by Luke Tatge*, ELCA News Service
The Small Town and Rural (STaR) Ministry Alliance of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will hold its
annual gathering July 16-19 at Midland Lutheran College, Fremont,
Neb. "The annual gathering provides a place where participants
hear, witness and learn about concrete models of hope," said
Sandra A. LaBlanc, Des Moines, Iowa, director for rural ministry
networking and resourcing, STaR, ELCA Evangelical Outreach and
Congregational Mission (EOCM).
The theme for this year's gathering is "Wellness of body, mind
and spirit." Three speakers will be featured at the event: the
Rev. Harry Wendt, president and founder of Crossways
International, Minneapolis; the Rev. Kathryn Love, director for
prayer and renewal and associate director for evangelism, EOCM;
and Arvel Bird, award-winning instrumentalist and winner of the
2007 Artist of the Year award from the Native American Music
Awards.
"Each workshop, presentation and exhibit contains tangible models
of hope that you can use or adapt in your own ministry setting,"
LaBlanc said. Affinity groups, which are groups that focus on
specific topics important to rural congregations and communities,
will meet. This year's schedule will include a "wellness minute"
before each keynote and two workshops on financial health and
physical wellness provided by the ELCA Board of Pensions.
*Luke Tatge is a senior journalism major at Augustana College,
Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer he is an intern with the ELCA News
Service.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
