Lutheran Teens Clean Cemetery, Rebury Dead
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- While watching dozens of Lutheran teens clean up a cemetery, Bobbiann Lewis talked about how Jesus multiplied a few loaves and fishes to feed a crowd. She said the teens were the "loaves and fishes" she needed to help restore a historic African American burial site....
ELCA Youth Urged to Volunteer, Provide Hope, Make Dreams Come True
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Two young men with very different life experiences told of how their volunteerism in distant places has helped them feel hope and provide hope to many. Spencer West and Michel Chikwanine were speakers at the July 24 evening program at the Louisiana Superdome, part of the...
New Orleans Shops, Restaurants Get Boost from ELCA Youth Gathering
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- The end of July usually isn't very busy for Mulate's, a Cajun restaurant across from the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. The 2009 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) has changed that. "If they weren't here, we would be really slow," said...
Gators? Snakes? No Fear, Say Lutheran Teens Planting Wetlands
THERIOT, La. (ELCA) -- A bus carrying dozens of wide-eyed Lutheran teens from Nebraska and Wisconsin pulled into the Falgout Canal marina, a 70-mile drive from New Orleans. They strapped on life jackets and stepped into several boats. The teens knew they'd be working on an environmental service project to...
Lutheran Youth Receive Power and Grace in the Superdome
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Bursts of dancing spotlights and bass notes that drove deep through the crowd resembled more a rock concert than a church meeting at the Louisiana Superdome. The audience of 37,000 Lutherans, mostly teenagers, heard gospel messages and music July 23 they may not have experienced back...
New Orleans Mayor Welcomes, Praises ELCA Youth Gathering Effort
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Praising the "miracle" of the Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the mayor of New Orleans, C. Ray Nagin, issued a proclamation declaring July 24 "A Special Day of Honor" on the ELCA and the gathering's volunteers for contributing to the city's...
Youth Gathering Participants Engage in Social Justice at Interaction Center
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Participants in the Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) engaged in a variety of social justice activities at the gathering's "Interaction Center," open daily at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Some 37,000 Lutheran teenagers, adult leaders and other volunteers are here...
ELCA Youth Walk through Scripture, Service at the Krewes Learning Center
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Deborah was one tough cookie, according to Mitzi McLean. "Women can be strong figures," she said. McLean, a member of Epiphany Lutheran Church, Winston-Salem, N.C., led a Bible study on Deborah, a biblical heroine, Thursday afternoon at the Krewes Learning Center, part of the 2009 Evangelical...
ELCA Teens Told to Make Community Service a Way of Life
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- A conga line snaked up and down the aisles on the main floor of the Louisiana Superdome. Carefree teenagers swayed from side to side in rhythm to the electric guitar music. Kaitlin Smith remained in her seat but watched intently. The 14-year-old is from Whitewood, S.D.,...
Lutherans Begin 'Dirty Work' in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Lutherans hope to help resurrect the city in three days by doing a lot of dirty work. They'll work on mudflats to help stop coastal erosion and foster wetlands recovery. They'll pull weeds and clean up a historic African American cemetery. They'll paint schools, clear brush...
ELCA Youth Participate in 'Definitely Abled' Leadership Event
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Thirty-one high school youth and young adults, plus parents, staff and volunteers spent four days in worship, song, learning activities and discussion in the Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE), a program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Nearly three years in the making,...
ELCA Youth of Color Discuss Racism, Celebrate Diversity at MYLE
NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Members of Ascension Lutheran Church, Dorado, Puerto Rico, swayed gently to the beat as the music started to play. Once the drums started, they were up on their feet. Tambourines, maracas and drums in hand, the youth and their parents pounded out a festive beat, smiling,...
Episcopalians, Lutherans Taking Action on Sexuality Topics
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church took a series of actions on the topic of human sexuality July 8-17 in Anaheim, Calif. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will also make decisions on matters concerning the topic at its 2009 Churchwide Assembly Aug. 17-23...
Purdue researcher, Lutheran wins World Food Prize
by Carrie Draeger, ELCA News Service* Dr. Gebisa Ejeta, a professor of agronomy at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind., was named the recipient of the World Food Prize for his research on sorghum plants in his native Africa. Considered the Nobel Prize of Agriculture, the prize is given to people...
ELCA Video Contest Submissions Close, Judges Named
CHICAGO (ELCA) - Creators submitted 224 videos hoping to win the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) "God's work. Our hands." video contest. "I'm blown away by the diversity of the entries," said Scott Hendrickson, director of marketing, public relations and creative services, ELCA Communication Services. "(The video contest) is...
Iowa Lutheran Changes Lives Two Wheels at a Time
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lucy Thomas is a bike peddler. The 64-year-old Iowan collects and repairs old bicycles and helmets. Then she donates them to refugee families being resettled in the state. The bikes provide a way for them to get around other than by bus or their own two feet....
ELCA colleges, universities join Yellow Ribbon program
by Frank Imhoff, ELCA News Service The 28 colleges and universities of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are taking part in a program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to help military veterans pay tuition. Under the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program degree-granting institutions in the...
ELCA Deaconess Community Celebrates 125 Years
CHICAGO (ELCA) -- What started as seven German deaconesses serving a Philadelphia hospital has grown to a flourishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). The ELCA Deaconess Community will mark 125 years of service to the church with a celebration July 18-19 in Atlanta. The celebration will...
ELCA Pastor Returns to Work after Liver Transplant
CHICAGO (ELCA) - The Rev. Charles A. Axness doesn't know who his new liver came from, but he's grateful. "I don't know if that person was male or female; black, white or bronze," he wrote in a recent newsletter to his congregation, First Lutheran Church, Fremont, Neb. "Someone made a...
Religious leaders convene at Faith Leader Summit on Health Care
by Jodi Deike, ELCA News Service Representatives of nearly 30 religious organizations gathered July 7 in Washington D.C. for a "Faith Leader Summit on Health Care." The summit kicked off a collective effort to build support among Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Hindu leaders for comprehensive reform of the U.S. health...
