a long-term, partnership-based ministry that focus on the needs identified by local congregations and global companion churches and their communities.