I write you today with good news, and a challenge. As you know, Wilmette Lutheran Church closed after 88 years of ministry. From the sale of their property, they have been able to give gifts to many ELCA ministries, including our companion synod, the Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa. Approximately $200,000 will be sent to help with many needed services.

One project, in particular, is a new school on the grounds of Eersterust Lutheran Church in Pretoria, South Africa. It is not just building a school, though; it is ministering to children in Jesus' name.

Here is the challenge. We are considering this gift from Wilmette Lutheran to be seed money and are asking the congregations of the synod to match these funds. With $400,000, not only could we fund the cost of the building (bricks and mortar), but also, we could help fund an endowment that will help this school and the other diocesan schools to continue to function after the bricks and mortar are in place.

Of the hoped for $400,000, approximately $133,000 (about $70,000 for exterior walls, and $63,000 for the roof) would be used to fund the building of the school/community center in Pretoria, South Africa. More information about this project is available on the back of this letter, and online at http://www.mcselca.org/who/companion_synod/.

Approximately $100,000 would be used to start an endowment in the diocese that will help fund scholarships so that youth of the church can complete higher levels of education. Another approximately $100,000 would be used as a companion synod travel fund to defray costs both for the synod and diocese as we visit each other and build lasting relationships. The balance of the funds, approximately $65,000, would be given to the diocese to spend as they deem necessary.

This is an ambitious goal, particularly in this economic climate, but I believe that we have been given an opportunity to help our brothers and sisters in Christ in a very real and tangible way. It is said that abundance is not measured by how much we accumulate, but by how much we give away.

Please send the money with your monthly benevolence remittance. Use one of the “Other” lines on the remittance slip, and write on it South Africa Challenge. Congregation members who wish to contribute need to write their checks to their congregation and the congregation needs to send the money into the synod using a congregation check.

Won't you join me in prayerfully considering this opportunity? What a witness we make to the world by supplementing one generous gift of love with another. Please follow the building progress at www.mcselca.org/companion synod.

Thank you to the faithful members at Wilmette Lutheran Church for their gift to the future.

Thank you for being a partner in it.

In Christ,

Wayne N. Miller
Bishop