Sisters & Brothers in God's family

Today, at the end of my term of service, I would like to thank you: THANK YOU for your support in thinking and praying with us, but also THANK YOU for your generous donations, some of which have been regular and long-standing.

This THANK YOU is also the thanks of our partners in 22 partner churches. Wherever I visited them, I felt the gratitude and great respect for the decades of consistent and reliable cooperation with the ELM - and therefore also with you.
Working together on God's behalf, on his mission, defines our cooperation and partnership. When I began my work in ELM in 2014, a bishop from South Africa told me: "We were your children - now we are brothers and sisters!" This describes the change that has taken place in the 175 years of our work. Our global partners not only listen, but also give us feedback. They share their impressions of how they experience the church in Germany; they ask why ELM does things the way it does and not differently. They develop suggestions as to how and on what we want to work together. Yes, we are brothers and sisters in God's family!
In these international ecumenical encounters, I experience anew what it means when God looks at us (Watchword 2023, Genesis 16:13). He gives us dignity as his children, puts us in our place and challenges us to live the Gospel, to pass it on and make it tangible for people. This is also how people say: "God is looking at me!"
The experience of justice and dignity changes people; they take their lives into their own hands with self-confidence.

I will miss visiting partners when my work at ELM comes to an end. Dr Emmanuel Kileo will take over as Director of ELM.
PLEASE accompany him and our entire team, but above all our partners around the world, with prayer, feedback and your donations. God's love is always manifest. Sometimes God needs our money.

United in faith.
Michael Thiel, retired director