The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) The ELCA’s story is both ancient and timely. It’s a story of a powerful and patient God who has boundless love for all people of the world. It’s a story that brings deep meaning, comfort and strength to a growing community of people who live in modern, often unsettling times. Learn more about our beliefs—and become a part of this faith story. With nearly 10,500 congregations across the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and nearly five million members, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is a community of faith that shares a passion for making positive changes in the world. Our faith is built around a strong belief in God as made known to us in Jesus Christ. Through worship, service, and education, we practice our faith, grow our relationship with God and experience God's grace in our lives. We also work hard to put our faith into action. In today's complex world, we strive to make a difference in practical, realistic ways.
Pacifica Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America The ELCA is organized into 65 synods (64 geographical and one non-geographical) located in nine regions. Each synod (a Greek word meaning "a way together") is led by a bishop. The geographic area of the Pacifica Synod includes the state of Hawaii and portions of Southern California, including the counties of Orange, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial and part of Los Angeles County. The number of ELCA congregations in the Pacifica Synod is currently 125, comprised of approximately 54,000 baptized members. These congregations are organized into ten conferences of about a dozen churches. Each conference is led by a dean.
Youth Encounter Youth Encounter partners with Christian communities to strengthen their youth ministry. We desire that Christian communities: Give witness to Jesus Christ in ways that are heard by young people; Maintain a sense of community that welcomes young people into the presence of God; Have effective ministry activities for each grade level; Offer support for and secure the support of families. We desire that young people be: Established in Christian faith; Engaged in Christian ministry; Equipped for Christian leadership. We desire that one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church: Make an evangelical, confessional, and healing Christian witness; Advance Christian mission and growth throughout the world; Develop faithful, evangelical, and effective professional and lay church leaders.
Central City Lutheran Mission Central City Lutheran Mission is a community of partners assisting people on the margins of society, empowering people with health, hope, dignity and life changing opportunities. Through experiential learning, relationship building, and a safe nurturing environment, CCLM seeks to empower the community, develop leaders, promote community literacy, transform economic conditions, and improve health and safety. To facilitate this mission, CCLM provides healing, encouragement, food and housing to a community in need.
Lutheran Church Charities Headquartered in Addison, Illinois, Lutheran Church Charities (LCC) was founded in 1947 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit ministry to help support Christian human care ministries of the Church. LCC works throughout the United States and Internationally in bringing the Mercy and Compassion of Jesus Christ to those in Need, Proclaiming Christ Jesus in all we do. LCC works with and in partnership with our churches to Make a Difference in People’s lives. LCC is a RSO (Recognized Service Organization) of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Serving the physical, spiritual, and emotional needs of those who are hurting, LCC works on initiating, developing, coordinating, and promoting a unified effort of Christian Human Care ministry. We do Dollar In – Dollar Out funding of needs where every dollar given for a cause goes to that cause or need.
The Lutheran The Lutheran magazine belongs to the people of the ELCA in all our diversity. The magazine: Nurtures awareness of Christ's presence in our lives and the world; Shares stories of God's people living their faith; Connects us with the global Christian community; Provides an open forum for discussion; Challenges us to bring God's grace and care to all.
The Diyar Consortium The Diyar Consortium is a group of Lutheran-based, ecumenically-oriented institutions serving the whole Palestinian community "from the womb to the tomb", with an emphasis on children, youth, women & elders. Focusing on community building, development and outreach, Diyar implements contextual and holistic programs that support the civic, cultural, psychosocial, physical, educational, and spiritual wellbeing of the community. Diyar is the umbrella organization to which the Dar al-Kalima Health and Wellness Center, the International Center of Bethlehem (Dar Annadwa), and Dar al- Kalima College belong.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan & the Holy Land (ELCJHL) God calls the ELCJHL to proclaim the Gospel within an Arab context in the Holy Lands. This proclamation of the Kingdom of God and the message of salvation is to Arabs, including Palestinians, and is expressed both through witnessing to the Gospel as well as through diakonia... The ELCJHL is called to serve the marginalized, the elderly, those who suffer or are traumatized, and all who are in need - regardless of race, gender or political affiliation. The ELCJHL empowers youth, women, men, and children, encouraging all our baptized members to be the people of God in service and witness.
Bethlehem Media Center (BMC) Bethlehem Media Center (BMC) is a non-profit non-governmental audiovisual media production institution, part of Diyar Consortium in Bethlehem - Palestine. The mission of BMC is to empower the local Palestinian community to tell their stories, and to present the human face of the Palestinian reality. BMC focuses its production priorities on arts & culture and women, youth, and elderly.
Micah House Micah House is an after-school ministry for children and youth from 1st through 12th grades. This outreach was created with the purpose of meeting the tremendous challenges faced by kids today in the under-resourced neighborhoods of North Redlands.
Dar Al-Kalima Model School The first of its kind, the Dar al-Kalima Model School of Bethlehem, is an initiative of the International Center of Bethlehem's Dar al-Kalima Academy, which is an integral part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Through its innovative programs, the Dar al-Kalima Model School is preparing its students to face the challenges of the 21st century. The Model school offers its students modern spacious facilities, which gives them more room to move and grow.
Dar al-Kalima College Dar Al-Kalima College, through a comprehensive system of human resource development that reflects Palestine's emerging needs, equips its students with vital skills for the 21st century job market.
Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) Since 1950 the Augusta Victoria Hospital (AVH) has been a project of the Lutheran World Federation. It's main task has been to provide services for Palestinian Refugees in cooperation with UNRWA, the United Nations agency that has been responsible for the refugee-programs in the region since 1948. Today, the hospital continues to develop services for the Palestinian community, mostly on a charitable basis.
International Center of Bethlehem - Dar al-Kalima College The International Center of Bethlehem (ICB) is an ecumenically-minded institution originally rooted in the Lutheran tradition. The programs of the ICB serve the entire Palestinian community, with an emphasis on children, youth, and women. Over the past ten years, the ICB has built Dar al-Kalima School and Dar al-Kalima Health and Wellness Center.
