Serving Out There

Spring Break Servant Events Each year in March, during Michigan State University’s spring break, college students as well as community residents travel to domestic as well as international locations to serve others. Siteshave included:

• El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Mexico College students go to El Paso and work through Ysleta Lutheran Mission, a Hispanic border mission, and in Juarez, Mexico, where they construct a home for a family in need.
• Phoenix, AZ College students head to Phoenix where they work with Habitat for Humanity and Christ Church Lutheran helping those in need in the Guadalupe area.
• St. Vincent’s Home Faith Ministry The children at St. Vincent’s Foster Care Facility in Lansing enjoy your friendship. They love interacting with college age students for one hour every Tuesday from 6:00 - 7:00 pm. You’re welcome to come as a guest to see what it’s all about.
• Friendship House MSU The Friendship House MSU is a place where international students and their families can make new friends and practice conversational English. Rich Bearup is the Executive Director of the International Student Ministry-Lansing Area (ISM-LA) and oversees activities at the Friendship House located at 927 Sever Drive (off S. Harrison Rd.) in East Lansing. The goal of this ministry is to help the international student and family members experience American culture, make significant friendships, and adjust to life in the U.S. Some of the way to get involved include teaching an English conversation class, leading a Bible Study, helping out with special events, assisting with quarterly mailings, and interacting with the children.
• Christ Lutheran Saturday Soup Kitchen Twice annually the people of Martin Luther Chapel help prepare and serve lunch at the Saturday soup kitchen at Christ Lutheran Church, 122 S. Pennsylvania, Lansing (517-482-2252).
• Soup Labels Save Campbell, Prego, V8 and Swanson product labels and others (see display in the entryway) to help the mentally challenged and physically handicapped at Bethesda Lutheran Home.
• Lansing Rescue Mission Two large barrels are located on the lower level of the Chapel where you can place your donations of clothing, personal care items, and non-perishable food items for local homeless adults and children and area food banks. Lansing Rescue Mission comes by monthly to gather up donations.
• Thanksgiving and Christmas Family Baskets Each holiday season people from Martin Luther Chapel provide food baskets for needy families assigned by Haven House, an East Lansing temporary housing shelter, and also share gifts and food items they have purchased for needy families of Haven House at Christmas.
• Red Cross Blood Drive Martin Luther Chapel hosts a blood drive at the Chapel four times each year. Volunteers are needed to help with set up, taking down, and helping in the snack area.
• Habitat for Humanity/Thrivent Build Each summer there’s plenty of volunteer opportunity to help with a local build sponsored by Thrivent Financial. Local Lutheran churches work together in partnership to build a new home each year.