Beth Nelson Chase
The mission of LIRS for over 80 years is to extend the long welcome to refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers as they seek refuge from violence, disaster, or persecution in their own land.

Prior to this time with LIRS, Beth served as the US Executive Director for Bright Stars of Bethlehem, the Vice President for Mission Advancement at Wartburg Theological Seminary, the Vice President for Development at Wheat Ridge Ministries and with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois as the Director for Children and Family Services. Beth is a former President of the ACF (Association of Christian Fundraisers) Board of Directors and has held the Certified Fund Raising Professional designation for over 20 years.

Beth is a graduate of Wartburg College and Michigan State University with both a bachelor’s and master’s in music education and music therapy. Beth and her husband, John, are active members of St. James Lutheran Church in rural Forreston, IL and where Beth serves as Director of Worship and Music.

She is presenting the workshop, Love transcends Borders: LIRS and the Work of Welcome

Rebecca Jorgenson Sundquist
Ms. Sundquist has been responsible for raising funds for Norway House since its founding in 2004, including working with the Minnesota Legislature in securing $10 million in bonding support. Prior employment includes serving as a major gift officer for Lutheran Social Service of MN and as Director of Stewardship, Development & Marketing for Central Lutheran Church, downtown Minneapolis. Active in The Junior League of Minneapolis and WAMSO, Sundquist is the founder and executive director of the local venture capital non-profit Hats & Mittens as well as the founder of City of Bells. Sundquist has served on several community boards and is a member of Central Lutheran Church and Saint Philip the Deacon Lutheran. She and her husband have four adult children, eight grandchildren and reside in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

She is co-presenting the workshop, Gathering our hopes and dreams through Katie’s Fund

The Rev. Mary Louise Frenchman
She served ten years as Mission Developer to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in North Carolina. During the 1990s Mary Louise worked with Bay Area Native Ministry in San Francisco at St. Paulus Lutheran Church. She graduated from Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA.

Pastor Frenchman is a great grandmother to Elijah and Aurie. She has one granddaughter, Nicole and twin daughters, Wanda and Yolanda. She is named after two grandmothers, Mary and Louise. She likes to be called by both names. She loves people and enjoys life.

Pastor says; I take no credit. “The Holy Spirit is alive and well. We have a deal, I show up, She works through me.”

She is co-presenting the workshop Talking Circle with Native American Urban Ministry