Our Lutheran Social Service Agencies Partners

This month's reflections are dedicated to the 300+ social service agencies and their leaders who comprise Lutheran Services in America. Wheat Ridge Ministries is proud to be an active member of LSA.

Wheat Ridge is unique as an LSA member in that we serve our fellow LSA members through our seeding mission. On the list of new ministries seeded through Wheat Ridge over the years you’ll find many new and creative ministry projects initiated by LSA organizations. One of my personal favorites is The Good News Garage, a ministry developed by Lutheran Social Services of New England that rehabs donated automobiles and gives them to people who need transportation to get or stay employed. The Good News Garage also provides repair and maintenance on a sliding fee scale for those who have received a car. This project grew out of another Wheat Ridge seed grant to LSSNE that helped them bring together clusters of congregation leaders to explore how they could work together to address needs in their communities. Today, there are multiple sites for the Good News Garage around New England making it possible for hundreds of people to find employment, to stay employed, and to have access to resources that would be impossible without the gift of reliable transportation.

The Lutheran church’s impact on people in need through its social service agencies is quite astounding. Last year, one in 50 Americans was served by a Lutheran social service agency or related affiliate! The combined budget of these organizations exceeds $15 billion. LSA agencies provide services in 16 different areas of health and human care, touching lives that range from infants to older adults and from ex-offenders to persons with disabilities.

Participating in the annual LSA National Conference is always an inspiring experience, and this year was no exception. Our church is incredibly blessed by the outstanding servant leaders who serve as CEOs, staff and board for these agencies. They serve with care and compassion, creatively finding ways to address the needs of people who are often overlooked and underserved in our society. The leaders of our social services organizations exemplify the encouragement to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with the Lord.” (Micah 6:8)

The LSA conference is an important time for these leaders to connect with colleagues from across the country, to re-energize, and to celebrate the healing power of Jesus. This year, I found the spirit of mutual care among the participants to be especially high. I suspect this was due to the extreme challenges these leaders are facing. The economic realities of the past two years have elevated the need for services by our LSA agencies. At the same time, they struggle to secure resources to meet these needs as state and federal government funding has declined and as individual, corporate and foundation donors have also faced tough economic times. As a result, “do more with less” has become a common expectation. In the midst of these challenges, it’s inspiring to be among leaders who continue to be enthusiastic and excited about the work they do!

Thanks for your prayers on behalf of our Lutheran social service organizations across the country and the people who lead them. And thanks for your faithful charitable support for these organizations and for Wheat Ridge Ministries, support that is needed more than ever. With your help, Wheat Ridge will continue to serve our social service agencies by encouraging and assisting them in the development of sustainable new health and human care ministries that impact so many people in the name of our healing Christ!