Live On

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

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

Live On 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.
- 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

“

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EVENTS

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.

Contact Peggy Hahn:

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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.

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.

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Born and raised in Texas, Gretchen is a lifelong Lutheran. She studied business administration at Post University and has enjoyed working as an administrator since 1997.

Gretchen has been blessed with multiple opportunities to serve in various youth ministry programs in the past. She is passionate about the work she does with organizations that fight food insecurity and hunger. Outside the office, Gretchen enjoys being a mom to her son, Ayden, and reading mystery novels.

Contact Gretchen Lundquist:

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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 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 Rev. Tracey Breashears Schultz:

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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
Board of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Contact Bishop Mike Rinehart:

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