Elizabeth Cote’s YAGM Journey in Senegal: Faith, Culture, and Service

Elizabeth Cote, a YAGM volunteer through the ELCA, shares her transformative experience in Senegal. From learning Wolof and adapting to rural life in Linguere to serving in a healthcare clinic and teaching English, Elizabeth reflects on living out her Lutheran faith through cross-cultural service. Discover her insights on Senegalese values like teranga (hospitality) and how they shape her mission. Read more about Elizabeth’s journey and how you can support her ministry in her first newsletter and second newsletter.

Support Our Synod’s Trip to Senegal with Pastoral Collars & Stoles

Bishop Hutterer and a Grand Canyon Synod delegation are traveling to Senegal to strengthen ties with The Lutheran Church of Senegal. The church’s President, Rev. Latyr Diouf, has requested donations of pastoral collars and stoles in black, violet, or white to support their ministry. Please bring donations to the synod office by November 21, 2024, at 1819 East Morten Avenue, Suite 110, Phoenix, AZ 85020. Please contact the synod office to let us know when you’ll be bringing items. Your support will help equip our global Lutheran community for worship and service.

Bishop Hutterer, Global Church, Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardNovember 13, 2024Lutheran Church of Senegal, SenegalComment

Prayers for Strengthening Ties with The Lutheran Church of Senegal

UPDATE: This trip has been postponed.

The Grand Canyon Synod and ELCA Churchwide delegation's upcoming trip to Senegal signifies a profound commitment to fostering global connections and learning from our brothers and sisters in The Lutheran Church of Senegal. We ask your prayers for the delegation, whose journey embodies our collective mission to live and serve in unity, across borders and cultures.

Bishop Hutterer, Global Church, Grand Canyon Synod, News, PrayersBrian FlatgardFebruary 26, 2024Senegal, Lutheran Church of SenegalComment

In Memoriam: Natalie Rimmer

We pray for Rev. Chad Rimmer, his children, and the family and friends of Natalie Rimmer, who died August 28, 2023. Many in our synod know them through their work as ELCA missionaries in Senegal.

A celebration of life was held Saturday, 2 September, at St. Philip Lutheran Church, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Excerpts of Pastor Chad’s sermon and an acknowledgment of grief can be found here, and the full service can be watched here.

Grand Canyon Synod, News, Prayers, In MemoriamBrian FlatgardSeptember 13, 2023SenegalComment

Rev. Mytch Pierre-Noel Dorvilier: Senegal update, January, 2023

Rev. Mytch Pierre-Noel Dorvilier, the new pastor serving in Senegal, shares her January 2023 update, writing from the lands of the Teranga, Senegal.

Rev. Latyr Diouf elected as new President of Lutheran Church of Senegal

The Lutheran Church of Senegal elected Rev. Latyr Diouf as the new President. Église Luthérienne du Senegal is the accompanying church to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of The Gambia. Blessings to the outgoing leader, Rev. Adama Faye, for his leadership.

News, Prayers, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardMarch 22, 2022Global Engagement Team, Lutheran Church of Senegal, SenegalComment

Pastor Kristin Engstrom: A New Call in Zambia

Pastor Kristin Engstrom writes to share her new call with ELCA Global Mission as the Facilitator for Leadership Development and Capacity Building with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zambia. She also celebrates four years of the YAGM Senegal program.

Her YAGM Senegal blog will remain online, and she is now posting to her new blog.

Greetings from President Adama Faye

Listen to greetings to our 2021 Assembly from President Adama Faye, Lutheran Church of Senegal.

News, Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardJune 15, 20212021 Assembly, Adama Faye, Lutheran Church of Senegal, SenegalComment

Prayers for the Lutheran Church of Senegal

We pray for the people of Senegal and our companion church, the Lutheran Church of Senegal (Eglise Lutherienne du Sénégal), as this normally stable nation goes through a period of unrest. Rev. Adama Faye, president of the Lutheran Church of Senegal, reports he is safe and is grateful for our prayers.

Eternal God, amid all the turmoil and changes of the world your love is steadfast and your strength never fails. Guide the leaders of Senegal with your wisdom, comfort those in distress, and grant us courage and hope to face the future; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

PrayersBrian FlatgardMarch 11, 2021Senegal, Lutheran Church of SenegalComment

YAGM Senegal January 2021 newsletter

Kristin Engstrom brings us the January 2021 Newsletter which includes an update on my life as an ELCA global missionary, an update on COVID in Senegal, and stories from two Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) Senegal alumni of when they experienced God enfleshed during their YAGM year in Senegal.

ELCA, NewsBrian FlatgardJanuary 28, 2021Young Adults in Global Mission, SenegalComment

GET involved with the Global Engagement Team

If you have a passion for ELCA World Hunger, Young Adults in Global Mission, or our companion church relationship with Senegal, the Global Engagement Team (GET) team could use you. Our next Zoom meeting is Wednesday, October 21 at 4:00 pm. Click here to attend.

The Global Engagement Team (GET) of the Grand Canyon Synod exists to promote, educate, and engage congregations and individuals in the work of the global church. Learn more at the GET website or email Pastor Karn S. Carroll.

NewsBrian FlatgardOctober 1, 2020Young Adults in Global Mission, Senegal, ELCA World Hunger, Global Engagement TeamComment

Pastor Kristin Engstrom provides early July sermon

Pastor Kristin Engstrom, the Country Coordinator for the ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program in Senegal, provides a video sermon (also in PDF) for use for either Sunday, July 5 or 12, 2020.

Pastor Engstrom will use the texts from the ELCA Global Church Sunday Resources. We encourage synod churches to adapt the resources to celebrate this virtual visit from Pastor Engstrom. View this post for multiple ways to access the video.

February newsletter from Senegal

Hello dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

Here in Senegal we have just come through the season of harvest celebrations, weddings, and church festivals. To connect you with my ministry and life and with YAGM Senegal, here is the February 2020 Newsletter.

Comfort crosses travel to Senegal and the Holy Land

Comfort crosses donated by the Mount Olive Lutheran Church Woodshop in Lake Havasu City—gifts for our Senegalese brothers and sisters to be delivered by Bishop Hutterer—also made their way to the Holy Landand were given by Bishop Hutterer as she made her way with other bishops through Palestine and Israel.

Bishop Hutterer visits Senegal

Bishop Deborah K. Hutterer and her husband, Pastor Alan Field, visited Senegal at the turn of the year, and was hosted by Rev. Adama Faye, President of the Lutheran Church of Senegal. President Faye (rhymes with fly) will attend the Grand Canyon Synod Assembly in Las Vegas on June 11 and 12, 2020.

Read on to view photos and more»

Bishop Hutterer, Grand Canyon Synod, Global Church, NewsBrian FlatgardJanuary 22, 2020Senegal, Lutheran Church of SenegalComment

Comfort crosses given to our Senegalese brothers and sisters

The Mount Olive Lutheran Church Woodshop in Lake Havasu City, AZ, donated a number of handcrafted comfort crosses to be delivered by Bishop Hutterer on her trip to Senegal.

The crosses come with the following message: “Keep it near, and when you hold it, know that your brothers and sisters in Christ are praying with you, and for you.”

October Newsletter from Pastor Kristin Engstrom in Senegal

Hello dear sisters and brothers in Christ, I hope and pray that as you and your congregations come back from summer holidays, that the rhythm of church life brings much joy and life to you all.

You can access (and share with others!) my October 2019 Newsletter at the YAGM Senegal blog or download as a PDF, and get a glimpse into some of the goings on—both sending the previous YAGM back to the US and welcoming a new group of YAGM to Senegal.

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