The nations are here!
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is changing to reflect the rich and diverse population that lives and worships in St. Paul. Consider this: St. Paul has more Hmong people than any other city in the United States. The University of Minnesota has more Chinese students than any other university in the United States. Hispanics are the fastest growing ethnic community in the Twin Cities.
Inner city and first-ring suburban churches are often in great need of partnerships in ministry. Let God work through your faith community by becoming involved as a local mission partner for a new or struggling congregation in the Saint Paul Area Synod.
Local Mission Partners is a program of the ELCA that encourages ministries to build relationships with each other around three principles:
Prayer. Strengthen the bonds of partnership by regularly praying for one another.
Presence. Bless each other by connecting member to member with your partner congregation.
Presents. Share God’s gift of financial resources to support and strengthen your partner congregation’s ministry as well as your own.
Congregations seeking partnerships
The Local Mission Partners program specifically attempts to partner stronger ministries with new or struggling ministries, such as new congregations, ethnic ministries, and urban ministries. In the Saint Paul Area Synod, these faith communities have identified specific needs in terms of prayer, partnership, and financial needs:
Minnesota Faith Chinese Lutheran, St. Paul, provides outreach primarily to Chinese Christians and seekers.
Christ Lutheran on Capitol Hill, St. Paul, is a diverse population worshiping in three languages.
Daily Work, St. Paul, seeks to help the unemployed and under-employed find work.
Pueblo de Fe, a bilingual and multi-cultural mission congregation worships at St. Stephen's Lutheran, West St. Paul.
Good Samaritan Lutheran, St. Paul, is a developing ministry to reach the next generation of Hmong people on the east side of St. Paul.
Hmong Central Lutheran, St. Paul, reaches our to Hmong people in the Twin Cities.
Zion Lutheran, St. Paul, is beginning transformational ministry in a diverse neighborhood by reaching out to the community to help end poverty.
For information, contact the Rev. Vern Rice, chair, Local Mission Partners team, at 763.785.4013 or email vernrice2000@yahoo.com.
