 The leaders at Good Soil Lutheran Ministries understand what it is like to receive an incredible gift. Ellen Young, council president, and Bill Fink, council vice president were both members at the legacy congregations when Faith Lutheran and Our Savior Lutheran consolidated in order to “strengthen and expand” their ministry through Good Soil.
Faith and Our Savior were just two miles apart and in desperate financial straits. There was a time that the leadership knew money would run out and they weren’t sure what would come next. Through the redevelopment process, and grants from the wider church funded by Mission Support, Bill saw there was hope. People saw that there was “something worth investing in.” Now Bill sees all the ways Good Soil is active and engaged in their community and is proud of the ministry they have built “both within and without” of their building. Just over five years after Good Soil’s commissioning worship, the members of the church are choosing to pay it forward. Last fall, the congregation held a “Multiplying Ministry” event to help decide where Good Soil’s tithe from an estate gift would go. “We’re grateful to be able to ‘multiply ministry’ in meaningful ways because of the generosity and legacy gift of Gary Dennison.” Each household was given the opportunity to designate a portion of the tithe to ten different organizations “doing God’s work in our wider community and the world.” On Sunday, November 19th, Ellen presented Bishop Barbins with a check designated for our Northeastern Ohio Synod in the amount of $18,000. “It was important to council to designate a portion of the tithe to our Northeastern Ohio Synod as Mission Support as a way to give back to the larger church and support ministries across the ELCA and beyond.” Bill says, “We were the recipients of an incredible gift. The gift of hope. We wanted to pay that forward.” Mission Support allows us to do more together as church for the sake of the world. Through your generous Mission Support, we can share God’s abundant grace and hope with others by providing support for congregations, raising up new pastors and deacons, and offering educational and training opportunities. Thank you for recognizing the importance of our shared ministry.
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 Ryan Smarsh joyfully expresses his passion for the church that nurtured him from early on. While growing up, Ryan learned that he was "here to serve” and he didn’t want to miss a single day at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church (CELC), Avon Lake.
As a child, Ryan felt a strong sense of call from God. After years of exploring his vocational identity with his pastor, Ryan's trust-worthy role model, he pondered whether he truly had a place in his church. Ryan prayed earnestly about it. “Then it happened! I know it was a God moment,” asserts Ryan. A confirmation class teacher called, sharing with him that one of her students requested Ryan be his mentor. Much to Ryan’s surprise, teachers, parents and church council all approved. Ryan would become, by far, the youngest mentor ever in his congregation! Through this mentoring relationship, Ryan and his call was affirmed. God spoke through Ryan’s church family, giving a far-reaching direction for his life’s work. Ryan felt the call to walk with people, one-to-one, as a mentor which led him to a vocation as a social worker. Ryan says, “I will not forget how this congregation supported me. I would not be the social worker I am today, if is wasn’t for the love and compassion that was shown to me, and given to me, by my church family.” Today, Ryan serves as the president of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. Aided by the Holy Spirit, our synod staff, and shared resources, he led this Body of Christ through the difficult years of the pandemic and is now leading during a faithful search for a new pastor. Congregations in the Northeastern Ohio Synod are raising up leaders like Ryan who serve both their church and their communities for the good of all. As a member of this synod, your mission support helps us be a resource for congregation leaders, equip pastors, and accompany people in vocational discernment. Thank you for recognizing the importance of our shared ministry. |
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