St. John's Lutheran Church

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
Deanne Eytalis, (309)378-4608 or

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MISSION EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES
Occasionally, mission classes are held. For more information or to suggest a class, contact .

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MISSIONS & MISSION TRIPS

Previous Trips
Trips to date have included Belize; Ecuador, GAiN in Pennsylvania, and hurricane relief in Mississippi and Louisiana.

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Monthly one-day mission trips to Love Packages in Butler, Illinois to help sort and pack Bibles and Christian materials for shipment to third-world countries. For the 2010 trip schedule, click in the church office. Be sure to include a contact # where we may reach you in case of cancellation.

For other ways to help with Love Packages, see below.

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Buy a Brick – Build a School (Ecuador 2010)

See the flyer HERE.

If you are willing to pray for the Ecuador 2009 Team, download the prayer card HERE.

If you would like to be added to the email list to receive their daily story live from the mission field, email , Ecuador Prayer Coordinator.

Be sure to check out the bulletin board in the upper Welcome Center area featuring Open Door Missions and Ecuador church construction photos.

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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.

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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Open Door Missions is in need of volunteers in the following areas:

• A Co-Chair to assist with setting up events, preparing meeting agendas, and helping with meetings
• Trip coordinators for mission trips
• Publicity helpers to help prepare flyers, signs, displays, and possible presentations for the various missions
• General members-at-large to assist with miscellaneous tasks in any area where you feel called to serve, including occasional mailings, providing refreshments at various events, handing out flyers, or simply praying for successful missions

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Love Packages
Love Packages is always in need of helping hands to help sort Christian materials and bring the message of Christ to thousands around the world. You do not need to be a member of St. John’s to help- -bring a friend or neighbor. See Love Packages above for current trip dates and contact information.

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 .

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OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Love Packages
Donate Christian materials for Love Packages: gather up Bibles and other Christian materials and deposit them any time in the designated red-bowed “garbage cans” at Welcome Centers. Love Packages even collects old dated material, such as devotionals and subscriptions. To become more involved, see Love Packages above.

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.