This is a re-post of an article by Rev. Sarah Stadler, originally published in the Northeast Minnesota Synod Enews, covering the the March 7th – 8th gathering of hunger leaders from across Region 3. 

On March 7-8, 2025, over 20 people from across Region 3 of the ELCA – Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota – gathered at Camp Onomia for a Hunger & Justice Leaders Retreat under the theme Making All Things New.  The group built relationships, discerned how God is calling hunger and justice leaders to better work together in our region to end hunger, and learned how various justice issues impact hunger.  We were led in Bible study by Dr. Jimmy Hoke and in our discernment process by Rev. Barbara Lund, a Senior Director in the Service & Justice Home Area of the ELCA.  We were led in worship by Peter & Vicki Schmidt and Sarah Stadler; Peter and Sarah are pastors serving in the Northeastern Minnesota Synod.  The retreat was largely funded through an ELCA World Hunger grant.

One of the synod committees in the Northeastern Minnesota Synod is the Hunger, Justice, and Rural Life Committee.  Though the committee has been active in the synod – for instance, we organized last summer’s Bike For Justice ride – we had felt a bit lost in terms of our purpose.  Also, we wished to connect with other hunger leaders from our region.  In the not-too-distant past, hunger leaders from Region 3 had gathered annually to encourage one another and learn.  We wondered if it was time to reinvigorate that ministry.  In reaching out, we were delighted to discover that nearly all of the synods in Region 3 were interested and able to participate!  Participants included synod staff, including Minnesota’s Lutheran advocacy director, parish pastors, synod hunger committee members, WELCA leaders, lay people active in hunger ministries, and others who were simply drawn by the Spirit of God to participate.

By the end of our time together, we had identified five areas of action to which we feel called: (1) Worship, (2) Giving, (3) Networking in our local communities, (4) Building Community among hunger and justice leaders, and (5) Education.  Within each of these areas, we clarified specific goals.  In returning to our home synods, we will now discern which specific goals each synod’s committee will tackle – with the hope that, once a resource or strategy is created, it will be shared and used throughout the region.  Moving forward, we are also utilizing a platform to keep in touch so that we can encourage one another and continue to build community.

Hunger and injustice are pervasive, and this time in our life together feels particularly challenging.  Still, God is among us making all things new!  That hope is ever before us.  If you are interested in being part of the Hunger, Justice, and Rural Life team, please email Sarah Stadler at sarahleestadler@gmail.com.

ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response have always been intricately connected, but in recent months global events have reminded us again just how vital the work of God through these shared ministries is for communities around the world.

The depth of the humanitarian and refugee crisis in Ukraine and across Europe will require a yearslong response. Incredible generosity to Lutheran Disaster Response in the wake of the Eastern European crisis and to ELCA World Hunger over the last 18 months has enabled us to temporarily expand our work in impacted regions. Because of our donors, we are better-equipped and better-resourced to support our global neighbors as they face great challenges.

As the world yearns for an end to this terrible conflict and its far-reaching consequences, in this issue of “LifeLines” we lift up stories of hope, of new opportunity and of God at work even amid tragedy and instability. We know that the effects of the war in Ukraine are far-reaching, which makes the relationships our church has with local communities around the world so important.

In this issue, you will read about a project of our companion church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in The Gambia. The church is working with women such as Anna, a caretaker of a cashew farm in The Gambia, whose story is shared in this issue, to create new opportunities for food security without reliable imports from Ukraine.

You’ll also read about Rosita in Guatemala, who at just 11 years old made the difficult journey with her father to try to migrate to the United States. In Tacoma, Wash., rapid gentrification is forcing longtime residents out of their neighborhood, but Peace Lutheran Church is seeking justice by enabling those neighbors to afford to stay or return.

We look back at the work made possible by gifts to Lutheran Disaster Response and the efforts of our companions and partners in the five years since the devastating 2017 hurricane season. And we look ahead to the work that remains in response to civil unrest, famine and drought in the Horn of Africa.

The world faces some incredibly complex challenges in the days ahead, but we know that God stirs up wellsprings of hope that inspire generosity and tireless efforts for peace, justice and a future filled with good things. We thank our donors for being a sign of hope through their support of ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response.