Lutheran Ministries in Higher Education
The Rev. Becca Seely, executive director
MISSION: We connect college students with one another, faith communities, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ through our network of big hearted, open minded campus ministries where students experience God’s love and explore, claim, and live Christian faith.
We Are Resilient TOGETHER
Amidst so many challenges, it has been a joy to lean into our partnerships to continue to support our students who are struggling and to find new opportunities for ministry in this time. We have been able to work with our ELCA congregational partners, as well as ecumenical congregational partners to provide three weekly online opportunities for students across NYC to experience God's love in community, receive pastoral support, and pray together. We have partnered with an Episcopal Campus Ministry downtown to help support our students downtown with a weekly study break. PRiSM, our downtown student ministry, has partnered with Trinity's Services and Food for the Homeless to launch a College Student Pantry food pantry in fall 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. Since its launch, we have given over 500 bags of healthy, nutritious groceries to food insecure colleges students. We also brought together teams from over 25 congregations for our annual Trivia Night fundraiser, which fostered community and shared mission among congregations in our synod and beyond. We are continually grateful for the partnership of the Metropolitan New York Synod, which supports our work in so many ways.
The Vine community gathered on Ash Wednesday for a service of prayer with imposition of ashes on Zoom.
We Are Hopeful TOGETHER
In September 2020, PRiSM, our downtown campus ministry branch, partnered with Trinity Services and Food for the Homeless at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish to launch the College Student Pantry. The College Student Pantry is a food pantry providing healthy, nutritious groceries twice a month to food insecure college and graduate students. The pantry is run by a student coordinator and student volunteers and emphasizes leadership development in addition to combatting hunger. We have distributed over 500 bags of groceries to students from over 20 colleges this year and are excited to expand our reach in the year to come. Please visit
collegestudentpantry.org to learn more.
Student volunteers pack bags at the College Student Pantry
God's Work. Our Hands, TOGETHER
There are many ways to engage in the work of LMHE and help support our ministry with students, including financially supporting our ministry, volunteering, helping us connect to your congregation and more:
Volunteer: Do you have gifts, resources, energy and passion you'd like to share? We would love to connect with volunteers who would like to make meals for students, work with our Board of Directors, help us connect to a service opportunity, assist with events like our annual Trivia Night Fundraiser, help at one of our outreach events, meet with students interested in learning more about your line of work, speak to our students about your field of expertise or... something else! Email
[email protected] if you would like to get involved in one of the ways named or if you have another great idea for how you can help!
Make a Financial Gift: This ministry simply isn't possible without the generous partnership of people like you who care about ministry with students. Consider making a one-time or monthly gift.
Donate to our Food Pantry: Visit
collegestudentpantry.org to find a link to our Amazon Wish List. We are seeking personal care products, like tampons, pads and deodorant to add to our pantry offerings.
Congregational Partnership: LMHE is actively seeking partner congregations in three categories (Supporting, Sower, and Covenant) who care deeply about making sure that students in New York City are invited into loving, Gospel-centered campus ministry communities. Partner congregations pray for students, refer students to The Vine, host visits from LMHE staff, board members, and students, and make a financial commitment to support campus ministry. We are seeking life-giving, mutual relationships with congregations who care about students and would love to discuss this possibility with your congregation. Simply email Pr. Becca at
[email protected] to learn more.
Plan a Campus Ministry Sunday for your Congregation: Invite Pastor Becca Seely to come preach and to bring one of our students to share the impact campus ministry has in their life. Pray for students. Collect a special offering in support of LMHE. Write notes of support for members of the congregation who are in college and graduate school at coffee hour. There are lots of possibilities! Email Pastor Becca at
[email protected] to discuss and schedule a Campus Ministry Sunday.
Refer Students: Are there students in your congregation who attend college or graduate school in New York City? Let them know about LMHE's ministries and send us their contact information so Pr. Becca can get in touch. Email
[email protected].
Stay in Touch: Sign up for our newsletter at thevinenyc.org/newsletter. Like The Vine on Facebook (
facebook.com/thevinenewyork), follow us on Instagram (@vinenyc) and share our posts on your own and your congregation’s page.
Pray for Students: Please keep LMHE, its students and all who study in your prayers and lift them up in the prayer ministries of your congregation.
Thank you for working with us to share the good news of Jesus Christ with students in NYC!
Student leaders welcome new students at an outdoor back to school picnic in August 2020