St. Luke's members actively participate in a wide variety of outreach ministries, both in the local community and in the larger global community.
| Partners in Minisitry |
 |
Home Communion Ministry
On the first Sunday of each month, eight teams of 2 people each take communion to one or two of St. Luke's home bound members. For more details, or to become a part of this holy ministry, call the church office.
|
|
Thrift Shop
St. Luke’s Thrift Shop has been a cooperative learning experience for all who have contributed to its success: generous church members and friends who donate a wide variety of goods, faithful volunteers who sort and sell the items, neighborly shoppers who purchase merchandise they need or want at a price they can afford, and outreach entities who benefit from the proceeds. Many of the same customers have been coming to the Thrift Shop for years. They have become our friends.
The goal has always been outreach missions.
Since the Thrift Shop’s inception in 1978, approximately $75,000 (75% of the proceeds from sales) has been donated to ongoing local outreach programs.
Each quarter, donations are made to New Life for Women, Deliver Me (service to seniors), Community Stewpot, Bethlehem Center, Gateway Missions, Methodist Children’s Home and Southern Christian Services. If extra money is raised, Thrift Shop workers direct the money to a worthy cause. Overstock clothing goes to Gateway and Good Will. Clothing has also been sent to missions in Honduras and to the Gulf Coast. Books are donated to Stewpot, Bethlehem Center, Jackson Public Library and others.
The Thrift Shop is located at the back of the playground with access from the back parking lot. It’s open on Friday afternoons, 12:00‑4:00, and on Saturday mornings, 8:30‑12:30.
St. Luke’s recognizes that the blessings of this mission have been multiplied many times.
|
|
Brad Gordon Memorial Mexico Dental Mission
St. Luke’s Dental Mission began in 1983 through the efforts of three persons: Paul Ballard, a student at the University of Mississippi School of Dentistry; Warren Pittman, St. Luke’s pastor from 1981-1984; and Bob Conerly, Methodist missionary to Matamoros, Mexico.
St. Luke’s first mission team of dental students, medical students and support persons provided immunization and dental treatment in LaBartolina, Mexico. In that undeveloped region, Maria Alva, church layperson, felt God had forgotten them. That is not the case today. As Maria said, “God used St. Luke’s to begin the mission and to bring groups here. Now we have the dental clinic. Through the mission, we have come to know God and His love.”
In May of 1988, the mission was named the Brad Gordon Memorial Mexico Dental Mission as a living memorial of Brad’s life and service to others. He served on the 1986 & 1987 teams.
Since 1983, members and friends of St. Luke’s have provided the support needed to furnish and staff the clinic. The overall health of persons in the mission church and surrounding communities has greatly improved as a result of the annual check-ups, restorative procedures, and hygiene education.
In 2005, after Hurricane Emily heavily damaged the region, the Dental Mission trip had to be cancelled. Money raised was sent to LaBartolina for rebuilding. In 2006, our Dental Mission returned to LaBartolina and continued this important ministry.
We thank all of the past and present participants and supporters for allowing God to work through them in LaBartolina.
|
|
Bethlehem Center
The Bethlehem Center is a National Mission Institution related to the United Methodist Church. A non-profit agency located in Jackson, Mississippi, the Center serves low-income families and individuals through affordable quality childcare, a free income tax assistance program, a counseling center, and various community development initiatives.
The Bethlehem Center's mission is to provide academic, health, and community programs within a spiritual context. Their vision is to be an environment through which God transforms all who participate in their programs, enabling them to become who God calls them to be.
|
|
Good Samaritan Center
The Good Samaritan Center is a nonprofit social service organization that passionately cares about those in need in our community. Good Sam strives to help families in crisis with practical solutions while being an example to all those that they serve (clients, donors, and volunteers). Good Sam believes in treating all people with compassion, respect, and dignity.
|
|
Community Stewpot
The Community Stewpot, which began as a simple soup kitchen, has developed into an organization offering 17 series - from shelter, to clothing, to counseling, to children's programs. Its mission is to provide food, clothing, shelter, and nurturing care to children, elderly, disabled and poor persons in the community, as ell as to provide volunteer opportunities to everyone who has a heart and passion for service. Stewpot recognizes the giftedness in everyone who walks through their doors and affirms the value and uniqueness of every person as a child of God. In addition, Stewpot upholds the importance of local ownership and control of their ministries and affirms the importance of inter-faith and ecumenical cooperation.
|
|
Food Pantry
The Food Pantry is Stewpot's mini-grocery store where carefully screened applicants can receive an emergency four-day supply of food. Volunteers from local congregations staff the pantry and the shelves are kept stocked by food drives and by donations from supporters. Volunteers sort, stock and bag groceries for each family who comes to Stewpot for assistance.
|
|
Connection Ministries
Connection Ministries provides cosmetics for women coming out of prison.
|
|
Gleaners
The Gleaners is a nonprofit organization that depends solely on volunteers to redistribute more than 400,000 pounds of food each year to more than 60 shelters in the Jackson area, including Gateway, Stewpot, Good Samaritan, Grace House, the Salvation Army, and the Harbor House.
|
|
Women in Fellowship Everywhere
Women in Fellowship Everywhere (W.I.F.E.) collects noncurrent church curriculum literature to redistribute it through their prison ministry program.
|
|
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.
St. Luke's UMC has, along with other area churches, participated in four Faith Build Houses by raising a portion of the money, supplying workers for one Saturday of the build, and furnishing lunch for the workers.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Return to Top
