Outreach - St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 2812 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208

Outreach and Social Ministry

St. Paul's is committed to being "in the city for good" in various ways. Some of our outreach and social ministries include:

Community Night:

Community Night is the cornerstone of our neighborhood outreach ministry. On the third Wednesday of every month (from 6:00-7:30 pm), we invite neighborhood children and their families to an evening of fun, fellowship, food and Christian education. The goal is to build relationships between children and adult volunteers and among the children, and to learn about God's love together. We are grateful for the support we receive for this ministry from our partner congregations, Galilee Lutheran Church in Pewaukee and Marquette Lutheran Campus Ministry.

Friendship Center Camp:

Each summer, selected youth from St. Paul's and the Milwaukee Public School system are invited to participate in a camping experience at the Friendship Center Camp, directed by St. Paul's members Dave and Gretchen Pearson. Friendship Center Camp, near Dodgeville Wisconsin, holds reading and nature camps for children a few weeks every summer. During the rest of the summer and at other times of the year, small, educational, religious or non-profit groups (up to 20 campers) may rent the facilities weekdays, weekends or for longer periods of time. The camp offers an intimate, rustic family-like setting for study, recreation and retreat. Friendship Center Camp is about a two hour drive from Milwaukee. For more information, please visit their website: http://www.friendshipcentercamp.org

Summer and Year-Round Work Ministry:

Youth (ages 9-14 years old) may participate in this ministry, funded by the Siebert Foundation, that provides them with job and life skills training. Sessions are three hours long and are held once a month during the year and more often in the summer. The session begins with a short Bible study and then youth are assigned to different work crews, both in the church and in the neighborhood, and "earn" stipends to buy school clothes and other necessities.

Central Community Interfaith Neighborhood Program and Senior Center:

The Neighborhood Outreach Program provides practical assistance and information to help frail or isolated older adults remain in their homes and neighborhoods. The Central Community Interfaith Neighborhood Director, Beth Gardner, recruits and supports caring volunteers to provide informal services (e.g. transportation, home chores, visits, telephone reassurance) to older persons. Beth's office is located at 4420 W. Vliet Street. She can be reached at 414/342-6664. Redeemer Lutheran Church also hosts a Senior Center on Thursdays from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm which provides fellowship, recreation, healthcare assistance and lunch for seniors and other needy neighbors. For more information, contact Redeemer Lutheran Church at 414/933-7004.

Marquette Lutheran Campus Ministry:

St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Redeemer Lutheran Church and Our Savior's Lutheran Church have a covenant relationship with Marquette University Lutheran Campus Ministry, which involves financial and other means of support. The ministry is led by Pastor Brad Brown and several peer ministers and includes worship opportunities, fellowship and Bible Studies, and pastoral care to all Lutheran students who attend Marquette University. Students often attend St. Paul's Community Nights as volunteers. Pastor Brown can be contacted at: bradley.brown@marquette.edu

Central City Churches Outreach Ministry and Food Pantry:

As a member of the Central City Churches, our congregation support both the Outreach Ministry (and Food Pantry) and Interfaith Program for Older Persons with monetary contributions and volunteers. The Outreach Ministry is located at Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Wisconsin Ave. and 31st and offers neighbors assistance with basic needs, especially food and hygiene products. Neighbors are also assisted with job searches through the use of the phone, newspaper and computer job listings, and sometimes with bus tickets. Neighbors in need are welcomed with coffee and cookies before meeting one-on-one with the director, Alicia Ellis, who determines their need and makes appropriate referrals. Her contact hours are Monday through Thursday, from 9:30 am until 3:00 pm. The Food Pantry is open from 9:30-11:00 am. Alicia can be reached at 414/342-1522 or at: lellis1@wi.rr.com

Other social ministries:

Each year in October, members of our church support each other in the annual CROP Walk, which raises money for Church World Service for the hungry and needy both locally and globally. Our Quilters Group meet twice a month on Thursday mornings to quilt blankets for Lutheran World Relief, which are picked up annually and sent all over the world to those in need.