Seeds of Hope was borne out of compassion for our Christian brothers and sisters in El Salvador and continues to grow as we nurture an ongoing relationship with our Lutheran church partners there.

 

In 2000 ~ While serving in El Salvador, Pastor Anna-Kari Johnson notices that many children cannot afford to attend school. When she and Kristian Johnson marry, they request monetary gifts for the Lutheran church in El Salvador in lieu of wedding gifts. These gifts begin the El Salvador student sponsorship program. With assistance from Kristian’s parents, Arlan and Phyllis Johnson, and the support of their home congregation, First Lutheran Church in Red Wing, Minnesota, the seeds are planted and 20 children receive financial assistance to attend school.

 

2001 ~ Ron and Elaine Larson hear Kristian and Anna-Kari share information about the student sponsorship program and a seed is planted in them to join a delegation traveling to El Salvador. In 2002, the Larsons travel to El Salvador with a delegation from Chicago. During this trip they witness the extreme poverty and the lack of educational opportunities for students living in poverty. They return home determined to make a difference and in the fall of 2002, Ron and Elaine introduce the El Salvador sponsorship program to their home church, Family of Christ Lutheran in Chanhassen, Minnesota.

 

2002 – 2012 ~ The Larsons grow the El Salvador student sponsorship program from 26 elementary students to 309 students in elementary, high school and university. Four Minnesota churches now partner with Family of Christ to sponsor students: Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church in Buffalo, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, River of Hope Lutheran Church in Hutchinson, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Lake, Minnesota.

 

2004 ~ The Larsons coordinate the first “school supply donation effort” to gather school supplies to bring to El Salvador. This is the first of many mission trips where suitcases are filled with various supplies required for students to succeed in school.  

 

2007 ~ Pastor Kristie Hennig leads the first annual Family of Christ El Salvador Summer Mission Trip for adults and youth where they meet the students at a sponsorship party, learn how Bishop Oscar Romero spoke out for the poor during the brutal Civil War in El Salvador, and learn about the role of the Lutheran church in El Salvador. The mission trip provides an important opportunity to nurture our relationship with our ministry partners in El Salvador: Pastor Matias, Pastora Martina, Pastor Atilio, Pastora Gloria and Luis, and Maria Trinidad.

 

2008 ~ The El Salvador Student Sponsorship program becomes Seeds of Hope (Semilla de Esperanza) at the suggestion of Pastor Matias, one of our ministry partners in El Salvador.

 

2012 ~ After ten years of developing and growing the program, Ron and Elaine decide it’s time to pass the torch and hand leadership of the Seeds of Hope sponsorship program over to Mark and Janice Laven. Mark has been a co-leader and photographer of the El Salvador Mission Trip since 2007.

 

2013 ~ Recognizing opportunities to continue to grow Seeds of Hope, the Lavens invite other Family of Christ members with a heart for this ministry to begin the Seeds of Hope Ministry Team.

 

2014 ~ Seeds of Hope supports 350 students in El Salvador, including 35 university students, giving them hope for a better future. Three more students graduate from university in 2014, bringing the total to 10 university graduates. These students are helping their communities with degrees in teaching, law, medicine, math, computer science, and social work.

 

2015 ~ Twenty two students will start their first year of university. That's the largest number of students starting in a single year. We will have 48 students in university if all have sponsors!

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2019 ~ Mark and Janice Laven have retired as coordinators of SoH and we welcome Gary Dosdall and Keri Buisman as new coordinators. They have been to El Salvador and are both very passionate about the students in El Salvador and about the positive impact education is having on the students, families and communities in El Salvador.

Timeline of Seeds of Hope