Overseas Students

There are a number of overseas students attending Oak Grove Lutheran High School and Concordia College. These students come from a variety of countries and many of them are willing to speak to groups. Contacts should be made to the institutions where they are enrolled: Concordia College, (Angela Seewald-Marquardt, 218-299-4267) or Oak Grove Lutheran High School (Linda Olson, 701-237-0210).

Missionaries and Mission Visitors

Mission Projects / Mission Trips

Others

Global Mission Websites

• The ELCA Division for Global Mission (external link) provides a wealth of information related to all aspects of mission.
• EaND Global Missions and Ministry

Central African Republic

Projects in the Central African Republic supported by congregations within this synod include:

• Church Roof Project
• Scholarship Fund for Students attending the Protestant High School of Ngaoundere or the Technical Girls’ School of Maigaro
• Chez Marthe et Marie Women’s Center
• Village Education Project
• Gallo Health Clinic

Learn more how the EaND is involved with ministry in the Central African Republic. To support these ministries financially, make checks payable to the Eastern North Dakota Synod and designate the project in the memo.

Global Mission Events for 2008

The ELCA Division for Global Mission (external link) “Global Mission Events” (external link) will be held:

• April 18-19, 2008 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Des Moines, IA
  (Global Mission Information Event)
• May 2-3, 2008 at Calvary Lutheran Church, Golden Valley, MN
  (Global Mission Information Event)
• July 17-20, 2008 at the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse, LaCrosse, WI

For more details, go to http://www.elca.org/gme/GME2008/ (external link)

Global Mission Tool Kits

Global Mission Tool Kits are available in every congregation. A copy also is available from the Resource Center. The kit contains activities for worship, stewardship, education, ideas for events and relationships, and a video called “Walking Together in Global Mission.” Watch for this year’s new addition to the kit.

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Global Mission Speakers and Opportunities

Encountering God in Scripture: Finding Yourself in the Story of God includes ten 5-minute sessions on “the big questions about the Bible.” Five short bible studies and a study guide are also included. (DVD201)

Opening the Book of Faith: Lutheran Insights for Bible Study is just out. This little primer is a basic introduction to bible study by Diane Jacobson, Mark Allan Powell, and Stanley Olson. Four sample studies are included.

A set of CDs by John Shea focusing on the gospels, Gospel Food for Hungry Christians: Images and Reflections from the Gospels by John Shea provides stimulating insights into Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. (CDs 37, 38, 39, 40)

Additional resources for the Book of Faith can be found in “Biblical Resources for Congregational Life,” a collection from the resource center.

New from Rob Bell

If you’ve not had a chance to view the Nooma films by Rob Bell, you might like to take a look at the latest on prayer: Nooma: Open (DVD214). These short (10-12 minutes) films address questions of faith and life in deeply meaningful ways. We also have a longer presentation by Bell called Everything is Spiritual (DVD216). Additional titles and descriptions can be found in the online catalog.

Book Recommendations

The following titles are “must-reads!”

• Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion by Sara Miles (B3432)
• Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
• Here if You Need Me by Kate Braestrup (B3409)
• Mission Trips that Matter: Embodied Faith for the Sake of the World by Don Richter (B3491)

Exploration of Faith and Emerging Church Resources

Many new resources on the topic of the emerging church are available. See the collection posted at under Recommended Resources called “Being Church in the 21st Century: Themes from the Emerging Church.”

The Present Future: Six Tough Questions for the Church is a ten session DVD curriculum by Reggie McNeal. It’s meant to help participants recognize six important realities church leaders must face if they are to move beyond “churchianity” to a more authentic, missional faith. (Leader and participant guide) (DVD202)

Logos Productions is highlighting a recent book by Marcus Borg, The Heart of Christianity together with two very interesting companion resources:

• Experiencing the Heart of Christianity is a twelve session program for small groups led by Tim Scorer and Borg (accompanying DVD) divided into two main parts: Seeing the Christian Tradition Again and Seeing the Christian Life Again. (B3435)
• Living the Heart of Christianity-also a companion to Borg’s book-is a guide for putting faith into action. (B3434)

Tom Wright, whose New Testament work continues to enrich Christian life and study, has recently produced Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense. He offers a fresh presentation of the timeless truths of Christianity making the case that faith is reasonable and rewarding for us today. In this ten session course, Wright expands on the themes of his acclaimed book “Simply Christian” in video-based lessons. (DVD186)

LeaderResources has given us a preview copy of The Many Faces of God: An Interfaith Encounter for Youth and Adults by Denise Yarbrough. For ongoing study of interfaith issues, this provides a very thorough process for learning about other traditions. More information available at www.leaderresources.org (external link).

Additional new resources on emerging church topics include:

• “Faith in Action: A Campaign Kit” for helping congregations think about church outside the church walls (K161)
• A book, Christianity for the Rest of Us by Diana Butler Bass (B3419)
• A four session small group study on DVD may be helpful for thinking about faith practices. Based on the means of grace, Opening Ourselves to Grace: Basic Christian Practices explores basic practices through a four part video presentation, a six-week bible study, a discussion guide for group leaders, and additional resources

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Exploring Scripture, Faith, and Emerging Church

The following sample of resources is about the family of God around the world. Understanding ourselves as part of a global neighborhood is part of our calling as God’s people. These resources are about being the face of Christ beyond our own communities and culture. They also are about recognizing Christ in new ways and new places.

Featured Resources:

• Woman, Stand Tall: Women for Christ Movement (VT1948)
• Mission Explorers Kit (VT1924)
• Weaving a Global Neighborhood (VT1939)
• African Tales (VT1280)
• The Dancing Church (VT1135)
• The Quilt: Hope from the Heartland (VT1670)
• Flying Quilts (VT510)
• Windows of Hope I and II (VT1132, VT1526,)
• Samaritans from Seattle (VT1530)
• The Field is the Life of All (VT1081)
• Reflections II: Jesus the World Citizen (VT31)
• What is it Like in Africa? (VT1436)
• Augsburg Fortress children’s series: Friends in Africa, Friends in Asia, and Friends in South America
• Friendship Press’ A World of Children’s Stories (PR245)
• A World of Children’s Games (PR244)
• A World of Children’s Songs (PR246)
• Kids for the World – A Guidebook for Children’s Mission (PR402)
• Make A World of Difference, a handbook for global education and learning. (PR22)
• Missions: 52 Creative Methods for Teaching Christ’s Message (PR462)
• A Country Far Away (B624)
• God’s Paintbrush (B1216)

Featured Links:

• Central African Republic
• ELCA Global Missions (external link)
• Lutheran World Relief (external link)

The preceding resources are highlighted and recommended for your consideration. If you have questions or would like to reserve a resource, contact Julie Aageson at 701-232-3381 or julie.aageson@ecunet.org

Visit the EaND Resource Center | Search the Catalog

Eastern North Dakota Synod - ELCA: Global Missions