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Denver, Colo.

The story behind the ad

A New Career and a Fresh Start

Not many churches — Lutheran or otherwise — have a room with a hospital bed and wheelchairs to be used for instructional purposes. Then again, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, situated right here in the Capitol Hill area outside downtown Denver, has always been special.

As Pastor Tina Yankee will tell you with enthusiasm that's contagious, Our Savior's is "an amazingly welcoming congregation." Rightfully so, the pastor is proud of her congregation's "fabulous history of doing incredible things in the community."

One example is St. Luke Ministry — a fully certified state CNA (Certified Nurse's Aide) program that provides free training and placement to low-income individuals who are looking for a fresh start with a new career. Since its inception four years ago, 68 women and men have graduated from the program, some currently pursuing further study to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs). Others take advantage of the St. Luke's job placement program, earning up to $15 an hour assisting nurses in local health care facilities.

The women who are enrolled in the program come from low-income backgrounds, and often higher education isn't an option for them. Here, in the specially equipped room at Our Savior's, they get a second chance at school, taking four weeks of intensive training. The program includes 40 hours of written work, 20 hours of skills practices and 25 hours of hands-on clinical experience.

Best of all, the men and women who receive certification can find work in their local community, which is in dire need of health care workers. It's a situation that can only be described as a "win-win" — as overburdened nurses and physicians in area hospitals and other health care facilities receive much-needed help.

"What's really good about St. Luke's Ministry is that the students in the program tend to be naturally caring, compassionate individuals," says Pastor Tina. "They have to be that way, because someday they'll be the people who are caring for your parents and my parents."

St. Luke's isn't the only program at Our Savior's that reaches out to neighbors in the community. In fact, in many ways, Our Savior's Lutheran is a perfect example of how the ELCA, on a local scale, makes a difference globally.

Pastor Tina first heard about the church 20 years ago when it was active in supporting missions and ministries in the African country of Namibia, during the time of apartheid. At first, she thought to herself, "Why would a little church in Denver, Colo., think it could make a difference in a social issue as big as apartheid?"

Now that she has served there for four years, she says that the church is "on the forefront of changes in so many ways." With over 75 percent of the 226-member congregation being single professionals, Our Savior's sets a powerful example for social action, providing a variety of programs to bring deeper meaning to the lives of its members.