Terry and Michele Finseth
c/o Lutheran World Federation
P.O. Box 19178
Jerusalem via Israel
Email: Michele and Terry Finseth

The Finseths have been under appointment as mission co-workers since 1995. They now serve as companionship facilitators for the Joining Hands program in Palestine, which is called the "Joining Hands for Justice Network."

The Joining Hands program of the Presbyterian Hunger Program addresses the root causes of hunger. It has created networks of organizations in Palestine, Sri Lanka, Cameroon, Bolivia, Peru, Egypt, India, Lesotho, and South Africa. The network in each country produces programs and activities that educate, advocate, and foster community economic empowerment.
The Joining Hands for Justice Network of Palestine has faith-based organizations and NGOs from from Ramallah, Jerusalem, and Bethlehem.

Each Joining Hands network has a partnership with one or more presbyteries in the United States, which enables PC(USA) churches to participate in programs that reflect the priorities of the country network. The Greater Atlanta Presbytery is Palestine’s partner, and it has been active in educating and challenging church members and others in the issues that create hunger, poverty, and injustice in Palestine.

“We also interpret the situation in which we live to the U.S. church,” writes Terry Finseth, “to promote understanding and strengthen ties. One way we do this is by organizing travel-study seminars that provide visitors a comprehensive look at the living stones (local people), holy stones (holy places), and rolling stones (socio-economic and political elements).

If ever there was a time to stand in support of our Christian brothers and sisters in Palestine, the time is now. Occupation has left the people of the Holy Land starved—not only physically, but spiritually as well—as they hunger for peace, justice, and righteousness. As Arab Christians who have maintained a witness here for 2,000 years leave in droves, all of Christendom lives under the threat that the landscape of our most revered foundations will someday no longer have Christian inhabitants.”

Letters from
Terry and Michele Finseth

• April 2009
• December 2008
• October 2008
• June 2008
• April 2008
• December 2007
• November 2007
• October 2007
• September 2007
• August 2007
• June 2007
• April 2007
• March 2007
• December 2006
• October 2006
• May 2006
• April 2006
• December 2005
• November 2005
• October 2005
• July 2005
• May 2005
• April 2005
• March 2005
• February 2005
• June 2004
• December 2003
• April 2002
• April 2001
• December 2000

Previous to beginning service in Palestine, Terry and Michele worked from 1996 to 2006 in interfaith dialogue with Confronti, a magazine of faith, politics and daily life, based in Rome, Italy. The Finseths’ first appointment as mission co-workers was to Khartoum, Sudan, where they worked in church leadership development with the Presbyterian Church of Sudan in 1995 and 1996. Prior to that, from 1987 to 1995, the Finseths served with Habitat for Humanity in Solomon Islands and Fiji, working with locals to improve their housing and in new project development.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Terry grew up in California and Washington State. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington.

A native of Pocatello, Idaho, Michele spent part of her childhood in California and met Terry at Pacific Lutheran. Returning to university later in life, she has a bachelor’s degree in social science with Washington State University.

Shortly after their marriage in 1971, Terry and Michele moved to Denver, Colorado, where Terry worked as general manager of an auto parts chain, while Michele worked as a flight attendant. Later, they opened their own auto parts stores.

The Finseths are members of Christ the Savior Lutheran Church in Denver. They are the parents of Travis and his wife Jaime, and Malia and her husband Will, and the proud grandparents of Reed and Mari.

Birthdays:
Terry - March 14
Michele - August 9