The LMM Story
In 2012, Filling Homes and Luther Home of Mercy Boards of Directors came together to strategically identify future opportunities. Both organizations offered similar Lutheran ministries that evolved around serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With representatives from both Boards, a joint committee was formed that met over the course of the following year to discuss the possibilities for further collaboration.
Through the course of these meetings, it became clear that:
- Filling Homes and Luther Home were highly-respected and important ministries of the communities in which they served.
- Churches, clients, family members, donors, staff and volunteers—the stakeholders of these organizations-were dedicated to helping sustain and grow the programs offered.
- Both ministries valued their individual identities, and celebrated a long history of working together to support each other’s goals, vision and mission. This cooperative spirit had proven especially helpful to both ministries in confronting program challenges.
Given these findings, it was determined that these ministries could benefit from a formal affiliation aimed at consolidating practical administrative functions including governance and executive leadership. As a result, one Board of Directors was created under the umbrella of a new non-profit management system called Lutheran Ministries of Mercy (LMM). In July of 2013, the first LMM Board of Directors met for the first time.
In April of 2015, Lutheran Social Services of Northwestern Ohio (LSS) joined LMM as the third affiliate. LSS’s rich history in Northwestern Ohio not only provided additional insights and expertise, but added programming in the area of mental health counseling and other human and social service outreach opportunities.
In 2023 we are proud to celebrate 10 years of combined services through the LMM collaboration. While each affiliate has maintained their own community identity, it is the sharing of resources that allows us to be stronger in our service to others.
Supporting this work, each of the LMM affiliates maintains an independent Foundation that promotes their programs through fundraising, managing, investing and distributing funds; all to serve the people in our care and fulfill our mission goals.
By God’s grace and the dedication of others, we will continue to grow and celebrate our combined efforts. Thank you for being part of our story.
Lutheran Ministries of Mercy…Sharing Resources. Enhancing Lives.