Agencies & Institutions Fair

One portion of the first day of synod assembly was dedicated to hearing reports from the various agencies and institutions which work in, through, or alongside the North Carolina Synod.

Lutheran Services Carolinas
President Ted Goins addressed the assembly while pictures of LSC’s work were displayed on the video screens. He emphasized that LSC has chosen to focus on being Christian, and specifically Lutheran. Modeling diversity and inclusion is a primary focus. President Goins said that LSC is the church to the aging, folks with developmental disabilities, refugees, children looking to be adopted, adults with traumatic brains injuries, as well as in providing services for those who are recovering from natural disasters, like Hurricane Matthew.

Portico Benefits Services
Our Portico representative, Paul Aebischer, sent his greetings. Congregations are called to do more with less, and the landscape of finance and health care can be complicated to navigate. Portico provides benefits for the financial, emotional, spiritual, and physical well being of the church’s leaders.

Agape+Kure Beach Ministries
Randy Youngquist-Thurow greeted the assembly on behalf of Agape+Kure Beach Ministries. He shared a story about a boy whose life was changed by the love of Christ embodied by camp counselors. The boy learned that God loved him even though he was bad sometimes. He invited us to use the gifts God has given us in the ministries of Camp Agape and The Kure Beach Faith Center.

Novus Way Ministries
A video greeting from the new director of Novus Way, Bo Harris, explained his leadership style of support a bit about the mission of the various campuses of Novus Way which include Lutheranch , Lutheridge, Lutherock, and Luther Springs.

Ecumenical Relations Team
Dr. Mindy Makant, deacon, explained that her own life has been an ecumenical one from her childhood all the way through her educational and employment experiences, so working on the Ecumenical Relations Team for the NC Synod is a natural fit. She explained ways we are working with the AME Zion Church to increase our dialogues and relationships. The ELCA is working on a draft of a new ecumenical statement, and there is a plan for students from Duke, Wake Forest, and Lenoir-Rhyne to receive some training and work toward ecumenical relationships, also. Dr. Makant grounded the work of the committee in Jesus’ prayer that we would all be one.

The Lifeline Fund
The Lifeline Fund is a synodical fund which will provide $500,000 in grants to leaders and congregations. A video was shown that explained funds are available for paying off student loans, retirement support, medical support, credit card debt support, and community ministries. Financial advisors and Stewardship for All Seasons programming support is also available. Paul Phillips addressed the assembly to direct our attention to the testimonies of some rostered ministers and reported that, to date, 106 grants for rostered ministers in the NC Synod have been granted.

NC Women of the ELCA
Susan Harris, president of the North Carolina Women of the ELCA, addressed the assembly. The theme for the annual gathering is Commissioned to Go: Love, Serve, Pray, Proclaim, Give. Mrs. Harris pulled items out of a bag to show some of the ways the NC Women of the ELCA serve God’s children: pop-tabs, box tops for education, quilts, cash, and empty prescription bottles. She asked that we keep the Women of the ELCA in our prayers as they continue their ministry.

Home Mission Foundation
A video was shown which explained how the Home Mission Foundation helps to support seminarians financially. New pastors Andrea and Kyle Bates and Brook Seaford were interviewed about the ways they experienced God’s blessings through the scholarships they received. They expressed feeling cared for, loved, and supported throughout seminary in part because of the gifts from Home Mission Foundation, which is a part of the North Carolina Men in Mission.

ELCA Planned Giving
Deacon Mitzie Shafer serves congregations to make sure they are ready to receive gifts from their community. She also works so that members of the congregations know how to leave gifts to congregations and the various ELCA agencies and institutions alongside which we work in God’s kingdom. Deacon Shafer invited those assembled to reach out to her for help.

NC Men in Mission
Focused on providing resources to, and building relationships with, people across North Carolina, Lutheran Men in Mission meet at homes, local taverns, brown bag lunch, ball parks, and farm shops building relationships. Mentoring relationships are being formed with young men in congregations. Men walk together on their faith journey, praying for and helping one another in the ways they need. They are exploring ways to work with Lutheran Services Carolinas to help those who are still recovering from Hurricane Matthew.

Twin Lakes Retirement Community
Twin Lakes is in Burlington, N.C. A video was shown which exhibited the many ways aging people live and serve in the Twin Lakes community. Twin Lakes provides health care, adult day respite care, and all the levels of care and various forms of fellowship which lend themselves to a full and enriched life.

We give thanks to God for all the gifts the church is called to steward for the sake of the world.

Story: Jennifer Shimota Krushas is pastor at Emmanuel in High Point.
Photo: Pastor Thomas Nelson is a retired pastor living in Raleigh.
Photo caption: Terry Edwards, director of Lutheran Men in Mission gives his report to the assembly.