Getting involved in Local Outreach

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

God calls and empowers his church to make his love known in the wider community, to proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ. At Messiah that takes various forms. Here are some of the ministries that we support, and in which you may wish to become involved through prayer and action:

Project Home

Project Home provides families facing homelessness with a safe, clean, comfortable place to spend the night when the Ramsey County Family Service Center is at capacity. The program is a ministry of hospitality and is primarily run by volunteers. Two different area churches, synagogues or schools host Project Home shelters each month. The majority of shelter guests are children. The average length of stay for most guest families sheltered by Project Home is 4-5 days. After a short stay, the majority of families move to the Ramsey County Family Service Center, where 80-90% obtain housing within a month. The few families unable to stabilize in that timeframe are welcome to return to Project Home until they are able to find housing. Each night two shifts of volunteers are needed: two evening and two overnight hosts. Messiah acts as a host site through the month of June.

For more information, or to get involved, speak with Anne Towner.

Great Adventure Camp

Every summer at the end of July we offer an active program of Bible learning and fun for children. Themes in recent years have included Narnia, Habitat for Humanity, and "Sonshine Harvest" (the fruit of the Spirit). It is an opportunity for children to invite their friends and neighbors to a joyful experience of Christian teaching and community.

For more information, or to get involved, speak with Sheila Cina.

Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship

Graduate & Faculty Ministries is Inter-Varsity's network of fellowships and ministry among graduate and professional-school students and university and college faculty all around the United States. The heart of this ministry is in campus fellowships, where students and faculty gather in large and small groups for Bible study, prayer, discussion, and learning. Individual spiritual formation occurs as members share ideas, nurture their passions, and submit their thoughts and lives to God's word. Experienced Inter-Varsity staff connect the local ministry to national resources and offer pastoral care and spiritual direction amidst the rigors of academic and professional development.

For more information, or to get involved, speak with Charlie Clauss.

Crossroads Christian Community

An intentional community made up of Messiah members and friends, their mission is to "love Jesus, live Jesus, in community, in Frogtown". Frogtown has the highest per capita ratio of children in St Paul and one of the highest poverty rates. Crossroads is involved in regularly praying for and serving its neighbors-especially children-through summer programming, cultivating relationships, and community development.

For more information, or to get involved, speak with Kristen Kidder.

Sharing Korner Food Bank

Located in the Frogtown neighborhood of St Paul, the Sharing Korner is a non-profit advocacy, information and emergency food shelf serving roughly 1000 people per month. 91% of their clients have incomes below the poverty level and 41% are children under the age of 14. They typically give out 1000 pounds of food per day. On the first Sunday of each month Messiah parishioners are asked to bring bags of non-perishable groceries to church. We welcome volunteers to deliver the food to the Sharing Korner the following day.

For more information, or to get involved, speak with Janice Dames.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization founded on the conviction that every man, woman and child should have a simple, decent, affordable place to live in dignity and safety. Habitat's ministry is based on the conviction that to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ we must reflect his love in our own lives by loving and caring for one another. Our love must not be words only-it must be true love, which shows itself in action. Habitat provides an opportunity for people to put their faith and love into action, bringing diverse groups of people together to make affordable housing and better communities a reality for everyone.

For more information, or to get involved, speak with John Horton.

Union Gospel Mission

Union Gospel Mission is a Christian service agency that works to meet the physical, emotional, spiritual and educational needs of the economically disadvantaged men, women and children of the Twin Cities. In that ministry, the Union Gospel Mission seeks to fulfill its role as servant to Jesus Christ. Messiah participates in a November food drive to help provide Thanksgiving meals for needy families in the Twin Cities.