"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'” John 8:12 | | Pictured above: Students at our partner's boarding homes in the Kalrayan Hills in Tamil Nadu, India, gleefully celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, on October 20. | |
Spotlight on English+ Program | |
English+ began as a library program in 2007, but it later grew into a spoken English program for ALC schools. For many years, the English+ team - Vidhya, Ruban, Priya, Nelson, and Epzi - traveled to ALC elementary schools all over Tamil Nadu to bring spoken English and computer skills to marginalized children living in remote villages. However, the team was stretched thin, and they spent much time traveling throughout the state.
To use resources more effectively - and to deepen the knowledge of students - the scale of the program has shifted to prioritize English instruction at the four boarding homes where LPGM supporters sponsor students.
| | | | English+ Programming Currently Includes: | | |
English Club
In 2024, the English+ Program expanded to the four ALC boarding homes in the form of English Clubs. The clubs exist to reduce the fear of speaking English among students and to make it fun for them. English+ instructors use a variety of strategies, from having students write paragraphs about their lives to matching photos to the correct vocabulary words.
| |  | |
Summer Camp
English+ has run summer camps for many years, but summer 2025 was the first time they specifically brought the camp to boarding home students' villages. This past May, English+ staff, supported by six boarding home staff members, ran a summer camp for between 80-100 children from T Kunnathur Village and a cluster of surrounding villages.
| | | |
Village Schools
The English+ team still works in a few of the village schools near the boarding homes. With the support of local teachers, the dedicated and passionate English+ teachers make learning English fun and engaging through interactive activities, games, art, and skits.
| | | |
Mobile Computer Lab
The Mobile Computer Lab brings computer skills to village children at ALC elementary schools. Students learn to use Microsoft products like Word and Paint. The computers also are used to enhance English language learning.
| | |
|
From Dream to Reality: Huge Progress on Eripoto's Brand-New Building!
Eripoto for Girls & Women runs a safe house for girls at risk of forced early marriage and pregnancy in Tanzania. Safe house residents receive a secure place to live during school breaks, as well as meals, healthcare, counseling, school supplies, childcare, vocational training, and more!
In order to support more girls, construction on a new building began in 2024. As of now, the first floor of the new building is complete, and progress on the second floor has been made.
In these videos, Eripoto founder Esuvat Lucumay takes you on a tour of the second floor of the new building and shares the vision for this space. A few safe house residents then share what this new building means to them. Their faces beam with excitement and gratitude.
Thanks to the LPGM donors who are making this dream a reality!
Read more...
| | | |
|
At LPGM’s board retreat in April, we heard powerful findings from Friends of Mwangaza board member Dr. Laura Wangsness Willemsen. Laura and her research partner Musa Kamaika recently completed a six-month ethnography project through Fulbright.
Laura and Musa just presented their research at the University of Oxford in England, and this brief clip captures their initial feelings after the presentation.
Their research focuses on how school communities in northern Tanzania have been impacted by extreme weather. These communities are served by our partner, Mwaganza Education for Partnership.
| | | | Pictured above: Last year's WALC teacher cohort proudly pose with their certificates. | |
|
Preparations Underway for November WALC Session
Last year’s WALC teachers were the "best team ever," according to Rob Cahill, one of CCFC's co-founding directors. This year, the CCFC staff is assembling another dream team of teachers and guest speakers for WALC 2025, which begins on November 23.
In preparation for the WALC session, CCFC held a first aid course for our teachers and staff. Participants practiced CPR (pictured right) and learned how to use fire extinguishers.
| | | | | |
The LPGM team will be moving from our current office space in Edina, Minn., to a new office in the Twin Cities metro area in or around January 2026.
While we didn't anticipate this new path, we are embracing the change and using this opportunity to choose an office space that aligns with our mission, vision, and values. We welcome this transition with open hearts and know that God will guide us in the right direction.
If you have resources or connections to offer, please email office@lutheranpartners.org. Thank you for your support and prayers during this transition.
A formal announcement of our new office space location and address will be shared in the future. Until then, you may still visit and correspond with us at our current address, 4570 W 77th St, Suite 124, Minneapolis, MN 55435.
| | Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka Creates "LPGM Wall" | | |
Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka, Minn., a longtime partner of LPGM, currently sponsors three students - Sri Vidya, Srimathi, and Dinesh - at the ALC boarding homes in India.
Ann Campbell, Director of Children's Ministry at Zion, works diligently to help Sunday School children at Zion feel connected to children in India. One of her methods is through an "LPGM Wall."
The most recent iteration of the wall was inspired by the story of God’s promise to Abraham that he would have as many family members as stars in the sky. The children made star self-portraits that read, “God’s Family is like the stars… too many to count!”
According to Ann, "We talked about how everyone is a child of God, and part of our family, including Sri Vidhya, Srimathi, and Dinesh! We surrounded their pictures and correspondence with the stars."
| | |
LPGM Celebrates DAF DAY
Thursday, October 9 was "DAF Day," which celebrated the philanthropy of friends like you who use this tax-smart tool to make their giving go farther.
LPGM has long accepted gifts via Donor-Advised Funds. Up until recently, donors had to request grants through the sponsoring organization administering their fund. This often required several steps and took up several weeks to process.
LPGM recently partnered with DAFpay to allow donors to give via their Donor-Advised Fund directly from our website.
To make a DAF gift with DAFpay, visit lpgm.org/donate. Select a recurring or one-time gift, choose which program or fund to support, and upon checkout, simply select the button that says "DAFpay | Donor Advised Funds."
Thank you, DAF donors, for supporting students at the margins through your DAF!
| |
| Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka's Sponsored Students | | Dinesh, a 12-year-old boy at Saron Boarding Home in Tamil Nadu, India, warmly greets his sponsors at Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka in Minnesota. Dinesh speaks lovingly about his mother, who works far away to support Dinesh's educational dreams. Dinesh is determined to make her proud. | | Srimathi, a 10-year-old girl at Siloam Boarding Home in Tamil Nadu, India, warmly greets her sponsors at Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka in Minnesota. In the second part of the video, she is joined by her sister Malathi and her grandfather. After recording this greeting, she went to her home village to celebrate Diwali with her loved ones. | |
|
From September 21- 28, four LPGM travelers spent quality time with our partners in Tanzania. Click the video above to watch highlights from visits to our partners' sites, a Peace Summit, Maasai village, and national parks.
Your next opportunity to travel to Tanzania will be in September 2026. Register by March 10 and save $125 per person with our early bird pricing. Consider joining us for a transformational experience.
| | | | Upcoming Travel Opportunities | |
Staff Members Share Their Educational Role Models | |
Every month, LPGM U.S. and India staff meet over Zoom to check in about Project Education India, LPGM's student sponsorship program at the Arcot Lutheran Church boarding homes in Tamil Nadu.
At October's meeting, we started by going around and sharing about someone who had inspired each of us during our educational journeys. Answers ranged from parents to college professors to yoga clients.
Each answer was a reminder of the impact of quality education - and passionate educators - on a person's life. When you sponsor a student in India, you can inspire that girl or boy to work hard to reach their dreams.
Keep reading to learn who inspires our team...
| | | | |
Pictured above: Dr. Tricia Hall (in pink) hosts LPGM staff for a retreat at her cabin.
At LPGM, we listen, respond and bear witness to our global partners. Deep, supportive relationships are a cornerstone of our ministry. Thus, it's important to apply that same approach to our own team.
Friend of LPGM and former board member Dr. Tricia Hall hosted the training and retreat at her family's cabin October 20-22. She helped us understand ourselves and our team better through the lens of the Enneagram. We laughed, cooked, prayed, reflected, explored, learned, and listened together. Our team is filled with gratitude for this intentional time together and for Tricia's expert leadership.
| | | |
Sharing is Caring!
Share this newsletter with a friend and help spread the word about LPGM.
| | |
Upcoming Events
Sun., November 9 - LPGM at Foundation Sunday, Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka
Thurs., November 14 - "Thank-a-thon" for board and volunteers, LPGM office
Sat., November 15 - LPGM at Minneapolis Area WELCA "Together" Gathering, Transfiguration Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Minn.
Thurs., November 20 - LPGM board meeting, LPGM office, Edina, Minn.
| | | |
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.
| | | | |
