Global Mission is one way that the ELCIC is able to grow and strengthen relationships with its partner churches. Both companion and bilateral relationships are excellent ways to develop relationships in both a synod-to-church and church-to-church manner. Currently, the ELCIC has three bilateral relationships, or church-to-church relationships, with the Lutheran churches in Peru, and Argentina, as well as Jordan and the Holy Land.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land
The schools of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL) have been experiencing very challenging circumstances for far too long. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the schools dealt with closures and lock down periods by embracing digital technology and distance learning.
During that time, to help support our Global Mission partner, the ELCIC launched an ELCJHL Scholarship Appeal, with a goal to raise $263,000. ELCIC members truly showed their support for our partner and helped us surpass that goal!
Now, our ELCJHL partner is facing a different challenge – at the beginning of October 2023, the world watched in horror as Hamas launched a rapid, devastating barrage of violence against Israel, and then again as Israel responded with ongoing rocket attacks and the death toll on all sides rises daily. In the last two years, the ELCIC has been steadfast in our advocacy, prayers and support of our partners in the ELCJHL. Read more about this work, our longstanding partnership and the the resources available through the following links:
Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Unida
For many years, the ELCIC has been in a partnership with Iglesia Evangelica Luterana Unida (IELU) supporting ministry in the Patagonia region of the country. Back in the 90s, ELCIC missionaries – the Niebergalls and the Hiels, built up ministry in the Esquel community, including the building of a church and parsage.
Over time, the ministry in Esquel has changed. There is no longer a regular worshipping community and the ministry focus is on diaconal projects.
In November 2018, ELCIC and IELU began a formal discernment together of the best ways to continue our partnership. IELU believes that the future of their mission will be through their schools and approached the ELCIC to partner with them in a new way. They have an existing school – Instituto Evangelico Americano (American Evangelical Institute) – in José C. Paz, part of greater Buenos Aires, that has 1650 students from preschool through grade 12, plus a teacher training program. The school has a waiting list of 500 families. Around the corner of the school, IELU has a nursing home, Hogar Armbruster. One of its buildings is not being used and needs renovation.
IELU believes this is an opportunity to repurpose the nursing home building and move the preschool to a new facility. This will open up more class space for the elementary school and help address the long waiting list by being able to accept 100 new students. ELCIC partnered with IELU to contribute funds towards the construction project.
Despite delays due to the pandemic and inflation, in 2024, IELU officially opened the new classrooms.
Iglesia Luterana del Perú (IL-P)
The ELCIC partners with Igesia Luterana del Peru (IL-P) in Inquitos where Pastor Yoli leads a program to support children in the surrounding neighbourhood. The congregation offers a lunch program and tutoring on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
