Mission Partners

Grace Lutheran Church supports two global mission partners. Gifts designated to the “Missionary for a Day” fund provide much needed support to these vital ministries.

SAINT CATHERINE LUTHERAN CHURCH | VALKA, LATVIA

Grace Lutheran began the relationship its sister congregation in the late 1980’s, while Latvia was still part of the communist Soviet Union. The late John Polis, a member of Grace Lutheran, grew up in Valka, Latvia, and Saint Catherine.

The Saint Catherine congregation began in 1477 and the present church building dates from the early 1700’s. Valka is a city of about 5,000 in northern Latvia right on the border with Estonia. The congregation is about 100 members.

Funds from Grace Lutheran help support their Kindergarten program and necessary renovations to the church and its facilities.

Read the 2011 visit of Grace Lutheran members blog here 

Learn more about the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Latvia here

CENTRAL DIOCESE OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF TANZANIA AND THE MOROGORO MISSION DISTRICT AND INTERNATIONAL HEALTH PARTNERS TANZANIA

The Central Diocese and the Morogoro Mission District are a companion synod of our Southeastern Minnesota Synod. Mission work within the Central Diocese focuses on the Iambi Hospital and the Kiomboi Institute, a school that trains pastors, evangelists and administrators for the Lutheran church in Tanzania.

Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania

ELCA Global Unit information on Tanzania

Grace also support to the Morogoro Mission District, and the the work of Pastor Herb Haferman and his team of evangelists working in primarily Muslim and indigenous religion areas around Morogoro working out of the Morogoro Lutheran Junior Seminary. Pastor Haferman published this overview of the ministry in 2007.

International Health Partners supports the medical mission work of Dr. Denny and Paula Loftstrom. IHP raises funds for the construction and operation of a Lutheran hospital in Mwanza, Tanzania, on the south shore of Lake Victoria. Periodically, the Lofstroms visit the congregation to share news about recent projects and how their dreams for this medical ministry are taking shape. To learn more, visit their site.