Young Adults in Global Mission

You are invited to connect with and support the young adults who are serving a year of service (2017-2018) through the Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM) program.

The Northeastern Iowa Synod sponsors the young adults serving in Hungary as part of our Companion Synod relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hungary. These young adults serve at schools, day-care centers, long-term care facilities, homeless shelters, programs that support the Roma community, and more.

Ten YAGM volunteers are serving in Hungary for the 2017-2018 year, including one who attended a summer music cam at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Seven other YAGM volunteers with connections to the Northeastern Iowa Synod are among the 95 YAGMS serving in 13 countries.

You can support these faithful young adults!

Congregations and individuals are invited to help support these YAGMs by following their blogs, subscribing to their newsletters, writing them letters, praying for them, and sponsoring them with financial assistance.

The full cost to support a YAGM for one year of service is $15,000. Each person serving as a YAGM commits to raising $5,000 to support his or her year of service. Other contributors to the ELCA help fund the remaining $10,000 per young adult in program costs.

YAGM Videos from Hungary

Greeting from YAGM Central Europe, June 2018.

Pastor Mark Anderson interviews the Young Adults in Global Mission serving in Hungary during his trip there in May 2017.

Thad’s Story while serving as a Young Adults in Global Mission in Hungary.

Young Adults in Global Mission Resources

ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission Program
Fact Sheet about YAGMs in Hungary
YAGM Video (01:48 minutes)
ELCA Young Adults in Global Mission

2017-18 Young Adults in Global Mission

Join the Northeastern Iowa Synod in following these young adults during their year of service as Young Adults in Global Mission in Central Europe. Read their newsletters and blogs and connect with them through Skype calls and emails. Consider supporting them through your prayers, letters and financial gifts.

Check this website often for links to the YAGMs’ blogs, newsletters and more to learn about their experiences in Christian service.

Learn How You Can Help
To learn more about how you can support these Young Adults in Global Mission, call 319-352-1414 or email Rev. Mark Anderson.

Pearl Penumakan
Hungary

Budapest: Pearl will serve in the Fasori Gimnázium (Fasor Lutheran High School) as well as Phiren Amenca. Phiren Amenca is a non-profit that seeks to build relationships between Roma and non-Roma young people through service learning and non-formal education in workshops and conferences.

In the Lutheran High School, Pearl will assist in English language classes and engage in community events with the students and teachers. Other possibilities for community engagement include assisting with the activities of the Integration Services Center, a ministry of the Lutheran Church in Hungary, that focuses on welcoming refugees and providing social work support, language classes, and opportunities to community..

Krista Stanley
Hungary

Békéscaba & Békés: Krista will be hosted by the Lutheran Church in Békéscaba. In addition to engaging in the many congregational activities, Krista will serve with the Lutheran High School providing small group English language tutoring and the Lutheran art schools as a classroom assistant.

Krista will also work with the Lutheran Diaconal Ministry for adults living with disabilities, a drop-in daily center that provides activities and community. On Saturdays, Krista will attend a Pentecostal worship for Roma and non-Roma young adults in the neighboring town of Békés.

Juliana Stein-Weber
Hungary

Debrecen & Berettyóújfalu: Juliana will be hosted by the Lutheran Church in Debrecen. She will engage with congregational ministries including an English language conversation club for the youth, ecumenical soup kitchen, as well as support ministries for families, elderly and young adults.

Juliana will also serve with Igazgyöngy Alapítvány (Real Pearl Foundation) located in the neighboring town of Berettyóújfalu. The Real Pearl Foundation empowers Roma communities using a variety of approaches including art education for young people, family care, sustainable agriculture, and vocational training courses.

Megan Freudenberg
Hungary

Görögszallas and Nyírtelek: Megan will be hosted by the Filadelfia Lutheran congregation in Nyírtelek. Megan will serve alongside members of the congregations in both Görögszallas and Nyírtelek including: a children’s day home for mothers and their young children; farming projects, mentoring program for elementary and middle school aged girls; and leading a weekly English language conversation class.

Steven Rystrom
Hungary

Nyíregyháza: Steven will be hosted by the Lutheran Churches and Diaconal Ministries of Nyíregyháza and will live with and serve alongside the students of the Evangélikus Roma Szakkollégium (Lutheran Roma College Program). Steven will also find opportunities to serve with the many ministries of the Lutheran Churches and Lutheran Diaconal Ministries in Nyíregyháza.

Some of these possibilities include: serving with a local pastor and the Steven’s mentor in a religion education class at a bilingual Lutheran elementary school and high school; planning and leading activities for youth living in a transitional family home; serving food at the daily center that cares for people with addictions and welcome homeless for a warm meal every day; assisting in arts and crafts activities, as well as worship time together with the Élim (a home for women living with disabilities); assisting in the weekly confirmation class; and singing in the Choir of the Lutheran church.

Michelle Moyer
Hungary

Szarvas — Michelle will be hosted by a Lutheran congregation in Szarvas. In addition to assisting with English language classes in the Lutheran primary school and elementary school, she will also be present in supporting the ministry of the Lutheran Services Center for people living with addictions. Also, Michelle will serve with the congregational choir as well as with the high school Lutheran youth group!

Deanna Torstenson
Hungary

Pilis (NEW SITE!) — Deanna will be hosted by the Lutheran congregation in Pilis and members of the diaconal ministries of the Lutheran Church in Hungary. Deanna will serve alongside other teachers and care-takers at a home for orphans in the town, where at least half of the children are Roma. Deanna will also serve with a family shelter that provides social services for Roma and other poor families in the area.

Levi Heath
Hungary

Balatonszárszó (Kötcse & Nagycsepely) (NEW SITE!) — Levi will serve with the Lutheran mission center based in Balatonszárszó, particularly with ministries in the villages of Kötcse & Nagycsepely. The mission Center focuses on helping Roma and non-Roma families with the tools and space to create self-sustaining gardens for their families and the community. In addition, Levi will assist in social work with the communities—playing games and music with the local children.

Kayla Taylor
Hungary

Pécs (NEW SITE!) — Kayla will be hosted by the Lutheran congregation in Pécs. She will engage with the congregational ministries of the church, including a very active youth group and English language service. Kayla will be rooted in the Lutheran community and live in a community house with Lutheran students attending the local university.

There are many possibilities for engagement with the Roma community, including helping at a non-profit that empowers women and celebrates Roma food and culture, assisting at a high School for Roma students and tutoring in after-school programs that support Roma students.

Anna Nicholson
Hungary

Szeged– (NEW SITE!) — Anna will be hosted by the Lutheran Church in Szeged. She will engage with their congregational ministries, including Bible studies and youth groups. Anna will also serve with organizations that support and empower Roma communities, including the Roma College program in Szeged and an after school program that offers academic support, mentorship and community for Roma students from elementary age until high school.

Angie Langdon
Serbia

Novi Sad & Kulpin: (NEW SITE!) — Angie will be hosted by the Ekumenska humanitarna organizacija (EHO) based in Novi Sad, as well as the Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Augsburg Confession in Serbia (SELCAC). With EHO, Angie will serve with the various community mobilizing and empowerment projects with, and for, Roma people.

This could include English language tutoring for Roma students at the local elementary school or serving alongside other volunteers in outreach to street children in Novi Sad. Each weekend, Angie will travel to nearby Kulpin where the YAGM will engage with the ministries of the Lutheran Church.

YAGMs Connected to the Northeastern Iowa Synod

Lillian Brondyke – Senegal
St. Peter Lutheran Church, Dubuque
Luther College Campus Ministry, Decorah
First Lutheran Church, Decorah

Karleigh Crepin – Australia
Wartburg Campus Ministry, Waverly
Ewalu Bible Camp and Retreat Center, Strawberry Point

Blake Heeren – Mexico
Luther College, Decorah

Amy Kallansrud – Madagascar
Luther College, Decorah

Krista Mathistad – Madagasar
Luther College, Decorah

Deanna Torstenson – Central Europe
Luther Summer Music Camp (Luther College), Decorah

Maddy Tyler – Cambodia
Luther College, Decorah

Nicole Garcia — Mexico
Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque

How to Donate

Checks to support these Young Adults in Global Mission should be made payable to the Northeastern Iowa Synod with the memo indicating YAGM program.

Mail checks to:

Northeastern Iowa Synod
201 20th St. SW
PO Box 804
Waverly, IA 50677-0804.

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