Lutheran Partners In Global Ministry Inc

I recently joined the board because I have seen the impact that providing access to quality education for women and girls can have both for themselves and their communities. I have been impressed with LPGM's programs, careful planning, skilled staff and enthusiastic volunteers. I had burned out on work with boards and committees but I am excited to work with this organization.

I absolutely love LPGM and their mission! I only recently became aware of them, but I am a firm believer of empowerment through education and the way they fund schools globally makes me optimistic in a way I find increasingly rare

I have been involved with LPGM for about 15 years.
Their goal of helping those in other countries who live in the margins with education is impressive.

I've been a contributor to LPGM for many years, and I've always been particularly encouraged by their efforts to provide educational opportunities, especially to girls in India.

I have supported three young women to be allowed to become educated. The final one this year has now graduated high school and will have the opportunity to better her life. After I visited India and saw first hand the difference of the educated and on on educated families, I knew I had to help. However, I now have less available income and a growing need for other needs, it is time to stop giving to this cause in my life.

As a senior education advisor to a grassroots Tanzanian NGO, Mwangaza Education for Partnership, I've had the privilege of working closely with LPGM leadership since 2018. Over these years, LPGM has played a key role in supporting Mwangaza's Safe School program which leverages teacher education, community engagement and youth peace clubs to improve the physical, emotional and sexual well-being of Tanzanian youth. LPGM's financial support and thought partnership are a significant reason why the program has expanded to ten secondary schools serving over 7,250 youth and 500 educators through nonviolent communication, child protection policies, and practices which create safety for all youth. While many nonprofits in the Global North offer financial support, few epitomize partnership by taking the time to visit schools and listen. Not only does LPGM share Mwangaza's belief in community-based educational programs, but LPGM leadership seeks first to understand the challenges and to see the strength within Tanzanian schools and communities before asking how they can help amplify community voices and support programs for sustainable impact. We're so grateful for our partnership with LPGM!

LPGM is a small but mighty nonprofit that is doing great things for people at the margins, while helping connect people globally. Their trips are great and they provide unique travel opportunities where you can see the power of education at work.

Nola WI, I first got to know LPGM when our daughter Amelia traveled to India in 2004 through a LPGM sponsored trip. She went with several other youth and one of our Pastors to visit and learn about the education programs there. We were so impressed with her reaction to her experience, she has sponsored a student all these years since her return, as have my husband and I. Her witness to the profound effects this education has on the lives of the sponsored children has prompted us to financially support LPGM. I also was able to travel to the Central African Republic in 2008 and represent LPGM at the dedication of the Women’s Center in Bouar and have conversations with the church leaders and local community leaders about the need for a health clinic in Galllo. I was able to see with my own eyes and hear with my own ears how important an organization like LPGM is to their partners in C.A.R.
In June 2017 I joined LPGM and traveled to Guatemala to see the fantastic work being done through the Community Cloud Forest Conservation WALC(Women in Agroecology Leadership for Conservation) program. Empowering young Indigenous women and girls through education to restore their environment and improve their futures. Besides being set in one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen it was beautiful to see the confidence these young women have in taking their education back to their communities. I’m grateful for the ways LPGM is able to take our donations to make a real impact in the name of Christ.

Nancy MN
Through LPGM, for 24 years I have witnessed an organization that really lives its mission to provide access to quality education for people at the margins, especially women and girls. The letters I exchange with my sponsored girls demonstrate how their lives have changed through learning and living in a Southern India boarding home. In 2023, I was fortunate to travel with LPGM to India and experience phenomenal interfaith commitment and spirituality first hand. I got to see the incredible dedication of teachers, as well as the managers, staff, and field coordinators of the boarding schools. And I got to meet my current sponsored student. PRICELESS. If you want to make a difference, I highly recommend supporting LPGM!

My husband, two sons and I have been sponsors through LPGM for over 25 years. We started volunteering with LPGM when it was a new non-profit. Volunteering with LPGM has been a great way to teach our children about service and supporting global ministry projects. They have learned about India and written letters to the students we have sponsored over the years. I have attended several LPGM sponsor events in the Twin Cities and the staff is wonderful to work with and knowledgeable about the regions of the world where they finance projects. I look forward to deepening my involvement with LPGM in the coming year.

Kathleen from Minnesota

I traveled to India with LPGM in 2023, mostly to have an opportunity to visit India. My experience with LPGN's ministry partnerships there will connect me far longer than one travel experience. I was inspired by the boarding houses managed with compassion and dignity. I saw first hand how ministry dollars alongside genuine cross cultural and interfaith relationships open the door to a future filled with hope and opportunity. Their focused energy on the education of women and girls is why I will continue to support and donate to LPGM.

I live near Seattle, WA and I've traveled twice with LPGM to India, in February 2020 and 2023. The purpose was to visit boarding schools of the ALC. Traveling with my brother Jim, who is a board member of LPGM, we were able to visit with the students we sponsor along with hundreds of other students. Visiting the schools is a "Rock Star" adventure as they go all out to welcome and entertain visitors of which they get very few. As a grandfather of four girls i"m especially grateful to help Dalat girls in Tamil Nadu secure a chance to have better opportunities in life. On the last trip my brother and I were able to extend 3 days and travel with the Tractus group visiting more ALC schools in western Tamil Nadu, which allowed us to spend time with several of the young LPGM India staff. Traveling with Mary of LPGM insures you will immersed in the religious and cultural complexity which is India.

I love LPGM!
Our family receives so much joy from sponsoring children through LPGM.

We have sponsored 4 students and our oldest is now a professor and has a family of his own. If a sponsor did not help him he would not be able to get out of the lowest caste system. I find it incredible that for 40.00 a month a child is given an education, clothing and food all in a nurturing and faith filled boarding school.

These children are part of the lowest caste system and are given an opportunity to have a career. Their parents are so grateful and proud of them so they can be something more than a day worker.

As a person of faith I find it very rewarding to be able to do something of meaning with my Christian walk. Our son has said that he is grateful to LPGM for giving him the opportunity to have such a profound impact for such a modest monthly contribution. I have only the highest praise for LPGM and hope that everyone who reads this will want to contact LPGM and sponsor a student.

The other amazing thing is that you can travel with them. LPGM provides trips to the countries where they have schools. We went to India this past year and actually met our students. LPGM has a tour leader for us and made all the accommodations and it was wonderful to not only meet our sponsored students but to travel with like minded people . LPGM has given myself and our family such joy and meaning to our giving.
I have such respect for the founders Betty and Gordon Olson and the entire LPGM staff . They are always encouraging and positive.

Sarah from Eden Prairie

LPGM facilitated a once-in-a-lifetime, transformative travel experience for our church group to go to Guatemala and learn from its people about the cloud forests. We saw first-hand the power of education and mentorship in underserved places to raise up and empower local leaders (especially women) to improve the lives of their communities while preserving the ecosystems around them. LPGM and their amazing staff are committed to cross-cultural education and Christian ministry through accompanying local partners around the world.

There is just no better way to see the true India than with Lutheran Partners. Meeting people, seeing and working with the children in the boarding schools, village visits with an add on option for some fancy sites just can't be beat. I highly recommend it. You'll never forget the joy of the children!

Through the past 15 years I have had first-hand knowledge of the incredible work of LPGM. First, as an ELCA staff person in Jerusalem, I witnessed the delight of my Palestinian colleagues upon their receipt of a much needed gift of printing equipment. Then, as a parish pastor in MN, I witnessed the contagious excitement and generosity of our Sunday School kids when they caught a vision for how their offerings could complete the project of much-needed bathroom facilities at a school for girls in India. As a pastor, traveler, and board member, I have witnessed how $ gifts are carefully and creatively multiplied for maximum impact!

My husband and I have been donors and volunteers for most of this organization’s history. We have seen the work LPGM does on behalf of women and children and know our donations are put to good use. We know the staff, all thoughtful and compassionate people. It is a great organization, worthy of the highest rating!!

LPGM has been a wonderful partner to friends and colleagues in Tanzania, letting local people drive priorities. I appreciate that LPGM's staff has priorities listening and walking with its partners. Its staff and board has participated in diversity, equity, and inclusion training, and they center this in all they do.

The staff and supporters are totally committed to the organization's mission. As a sponsor and a Board member, I am proud to support LPGM.

As a sponsor for two beautiful girls, I love the mission and vision of LPGM. Joanna

LPGM has a relationship based model of global partnership which centers the needs and priorities of our global partners. We support programs and fund needs as they’re articulated and advocated for and proven effective by the people most impacted. I’m also deeply impressed by the generosity and commitment of our donors and volunteers, who see this approach as the way they want to serve and accompany sisters and brothers in India and Guatemala and Tanzania and elsewhere.

Eripoto for Girls and women is an organization registered in Tanzania. Eripoto is committed to addressing the inequalities, discrimination, and injustices facing women and girls in northern Tanzania. Frequently, women and girls suffer from early forced marriages, female genital cutting and gender-based violence.

ERIPOTO envisions a world where women and girls enjoy equal rights and are empowered to live a dignified life.
Empowering women and girls is an essential element to ending extreme poverty and many forms of social injustice.
The organization runs a safe house for girls who face early forced marriages and violence at home, providing scholarships for formal education or technical training, counseling, and other forms of support to these at-risk young women, also Eripoto provides women and girls with community-based and in-school seminars that focus on socioeconomic and education matters.

I, Esuvat as the founder of Eripoto, understands the challenges women and girls face firsthand. I founded Eripoto to help young women and girls navigate the same challenges I experienced growing up. I escaped a forced marriage and gained a university education and today, I'm inspiring girls and young women and passing on the educational gift I received through my work at ERIPOTO.

All of this work has been supported by our partners LPGM. The work done by LPGM here in Tanzania is incredible, there are not enough words to appreciate LPGM works. Other girls supported by LPGM are in the college taking clinical medicines, Pharmacist and Lawyers courses, LPGM supported these girls to archive their dreams instead of being a bride at the age of 14 and below

With LPGM I always felt we were making a positive influence on the students' lives, with their communication to us expressing their gratitude and their progress and expectations.

LPGM has been close to our hearts since Gordon and Betty Olson started it in memory of their son, Tim, who was murdered while a missionary. Who could imagine, at that time, the impact of their vision on numerous countries of the world! We have been most familiar with the Saron boys school in India; we started sponsoring boys there when our son was young and continued until the boys graduated from the 12th standard, High School. It was wonderful to get letters and artwork from them and follow their progress. We continue to support LPGM now, because they are so lean, efficient , and effective in their life changing work for children and young adults. I'd give them 10 stars if I could!

I recently traveled to Tanzania with five others. It was an educational and very inspiring experience. The trip was well organized and gave us a glimpse of the culture and the work of LPGM there. We were privileged to meet those involved in working in the schools and safe houses, and talked with students in both settings. I've also traveled to Guatemala and India with LPGM. The work being done in these areas addresses the needs of women and children-especially girls. Education for all is promoted. LPGM is an exceptional organization!

I just returned from a trip to Tanzania with a LPGM group of six women. The trip was well-planned and definitely exceeded my expectations. This was the third trip I took with LPGM. Each unique experience has broadened my world view and in doing so helped me understand myself. I witnessed the fulfillment of the LPGM mission to help improved access to education, especially for girls and women. Especially memorable was our visit to a safe house where teenage girls who want to finish their secondary education can stay during school breaks rather than be married in exchange for a dowry of a few cows or goats. Donor funds were wisely used!

LPGM has been a marvelous organization in helping to provide access to quality education for girls and women, boys and men. I continue to be astonished at the difference it is making in the small corners of the world! And I am honored to be able to serve.

A wonderful organization that I’ve started working with, with focus on projects that are relevant in bringing quality education with humility and grace.

LPGM was founded on a individual selfless act to complete a Lutheran church in the Central African Republic over 25 years ago. It has grown into a vibrant charitable organization that supports those in the margins, especially women and girls, with education opportunities, boarding and safe houses in India, Tanzania, Guatemala and South Sudan. You won't find a more dedicated group of staff and volunteers. I started as a donor over 25 years ago and am now proudly a volunteer board member of LPGM.

I have been a donor and volunteer with LPGM for over 20 years. I am happy to support the organization because I have confidence that the donations are directly supporting children at the margins. I have travelled many times with LPGM and each time it has truly been transformational. I highly recommend supporting LPGM!

I've been giving to LPGM since it was founded, but just recently joined the board. I love how it partners with local organizations to help people at the margins, often girls, with education. Their trips are a great way for people to expand worldviews and really understand another culture. Looking forward to my next one.

Volunteering and working with LPGM has been an amazing experience from day 1! They helped me visit my sponsor student on my own in India making what could have been an intimidating trip through a country I was not familiar with into a seamless trip that was one of the greatest experiences of my life!

We have been supporters of LPGM since before it's actual beginning. Our family has supported many students at LPGM schools in India. This has been a very rewarding experience knowing these girls have been started on successful careers using education we helped them complete. Our connection is enriched by little details, such as fabric for Confirmation saris or meeting their families while on an LPGM sponsored trip.

My wife Beth and I have been supporters of Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry (LPGM) since 2004. They are an exceptional organization that partners with local schools in India, Tanzania, and Guatemala with a focus on educating children who come from the poorest settings . . . especially girls.

Studies overwhelmingly support the concept that educating girls is the most impactful, positive thing that can be done to elevate the health, well-being, and the economic station of ENTIRE communities; positively impacting girls, boys, their parents, grandparents, and eventually the children born to those girls who have had the benefit of education. LPGMs efficiency (the percentage of benefactor's gifts that directly benefit our recipient partners) is 80% and higher . . . that is an exceptional number that underscores the excellent stewardship of our benefactors gifts.

I believe so strongly in the mission and work of LPGM that I joined their Board of Directors in 2020 . . . it is an honor and privilege to volunteer with an organization that is making a positive impact one child at a time.

LPGM is a wonderful organization I wholeheartedly support and have for the majority of my life as I became involved as a child through my parents. LPGM is an organization that promotes its partners' agency in the work that is done and in this way the help that is offered is so much more impactful and is true to the needs of those partnered with. LPGM's staff is top notch and I trust in their leadership immensely. If you are looking for a way to support the education, health, and safety of women and girls across the globe, this is a direct way to be involved. I cannot say enough good things about LPGM.

LPGM is a small organization doing big things! Their emphasis on educating girls is not only important but is research-based and proven to change communities. I am happy to support the programs of LPGM because I know that they have direct impact on communities in the areas that are most needed. I completely trust the work that is done to be ethical and valued by the communities. I cannot think of anything more important than educating young people, particularly girls, in communities around the world!

Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry was founded by good friends of ours 25 years ago. This organization provides access to quality education for people at the margins, especially women and girls. They work together with global partners to listen, respond and bear witness to local needs and priorities. LPGM focuses on four main ways to help those in need: Partnerships, Education, Empowerment, and Travel. I am happy to write this review for a wonderful, caring and life changing organization!

I recently worked with LPGM on planning our trip to Guatemala at the end of January this year. I have worked with a variety of organizations on trips before, but I had not had an experience like I did with LPGM. It truly was a partnership, where we built our trip together based on our shared values of global partnership, justice and boundary crossing. It continues to be an honor to work with them on how to learn from local leaders around world on how leaders are healing their communities. Then bringing that knowledge back home to apply what we learn to be co-creators in healing and justice in our own communities.

Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry is supporting amazing work in Tanzania through the Safe Initiative that supports a local organization called Mwangaza. Through Mwangaza, local leaders are providing immediate assistance to at-risk girls in danger of early forced marriage or genital cutting. They are also training teachers on the safety issues many students face, child protection measures, and student counseling techniques. In addition, community-based training with mothers and daughters foster discussions about health, well-being, and the problems that most affect women and girls.

I was one of the sponsored student of the LPGM .Which is one of the most incredible organisation I can say.Mrs .Sandra Anderson who was my sponsor parent.They gave me a great confidence and motivation which makes my career more enjoyable and happy in hospitality around the world and so far I worked and working in different countries.I would like to thank each one of the member in LPGM

I am proof that travel can be transformational! With LPGM we get to meet local people and experience a bit of their culture. But, what I have come away with is a new understanding of hospitality and generosity. Go out on a limb and take your faith global by traveling with LPGM.

LPGM is essential in providing access to quality education. I have been giving to LPGM for about a year and will continue to do so as I have received great communication from my sponsored student and I know the organization has the needs of the students in mind in all that they do.