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ELCA Foundation Legacies November 2001
“Let justice roll down like waters…” Helping people in need through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal
“Let justice roll down like waters” (Amos 5:24) is the prophet Amos’ call to God’s people—a call present-day followers of Christ also heed today through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Amos’ vision is our vision: the poor being helped and all people having what is needed for life, as abundant as flowing water.
Since 1974, members of the ELCA have helped hungry people in Jesus’ name through the World Hunger Appeal. Gifts to the Appeal enable trusted partners at home and throughout the world to provide food, water, medicine and shelter in times of crisis and urgent need. They help whole communities use their won assets and labor to break the cycle of poverty that causes hunger. And they help members of our church understand the causes and cures of hunger and respond through prayer, study, advocacy and service.
Through the World Hunger Appeal, you partner with:
Each gift to the World Hunger Appeal is like a drop of water, that together with others, forms a powerful stream that brings life, hope and justice to people in great need.
The thanks flow back: when staff members of the ELCA World Hunger Appeal visit some of the projects the Appeal supports, people often ask for the name of the person who sent the help for them or their village. The staff explain that they cannot say whose particular gift it was since money is not tracked that way. In response, they have heard, “You may not know their name, but God does, and I pray for them every night.” The staff of World Hunger Appeal also pray for you: “I thank God every time I remember you.” (Philippians 1:3).
Those who make World Hunger Appeal possible
Robert and Evelyn Decker of Newcomerstown, Ohio, participated in a study trip to East Africa several years ago. Throughout the trip, the group had to carry bottles of drinkable water and even ration it at times because East Africa was suffering through a third year of drought. The Deckers were greatly touched by the Fish Ponds of Tanzania project. ELCA missionaries, Dennis and Meredith Murnyak, took the study group to visit farmers who had dug small ponds (about 30x45 feet) and stocked them with tilapia. The initial fish for each farmer’s pond is given by another farmer; each farmer then passes on the gift, neighbor helping neighbor. Bob and Evelyn came back from Africa wanting to pass on gifts in that same way. They talked with a representative from the ELCA Foundation and with their own financial advisor and decided to give stock to begin a Charitable Gift Annuity. They receive an income from it now and at the time of their deaths the money will go to help those in need through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. Bob and Evelyn’s gift will help justice flow to poor and oppressed people like powerful streams through wells, fish ponds and irrigation. As servants of God, this couple says they have one desire—“may we give until we are no more.”
Stand with Africa
“First mile” giving to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal fights chronic hunger in God’s world. But sometimes a situation emerges that calls on Christians to go both the “first mile” and the “second mile,” as well.
Our partners and companion churches in Africa face hard realities that warrant such a “second mile” effort. Hunger is on the increase there, unlike most other places in the world. Africa houses millions of refugees and faces an AIDS crisis of staggering dimensions. In some countries, one out of four adults is HIV-positive; there are well over 12 million AIDS orphans who are increasingly looking to the church for help.
The world hunger programs of the ELCA and LCMS, together with their common agency, Lutheran World Relief, have launched Stand With Africa—and invite you to be part of this new three-year campaign of education, advocacy and giving. This year, gifts earmarked “World Hunger-Stand with Africa” will fund extra activities to combat AIDS and help AIDS orphans through ELCA companion churches in Africa and through Lutheran World Relief’s community-based partners.
After giving to support the World Hunger Appeal’s ongoing worldwide work, consider digging deeper and making another gift—a “second mile” gift—earmarked Stand with Africa.
You can make a difference: for more information about how you can support the ELCA World Hunger Appeal Endowment, contact your regional gift planner or call the ELCA Foundation at 800/638-3522, ext. 2970; 8765 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631. or visit us on the web at www.elca.org/fo.
The Fund for Leaders in Mission Scholars: A Sense of Call to Christ’s Mission in the World . . .
To carry forward Christ’s mission in the world, the ELCA needs a new generation of gifted people to study and prepare for leading, teaching, helping and healing here at home and throughout the world. The Fund for Leaders in Mission has been created to encourage this new generation to come forward by supporting their preparation for leadership through theological education, and relieving the burden of debt that can hinder them in serving where they are needed most.
In the second year of its scholarship program, the Fund is able to provide full-tuition support for 24 students with a total of $214,000 distributed. The goal of the Fund is to support full tuition for every qualified student, at the eight ELCA seminaries, who has a commitment to ordained or rostered lay ministry within this church.
We can all be encouraged by the men and women stepping forward to respond to a sense of call to Christ’s mission and to prepare for leadership in our church. Please continue to nurture individuals of promise within your own congregation and to assist the Fund for Leaders in Mission in providing support for the theological education that will equip them for ministry in a world hungry for the Gospel.
The Fund for Leaders in Mission 2001-2002 Scholars:
Suzanne
M. Beauregard—New England Synod
Rachel Charlene Ridenour Dietz—Virginia Synod
Sean L. Forde—Florida-Bahamas Synod*
Meghan Calhoun Johnston—Sierra Pacific Synod
Aaron Klink—Minneapolis
Area Synod*
Sally Mitchell—St.
Paul Area Synod
Brad Wayne Otto—Texas-LA
Gulf
Coast
Synod*
Jo Quanbeck—Montana
Synod
James Alan Pike—Grand Canyon Synod
Erik Samuelson—Southwest Washington Synod
Crystal Schrader—Southeastern Iowa Synod
Matthew Allen Short—Grand Canyon Synod*
Darcy Skarsten—Delaware-Maryland Synod*
Heather Stenberg—Northwestern Minnesota Synod*
Heidi L. Torgerson—Eastern North Dakota Synod*
*Recipients of the Paul M. Dauten, Jr., Scholarship. This scholarship is funded annually through the Paul M. Dauten, Jr. Memorial Endowment, created by Kent and Elizabeth Dauten to honor the memory of Kent’s father.
Calling Forth a New Generation of Leaders . . .
Leadership: Sean Forde, Florida-Bahamas Synod, is pursuing an M.Div degree at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. “I hope to use my gifts to effectively serve as a leader in the ELCA by continuing to strengthen people’s faith in god and to better serve others. I pray that my willingness to be there for people, willingness to help in any capacity, and willingness to share the gospel with others help to make me an effective leader in my community.”
Sense of Call: Rachel Charlene Ridenour Dietz, Virginia Synod, is pursuing an M.Div degree at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. “My sense of call comes from the ordinary, everyday experiences of life in the church: from encouraging pastors, volunteering t synod youth events, and being active in a congregation. The Holy Spirit uses people to support and challenge me in my vocation.”
Faithfulness: Heidi Torgenson, Eastern North Dakota Synod, is pursuing an M.Div degree at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. “The love of God in Jesus Chris is a revolutionary and transforming love that has the power to effect change not only in our personal lives, but also in the lives of our broken communities. I hope to lead the Church with a vision of what the just kingdom of God can look like here on earth.”
Competence: James Pike, Grand Canyon Synod, is pursuing an M.Div degree at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. “This scholarship provides an invitation from the church to pursue excellence in ministry. By investing this trust in me financially, I hope to make returns in terms of leadership through service.”
Integrity: Erik Samuelson, Southwest Washington Synod, is pursuing an M.Div degree at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, California. “I see ministry in the church as one in which the ancient symbols, practices and traditions are continually given new life and an important place in the life of each emerging generation. It is in this way that the church continues to live, continues its mission of spreading the Gospel and continues to be the body of Christ in the world.”
You too can support students like these by making a gift in the enclosed envelope or by calling:
Cynthia Halverson, Director; Fund for Leaders in Mission; 8765 W. Higgins Road; Chicago, IL 60631-4179; 800/638-3522, ext. 2119; email: email
www.elca.org/fo/fundforleaders
Stewards of what God has Entrusted
After 38 years in parish ministry, Pastor Vernon Frazier and his wife Jean began a new phase in their life of service. For the past 18 years, they have funded their own volunteer services to churches throughout the world, while also providing financial gifts to various ministries of the church, including theological education, World Hunger and the Special Needs Retirement Fund.
The decision to spend their retirement years in service to the church, and to fund those efforts themselves, are the culmination of a lifetime of stewardship that stretches back to childhood. “My father and mother were tithers,” says Pastor Frazier. “Every time the church opened its doors we were there and all my family were tithers.”
Pastor Frazier entered seminary after college and was ordained shortly before the end of World War II. He immediately became involved in raising relief funds for people in countries left devastated by the war. Yet, he felt the need to do something more.
“I thought to myself, I have to do something. I wanted to do something for refugees. Most of my relatives had been refugees and they were all assisted by the church and in turn helped build churches themselves,” he says.
His interest in working with refugees led him to London, where he spent three years at St. Anne’s Lutheran Church, the only English-speaking Lutheran ministry of the Lutheran World Federation in London at that time.
After returning to the United States, he spent more than three decades serving Lutheran congregations in South Carolina and California. During his years of parish ministry, the gospel of Matthew’s twenty-fifth chapter became his touchstone for stewardship. “I came to understand that one hundred percent of what I have belongs to God.” We’re simply stewards of what God entrusts to us, he says. That understanding “changed my whole approach to stewardship and ministry.”
In the 1960s, Pastor Frazier became involved in an investment club. As he learned more and more about investing, the investments became more successful and he began teaching others about investing and stewardship, as well.
When the Fraziers retired, having put their five children through college, they sold their home and used the excess profits from their investments to pay their own expenses for mission service. Pastor Frazier’s involvement with St. Anne’s in London continued with a one-year stint of service as a resource for special ministries. The Fraziers have also volunteered in Washington D.C. and a variety of other ministry locations through the last 18 years.
In addition to their commitment to volunteer ministry, the Fraziers have also provided generous financial support to a variety of ministries of the whole church including endowments for the World Hunger Appeal, Lutheran World Federation, Lutheran World Relief and the Fund for Leaders in Mission.
Yet, Pastor Frazier is quick to point out, “we’re not unusual. We didn’t have much, but God has made these efforts possible. Stewardship is extremely rewarding spiritually. We just trust God.”
Your Will and Your Family
You are a witness to the Gospel during your lifetime. Your day-to-day decisions stem from the roots of your faith. In the same way, your will and long-term financial plan can become testimonies of faith that care for your loved ones and continue beyond your lifetime to nurture and sustain future generations.
People of all ages need a will to plan for the protection of their families according to their wishes. Your will can be a stewardship vehicle that allows you to:
The ELCA Foundation can provide a number of helpful tools that you and your attorney can use in making your estate plan; they include:
For more information, please call the ELCA Foundation, 800/638-3522, ext. 2970 or visit our website at www.elca.org/fo.
Giving through Stock
Do you or members of your congregation have stocks or other appreciated securities that have grown in value? Are you looking for ways to remember ministries of the church with a charitable gift…and receive tax benefits?
Consider a gift of stock, mutual funds or other securities. Through this type of gift, you can give more to ministries of the church than you originally invested and take a deduction for the current market value on the date of the gift.
To take a deduction for gifts of securities at their current value, you must have owned them for at least one year and a day. Such gifts are deductible up to 30 percent of your adjust gross income in the year of the gift.
The ELCA Foundation can assist with gifts of stock for all ministries of the church. You can transfer securities into an ELCA account and we will distribute to ministries you name. So, in one transfer you can make gifts to your local congregation, your synod, and churchwide ministries such as World Hunger Appeal and the Fund for Leaders in Mission.
Remember, a gift in 2001 may have a greater tax value for you than the same gift next year due to changes in the tax brackets.
For more information on how you can give stock for the benefit of ELCA ministries, contact the ELCA Foundation at 800/638-3522, ext. 2970, or email.
End of Legacies November, 2001 issue