By Patsy Glista, AIM 

 

The 320 youth and adults from our synod who joined more than 33,000 others from across the ELCA lifted up the importance of mission at the National Youth Gathering. They addressed literacy by donating 51,766 books to children living in New Orleans. Challenged to raise $250,000 to help build Clean Water Wells as part of the ELCA's World Hunger mission, they raised $400,000. What a blessing these mission-minded young people are to our synod and our ELCA! Likewise the mission support dollars of congregations across our synod collectively support the work of the church not only in our synod, but around the nation and across the globe. We appreciate all your congregation gives to support these valuable missions.

 

 

Total Mission Commitment

2010 Actual @ 6 mos     $619,399

2011 Actual @ 6 mos     $513,870

2012 YTD                          $493,966

 

As depicted on the attached chart, Congregational Mission Support unfortunately continues to decline in our present economic times with YTD 2012 again trailing comparable results from 2011. Additional cost reductions to our annual budget including last year's reduction of dollars shared with the ELCA have improved our operating position, but also reduced the mission work we are able to support. Please prayerfully consider the ways that your congregation can maintain and possibly increase its mission commitment to support the important ways that together our church carries out Christ's mission.