Open Door Missions
Open Door Missions is for those who feel called to witness in the world through mission trips.
Mission
To teach the practical application of the Great Commission given to every Christian through joyful mission and service by opening the door to life-changing experiences.
The Team’s Bible verse: Rev. 3:8b
I know your good works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it.
Meeting Times
We meet the first Tuesday of each month, 6:00-7:30 PM, in the Multipurpose Room. We invite you to join our team!
Contact Info
Jan Pritts, (309)665-0440 or janpritts@aol.com
Greg Koester, (309)663-7600 or gckoester@frontier.com
ODM Brochure
To view our brochure, click HERE.
MISSION EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
MISSIONS: GOD’S HEART FOR THE WORLD – Sunday mornings April 15-June 17, 9:15 in the ADR
Have you ever wondered why we should be involved in missions? This 9-week study will answer the question, “What does ‘God’s Work, Our Hands’ really mean and why are we called to be involved?” For more information or to order a book, contact Jan Pritts, (309)665-0440 or janpritts@aol.com.
MISSIONS & MISSION TRIPS
ECUADOR MISSION TRIP, JULY 21-28, 2012
Plans are underway for our sixth mission trip to Ecuador! This year the team will be going 11,000 feet up into the Andes Mountains to Iltus, a community of 3,000–4,000 Quichua Indians. There, the team will work with a Christian congregation of 60 adults and their children(who have been meeting in homes for the past three years) to help them fulfill their dream of a church building! The team will also lead a bible school and sports camp, and provide medical care.
On July 21, the team will fly into Guayaquil, Ecuador. From Guayaquil they will travel by bus to Iltus, with stops in Nueva Esperanza and Huigra (the towns where previous teams have worked) to visit old friends and see the progress they have made since our last visit.
The team, as always, will be led by Dr. Manuel Avila, who works year around to help the poor of Ecuador. Each year Dr. Manuel matches our team to those with the greatest need. Thanks to the teaching and guidance of Dr. Manuel, each mission trip is a true spiritual journey as well as an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the poor of Ecuador.
BUY A BRICK, BUILD A CHURCH
The cost to build a church in Iltus will be $20,000. Much of this money needs to be sent in advance of our team’s arrival so that materials can be ordered and work can be started. Your help is greatly needed! Checks should be made out to St. John’s with the designation “Buy a Brick”, and placed in the offering plate. Special envelopes are available at the Buy a Brick displays in the atrium and narthex areas.
ZAMBIA
The ELC-Za is a 3,000-member church with more than 30 congregations in the poverty-stricken country of Zambia. ODM has has been working with ELCA missionary Arden Strasser, who supports and provides leadership training for the pastors. In 2012, members and friends of St. John’s gave more than $12,000 to the pastors of the ELC-Za to send their 60 children to school. This gift lifted a huge financial burden from these pastors, freeing them up to work to expand their congregations and spread God’s word in Zambia.
ODM continues to work with Joy Zone to assist New Horizons Orphanage, a ministry to orphans who have been abused. They appreciate our financial and prayer support as they face many challenges in Zambia.
Operation Christmas Child
Each year St. John’s teams with Samaritan’s Purse to participate in the Operation Christmas Child program to deliver millions of gift-filled shoeboxes to hurting children all over the world. Whether they are refugees of civil wars, survivors of a natural disaster, or victims of extreme poverty, these little ones need to know that they are precious to God.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Open Door Missions is in need of volunteers in the following areas:
To help with Open Door Missions in any way, contact Greg Koester, (309)663-7600 or gckoester@frontier.com.
Samaritan’s Purse
Open Door Missions is in the process of organizing regular relief teams to deploy in cases of natural disaster. If you would like to sign up to be part of a relief team or help with the relief effort in any way, please contact Bunker Kuethe.
OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
Eyeglass Collection
Used eyeglasses can be brought to Tanja in the church office. We will take these on to a collection site for OneSight, an organization that will bring them to people in need around the world. See www.onesight.org.
Love Packages
Love Packages is an organization that accepts our abundance of used bibles and other Christian material and sends it to places around the world where even pastors sometimes don’t have their own bible. We will continue to be a community collection center for Love Packages. Donations should be dropped off inside the west entrance to the church. See www.lovepackages.org.
Aluminum Can Recycling
You CAN make a difference just by saving your aluminum cans. Drop off your crushed cans in plastic grocery bags and place the tied bags by the designated bin by the garage on the southwest side of the church, or take them directly to Morris Tick- -you MUST mention that the cans are for the St. John’s Lutheran Church Open Door Missions account. All funds support Open Door Missions projects. Your recycling efforts not only helps St. John’s go green, but also helps provide additional funds through Open Door Missions for others who are less fortunate.
Used Cell Phone Collection Project
Drop off your unwanted cell phones and accessories to the church office. Cell phones need not be in working condition; chargers and accessories are not necessary but may be dropped off as well. It is recommended that all personal information be erased and the service be disconnected. Phones will be sold to a recycling program; proceeds will support Open Door Mission projects.
