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November 1999
Martin Luther, Youngstown
A Congregation in Transition
Picture a traditional 140-year-old Lutheran church in an
older residential area with an aging German base. Surrounding the church is a
predominantly African-American neighborhood in a high crime area with all the
other difficult problems of the inner city: high unemployment, single parent
families, drugs, housing deterioration, distrust, and a feeling of hopelessness.
Such circumstances might cause a congregation to throw in the
towel and to decide that the future looks grim. The congregation, Pastor Connie
Sassanella and Associate Pastor Gwen Miller do not view the future with
pessimism. Instead there is an optimistic attitude with a realization that the
challenge is a great one. Their vision statement says: "Martin Luther
Church seeks to share the love of Jesus Christ in word and deed to our
neighborhood, our community and beyond."
What Martin Luther, Youngstown has committed to is
redevelopment. "Redevelopment seeks to make a congregation new again, to
get it moving in mission, to develop a viable, healthy, growing and self-reliant
congregation that is doing ministry in its local community and is in partnership
with other churches in the mission enterprise around the world." (extracted
from a paper entitled "Redevelopment of Congregations" by Pastor
Warren Sorteberg of the ELCA Division for Outreach)
When another congregation, St. Paul, Youngstown closed in
1996 the church property was sold. The proceeds are being utilized for mission
purposes in the Youngstown area. A portion of the proceeds has been designated
for the redevelopment of Martin Luther over a five-year span. If the
congregation’s financial plans work out as expected, the need for synod
assistance after five years will be unnecessary. However, the help from other
Mission Partner congregations with time, talent and moneys will be required.
How will Martin Luther reach out to their community? Their
outreach approach has two areas of thrust. The first is to address the social
needs within the neighborhood. The second is to address the call to evangelize
within the neighborhood. They have concluded that by meeting social needs with
service and love, God will call the neighborhood to a new community of faith.
A principal outreach is to the nearby Sheridan Elementary
School. The elementary school children call Martin Luther Church "the
castle" (maybe because of appearance and hopefully the church is starting
to become a secure base for the neighborhood.)
A number of outreach activities planned include a
Thanksgiving dinner for the neighborhood and those who would otherwise be alone,
a Boy Scout Troop, space for the African dance, Harambre, and the development of
before-and after-school latchkey program in cooperation with the Weed & Seed
program.
Two externally funded programs are currently housed in the
church building: the VISTA program works in the area of crime prevention through
neighborhood block watch groups. The Weed & Seed program, coordinated by the
Youngstown Police Department and federally funded, works to eliminate drug
trafficking.
Evangelism does not play a secondary role at Martin Luther as
their results are visible:
- A vacation Bible school attracted 40 children.
- Nine African-American people have become new members.
This faithful ministry deserves our support through new
Mission Partnerships. To become a Mission Partner with Martin Luther please call
Pastor Sassanella or Pastor Miller at (330) 788-8707 or Pastor Bill Medford,
Eastern Conference Mission Partners Coordinator at (330) 427-6195.
TRAGIC FIRE
St. Paul, Newcomerstown
Pastor Will Haggis said his church building suffered an
"unlawful" death when the sanctuary collapsed in a major fire October
19. The next Sunday services went uninterrupted at the nearby elementary school
gymnasium. Their baptismal font, smoke damaged and very hot, was saved and used
in the baptism of an infant. According to Pastor Haggis, the transformation from
the death of the sanctuary to the new life of the baptism gave him new strength.
Congregations and/or individuals may contribute to a
"rebuilding fund". Make the check payable to St. Paul Lutheran Church,
121 S. College Street, Newcomerstown, OH 43832.
DOOR KNOCKING SUCCESSFUL
St. Paul, Smithville
Pastor Ted Rust, St. Paul, Smithville, set a goal of knocking
on 1000 doors within a five-mile-radius before the dedication service for their
new building on October 23, 1999. Here are the results:
Twenty-three St. Paul members and eight persons from other
congregations participated. Thanks to Pastor Joe Bartczak, St. John, New
Washington; Intern Richard Franks, Lord of Life, Chagrin Falls; Dick Spall,
Zion, North Canton; and Trinity, Ashland, for their assistance.
The total calls will increase in November when Rejoice!,
Hudson participates.
Pastor Rust and his congregation thank all for their help and
prayers in making this evangelism effort a success.
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Please give us the opportunity to spread the
good news by sending your Mission Partner stories to: Bob Ogden, Mission Partner
Coordinator, 1057 Mifflin Ave, Ashland, OH 44805, rjoleo@msn.com. |
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