Dear Lutheran Student Movement-USA,

Grace and peace to you my brothers and sisters in Christ, my name is Smith Heavner. At the Follow Me conference in Chicago, I was given the great honor of being chosen to serve as the 2010-2011 President of Lutheran Student Movement-United States of America. I am also thrilled to announce that the legislative assembly gathered in Chicago passed an amendment to our constitution officially affiliating LSM-USA with the Evangelical Church in America. Given this newly cemented relationship, I am, on behalf of LSM-USA, eager to connect with college and university students through out the ELCA.

The Lutheran Church has such a proud history of social justice and activism and service. The ELCA has a number of highly active organizations like Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, Young Adults in Global Mission and now, LSM USA. We, now partnered with the ELCA, are a part of that rich, proud history. So how do we step up? How do we carve out our niche in the ELCA? We rely on our strengths: evangelism and service.

For the last several years, LSM USA has been steadily revising its social statements. We are now one of the most inclusive, welcoming, and forward thinking Christian student organizations in the nation! This is a huge source of pride for me. LSM is a place where people that have been so alienated by some less welcoming Christian organizations can come and be welcomed. Those hurting children of God can come and join in Word and Sacrament. Those estranged souls are welcomed with open arms. Being so welcoming, LSM is uniquely suited to lead a revival in evangelism. With our widely opened arms, we can welcome or brothers and sisters into the body of Christ. We can teach ourselves how to share God’s love in ways that will draw in rather than repel.

This is going to be a very exciting year for LSM. We will be continuing our relationship with Lutheran Disaster Response to provide alternative spring breaks for college students across the US. Information on Project Connect and Habitat for Humanity will also be distributed. The national council is also entering into conversation with other ELCA churchwide ministries like the Young Adults in Global Mission program (YAGM).

Please go to our website, www.lsm-usa.org, for more information on how you can be more involved.

In Christ,
Smith Foster Heavner
LSM USA President