Global Service Opportunities
ELCA Global Mission personnel serve in more than 40 countries in assignments that range from a few months to eight years or more. Positions fall into four categories of service:
- Long-term (usually four or more years)
- Global Mission two-year program
- Self-funded volunteer (varied length) - includes teachers and health care professionals
- Young Adults in Global Mission (usually one year, young adults ages 21-29)
Meet Our Missionaries
Emma Alpern from Centennial, CO
Young Adult in Global Mission serving in the United Kingdom
Sara Larson from Greeley, CO
Young Adult in Global Mission serving in Central Europe
Connor Moore from Arvada, CO
Young Adult in Global Mission serving in the Central Europe
RMS Companion Synods
As a Glocal Church, we partner with Lutherans around the globe for the sake of relationship, ministry, and a shared witness in the Gospel. Every synod in the ELCA has a global companion synod we partner with in a spirit of accompaniment. The Rocky Mountain Synod has four companion synods in Madagascar.
About Madagascar
The island of Madagascar is about as far away from the Rocky Mountain Synod as you can get geographically, culturally, and economically. The Rocky Mountain Synod has been privileged to share in relationship with four companion synods in the Malagasy Lutheran Church of Madagascar. The four companion synods are:
- Mahajanga Synod
- Antsiranana Synod
- Avaratra Atsinanana Synod
- Sofia Synod
All four of our companion synods are located in the northern third of the island. The Lutheran presence in this part of Madagascar is the result of migration from the traditionally Lutheran southern parts of the island by people in search of work and fertile lands. They are powerful evangelists! Several of the synods have experienced growth through their healing ministries and their zeal for the gospel. The Malagasy Lutheran Church’s Project Shalom is a health, literacy and agricultural ministry integrated with evangelism among Muslims in our partner synods and elsewhere in the country.
Betela Regional Seminary
Betela Regional Seminary serves all four of these synods and has been a primary focus of our financial support. Betela is included in the budget of the Rocky Mountain Synod and several fund raising projects have provided solar power and lighting, new student housing, an electric pump for the well, bikes for new pastors, and financial support for continuing education for their pastors, women theologians and catechists.
Seeds of Hope
Since April 2002, congregations and individuals have contributed to the Rocky Mountain Synod Companion Synod Project providing funds for solar lighting and power at Betela Lutheran Regional Seminary, bicycles for pastors, and funding for theological conferences which allow Malagasy pastors and women theologians to gather for discussion and support. Since its inception, Seeds of Hope has generated over $200,000 for projects in Madagascar.
Global Church Resources
- Accompaniment Bible Study
- ELCA Global Church
- Sign up for ELCA Global Links email newsletter
- Young Adults in Global Mission
- Glocal Church Sunday Liturgy
- Invite a speaker from the Global Church Speaker's Bureau
Videos during offering or adult forum from an ELCA Missionary
Global Church Network Committee
- Rev. Paul Schick (chair)
- Rev. Pam Challis
- Terry Cole
- Rev. Brian Erickson
- Rev. Teri Hermsmeyer
- Peter Kapenga
- Rev. Diana Linden-Johnson (Staff Liaison)
Global Mission Committee contact: Paul Schick (pastorpaul@communityofjoy.com)