At Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, ministry reaches far beyond Sunday morning worship.
"Our work is not just here in this building," says Pastor Robert Henderson. "We see our mission out in the world, reaching those in need with the gifts God has entrusted to us."
Pastor Rob has led this congregation for 28 years, and that conviction shapes everything they do. Over the years, this calling has reached neighbors across the country and around the globe — from helping families rebuild after Hurricane Katrina to rallying together when war broke out in Ukraine. In Pastor Rob's words, Lord of Life is a congregation that "serves others by serving Jesus."
So when Lutheran World Relief invited congregations to support girls’ education in Sierra Leone, Pastor Rob immediately recognized it as a natural fit for Lord of Life’s mission.
God has blessed us to be a blessing. Educating girls in Sierra Leone is one powerful way our congregation responds to that call.
Breaking the cycle of poverty through education
For girls in Sierra Leone, education can mean the difference between opportunity and hardship. Around the world, 122 million girls are out of school, and the consequences can be devastating: child labor, early marriage, abuse and the heightened risks that come with early pregnancy and childbirth. Poverty is often the greatest barrier keeping girls from the classroom — and education remains one of the most powerful ways to break that cycle.
Through Lutheran World Relief, that hope is becoming real. In Sierra Leone, we help vulnerable girls stay in school by addressing both the cost of education and the barriers that keep them from learning. About $348 can help a girl remain in school for a full year. Now in our second year of this work, we’ve seen life-changing results — but the need is still urgent, and many girls are still waiting for their chance.
That’s what made Pastor Rob’s Lenten invitation so compelling. He brought a simple question to his congregation: How many girls in Sierra Leone can we educate this Lent?
The response was extraordinary. By Lent’s end, the congregation had supported 77 girls — raising more than $26,000. One member, recently widowed, channeled her grief into generosity and funded an astounding 20 girls on her own.
Changing a nation by educating a girl
Lynn Reboul has worshiped at Lord of Life for more than 20 years. A graduate of a women's college in an era when higher education for women was rare, she knows firsthand the life-changing opportunities education provides.
The campaign moved her to think beyond a single school year. She began encouraging the congregation to sustain this ministry for years to come — and in a smaller country like Sierra Leone, Lynn believes the ripple effect can reach even further.
"When you educate girls, they can change a village," she says. "They can change an entire nation."
And that’s exactly the kind of change Lynn is aiming for. “I dream big,” she says.
More girls are waiting for your love
The story of Lord of Life is a reminder that global change starts with simple acts of faith right here at home. Every gift — large or small — helps a girl pick up a pencil, walk through a classroom door, and imagine a brighter future.
Thank you to Lord of Life Lutheran Church, and to all our compassionate congregations and donors, for your faithful support of girls' education. Together, we can keep more girls in school and help break the cycle of poverty for generations to come.
Feeling inspired? Here’s how you can help right now: Consider becoming a Faithful Neighbor! The sustaining love of Faithful Neighbors, break down the barriers keeping girls from education. Their monthly gifts provide cash transfers that help girls stay in school and break the vicious cycle of poverty. They meet immediate needs AND empower lasting change. Learn more today.