Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) is collecting stories about how the recently signed One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 will impact SNAP recipients.
This new law includes changes to eligibility, benefits, and program administration that may directly affect recipients under the age of 65. We’re hoping to hear from anyone in our community who may lose benefits or experience other changes because of this bill.
If you’re willing to share your story with a reporter today (Thursday, Oct. 9), please: 📩 Reply to this post or 📧 Email us at paullarson@leanforjustice.org
Your story helps us advocate for fair and compassionate policies that ensure no one goes hungry.
Support reauthorization of international food assistance.
This week on Oct. 16, many around the world will together commemorate World Food Day through various civic engagement activities. The theme for this year is “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future.” Ending hunger and malnutrition around the world is one of the major challenges with which we are faced and which we must address. According to a recently released report by the United Nations examining the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World, between 638 and 720 million people are estimated to have faced hunger in 2024, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa.
The farm bill, which Congress needs to reauthorize every five years, is a critical policy tool that the U.S. government employs to fight global hunger. The legislation authorizes several international food aid programs. As policymakers work to finalize the next farm bill, urge your members of Congress to ensure programs that feed hungry people around the world are protected, especially the following programs:
Food for Peace (Title II): Supports a critical lifeline for communities with emergency food assistance during humanitarian crises such as famine and conflict, in addition to the non-emergency support used to enhance communities’ resilience to hunger and malnutrition.
McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Nutrition Program: Provides food donations to support school meals programs and maternal and child nutrition in low- and middle-income countries facing hunger.
Food for Progress: Helps developing countries strengthen their agricultural sectors. Under this program, donated U.S. agricultural commodities are sold locally, and the proceeds are then used to support agricultural, economic or infrastructure development programs.
As Lutherans, we are committed to work towards a just world where all are fed. “We are called to be stewards of what God has given for the sake of all. This stewardship includes holding economic, political, and social processes and institutions responsible for producing and distributing what is needed for sufficiency for all,” reads the ELCA social statement Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All. Farm bill provisions can assist our siblings in great need.
Urge international food aid inclusion to contribute to the well-being of God’s people and creation. Please contact your members of Congress to protect international food programs in the farm bill. You are encouraged to customize your message to reflect your own voice and values. Thank you for your faithful advocacy!
ACLU is hosting on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. PT, Building a Firewall for Freedom. Join the ACLU of Nevada and the national ACLU on Instagram Live to discuss the launch of our Firewall for Freedom campaign
We’re bringing legal action, advocacy, and public engagement to defend the rights that keep Nevada free: free speech, immigrant rights, voting rights, and equal protection for all.
What does advocacy look like? For the Southeastern Synod ELCA, it can be as bold as taking part in a lawsuit and as simple as listening to others. In our most recent SPPO Spotlight, “Grateful Response to Grace with Advocacy,” the Rev. Justin Eller explores the advocacy work of the ELCA-affiliated state public policy office (SPPO)
If advocacy means loving our neighbors and working for justice with the “least of these” (all who are hungry, thirsty, newly arriving, vulnerable, sick or imprisoned – Matthew 25:40) then advocacy can be both general and particular.
The Southeastern Synod of the ELCA consists of congregations and faith communities across four states: Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. Each state has their own unique particularities and priorities, state legislative session dates and rhythms, and contextual challenges and opportunities. Instead of being a single ELCA-affiliated state public policy office (SPPO), we strive, as a four-state synod, to journey with residents, congregations and leaders as we navigate a wide variety of challenges.
OUR APPROACH TO ADVOCACY
In lieu of attempting to respond to every particular state legislative item, our Southeastern Synod’s advocacy work usually focuses on broader issues impacting our entire synod territory. Whether it’s marriage equality, food and medical insecurity, or supporting immigrant and refugee communities, our approach to advocacy, loving our neighbors, and working for justice, is to engage, equip, and empower.
Engage: We work with our congregations and leaders to engage in advocacy action and understand how advocacy is part of our baptismal growth in Christian faith and life, “to care for others and the world God made, and to work for justice and peace” (ELW, p.228).
Equip: We work to equip our congregations and leaders with quality information and training on advocacy-related issues as well as how to advocate at the local, state, and federal level. We have an Advocacy Policy Committee with representatives from our four states who help us put into motion ways we can advocate across our synod.
Empower: We work to empower our congregations and leaders to be active advocates in their context, to contact their elected officials and to speak with communities who are vulnerable and not speak for them.
The Southeastern Synod grounds our advocacy work in:
Scripture that calls people of faith to care for the most vulnerable;
Values of Accompaniment in the ELCA: mutuality, inclusivity, vulnerability, empowerment and sustainability; and
It looks like working with congregations and communities in our four states in emergency/disaster preparedness, whether from a hurricane, tornado or immigration enforcement action.
It looks like the Southeastern Synod being the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the state of Tennessee over a new law that could put rostered ministers and congregations at risk for providing food, shelter or resources to undocumented immigrants.
It looks like hosting virtual Lunch-and-Learn events, “Know Your Rights” and “Support Your Community” workshops and trainings to address root causes of systemic injustices.
It looks like creating a network of congregations who have Matthew 25-like community-engaged ministries (such as ministries of feeding, clothing and shelter).
It looks like participating as speakers at public witness events like the “Witness for Creation” event organized by Creation Justice Ministries
THE EXPERIENCE OF ADVOCACY
As we have experienced it, advocacy can be big and bold and as simple as showing up, listening to an adversely impacted community, and committing to walk with them in solidarity and love as they address their challenges. Advocacy can be expressions of social action and practices of faith.
Yet, in all of this faithful work, advocacy is what we get to do together and is our grateful response to God’s grace in Jesus Christ to love and serve our neighbor.
Critical programs that protect the integrity of our air, soil, water, and the habitats that sustain all living creatures are at risk. Take action today to advance this comprehensive legislation.
As Congress considers a budget for 2026, proposals across the government would make deep cuts to theAs Congress considers a budget for 2026, proposals across the government would make deep cuts to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds, Superfund cleanup and environmental justice programs—rolling back progress on safeguarding public health and creation care. These cuts could result in increased pollution of our air, contamination of our water and degradation of the habitats creation calls home. As people of faith, we are called to steward creation so that all life may flourish. Programs that protect clean air, restore soil health, provide safe drinking water and safeguard habitats for wildlife are essential for the well-being of our neighbors, human and nonhuman alike.
As the ELCA social statement Caring for Creation: Vision, Hope, and Justice cautions, “Our current practices may so alter the living world that it will be unable to sustain life in the manner we know.”
Join us in asking Congress to ensure their budget negotiations reflect the vision of creation flourishing! What do you see locally? Customize this message to increase its effectiveness.
Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada 