New Possibilities Emerge with Partnership
The Board is excited to announce a new partnership with Collegiate Methodist for the 25-26 school year.

Given the redevelopment phase of LCM, and the need to restart student organization status, there will be intentional sharing of ministry with The Wesley Foundation, a campus ministry of Collegiate Methodist Church. Pr. Erika was able to meet with Pr. Jena Finch Manchester, who is also newly assigned to Collegiate Methodist, but who has already begun a thriving student ministry. 

At FaithFest, the first ever festival specifically for faith groups, Pr. Erika joined Pr. Jena, and Pr. Lee, the senior pastor from Collegiate Methodist, to welcome students to the new school year. Throughout the school year, Pr. Erika and ELCA students will join in ministry with Pr. Jena at Collegiate Methodist for Bible studies, fellowship, and other ministry opportunities.

Students! Are you interested in joining a Bible Study this semester? Please fill out this form to let Pr. Jena and Pr. Erika know of your availability!

Alumni Spotlight:
Whether it was a trip to Tanzania with the Lutheran World Federation in 1977 or a caravan to Albuquerque in 2004 with the Lutheran Student Movement, Lutheran Campus Ministry left a life-long impact on father-son duo, Kent and Erik Olson. Though their career paths took different directions, both found welcome, community, and deep faith through the ministry of Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State.

Now celebrating his 15th anniversary of ordination, Pr. Erik says, "I would not be a pastor without LCM. It framed so much about who I became as I was at college. Of all the formative things that I was connected to, nothing compared to Campus Ministry. I now am the board president of the Luther Center at the University of South Dakota and enjoy giving back to campus ministry." 

Likewise, as Kent reflects on his own time at Iowa State, LCM was not just about his time there as a student, but has shaped his faith in the years since, "LCM broadened my view of faith and worship. I developed both a local and world view of life, faith, and care for others." In fact, Kent wrote about this in a letter he tucked behind some paneling during a remodel project. In an act of the Holy Spirit, that same letter was found 30 years later, the same the year Erik was living in the apartment at ULC. 

These two generations stand on the shoulders the generations before who were passionate about sharing love and faith with students at ISU. As we look to the redevelopment of ministry we remember the lasting impact LCM has had. We give thanks for those who made this ministry possible, and for the life-long friendships that were forged in worship and around dinner tables.

Do you have a story you'd like to share? Let Pr. Erika know here: Share my story

Redevelopment Reflections
"We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience..."
~ Colossians 1.9b-11

     This summer has flown by, and this month marks a full 3-months with Lutheran Campus Ministry. The redevelopment process includes so much behind-the-scenes work, I find myself encouraged by the prayer of Paul and Timothy as they spoke to the church in Colossae. "That you may have great endurance and patience." Every time I become impatient with the process, these words slow me down.
God has given us - me, the Board, and our growing network of supporters - wisdom and understanding. Why? So that we can live the life God has called us to, bearing fruit. 

This looks like taking the time, with endurance and patience, to build a strong foundation, so that in this particular ministry renovation, we are prepared for long-term, sustainable ministry which will serve generations more of students.

     There are so many questions the Board is called to discern, including:

• Is God calling LCM to future partnership? (Something we explore this year through partnership with Collegiate Methodist.)

• How can LCM best serve this generation of students? What sort of staffing structure is sustainable?

• What is the best way to reconnect with LCM alum and friends who are curious about what is going on?

• How is God calling us to steward our property? (If you don't know, the roof leaks! I say this tongue-in-cheek. I believe you all know the roof leaks. However, the property issues go much further than just a leaky roof and the feasibility of continuing to occupy the building at 2126 Gable Lane is in discernment.)

So, it does take endurance and discernment. There are no magic wands. There is (unfortunately) no large endowment available to take away the building woes. But. There is the call from God. We know we are called to provide a welcoming, grace-filled community in Jesus Christ. We know we are called to engage faith within every person who encounters LCM. We know we are called to empower life-giving relationships and share God's love through our words and our actions.

     I continue to be grateful to engage in this work and ministry, and I am thankful that we are surrounded by generations of faithful leaders who rely on God's grace for endurance and patience.

In Christ,

Pr. Erika

You may have seen that the Board recently announced it is excited to be working with Pr. Erika Uthe, the Interim Redevelopment Pastor for LCM. Her primary responsibilities include:

• leading the board in continued strategic discernment

• writing for grants and planning fundraising efforts

• fostering communication and relationship building planning for restart efforts

Pastor Uthe served as the Director of Evangelical Mission for the Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA, for 8 years, is an ISU and LCM alum, and serves a part-time call in Lisbon, Iowa. She brings skills and experience walking congregations through discernment, redevelopment, and renewal. 

The Board is excited for the gifts and experience Pastor Uthe brings and for her partnership as we take the next steps on behalf of LCM-Ames. Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Pastor Uthe.

A note from Pastor Uthe:

“I am deeply grateful to enter into partnership with Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State during this time of redevelopment. As a student at Iowa State, LCM deeply shaped my own faith journey and I can definitively say that LCM is the reason I am a pastor (and Lutheran) today.

There are already a lot of moving pieces as the Board and I seek the best way forward for a sustainable ministry presence at Iowa State. I look forward to getting to know many of you over the next several months and invite your prayers for the ministry. We know that the Spirit continues to guide and shape each of us and the work we do, and we believe the Spirit continues to call us to provide a witness on the Iowa State campus. 

This summer I hope to collect and share stories of how LCM has impacted generations of students. 

Connect with Pr. Uthe: lutherancampusministryisu@gmail.com and stay tuned for more news, including the release of a new website.

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