Alpha Center: “Sarah’s Story”

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Written by Wendy Nettleton Wendy Nettleton

Created: January 11 2022 January 11 2022

The Alpha Center is a nonprofit Christian Medical Clinic in the heart of Fort Collins and takes pride in providing compassionate, exceptional medical care to those in need of a pregnancy test, options education, STD screening, professional relationship counseling and sexual health education. The Alpha Center does not provide nor refer for abortions.

The center strives to ensure all patients are served with dignity by a licensed medical professional, approaching each client holistically, offering a safe place to share their experiences and ask questions.

Alpha Center began in 1985 as a pregnancy hotline in Fort Collins. They attained non-profit designation in 1987 and a year later opened the first office near Drake and College. In 2000, they became a medical facility by adding ultrasound, and two years later added STD screening as well. In 2016, they added a licensed professional counselor to their staff.

Today, The Alpha Center is located at College and Pitkin, right across from Colorado State University. The staff of sixteen includes registered nurses, administrative staff, and a licensed professional counselor. On an average, the Alpha Center serves 400–500 patients yearly. All services are offered at no cost, thanks to the generous support of many individuals, businesses and churches in our community.

Each month, the Alpha Center will share a client’s story with us so we can see first-hand the impact made by our support (name(s) changed for confidentiality).

A young pregnant patient was nervous to come in because she had an abortion in her past and told us she felt judged harshly by a different medical clinic. For this pregnancy, Sarah was interested in support and resources and was excited and hopeful during the ultrasound performed by the nurses. During the first appointment, our intake specialist was able to pray with her. Before leaving, she said her interaction with the Alpha Center has encouraged her faith and she even requested that the intake specialist pray with her again at the second appointment. She is now excited to engage with our Parenting Success program as she prepares to become a mom.

The Board of Human Needs finds opportunities for the members of Saint John’s to provide a Christian witness by helping people in the community struggling with daily necessities.

It’s All About Being “Sheepish” (a Report from the Board of Human Needs)

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Written by Linda Funke Linda Funke

Created: January 11 2022 January 11 2022

[Jesus said] “He will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’”Matthew 25:33–40

Christ’s command to us in the Gospel of Matthew is clear—we are to provide for the needs of others, and when we do, we are doing it for Him! This, in a nutshell, is the mission of the Board of Human Needs—to provide for others within our church and in the community. In other words, we are to be “sheepish” for Christ!

The following is a brief report of the Board’s ministry in 2021—and a glimpse of what we hope to accomplish in 2022.

Food Pantry and Clothing Closet

Following “social distancing” guidelines, the Food Pantry was re-opened in the spring with “curbside” service, and the clothing closet re-opened in the fall. We began by serving two-three families per week, and saw steady increase in the numbers of clientele, hitting our “peak” of twenty families (representing 85 individuals) in November, and averaging approximately thirteen families per week.

With your generous donations and a partnership with the Food Bank of Larimer County, we were able to provide nonperishable food and paper/personal/baby care products for 71 “unique” households with 299 “unique” individuals. Due to your generosity, we were able to allow clients to come each week they were in need.

All in all, we served 275 households and 1,152 individuals (counting households that came more than once). We anticipate even greater numbers in 2022. We are overwhelmed by your generosity—and by the gratitude of all who come to the food pantry and clothing closet. Hours are 9:00–11:00 AM each Tuesday.

Support for Laurel School

Saint John’s has a long history of supporting the families of Laurel School. Why Laurel? First of all, Laurel is in our “neighborhood”, and secondly, Laurel has a great need and serves many homeless and/or transient students. We learned that 45 families attending Laurel this fall were identified as “homeless” (either totally without a home, or living in a car or unsanitary and unsuitable home). The school’s family liaison works closely with these families and helps provide for their physical needs and helps families try to move out of poverty and into better situations. The families are “vetted” for us—meaning we are helping those truly in need and who don’t have their needs met through other agencies.

In 2021, with your help, Saint John’s was able to provide the following:

• Backpacks and school supplies plus $300 for additional needs,
• Thanksgiving food baskets for twelve families,
• Christmas gifts for Laurel families not receiving gifts from other agencies,
• Ten quilts donated by Saint John’s Quilters, and
• More than 200 “sewn with love” facemasks for students and faculty

Support for the Alpha Center

Because we believe in the sanctity of life, Saint John’s supports the local Alpha Center, which serves as a crisis pregnancy center. Through their ministry, many unborn lives are saved each year. (Read more about their mission in the literature available at the Welcome Center.) Thanks to your donations, we were able to provide gift cards for the Alpha Center clients and the Alpha Center itself through our Christmas Giving Tree. The Saint John’s Quilters donate baby quilts when needed. Saint John’s sponsored a table for the Alpha Center’s Gala (their main fundraising event). Watch for the “Baby Bottle” Drive this month as another way to contribute funds toward this life-saving and life-giving ministry.

Each month the newsletter will include a story/testimonial from an Alpha Center client so you can read first-hand how this ministry is impacting local lives.

Blessing Bags

This ministry to the homeless was initiated by the Woman to Woman Bible Study group and is supported by our Food Pantry. Bags are available on the counter in the church kitchen.

What’s New in 22?

In 2022, the Board of Human Needs will be working on the following projects.

• Ministry to our own members. The Board of Human Needs will coordinate meals for members with newborns, who have had surgeries, or who have other needs. Want to help? Sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Pastor Nettleton, Cindy Starck or Susan Hauser.
• Additional donations for Laurel School families. Watch for a mitten drive, sock and underwear drive and more.
• Expanded support of the Alpha Center.
• Partnerships with the Sunday School and Youth Groups to provide evangelism materials through our Food Pantry ministry.
• Explore a partnership with The Matthews House non-profit organization.
• And more … The Board, led by Kevin Seiler and Pastor Nettleton, will be meeting this month to define our priorities and desired projects. If you have an idea or want to help with any projects, please contact either Kevin or Pastor.

Many thanks to you, the members of Saint John’s, for your support of human needs. Your donations have been timely and much appreciated. Thank you for “being sheepish” … for whatever you have done in His Name, you have done for Christ! May God bless our ministry this year!

The Board of Human Needs finds opportunities for the members of Saint John’s to provide a Christian witness by helping people in the community struggling with daily necessities.

January LWM Mission Grant Story

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Written by LWML.org LWML.org

Created: December 21 2021 December 21 2021

This month we want to tell you more about the “Helping Hands” program of Lutheran Deaf Outreach, recipients of a $50,000 grant from Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) in the 2019–2021 biennium.

Lutheran Deaf Outreach has one primary goal: to help Deaf people have a saving relationship with Christ. They train both Deaf and Hearing people to share Jesus with Deaf people and their families by working through congregations in their area. Lutheran Deaf Outreach provides resources and training specifically designed for Deaf people to learn about the love of Jesus and to share it with others.

One of the biggest challenges for Deaf people is the English language. American Sign Language (ASL) has its own structure and placement. Many of the words we use in speaking are not directly able to be signed. All Lutheran Deaf Outreach materials are developed by, with, and for Deaf people in a way they can understand and share with others.

There are over 500,000 Deaf people, plus their families, in the United States. 98% of deaf and hard of hearing people do not know Jesus or attend any Christian church. The need is great to equip more Deaf leaders through Jesus Signs Training Workshops so they may effectively witness the saving message of Jesus Christ. This grant will assist Lutheran Deaf Outreach to expand training by sharing resources, including Deaf curriculum, Deaf catechisms, theological books, New International Reader’s Version (NIrV) Bibles, equipment and office supplies. Money will also help pastors and trained individuals lead and coordinate training workshops to reach out to Deaf people across America, as well as to families with Deaf children.

So you must go and make disciples of all nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And you can be sure that I am always with you, to the very end.”Matthew 28:19–20 (NIRV)

Further information about Lutheran Deaf Outreach can be found at lutherandeafoutreach.org.

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Lutheran Women in Mission (Mission Guild) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.

December LWM Mission Grant Story

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Written by LWML.org LWML.org

Created: November 11 2021 November 11 2021

This month we want to tell you more about the “Making the Next Generation of Disciples for Life” program of LCMS Life Ministry, recipients of an $92,000 grant from Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) in the 2019–2021 biennium.

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations.Jeremiah 1:5

In recent years the sanctity of life, and the family as God designed it, has been under attack in societies across the globe. Our children, from a very young age, are surrounded by media that attack the family as well as Christian values and morals. Even public libraries in some communities have begun offering story hours focused on anti-family concepts. These influences on our children cause devaluation of life, marriage and the family as God designed it.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) continues to stand on the truth of God’s Word, making disciples for life. LCMS Life Ministry is devoted to upholding the sanctity of human life, both in our church body and the culture at large, and working with the LCMS to share Christ’s love and mercy with their neighbors. They share biblical teachings regarding the sanctity of all human life, with a clear Law and Gospel approach, according to the confessional witness of the LCMS.

The resources of this grant will provide accessible information to children and families regarding life and family issues. It was created specifically to be developmentally appropriate for early childhood, young children and elementary aged children and their families. Included will be classroom materials, videos, storybooks and digital books for children and families which focus on providing awareness of sanctity of life concerns throughout all stages of life. These resources will create among children an awareness and respect for life and the family as God designed it, which will have a lasting effect on choices they make as they grow and mature. The resources will also create pro-life educational outreach to children through LCMS congregations and Lutheran schools, child-care centers and preschools as well as other Christian schools and children’s ministries.

This grant will assist parents, teachers, family members and Christian friends to “train up a child in the way he should go” (Proverbs 22:6), teaching children from a young age that all human life is valuable to God and thus to all of us.

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Lutheran Women in Mission (Mission Guild) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.

November LWM Mission Grant Story

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Written by LWML.org LWML.org

Created: October 13 2021 October 13 2021

This month we want to tell you more about the “Thirst to Learn” program of the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, recipients of a $100,000 grant from Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) in the 2019–2021 biennium.

The Holy Spirit gave the disciples power to preach the Gospel in the languages of the people at Pentecost. Today He uses the Lutheran Heritage Foundation (LHF) to translate books that explain Scripture to people around the world. LHF was created in 1992 by Rev. Robert Rahn to provide Christian printed materials to people in the former Soviet Union. These new Christians had a Russian Bible, but the hundreds of pages proved to be overwhelming. LHF took on the challenge of translating and publishing books such as Luther’s Small Catechism and A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories, which helped explain the Bible in all its richness, in the Russian language.

LHF continues to expand its mission of bringing the Good News of Jesus Christ to people in countries where the Gospel is not well known and provides books that encourage and strengthen the faith of established churches. Books are given free of charge to the churches and individuals who need them.

Africa has 1.2 billion people; over half of those souls are waiting to be introduced to their one true Savior, Jesus Christ. Islam has made huge inroads into the continent, with 500 million people bowing to Allah, while others continue to follow the traditions of their ancestors. However, Christianity has grown from only eight million in 1900 to over 631 million in 2000. With this phenomenal growth in Christianity, there is a great need for books and materials translated into the language of the people for use by children and their families.

Translations of A Child’s Garden of Bible Stories and Luther’s Small Catechism have been completed and distributed in places like Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania and South Sudan. The parents in these countries now have the resources they need to tell their children about Jesus and how God made the world. Missionaries and church leaders have used these books to teach Sunday school classes. Many African church bodies have thriving Lutheran schools, but teachers had no textbooks from which to teach their religion classes. However, once LHF gave them Bible story books in their own languages, the students could learn about their heavenly Father. They also are able to keep the brightly illustrated books, which are often the first books they own, and share them with their families. The same book which teaches about Jesus may also be the one that teaches the student to read.

Lutheran missionaries and church leaders in Africa have witnessed a “thirst to learn” about the Savior and have a need for easy-to-understand Lutheran books, printed in the languages of the people, to teach parents and children the Lutheran faith. With the money from this grant, the Lutheran Heritage Foundation will continue their mission of translating, publishing, distributing and introducing Lutheran materials throughout Africa to enhance the growth of the church.

Lutheran Women in Mission (LWM) is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, LWM has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and by supporting global missions. For more information on each month’s mission focus, visit LWML.org. Saint John’s Lutheran Women in Mission (Mission Guild) meets the first Tuesday of each month at 10:30 AM in Room 301. All ladies of the congregation are invited to attend.