​         CHICAGO (ELCA) – Heidi Hagstrom, former program director of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering, was presented with the Tom Hunstad Award for Excellence in Children, Youth and Family Ministry during the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza held Feb. 4-8 in Anaheim, Calif. The annual event provides spiritual renewal, continuing education and networking opportunities for adult leaders who work in youth ministry at ELCA congregations and in other areas of the church. Six hundred and eighty leaders attended this year’s Extravaganza.
Hagstrom, who currently serves as vicar of Fields of Grace Lutheran Parish in southwest Minnesota, was program director of the ELCA Youth Gathering from 1997 to 2015.
The gathering is a triennial event that brings together more than 35,000 high-school age Lutherans from across the country and overseas for faith formation, worship, fellowship and service.

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