By: Dianne Flynn My disability ministry journey began with an ultrasound. I waited with excited anticipation while my daughter, Joanne, was at an o.b. appointment. She came through my front door crying and holding the ultrasound photo in her hand. The baby she was carrying and loving would be born in six months with Down syndrome and would require open heart surgery shortly after his birth. Immediately, I became sick to my stomach and filled with fear, sadness, and grief f

The 4th Annual Honua Scholars Proposal Competition fosters new ideas that could positively impact the Hawaiian community through STEM. This year, they invited proposals exploring “Ke Ola Pono: The Science of Wellbeing,” integrating Pacific Island wisdom with STEM to advance health, sustainability, and innovation in areas like farming, healthcare, and education. Six students in 5th-8th grade from Cross Academy placed in the top 3 with their written, science or technology propo

Congratulations to Micah Glenn, Executive Director at Sierra Lutheran High School in Carson City, Nevada! Micah just completed certification in Principal 360 , an intensive 11-month leadership development program, operated by the Chicagoland Lutheran Education Foundation (CLEF). This program develops and equips Lutheran school administrators in specific skills that help them develop school leadership skills and extensive training to craft and implement a customized, compreh

Upward Bound Preschool has been a ministry of Lutheran Church of Our Savior in Santa Maria, California since 2000. The church has been a part of the Orcutt community in Central California since 1960. In 2024, Brendan Harrell accepted the Call to serve as pastor at LCOS. Brendan and his wife, Katie moved to Santa Maria with their two young children. Brendan and Katie come from opposite ends of the US – Brendan grew up in the Washington DC area, and Katie grew up on Oahu in

The Mission Table , where we pull up a chair with everyday leaders doing extraordinary things for the sake of the Gospel. Today’s story is one that spans continents, cultures, and the unmistakable fingerprints of God’s grace. We’re joined by Pastor Uma, the newly installed pastor at Messiah Lutheran Church in Ewa Beach, Hawai‘i. His journey is nothing short of remarkable—born and raised in Sri Lanka in a Hindu family, shaped by years spent as a refugee in Liberia, and ultimat

Redeemer Lutheran School in Redwood City, California hosted the first CNH District Knowledge Bowl of the year on November 6. Six teams from the CNH District participated in this event. The Knowledge Bowl has two divisions, a 5/6th grade division and a 7/8th grade division. Teams of 5 students are given a list of questions on topics that include religion, math, science, literature, history, geography, art, music, sports, and current events. At the end of four rounds of com