Grow Leadership News
Meet the young people who are training to be future leaders within the Lutheran Church of Australia. They are the inaugural participants in the LCA’s new Grow Leadership program – a training initiative designed to provide continuing and sustainable Christian leadership development and training for young adults.
Those selected from Australian applicants for 2017 are Elsa Matthias (from Queensland but has moved to South Australia), Dora Blieschke, Joel Grieger, Renee Hein, Holly Pietsch, Tayla Priebbenow and Katrina Rohrlach (all from SA), and Manuela Scharlach and Oliver Swift (both from Western Australia).
They are being joined by overseas participants Pastor Hay Sopheourn and Touch Kev Sreyleak (from Cambodia) and Eprista Tampubolon and Delmi Rohdearni Saragih (Indonesia).
Grow Leadership is a part-time commitment for 11 months and consists of two seven-day face-to-face intensive gatherings, along with regular one-on-one mentoring, participation in an overseas ‘stretch and grow’ experience and a minimum of 18 hours of local congregational leadership.
We are encouraged by the participants enthusiasm and passion to serve and really excited about 2017 and the journey we will take with these young adults. Many of them are already involved in their communities and we pray this experience will support them in those roles and enhance the leadership skills they already possess.
The support and encouragement received for each of the participants from their home congregations has been so exciting. Building on the relationship between Grow and these congregations is another positive offshoot from this program.
Our prayer is that this is just the beginning of a long and successful journey with the young adults of our church – a journey that inspires, encourages and enriches their growth as valued individuals in the LCA family.
We held our first intensive in Adelaide from Wednesday 18th January 2017 at Nunyara Conference Centre, Belair. During this week participants delved deeper into leadership, theology and spiritual reflection. Emma Graetz (Grassroots Training) began the journey with two days of learning about Christian leadership. Rev James Winderlich (Principal – Australian Lutheran College) and Rev Tom Pietsch (ALC lecturer) eagerly facilitated the theology elective taking us on a journey into Lutheran theology using all 5 senses! Lyn Benger (Child and Family Encourager – Salisbury Lutheran Church) and Vicki Rochow (Grow Leadership Coordinator) walked with the participants on a spiritual retreat. We were visited by Rev Neville Otto (Secretary – LCA) and Jodi Brook (Grow Ministries Director). Erin Kerber (Program Officer – LCA International Mission) rounded up the week with an insight into the wonders of Cambodia and what participants can expect on their visit! It was a wonderful week and the team formed a tight bond – we are all looking forward to meeting up again in July to continue our adventure together.
Stay tuned for further stories as we progress through the year.
Click here for the Lutheran article and for pics of the participants
The project aims to provide participants with a mentored faith adventure; enable them to grow in the gospel; empower them to become leaders with skills to contribute to the church and the wider community; give them a deeper knowledge and understanding of Lutheran theology; and offer the opportunity to experience the ministries of the LCA and to discover and understand Christian vocation in the world. It is run by Grow Ministries, in partnership with the districts of the LCA, LCA International Mission, Board for Local Mission, Australian Lutheran College and Grassroots Training, Lutheran Education Australia and the LCA’s Church Worker Support Department, and is supported by the committee for the LCA’s 50.500 faith.freedom.future initiative.
