Creating Wholeness—and Holiness: Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Minneapolis

It was a story not to be believed. Three young Eritrean orphans, who had been adopted by an aunt in Minnesota, were abandoned in Eritrea. Their aunt decided she could no longer care for them, refused all offers of help and tricked the 17, 14, and 9 year olds into returning for a summer visit to Eritrea. Once there, she took their travel documents and disappeared, leaving them in a one-room home with their elderly grandparents.

Word made it back to the Eritrean community at Trinity Lutheran Congregation, located in the Cedar Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis, through the 17 year-old’s (Sham) teacher. Bringing them home became mission critical. New foster parents emerged from the Twin Cities Eritrean community, the U.S. Embassy was assured that Trinity would support them if the foster parents were unable to, money was raised to have on hand if needed for plane tickets, federal and state agencies were enlisted for help, and we prayed.

One July day, the word came. The U.S. Embassy in Asmara (the capital of Eritrea) had determined that the three young people were U.S. citizens and, therefore, entitled to re-entry. Passports were issued and tickets purchased. In a few short days, still dazed and frightened, they arrived at Trinity for a service of thanksgiving. We held them tightly. “You are safe,” we assured them. “God has brought you home.”

The following spring, the invitation to an open house arrived. Sham was graduating from high school and bound for Northwestern College. A church basement was full of friends and family celebrating her success. And then the surprise.  Their older brother, caught in his own immigration journey, had just arrived in Minneapolis that week. Separated by war, they were, brothers and a sister, together again.

Trinity Lutheran Congregation has been nurturing wholeness—and holiness—in Cedar-Riverside for more than 140 years. Their more recent history has this congregation intentionally opening their doors to African immigrants. Although the congregation is multi-cultural, they have made a special effort to reach out to their African immigrant neighbors in many ways. Their Homework Help program provides daily help for more than 100 East African students. The Wednesday Night Community Supper serves an average of 40 mothers, guardians and kids each week. Trinity provides multi-language worship service resources, Sunday school, youth programs and a radio ministry.

The congregation provides 75% of their ministry budget. The other 25% comes from a few different sources. The Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission (EOCM) unit of the ELCA churchwide organization has committed a total of $60,850 of your offerings to ministry at Trinity, $5,000 in 2010. Their two partner congregations, Nokomis Heights Lutheran in Minneapolis and Mount Olivet Lutheran in Plymouth will contribute $20,000 in 2010. Four51, Inc., a technology and resource development company, provides technology and financial resources for Homework Help at $15,000 per year.

In addition to the financial support, the Trinity congregation partnership team provides opportunities throughout the year for the three partner congregations to come together in common mission to benefit the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. Mark Johnson, president of Four51, has been working with Trinity leaders since early 2009 to develop a strategy for growing Trinity’s outreach ministry as well as investment partners.

Synod staff involvement has been instrumental over the years to assist Trinity with their grassroots development of outreach to African immigrants in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood. That started with the process of first calling Pastor Jane Bucklee-Farley and then Pastor Alem Hagos. Trinity was given both financial and synod staff assistance as part of a Thrivent grant through Making a World of Difference. This money and staff time helped facilitate the three-way congregational partnership between Trinity Lutheran, Nokomis Heights Lutheran, and Mount Olivet Lutheran of Plymouth. And synod staff continue to consult with Trinity Lutheran and Mark Johnson as they work together to redefine Trinity’s focus and message.

Creative and innovative examples of new ways to expand God’s mission, like Trinity Lutheran Congregation, will help our church spread the gospel in the 21st century. We are grateful to the members of Trinity and their partner congregations for their shared ministry as a community gathered by Christ. In addition, thank you to all of our Minneapolis Area Synod congregations who provide mission support to advance God’s work, through the ELCA, for the sake of the world.

ELCA Support for Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Minneapolis

• Evangelical Outreach and Congregational Mission grants totaling $60,850, of which $5,000 is provided in 2010.
• Synod staff support in calling pastors’ Jane Bucklee Farlee and Alem Hagos
• Churchwide staff support from the Rev. Susan Tjornehoj, director of evangelical mission
• Synod staff support in facilitating a new model for congregational partnership and in working with private business partner, Four51.
• Direct support from Trinity’s two partner congregations.