Other Supported Ministries
Bethany Prison Ministry
Bethany Prison Ministry provides letters and literature to prisoners. New prisoners contact us at a “surprising pace” and they give us increasing confidence that we are on the right track and God wants us to not only maintain the rate at which we have been going, but to increase it.
If you’d like to participate in encouraging those in prison, contact Deb Cheney at Deb.Cheney@bethfel.com.
Bibles for Missions
Bibles for Missions is a totally volunteer-run thrift store that receives donations of clothing, furniture, and household goods to support missionaries and church plantings in Eastern Europe. They also send clothing and food to the Ukraine, clothing to the homeless ministry locally, and medical devices and supplies to Global Health Ministries through St. Michaels. Don and Ev Griwac are contacts (dgriwac@usfamily.net) if you are interested to volunteer from scheduling pick up and deliveries, cashiering, or working in a wide variety of departments in the store.
Camp Omega
The most valuable gift you can give a child is the opportunity to develop independents, self-worth, leadership, responsibility, and most of all, a life-long faith in Jesus Christ. At Camp Omega children develop a stronger sense of self, others, and God; they learn how to navigate the world successfully; they learn resiliency; and they learn the value of healthy, Christ- Centered relationships. As always, a week at Camp Omega is a life-changing experience where campers of all ages make new friends, connect with old friends, and most importantly, experience a Christian community that will encourage and nurture their faith. For more information contact Bob LaCroix at bob@campomega.org. www.campomega.org
Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) is a Christian Non-Profit organization that works together with volunteers to provide and pack nutritious meals for children who are hungry in both body and spirit. One in nine goes hungry each day, and at least 6,200 kids under the age of 5 are dying each day from malnutrition and other related instances. We have three food formulas, which consists of Vitamins, Vegetables, Soy, and Rice. Feeding these children is made possible because of our volunteers who dedicate their time to pack with us and make donations which enable us to purchase the ingredients. Any one over the age of 5 is able to volunteer with us, and we are open Monday through Saturday, with 5 different shifts available throughout the day. By volunteering your time or donating your money, you are helping us to TURN HUNGER INTO HOPE WITH YOUR OWN TWO HANDS! We encourage you to visit one of our sites in Eagan, Chanhassen, and Coon Rapids, or attend one of our Mobile Packs as they come available in your area.
www.fmsc.org
Global Health Ministries
Since the founding of Global Health Ministries in 1987, increasing emphasis has been placed on primary health care in rural areas of developing countries, under the leadership of local people, and also on providing training for doctors, nurses and other health care workers. GHM gathers and ships medical supplies and equipment, aids in recruitment of long and short-term health care workers and promotes interest in health care ministries within congregations in the USA. GHM has, in recent years, added a consulting arm that works with communities, hospitals and medical personnel in developing countries to help them achieve the best possible medical care for their people. This helps carry out the mission of GHM. For more information contact Ruth Meier.
www.ghm.org
Healing Haiti
Healing Haiti is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving the poor, the vulnerable, and the disadvantaged both physically and spiritually. The ministry focuses on coming alongside those who God puts in our path, recognizing the dignity, talents, and potential of Haitians we serve. We believe there is unlimited potential just waiting to be unlocked and invite you to be a part of serving with and empowering these incredible people.
There are many ways to serve with Healing Haiti, including short-term mission trips. Margie Schroeder (Margie@schroeder1.net) is our Healing Haiti coordinator.
www.healinghaiti.org
LINC Twin Cities
LINC Twin Cities exists to engage God’s people in mission within diverse communities. Our vision is to see younger and more diverse people in local churches. Our main goal is to see churches reflecting their local community demographics. Our strategies work to see our mission, vision and main goal accomplished. In short, we are an organic team of cross-cultural experts, missiologists, consultants and coaches who relate to God. And because of that, you will find that we listen to, learn about and love others a lot–particularly people in diverse communities.
www.linctwincities.org
Lutheran Special Education Ministries
Lutheran Special Education Ministries (LSEM) is a Christ-centered resource for children with learning needs. Over the years our greatest asset has been our ability to adapt based on the needs of the children we serve. Our programs, services and resources have differentiated us since we were founded in 1873 by actively seeking new ways to reach, serve and support children with various learning needs. Every day we praise God for the opportunity to help so many children. Today we’re proud to be following God’s plan to serve children with specialized learning needs — no matter where they may be. That is why our partnerships with Christian schools and iCAN after school programs serving children in communities in need has been such a success. Dennis Senne is our congregation rep. You can also follow them on Facebook.
www.luthsped.org
The Lutheran Church in Norway
The Lutheran Church in Norway stands for the inerrancy of the Bible, confessional Lutheranism, passionate mission focus, and church planting. The Lutheran Church in Norway acknowledges its international place in the group of like-minded churches and has started developing church relationships with The Lutheran Church in Latvia and The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Ruth Meier is our congregation rep. You can also follow them on Facebook.
People of the Book Lutheran Outreach
POBLO International is a Lutheran Mission Society working to transform the way missions is approached in the US by responding to the changing demographics that have brought the mission field to our own front yard. They serve immigrants and refugees through the model called “International Friendship Centers” or IFC. They train and educate churches on how to engage in cross-cultural outreach. They share the Gospel message with respect, love and truth.
POBLO International’s Missionaries Nader & Georgette Alaraj relocated to the Twin Cities in 2016. As of September 2019, by God’s Grace, they helped establish three IFCs. The first is the Bloomington IFC; hosted by Mt. Hope Lutheran Church in Bloomington. The second is the Burnsville IFC; hosted by Lutheran Church of the Ascension in Burnsville. The third is Prior Lake IFC, hosted by Holy Cross Lutheran. You can serve the Lord through POBLO by (1) Praying & Volunteering: Teach ESL, Citizenship, Sewing & Knitting, Cooking, and other classes without prior experience. You can provide childcare and drive students, or just be a friend. You are welcome to see the classes anytime. (2) If you can or cannot volunteer, you can donate food, proper clothing, Thrivent and gift cards or become an individual donor. Please ask to be added to the IFC group on Facebook: International Friendship Centers Twin Cities. Contact Nader @ (402) 968-6486 or nader@poblo.org. The mission Field is here; the Time is now!
The Sheridan Story
The Sheridan Story is a weekend food program. They take a unique approach to fighting child hunger: they mobilize the community to partner with local schools. Each school is sponsored by a community group that provides funding for the weekend food program and volunteers to distribute the food to kids on Fridays. The Sheridan Story’s goal is to give kids food while facilitating a community-to-school relationship that they encourage to grow beyond the weekend food program. St. Michael’s serves students at Normandale Hills Elementary School. Contact pastorpat@smlcb.org for more information www.thesheridanstory.com
Trinity First Lutheran School
Trinity First School, located in the heart of Minneapolis, is blessed to serve God by providing a Christ-based education to children aged 3 through eighth grade. They see themselves as a family and joyfully give thanks to God for each child He leads to their school. There are opportunities to serve year round. St. Michaels will be doing a July afternoon service event helping the facilities personnel get the school ready for the start of the school year. Kay Solberg is our congregation rep. For opportunities, contact the school office at 612-871-2353 or trinityfirstschool@gmail.com.
www.trinityfirstschool.org
Urban Homeworks
The mission of Urban Homeworks is to perpetuate the hope of Jesus Christ through innovative community development that produces equitable, dignified housing, a strategic network of good neighbors, and the redemptive development of real estate.
Since 1995, Urban Homeworks has been responding to the voices of our neighbors by providing dignified housing opportunities, creating space for construction training, intentionally weaving together a network of engaged neighbors, and mobilizing volunteers. Our focus on stability and connecting resources so that individual and communal assets emerge, thrive, and invigorate our neighborhoods has resulted in more than 200 redeveloped properties and a network of 17,000 volunteers, 1,200 construction trainees, and over 400 Urban Neighbors. For more information, contact Mike Timmerman timmerman@visi.com
www.urbanhomeworks.com
VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People)
VEAP founders believed that helping a neighbor in need ultimately strengthens the community. Their new mission is “together we create pathways to stronger, more hopeful communities through access to healthy food, housing, stability and supportive services.” VEAP serves the residents of Bloomington, Richfield, Edina, and South Minneapolis utilizing a unique mix of professional and volunteer services. St. Michael’s members get involved by collecting food for the food pantry and also by working at VEAP’s Bloomington location in the warehouse, driving clients home from the pantry, working on the new mobile pantry, data entry and more. For more information, contact Sue Bosshardt at suebosshardt@gmail.com or www.veap.org.
Vernacular Video Mission International
Vernacular Video Mission International (VVMI) partners with and equips ethnic Christians who proclaim the Gospel through video and other media in their common language. For over 25 years, VVMI has successfully empowered nationals in the Philippines to utilize media tools and Scripture to grow the Church. Since 2008, VVMI has also been actively involved in Latin America. Then, last year, VVMI began a partnership in Africa that has the potential for impacting that entire continent, plus the Indian Ocean islands. God is moving his Kingdom forward and it’s exciting to be part of it! We invite you to wade into the waters of cross-cultural partnering with us.
Join VVMI as we come alongside our indigenous brothers and sisters in Christ to help them bring the Good News of Jesus to the nations in unique and culturally relevant ways! Contact Colin Edwards at cjedwards@vvmi.org. Don Nemcek (dsn31@aol.com) is our congregation rep.
www.vvmi.org
Young Life
Young Life doesn’t start with a program. It starts with adults who are concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don’t happen overnight — they take time, patience, trust and consistency. So Young Life leaders log many hours with kids — where they are, as they are. We listen to their stories and learn what’s important to them because we genuinely care about their joys, triumphs, heartaches and setbacks.
We believe in the power of presence. Kids’ lives are dramatically influenced when caring adults come alongside them, sharing God’s love with them. Because their Young Life leader believes in them, they begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose. This is the first step of a lifelong journey; the choices they make today, based upon God’s love for them, will have an impact on future decisions — careers chosen, marriages formed and families raised — all ripples from the time when a Young Life leader took time to reach out and enter their world. Contact Staci Stringer at staci.stringer@gmail.com
www.younglife.org
Youth for Christ
God loves teenagers! For 71 years God has been using Youth for Christ International (YFCI) to reach young people around the world with His life-changing message. Today there are 1.75 billion teenagers on our planet. What a massive and exciting mission field! YFCI’s vision is that as part of the Body of Christ every one of those young people would have the opportunity to hear and become a follower of Jesus and become part of a local church. This past year YFCI has worked directly with over 3.6 million young people in over 112 nations–young people like Fouad from Lebanon, Sharav from India and Braydon from Canada. All young people whose lives have been changed forever through a relationship with Jesus. Bryon Blomker is the local contact at bryan.blomker@fci.org.
To see more of what God is doing around the world through YFCI go to www.yfci.org.