2021 Annual Meeting Recap
Thank you to all of you who attended our 2021 Friendship House MSU annual meeting. Based on the overwhelming positive feedback we received, we conveyed the message that our ministry is alive and well!
For those of you unable to attend, I thought I would share my thoughts and reflections on our meeting that was short on business — and long on ministry!
Pastor Gary Bunge, Lead Pastor at University Lutheran Church, opened the meeting with prayer. Our Board President Dennis Meier then welcomed guests (including Sue Hasselbring, Ministry Catalyst for International Student Ministry), and remembered Pastor Richard Moe and Pastor Travis Downs. Both pastors passed away in the past year and were dedicated to the Friendship House ministry and community.
In addition to approving last year’s annual meeting minutes and electing our Board of Directors (welcome first year members Betsy Seeley and Tracy Collins), we approved the budget. One key component of the financials was the addition of an endowment fund to our portfolio. The endowment fund (invested with the Lutheran Legacy Foundation) is NOT designed to replace everyday operational funding, but rather to secure the ministry’s long-term health, while providing a higher rate of return on savings to support operational expenses.
We ask that those who are able to continue their “routine” financial support for our current daily ministry to please do so. We also ask those who are making estate plans, or who are receiving sizeable retirement disbursements, to please consider contributing to the endowment fund to ensure the Friendship House MSU mission thrives long after we are gone to our heavenly home.
I shared a “State of the Ministry” update with the following two key takeaways:
- Our ministry has NEVER stopped during the pandemic! We have continued to minister to those in our local community, while connecting with alumni and new students around the globe.
- The house is now open for in-person classes and interaction (visitors must be vaccinated and wear masks), while maintaining our virtual connection around the globe (or down the street).
Once the business portion of the meeting was completed, we moved into the music and testimonial portion of the meeting. Former house manager Eduardo Farias performed a wonderful rendition of, “They will know we are Christians by our Love,” the theme of the meeting.
Three guest presenters followed: Stefanie Louissa from Indonesia now living in Kansas City and Bulent Unalan from Turkey now living in Denmark, who shared with us the positive impact our ministry has had in their lives, and Jen Garmon, one of our teachers and conversation partners, who spoke on how her life has been enriched by being a part of the ministry. The meeting concluded with Pastor David Dressel, Board Vice President, reminding us that our ministry is solely supported by individuals and small local congregations, and that we are all enriched by the work of the Friendship House MSU community and ministry.
I am honored to be a part of this family and look forward to leading our community into our 30th year of mission and ministry. I pray you all come along with me on this journey!
God Bless,
Dan Winter,