Congratulations to the 2025 Servant of Christ Award winners

Throughout Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota’s history, faith communities have been among our most important partners. The Servant of Christ Award honors congregations that are leaders in social ministry outreach or have contributed to addressing needs in their community in extraordinary ways. LSS team members help recognize the contributions of our congregational partners by nominating deserving congregations. Again this year, LSS presented the award to one congregation in each of the six Minnesota synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Read on to learn about their many contributions to LSS.

Atonement Lutheran Church of St. Cloud - Southwestern Minnesota Synod
Atonement Lutheran’s congregation has strengthened the work of LSS through its volunteerism and financial support. The congregation frequently reaches out to local nonprofits to offer in-kind donations, provide financial support and generate awareness around community needs. Over the past year, Atonement has hosted LSS team members from multiple lines of service during their Temple Talks to share about LSS services that support neighbors in central Minnesota as they seek to change their own lives.

Bethel Lutheran Church of Rochester - Southeastern Minnesota Synod
In late 2024, Bethel opened its doors to LSS, welcoming our Youth Services, Financial Counseling, and Caregiver & Companion teams to their building. Throughout this transition, the congregation has been exceedingly welcoming and supportive. In addition to sharing their building, Bethel has continued to support LSS services in southeast Minnesota. Bethel also works to foster community collaboration by introducing LSS team members to other potential congregational partners and local nonprofit organizations. The congregation holds multiple community fundraisers and outreach efforts each year and actively participates in a variety of local service projects.

The Log Church - Northwestern Area Synod
As a neighbor to LSS’ Camp Knutson in Crosslake, The Log Church has been a steady supporter of our camp team. The congregation’s gifts of volunteerism and financial support have helped ensure we can provide more than 1,400 campers annually with life-changing camp experiences. Over the past five years, the members of The Log Church have been valued partners in Camp Knutson’s annual Quilt Auction, one of its largest community fundraisers. The Log Church has generously offered their building for quilt storage, shared their gym space for sorting, labeling and photographing quilts prior to the auction and graciously volunteered at the event. Sharing their time and talents in these ways has helped ensure the Quilt Auction’s ongoing success as an important fundraiser for Camp Knutson.

Peace United Church of Christ of Duluth - Northeastern Minnesota Synod
This past December, LSS’ Another Door Emergency Youth Shelter moved into an expanded and renovated space at Peace United Church. The new shelter allows LSS to serve up to 12 youth at a time, three times the shelter’s previous capacity. Within its larger space, LSS is able to provide short-term housing and case management services to youth ages 18-24. The significant community investment that Peace has made will equip and empower young people in northeast Minnesota with the skills and support they need today, and for years to come.

Edina Community Lutheran Church - Minneapolis Area Synod
Edina Community Lutheran Church has been a partner to LSS for more than two decades, supporting our mission through the congregation’s gifts of time and resources. One of the ways Edina Community Lutheran Church has committed to supporting their neighbors is through its public policy efforts. Last year, these efforts included hosting a Public Policy and Civic Engagement training event with the LSS Public Policy team. The event brought together members from multiple congregations who share a commitment to engaging with elected officials on important issues impacting communities across Minnesota. Together, they learned about civic engagement, building relationships with policymakers, and doing outreach in support of policies that advance the common good.

Bethlehem Lutheran Church in the Midway - Saint Paul Area Synod
This congregation has been a strong mission partner — and neighbor — to LSS for more than 30 years. Bethlehem has provided annual support to LSS transitional housing services and our street outreach collaborative. Bethlehem’s support of LSS services for youth experiencing homelessness is just one of my many ways the congregation actively engages in their community. Members of Bethlehem also operate Open Hearts Midway, a local food shelf and their building is a site for Shobi’s Table, a pay-as-you-can café. They also share their facility with House of Mercy Lutheran Church. Through these partnerships and countless other efforts, Bethlehem is at the heart of addressing complex issues facing their community while also serving as a beacon of hope to their neighbors.

Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota thanks each one of these congregations for all the ways they have been a powerful presence in their communities by caring and serving their neighbors.