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Social Outreach Ministry
Goal: To provide members
of Faith Lutheran Church with
outreach ministry opportunities at the local, regional and
international level.
To encourage and grow
member participation.
Church Outreach
Programs
Local Outreach Programs
FaithNeighbors
Regional Outreach Programs
International Outreach
Programs
Mission Offerings
Local
Outreach Programs
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels could not function without the help of our
volunteers. They spend about
an hour each month delivering
meals to either Westview Acres or various private homes throughout
the Waconia area.
Recipients of these meals must be 60
years or older, homebound and unable to prepare their own
meals. Please contact Angela Rud if you would like to participate
in this program. (442-2353)
Waconia United Food Shelf
As of the fall of 2005, 116 families are being served each
month in Waconia. With this large number of recipients, there
is always a need for food donations.
Faith supports the food shelf by providing
opportunities for its members to stock shelves, work at the
store or make donations. The youth are also actively involved
in this community project. Each November, they collect money
and food donations from the congregation to be used to purchase
turkey certificates and groceries. In mid-November, turkey
baskets are assembled and donated to the food shelf. Other
fundraising projects for the food shelf are held throughout
the year.
The Waconia United Food Shelf is located
at 11 Elm Street South, Waconia. Its hours are: Monday and
Friday, and Saturday 9 a.m. to noon; Tuesday and Thursday,
4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It is closed on Wednesdays. Their number
is 442-3878.
For more information on how you can
help support the food shelf, please contact Rich Christensen
(442-5886)
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FaithNeighbors
Faith Neighbors is not a program; rather, it is an organic ministry focused on cultivating relationships within the neighborhood in which we live. Led by Faith Leaders, neighborhoods throughout Waconia and the surrounding area are working to welcome new neighbors, organize social events and build relationships. The hopes of this ministry are simple: to learn to love and serve our neighbors.
Welcoming new neighbors. Organizing neighborhood events. Building meaningful relationships. These are all ways to grow in relationship with God and with our neighbors—and have fun while doing it! This is what our Faith Neighbors’ ministry is all about!
If you are interested in more information about our Faith Neighbors’ ministry, please contact Pastor Travis Gerjets.
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Regional Outreach Programs
Mission Partner: Public Safety Ministries Inc.
"Serving Those Who Protect"
Pastor Dan Carlson - www.publicsafetyministries.org
Dan Carlson and his Public Safety Ministries are one of the many mission partners that Faith Lutheran Church supports through prayer and financial assistance. Recently, Dan Carlson was awarded the Red Cross' Hero Award for his service through Public Safety Ministries. To learn more about Dan Carlson's work and this prestigious award, click on the link(s) below.
Giving Tree
Each Year, Faith Members Give to CAP Agency¹s Hope for
the Holidays Program
In December, 2005, 300 gifts were donated (supporting 50 families)
for CAP Agency's Hope for the Holidays Program. Each year,
this holiday gift sponsorship project serves over 1,000 families
from Scott and Carver Counties. Gift recipients are families
who are unable to provide holiday gifts for their families.
Parents interested in having their children sponsored must
register at the CAP Agency.
Faith's coordinator for this outreach
ministry is
Faith Beyond Boundaries:
Redeemer Lutheran Church - Minneapolis
Faith Beyond Boundaries is the effort of our congregation to
partner in our mission to serve the living Christ with other
Christians throughout the world. Redeemer Lutheran Church is located in North Minneapolis.
Faith Beyond Boundaries: Puerta Abierta - Hispanic Ministry Shakopee, MN
Puerta Abierta is an ELCA Lutheran church that works to connect and serve the Latino community of the Shakopee, Chaska and Jorday areas. Puerta Abierta is a new mission partner of Faith, and we are excited to support this new and vibrant ministry. For more information contact Pastor Travis Gerjets.
Southern Valley Alliance for
Battered Women (SVABW)
Located in Belle Plaine, SVABW is a non-profit organization
which provides support, referrals, protection and advocacy
for battered woman and other victims of family abuse. It serves
Scott and Carver Counties.
At SVABW, there are opportunities to
volunteer as a childcare provider for women attending support
group meetings or to work as a crisis line advocate. To learn
more about this organization and its volunteer opportunities,
visit them at www.southernvalleyalliance.org
or contact Marty Cramer. (442-4505)
Lutheran Social Services
Faith Lutheran Church provides funding and referrals to this
counseling agency of the Lutheran Church of Minnesota. Call
LSS at 1-800-582-5260 for more information on
services and
locations.
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International Outreach
Programs
Kenya Children’s Fund
Kenya Children’s Fund is a non-profit Christian organization
that seeks to transform the lives of Kenya’s impoverished
children by providing life’s basic necessities, principally
education, nutrition and medical care.
Its mission is to lift children from a place of hopelessness
to personal achievement.
With the support of this organization,
children flourish under the nurturing care of African professionals
who believe in imparting faith-based principles during the
most important time in their growing years--from preschool
to university. Armed with an education, these young men and
women will return to their communities to serve as change
agents in every sector of society.
You can participate in this ministry by sponsoring a child
for $25 a month, or by making a monetary donation to the organization.
To learn more, visit them on the web at www.kenyachildrensfund.org
or contact Faith’s coordinators for the Kenya Children’s
Fund: Amy Jensen (442-5883) and Beth Helstrom (442-1834).
ELCA World Hunger Appeal
Faith receives offerings for this ministry of the ELCA. The
Hunger Appeal provides disaster relief and development aid
in the United States and abroad.
Faith Beyond Boundaries: St. John's Lutheran, Texas
If interested in learning more about how to get involved
with this ministry, please contact Pastor
Travis
Faith Beyond Boundaries: Guyuk, Nigeria
If interested in learning more about how to get involved
with this ministry, please contact Pastor
Travis
Lutheran World Relief
Lutheran World Relief seeks lasting solutions to
poverty and injustice and in doing so, compels U.S. Lutherans
to put their faith into action.
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Mission Offerings
Mission Offerings
Faith supports a variety of local, metro and international
organizations through financial contributions (monthly mission
offerings, Thanksgiving, Lent and Christmas offerings).
Feed My Sheep
Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women
Waconia United Food Shelf
Faith Beyond Boundaries - Puerta Abierta, Hispanic ministry in Shakopee
Feeding Children Internationl
Faith Beyond Boundaries - St. John's Lutheran, Texas
Our Savior’s Shelter/Westwood House
Kenya Children’s Fund
Faith Beyond Boundaries- Guyuk, Nigeria
Faith Beyond Boundaries-Redeemer Lutheran Church, Minneapolis
Lutheran World Relief
Youth Trips-BWCA/TEXACO
Committee Members
Angela Rud
Julie Christensen
Rich Christensen
Amy Jensen
Beth Helstrom
Kari Stevenson
Marty Cramer
Julia Halvorson
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