Social Ministries at Messiah
outreach community assistance
“For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat…I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25: 35 & 40.
Messiah Evangelical Lutheran Church’s benevolent traditions have been part of the congregation’s heritage from the first days. Today these customs have become a way of life as seen in our activities as well as our financial support for local charities.
Our social ministry efforts are not focused in one central group but are spread across various groups within the church, hence, giving many groups and members the opportunity to live out there faith by serving others.
Examples of our service to others are many. Each year we provide support to the local Ronald McDonald House by delivering casserole dinners that can be used by the facility’s resident families. At Christmastime our Women of Galilee group sets up an Angel Tree in the church with hundreds of requests for gifts from local elementary school children, Lifetime Assistance Group Homes, and the Interfaith Hospitality Network families. Our members take these individual requests and purchase them for the person thus adding more to the season for these families. The gifts are presented at a Christmas party hosted by our members.
More social ministry examples include Mothers’ Day and October Harvest baskets prepared by our J.O.Y. (Just Older Youth) group for needy senior citizens. Our Friendship Ladies Circle provides toiletry items for the Interfaith Hospitality Network families. Other groups have provided meals for local group homes. We have on-going collections of food for the Greece Food Shelf and clothing for the Hospitality Network program.
Along with the efforts using our time and talents, Messiah provides financial support to many local organizations and charities. Among them are the Greece Food Shelf, Lutheran Campus Ministries, Open Door Mission, Interfaith Hospitality Network, Community Lutheran Ministries, Lutheran Hispanic Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, CURE Childhood Cancer, and Alternatives for Battered Women.
With each one of our events, activities, and contributions we do it not so we are blessed but so that we can bring God’s message of love and salvation to those who need to hear it most. In so doing we wish to bring hope and comfort to the lives we touch.
