Complete Story
 

09/26/2019

Faith in Action...Stewardship in the Southern Ohio Synod

Dear Friends in Christ,

Pick up a copy of the ELCA’s Stories of Faith in Action 2019* and you’ll find wonderful stories of the ministry you are doing across this country and around the world as we are church together. You make these stories possible through your congregation’s contributions to mission support of the larger church. And so many of these stories are echoed in the Southern Ohio Synod. For instance, you can read about new rostered ministers being trained for the church through TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministries), but you may not be aware that Christ Lutheran Church of Old North Dayton and Vida Eterna Iglesia Luterana of West Chester are being served by TEEM candidates Richard Freudenberger and Carmen Colón-Brown. This innovative ELCA program for lifting up new leaders in under-served communities is bearing rich fruit in our synod as they draw new people into God’s family!

As the Coordinator for Mission Interpreter Ministries in our synod, I am privileged to hear other stories, but the most inspiring stories are when we come together. When multiple tornadoes hit the wider Dayton area on Memorial Day, leaving swaths of destruction in their wake, our congregations immediately came together to offer both immediate and long-term assistance. Christ Lutheran in Old North Dayton (led by TEEM candidate Richard Freudenberger) opened their doors as a respite and cooling station and provided meals and water to neighbors and volunteers. Peace Lutheran in Beavercreek organized teams to go out to help with the immediate recovery effort. Just nine days later, Dayton congregations met with Bishop Dillahunt and Director John Pyron of LSS Disaster Response at North Riverdale Lutheran Church to begin planning for long-term relief efforts, and congregations from across the synod have been sending prayers, financial assistance, and volunteers. This is who we are as the Southern Ohio Synod: we walk together, knowing that we are Stronger and Better Together…Joining Jesus in the Restoration of the World.

In the next few weeks, you will hear more stories—including some in video format—of how we are walking together, and you will receive invitations to support these ministries—and the congregations of our synod—through your congregation’s mission support contributions to the synod. I thank you for your partnership—and I encourage you to keep sharing your stories of how God is working through your ministries!

In gratitude for your companionship as we bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all the world,

Josselyn Bennett
Coordinator, Mission Interpreter Ministry
Southern Ohio Synod

 

*Stories of Faith in Action is available to you in both print and digital formats, along with accompanying videos and devotional materials here:  
https://www.elca.org/Resources/Stories-of-Faith-in-Action

Printer-Friendly Version