The adults and administrators of the school and community didn’t have any sort of precedent for what kids needed.  They sent them back to school almost immediately, in part to protect them from the extreme level of media presence.  Charlotte and many of her classmates were dealing with emotions that they couldn’t understand, and they needed time and space for their recovery.

“I wanted to be a part of a community with friends,” she shared. “What we got was friends and a net under our family. We have people who are willing to listen to us when it feels like ‘surely you want to be done listening to us.’ Their love is deep enough that we can’t wear it out, just like God’s love is deep enough that we can’t wear it out.”

After learning the structure could be repaired the congregation embarked on a capital campaign to pay for the repairs. Combined with this, the SC LMM gave them a 0% interest loan. “They took a major load off of us as a new congregation,” Pastor Josh said with gratitude. “To know that we were going to be able to get the money and it wouldn’t cost us more than we needed for the actual repairs was a clear sign of God’s abundance. In a congregation where people would say they were giving as much as they could, giving has doubled between the annual fund and the capital campaign. The motivation to see this project through comes from seeing the generosity of the Lutheran Men. They not only gave us the loan, but they are one of our supporters as a mission start. Knowing that LMM is in our corner enables us to do what we are doing outside the sanctuary to support the community.” 

Lord of Life worked with the ELCA Mission Investment Fund to finance their first unit. After getting the design they realized that working with a straight commercial lender was problematic. “They aren’t used to working with churches,” Pastor Jon shared. “They are heavily slanted toward a business model. We can make revenue projections but not guarantees.”

On the first morning of Day Camp 2021, Pastor John pulled into the church parking lot and there sat Jacque and his mother – one hour early. “No one is here?” Jacque shouted. “That is because you are an hour early,” replied Pastor John warmly. His mother needed to get to work, so Pastor John allowed Jacque to stay in the office until day camp started. “He came right up to my face – 8 inches away,” Pastor John smiled. 

“St. Paul’s is an engaged community of believers. The church has a long history of being good stewards,” shared Arthur. “We have been ministering on the corner of Bull and Blanding for 125 years. We want to make sure that the work of the saints that came before us can continue. That is one of the reasons we wanted to include St. Paul’s in our charitable estate plan, and why we needed Stephanie to help us.” 

“In Poland, we are part of the Evangelical Church of the Augsburg Confession, but it is simpler to say, ‘I am Lutheran.’ People know what you mean when you say that,” shared Kornelia. “I really didn’t allow myself to have expectations about coming to Newberry because even up until the last day it didn’t feel real. I arrived in the US at 11 pm and I was still thinking it wasn’t real.” 

In the beginning, Hershberger said she had a lot of struggles finding work. She came with no English or transferrable skills. But through the support of her caseworker and volunteers, she signed up for English classes and determined that she was interested in working at a hospital. “She wanted to do work that allowed her to give back,” Hershberger said. “She wanted to help others.”

“The church talks a lot about wanting young people,” shared Olga-Maria. “Campus Ministry is where the church keeps it’s baptismal promises to walk through life with you – your whole life. At Winthrop Campus Ministry, I have zero cradle Lutherans. Instead, we have 20+ young adults, like Kelly, seeking a spiritual home and trying to build a faith community. None of us, including myself, have a Lutheran background. Instead, we are finding a place in the ELCA because we hear Good News. We can preach to those who have been alienated. We are nimble. We exist on the fringes and the margins to find young adults who need to hear the Good News and to meet them where they are.” 

“I was in Chicago for a WELCA event,” she reflected. “The Conventional Chaplin had an outward appearance I wasn’t used to. She had colored hair, tattoos, and piercings. She was very different from me. I admit that I wondered what she was going to be able to teach me. But then, she stated talking about how she ministers with young people in college. I found myself very thankful for her ministry. I found myself giving thanks that we are all different. I realized that I couldn’t possibly relate to those students the way that she could, and I was grateful she was part of our full ministry together.” 

After college, Mary Katherine found herself in a new place, with a new job in a leadership role at a camp in Pinewood, SC. Unfortunately, due to covid, she lost her job and was forced to move back home – not where she expected to find herself. “But I wasn’t alone,” she shared. “So many people I had met along the way reached out to help me. Lori Bode was a reference, and Pastor Josh Kester from Clemson LCM told me about a job with South Carolina Lutheran Retreat Centers.”

Dave credits Sue and Don for the tugs that got him invested in All Souls as a part of his life, but there is more to his story. When he lived in Kentucky, Dave was part of a men's group that taught him how to share and talk with other men in a trusting, vulnerable, and transparent way. A connection to that type of group had been missing for more than 9 years from his life.

“Please do not let Kim call me," they would say. There is a plumbing company in town that to this day, will not do work on Kim’s home because of how she treated them. It got to the point that Kim tried to kill herself with pills and alcohol. To her surprise, she woke up the next day.

Marie reads her bible daily and prays. She continues to serve by taking prayer requests from others. “I can pray in the moment,” she said. “When someone says something to me, I can pray immediately. I don’t need to go to a corner. I can pause, block everything out, and pray, wherever it is needed.”

After some research and conversations with the case managers at the hospital, Greg learned that Ms. Carol was in her 50s and in the last 4 months, she had lost her brother, sister, and mother. She had just been diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic cancer the week before.

“While some people may come to assembly out of obligation,” she shared, “there are some people who choose to be there. Regardless of their reason for being there, it is an opportunity to share with them what God is up to through this church – through its people. We have this opportunity, and I don’t want to waste it. I want to use it to tell our story – God’s story! I want to share with them what God is up to and how the work we share is impacting the lives of others. I want them to feel just like Brandon did and see the church the way he did – with new light and life.”

Desiree describes herself as quiet and reserved, someone that had a hard time making friends.  Desiree was a foster child for many years.  Eventually she was blessed to be adopted by a great family, but life was not always an easy road for her. “The world is harsh; people want to judge you at every turn.” 

During a follow-up meeting, their Executive Director/Lead Pastor shared that their email open rate for this first Anchor Story saw a 6% increase over their average open rate. Their Facebook engagement was double the average. The Lead Pastor received 6 personal emails back thanking him for sharing the story and each included their own message of gratitude for All Souls.

Two weeks later, with three stories attached, I get an email from Becca. It was short but powerful - and so were her stories! “Thank you for your seminar a few weeks ago; it's actually been a big refresh in my perspective in what we're doing overall and has given me some new energy toward deposits.”