All members of the Grand Canyon Synod are invited to participate in the Diakonia Graduation, Thursday, 6/2/2022, 5pm MST/PDT, 6pm MDT. Register for the Diakonia graduation here. Registration is required this year to be a part of the graduation service, and is a separate registration from the synod assembly. Learn more about this great program at diakoniaaz.org.

Congratulations to the following graduates:

James Cleven

Sierra Evangelical Lutheran,  Sierra Vista

Taking the Diakonia classes has been a great way for me to continue growing in my faith. Studying the Old and New Testaments as an adult allowed me a better understanding of the Law and Gospel and how they work together. Learning about ELCA’s Social Messages and Statements provided me an understanding of how our church can grow and adapt to new social issues and develop new policies to help others as we assist with God’s work in our community. The class on Christian Worship was an eye opener as we learned what it takes to put together a worship service.

Each of the 12 courses offers insight to our Lutheran faith and what it’s based on and why worship the way we do. Romans chapter 12 verse 6 states, “having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith.” We all have different gifts to offer and after completing the 12 courses you’ll be better prepared to identify your gifts and how you can use them to serve others. For me, administration has been one of my gifts and now visitation is something I want to become more involved in.

Norman Engstrom

Mt. Zion Lutheran, Tucson

I decided to join the Diakonia program to increase my knowledge of Christian and Lutheran history and theology. The courses satisfied this goal and more. Much of the material on the Bible, Lutheran history and the Creeds and Confessions I was familiar with, but new perspectives were presented, and the information was much more inclusive and filled in holes in my current knowledge.

In addition, we were presented with ways of using the information in our daily lives and faith, such as service preparation, visiting the sick and ways of practicing spirituality. Experiencing many of these practical applications added to my confidence in applying them in my faith life should the opportunity arise. I have already become a better listener and I have been asked to prepare and deliver two sermons for midweek services. In the immediate future I feel the need to go back over my class notes, reread some of the material and read some of the additional resources suggested in order to solidify the knowledge base and make further connections between courses. I will also be able to encourage potential participants with greater specificity.

Cynthia Guenthner

Saint Andrew Lutheran, Phoenix

First of all, it was a course of study, an offering of classes, with a rich diversity of learning styles, comprised of Bible studies, theological studies, Lutheran studies, historical studies, and practical ministries, with some studies appealing to my analytical left‐brain and others speaking to my spiritual and creative right‐brain. I approached the beginning of each course in anticipation of the new adventures that that course would bring. We read, wrote, learned, discussed, prayed, and shared together.

It was also an opportunity to meet, work with, and get to know pastors and other students from all over the synod. My classes were during the pandemic, and we had to meet via Zoom, but we were still able to learn together and get to know one another as we studied and discussed.

Most of all, Diakonia was a spiritual journey of growth for me, a way to examine and understand what I believe and why I believe it. It broadened and deepened knowledge, insights, understanding, and appreciation of the things we cannot yet know. It was an inspirational journey, a time to think about what God is calling me to do and how to use my gifts as an effective minister for Christ.

Looking at Diakonia only as a course of study makes it sound too dry, too boring, and too much work ‐‐ but in reality, it was for me an opportunity of Christian community, spiritual growth, and a gift of God's grace.

Deborah Martin

Mt. Zion Lutheran, Tucson

My life is not a destination, but a journey of which Diakonia has been a part. My decision to study in the Diakonia program was to grow deeper in my faith and yes, there were lessons with facts and history, but for me it was to continue to know fully that God is always in my life for I am broken and yet I am part of an incredible love story…God has got me! (Thanks to Pastor Jeff for reminding me of that).

Because of the growth in my faith, I have felt the presence of the Holy Spirit within me and know that I am truly blessed! I pray that the Light of Christ continues to come into my heart and shine through me so that other’s may see God’s love.

Richard Yeager

Beautiful Savior Lutheran, Tucson

I started out slow in the fall of 2020. I would take the first three classes and see if the program was right of me. There was never a question raised about stopping. The Lord just kept me going. The first two classes just went by and I found myself wondering how much I didn’t know and how much there is to learn. It will take time to fully absorb all the information that was given to us. Dr. JillMichelle Cosart wrapped up this “test” Of the next 3 classes, I found myself drawn into the history perspective. The American Context of the Lutheran Church in America over the last 385 years came alive and living in northern Minnesota I could related to many of the small community churches and changes with mergers we talked about. This historical interest carried over to the second year of the program with the class on the 1st 400 years of the Christian Church.

The second year was in person in Tucson, and I found the food, fellowship, personal interactions to be more alive than with the Zoom class. The last 3 classes for me just built from the insights of the Lutheran Creed and Confessions, to service with the class on Visitation, and then to the heart with Spirituality in the Daily Life of a Christian.

I found these two years to be a time of exposure, remembrance, new knowledge, and old knowledge in new light. I was challenged to understand my beliefs as a Lutheran in the Christian Community.