Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10 NRSVue

February News from LPGM

Pictured above: Girls at Siloam Boarding Home share their love by forming hearts with their hands.

Local News

Bethany Krepela Attends Youth Extravaganza,

Meets Bishop Yehiel Curry

Pictured above: Development Director Bethany Krepela meets Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry of the ELCA.

LPGM development director Bethany Krepela attended the ELCA Youth Ministry Network's Extravaganza in St. Louis, Missouri from January 30-February 2.

She networked with Lutheran leaders in children's, youth, young adult and outdoor ministry and introduced them to LPGM's ministry. A highlight was meeting Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry, presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and telling him about LPGM's 30 years of transformational work.

Partner News

News from India

Year-end exams are here!

• Feb. 9 - 14 - 12th grade lab exams
• Feb. 16 - 21 - 11th grade lab exams
• Feb. 23 - 28 - 10th grade lab exams
• Mar 3 - 26 - 12th grade written exams 
• Mar. 11 - Apr 6 - 10th grade written exams
• March 3 - 27 - 11th grade written exams 
• May 8 - 12th grade exam results released
• May 20 - 10th/11th grade exam results released

Note: The Government of Tamil Nadu may slightly adjust these dates.

If you have a 10th, 11th, or 12th grade student, please consider sending a note of encouragement and/or congratulations during this pivotal time in their academic career.

News from Tanzania

Parents in Tanzania Learn Peace Building from Mwangaza

The Mwangaza team provided a two-day training for parents at Boma Secondary School this past month. Mwangaza fosters emotional and physical safety in school settings, so they often work with teachers and students, but their training doesn't stop there. They take a holistic approach to peace building, and parents are a piece of the puzzle.

Parent training bridges the gap between frustration and connection. By replacing reactive discipline with proactive support, they can build stronger bonds, foster resilience in their children, and create a collaborative partnership with teachers for lasting success.

One parent today shared a brilliant shift. She shared, "If we don't create time for our children to play at home, they will find it elsewhere. By inviting cousins and friends over, we turn our homes into safe, joyful spaces. It’s time to recognize play as a vital need, not a distraction. Just as schools have timetables, our homes need them too!"

Parents left the training feeling inspired, empowered, and ready to lead their families with a fresh perspective.

Announcements

Thrivent Choice® Dollars Deadline is March 31

For a small but mighty ministry like LPGM, every dollar counts! If you're a Thrivent member, you may have Thrivent Choice® dollars to direct to your favorite charities like LPGM. The process is simple, and the deadline for your 2025 dollars is March 31!

Visit thrivent.com or call 800-THRIVENT (800.847.4836) to direct your 2025 dollars today. If you already have directed your dollars to LPGM, thank you! Your gift is opening doors for people at the margins!

LPGM is a proud recipient of Thrivent Choice® dollars and Action Grants! An Action Grant recently funded a Thank-a-Thon for LPGM volunteers to share our appreciation with other supporters.

You're Invited: LPGM Office Open Houses

The U.S.-based team has settled into our new offices at Bethlehem Lutheran Church-Twin Cities, Minneapolis campus!

You are invited to join us for treats and a tour during one of two open houses:

Sunday, March 15, 9:30 a.m. - 12 noon

Monday, March 16, 5:00 - 7 p.m.

4100 Lyndale Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55409

RSVPs are requested but are not required.


Questions? Contact us at 612-823-5058 or office@lutheranpartners.org.

Watch a video of us settling into our new space...

Last Chance: 2026 Board Nominations Due March 1

The LPGM Nominating Committee is now seeking nominations to serve on the LPGM board of directors. 

Nominations will be open until March 1, 2026. The full board will vote at the Annual Meeting in April, and three-year terms for the newly elected board members will start immediately after the vote.

Learn more...

Meet Keily

"The WALC program [in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala] has sincerely helped me, because when I came [for the first time], I was in a phase where I saw the world as totally closed and where there weren't opportunities."

Keep reading...

Meet Sarvesh

"My name is Sarvesh, and I am studying in 8th grade [in the Kalrayan Hills of Tamil Nadu, India]. My parents are separated, and my mother is the one taking care of our studies. She works for a textile company, and her job is to remove thread from fabric."

Keep reading...

"My name is Kirubamani, and I am currently serving as the caretaker at the Kariyalur Boarding Home [in the Kalrayan Hills in Tamil Nadu. India]. My bond with this institution is deeply personal and meaningful. I once lived here as a student, completing my 12th grade in May 2017.

After graduating from college, I had the privilege of returning to this very boarding home—not as a student, but as a caretaker for the next generation.

This transformation fills me with immense pride and gratitude. 

Keep reading...

Intergenerational Travel to Guatemala - June 13-23, 2026

Experience and learn from Guatemalan culture and people, participate in ongoing education programs, and explore your own faith.

$1,850/person + airfare. Registration deadline is March 13, 2026

Multi-congregation Youth Trip - July 11-21, 2026

Learn about environmental issues, explore how you can be an agent of change, and meet teens from other congregations who share your values.

$1,450*/person + airfare. Registration deadline is April 10, 2026.

*This early bird price is available until March 1. After March 1, the price increases to $1,600/person.

Tanzania Travel Webinar with LPGM Staff

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

12 noon - 1:00 p.m. Central Time

• Learn about LPGM's history
• Discover our Tanzanian partners’ missions
• Hear about past travelers’ experiences

Trip Dates: September 10-20, 2026

India Trip Recap

A group of 11 travelers have safely returned from a trip to visit our partners in Tamil Nadu, India. They were in India from February 10-24.

Laura Feile, LPGM's international program manager, visited India for the first time, and she was welcomed with open arms.

Many of the travelers are LPGM sponsors, and they were thrilled to meet their sponsored students. In fact, one of the travelers even decided to become a sponsor while on the trip, and they were able to meet the student they would be sponsoring.

The trip went smoothly from start to finish, and the group was deeply touched by the hospitality they received and the connections they made.

Pictured above: LPGM colleagues Aswini and Laura meet face-to-face for the first time in India in February 2026.

What Education Means to the LPGM Staff

Every month, LPGM U.S. and India staff meet over Zoom to check in. The meeting often begins with a question. At a recent meeting, the question was, “What does education mean to you?”

For many members of the LPGM team, education has acted as a "key" or "golden ticket" to new worlds and opportunities. For others, education has been a special gift that no one can take away from them. Still others shared how education has helped them overcome adversity or see the world in new and exciting ways.

Keep reading...

Pictured above: LPGM travelers joyfully spend time with students at Siloam Boarding Home during their Interfaith Dialogue Trip to Tamil Nadu in February 2026.

Our Mission: LPGM provides access to quality education for people at the margins – especially women and girls. We work together with global partners to listen, respond and bear witness to local needs and priorities.

Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our Employer Identification Number (EIN) is 41-1818525. Your donation is tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.