​

This fall, congregations are invited to celebrate God’s global church by hosting a Global Church Sunday. You may want to consider celebrating on Sept. 21 (International Day of Peace), Oct. 5 (World Communion Sunday) or Oct. 26 (Lutheran World Federation Sunday).

How is the ELCA connected to Lutherans around the world? Consider these facts about our church’s global engagement:

• The ELCA belongs to The Lutheran World Federation, a global communion representing more than 72 million Christians in 79 countries.
  
  
• More than 240 ELCA missionaries serve in more than 40 countries, including 60 Young Adults in Global Mission innine countries around the world, invited by church leaders in that country to work together with them hand-in-hand. This fall, as part of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, a new group of young adults will begin service for the first time in Rwanda, 20 years after the genocide.
   
• In the last 25 years, more than 800 International Leaders have completed their studies at colleges, universities and seminaries in the United States and around the world through ELCA-funded scholarships. Over the next five years ofThe Campaign for the ELCA, we will equip 200 more women international leaders with scholarships and educational opportunities.
   
• Every year we respond to requests from our global companion churches for financial support to expand their Global Ministries — to start new congregations, extend their youth outreach in urban areas, and train pastors and evangelists. Through The Campaign for the ELCA, we’re helping make possible 14 new Global Ministries initiatives in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

You can celebrate our church’s global connections in your congregation by taking a special offering for an ELCA missionary or global ministry, hosting a coffee hour with treats from around the world or including global songs in your worship service. A toolkit, stories, posters, a bulletin insert and other resources are available at www.ELCA.org/resources/globalchurch.

Sign up to attend the Global Church Sunday “event” at www.Facebook.com/GlobalLinks.
ELCA Global Church Sponsorship offers an opportunity for you or your congregation to help build up Christ’s church by supporting Missionaries, Young Adults in Global Mission, International Leaders, and Global Ministries to work with our companions in Christ. Learn more at www.ELCA.org/globalchurch.