Outreach

Local

The Reach Local ministry team of St. John’s Lutheran exists to reach the community with the love of Jesus Christ through acts of Christian service, support, and witness. Projects include: Grace Day, Baby Bottle Boomerang, and Food Collection, just to name a few.

Care Connections
Care Connections is a ministry of St. John’s Lutheran Church that reaches out to the community with the love of Jesus Christ. They work alongside  partner organizations to increase the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of Jefferson County residents by linking people with needs to services that address those needs. Care Connections offers individual and group counseling services, therapy programs, and crisis intervention services. Their programs are designed to offer hope, support, and healing that lead to healthy
​Christ-centered living.

Stephen Ministry
Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained by Stephen Leaders to offer high-quality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour.  Twice a month, Stephen Ministers gather with their Stephen Leaders for supervision and continuing education.​

Lutheran Early Response Team
L.E.R.T. is a group of LCMS volunteers from across the United States that have the training and ability to respond quickly to both big and small disasters. They comfort and serve those who suffer by collecting bulk items, offering child care, assisting in clean up, communicating needs, assessing damage, helping with evacuation, feeding, interpreting, assisting with medical needs, mucking, rebuilding, repairing, salvaging, securing shelter, and transporting.

Quilters and Tackers
The Quilters and Tackers use their God-given talents to provide handmade quilts and gifts for Lutheran World Relief. Included in their projects are lap robes for nursing homes, hospitals, fire departments, and various charities. All ladies with sewing or quilting abilities are welcome to meet on Tuesday mornings at 8:00 am in room 102.

Prayer Shawl Ministry
This group makes prayer shawls to offer comfort to the sick and grieving as well as white baptismal baby blankets.  Anyone interested in crocheting or knitting a shawl or blanket (in the pattern of choice) is welcome to work individually on projects turn them in to the church office when completed.

ESL
The goal of the ministry is to create an opportunity to share the Gospel with those people who wish to learn the English language.  Many of the students are follow-on spouses and/or family of those people who live and work in the area. Many times these people have little or no understanding English. Often teaching builds a friendly relationship with the student or students, both in and out of the classroom setting. Most people who are taught come from a culture where volunteerism is an alien concept, and they truly appreciate help integrating into a very different place.

Saturday Serve
Held one Saturday a month, Saturday Serve is an opportunity to "be love" to each other and the surrounding community through service projects and fellowship.   All ages are welcomed and encouraged to participate.  

Block Party
Held the second Friday each May, the Annual Block Party is a free, fun, family-friendly event with activities and entertainment for all ages.

Chicken Dinner
Held the second Sunday each September since 1929, the chicken dinner is an annual tradition that promotes service, fellowship, and fun for members as well as outreach to the surrounding community.  Proceeds are used to support various congregational needs and capital projects.

Sausage Dinner
The annual Sausage Dinner is held on the second Sunday of February. It promotes fun and fellowship for members and the surrounding community. Proceeds support youth ministry.

Global

The Reach Global ministry team exists to reach beyond the borders of the United States with the love of Jesus Christ through acts of Christian service, support and witness.

Honduras
St. John's partners with Open Door Ministries to reach the children in Honduras. Open Door Ministries operates orphanages and feeding stations to help children who have been abandoned and abused. The Honduras Mission group spreads the Word of God, and helps those in desperate poverty both spiritually and financially.  

Learn more about Open Door Ministries and their work here:

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West Africa Mission
St. John's supports members and missionaries Reverend Gary and Stephanie Schulte as they spread the Good News of Jesus to His children in West Africa.
​Check out Reverend Gary and Stephanie's work here.
Read their newsletter here.

Lutheran Women's Missionary League
Mary-Martha Circle
Mary-Martha Circle serves God’s people with special projects and missions at home and abroad. These ladies meet at 6:30 pm on the second Thursday of every other month (February, April, June, August, October, and December) in room 102. 

Ladies' Aid
Ladies’ Aid offers mission support at home and abroad by assisting each woman of the Lutheran faith in affirming her relationship with God so that she is able to use her gifts for the people of the world. This group also prepares funeral luncheons for St. John’s members. These ladies meet the first Thursday of the month (except January, June, and July) at ​12:30 pm in room 102 to participate in devotions, hear mission speakers, and enjoy light refreshments.