Mission Interpreter

Welcome to the Mission Interpretation Network where a Mission Interpreter Coordinator and Mission Interpreters work in synergy to tell personal stories from our synod. Personal stories are being told of how giving has changed the lives of many and how being good stewards helps to support God’s work, Our hands. This is achieved through temple talks, bible studies and articles. So, look around at the below resources and find how God is changing lives through your giving and how you can become a Mission Interpreter in your congregation.

What Do Mission Interpreters Do?

Mission Interpreters are volunteers from congregations in each synod of the ELCA who go to their local churches to tell the story of how our offerings and gifts are transformed into effective ministries. They remind us of how we make a difference in Christ’s mission and the work of the church, and they thank our people for their faithful giving.

This is primarily done through temple talks, visits with councils and committees, or church newsletters. They share information, provide resources, and give guidance on doing God’s work at the congregational, synodical, and churchwide levels.

What are the Qualifications?

Be faith-filled, loving Christ and the church
Be knowledgeable about the ELCA
Be an active member of a congregation
Be a strong steward
Be willing to attend training sessions

Mission Interpreters Receive:

Resource Materials
Training workshops
Inspiration
Networking
Facebook page to share ideas and information

Congregational Benefit

When members understand their identity as partners in a wider church, they become strong advocates supporting the mission and ministry we share- beyond the congregations, through the synod, and then on through the churchwide organization. The Mission Interpreter Ministry helps congregations by increasing the understanding of the work we do together beyond the congregation. By looking beyond the congregation, members see how they are personally connected to mission and ministry around the world! “Mission minded” congregations are growing in membership and spirit!

Give voice to your call.

Talk to your pastor, youth director, music minister, or another church leader about your own call as a baptized child of God. The church is calling for leaders. If God is nudging you forward, contact your synod office.

Gifts of Ministry

All of God’s people have gifts for ministry — the work of the faithful. The question to consider is “Which gifts do I have, and how will I use them?” The following gifts seem to be especially important for our rostered leaders:

A love for Jesus Christ
Grace-filled living
Integrity
A passion for justice
Compassion for God’s people
Self- awareness
Leadership gifts
The ability to learn and share the faith
A capacity for critical reflection

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Telling the story of our hands doing God’s work in the world.

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FIND A CONGREGATION

DONATE

EVENTS

Contact Pastor Ele Clay:

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Born and raised in Taiwan, moved to Houston in 2014, Evangeline speaks Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English. She joined Faith Lutheran Church in Bellaire in 2015, moved to Berkeley for seminary in 2018, and recently returned to Houston after one year internship in Torrance and obtained her MDiv degree with Evangelism and Justice concentration. She had multiple work experiences for administrative tasks, including part-time assistant in TEEM office at PLTS. She embraces diversity, has passion for justice and service work, and commits to support the ministries of the Church.

Contact Staff for Evangeline

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Chris is passionate about networking and identifying new ways to support individuals and congregations as they grow a deeper, bolder, more consequential faith. Chris maintains the LEAD website, supports LEAD's signature coaching, and collaborates on the 10 Minute Toolbox.

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Peggy Hahn serves as the Executive Director for LEAD, aligning passionate leaders, resources, and practices to grow Christian leaders who grow faith communities in our world. Peggy is a frequent speaker and author who is never without a pile of books to read and seeks coaches and mentors for herself in an ongoing quest to learn and grow. Peggy is committed to listening to pastors and leaders of all ages for insight into the ways they are growing in their own faith and what LEAD can do to support them in their development as leaders.

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Lizbeth began her work in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod in the fall of 2014 as the gift planner with Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest.

Lizbeth received her undergraduate degree at Texas State, and master degree and doctorate from the University of Houston. She resides in Houston with her husband Gary and has one daughter, son-in-law, and two grandchildren living in San Antonio. As deployed staff living in Magnolia, she participates in worship at a different synod church each Sunday.

The ministry is partnered with the ELCA Foundation to help congregation establish new revenue streams through endowments that provide a quarterly distribution for ministry. The gift planner helps to build the endowment with the generosity of congregation members who leave legacy gifts for ministry in their wills or estate planning. The gift planner facilitates tax-advantaged ways to bless family and the church.

Resources from Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest
Gift Planning Bulletin Insert
Ways to Give During Challenging Times LFSW Webinar 4.21.2020 - Watch | Download

Contact Lizbeth Johnson:

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Aimee has had the opportunity to serve the Lutheran Church in various volunteer positions including council president, Sunday school teacher and VBS director, and as a LYO sponsor. She has worked in several congregations in administrative roles.

Aimee has lived in Texas for most of her life. She and her husband Daryl have two adult children; outside the office Aimee enjoys reading, sewing and spending time with family and friends.

Contact Aimee Elles:

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A native Houstonian, Chris graduated from Concordia University in Austin and went to seminary in Berkeley. His first call was in Philadelphia. In 2003, he moved to New Orleans to serve as Mission Redeveloper for House of Prayer in Harvey. Following Hurricane Katrina, Chris relocated to Houston where he was called as Mission Developer and founding pastor of Celebration in Cypress, where he served for over 7 years. Chris is a member of the Order of Lutheran Franciscans. He enjoys traveling and joining friends for trivia at local venues.

Contact The Rev. Chris Markert:

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Prior to serving on Synod Staff, Tracey Breashears Schultz served Zion Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas. Prior to that, she served at MacArthur Park Lutheran Church in San Antonio. A graduate of The University of Arkansas, Tracey received her Masters of Divinity from Wartburg Theological Seminary, and her Doctor of Ministry from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

Before her journey toward ordained ministry, Tracey was a Spanish teacher and a trainer for a medical software company.

Contact The Rev. Tracey Breashears Schultz:

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Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Serving as bishop of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America since 2007 is an honor, a challenge, and a joy. It has given me the opportunity to work with many gifted pastors and committed people of faith. We’re creating communities that make disciples who serve the world in Jesus’ name.

For information updated weekly (sometimes daily) on news, events, ideas, books, schedules, and so on, visit my blog.

Evangelism is one of my passions, and our synod’s highest priority. Evangelism is making fully devoted followers of Christ, who taught love of God and neighbor as the greatest commandments. Every congregation is a mission, and every pastor is a missionary.

Together we plant new congregations, send missionaries, prepare rostered leaders, support companion synods, camps, campus ministries, and more. Our vision is to be a network of growing, Christ-centered, outwardly-focused congregations passing the faith to the next generation.

Biographical Information

Born: August 2, 1961, Columbus, Ohio

Wife: Susan

Children: John and Yuliana

Parents: Warren and Patricia Rinehart

Undergraduate studies: Bachelor of Music in organ performance from Valparaiso University, a Lutheran university in northern Indiana, 1983

Seminary: Masters of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio, 1988.

Calls:

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa (1988-1994)
Christ Lutheran Church, Charlotte, North Carolina (1994-1997)
Grace Lutheran Church, Conroe, Texas (1997-2007)
Bishop, Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod (2007-present)

Currently Serving:

Texas Lutheran University Corporation Board
Houston Coalition for Immigration Reform
Board of the Houston Coalition for Mutual Respect

Contact Bishop Michael Rinehart:

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