Deaconesses and deacons serve the hungry, homeless, and hurting.  But they provide more than food, shelter, and medicine.  They put their faith in action everyday – providing care, compassion, and Christ’s love.

Your support of the LDA assures that future and current deaconesses and – such as these deaconesses and students – are prepared and supported in order to serve our Lord Jesus in a variety of ministries for years to come.  Your generous gift will provide the assistance these extraordinary women need to complete their training. Click here to make a donation.

My call to ministry came as a complete surprise.  Becoming a deaconess was not even close to what I had envisioned for my life.  Yet, when I first visited the Deaconess Center for a retreat, I was compelled to find out more about the LDA.  After a year of prayerful discernment, research, and meetings with deaconesses, I applied and was accepted!

I had many questions during my discernment.

• First, was I truly hearing God’s call?
• Second, how would I balance my life--which includes a family and a full-time piano studio--with coursework, seminars, field work, and Community?
• Could I really see myself in ministry, and if so, what would it look like? 
• Finally, how would I afford the costs of formation in diaconal ministry? 

With more than a little trepidation, I moved forward. Thankfully, with God’s guidance, a supportive family, and financial help from LDA scholarships, my formation is progressing smoothly. Yes, I am hearing God’s call.  My family embraces this call, and my work schedule is flexible; and the scholarship award that the LDA provides allows me to proceed at a pace necessary for my family, job, and spiritual growth.

I thank you for your generosity and support. It is due to generous gifts from you that I am able to go through the formation process at a pace that works for me.

Perhaps the most significant development in my diaconal formation is learning what my diaconal ministry might look like.  I am learning to recognize that I have gifts in leadership. A humble leader, I can now see where God is calling me--into congregational health.

I have recently joined Healthy Congregations, Inc., a non-for-profit which works to promote emotional health in congregations.  As a facilitator, I can work with churches on their emotional systems, helping people to better understand their own functioning within their congregation. I am hoping to coordinate with my synod to partner with congregations that might benefit from improved emotional functioning.

As I proceed with my formation process, I am continuing with my theology course work, and learning through chaplain field work how to offer ministry of presence. I'm finding growth into the deaconess community one of my life’s greatest gifts and value the affirmation of the community.

Valpo Deaconess Students Complete Student Seminar

Valparaiso (August 17, 2011) – The Lutheran Deaconess Association (LDA), a center for diaconal service and learning, recently held a week-long student seminar as part of the education and formation program as established by the LDA. Four students of Valparaiso University participated in this deaconess training. The LDA currently has a total of 23 deaconess students.    

In response to the needs of a changing world, the LDA offers an education and formation process that allows women and men to express their Christian vocation through church, civic, or human service professions. Deaconesses and deacons practice ministries of service wherever there is a need.

Katlin Croft of Richfield, WI; Katie Mattmiller of Milwaukee, WI; Erica Wickstrom of Valparaiso, IN; and Carla Robinson of Rochester, NY; are four of 12 students who recently attended the annual student seminar at the LDA in Valparaiso, IN.  While at seminar, they attended workshops on topics such as ministry choices, theology and Eucharist, and hospitality.  They also met with Indiana area deaconesses and participated in a daylong retreat with other students.

An international service major who recently studied in Namibia, Katie is appreciative of her time at seminar, explaining, “the LDA community not only supports my personal growth, but also is there to help strengthen my relationship with Christ.”

Katlin noted that she enjoys how the diaconal program blends community, theology, and service into their formation. In addition to building community with each other, each student is paired with a diaconal mentor to guide their spiritual growth.

Most students list a desire for intentional service and to be part of a praying community as their primary reason to be a deaconess.  Johnna Venuto, VU class of ’11 explains that she is “living the Word into the world” as she serves the community of Valparaiso, Chile on her internship.

As recent VU graduate Kelsie Tieman notes, “I am becoming a deaconess that I may use my skills and knowledge the best way I can to serve God and all of God’s creation.”

Carla developed her Lutheran faith under the guidance of Deaconess Maggie Harris in Rochester, NY. She was touched by the dedication and service of “mother Maggie” as she’s called, and hopes to someday serve like Maggie.

Deaconesses and deacons form their servant identities through education in Lutheran theology, support from the diaconal community, intentional spiritual reflection and experience in ministry.  Each student's program is geared toward their individual gifts, needs and skills.  Requirements include: theological studies, a supervised internship, fieldwork and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE.) 

Your generous gift will provide the assistance these extraordinary women need to complete their training. Click here to make a donation.