Live On

Live On

The Mission Endowment Fund (MEF) is now LiveOn. Established in 1999, it is a mission outreach fund for use in this synod. Income earned on the permanent investment is granted in February and August to those who apply and qualify for grants.

Together, we are developing Lutheran leadership through a culture of generosity. LiveOn is making a difference.

Watch this video from the LiveOn report to the 2022 Synod assembly.

LiveOn supports vital ministries. Contributions may be given in one of three ways:

Make an outright gift
Name Live On in your will
Customize your gift to your situation (such as through a planned charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder unitrust

If you would like assistance in determining the best way to give a gift to Live On, please contact the synod office.

Donate

Strategic Goals

Seminary Scholarships – Provide financial support for seminary students approved by the candidacy committee and enrolled in approved seminaries. Watch a video from some of our recipients here.
- Distribution is determined by the synod’s candidacy committee
- Each candidate is reviewed by the candidacy process
- Each candidate submits their reflections each year
New Missions – Support mission starts and redevelopment congregations
- Distribution is determined by the bishop and synod leadership
- Ministries are reviewed regularly
- A tri-annual ministry review is done by synod and ELCA leadership
- Each ministry receiving grants submits reflections each year
Campus Ministry – Support campus ministry at colleges and universities within the synod
- Distribution is determined by synod staff and campus ministry team
- Annual ministry review of the campus ministry leadership by the local board
- A tri-annual ministry review is done by the synod and regional leadership
Seed Money – Support congregational and synodical programs to start new programs (one-time)
- Grant requests must be submitted by December 15 for consideration and distribution in February and/or by June 15th for consideration and distribution in August.

Seed Money Grant Request

Seminarian Scholarship Application

Please contact the synod office with further inquiries regarding contributions, grants, to be added as a congregational contact, to reach a board member or email Live On.

“

As it is, there are many parts, but only one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you.”

~ 1 Corinthians 12:20-22a

“

FIND A CONGREGATION

GIVE

EVENTS

Contact Pastor Ele Clay:

Name:(Required)

First Last

Email Address:(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Subject:(Required)

Message:(Required)

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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

Name:(Required)

First Last

Email Address:(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Subject:(Required)

Message:(Required)

Comments

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

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.

Contact:

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.

Contact Peggy Hahn:

Name:(Required)

First Last

Email Address:(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Subject:(Required)

Message:(Required)

John Roalson began his work in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod in May of 2023 as the gift planner with Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest.

John received his undergraduate degree from Texas Lutheran University. Prior to coming to the foundation, John worked in the financial services industry for 20 years. He resides in Katy with his wife, Paula and has two daughters, Hannah & Abigail – all of whom also graduated from Texas Lutheran. John is a member of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston.

John is available to meet with individuals and couples to help them plan legacy gifts that will bless family and loved ones, the ministries of our church, and other non-profit organizations that are important to them. He also works with congregations to assist them in being prepared to receive, celebrate, and steward legacy gifts from members and friends of the congregation. Low-cost, professionally managed investment options for congregations and other ministries are available through Lutheran Foundation of the Southwest and the ELCA Foundation.

I have been an office administrator for 15+ years, with a great amount of time in the health industry. I love making organizations organized and running smoothly.

I have lived in Texas most of my life. My husband Ernie and I have 3 grown daughters and 2 grandchildren. Outside of work I love to work on our small farm, crochet, cook and spend time with family and friends.

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:

Name:(Required)

First Last

Email Address:(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Subject:(Required)

Message:(Required)

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:

Name:(Required)

First Last

Email Address:(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Subject:(Required)

Message:(Required)

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:

Name:(Required)

First Last

Email Address:(Required)

Enter Email Confirm Email

Subject:(Required)

Message:(Required)