Annual Report - Lutheran Services in America

INSIDE 

2011 Annual Report 

1942 1853 

1858 

1859 

Together 

April 2012 

Together in 

the Spirit 

Called to 

Shape the 

Future 

Annual 

Report 2011 

On the 

Horizon 

Called to Love 

and Serve Our 

Neighbors 

The National 

View 

First Person 

1 

3 

10 

12 

14 

20 

Called 

to 

Shape 

the 

Future 

Over 300 

organizations in 

thousands of 

communities 

nationwide, hundreds 

of thousands of 

employees 

walking 

side by 

side with 

those they 

serve … 

all called 

to shape 

the 

future.

Let Us Help You 

Shape 

Your 

Future 

We can help you shape your future with… 

• loans for capital projects and investments 

through the Mission Investment Fund 

• endowment investing through the 

Endowment Fund of the ELCA 

• retirement plans for social ministry 

organization employees through Portico 

Benefit Services, a ministry of the ELCA 

Come see us at the LSA Annual 

Conference! 

Portico Benefit Services 

ELCA Mission Investment Fund 

ELCA Endowment Fund

Welcome 

A God More Invites Trustworthy Us to Look World Ahead 

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for wholeness and not 

for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 

The western Christian church is in the 

midst of the penitential season of Lent, with 

an eye and hopeful heart looking toward 

Easter. God calls us to repentance because we, 

like Israel, are all too aware that our suffering, 

brokenness and captivity are the result of sin. 

More importantly, God invites us to look ahead 

to the Resurrection of the Lamb who has taken 

away the sin of the world. 

Sin, suffering, and death do not get the 

final word. God does. This Gospel shapes a 

different future for us. It is a future and a hope 

that is visible and real. 

How can you say no to that? 

Shape the Future 

This Gospel calls and moves the Body 

of Christ to shape the future for a world that 

knows no blessed future and has no lasting 

hope. As God gives to us, we extend tangible 

expressions of God’s hope and mercy. It is 

a mercy that is clear about why Lutheran 

congregations and health and human 

service organizations are engaged within 

communities, working neighbor to neighbor 

with those in need of food, clothing, safe 

housing and neighborhoods, health care, 

senior residential care, counseling and so much 

more. 

Limitless Opportunities for Mercy 

Just as Psalm 36 declares that the 

mercy of God knows no limits, our service in 

communities shows us limitless opportunities 

for mercy. Every community that receives 

visible and real expressions of His mercy in 

Word and Sacrament ministry and in love for 

one’s neighbor has a future and a hope. These 

are the plans of God. 

Holy Work 

Together, we are called to shape the 

future as we dream dreams and see visions 

of wholeness and life. Called by one Lord, 

through one faith, in one baptism, Lutheran 

Services in America, the Evangelical Lutheran 

Church in America, and The Lutheran Church— 

Missouri Synod through their collective 300 

plus health and human service organizations 

do a holy work, blessed by God, whose impact 

will extend well into the future. 

Thanks be to God that we are blessed to 

be part of these plans! 

Lutheran social ministry 

organizations live out their 

Lutheran identities. 

“... 300 plus health and human service organizations 

do a holy work, blessed by God, whose impact will 

extend well into the future.” 

Together in 

the Spirit 

Rev. John A. Fale is the Interim Executive Director of LCMS World 

Relief and Human Care. Previously he also served as Associate 

Executive Director and as Director of Ministries in chaplaincy, 

pastoral counseling, and clinical education. He is a board 

certified chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains, 

a certified Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral 

Counselors, and a Nebraska licensed mental health practitioner. 

Rev. Fale also serves as a co-editor of Mercy Works, an LCMS 

World Relief and Human Care journal. He is a current member 

of the LSA Board of Directors. 

April 2012 | Together 

1

About Together 

Dear Reader, 

We continue to notice that leaders of Lutheran 

health and human service organizations are 

extraordinarily generous! 

At a recent Lutheran Services in America event for 

CEOs, more than 40 leaders from across the system 

came together to learn from experts and to glean 

insights and inspiration from one another. There 

was time for mentoring, as 17 CEOs new to their 

positions or the system had the opportunity to 

learn one-on-one from seasoned CEOs, but it was 

also a mutual exchange where hands were open 

and hearts were full. 

Perhaps the most striking characteristic of 

gatherings like this CEO Academy is a sense of 

investment in one another – in personal success 

and organizational success. When one Lutheran 

social service organization is strong, others benefit. 

In LSA-hosted events like this throughout the 

year and in conferences, gatherings and phone 

conferences of peer networks of all sorts, a 

common element is this exchange – of expertise, of 

experience, of joys and sorrows. 

their communities to a care center where spiritual 

care has been a continuous center point for 110 

years. 

Finally, LSA is a future-shaping place, where 

innovations are uncovered, shared and replicated, 

where networks enable new ways to advocate for 

social policies that benefit all (as described in The 

National View on page 14), where informal and 

formal consulting can make the difference in how 

an organization shapes itself for the future and 

where promising models are distributed across the 

system to benefit all (On The Horizon, pages 10-11). 

In his Together in the Spirit reflection that starts off 

this issue on page 1, Rev. John Fale calls the efforts 

of the collective 300 plus health and human service 

organizations in LSA “a holy work, blessed by God, 

whose impact will extend well into the future.” 

The footprints throughout our Annual Report 

section remind us that we walk in the footsteps of 

leaders who generously responded to that holy 

work in their neighborhoods. Today’s leaders, 

too, (as we see in First Person on page 20) are 

extraordinarily generous as they encourage and 

inspire one another, make investments in one 

another and invite those new to the system to 

join the journey – building and spreading hope in 

thousands of communities across the 

United States. 

Thank you for reading Together … 

we hope you enjoy this issue that 

celebrates the LSA system – and 

invite you to pass the hope along 

to someone you know. We’d love 

to hear your comments and ideas. 

Jeanean D. Merkel 

Editor 

Published by Lutheran Services in America, 700 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230 four times a year. Editor: Jeanean Merkel; 

Creative Director: Trish Holford; Design: Lisa Jaworski, Fiedlerdesignhaus.com; LSA Communications/Marketing Team: 

Adenike Akintilo, Events/Meetings Manager; Trish Holford, Senior Director, Creative Services; Jeanean Merkel, Vice President, 

Communications and Marketing; Kristin Vought, Graduate Intern. 

Sponsorships 02511 Securet are welcome. ad:Layout For information, write: 1 10/27/11 together@lutheranservices.org 9:11 PM Page or call 410-230-3540. 1 

At times like these, LSA becomes a holy place, 

where the “place” is a group of people attuned to 

one another and invested in one another. 

LSA is also a hopeful place, expressed in the 

generosity of those willing to share knowledge 

and experience so that others can learn. It is a 

generator of hope, evidenced by the numbers – 

where one in 50 in America is accompanied, lifted 

up, encouraged every year. LSA’s Annual Report 

(pages 3-9 in this issue) shares some of those stories 

of hope – from young men finding themselves and 

a habit of contributing to rather than taking from 

Choose LSA 

for your Thrivent Choice Dollars 

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans offers Thrivent Choice Dollars for 

qualifying members to direct their charitable giving. When you 

choose LSA to receive your Thrivent Choice Dollars you support the 

health and vitality of more than 300 Lutheran health and human 

services organizations nationwide. LSA provides leadership training, 

resources, consulting and convenes members to grow from one 

another’s innovations and initiatives. To direct your Thrivent Choice 

Dollars to LSA, visit www.thrivent.com/thriventchoice or call 800- 

847-4836 (select “Thrivent Choice” at the prompt). 

Securet Pooled Special Needs Trust 

• Protect Social Security Disability benefits 

• Protect medical benefits 

• Friendly professional service 

A nationwide service for the disability community 

Provided by 

www.SecuretTrust.org • 1-886-389-6338 

2 Together | www.lutheranservices.org

Oaks 

Indian 

Mission 

1842 

Glade 

Run 

Lutheran 

Services 

1852 

1858 


Senior Services 

(MO) 

Silver Springs 

- Martin 

Luther School 

1859 


Homes Society 

1860 

1864 

Lutheran Services 

in Iowa 


Social Service 

of Minnesota The Wartburg 

Adult Care 

Community 

1865 

1866 


Social Services 

of Illinois 

1867 

Diakon & 


Family and 

Children’s 

Services of 

Missouri 

1868 

1872 



of New 

England 


Child and 

Family Services 

of Illinois 

1873 

Seafarers & 

International 

House 

1873 

Columbia Lutheran 

Charities - Columbia 

Memorial Hospital 

1880 

The Lutheran 

Care Network 

1882 

The Wartburg 

Adult Care 

Community 

Homme, 

Inc. of 

Wisconsin 

1882 

Concordia Lutheran 

Ministries 

1882 


Social 



and Upper 

Michigan 

1882 

Dear Collegues, 

We stand in the footsteps of fearless, faith-filled 

people. Those who came before us as leaders in Lutheran social ministry 

were compelled by their faith to love and serve their neighbors. It is a mighty 

history that Lutheran Services in America draws on. And a heritage that puts 

us in good position as we are now called to shape the future. 

Why start an annual report about the future with the past? We have the 

courage to face firmly forward in spite of challenges because of the examples 

from our past. People like Reverend Dr. William Passavant, Sister Elisabeth 

Fedde, Elizabeth Fry Ashmead Schaeffer and the many, many other founders 

who reached out to the people in their communities who had nowhere else 

to turn. 

It was the Christian thing to do. It was the neighborly thing to do. It was the 

right thing to do. 

Today, as Lutheran social ministry organizations are still being founded, 

we are the grateful recipients of lessons from those humble, yet courageous 

leaders. They were realists who had vision. They were compassionate givers 

who also knew the grace of receiving. They were individuals whose passion 

inspired others to join them in service. 

Annual Report 2011 

Lutheran Services in America 

The simple audacity of those early leaders inspires us to continue to shape 

the future, to be flexible enough to link arms with new partners and embrace 

new ways of operating, to be compassionate enough to anticipate the new 

needs of our neighbors, to be astute enough to anticipate and form new 

initiatives, models and methods of reimbursement and revenue. 

Graced by those who trust their lives and futures with us, we are 

proud to walk alongside those many people in mutual care as we shape the 

future – together. 

Ted W. Goins, Jr. 

Lisa M. Schiller 


Child & 

Family 


Indiana/ 

Kentucky 

1883 

1883 


HealthCare 

Deaconess 

Community 

of the ELCA 

1886 



Group, Inc. 

1886 

1886 

Lutheran Social Services of 

New York 

Tabitha Health 

Care Services 

1886 

Immanuel 

(NE) 

1887 

Liberty 



1887 


Lutheran Family Services 

Family of Virginia, Inc. 

Services in 

the Carolinas 

1888 

1888 

Chairperson 

LSA Board of Directors 

1890 

Alaska 

Children’s 

Home 

1890 

National 


Communities 

and Services, Inc. 

Martha & Mary Lutheran 


1891 

1892 

Lutheran Family 


Nebraska 

Lutheran Life 

Communities 

1892 

Acting President and CEO 

LSA 


Homes of 

Michigan, 

Inc. 

Augsburg Lutheran Home 

1892 1893 

of Maryland, Inc. 

April 2012 | Together 3

Bethany Home, 

Inc. (WI) 

1895 

1895 


Homes Society 

(Muscatine) 

Augustana Care 

Corporation 

1896 

Advocate 

Health Care 

1897 

1897 

1900 

Bethesda Health & 

Housing (Willmar, MN) 

Skaalen 

Retirement 

Services, Inc. 

Compass 

Health 

1901 

St. John 


Home 

1901 


Settlement 

House 

1902 

1902 

Northwood 

Deaconess 

Health Care 

Eben Ezer 

Lutheran Care 

Center 

1903 

Oesterlen 

Services for 

Youth, Inc. 

1903 

Bethesda Lutheran 

Communities, Inc. 

1904 

1904 

Lutheran Social 

Services of the 

Virgin Islands 

1904 


Ministries of New Jersey 

KenCrest 

1905 


Mission 

Society 

1905 

Service 

175,742 

Service Line Diversity 

This summary represents 309 Lutheran health and human services organizations (April 1, 2011). These are broad 

categories and some organizations provide more than one type of service. LSA’s website offers a more refined search 

capacity at www.lutheranservices.org. Under “Search for services” click to search by location, by service type, or by 

organization. 

ANNUAL 

2010 REPORT 

SERVICE CateGORIES 

A service group is counted once for an organization 

regardless of the number of programs or locations 

in which the service is offered. 

NUMBER OF 

ORGANIZatIONS 

perCent OF 

ORGANIZatIONS 

Aging Services 202 65 

Children, Youth and Family Services 113 37 

Health Care Services 93 30 

Emergency and Disaster Services 69 22 

Disability Services 57 18 

Housing and Community Development 51 17 

Mental Health Services 43 14 

Congregational and Chaplaincy Services 42 14 

Immigration and Refugee Services 31 10 

Consulting and Education Programs 27 9 

Outreach and Support Ministries 24 8 

Addiction Services 18 6 

Volunteer Programs 8 3 

Grant Making 3 1 

TAKING 

STEPS... 

to reach out with help and hope 

to families in need. 

Next Steps – Home 

Building on a 

network of St. Louisarea 

Lutheran social 

ministries, Humanitri 

has brought together 

expertise for a new 

program, Next Steps 

Home, to stabilize 

families, strengthen 

communities and 

reduce crime. The 

program helps nonviolent, 

non-sexual 

ex-offenders out of 

prison for at least six 

months to secure 

permanent housing 

and reunite with their 

families. Counseling 

services help with 

transition and case 

managers work with 

clients for up to 18 

months to ensure 

their success. The 

program receives 

generous support 

from another 

LSA organization, 

Lutheran Foundation 

of St. Louis. 

Employees 

LSA organizations providing health care and aging services employ the 

largest number of employees: 175,742. Hospitals are one half of the top 

ten organizations with the largest reported number of employees. Other 

organizations in the top ten: The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan 

Society (2), Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota (7), Diakon Lutheran 

Social Ministries (8), Ecumen (9) and Lutheran Senior Services (10). The 

total number of employees reported for all LSA organizations is more than 

246,181, according to the organizations’ Form 990. 

110 Years of 

Spiritual Care 

Last fall, St. John Lutheran Home in Springfield, 

Minnesota celebrated 110 years of service to the 

community and 10 years of its Chapel of the Good 

Shepherd. Part of the celebration was a remarkable 

continuum of spiritual care. For all of its history, St. 

John Lutheran Home 

has had a chapel and a 

chaplain. Partnerships 

with churches, community, 

residents, families and 

staff, as well as the 

organization’s foundation, 

have made that spiritual 

well-being possible. The chapel becomes a center 

of life. In the last 10 years, St. John’s Chapel of the 

Good Shepherd has hosted 101 funerals or visitations 

for residents, seven baptisms of resident family 

members and three weddings of family members. The 

chapel also hosts a wide variety of church services, 

therapeutic recreation activities, community functions 

and other celebrations. 

Iowa Health - Des Moines 

Ebenezer Society 

1916 

1914 

Eger Lutheran 

Homes and 


1917 



National Capital Area 

1917 

Bethesda Children’s 

Home / Lutheran 

Social Services (PA) Lutheran Care 

1917 

1919 

Northland Lutheran 

Retirement Community, Inc. 

Charitable 

Network, Inc. 

1919 


Social 


of North 

Dakota 

1919 

Columbia 



(WA) 

1920 

1920 

Compass 

Housing 

Alliance 



of South 

Dakota 

1920 

Coeur d’Alene 

Homes 

1921 

Graceworks Lutheran 


1922 

1922 

The Evangelical 

Lutheran Good 

Samaritan Society 

1922 

Samaritan Bethany Inc. 

Ecumen 

Solheim 


Home 

1923 1923 



Mission Society of 

Maryland 

1905 

1905 

Wheat Ridge 


Fairview 

Health 


1906 

Good Shepherd 

Rehabilitation 

Network 

1906 

1906 

Lutheran Living 

Services Inc. 

Lyngblomsten 

1906 

The Village at 

Luther Square 

Madrid Home 

Communities 

Josephine 

1906 

1906 

1907 

1907 


Homes 

The Lutheran of South 

Service Society Carolina, 

of Western Inc. 

Pennsylvania 

1907 

Norwegian 


Bethesda Home 

Association 


Services (OH) 


Social 


Northwestern 

Ohio 

The Bethany 

Home 

Association 


Service 

Society Lutheran Social 

of New Services of 

York Central Ohio 

1911 

1912 

1912 

1911 


SeniorLife Aase Haugen Homes 

Mosaic 

1913 

Bethesda of 

Beresford 

1914 

Neighbor Focus 

With its mission that “Lutheran HealthCare has no reason 

for being of its own; it exists only to serve the needs of its neighbors,” the Brooklynbased 

safety net hospital and collection of clinics and programs reaches deep into the 

community. Lutheran HealthCare offers primary, specialty and inpatient care along with 

a sweeping menu of community based services such as English lessons, healthcare 

insurance, food and nutritional care and affordable senior housing. 

Sites 

Sites 

Volunteers 

Finally a FamilyAustin, Texas attorney 

Scott Placek adopted his first son from Colombia in 2006. 

When Scott discovered that 

Cristian had a brother, he 

pursued his adoption as 

well and in January 2010, 

Robinson joined the family. 

Still, the family was not 

quite complete because the 

boys had an older brother, 

Pedro. But at age 18, Pedro was not eligible for adoption 

according to the U.S. policies for the Hague Convention for 

Intercountry Adoption. Scott lobbied in Washington, DC 

and was successful in having the law changed, including a 

special provision for children like Pedro. Through Lutheran 

Social Services of the South, Scott was able to meet all the 

conditions and Pedro’s adoption was finalized last November. 

There are 148,576 volunteers in the organizations in the LSA system, according to 

the organizations’ Form 990. The top 5 in order are: Iowa Health at 10,125; Lutheran 

148,576 

Social Service of Minnesota at 9,861; 

Lutheran Social Services of the South, 

Inc. at 7,748; Lutheran Social Services of 

Central Ohio at 7,102; Lutheran Social 

Services of Michigan at 6,791. 

Site Diversity 

LSA member organizations provide services in all 50 states and the Caribbean. Some also work in other countries. 

Some are over 150 years old; others are less than a decade in age. There are differences in both age and size of sites 

and facilities. 

NUMBER OF 

ORGANIZatIONS 

perCent OF 

ORGANIZatIONS 

Single Site 134 43 

Multi-Site • Single State 157 51 

Multi-Site • Multi-State 18 6 

Total 309 100 

Salem Lutheran Home 

1924 

1924 

Valley 

Memorial 

Homes 



of the South, 

Inc. 

1926 

Life Life 

Villages 

1927 

1927 


in Tennessee, Inc. 

Luther Home 

of Mercy 

1928 

Pioneer 

Retirement 

Community 

1928 

Foss Home & 

Village 

1929 

Bethany of the 

Northwest 

1931 

1931 


Home 

(Omaha) 


Home at 

Concord Reserve 

1932 



of Michigan 

1934 


Ministry Services Bethany 

Northwest Retirement 

Living (ND) 

1938 

Lutheran Community 

Services Northwest 

1938 

1939 

Tacoma Lutheran Home and 

Retirement Community 


Homes 

and 

Health 


1939 


Homes 

and 

Health 

Services, 

Inc. 

(WI) 

1944 

Mill Neck 

Family of 



5

Good 

Shepherd Lutheran 

Community (NE) 

1945 

1945 



of Southern 

California 

Good 

Lutheran Haven 

Shepherd Health 

(Oviedo, FL) 

Center, Inc. 

1947 

1946 

1946 


Church 

Charities 

1947 

California Lutheran 

Homes and 

Communities Services 

Allegheny 


Ministries 1948 

1948 

Bethel Lutheran 

Nursing & 


Center (ND) 

Blue Valley 


Homes 

Society 

1948 

1948 

Knute Nelson 

Oakwood 

Lutheran Lutheran 

Family Services Homes 

of Rocky Association, 

Mountains Inc. 

1948 

1948 

American Lutheran 

Homes 

Luther Manor 

(Dubuque, IA) 

1949 1949 

1949 

Kenyon Sunset Home 

LUTHERCARE 

1949 

Bethany 


Home (SD) 

1950 

8,226 Board 

Members 

As revealed by the LSA Form 990 survey, there are as many as 8,226 people serving on Boards within the 

Lutheran social ministry system 

Form 990 Reporting* 

267 LSA organizations 

Total Private Support $516,360,589 

Total Government Support $478,317,716 

Total Income $18,307,682,293 

Program Services Expenses $15,046,019,858 

Management and General Expenses $2,307,943,090 

Funding Expenses $65,589,153 

Total Expenses $17,519,004,222 

< $1Million 

Children, youth and family 

services are the most common Children, 

areas of service for LSA 

organizations with budgets under $1 million. 

Aging supports and programs are the most Youth, 

common type of service provided by LSA 

organizations and the top service for member 

organizations with budgets over $1 million. Family 

Budget Comparison 

From the summer 2011 990 study 

㸀 ␀ 㔀䴀椀氀氀椀漀渀 Ⰰ 

㈀─ 

␀㈀琀漀 ␀ 㔀 

䴀椀氀氀椀漀渀 Ⰰ 

14 

㔀 ─ 

㰀 ␀ 䴀椀氀氀椀漀渀 Ⰰ 

㈀ ─ 

Taking Flight after 

Almost 150 Years 

After they turn 18 

and are no longer 

eligible for youthfocused 

social 

services, many young 

people are essentially 

on their own. “Flight” 

from Diakon Lutheran 

Social Ministries 

mentors young 

men to keep them 

full-time employed, 

enrolled in college, 

or attending high 

school. 

␀ 琀漀 ␀㈀ 


㤀 ─ 

␀ 㔀琀漀 ␀ 


㤀 ─ 

␀ 琀漀 ␀ 㔀 


㘀 ─ 

Boom Times a 

Challenge for Service 

Workers 

North Dakota is suddenly oil rich, thanks to newfound Bakken formation, a source that 

is likely to yield results for at least 20 years. While some land-owning North Dakotans are 

becoming millionaires many times over, others, especially those who work service jobs— 

restaurant workers, police, and teachers—are being priced out of even the most modest 

apartments. In 2008, Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota took a leap of faith by 

building new affordable housing and by early next year, nearly 120 units will have been 

newly built or rehabilitated – designed expressly for lower income working families and 

seniors, housing many families on the edge. 

Mid-Nebraska 

Lutheran Home 

Association 

1958 

1957 

Mount 

Olivet Home 


Home (SD) 

1959 

Concordia Life 

Care Community 

1959 

1959 

Filling Memorial 

Home of Mercy 


Community Services 

(Wilmington, DE) 

1959 

Riverview 

Retirement 

Community 

1959 

The Samaritan 

Pastoral 

Counseling 

Center of 

the Niagara 

Frontier 

St. Luke’s 

Home 

1959 

The Urban 

Mission 

Ministries, 

Inc. 

1959 

1960 

Fellowship 

Square 

Foundation, 

Inc. 

Grace Lutheran 

Foundation, 

Inc. 


Services for 

the Aging 

Mountrail 

Bethel 

Home 


Home for 

the Aged 

Association - 

West 

St. John’s 



(MT) 

1960 

1960 

1960 

1960 

1960 


Lutheran Home for the Sapphire Lutheran Homes 

Aged Association - East Homes 

St. John’s 


Home 

Lake 

Region 


Home, 

Inc. 

1961 1962 


12 

Above: Brett Smith works on a Valentine’s Day card at College 

for Life; below left: Tammie Burgess is happy to share the 

artwork she created; below right: Brooklyn Metheny and Kenny 

Schreibvogel are proud to wear their Garden City Community 

College IDs. 

* The Mosaic Foundation bases its annuity rates on the suggested rates published by the American Council on Gift Annuities. Annuity sales 

in all states where registration is required shall be made through the ELCA Foundation. 

Eventide 

1951 

Bethany 


Homes, Inc. 

(WI) 

1951 


Services of South 

Central Pennslyvania 

Dakota Boys 

and Girls Ranch 

Association 

1952 

Mendota 


Home 

1952 

1953 

Immanuel Lutheran 

Homes 

Bartels 


Navajo 

Retirement Evangelical 

Community Lincoln Lutheran 

Lutheran Mission 

of Racine, 

Wisconsin, Inc. 

1954 

1954 

1954 

Plymouth 

Christian 

Youth 

Center 

1954 

1954 

Bethel Home 

and Services, Inc. 

St. Luke 1955 


Community 

(Canton, OH) 


Retirement 

Home 

1955 

St. Luke’s 


Care Center 

1955 


Sunset 


(TX) 

1956 

United Lutheran 

Program for the Aging 

- Luther Manor Luther 

Memorial 

Home 

1956 

Niagara Lutheran 

Health System, Inc. 

1957 

1957 

Luther 

Memorial 

Home 

(ND) 

1 

The Art of Battle 

Compass Housing Alliance’s Compass Veterans 

Center in Seattle hosted the Combat Paper Project 

to help veterans turn their military experiences into art, literally transforming their 

uniforms into paper that they then dye, paint and write on to create unique pieces 

of art. One veteran said, “I would never know that I could express my pain and 

sorrow into beautiful art.” 

New Member 

in 2011 

ELCA 

LSA welcomes Christ the King Community Outreach, Tacoma, 

Washington, which provides assisted living and is ELCA Affiliated 

1 

Another 

level of 

independence 

Partnering with a local community 

college, Mosaic in Garden City, Kansas 

POSSIBILITIES 

College an Educational Experience 

Partnering with a local community college, Mosaic in 

Garden City (Kansas) is helping people experience a little 

piece of college through the College for Life. 

“I wanted the people we serve to have the 

college experience – going and registering for a class, 

getting a college ID, paying for the class like other 

students,” said Debbie Reynolds, Mosaic in Garden City 

Executive Director. 

The program began in 2010 and has been successful 

with 25 students enrolled, she said. The students take 

courses that consist of one or two classes and offer lessons 

in practical skills such as how to grill meats or hold garage 

sales, as well as more hobby-oriented classes such as 

painting or making Valentine’s Day cards. 

Classes are held at Garden City Community College. 

Each person who registers receives a college ID at the 

beginning of the session. The students also pay a nominal 

fee, usually $5 or $10, for each course. Reynolds said that 

receiving an ID card is something people love and that 

paying for the class is important to make the 

experience real. If a person is not able to pay, 

however, Mosaic will assist with funds that 

have been raised through employee gifts. 

“There are just so many neat things about 

it,” Reynolds said. She particularly noted that 

people get involved with the natural support 

systems already present in the community 

around them. While Mosaic staff members 

help with transportation to the classes, they 

often do not stay during the class. That added 

feeling of independence is something that 

people appreciate, Reynolds said. 

Mosaic employees are also able to enroll 

in the classes. 

The Mosaic Foundation’s Charitable Gift Annuities 

n A lifetime income for one or two people 

is helping clients who have intellectual disabilities n experience 

Attractive interest rates, fixed for your lifetime* 

n A significant tax deduction 

with disabilities. 

a little piece of college through the College for Life. Students 

877.366.7242 x1116 | brenda.solomon@mosaicinfo.org 

take classes in practical skills such as how to grill meats or 

hold garage sales, as well as more hobby-oriented classes 

such as painting. Each person who registers receives a college 

ID and pays a nominal fee for each course, making the 

experience real. If a person is not able to pay, however, Mosaic 

assists with funds raised through employee gifts. 

n A worthy social investment, helping to improve the lives of people 

For more information about charitable gift annuities and other planned giving opportunities, please contact: 

The Mosaic Foundation, Attn: Brenda Solomon, 4980 S. 118th St., Omaha, NE 68137-2200 

New Member 

in 2011 

LCMS 

LSA welcomes Hands of Mercy, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, which provides 

disability services in Sudan and is LCMS Recognized 

Denominational 

Relations 

Affiliation/ Recognition 

It is through the process of affiliation with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) and/or recognition 

by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) that Lutheran health and human services organizations become part 

of LSA. 

CHURCH ConneCTION 

nuMBER OF 

ORGANIZatIONS 

perCent OF 

ORGANIZatIONS 

ELCA Affiliated only 198 64 

LCMS Recognized only 34 11 

ELCA Affiliated and LCMS Recognized 77 25 

Total 309 100 

Faith 


Home 

Corporation 

1963 

1963 

Good Neighbor 

Home 

St. Mark’s 


Pastoral Consulting 

Service of Summit 

County 

1963 

1963 

1964 

Good Samaritan Group 

(Flanagan, IL) 


of the Good 

Shepherd 

1964 

Good Shepherd 



1965 


Homes of 

Oshkosh, Inc. 

1966 



of Northern 

California 

1966 

1966 

Virginia 


Homes, Inc. 

Lutheran Lutheran 

Metropolitan 

St. Luke Lutheran 

Senior Services 

Ministry 

Home (IA) 

(Wilmington, 

DE) 

1968 

1967 

1967 

1967 

Metro Lutheran 


Opportunity 

Parish Ecumenical 

Neighborhood 

Ministry Bethesda Home 

of Aberdeen 

1968 

1969 


1969 

Community 

Family Life 


(Washington, 

DC) 

7

Lutheran Care 

Center 

(Altamont, IL) 

1969 

1969 


Home of the 

Cannon Valley 


Mission of the 

Good Shepherd 

of Kansas City 

1969 

Cedar Lake, 

Inc. (KY) 

1970 

Our Saviour’s 

Community 


1970 



Southwest 


for the Aged 

Development Corp. 

1971 

Spiritual 

Program for 

Education, 

Arts and 

Education 

(SPEAR) 

1972 

Project Compassion 

Ministries, Inc. 

Lutheran Urban 

Community 


1972 

Shepherd of 

the Valley 


Retirement 


1972 

1973 



of Alaska 

WLC 

Management 

Company 

1973 

Bethany Life 

Communities 

(IA) 

1975 


Florida 

1975 

1976 

Beautiful Savior 


Voice of Care 

1976 

Bethel New 

Life 

1979 


Services of North 

east Florida 

1979 

1985 

Zarephath 


The LSA National Office: Focusing on Our Members 

RELATIONSHIPS 

Built relationships to benefit 

LSA organizations 

• 21 new business relationships 

ranging from outcomes 

measurement to technology 

to environmental impact 

• LUMEN Resources in 

partnership 

with Mennonite 

Health Services 

Alliance 

expanded consulting services 

to LSA organizations in the 

areas of governance and 

fundraising 

• Drafted a renewed vision for 

public policy in a whitepaper, 

LSA’s Distinctive Voice in 

Public Policy 

• Distributed RFPs for LSA’s 

Technology for Independence 

initiative to create pilot 

projects for technology 

supports for independent 

living 

KNOWLEDGE 

Catalyzed knowledge transfer 

and knowledge building for 

healthy and vital organizations 

• Great Governance e-learning 

opportunity, particularly 

focused on organizations with 

smaller budgets 

Legacy Health 

1989 

lSa 

lSa 



Center (NY) 

1989 

1990 

Lutheran Ministries 

of Alabama 

Adult Lutherans 

Organized for 

Action (ALOA) 

1991 

8 Together | www.lutheranservices.org 

• Completed and published an 

in-depth survey of members 

regarding volunteer practices. 

Hosted a mini-conference, 

The Heart of Volunteerism 

– Endless Possibilities, will 

be held in conjunction with 

the LSA Annual Conference 

and began the Volunteer 

Leadership Network 

• Provided network 

and assistance for LSA 

organizations implementing 

Caregiver Suite programs 

for caregiver support, either 

Caregiver Suite 

the First Circle Friends 

respite model or Support 

U information and support 

model in partnership with 

congregations 

250/309 

of LSA’s Members 

250 of LSA’s 309 member organizations were engaged with LSA in some way, ranging from 

participating in a single activity to robust involvement. 

1991 

New City Parish 

1992 

Lutheran Episcopal 

Services in Mississippi 

Orphan 

Grain Train 

1992 

LEADERSHIP 

Provided leadership in the 

national nonprofit world 

• President and CEO served on 

board of LeadingAge 

• Sponsoring member of 

Council on Accreditation 

• Collaborated in Roundtable 

of National Faith Based 

Health and Human Service 

Organizations 

• President and CEO chaired 

board of the National Human 

Services Assembly 

• Actively participated in 

Leadership 18 

• Actively in 

Independent Sector 

• More than one-third of LSA 

organizations participated 

in the Listening Post Project 

soundings 

• Facilitated presentation on 

a White House call about 

supports for military families 

ENGAGEMent 

Engaged one-third of member 

organizations in face-to-face 

events, including 

• LSA’s CEO 

Academy 

had record 

attendance 

of nearly 

50 CEOs, including 17 CEOs 

new to their positions or the 

LSA system 

1992 

Peace 

Community 

Center 

Los Angeles 

Nehemiah 

Project 

1993 

Samaritan 


Center of 

Southern 


1993 


Service of Utah 

1996 

1995 

• LSA’s 

Leadership 

Academy 

also drew 

nearly 50 

rising leaders from a broad 

and diverse range of LSA 

organizations 

• Nearly 400 people from 130 

organizations/ companies 

attended the LSA Annual 

Conference in Milwaukee, 

including people from 27 

states, the District 

of Columbia 

and the Virgin 

Islands, with 80 

LSA organizations 

represented. More people and 

more LSA organizations were 

represented than in 2010. 

• LSA Disability 

Network planned 

and held two 

spiritual life 

conferences, 

One God, One Call 

• Convened the largest and 

most diverse group for the 

White House 

Community 

Leaders Briefings, 

October 27, with 

more than 160 

participants from more than 

60 LSA organizations with 

supports and services in 

44 states 

Samaritan 


Center (AK) 

1996 

Lutheran Housing 


+ 

ELCA Urban 

Outreach 

Center 

1997 


Health 


Lutheran of the 

Services Foothills 

in 

America 

1998 

1997 

50 

Attended 

Board 

Academy 

LSA held the first Board Academy 

as part of the 2011 Annual 

Conference, drawing a standing 

room only crowd of board 

members and CEOs from LSA 

organizations. 

Over 35% 

Responded To 

New Platform 

When LSA revised the member dues structure, inviting additional 

support, over 35% of LSA dues-paying organizations contributed 

above the sustaining dues minimum. 

1998 

Redeemer 

Center for 

Life 

Amigos Center 

1999

1979 


Volunteer 

Corps 

Carroll 


Village 

1980 

Lutheran Ministries 

Media 

1980 

1980 

PLM - Families 

Together 

Concordia Place 

1981 

Southeast 

Asian 




Network 

1981 1981 

Ysleta Mission 


Human Care 

1982 

1982 

ZION 

Development 

Corporation 

Center for 


and Education 

(OK) 

1983 


Retirement 


of Alamance 

County 

1983 



Georgia 

1983 

1984 

Community Lunch 

on Capitol Hill 


Foundation of 

St. Louis 

1984 

Holy Family 


1985 

1985 

The Meadows 

at Otter Creek 

- First Lutheran 

Foundation, Inc. 



of Nevada 1985 

LSA Balance Sheet/ 

Financial Position 

June 30, 2011 

ASSETS 

Current Assets $630,460 

Investments 1,350,000 

Deposits held for 

Managed Networks 

(as custodial agent) 147,453 

Fixed Assets 

(net of depreciation) 6,223 

Total Assets $2,134,136 

LIABILITIES 

Accounts Payable 

and Accrued 

Expenses $138,775 

Deferred 

Membership Dues 123,165 

Deposits held for 

Managed Networks 

(as custodial agent) 147,453 

Total Liabilities $409,393 

Net ASSETS 

Total Liabilities 

Unrestricted $1,393,588 

Temporarily 

Restricted 331,155 

Total Net Assets $1,724,743 

Total Liabilities 

and Net Assets $2,134,136 

LSA Statement of Activities 

REVENUE July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011 

Evangelical Lutheran 

Church in America 


Church-Missouri 

Synod 

$461,266 

210,350 

Membership Dues 634,767 

Contributions from 

Individuals and 

Organizations 

Temporarily 

Restricted Grants 

253,323 

65,120 

Annual Conference 

and Other Events 231,968 

Service Fees and 

Other Earned Income 296,902 

Investment Income 41,542 

Total Revenue $2,297,296 

EXPENSES July 1, 2010 – June 30, 2011 

Program Services $1,652,806 

Management and 

327,719 

General 

Total Expenses $1,980,525 

Changes in Net Assets $316,771 

Clifton Gunderson audited LSA’s financial records for the fiscal year July 1, 2010 - June 30, 2011 

and issued an unqualified opinion. A copy of the full audit report is available by contacting 

Lutheran Services in America, 700 Light Street, Baltimore, MD. 

Together We Can 

Thanking Our Donors 

The 

President’s 

Circle 

Gifts of $500 or 

more from 

January 1, 2011 

– December 31, 

2011 

Mr. Daniel M. Dr. 

John E. Bauer & 

Mrs. Jacqueline 

M. Bauer 

Dr. Clyde J. 

Christmas, III 

& Mrs. G. G. 

Christmas 

Mr. Robert Klett 

& Mrs. Marilyn 

Klett 

Mr. Frederick G. 

Kraegel & Mrs. 

Karen E. Kraegel 

Mr. John E. 

Martin & Rev. 

Stacy Martin 

Ms. Jeanean D. 

Merkel & Mr. 

David Ferguson 

Mr. Paul W. 

Middeke & Mrs. 

Gwen Middeke 

Ms. Roberta A. 

Nestaas 

Mr. Paul M. 

Opgrande 

Mr. Mark 

Peterson & Mrs. 

Mary Peterson 

Mr. Michael D. 

Robbins & Mrs. 

Tonya M. Robbins 

Dr. Patricia W. 

Savage & Dr. 

Roger B. Johnson 

Ms. Lisa M. 

Schiller & Mr. 

Gregory Schiller 

Ms. Jill A. 

Schumann & 

Rev. Dr. Mark 

Oldenburg 

Mr. John E. 

Schumann & 

Mrs. Linda A. 

Schumann 

Dr. John R. 

Seffrin & Mrs. 

Carole E. Seffrin 

Mr. Willis O. Serr, 

II & Mrs. Susan 

M. Serr 

Mr. Samuel M. 

Sipes & Mrs. 

JoAnn Sipes 

Mrs. Julie E. 

Swanson 

Dr. Robert W. 

Tuttle 

Rev. Gary L. 

Wheeler 

Friends of LSA 

Gifts up to$500 

from 

January 1, 2011 

– December 31, 

2011 

Ms. Josselyn 

Bennett 

Mr. Les J. Broker 

& Mrs. Lena U. 

Broker 

Mrs. Kathleen V. 

Elliott Chillison 

& Mr. Robert J. 

Chillison 

Rev. Dr. Gary L. 

Danielsen & Mrs. 

Lynn Danielsen 

Mr. Ralston H. 

Deffenbaugh, 

Jr. & Mrs. 

Miriam Boraas 

Deffenbaugh 

Rev. Donald M. 

Hallberg & Mrs. 

Susan C. Hallberg 

Mr. Hunter James 

Hansen 

Mr. Nels 

Hendrickson 

& Mrs. Dora 

Hendrickson 

Please watch for your 

Invitation to the LSA 

Donor Thank You 

Reception. 

Ms. Patricia J. 

Holford & Mr. 

James L Holford 

Rev. Douglas W. 

Kahl 

Mr. John Long 

Ms. Erin Miller 

Mr. William Nord 

& Mrs. Dolores 

Nord 

Mr. J. Pat Ross 

& Mrs. Nancy B. 

Ross 

Rev. William C 

Snyder & Mrs. 

Patricia B. Snyder 

Mr. Robert V. 

Swensen & Hilma 

N. Swensen 

Mr. William 

Thayer 

Mr. Richard A. 

Toftness 

Market Strategies 

International, 

Little Rock, AR 

Michigan District, 

LCMS, Ann 

Arbor, MI 

Continued on 

page 18 

Cycling for LSA 

Dr. Patricia Savage 

President and CEO, Allegheny 

Lutheran Social Ministries 

Supporting LSA is part of a cycle 

that alliterates nicely. First of all, 

I get valuable information and 

resources and connections from 

LSA. That enables me to better 

fulfill the mission of Allegheny 

Lutheran Social Ministries, so 

we gain. And as we gain, I am 

motivated to return the gift, 

so I give. Giving, in turn, allows 

me and my ALSM colleagues to 

get even more value from LSA. 

The cycle continues: get, gain 

and give. Join the LSA cycle 

at any point and find yourself 

rewarded in so many ways – 

getting, gaining and giving! 

Grace Place Retreat 


1999 

Open Door 


2000 


Home (Selma, 

CA) 

Bread of 

Healing Clinic, 

Inc. 

2000 

Good 

Samaritan 

Foundation 

2000 

Mision 

Esperanza 

(Miami, FL) 

2000 

Good Shepherd 



2001 

2002 

Community 


Partners, Inc. 


Ministries and 


of Waco 

2004 

2004 

2004 

My Sister’s 

House 

McKenzie County 

Healthcare Systems, Inc. 

2006 

Hands of Mercy 

Humanitri 

2006 

Sabbath Center 


2006 

2007 

The St. Paul’s 

Center for Caring 

2007 

Spokane Urban 


The Sharing 

Place of 

St. Paul’s 

Evangelical 


Church 

2008 

RAI Ministries, Inc. 

St. Olaf 

Community 

Campus 

2008 

One 

Church, 

One 

Child 

of Los 

Angeles 

2011 


9

On the 

Horizon 

Shaping the Future 


expresses a spirit of 

possibility and a will that 

shapes the future. 

LSA and its members, in 

partnership with others, are 

leading a movement of hope 

and grace toward a society that 

values generosity, inclusion, 

justice and mutual care. 

Bringing Ability to Life 

According to the 2006 American 

Community Survey, about 41 million people 

reported a disability (15 percent of the noninstitutionalized 

population). By age, disability 

was highest among the 65 years and older 

population at 41 percent. 

Twenty-two LSA organizations belong 

to the Lutheran Services in America Disability 

Network, and collectively they provide 

support to more than 23,000 individuals in 33 

states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. 

Virgin Islands. 

The Network became aware there were 

gaps in supports and services in the south 

mid-Atlantic for people with developmental 

disabilities. As they explored possibilities, 

Lutheran Family Services in Virginia seemed 

ripe for expansion. When the two came 

together, things happened quickly. 

The result is a very positive step for 

people with intellectual disabilities in the mid- 

Atlantic. Residents of Virginia who languish 

on waiting lists have reason for renewed 

hope that a new, seasoned and dedicated 

faith-based service provider may stretch to 

find innovative supports and resources to 

meet their needs. The story of responsiveness, 

partnership and innovation is told in a new 

Conversations Booklet from LSA, Opportunity 

Brings Ability to Life! One LSA Network’s 

Response to Abundant Life Together. 

“Conversations” 



Kids as Caregivers 

More than one in five Americans has 

special health, developmental and mental 

health concerns. Most also have typicallydeveloping 

brothers and sisters affected by or 

drawn into their siblings’ care. 

Kids as caregivers? Absolutely. These 

kids will be in the lives of their special needs 

sibs long after parents are gone. And even 

as children they share much of their parents’ 

experience – isolation, a need for information, 

guilt and worry about the future. They also 

struggle with resentment and embarrassment. 

LSA is exploring a model for supporting 

kid caregivers. Sibshops is a meticulously 

designed workshop experience providing 

support, fun and information to young 

caregivers. Don Meyer, founder of Sibshops, 

has discovered that, when given support 

and information when young, kids are more 

likely to be loving caregivers as adults and 

to play a pivotal role in helping their sibs live 

dignified lives. By connecting to Sibshops 

and its resources, LSA also sees potential to 

develop models to address the needs of older 

sibblings. 

Sibshops is the latest in Caregiver 

Suite, LSA’s portfolio of caregiver support 

resources launched last year. Ten LSA member 

organizations are now replicating one or both 

of the first two programs – Support U and First 

Circle Friends – for caregivers of individuals 

who are aging. 

Stay tuned as LSA moves this project 

forward. Information: Cynthia Osborne at 410- 

230-3546 or cosborne@lutheranservices.org. 


Caregiver Suite 

The Search is On 

Every Little Bit Helps 

A Bridgespan Group report on 

leadership in the nonprofit sector notes 

that nonprofit leaders “Like their peers in 

for-profit businesses … understand that 

what ultimately determines whether an 

organization succeeds or fails is the quality of 

its leadership team and the effectiveness of 

its decisions.” 

In any given year, as many as ten 

percent of LSA member organizations 

experience a change in chief executive 

leadership. Whether from resignation or 

retirement, the organization’s board faces a 

series of challenges that must be managed 

well in order to make a positive difference for 

the organization. 

LSA offers many resources for 

organizations in transition. LSA’s expert 

consultants can assist short or longer term 

in planning and preparation so that the 

organization comes out of a leadership 

transition with a greater clarity of purpose 

and mission, renewed sense of strategic 

direction, new understanding of the depth 

and individual talent and capability within 

the organization and increased diversity. 

LSA also has resource booklets that can 

help. Preparing for Leadership Transitions 

contains sections on CEO transition planning, 

planning for transitions in other key positions 

and cultivating future leaders. 

The booklet, The Executive Search 

Process, is based on research into the theory 

and practice of executive search processes 

and provides examples, checklists and 

decision-making aids to successfully bring 

on a new leader who is an appropriate match 

for the organization’s mission, challenges and 

opportunities 

It may seem counter-intuitive, but 

experts say that in strained economic times, 

people actually donate more money. But, 

they are more selective in their giving. 

There is no doubt that the last two 

years have been extreme economic strains, 

especially for nonprofit human care 

organizations that have also been squeezed 

by decreased reimbursements in state 

contracts. They make up the difference and 

seek to expand programs and supports 

when the need is greatest primarily through 

fundraising. 

LUMEN Resources, the LSA consulting 

partnership with Mennonite Health Services 

Alliance, is launching a new initiative that 

may help. Through a preferred vendor 

program, participating fundraising 

consultants will offer preferred pricing 

to LSA organizations and will also 

provide educational resources through 

LSA events and webinars. Participating 

companies have expertise in fundraising, 

organizational advancement, and 

related consulting services. The first two 

participating companies are Mountain 

Sage and Advancement Associates. 

Both will participate in the LSA Annual 

Conference in April. 

More information is available at 

lumenresources.org or by calling Bob York 

at 410-905-2632 or by e-mail at byork@ 

lutheranservices.org. 


11

Called to Love and 

Serve Our 

Neighbors 

Called to Love and 

Serve Our Neighbors 

In 2008, the LSA Board of 

Directors adopted these ends 

toward which LSA is to work: 


social ministry system 

has integrated, 

results-driven capacity. 


organizations are healthy and 

vital, engaged in effective 

service and advocacy. 


organizations live out their 

Lutheran identities. 


expresses a spirit of 

possibility and a will that 

shapes the future. 

LSA and its members, in 

partnership with others, are 

leading a movement of hope 

and grace toward a society that 

values generosity, inclusion, 

justice and mutual care. 

A Place of Refuge Ministries of 

South Wisconsin, Inc. 

Aase Haugen Homes, Inc. 

Acts 1:8 Mission Society 

Adult Lutherans Organized for 

Action (ALOA) 

Advocate Health Care 

Alaska Children’s Services, Inc. 

All Things New Ministry 

Allegheny Lutheran Social 


American Lutheran Homes, Inc. 

Amigos Center 

Augsburg Lutheran Home of 

Maryland, Inc. 

Augustana Care Corporation 

Bartels Lutheran Retirement 

Community 

Bay Area Lutheran Homes, Inc. 

Beautiful Savior Lutheran Home 

Bethany Home, Inc. 

Bethany Home, Inc. 

Bethany Life Communities 

Bethany Lutheran Home 

Bethany Lutheran Home 

Bethany Lutheran Homes, Inc. 

Bethany of the Northwest 

Bethany Retirement Living 

Bethel Home and Services, Inc. 

Bethel Lutheran Home 

Bethel Lutheran Home 

Bethel Lutheran Home, Inc. 

Bethel New Life, Inc. 

Bethesda Children’s Home/ 

Lutheran Social Services 

Bethesda Health & Housing 

Bethesda Home of Aberdeen 

Bethesda Home, Inc. 


Communities, Inc. 

Bethesda of Beresford 

Blue Valley Lutheran Homes 

Society, Inc. 

Bread of Healing Clinic, Inc. 

California Lutheran Homes 

and Community Services (in 

association with Front Porch) 

Carroll Lutheran Village 

Cedar Lake, Inc. 

Center for Counseling and 

Education 

Central City Lutheran Mission 

Cherish Our Children 

Christ The King 

Community Outreach 

Coeur d’Alene Homes 

Columbia Lutheran Charities- 

Columbia Memorial Hospital 

Columbia Lutheran Ministries 

Community Family Life 


Community Lunch on Capitol Hill 

Community Lutheran Partners, 

Inc. 

Compass Health 

Compass Housing Alliance 

Concordia Lutheran Ministries 

Concordia Place 

Crest View Senior Communities 

Cross Connections 

Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch 

Association 

Diakon Lutheran Social 


DOXOLOGY - The Lutheran Center 

for Spiritual Care and Counsel 

Eben-Ezer Lutheran Care Center 

Ebenezer Society 

Ecumen 

Eger Lutheran Homes and 


ELCA Urban Outreach Center 

Emerson Gardens 

Eventide 

Fairview Health Services 

Faith Lutheran Church Senior 

Housing Corporation 

Faith Lutheran Home Corporation 

Fellowship Square Foundation, 

Inc. 

Filling Memorial Home of 

Mercy, Inc. 

First Community Center 

Foss Home & Village 

Fox Valley Lutheran Homes 

Glade Run Lutheran Services 

Glenwood Retirement Village 

Good Neighbor Home 

Good Samaritan Foundation 

Good Samaritan Group 

Good Shepherd Health Center, 

Inc. 

Good Shepherd Lutheran 

Community 

Good Shepherd Lutheran 


Good Shepherd Lutheran Services 

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation 

Network 

Grace Lutheran Foundation, Inc. 

Grace Place Retreat Ministries, 

Inc. 

Graceworks Lutheran Services 

Hands of Mercy 

Hatton Prairie Village 

Holy Family Ministries 

Homme Inc. of Wisconsin 

Humanitri 

Immanuel 

Immanuel Community Services 

Immanuel Lutheran Corporation 

Iowa Health - Des Moines 

Jefferson Area Lutheran Social 

Ministry, Inc. 

Josephine 

KenCrest Centers 

Kenyon Sunset Home 

Knute Nelson 

Lake Oroville Country Retirement 

Home (dba - Country Crest) 

Lake Region Lutheran Home, Inc. 

Lakeside Lutheran Home 

Legacy Health 

Liberty Lutheran Services 

Lincoln Lutheran of Racine, 

Wisconsin, Inc. 

Los Angeles Nehemiah Project 

Luther Care Services 

Luther Haven Corporation 

Luther Home of Mercy 

Luther Manor 

Luther Memorial Home 

Luther Memorial Home 

Luther Properties, Inc. 

Lutheran Association for the 

Developmentally Disabled, Inc. 

Lutheran Care Center 

Lutheran Care Charitable 

Network, Inc. 

Lutheran Chaplaincy Service 

Lutheran Child & Family Service 

of Michigan 

Lutheran Child & Family Services 

of Indiana/Kentucky, Inc. 

Lutheran Child and Family 

Services of Illinois 

Lutheran Church Charities Fund 

Lutheran Community Services 

Lutheran Community Services 

Northwest 

Lutheran Counseling Center 

Lutheran Counseling Network 

Lutheran Counseling Services, 

Inc. 

Lutheran Family and Children’s 

Services of Missouri 

Lutheran Family Service of Iowa 

Lutheran Family Services 

Lutheran Family Services in the 

Carolinas 

Lutheran Family Services Rocky 

Mountains 

Lutheran Family Services of 

Nebraska, Inc. 

Lutheran Family Services of 

Virginia, Inc. 

Lutheran Foundation of St. 

Louis 

Lutheran Haven, Inc. 

Lutheran Health Ministries of 

the Foothills 

Lutheran HealthCare 

Lutheran Home at Concord 

Reserve 

Lutheran Home at Germantown 

Foundation 

Lutheran Home at Kane 

Lutheran Home for the Aged 

Association - East 


Association - West 


Development Corp. 

Lutheran Home of the Cannon 

Valley, Inc. 

Lutheran Home of the Good 

Shepherd 

Lutheran Homes 

Lutheran Homes and Health 


Lutheran Homes of Michigan, Inc. 

Lutheran Homes of Oshkosh, Inc. 

Lutheran Homes of South 

Carolina, Inc. 

Lutheran Homes Society 

Lutheran Homes Society, Inc. 

Lutheran Housing Services, Inc. 

Lutheran Life Communities 

Lutheran Life Villages 

Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry 

Lutheran Ministries and Social 

Services of Waco 

Lutheran Ministries Media, Inc. 

Lutheran Ministries of Alabama, 

Inc. 

Lutheran Ministry Services 

Northwest 

Lutheran Mission Society of 

Maryland 

Lutheran Retirement Home, Inc. 

Lutheran Retirement Ministries 

of Alamance County, North 

Carolina 

Lutheran Senior Citizens, Inc. (dba 

- Concordia Life Care Community) 

Lutheran Senior Services 

Lutheran Senior Services, Inc. 

Lutheran SeniorLife 

Lutheran Services Florida, Inc. 

Lutheran Services for the 

Aging, Inc. 

Lutheran Services in Iowa 

Lutheran Services in Tennessee, 

Inc. 

Lutheran Services of Georgia, Inc. 

Lutheran Settlement House 

Lutheran Social Ministries of New 

Jersey 

Lutheran Social Service of 

Minnesota 

Lutheran Social Service of Utah 

Lutheran Social Services Group, 

Inc. 


Alaska, Inc. 


Central Ohio 

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois 


Indiana 


Michigan 


Nevada 

Lutheran Social Services of New 

England, Inc. 

Lutheran Social Services of New 

York, Inc. 

Lutheran Social Services of North 

Dakota 


Northeast Florida, Inc. 


Northern California 


Northwestern Ohio, Inc. 

Lutheran Social Services of Puerto 

Rico, Inc. 



South Central Pennsylvania 

Lutheran Social Services of South 

Dakota 


Southern California 

Lutheran Social Services of the 

National Capital Area 


South, Inc. 


Southwest 


Virgin Islands 


Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, 

Inc. 

Lutheran Sunset Home 

Lutheran Sunset Ministries 

Lutheran Urban Community 


Lutheran Volunteer Corps 

LutheranLiving Services, Inc. 

Lutherans In Medical Missions 

LUTHERCARE 

Lyngblomsten 

Madison Lutheran Home 

Madrid Home Communities 

Martha & Mary Lutheran Services 

McKenzie County Healthcare 

Systems, Inc. 

Mendota Lutheran Home 

Metro Lutheran Ministry 

Mid-Nebraska Lutheran Home 

Association 

Mill Neck Family of 

Organizations 

Mision Esperanza 

Missouri Slope Lutheran Care 

Center, Inc. 

Mosaic 

Mount Olivet Home/Mount Olivet 

Careview Home/Mount Olivet 

Day Services 

Mountrail Bethel Home 

My Sister’s House 

National Lutheran Communities 

& Services, Inc. 

Navajo Evangelical Lutheran 

Mission, Inc. 

New City Parish, Inc. 

Niagara Lutheran Health System, 

Inc. 

Northland Lutheran Retirement 

Community, Inc. 

Northwood Deaconess Health 

Care 

Norwegian Lutheran Bethesda 

Home Association 

Oaks Indian Mission, Inc. 

Oakwood Lutheran Homes 

Association, Inc. 

Oesterlen Services for Youth, Inc. 

One Church, One Child of Los 

Angeles, Inc. 

Open Door Ministries 

Opportunity Parish Ecumenical 

Neighborhood Ministry (OPEN M) 

Orphan Grain Train 

Our Saviour’s Outreach Ministries 

Parkside Lutheran Home 

Partners for Wichita 

Pastoral Counseling Service of 

Summit County 

Peace Community Center 

Pioneer Retirement Community 

PLM - Families Together 

Plymouth Christian Youth Center 

Project Compassion Ministries, 

Inc. 

RAI Ministries, Inc. 

Redeemer Center for Life 

Riverview Retirement Community 

Sabbath Center Ministries 

Salem Lutheran Home 

Samaritan Bethany, Inc. 

Samaritan Counseling Center 

Samaritan Counseling Center of 

Southern Wisconsin 

Sapphire Lutheran Homes, Inc. 

Seafarers and International 

House 

Shepherd of the Valley 

Lutheran Retirement Services, 

Inc. 

Silent Word Media Resources 

Silver Springs-Martin Luther 

School 

Skaalen Retirement Services, 

Inc. 

Solheim Lutheran Home 

Solvang Lutheran Home, Inc. 

Southeast Asian Ministry 

Southwest Healthcare Services 

Spiritual Program For Education, 

Arts And Recreation (SPEAR) 

Spokane Urban Ministries 

St. John Lutheran Home 

St. John’s Lutheran Home 

St. John’s Lutheran Ministries, 

Inc. 

St. Luke Lutheran Community 

St. Luke Lutheran Home 

St. Luke’s Home 

St. Luke’s Lutheran Care Center 

St. Mark’s Lutheran Home 

St. Olaf Community Campus 

Strawberry Point Lutheran Home 

Sunny View Retirement 

Community 

Tabitha Health Care Services, Inc. 

Tacoma Lutheran Home and 

Retirement Community 

The Ammerman Center for 

Creative Aging 

The Bethany Home Association 

The Evangelical Lutheran Church 

of Saint Luke 

The Evangelical Lutheran Good 

Samaritan Society 

the Hearthstone 

The Lutheran Care Network 

The Lutheran Home 

The Lutheran Mission of the 

Good Shepherd of Kansas City 

- (dba) LUMA Lutheran Urban 

Mission Agency 

The Lutheran Service Society of 

New York 

The Lutheran Service Society of 

Western Pennsylvania 

The Meadows at Otter Creek - 

First Lutheran Foundation, Inc. 

The Samaritan Pastoral 

Counseling Center of the Niagara 

Frontier, Inc. 

The Sharing Place Of St. Paul’s 

Evangelical Lutheran Church 

The St. Paul’s Center for Caring 

The Urban Mission Ministries, Inc. 

The Village at Luther Square 

The Wartburg Adult Care 

Community 

Tuff Memorial Home Corporation 

United Lutheran Program for the 

Aging - Luther Manor 

Valley Memorial Homes 

Valley View Home 

Village On The Isle 

Virginia Lutheran Homes, Inc. 

Voice of Care: In Christ with 

Persons Developmentally 

Challenged 

Wernle Youth & Family Treatment 

Center 

West Central Christian Homes, 

Inc. 

Wheat Ridge Ministries 

WLC Management Company, Inc. 

Ysleta Lutheran Mission Human 

Care 

Zarephath Ministries 

Zion Development 

Corporation 

Health Care 

Food 

Emergencies & 

Disasters 

Adoption 

Veterans 

Volunteers 

Housing 


Disabilities 

Foster Care 

Children & Youth 

Families 

The organizations 

highlighted here have 

contributed funds beyond 

sustaining dues during 

calendar year 2011 to 

support LSA’s future 

orientation and mobilization 

for collective impact. 


Consulting 

Aging 

Addictions 

Advocacy 

Chaplains 

Refugees 

Community 

Development 


13

View 

The National 

Listen to the Sound of 

Digital Voices 

While engaging its 

members on broad issues 

of social change, LSA and 

LSA Disability Network 

focus on practice-based 

public policy advocacy. LSA-DN’s public 

policy priorities engage members to educate 

policy makers and shape public opinion 

on issues related to supporting people with 

intellectual and developmental disabilities 

in the community through Medicaid. Meg 

Cooch is the Director of Public Policy and 

Advocacy for LSA Disability Network. Also 

in DC is Robert Francis, Director of Advocacy 

and Policy for LSA. 

A compelling story can engage people, 

encourage understanding and empathy 

and forward legislative action. The unique 

voices of real people can highlight positive 

outcomes and lift up needed policy changes. 

LSA organizations harness the storytelling 

power of video, written word and social 

media to educate policy makers and the 

public, articulate public policy problems and 

identify legislative solutions – especially in an 

election year. 

Members of Lutheran Services in 

America Disability Network (LSA-DN) are 

telling our stories in new and different ways. 

At October’s One God One Call Spiritual Life 

Conference, a videographer captured 16 

stories from people who have disabilities and 

their families, members of congregations and 

service providers. They talked about what 

living in the community meant to them, how 

Medicaid impacts their lives, and what they 

would like to tell legislators. The results are on 

the “Lutheran Disability Network” channel at 

www.youtube.com. LSA-DN is working on a 

short advocacy video that draws from clips of 

all participants as well. 


organizations are healthy and 

vital, engaged in effective 

service and advocacy. 

LSA members also frequently use video 

technology to spread a message. Bethesda 

Lutheran Communities has given inexpensive 

handheld flip video cameras to direct support 

professionals to capture stories and advocacy 

messages from participants. These have 

then been posted on YouTube under the 

“Bethesda Voices” channel and shared with 

legislators in their districts. Lutheran Social 

Service of Minnesota helped put together 

a documentary for public television which 

included participants telling their stories 

about employment and community living. 

LSS sent DVDs of this documentary to local 

congregations with a guide on how to use it 

to discuss disability and faith. There are many 

more stories. To learn more, check out www. 

lutheranservices.org/policy_resources. 

Meg Cooch 

Election Megaphones 

Election 

season is a 

great time to 

harness the 

power of stories 

to educate candidates and raise 

awareness about key issues. 

Be creative in shouting out the 

stories that highlight policy 

successes, opportunities and 

challenges facing participants 

and social ministry organizations: 

• Purchase flip video cameras for 

staff and participants to capture 

the issues they care about most in 

the election and share the stories 

with candidates; 

• Create questions for 

candidates on the issues and 

share them with staff, board 

members, consumers, families 

and volunteers so they can ask 

candidates for responses; 

• Invite candidates to visit your 

sites and experience a “day in the 

life of” one of your participants; 

• Use social media to spread 

stories and encourage candidates 

to answer questions on issues 

that impact your participants; 

• Attend town hall meetings 

and fairs where candidates will 

be present and tell stories of 

participants; 

• Consider planning a 

candidates’ forum to raise issues 

and allow people to tell their 

stories directly to candidates. 

LSA-DN has created a guide 

to questions for candidates on 

Medicaid and disability issues. 

You can download it at www. 

lsa-dn.org. Check out LSA policy 

and advocacy pages in the www. 

lutheranservices.org or www. 

lsadnadvocacy.org for more 

information about storytelling 

and election year activities. 


Save 

dateS 

September 27-30, 2012 

Boston, ma 

Your Name Here 

2012 executive 

Retreat 

the 

The Staff of LSA 

Staff MEMBERS 

Adenike Akintilo 

Event/Meeting Manager 

John Carter 

Manager of 

Administration 

Margaret Cooch 

Director of Public Policy 

and Advocacy LSA-DN 

Evia Cozart 

National Office 

Administrator 

Bruce Cropf 

Vice President 

Finance and 

Administration 

Robert Francis 

Director of Advocacy 

and Policy 

Trish Holford 

Senior Director 

Creative Services 

Jeanean Merkel 

Vice President 

Communications and 

Marketing 

Lisa Schiller 

Vice President, Operations 

Acting President 

and CEO 

Bob York 

Senior Director of 

Leadership Development/ 

Member Engagement 

Kristin Vought 

Student Intern 

Lutheran Theological 

Seminary at Philadelphia 

Sara Whitman 

Database Specialist 

Liaisons 

Josselyn Bennett 

Director for Poverty and 

Justice Congregational 

and Synodical Mission 

The Evangelical Lutheran 

Church in America 

Dorothy Krans 

Director of Social Ministry 

Organizations 

The Lutheran Church- 

Missouri Synod 

2013 CEO 

Academy 

February 2-7, 2013 

Carefree, AZ 


Please add me to the mailing list for Together 

magazine. There is no charge for subscriptions, but 

donations are always welcome. 

Name 

2013 Leadership 

academy 

Organization 

January 27-January 31, 2013 

Carefree, aZ 


Address 

City / State / Zip 

2013 LSa Conference 

Service Speaks 

april 8-11, 2013 

Washington, DC 


Connect with us: 

www.lutheranservices.org 

Would you like to receive other e-news from LSA? 

monthly e-news 

LSA Washington weekly policy update 

Leadership Paths 

Caring Connections 

Email Address 

Mail to: 

LSA, 700 Light St., Baltimore, MD 21230 

Fax to: 410-230-2710 

Email: together@lutheranservices.org 


15

Tell us your 

story! 

Sharing 

stories 

In each issue 

of Together, 

we have the 

opportunity to 

share a few 

stories of how LSA 

organizations carry 

out the call to 

love and serve our 

neighbors. With over 

300 organizations 

in thousands 

of communities 

nationwide, there 

are so many stories 

we could tell. 

What 

is your 

story? 

Send your ideas, 

questions and 

stories to the editor 

at together@ 

lutheranservices.org. 


00312 Mi Stories Ad Ken Crest:Layout 1 2/27/12 11:26 AM Page 1 

Mi-Stories 

Now an iPhone app 

LSA invites you to join in 

networking opportunities: 

Alliance of Lutheran Ministries of the South 

(ALMS) 

Chaplains’ Network 

Council for Human Resource Management 

(CHRM) 

Healthcare Mission Leaders (HCML) 

LAN: A Lutheran Adoption & Foster Care 

Alliance 

LSA Communicators Network (LCN) 

Lutheran Financial Managers Association 

(LFMA) 

Lutheran Information Technology Network 

(LITN) 

Lutheran Retired Executive Group (LREG) 

Lutheran Services in America Disability 

Network (LSA-DN) 

Lutheran Services in America-Ohio (LSA-OH) 

Lutheran Services in America-Pennsylvania 

(LSA-PA) 

FAN IT 

FORWARD 

Volunteer Leadership Network 

lutheranservices.org/networks 

and touch lives of 

one in 50 Americans 

Photo option 

Short videos of everyday scenarios to assist 

adolescents and adults with autism spectrum 

disorders and other developmental disabilities 

Targeting appropriate behavior & language skills 

in the community and at work 

On DVD, iPod, iPhone, coming soon iPad 

Computer download also available 

2-4 minutes each 

www.mi-stories.org 

610-825-9360 

Products of KenCrest Centers & Debbie Lord 

Step forward and LIKE us. We’ll donate $1 to Lutheran 

Services in America for every new fan. 

Ends March 31, 2012 – so hurry! 

Already a fan? Tell your friends. 

Lutheran Services in America: 

Share + 

• Is an alliance of the ELCA and LCMS, and their 300 health 

and human service organizations. 

• Supports health care, aging and disabilities, 

community Become development, a Thrivent housing, and child and 

family strengthening services. 

Facebook Fan and 

earn $1 for LSA: 

www.facebook.com/thrivent 

We’ll donate up to $15,000 to Lutheran Services in America! 

Lutheran Services in America 

lutheranservices.org 

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans 

Thrivent.com 


17

Thanking Our Donors 

Jill Schumann 

Shape the Future 

Fund 

Gifts of any size 

given from 

January 1, 2011 – 

December 31, 2011 

in the name of 

Mrs. Nancy D. 

Arnison 

Ms. Ruth A. 

Henrichs 

Rev. Thomas 

Hurlocker & 

Mrs. Constance 

Hurlocker 

Mr. Frederick G. 

Kraegel & Mrs. 

Karen E. Kraegel 

Ms. Jeanean D. 

Merkel & Mr. David 

Ferguson 

Dr. Patricia W. 

Savage & Dr. Roger 

B. Johnson 

Ms. Lisa M. Schiller 

& Mr. Gregory 

Schiller 

Ms. Jill A. 

Schumann & Rev. 

Dr. Mark Oldenburg 

Rev. David L. Tiede 

& Mrs. Martha Tiede 

Mrs. Linda M. 

Timmons & Mr. 

Randy D. Timmons 

Rev. Gary L. Wheeler 

Allegheny Lutheran 

Social Ministries, 

Hollidaysburg, PA 

Chaplains’ Network 


Metropolitan 

Ministries, 

Cleveland, OH 

Thrivent Financial 

for Lutherans, 

Minneapolis, MN 

World Relief and 

Human Care, LCMS, 

St. Louis, MO 

Memorials, 

Tributes, 

Celebrations 

Gifts of any size 

given from 

January 1, 2011 – 


in the name of 

Mr. and Mrs. David 

Benson 

Mr. Norman C. Berg 

Mr. Arnold 

Danielson and Mrs. 

Dorothy Danielson 

Mr. Brian Luedke 

Ms. Jill Schumann 

Ms. Jill Schumann 

and the LSA Staff 

Team 

Grants, 

Foundations and 

Sponsors 

January 1, 2011 – 


Allegheny Lutheran 

Social Ministries, 

Hollidaysburg, PA 


Communities, 

Watertown, WI 

Board of Pensions – 


Church in America, 


CDW, Vernon Hills, 

IL 

Concordia 

Publishing House 

Deffet Group, Inc., 

Ostrander, OH 

ELCA Mission 

Investment Fund, 

Chicago, IL 


Church of America, 

Chicago, IL 

Glade Run Lutheran 

Services, Zelienople, 

PA 

KenCrest Centers, 

Plymouth Meeting, 

PA 

Lutheran Child & 

Family Service of 

Michigan, Bay City, 

MI 


Church–Missouri 

Synod, St. Louis, MO 


Community 

Foundation, 




Nebraska, Omaha, NE 

Continued from page 9 

Lutheran Foundation 

of St. Louis, St. 

Louis, MO 

Lutheran Homes 

of Michigan, 

Frankenmuth, MI 


Immigration and 

Refugee Service, 

Baltimore, MD 

Lutheran Life 

Communities, 

Arlington Heights, IL 


Metropolitan 

Ministry, Cleveland, 

OH 

Lutheran Retirement 

Ministries of 

Alamance County, 

Burlington, NC - 

Norman C. Berg 

Fund 

Lutheran SeniorLife, 

Cranberry Township, 

PA 


for the Aging / 



Carolinas, Salisbury, 

NC 


for Children 

Endowment, 

Chicago, IL 


for the Elderly 

Endowment, 

Chicago, IL 


Service Society 

of Western 

Pennsylvania, 

Pittsburgh, PA 



Michigan, Detroit, 

MI 

Mill Neck 

Foundation, Mill 

Neck, NY 

Southwest 

Pennsylvania Synod 

– ELCA 

Stevens Van Lines, 

Inc., Saginaw, MI 

Thrivent Financial 

for Lutherans, 


This list of donors was compiled by the financial offices of Lutheran Services 

in America (LSA) and produced by the LSA Vice President, Communications 

and Marketing. The list is to be used only as information for LSA, its 

members and friends. All other uses, especially commercial, are strictly 

prohibited. Contributions received by LSA between January 1, 2011 and 

December 31, 2011 are recognized in this Report. Contributions made after 

that time will be recognized in the 2012 Annual Report. Every effort has 

been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. Please make us aware of any 

errors by contacting John Carter, Manager of Administration at jcarter@ 

lutheranservices.org or 410-230-3548. Thank you. 

Supporting 

SpiritualLIVES 

Resources from Bethesda Lutheran Communities 

for teachers, leaders and other professionals 

working with people with intellectional and 

developmental disabilities. 

Android 

iPhone 

Cross Road Journey 

Cross Road Journey is a series of 

religious courses with a leader guide, 

study sheets, posters and music CD. 

www.BethesdaInstitute.org/CrossRoadJourney 

Breakthrough 

Breakthrough offers ideas and 

inspiration for leaders in 

congregations and schools 

who teach and learn. 

www.BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org/Breakthrough 

Meant to Be 

The free downloadable resources 

include sermon notes, devotions, 

chapel talk and Bible studies for all 

ages. We are all meant to be part of 

God’s family. 

www.BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org/Awareness 

www.BethesdaBlog.Wordpress.com 

BethesdaBlog 

The Bethesda Institute hosts a blog 

covering a wide-range of topics 

about spiritual life, advocacy, public 

policy, support services, education 

and employment. 

iEnhanceLives Mobile App 

Together, we can make a difference. 

Start by downloading our app today 

so you’ll be able to say, “I enhance 

lives!” 

www.BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org/App 

www.BethesdaLutheranCommunities.org 


“Go home to your friends and tell them 

how much the Lord has done for you, 

and how he has had mercy on you.” 

Mark 5:19 

Clockwise, from top: Phil’s Friends, Lutheran Mission Society, 

Lutheran Senior Services 

We thank God for all of our Recognized Service Organizations as they bear 

Delicious 

Flickr 

Twitter 

Retweet 

witness to Jesus Christ in word and deed through the services they provide. 

Facebook 

MySpace 

StumbleUpon 

Digg 

Slash Dot 

Mixx 

Delicious 

Skype 

Flickr 

Technorati Twitter 

Retweet 

888-THE LCMS (843-5267) • www.lcms.org 

Delicious Reddit Flickr FriendFeed Facebook Twitter YouTubeMySpace 

RetweetLinkedIn 

StumbleUpon 

Digg 


19

Person 

First 

Webster’s defines stew as “fish or meat 

usually with vegetables prepared by boiling 

slowly or with simmering heat.” I am sure 

each region of the country has its own 

comfort foods, many of which might be some 

type of stew. In the Southeast, Brunswick 

stew is one of our culinary comforts. While 

there is argument regarding its origin (both 

Virginia and Georgia lay claim), there is no 

argument of the value of good Brunswick 

stew on a cold damp night. Made with two 

meats, usually chicken and beef or pork (deer, 

rabbit, squirrel, road kill [yes, road kill is a 

source of protein in the south] have been 

included), potatoes, tomatoes and a wide 

variety of vegetables. Families have their 

own “special” recipe and guard them fiercely. 

Brunswick stew worth anything is cooked in 

big black cast iron pots for hours over a wood 

fire. While each ingredient maintains its 

separate identity, there is a unique merging of 

all the flavors that provides a rich and unique 

taste that demands not just one bowl 

but two. 

LSA resembles good Brunswick stew. 

Faith, community and a call to serve provide 

a solid base while all 309 members represent 

the rich and varied ingredients to make 

an organization with a unique mission. 

LSA members touch almost every facet of 

life – children, disabilities, aging, housing, 

counseling, refugees, advocacy and 

many more. 

What do we gain from LSA that 

cannot be gained from specialized trade 

associations? LSA provides technical / 

timely educational topics at its conferences 

and advocacy on a national level, but so do 

trade associations. So why do I participate 

in the offerings of LSA such as the CEO 

Academy, Leadership Academy, Annual 

Conference, Executive Retreat? Being with 

peers, sharing faith stories and worshiping 

together provides comfort food for my soul. 

There is a shared honesty, openness and 

willingness of my peers to express their faith 

journey with Christ. I leave each event with a 

sense of affirmation of my call and renewed 

inspiration to serve. I have been fed not 

only intellectually and technically but also 

spiritually. I know I am part of something 

much larger than me or my organization. 

We are members of the body of Christ (See 1 

Corinthians 12: 12 – 31). Just like Brunswick 

stew – many but one! 

See y’all in Pittsburgh. 

Charles Harris is President/CEO of Lutheran 

Retirement Ministries of Alamance County/Twin 

Lakes Community in Burlington, North Carolina, a 

continuing care retirement community. Through 

the Norman C. Berg Fund, Lutheran Retirement 

Ministries is a founding supporter of LSA’s CEO 

Academy, providing scholarships for CEOs 

new to the LSA system to attend this seminal 

leadership event. The Berg Fund also support’s LSA’s 

Leadership Academy for non-CEO leaders in LSA 

organizations. 


T:7.5” 

S:7.5” 

INVEST WITH A BANK AND THEY GIVE YOU A TOASTER. 

INVEST WITH US AND WE THROW IN 

A FOOD PANTRY. 

B:10” 

T:10” 

S:10” 

February 3, 2010. 

Grace Lutheran Church, Champaign, Illinois. 

A great interest rate is only the beginning of what you receive when 

you invest your savings with the Mission Investment Fund. That’s 

because the money you invest funds building and renovation loans 

for ELCA congregations like Grace Lutheran Church. Grace used an 

MIF loan to remodel its existing building, enabling it to remain near 

downtown Champaign, where it runs a much-needed food pantry. 

A building loan that helps feed the hungry? It’s enough to make an 

ordinary investment feel like manna from heaven. 

Ready to grow your finances and your faith? 

To learn more about the highly competitive 

interest rates and flexible terms we offer on 

a wide range of investments and ministry 

loans, visit our financial services center at 

elca.org/mif. Or call us at 877-886-3522. 

Mission Investment Fund investments are subject to certain risks. See “Risk Factors” in the MIF Offering Circular. MIF investments are not bank accounts. As securities issued by a nonprofit institution, 

the investments are not insured by FDIC, SIPC or any other federal or state regulatory agency. The securities are sold only by means of the Offering Circular. This is not an offer to sell or a solicitation 

of an offer to buy the securities described here.

LSA National Office 

700 Light Street 

Baltimore, MD 21230-3850 

t ] 800.664.3848 

www.lutheranservices.org 

Please pass this on to a colleague 

and let us know any changes to 

your preferred address. 

{A subscription form is on page 15. 

{ 

Our 

Neighbors 

When I came to the 

United States I started 

at the bottom. I could 

speak four languages, 

had a degree in 

accounting and 12 years 

of experience in 

a high position at an 

oil company. Despite 

thinking that it would 

be easy to find a good 

job, I started out in 

housekeeping. 

Doing the kind of work 

that I do now is not for 

money. For me it’s the 

satisfaction I get from 

placing women, single 

mothers, widows, in a 

good job so they can 

take care of themselves. 

– Fatuma Elmi 

Refugee Employment 

Services Supervisor 


Service of Minnesota 

(seated on right with client) 

Together | www.lutheranservices.org

Annual Report - Lutheran Services in America

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