Lutheran Christians in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and Northeastern Wisconsin gather together in communities of faith for worship and ministry. Walking together are the 80 congregations, 115 pastors and 27,500 Lutherans of the Northern Great Lakes Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). This Synod is one of 65 in the ELCA. The 9,500 congregations of the ELCA comprise 3.9 million baptized members. In 1987, the latest in a series of Lutheran church mergers created the Northern Great Lakes Synod (NGLS), encompassing the entire Upper Peninsula of Michigan and the six adjacent counties in Northeastern Wisconsin. Immigrants from Finland, Sweden, Norway, and other European nations began the Lutheran ministry in this Synod area almost 150 years ago. The oldest continuous congregation in the Synod is Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Hancock, Michigan, founded in 1867. Spreading the Gospel, the Synod, in the past 25 years, has embraced a new mission start at prince of Peace Lutheran Church is Eagle River, Wisconsin, as well as Shepherd of the Sea Chapel in Copper Harbor, Michigan. Other vibrant Synod ministries include the Lay School for Mission and our Companion Synod program. The Eastern and Coastal Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania and the Northern Great Lakes Synod are connected in the Gospel.