About the Lenten Challenge

Challenge History

In 2023, the Grand Canyon Synod and the Southeastern Iowa Synod challenged one another to participate in spiritual and physical practices during the 40 days of Lent. This 40-40-40 Challenge was a good-natured way to engage each other and raise awareness of anti-hunger ministry and wellness for both synods. More than 204 individuals from more than 70 congregations pledged to participate in daily devotions, daily decluttering, daily wellness activities, or a donation of a dollar or more per day for ELCA World Hunger.

In 2024, all of the ELCA synods in Region 2 challenged one another to raise money for ELCA World Hunger in honor of ELCA World Hunger’s 50th year in mission and ministry. Individuals pledged to participate in some spiritual and physical practices during Lent and raise funds for ELCA World Hunger. 717 people across the region participated in the challenge; the Grand Canyon Synod ‘won’ with 432 participants.

In 2025, Isaiah 58:11 grounded the year’s Lenten journey, in which the five Region 2 synods challenged one another to explore the intersection of hunger and water while learning of one of our Region 2 Indigenous Ministries, the 70-year-old Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. The challenge was to pledge to participate in some personal and community spiritual practices during Lent while learning about Lutheran Disaster Response’s projects, the ELCA’s work in the Truth and Healing Movement and the work and ministry of NELM. The “winning synod” was the one with the most individual participants.

The 2026 Lenten Challenge theme — “Lord, When Did We See You?”

The theme of this year’s challenge derives from Matthew 25:37-40. The passage emphasizes that caring for the poor, sick, and marginalized is an act of service to Christ, and that a person's treatment of others is a reflection of their relationship with God. The spiritual practices for the six weeks of Lent will focus on stretching our advocacy muscles on behalf of underserved communities. The six weeks will be broken up according to the gospel text, as below, with participants focusing on what we know about these siblings in Christ, how we think about them, how we act with and on behalf of these communities, and how Lutherans respond:

• Week 1, February 22: Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food?

• Week 2, March 1: Lord, when was it that we saw you thirsty and gave you something to drink?

• Week 3, March 8: Lord, when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you?

• Week 4, March 16: Lord, when was it that we saw you naked and gave you clothing?

• Week 5, March 22: Lord, when was it that we saw you sick and visited you?

• Week 6, March 29: Lord, when was it that we saw you in prison and visited you?

Why Lent? Lent is 40 days to reflect, remember our dependence on God and one another, and look forward to the ways God calls us to be. Adding one or more of these spiritual practices to your observation of Lent might help you feel more connected. A light-hearted challenge like this could help our synods be the Church together, and to see God’s vision and invitation for us to be a church for the world and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Participating synods:

• Sierra Pacific (2A) – Rev. Jeff Johnson, bishop

• Southwest California (2B) – Rev. Brenda Bos, bishop

• Pacifica (2C) – Rev. David Nagler, bishop

• Grand Canyon (2D) – Rev. Deborah Hutterer, bishop

• Rocky Mountain (2E) – Rev. Meghan Johnston Aelabouni, bishop