Missions
“Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers.” Luke 10:2
“Serving with Love”, the Missions Team provides leadership to attend to the needs of people at the global, national and local level.
Global Partners – Go into the World…
Through the ELCA we enjoy a companionship in Christ with the North Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania and the Arcot Lutheran Church in India.
St. James helps sponsor the Randy and Carol Stubbs family in their missionary work in Tanzania. They are developing a degree program in the Music Department at Makumira University near Arusha. St. James has been enriched by their visits when they share their experiences and vision. We look forward to their visits when the children join their parents sharing the good news of the gospel through their musical gifts.
Their daughter Megan brought a moving commitment message to the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans in the summer of 2012. Her message was featured during our Missions Sunday worship service in September 2012 and can be found in the second half of this video presentation.
Lutheran World Relief
Faithful St. James members cut and assemble quilts and school bags. Large and small pieces of fabric become a message of peace and love as they are stitched together and sent to those in need.
While most quilts are distributed through LWR to countries experiencing a disaster some quilts are donated to meet needs in our country. Sewn bags are filled with necessary school supplies that enable children to attend school and have a better future. More workers mean more quilts and school bags will be made. Check the calendar to see when to show up and find your role in this worthwhile endeavor.
We support small farmers around the world through sales of Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade items. Fair Trade is a way of doing business that acknowledges the worth and basic human rights of all people. When you buy Fair Trade items, more of the money you spend reaches the hands of the people who produced them. Look for the Equal Exchange coffee, tea, cocoa, olive oil, and chocolate bars on the shelves next to the Art Gallery.
Disaster Relief
Volunteers from St. James have gone on trips to help homeowners rebuild following disasters in Biloxi, MS and Minot, ND. Volunteers return from the trips energized by the experience stating “We definitely received more than we gave. We bonded in a special way with each other and really felt the Lord’s presence among us.” A recent trip included high school youth for an added benefit of multi generations traveling and working together. These disaster rebuilding efforts involve a cooperative effort of many members who support the volunteer workers through financial gifts, needed materials and prayers.
Lutheran Disaster Response to Hurricane Sandy on the east coast was another call to action resulting in generous contributions from St. James members and other area churches. Items for “Flood Buckets” were purchased and assembled by many helping hands. Tom Fox and Bill Kempf personally delivered these much needed supplies to Staten Island. Tom presented the idea for providing help following these disasters. He was humbled and gratified by the ways that “God’s Work, Our Hands” was revealed each time through the work of the Holy Spirit among the members of St. James.
Local
Mission emphasis at St. James includes local Habitat for Humanity building projects. Over the years, St. James has provided and served lunch to the Habitat Saturday volunteers in Moline, Rock Island, and Davenport.
The special offering on Good Shepherd Sunday has been designated for Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. Locally the In Touch Adult Day Center in Moline is part of the ministry of LSSI.
Each year a St. James team participates in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. Donations are given for cancer research and for luminaries to honor or in memory of family members and friends who have experienced cancer.
There are a number of local outreach programs that our members support and participate in. These include Adopt-A-Highway and serving suppers at the Christian Care Rescue Mission in Rock Island, hunger drives, food pantry donations, and the annual CROP walk.