APRIL 16, 2026

“Jesus said, ‘Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs’” (Matthew 19:14).

Dear church,

‍Christ is risen!

This Easter Sunday, we celebrated the good news by proclaiming “Alleluia!” for the first time since Ash Wednesday. In four short syllables, that word — “Alleluia!” — encompasses all our joy in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To a world beset by fear and violence, it is a bold declaration of faith in God’s promise that sin and death will not have the final say.

Yet there are times when “alleluia” springs forth not as a shout but as an anguished whisper, an expression of our yearning for the fulfillment of that promise. Even as the church celebrates Easter, we remember many among us who still long for the church to bear witness to that promise.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This month, I invite us as a church to be the people we are called to be — witnesses to God’s desire for the well-being of all, especially the vulnerable children and adult survivors in our midst. 

At least 1 in 7 — and as many as 1 in 4 — children in the United States experiences abuse or neglect. Many of them will face lifelong consequences of physical and emotional trauma, including higher rates of depression, thoughts of suicide, substance abuse, and even cancer and heart disease. When the church has failed them, many others will face the deep spiritual trauma of guilt and of anger toward the church and God.

But it does not have to be this way. Trauma need not have the final say.

The ELCA social message “Child Protection” (2025) describes the harsh realities of child maltreatment, acknowledges the Christian church’s complicity in this sin and names steps the ELCA is called to take to prevent harm and accompany survivors. It offers words of promise and challenge to each of us as we commemorate this month:

To survivors of child maltreatment: Even amid your pain, anger and doubt, be assured of God’s unending love and unfailing promise for your well-being.

To preachers and teachers in congregations: Share the good news of Jesus Christ by studying and teaching the theology of childhood described in the social message. Remember that every worshiping community in the ELCA likely includes victims of child maltreatment. Preach and teach Jesus’ model of welcome and care for children.

To council members and congregation staff: Take time this month to review your child protection policies and practices. Read and discuss the policies recommended in the social message.

To rostered ministers: As stated in the social message, this church expects you to report suspected instances of child maltreatment. Learn more about your state’s legal requirements for clergy as mandated reporters of child abuse or neglect by visiting www.childwelfare.gov/resources/clergy-mandatory-reporters-child-abuse-and-neglect/. Encourage your congregations to advocate for public policies endorsed in the social message.

To counselors, chaplains, teachers, school administrators, social service providers and all those who work for the safety and well-being of children: Thank you, and may God continue to bless your efforts.

In this Easter season, let us pray that all our neighbors may experience resurrection hope and that, for children of all ages, everywhere, a resounding shout of “Alleluia!” may be the last word in God’s story.

In Christ,

The Rev. Yehiel Curry
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 

This month’s ELCA World Hunger Domestic Hunger Spotlight shares the story of Floricel Liborio, a community leader in California, and the faithful response of Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina. Amid fear surrounding immigration enforcement and real hunger among farmworker families, the congregation—supported by an ELCA World Hunger grant—is providing grocery assistance and standing in visible solidarity.

Grounded in relationships, advocacy, and Christ-centered love, this story lifts up what it looks like to accompany neighbors in vulnerable moments. It is a powerful reminder of how the church participates in God’s work of abundant life. Read more.

Editor’s note: Iglesia Luterana Santa María Peregrina in Stockton, CA is the congregation served by the Rev. Nelson H. Rabell-González, who is the curator of the 40-40-40 Region 2 Lenten Challenge for 2026.

A year ago, I moved from Nevada from California, and the first time I walked into a grocery store, I was taken aback. Slot machines at a supermarket? I come in to grab milk and yogurt, and I could leave play a couple spins on the way out. It felt jarring.

Now that I’ve lived here a while, I’m less shocked by slot machines in gas stations and grocery stores, but it still feels strange, the ease of access to gambling woven into everyday life. But then I started wondering: what’s the difference between a slot machine in a supermarket and platforms like Kalshi or Polymarket that I can access instantly on my smartphone?

When the United States Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on sports betting, I don’t think anyone imagined we’d arrive here. Today, you can bet on almost anything, sports, politics, cultural moments. What will a guest talk about on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert? Who will win tonight’s NBA game? You can even predict the outcome of our current wars in Venezuela and Iran. Everything becomes a market. Everything becomes a wager.

Last month, I was in Minnesota. I’m part of a fantasy league for Survivor, and I caught myself thinking about how easy it would be to sway the group if I had information others didn’t. Even without money at stake, the temptation was there, to leverage knowledge, to influence outcomes, to gain an edge on who would be voted out.

That’s what struck me most: gambling isn’t just about money anymore. It’s about access, information, and influence. It seeps into how we think, how we relate, how we trust one another.

In his recent piece Sucker: My Year a Life in Gambling, McKay Coppins explores not just the systems of gambling, but the culture surrounding it, the normalization, the quiet pull, the ways it reshapes our habits and even our moral boundaries.

And maybe that’s what feels most unsettling. It’s not just that gambling is everywhere, it’s that it’s becoming invisible. Ordinary. Expected.

So the question isn’t just where we gamble anymore. It’s how gambling is shaping us.

Because the danger today isn’t just losing money. It’s:

• Trust being replaced by strategy
• Community being replaced by competition
• Relationships being filtered through advantage

When everything becomes a wager, people can start to become… means to an outcome. And that cuts directly against the Gospel.

Because in Christ, people are not bets to be leveraged. They are neighbors to be loved.

Here is a resource from ELCA Witness and Society for congregations to use regarding gambling.

Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada (LEAN) is deeply concerned about the recent decision by the U.S. Department of Education to withhold $350 million in federal funds from minority-serving colleges and universities (MSIs). This funding, approved by Congress, supports institutions that provide critical access to higher education for historically underserved communities.

In Nevada, the impact is significant. The Nevada System of Higher Education received nearly $18 million this year from these now-canceled grants. Among the institutions affected is the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution and Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander-Serving Institution. Other colleges, including Western Nevada College, the College of Southern Nevada, and Nevada State College, also face potential funding losses.

These grants support programs that advance equity, student success, and opportunity for students from marginalized communities. Withholding this funding threatens not only educational access but also the long-term stability and growth of institutions committed to serving diverse populations.

LEAN affirms our commitment to educational justice and equity. We call on policymakers to restore these funds and to ensure that all students—regardless of race, ethnicity, or background—have access to the resources they need to thrive in higher education.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning have been around for a long time, but in the past five years they have become nearly ubiquitous, thanks to faster computer chips and greater interest in their potential. There are potential benefits of AI, some of which we are already experiencing without even realizing we are being served by AI. There are also many concerns and worrying events that dictate caution and oversight. Learn more about benefits, risks and reasons for caution.