LPGM held its annual board retreat and annual meeting April 25-26, 2025, at Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis. As the board and sets the goals and budget of the ministry and does much of the behind-the-scenes work as well, the retreat provided much-needed time for members and staff to connect, learn, and plan.

Friday Night

The Board Retreat began with an informal evening of conversations as board members, staff, and guests shared a meal, providing an excellent opportunity for connection and meaningful kick off to the weekend. Meeting spouses, partners, new program manager Laura Feile, and incoming board members set a welcoming tone, allowing newcomers to gain insight into LPGM ahead of their official duties.

The spicy, flavorful and plentiful dishes from India Kutir, along with beverages and a celebratory 30th-anniversary cake, enhanced the joyous occasion.

A highlight of the evening was the prompt, “Something I’ve learned (and/or surprised me) from my travels is….” Responses ranged from sliding on cardboard in China, encountering a stranger wearing your high school t-shirt at a bus stop in Africa, to forming a deep connection with a train passenger in Poland. Common themes emerged:

1. Curiosity leads to transformation: Embrace experiences with a child-like mindset, free of judgment and hesitation. Be open to new experiences because what you learn about yourself, and others will likely surprise you.
2. Unity in diversity: We connect deeply by recognizing similarities and respecting differences. In a time when “othering” seems to be more the norm than the exception, our travel experiences have afforded us to connect and see firsthand how we are more alike than we are different.
3. Travel fosters reflection and gratitude: Travel gives us perspective and grants us opportunities for reflection and gratitude which then often calls to participate in larger conversations about humanity and how we can better care for others.

Saturday

Saturday began with coffee from Wildflyer, breakfast, and the business meeting. New board members Katelyn Rakotoarivelo, Cheryl Philip and the Rev. Sara Spohr were unanimously welcomed, alongside the re-election of existing members Heidi Busch, Marcie Flasch and Petra Vanderford. The final agenda item was electing Executive Committee officers. Outgoing Board Chair Dr. L. DeAne Lagerquist passed leadership to new board chair Kathleen Hokemeier-Seim, marking a seamless transition.

Kathleen shared insights from the 2024 Board Survey, sparking collaborative discussions on enhancing committee work and staff initiatives. After a sunny courtyard lunch featuring Manny’s Tortas and a tour of Christ Church Lutheran, LPGM Development Director Bethany Krepela encouraged active donor engagement through calls and written notes, which Board members embraced enthusiastically.

The afternoon featured impactful program updates. Dr. Laura Wangsness-Willemsen shared her recent research on the impact of climate change on education in Tanzania and how LPGM’s partner Mwangaza is helping. Hilary Sonstegard shared highlights from a recent high school trip she chaperoned to LPGM partner Community Cloud Forest Conservation in Guatemala. LPGM communications coordinator Shannon Mahedy shared a multimedia presentation of uplifting moments from her February trip to India to visit our partners and boarding homes. These updates all served as a reminder of LPGM’s “why.”

Closing Reflections

Executive Director, the Rev. Dan Ruth, delivered a powerful report, grounding LPGM’s work in 2 Corinthians 5:18— “Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

Above: Dan Ruth provides closing remarks to wrap up a productive day.

He explained that reconciliation is about forming new relationships, rather than returning to a former way of being. It’s walking humbly with partners and supporters, and embodying a “theology of the cross” that focuses on relationships, being and suffering with people, and having the courage to tell the truth, rather than a “theology of glory” that focuses on power, prosperity, and dehumanization of others.

“We are called to be small,” shared Dan, “but small can be incredibly powerful, like salt, yeast, and mustard seeds.”

Dan’s words inspired a call to action, aligning LPGM’s mission with faith-driven service and setting a strong foundation for the year ahead for all in attendance.

Gratitude

Thanks to all board and staff members and guests from Friends of Mwangaza who came from far and wide and sacrificed a beautiful spring day to attend the retreat.

Special thanks to Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis for providing our venue for LPGM’ 2025 Board Retreat as well as to Kevin Olsen and DeAne Lagerquist for hosting us. Special thanks to DeAne for the midday architectural tour of the building.

The menu and vendors for the meeting were thoughtfully selected to highlight small local businesses who center their work around philanthropy and elevating others.

1. Dinner - India Kutir
2. Coffee - Wildflyer Coffee
3. Lunch - Manny's Tortas 

How to Get Involved

To learn how you might get involved in the ministry of LPGM, whether as an ambassador to your church or local civic group, as a member of a committee, or as a member of the board, contact Dan at dan@lutheranpartners.org or at 612-806-0730.