Called to Care

Mar 02, 2013

Dan Lee in a classroomConcordia’s emphasis on educating students in interfaith dialogue, ethical leadership and sustainability fits well with the goals of Lutheran World Relief, says Dan Lee ’02, vice president of external relations at LWR in Baltimore.

Lee earned a bachelor's degree in communication, sang in The Concordia Choir, and earned a Master of Divinity degree from Luther Seminary. Lee returned to campus to share with students his passion for connecting the Christian life of faith with a global perspective of faithful response to hunger, poverty and injustice.

“Concordia gave me the ability to communicate,” Lee says. “I work with people who are experiencing disaster or crisis around the world, and I help determine how to meet their needs. It’s my desire to serve the church, but with a global focus. As Lutherans, we believe we can do more together.”

Lee says the priorities of LWR are to respond to emergencies such as famine or earthquakes, enhance access to clean water, support improved agricultural techniques, improve health and expand civic participation by empowering marginalized people to raise their voices.

“We work with people most in need within the cultural context of their country, but with our faith background,” Lee says. “We don’t hide who we are. The work of LWR is to find meaning in how the Lutheran church is expressing itself by putting faith into action.”

LWR seeks long-term solutions in building cycles of interdependence among people, rather than dependence. “We’ve learned that development is what happens before the fresh water flows from that new well,” he says.

Lee believes that by integrating a global perspective throughout its curriculum, Concordia is providing students with meaningful skills.

“Concordia students will be able to operate in the changing landscapes of the world because of the intersection of faith, leadership, good business practices and stewardship that I’m seeing on campus,” Lee says. “By partnering with colleges like Concordia, LWR can educate future leaders to be globally mindful.”

Lee will speak in the Morrie Jones Conference Center at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 12, about responding to global crises with a faith-filled perspective.

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