Loving God, we give you thanks for Black history, Black culture, and Black lives, and for the wisdom, courage, creativity, and resilience that have shaped our communities, our church, and our world.
Give us strength, humility, and penitent hearts so we may acknowledge our nation’s history and the mistreatment of people based on ancestry, race, religion, and perceived differences.
We thank you for ancestors who endured, for leaders who dreamed and organized, for artists, teachers, caregivers, and prophets who spoke truth, created beauty, and worked for justice even when the cost was high.
We are grateful for the faith of Black communities—for songs sung in sorrow and in hope, for prayers whispered and proclaimed, for a trust in you that has carried generations forward.
We give thanks that our sins and weaknesses are met with your immense grace, and that your Spirit is at work even now, bringing change and newness within us, within our church, and throughout our society. Amen.
Read “See Me, Believe Me” by The Rev. Dr. Yolanda Denson-Byers – In this book, she offers an honest and unflinching look at the challenges faced by leaders of color in the predominantly white ELCA.
View ELCA Talks At The Desk – This video series explores diverse expressions of the church. Three seasons are currently available and can be used individually or as a group study.
Join ecumenical and interfaith leaders and communities in a public witness on Wed. Feb. 25 grounded in worship, moral courage and solidarity with our neighbors. Register to join virtually the many who will be present in Washington, D.C. for worship and peaceful procession. Register Now: https://ow.ly/QK9t50Y1OO1
The ELCA World Hunger Lent Calendar is here! Learn how you can work toward a more just world through giving and advocacy. This year, our calendar features opportunities to grow through ELCA Advocacy‘s Here I Pod podcast.
Order yours and learn more about Here I Pod at the link in the comments, or simply visit ELCA.org/WHLent.
In a Feb. 9 letter to the U.S. Congress, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Presiding Bishop Yehiel Curry, along with other faith leaders, shared requests as Congress faces a Feb. 13 deadline to determine Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding. Full letter:
An estimated 44,700 Nevadans are projected to lose access to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits due to changes enacted under H.R. 1, known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The law significantly expands federal SNAP work requirements, eliminates longstanding exemptions for vulnerable populations, narrows eligibility for certain noncitizens, and increases administrative cost burdens on states.
For Nevada — particularly rural counties — these changes risk increasing food insecurity without demonstrably increasing employment.
Expanded Work Requirements (Ages 55–64)
Under prior federal law, SNAP work rules applied to “able-bodied adults without dependents” (ABAWDs) ages 18–54.
H.R. 1 expands the upper age limit to 64.
Adults ages 55–64 must now document:
At least 80 hours per month (20 hours/week) of:
Paid employment
Approved job training
Volunteer service
Certain qualifying self-employment
Failure to comply limits benefits to three months within a three-year period.
2. Elimination of Automatic Exemptions
The law removes work requirement exemptions for:
Veterans
Individuals experiencing homelessness
Young adults who aged out of foster care
Parents once their youngest child turns 14
Parents of teens (14–17) must now meet work rules.
3. Narrowed Definition of “Able-Bodied
Under SNAP regulations, “able-bodied” means physically and mentally capable of work and not qualifying for a specific exemption.
Individuals with chronic health conditions may still be classified as able-bodied unless they can provide formal documentation of disability.
This creates risk for:
Older adults with untreated medical conditions
Individuals lacking access to healthcare documentation
People with mental health conditions not formally diagnosed
4. Stricter Waiver Standards for High-Unemployment Areas
Previously, states could request waivers for regions with limited job availability.
Under H.R. 1:
Geographic waivers are only permitted in areas with unemployment rates above 10%.
This threshold is substantially higher than unemployment in many rural Nevada counties — even where job availability is extremely limited.
Nevada Impact
Estimated Loss of Benefits
Approximately 44,700 Nevadans are expected to lose SNAP access.
Rural Disparities
Esmeralda County
Nye County
These counties experience some of the highest food insecurity rates in the state.
Rural barriers include:
Limited job availability
Long travel distances
Lack of public transportation
Seasonal or informal employment
The 10% unemployment waiver threshold makes relief unlikely for many rural communities.
Additional Changes
Noncitizen Eligibility
Certain noncitizens, including some refugees and asylum-status individuals, are no longer eligible for SNAP benefits.
Increased State Fiscal Burden
H.R. 1:
Increases required state contributions for SNAP administrative costs.
May require states to share in benefit costs if error rates exceed federal thresholds.
This creates new fiscal pressure on Nevada’s budget.
Who Is Most Affected
Adults ages 55–64 without dependents
Veterans
Individuals experiencing homelessness
Former foster youth
Parents of teenagers (14–17)
Older adults with chronic conditions lacking documentation
Certain noncitizens with humanitarian status
Evidence from previous SNAP work requirement expansions suggests:
Many individuals lose benefits due to paperwork or reporting barriers.
Employment outcomes do not significantly increase.
Food banks and charitable systems experience increased strain.
Expanded work requirements without expanded job access function primarily as benefit reductions.
Food security is not solely an economic issue — it is a matter of human dignity.
Hunger policy raises critical questions:
What is society’s responsibility to older adults nearing retirement?
How do we support rural communities with limited infrastructure?
Should access to food depend on documentation capacity?
How do public systems reflect shared moral commitments to care for neighbor?
LEAN urges policymakers to:
Monitor and publicly report Nevada’s SNAP loss data.
Invest in rural workforce infrastructure before enforcing expanded work rules.
Ensure disability documentation processes are accessible.
Strengthen partnerships with food banks and local organizations.
Advocate federally for reconsideration of expanded age requirements and waiver thresholds.
The changes enacted under H.R. 1 represent one of the most significant restrictions to SNAP eligibility in recent years.
In Nevada, the consequences will be felt most acutely by older adults, rural communities, and those already navigating economic instability.
Food assistance is not merely a budget line item. It is a stabilizing force for families, seniors, veterans, and communities across our state.
Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada 