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Looking South: A Cultural Theological Latino Immersion

Latino culture is beautifully diverse, shaped by language, heritage, family traditions, and faith. The Looking South immersion program invites pastors from the Florida-Bahamas Synod to experience this rich cultural landscape firsthand—and to return home better equipped to engage with Latino communities.

This two-month immersion in Mexico City combines language learning, cultural exploration, theological reflection, and hands-on ministry insights. Participants will return with sharpened Spanish skills, a deeper understanding of Latin American Lutheran identity, and a contextual strategy for engaging Latino ministries in their home congregations. Click the button below to learn more!

Vision to Action Update

Project Ideas Due by June 30: It's recommended that you submit your project idea for a 2025 Vision to Action grant to receive feedback before preparing your application. After submitting this form, please wait to receive confirmation from the Grant Team that your project idea aligns with the parameters of V2A. *Note that this feedback is not an expression of a grant award; it is a confirmation that yours is the type of project V2A will consider. The deadline for submitting your project idea is Monday, June 30, using this form.

Remember, only those who have had a representative of their congregation or ministry attend one of the mandatory Introductory workshops are eligible to apply. The last workshop is today, Tuesday, June 24, at noon on Zoom. Click here to register for the last V2A mandatory introductory workshop happening today at noon.

Explore Mission Insight Tool to know more about your community: As your V2A planning team brainstorms ideas and discerns your ministry strengths, values and goals, it is equally important to know the community you hope to engage. One valuable tool is to use the Synod's Mission Insight tool available to all congregations. This free tool is usually used for congregations who are in the call process, but can also be very helpful as you research the community and people nearby. Here is a link with helpful login and user-friendly instructions:

Explore Mission Insight to understand your community

If you have any questions, please reach out to V2A Grants Manager Becca Bass at grants@fbsynod.org.

Trinity Lutheran, Pembroke Pines Plant Giveaway a Wonderful Success!

In celebration of National Pollinator Week (June 16-22), Trinity Lutheran, Pembroke Pines grew and gave away over 275 pots of Florida native pollinator plants to support local bees and butterflies. People came from as far away as 100 miles to receive the gift of these plants. Trinity’s Summer Day Camp participants help pot and prepare the plants for the giveaway each year. 

June Mission Support Memo

The ELCA’s June 2025 Mission Support Memo highlights Peoples Church, one of the Indigenous Ministries of the ELCA — a faith community deeply committed to loving and serving Creator God. Peoples Church lives out this call by keeping its doors open year-round as an overnight shelter, offering hot meals to the community every day, and gathering each Sunday for a joyful festival worship meal. The memo also provides tips to stay connected with members in the busy summer months. Read it here.

Our Journey of Faith Together

In this year's video for synod assemblies, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton reflects on seasons of ministry in our journey of faith together. She reminds us that God continues to raise up people as witnesses to the gospel, so that the message carries on no matter the decade or church building. "We will go into new places and into new forms, but always God is with us and the gospel will be preached and lived and heard in the world."

• July 28-August 2: Churchwide Assembly, Phoenix, AZ

• September 7: God's work. Our hands. Sunday

• September 20: School of Lay Ministry Graduation Retreat & Worship, New Life Lutheran Church, Sarasota

• September 29-October 1: Conference on Ministry, Mission Resort & Club, Howey-In-The-Hills