More than thirty years ago, a young college graduate named Tim Olson felt called to adventure and service. He traveled to the Central African Republic (CAR) to help build a church, and he tragically lost his life while serving there. His devastated parents, Gordon and Betty Olson, transformed this unimaginable tragedy into something beautiful: Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry (LPGM). As we celebrate 30 years this month as a registered nonprofit, we reflect not only on what we've accomplished together, but on what our faithful partnerships have taught us along the way. 

A small group meets with Gideon, a former Arcot Lutheran Church bishop, at the home of Gordon & Betty Olson in 2003.

We’ve learned that Real Partnership Begins with Listening 

It’s easy to think we know what our global neighbors need, but thirty years have reinforced the lesson: authentic partnership starts with tuning in. 

We've discovered that the most powerful question isn't "How can we help?" but "What are your dreams?" When we listened to Arcot Lutheran Church leaders in India share their vision for student sponsorships in the first years of our existence, we said yes before we fully understood the commitment. That leap of faith taught us that uncertainty doesn't disqualify action—it makes it more meaningful. 

Today, we know our partners by name across four countries. They know the context, the language, the needs of their own communities, and have the expertise to respond. We simply walk beside them, accompanying them on their journey and providing the financial resources they need to thrive. We've learned that when privileged voices make space for marginalized ones, everyone's world gets bigger. 

Betty & Gordon Olson celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in India with their daughter Karna, son-in-law Bob, and five grandchildren: Cullen, Marcus, Betty Signe, Josie, and Tatum.

You've Shown Us That Hope Is Stronger Than Tragedy 

Tim's death could have ended our story before it began. Instead, his parents Gordon and Betty, his sister Karna, and the Bethlehem Lutheran choir chose to plant seeds in the soil of grief. Over the years, thousands of you have joined them and have watered and enriched those seeds with your gifts, leading to a bountiful garden.  

Over the course of three decades, your continued giving has walked with partners through tsunamis, conflicts, and pandemics. You've taught us that hope isn't naive optimism—it's the stubborn insistence that God's love can birth good from the most broken places. Every check you've written, every monthly commitment you've made, has been a vote for hope over despair. 

Female LPGM staff and board members connect with female members of the ALC in 2024. The thumbs up sign signifies"girl power."

You've Helped Us Learn That Ministry Is a Two-Way Street 

Many of you started giving because you wanted to "help those less fortunate." But over the years, you've discovered something beautiful: you've been changed as much as the people at the margins you've supported. Your letters from sponsored students have taught you new perspectives. Your travel experiences have expanded your worldview. Your partnerships have shown you that transformation is mutual. 

Whether you've helped us build a clinic in rural CAR, or support a community college in South India, you've learned that you're not the hero of this story—you're a witness and participant in something much bigger than yourself. Your generous response to our appeals has funded not just projects, but relationships that have transformed everyone involved. 

LPGM supporters lay their hands on President Andre Golike for prayer during his visit to Minnesota in 2014.

You've Embraced the Challenges that Growth Requires 

Jesus taught that unless a grain of wheat dies, it remains alone. Your partnership over thirty years has shown us what this looks like in practice. Many of you have stretched beyond your comfort zones to give. You've questioned your assumptions about global poverty. You've risked genuine relationships with people whose lives look nothing like yours. 

Through your support, you've allowed our boundaries—and your own—to be challenged. Every time you've funded a risky new partnership, our world has expanded. Every time you've supported authentic encounters with difference, you've helped us all discover shared humanity. 

36 Siloam alumni attend an alumni meet in February 2025. Siloam prepared them for success in the world, and this accomplished group included a Siloam caretaker, a business owner, a nurse, a corporate employee, and others. 

You’ve Created Big Ripples 

From student sponsorships and clinics to safe houses and community colleges, your gifts have directly touched thousands of lives. But what you've taught us is that the real impact extends far beyond the immediate recipients. The families you've helped support have lifted entire communities. The students you've sponsored have become teachers, doctors, and leaders who continue the ripple effect of your generosity. 

An LPGM traveler connects with students during a visit to a secondary school served by one of our Tanzanian partners, Mwangaza. 

Looking Forward: We're Still Learning Together 

As we celebrate thirty years, we're not done growing—and neither are you. Many of our longtime donors tell us they never expected to be changed so much by their giving. New supporters continue to expand our understanding of what partnership can look like.  

We're still learning together how to share power more equitably. We're still discovering with you how to make our partnerships more sustainable. We're still figuring out how to be better stewards of the trust you place in us every time you write a check or make an online gift. 

But here's what thirty years have taught us for certain: when donors like you show up with open hearts and generous spirits, when you're willing to be changed by the people your gifts support, when you trust that our lives and futures are bound together in God's love—beautiful things happen. 

Thank You for 30 Years of Partnership 

To every donor who has walked this journey with us—from Tim's parents who planted the first seeds of hope, to the monthly sponsors who just joined us last month—thank you. Your faithfulness has sustained us through every challenge. 

Because of your continued partnership, death still doesn't get the final word. 

Happy 30th Anniversary, LPGM. Here's to thirty more years of discovery, partnership, and hope—made possible by faithful donors like you. 

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