Partner for Greater Community Impact

Expand Your Impact – October 2021 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ If you cannot see images, please [click here]( [Shop CTA Products]( [Shop CTA Products]( [Women'sMinistry]( [Men'sMinistry]( [Children'sMinistry]( [GeneralMinistry]( [CTAAdvantage]( October 2021 [Partner for Greater Community Impact]( By Kristin Schultz As we look around our churches and our communities, we see no shortage of pain. We see single moms and unemployed parents struggling under the weight of financial stress. We see parents in pain as they watch their grown children walk away from the Lord. We see... [Read More]( [Shop]( tips & trends Care ministries like food pantries, coat drives, and grief support groups have long served people in our communities. But as the world changes and people in different communities experience unique challenges, we as the Church have the opportunity to think outside the box and partner with existing organizations. Here are a few ideas: 1. “Grace Day”—Every August, Zion Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, Missouri, hosts “Grace Day”—a day on which community members can access several items and services at no cost. Grace Day typically occurs right before the school year starts so parents and students can start the year with confidence. At a Grace Day, community members can receive free services: a. Haircuts b. Eye exams c. Car diagnostics and repairs d. Clothing (including shoes) e. Food 2. Car Care Ministry—Reliable transportation can be the difference between stable employment, and the uncertainty of unemployment. That’s why Grace Community Church in Goshen, Indiana, offers a car ministry for single mothers and people in financial hardship who are having vehicle difficulties. Applicants fill out a form to book an appointment where volunteers will perform free basic car maintenance: a. Oil changes b. Brake service c. Wheel bearing replacement d. Basic check-engine diagnostics e. Tune-ups 3. Modern support groups—Everyone faces many temptations. Churches have opened their doors to alcohol- and drug-rehabilitation programs for years, and now there are a growing number of recovery groups for people struggling with other temptations like pornography, sexual addiction, and anger. Your church can offer space to a local or national organization that facilitates support groups for these and a myriad of other issues like eating disorders, abusive relationships, and loneliness. 4. Career Resources—Even as we hear about employers who are unable to fill positions on the news, many in our churches and communities are unemployed or underemployed. Your church can partner with a career-services organization to offer resources ranging from providing suitable clothing for job interviews, to resume editing, to networking opportunities, to job coaching. 5. Caregiver resources—So many people in the church care for their family members. Many churches provide connections to respite care or provide resources to those caregivers so that they can care for themselves and their loved ones. Some churches recognize the role that students play in the lives of their friends and those churches offer programs to help them identify when a friend may be experiencing a mental health crisis. These programs advise students how to seek out help for their friends who are struggling. No matter what you choose to do to expand care outside of your church walls, pray about it and trust that the Lord will show you the specific needs in your community that you can help meet. bonus And now for a little something extra. . . From articles to devotions to activity ideas and how-to lists, CTA Blog has useful resources to help you and your ministry. [Read More. . .]( [Positive Relationships: The Building Blocks of Successful Teams]( [Read More]( [Read More. . .]( [Thirst Satisfied]( [Read More]( [Read More. . .]( [More Than a Job: Caring for the Unemployed]( [Read More]( [Women'sMinistry]( [Men'sMinistry]( [Children'sMinistry]( [GeneralMinistry]( [CTAAdvantage]( CTA, Inc. 1653 LARKIN WILLIAMS ROAD, FENTON, MO 63026, United States customerservice@ctainc.com []( This email was sent to {EMAIL} because you've subscribed on our site or made a purchase. [Unsubscribe]( | [Edit preferences](