Subcategories

• Interpreting Our Mission

  God's Work. Our Hands.

  Mission is the work that God gives us to do through our own actions, words, and financial resources. Mission is central to all things we do as a church and is driven out of our love for God, and the love God gives us in Jesus Christ. Mission is not a chore nor is it a payment or requirement for salvation. Mission is seeking to do the work of God in this world using ourselves as the building blocks for spreading Christ's love to all the world.

  Mission is each and everyone of us working together to share the Gospel through the ordinary and through the extraordinary. Mission is YOU!

  Visit this site often to read and see inspiring stories of what God in doing in the Florida-Bahamas Synod.

  • SMD
    
  • Faith in Action
• Global Mission
  
  The Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA, is committed to sharing Christ with the world! Through your support, we advocate and work for mission in different contexts and promote the importance of the dignity and selfworth of all people.
  The Global Mission Committee of the Florida Bahamas Synod continues to work actively to support  our companion synods, ELCA World Hunger Program, and Advocacy efforts both domestically as well as globally, as well as other areas of world mission of the church.

  Explore our Global Mission Blog to discover what we are doing to share the love of Christ. If you would like more information about this committee, please contact Pastor Tom Snapp at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.

  Click below for information about the specific areas of Global Minisistry in the Florida Bahamas synod:

  
  
  • Global Mission News
    The Florida-Bahamas Synod, ELCA, is committed to sharing Christ with the world! Through your support, we advocate and work for mission in different contexts and promote the importance of the dignity and selfworth of all people. Explore our Global Mission Site to discover what we are doing to share the love of Christ.
    
  • Haiti
    
    

    Haiti and Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti (the Lutheran Churches of Haiti)

    The Florida Bahamas Synod relationship was a grassroots relationship with the people of Haiti that started 14 years ago through the “Pigs and Pastors” project.  This development project grew into a relationship with the Haitian people, in particular with a group of pastors who desired to be a part of the Lutheran Church. The Florida Bahamas Synod Haiti program has walked together with the people of Haiti in the development of the Lutheran churches,  celebrating the ordination of the first four pastors on January 31, 2009, when the official Lutheran Church of Haiti, Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti was born.  Pastor Joseph Livenson Lauvanus is the current  president of Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti, and the liaison to the relationship with the Florida Bahamas Synod.  In 2010, the Lutheran Churches of Haiti entered into a formal partnership relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.
    
    On January 12, 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, killing over 200,000 people, and leaving the country devastated.  The Florida Bahamas Synod,  ELCA Disaster Response, and Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti are working in full partnership together on the relief and the reconstruction of the communities and congregations in Haiti.  It will be a long walk together for months and years, rebuilding communities, congregations, and giving hope to the people.  It is certain that God is faithful, and that through all this devastation, ultimately God’s glory is revealed!

    Congregations of the Florida Bahamas Synod are invited to become actively involved in the relief/reconstruction and to enter into a personal relationship with our brothers and sister in Haiti. Educational programs are available for congregations who would like to learn more about Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti and  how they can help and be involved. For more information, please contact  Dr. Patricia Hansen, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , or Mary Delasin, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , co-chairs of the Florida Bahamas Synod Haiti committee.

    Look for the ELCA Disaster Response and Eglise Lutherienne d’Haiti facebook pages.

    
    
  • Cuba

    The Florida Bahamas Synod has had a church companionship with the Lutherans of Cuba for 6 years. The goal of this relationship is to build mutual understanding and support between the churches. Our objective is to gain understanding of church life under a Communist government, to support congregational ministry with children and youth in Cuba, and to learn how Christians evangelize, teach and worship in difficult conditions in this country.

    For more information about our relationship with Cuba or to be a part of this ministry please contact: The Rev. Russell Meyer, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

  • Guyana

    
    

    The Florida Bahamas Synod has a strong relationship with the Lutheran Church of Guyana.  Teams from the synod travel to Guyana three to four times a year building on the relationship that was established many years ago through youth work in Guyana.  Work in Guyana includes supporting the medical work of ELCA  missionary Rev. John Young, building congregational relationships, encouraging pastors and lay leaders of the Lutheran Church of Guyana, and accompanying the Guyanese in the work of the church.

    For more information about our relationship with Guyana or to be a part of this ministry please contact Chris Klafs @ St. Timothy Lutheran Church, Tarpon Springs. 727-937-3503.

  • Japan
• Justice & Advocacy

  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
  

  Luke 4:18-19

  • Advocacy
    
    

    What is Advocacy?

    Advocacy is to plead the cause of another together with them and on their behalf. When, for example, the prophets addressed kings and priests on behalf of those suffering injustice, they were advocating. The ELCA calls persons to advocate justice with and for those without power and voice in places where important political and economic decisions are being made that affect the lives of those who are marginalized. This activity is what is meant by “advocacy.” It is one way the ELCA carries out its strategic direction to “step forward as a public church that witnesses boldly to God’s love for all that God has created.”
    
    For more background on Advocacy, see the ELCA web page by clicking here.
  • World Hunger

    
    

    ELCA World Hunger and Advocacy in the Florida Bahamas Synod

    The Florida Bahamas Synod has had an active role in the ELCA World Hunger Program for many years.  Due to the commitment of many congregations to the fight against hunger and poverty around the world, the Florida Bahamas Synod lead the country in contributions per baptized member to ELCA World Hunger.  These funds are used in relief efforts and  sustainable development projects all over the world, including domestically in our own communities.  ELCA World Hunger partners with organizations such as Lutheran World Relief , Lutheran World Federation, and ELCA Global Mission companion synods, and local congregations to make contributions go farther than they could working alone.  The focus is always on creating ways to empower people living in poverty to create better lives for themselves and their families for generations to come.

    ELCA Advocacy is a way that congregations can be the voice for those living in poverty around the world, helping people by assisting to change root causes of why so many people live in poverty around the world and in our own communities.

    The Florida Bahamas Synod offers many resources and assistance in planning and implementing poverty education and advocacy programs, workshops, bible studies, youth group activities, and even VBS and Sunday School programs to educate congregations on  hunger issues and how we can be a part of the solution.

    For more information about World Hunger, Advocacy, or Congregation education programs, please contact Mary Delasin, Synod World Hunger/Advocacy coordinator and ELCA  World Hunger trainer @ This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

    ELCA World Hunger

    ELCA Advocacy

    ELCA ONE Lutheran Campaign

    ELCA Disaster Response

    ELCA Disaster blog

    ELCA Hunger Rumblings blog

  • Partner Agencies and Institutions

    The Florida-Bahamas Synod works closely in partnership with many agencies and institutions to carry-out the continued mission and work of the church throughout the world. Listed below are many of the relationships we share with other groups throughout the territory of the synod, the national church, and across the globe.

     

    ELCA Organizations

    • ◊ Lutheran Outdoor Ministries of Florida
    • ◊ Lutheridge & Lutherock Ministries, Inc.
    • ◊ Mission Investment Fund of the ELCA
    • ◊ Women of the ELCA
    • ◊ Lutheran Men in Mission
    • ◊ Lutheran Disaster Response (ELCA)
    • ◊ Lutheran Campus Ministry
    • ◊ Augsburg Fortress Press

    Lutheran Organizations

    • ◊ Association of Lutheran Older Adults
    • ◊ Lutheran Services of Florida
    • ◊ Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
    • ◊ The Lutheran World Federation
    • ◊ Lutheran World Relief
    • ◊ Lutheran Disaster Response (ELCA & LCMS)
    • ◊ Lutheran Counseling Services
    • ◊ Association of Lutheran Church Musicians

    Ecumenical Partners

    • ◊ The Episcopal Church
    • ◊ The Presbyterian Church (USA)
    • ◊ The Moravian Church
    • ◊ The Reformed Church in America
    • ◊ The United Church of Christ

    ELCA Schools

    • ◊ ELCA Colleges and Universities
    • ◊ ELCA Seminaries

    • ◊ Lenoir-Rhyne University

    • ◊ Newberry College
    • ◊ Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary

    Ministry Partners

    • ◊ Florida Council of Churches
    • ◊ The Metropolitan Chicago Synod - ELCA
    • ◊ The National Council of Church of Christ - USA
    • ◊ Church World Service
    • ◊ Transforming Congregations Online Resource
    • ◊ The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
    • ◊ CSS Publishing

     

  • Immigration
    The Immigration Task Force presents the resources below for developing and sustaining immigration ministries.
    
    
    
  • Disaster Response