GHM/ELCA Synod Collaboration in Global Health Mission

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America established years ago the Companion Synod Program that pairs synods of the ELCA with Church bodies in other countries.  There is tremendous potential for enhancing hope and healing for the people of your companion synod overseas when medical mission becomes a component of these church-to-church relationships.  Read on if you would like to learn how Global Health Ministries can collaborate with you in developing this emphasis in global health mission.

The activities that follow from this relationship vary from synod to synod.  It will not be our intent to discuss this program in detail here, but rather to speak about the tremendous potential and actual accomplishments when medical mission becomes a component of these church-to-church relationships, and how Global Health Ministries can collaborate with you in developing this emphasis in global mission. (If you are a member of the ELCA but unsure about your synod’s companion relationships, or if you would like more information about the Companion Synod program, click here.

About Global Health Ministries

 Tanzanian clergy blessing a GHM shipment 

We are fast approaching 25 years of service to “enhance the health care programs of Lutheran Churches in other countries.”  We work with directly with the leadersof overseas Lutheran churches and their health programs in 29 countries.  Our mission is carried out through gathering and shipping medical supplies and equipment as requested, project grants, and sending qualified volunteers on short-term training and consultation missions, including Global Health Administration Partner (GHAP).  We were founded by medical missionaries and still enjoy their leadership and support.  With our experience, expertise and partner relationships developed over the years, we are the premiere Lutheran medical mission organization in America.  Last year GHM provided $2,494,083 in grants and allocations to strengthen the health care programs of our partners, and shipped them needed medical supplies and equipment valued at $3,280,377.

The Developing Collaboration between GHM and Companion Synod Programs

The first GHM/Companion Synod collaboration began in 2002 when a group of physicians and nurses planning their first trip to the Iringa Diocese in Tanzania came to GHM to learn what we could share with them about the health care programs of their companion church.  At the time, GHM had received a proposal for renovation and construction projects at Ilula, the diocese’ hospital, and we asked the synod team to assist us during their trip by visiting the hospital and gathering information to help evaluate the proposal.  A long-time medical missionary working in Tanzania on home leave in Minnesota was called to meet with the team for an orientation to the country’s culture, health care needs and practices.

        llula Health Center, Iringa, Tanzania

Upon return, the synod team debriefed GHM and shared their excitement about opportunities to support the health ministry of the diocese.  One physician said that during the trip he had rediscovered why he had gone into medicine in the first place.  A follow-up meeting was scheduled with the synod’s already strong companion synod committee to discuss the team’s proposal that a separate arm of the committee be established to focus exclusively on medical mission relationships and projects.  The newly-formed medical mission team quickly grew with members who had not previously been involved in the synod’s mission.  Additional fact-finding and service trips were organized by subsequent teams, and programs of education and fund-raising were initiated.

    Dr. Randy Hurley, Chair, Ilula Task Force of the Saint Paul Area Synod

Today, after eight years of mission service, the team meets monthly with an average attendance of 20 to oversee a wide variety of projects and delegation visits.  In collaboration with Ilula Lutheran Hospital, major construction and renovation projects have been completed, important training and capacity-building of key staff has been done, a consultation to strengthen the hospital’s planning and management practices is in its second year, and three shipments of medical supplies and equipment have been sent from Global Health Ministries.  Taken together, these improvements have made it possible for the hospital to gain special operating subsidies from the Tanzanian government as well as international grants.  The outstanding achievements of the St. Paul Area Synod’s medical mission committee have made them a model for others to learn from.  It should be noted that their development of significant resources in support of Illula Hospital has occurred without diminishing benevolence giving to the synod and its other global mission initiatives.  For more information, contact Dr. Randy Hurley, Chair of the Saint Paul Area Synod’s medical mission committee  ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

What GHM Can Bring to Your Companion Synod Mission Initiatives

As the Saint Paul Area Synod story suggests, Global Health Ministries offers contagious joy and hopefulness in pursuing our calling to “continue the health ministry of Jesus Christ by enhancing the health care programs of Lutheran Churches in other countries. For those who may be concerned that adding medical mission to your synod’s mission menu will have an adverse effect on what the synod is already doing, the bottom line for the Saint Paul Area Synod story—let alone all synods with whom GHM has collaborated over the years--is that significant new people and resources were attracted to medical mission and benevolence, overall, increased.

GHM offers these critically important contributions in support of your Companion Synod medical mission initiatives:

1. A quarter century of relationships and experience in mission with the Lutheran churches of 29 countries world-wide.  In most cases, GHM will already have a history of support and relationship with the church and health care program leadership of your companion church.

Nancy Liddy, Volunteer Nurse from Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Edina, MN, delivering GHM medical supplies to Aira Hospital, Ethiopia

2. A leadership core of former missionaries who choose to carry on mission through Global Health Ministries after leaving the field for return to life in America.  In a network of some 16,000 supporters nation-wide, GHM can draw upon the knowledge, language and culture skills, and the professional expertise needed to prepare for, evaluate, plan, and provide needed health care programming in nearly all companion churches of the ELCA.

GHM consultant, Dr. Douglas Soderdahl, with physician trainees in laser surgery, Madgascar

3. Expertise in evaluating requests for health care program support of every imaginable form, ranging from small quantities of medical supplies or equipment to scholarships for professional advancement, from new program start-up grants to construction of hospitals and health centers.  GHM is always concerned with the sustainability of any initiative we are asked to support, as well as its promise of truly making a positive difference in the lives of those served, especially the poor.

GHM Health Consultation Team, Lutheran Church of Christ, Nigeria

4. The capacity through our Global Health Administration Partners (GHAP) program to assess the need for and then recruit and send people with expertise in every facet of health care services and hospital management for training and consultation missions when asked by partners churches overseas.  Often, a companion church will benefit less from money than from the knowledge and encouragement imparted by a professional who can assist them to grow in capacity to serve their people and manage their health ministry.

GHAP Team Andranamadio Hospital, Madagascar

5. Without peers in gathering donated medical supplies and equipment, and then evaluating, reconditioning and packaging from our warehouse what has beenrequested by our partners for shipment in sea containers, door-to-door at the lowest possible cost. We take pride in insuring the quality and appropriateness of everything we ship for the overseas context, sending onlywhat has been requested by our partners, and then only when it is determined that requested materials cannot be purchased locally for less than the cost of shipping. With a volunteer team of hundreds who serve more than 30,000 hours annually in every dimension of GHM operations, we are able to keep operating costs below 7%.  At the same time, we also evaluate the capacity of our partners to receive, store, distribute for use, and maintain a live inventory of stock as a basis for future orders.Where deficiencies in any of these areas are found, they become the focus for capacity improvement projects.

6. Extensive data-base of thousands with a heart for medical mission, and ability to conduct local or nation-wide efforts to raise funds and other forms of support for medical mission projects. GHM maintains internal accountability according to the highest standards. For the eighth consecutive year, Global Health Ministries has gained the top rat ing from America's premier charity evaluator for our ef ficiency, account ability and fiscal responsibility in man aging and reporting on finances. Only 1% of American charities have received this "exceptional" designation.

We Look Forward to Collaboration with you in Mission!

There are no fees or implied commitments involved in the support GHM offers. We are pleased to collaborate with others to enhance the health care programs of Lutheran churches in the developing world because that it our mission. Our offer extends to all who share this mission, not only to the ELCA synods and congregations, but to all Lutheran denominations and mission organizations. We invite you to call or write us with questions, requests for information and advice, or exploration of deeper collaboration. If we receive requests for support from your companion church, it is likely that we will also contact you to explore ways in which to work together in response.

Whether you collaborate with us or not, we encourage that you include the following in your companion church or global health mission initiative:

1. Form a committee

2. Visit the health programs of your companion church with an appropriately constituted team of needed skills and expertise. If no programs exist, bring people who can assess the health issues of the church members and who can begin exploring with your companion church how best to develop a sustainable response to their health needs.

3. Maintain communication with your companion and obtain the endorsement of your companion church’s health program leadership as you develop a response to needs and opportunities for health programming. Keep in mind that support can be given in terms of supplies and equipment, funds, and persons with needed expertise for training. Sometimes, an additional visit to your companion church is needed before completing this step.

4. Obtain endorsement from your synod leadership for the resulting program response. Proceed to educate about and promote support for your response throughout the synod only after understanding and endorsement of the response is confirmed from your companion church.

5. Utilize your synod’s communication vehicles, such as newsletters, websites, special mailings, to reach those whom you want to invite support. etc.

6. Call upon Global Health Ministries at any point in your medical mission for assistance, problem solving, communications, fund transfers, maintenance of accounts for funds raised, recruitment of expertise, arranging for a shipment of medical supplies and equipment, etc. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or call 763-586-9590. Visit our website at www.ghm.org for more information about how you can get involved in Global health mission.