Lutheran Volunteer Corps Alumni Aaron Schmalzle and Pastor Jared Witt will soon be opening Castle Church Brewing Company in Orlando, FL. Their tag line “brewing community, fermenting love” is one in the same with their mission: to connect people in intentional relationships and partner with others to do the work of Jesus in their community. In a press release that was shared with LVC, they explain their mission statement like this: “Ferment v. to incite or stir up (trouble or disorder). If you are looking for a God who troubles our complacency and stirs up a movement of love in the world, then Castle Church isRead More →

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Malachi Black served last year as an LVC Volunteer at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Omaha, Nebraska. When asked about why he was drawn to LVC after college, he said that he was searching for something more than just a job. He quotes, “I wanted to be challenged in every aspect of my life and the concept of intentional community really drew me into the program.” Currently, Malachi still serves on staff at Grace as Outreach Coordinator. Recently, he was interviewed on the podcast Things That Matter, which is the official podcast of the Nebraska Synod ELCA. You can listen to the podcast here, and read more from Malachi aboutRead More →

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LVC has been working on its Capital Campaign to purchase the Dorothy Day Volunteer House for quite some time now. The campaign is well on its way to be completed and the purchase and sale agreement was signed just last week! Part of LVC’s excitement in finishing the Dorothy Day House Campaign is what it will mean for its partners in Milwaukee, specifically Spirit of Peace Lutheran Church, who has been a faithful partner in the Milwaukee community.   The Dorothy Day House is actually the Spirit of Peace parsonage, and LVC has rented it from the church for its Volunteer housing for many years. This rental agreement has notRead More →

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Amanda Kirsch is a Second Year LVC Volunteer in Washington, DC. She has spent both of her years in Washington serving at Brainfood, a youth-development organization that uses cooking a food as tools to promote healthy living in a safe environment. Below, Amanda shares her reflections after almost two years of living in intentional community, journeying to an inclusive community, and serving at Brainfood.   Like many Volunteers, I came to LVC as a recent college graduate ready to discover. My college experience had challenged me to integrate my faith and learning and to seek ways to live and work accordingly. With a mission toRead More →

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Seven years ago, Lutheran Volunteer Corps merged with the Lutheran Service Corps (LSC) in Omaha, Nebraska in order to help LSC serve more Omaha nonprofits through its Volunteer service program. This year, nine talented Volunteers live together in Hillstrom House and serve the Omaha community. Sitara Mahtani, who serves at NAMI Nebraska, a mental health advocacy organization, first heard about LVC from a friend who served in Wilmington, DE. Though a bit hesitant to participate because she is not a Christian, Sitara ultimately decided to apply for LVC because of her friend’s experience of openness and inclusion during her Volunteer year. Sitara, a graduate ofRead More →

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