Welcome to Christ the King Lutheran Church’s Outreach Ministries!
Let the Lord use you to spread the comfort and hope of Christ with neighbors near and far through your actions. Anyone can participate and there are many opportunities to serve.
Outreach Ministries
A few of Christ the King's outreach ministries include:
Compassion International: CTK sponsors Jofrey, a wonderful boy from Tanzania. Many other members and friends sponsor children on their own through this child sponsorship and advocacy organization.
Gifts of Hope: This past Christmas, CTK participated in Gifts of Hope, an alternative gift giving program through the SC Synod. Follow the link to see a catalog of 38 different gifts that give hope. CTK is seeking a volunteer coordinator for this program for 2007.
Dollars for Scholars Fund: CTK is helping the Tanzania Companion Synod Committee to raise money for the South Western Diocese of Tanzania to build a Teacher's College, providing teachers to the diocese's secondary school and its 22 primary schools. Current programs in Tanzania only support teachers that work in government schools. The cost of the entire campus (classrooms, labs, dormitories, lunch facility, chapel, meeting hall, administration building) is $1.3M. The collection jar is located on the table below the outreach bulletin board in the church, along with more detailed information.
God’s Pantry II: CTK members and friends are asked to bring non-perishable food items to church on the last Sunday of each month; however donations are accepted every Sunday. Donations are regularly transported to God’s Pantry II. Volunteer opportunities are also available to help out in the food pantry.
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County: Members and friends of CTK raised money this spring to help with the Golden Strip Church Coalition Home Build in Simpsonville. Volunteers came together to help raise the house, landscape the yard, and feed the volunteers. Work finished in May, 2007. This home build coincided with Hands On Greenville Day (HOG DAY), of which this home build served as an official HOG DAY site. Another home will be built next spring, with many new opportunities to help!
Hands On Greenville and Windsor House: Hands On Greenville (HOG), a local volunteer-based organization, holds a monthly Pet Therapy project at Windsor House to benefit the senior residents. Volunteers are needed on the second Sunday of every month from 2-3pm for this project. Go to the HOG website for more information. CTK also holds weekly prayer sessions for our neighbors at Windsor House, and we are always welcome volunteers to help.
Kairos Prison Ministry: Members and friends of CTK are involved in volunteering with this prison ministry. Additionally, hundreds of cookies are baked in April and September for outreach sessions and a 24-hour prayer network is manned by CTK.
Lutheran Family Services: CTK sponsors foster children during Christmastime by providing gifts. We also provide age-appropriate bibles and presents for children on their birthdays. LFS uses the church facility each month to conduct foster parent workshops.
Lutheran Theological Seminary Partnership: CTK partners with the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, SC to sponsor a seminarian during his or her studies. This is a new outreach activity and we are looking forward to getting to know our new student and his wife.
Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Fair: In October, 2006 CTK held a Fair Trade Fair during our annual Oktoberfest celebration. Look for the opportunity to purchase fairly traded handicrafts, coffee and chocolate this fall. In the meantime, visit the Lutheran World Relief site to learn more about fair trade and to buy products online. We will be looking for volunteers to help coordinate this year’s fair.
Member Outreach Support: Ten or more matching gifts of up to $50 per request, for a total of $500 is designated to support the individual outreach ministries of CTK members. The Outreach Team Leader is responsible for receiving, approving such requests, unless she feels that consultation with the Church Council prior to decision making is appropriate. She is also responsible for reporting the status of such requests to Church Council. Contact Laura Harmon for more information.
Mission Trip to Mississippi: CTK will partner with St. Michaels Lutheran Church in Greenville and Lutheran Disaster Response to participate in a mission trip to the Gulf Coast November 4-10, 2007 to help with the Katrina rebuilding efforts. Trip leaders will give a presentation including slides on Sunday, July 15, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. Volunteers will stay at Camp Victor during their week-long stay. Anyone interested in participating as a volunteer or a donor, as well as those interested in the rebuilding efforts are invited to attend.
WELCA Welcome Kits: This June, WELCA is collecting Welcome Kits for adults and children who come into the care of Lutheran Family Services. Children coming into group homes and foster care often arrive with their belongings in a plastic bag. Refugees have fled their home with few or no personal belongings, seeking safety to begin their lives again. SC Women of the ELCA want to welcome these children of God with a duffle bag or backpack filled with personal supplies. To make a Welcome Kit, fill a small bag with personal supplies such as toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, shaving supplies, hairbrush, comb, small Bible, and an alarm clock. Tag your kit with Man, Woman, Boy or Girl. Turn your kit into CTK by Sunday, June 24, 2007.
Women’s Prison Ministry: Members of CTK volunteer teach a women’s bible study entitled, Pieces to Peace, offering spiritual healing for survivors of abuse in the women’s facility. Funds are always needed to purchase bible study books for participants, and volunteers are welcome.