E-News

Thriving Leadership Formation New Cohort

For people in ministry in the Northwest Intermountain Synod of the ELCA AND ecumenical colleagues:

  • You desire to be grounded in your life, but are pulled in many directions.

  • You yearn for deep connection – to God, to others, to yourself – but are not sure where to start.

  • You are curious about spiritual practices – silence, deep listening, prayer – but are not very good at practicing them on your own.

Together, we will learn again to pay attention to our lives and our communities and rediscover God’s sustaining presence in our midst.

Continuing the work of Campus Ministry at PLU

PLU Campus Ministry is off and running for fall semester, reconnecting with continuing students and meeting new Lutes. There is good energy. Every new year and season brings its changes, and this fall we’ve made a few changes in Campus Ministry programming and the ways Campus Ministry is contributing to PLU’s mission and care for the spiritual development of students and community. It’s a time of ongoing reformation, ministry, and hopefully transformation, too

Synod Assembly Message from Pastor Phil Misner

The theme for the 2023 NWIM Synod Assembly is BEGA KWA BEGA. This phrase, which translated into English from Swahili, means “Shoulder to Shoulder,” comes to us from our companion synod, the Ulanga-Kilombero Diocese (UKD) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania. It is a fitting theme for our 2023 Synod Assembly for at least two reasons: 1) this phrase was introduced to the NWIM Synod during our last in-person Assembly in 2019 by our guests from the UKD, Pastor Moses Nwaka and Pastor Eliud Payowela; and 2) It is a good descriptor of and addition to what it means to be synod. We are bega kwa bega—shoulder to shoulder— “on the way together.”

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.