Welcome to Global Mission Partners

                At our Synod Assembly this year we were privileged to have Bishop Motsamai Manong and Pastor Adam Khunou present, visiting from our companion synod, the Cape Orange Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Southern Africa. It is always heartening to spend time with Christians from another part of the world, to share how God is at work in our different contexts. In addition to meeting people at the Synod Assembly, our South African visitors were able to see some of Montana’s agricultural country, visit a reservation, see Yellowstone, and see various social ministries sponsored by congregations around the Synod.
 
                This next week the Montana Synod will be hosting a visitor from another part of the world. Gustavo Driau, based in Argentina, is the ELCA’s representative in Latin America. He assists our companion church, the Bolivian Evangelical Lutheran Church, and works with us as the IELB and the Montana Synod accompany one another. Gustavo Driau has lived in Latin America all his life, and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his position. He previously served with the Lutheran World Federation in Latin America.
 
                ELCA missionaries from around the world gather for a missionary conference every couple of years. Because Gustavo was going to be in Chicago, we invited him to Montana to meet with sponsoring congregations, and others who are interested. Many congregations donate to global mission. Some support Young Adults in Global Mission. Some support a specific missionary, maybe who has a history of relationship with their congregation.   
 
                You are invited to meet with Gustavo Driau at one of the following events:
 
July 7 - 9:30 am  Bethel Lutheran Church, Great Falls—preaching and adult forum
 
July 8 - 6-8 pm  Open House at the Synod House for LPAs and others to meet and greet
 
July 10 - Evening program at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby
 
July 14 - 8:15 am at Hope Lutheran, Bozeman
               10:00 am at Christ the King Lutheran, Bozeman
 
Afternoon/evening event in Bozeman, TBA 
 
           Our companion synod relationships, our missionary sponsorships and our promotion of Young Adults in Global Mission remind us that the church is bigger than any one congregation, any one country. I invite you to learn more about global mission, and to become more involved.
 
In Christ,
 
Jessica Crist, Bishop