In His Hands

A ministry for Redeemer people who want to share their blessings with those in need.

Please read this information and prayerfully consider how you might be involved in helping make ministry to the less fortunate become a reality at Redeemer. We have many resources, time, money, supplies, facilities and generous hearts. What these agencies need from us is whatever we can and are willing to give. If you can cook but don't want to serve a meal, there is a place for you. Do you want to collect clothing, wash and iron and/or work in a boutique - then there is a place for you. Do you want to shop for supplies or craft with little kids and bring your own children along to learn and share with others? There is a place for you.

Please read the ministry description and fill in the ministry information form if you are moved to help in any way. If you have questions, please call Kitty at 644-4010, extension 11.


Inner-City Ministry
FAMILY OF GOD SOUP KITCHEN AND PANTRY

Under the direction of Susan Hatcher, who has a heart for the homeless of southwest Detroit, and Lutheran City Ministry of Detroit, the Family of God soup kitchen has grown in a building on Vernor Highway. I have visited Lutheran City Ministries store front church and the soup kitchen shares the upper flat of the same building. The neighborhood is multi cultural shops and businesses and easily accessible from I-75. Susan is a full time employee of Salvation Army and works the pantry and kitchen in her spare time. She has a love for the homeless people but needs help cooking and gathering food. The pantry needs food, staple goods, sanitary products, etc., available at all times.

Soup Kitchen duties would involve any or all of the following: menu planning, shopping, cooking, delivering food, serving and clean up.

Soup Kitchen Take Out would involve preparing a snack/leftovers and juice in a bag for clients to take "home" after they have eaten dinner.

Family of God Pantry would involve helping with a food drive at Redeemer, boxing up and taking foodstuffs to the soup kitchen, sorting and stacking on shelves, shopping for items not provided through donations.


Pontiac Rescue Mission

GRACE CENTERS OF HOPE is a Christian recovery program that provides a live-in environment for men, women and children in downtown Pontiac. Grace has a full time staff and over 300 volunteers, who cook, serve meals, teach, tutor, and offer their professional services. A ministry that Redeemer has been supporting for the past 5 years at Grace is providing clothing (for men, women and children), maintaining a men’s closet, and assisting men with their wardrobe needs.  Redeemer collects clothing year round and each week it is delivered and sorted for use by the Grace residents. The Redeemer volunteers have an opportunity to help men in need and share the love of God with men who are trying to get their lives back on track.

 

Youth Group

Far-away friends

                                 The Latest From Martha Matzke

Thank you for your part in helping us return to the Solomons and our ministry.

It’s been great to get back ‘home’.  Tim has been able to reconnect with a number of our national colleagues whom he supervises in their literacy efforts in different parts of the country.  These men and women are doing great things but have sorely missed our input over the past year.  

One of these colleagues is a man named Michael.  He is from the island of Malaita and is heading up a literacy program funded by the National Council of Churches in Australia.  Tim applied for funding for this important project a couple of years ago and the program is entering its third year.  

Michael travels around the the north part of his island holding literacy awareness talks in villages and then helping to set up literacy programs.  He trains literacy teachers and then continues to oversee the programs.  It’s an honor to partner with a man like Michael who in his own quiet way is affecting change for men, women and children who have not had the privilege of attending school and learning to read and write.  In late 2005 when Tim visited some of the villages where reading classes were being held, woman after woman thanked Tim for sending Michael to get these programs started.   A few weeks ago, Michael was in town so he and Tim had a chance to sit down and plan out Michaels goals for the year.   In the near future Tim is planning on traveling to Malaita to again visit Michael and encourage him in his work.  
 
For us, we are excited that many of the new readers are Kwara’ae speakers – a people group who received the New Testament in their language just a few years ago.  Reports from that area say that many of the new readers are now participating in church services and reading the Kwara’ae Scriptures.