Project Connect Success Stories

Backpack Ministry Reaches Young Families…

Young families have their own unique sets of issues. How do you help them talk? And keep them talking? How do you reach out to them and welcome them into your church?

With an inspiring and contagious witness, committed members from Christ Lutheran Church in Little Rock, Arkansas are reaching the young families in their community through a “Backpack Ministry.” Each week, students from each classroom (from Preschool to grade 6) take home a backpack – on loan – for the week. Every backpack includes devotional materials, an age-appropriate Bible, worship CD, and videos. It’s an excellent tool for outreach and an inroad into their school families.

“The idea is that each family will look through the backpack, use the material for family devotions during the week and hopefully see the importance and validity of that time together,” said the Rev. Daniel Schepmann, pastor of Christ Lutheran Church.

Each backpack includes 10 to 15 different Project Connect booklets that deal largely with parenting and family issues. A journal is also included for parents to write down their thoughts.

“The comments have been amazing,” Schepmann said. One family writes, “Thank you so much for providing these materials…I have noticed the pamphlets in the narthex before and picked them up to add to our materials at home. We are always so grateful for the training in discipleship that this church provides, both to the students and to ‘us’ parents. We who do not attend Christ Lutheran Church are especially blessed by your presence in our community.”

Another family remarked how much they enjoyed Raising Children with Respect and Talking Openly with Your Kids. Christ Lutheran Church’s innovative use of Project Connect booklets is truly inspiring!

Praise for ‘Project Connect’ …

Recently we spoke with Pastor Schwandt from Christ Lutheran about their success with Project Connect. He remarked how the topical Project Connect booklets are helping church members and friends find help for personal and spiritual issues.

“Little did we know how popular Project Connect would become,” he said. “It started out as an effort, but now it is a delight. We can’t keep enough books in the display!”

Soup Kitchen Provides Food for the Soul…

Decades ago, when the steel industry went bust in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it left many jobless and consequently, homeless.

As part of a church ministry, the pastor and members of Concordia Lutheran Church McKeesport began a soup kitchen (Sonshine Kitchen) for the community in 1983. Due to declining membership, the church closed its doors in 2001. Even though the members joined other congregations, they realized the Sonshine Kitchen Ministry should and could continue in that church building. Former members, coupled with the continued support of sister congregations, were able to make that a reality.

The lay-led ministry, known as “Associated Lutheran Missions,” is now in its 3rd year.

“It’s given us some great outreach opportunities,” says Barbara Stuffer, Administrator.

Project Connect has been a vital part of that ministry. Booklets such as Take Heart in Your Grief, I am an Alcoholic, and Dealing with Depression literally flew off of the Project Connect display.

“Many people who come into the soup kitchen will see the Project Connect booklets and ask, ‘Can I take this? I have a friend that can use it.’ It’s very exciting,” she says.

Sometimes Barbara even uses the booklets as part of the soup kitchen’s devotional time.

What a creative way to share the Good News of Jesus with the lost and the hurting!

Recovering from Divorce …

A gentleman recovering from a painful divorce was given a helpful booklet from Lutheran Hour Ministries. After reading Why Do Bad Things Happen? he called the LHM response center to say that this free booklet was more helpful than the hundreds of dollars spent on self-help books.

Realizing that God had a future and a hope for him with the saving love of Jesus was a tremendous boost to his faith and commitment to his church. He ordered more booklets to share with others.

Forgiving and Forgetting …

At a wedding south of Chicago, a guest picked up a booklet in the back of the church that changed their family’s life. “How to Forgive and Forget” by Dr. William E. Hulme (6BE10) talked about a problem they were having in their family.

He and his wife read the booklet on the plane going home and wrote to us, saying it was “a very worthwhile booklet.” The couple wanted to know how to order more since they felt many in their family would benefit from “How to Forgive and Forget” … changed lives, for the better.

Cruising to Alaska…

Project Connect is a go-anywhere, share the Gospel-anytime-tool. On the Ocean Princess cruise ship, Senior Assistant Cruise Director Mike and his wife Cherise are sharing the Gospel in creative ways.

By placing their Project Connect in the employee’s quarters of the cruise ship, Mike and Cherise are touching numerous lives for eternity with timely, Christ-centered literature. Think outside the box! You’ll be surprised at the possibilities.

Reaching Out in Texas…

Lookout – it’s a congregation on the move with outreach in their hearts! Purchasing their first display in January 2002, a Texas congregation reordered 150 booklets within the first month.

Soon they ordered two additional three-tier displays. Now the original display has been placed in a location at the church that is used for a bi-weekly 12-step program. Another one is by the entrance of their preschool and another in the local pediatrician’s office. And if that wasn’t enough, they’ve had a request by an automotive shop! The placements have been a true blessing for many in their community. Way to go, Texas!

Bringing Baskets of Hope to Hurting Children…

Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM) provides booklets and New Testaments to the Basket of Hope organization, a non-profit organization dedicated to sharing Jesus’ hope to children diagnosed with cancer or other serious illness.

Nearly a decade ago, this program began after the daughter of Paul and Angela Brunette completed treatment for a rare form of cancer. The Brunettes felt God calling them to provide gifts of hope for similar children. Lutheran Hour Ministries also thought it was a great idea and provided the “main ingredient” for each basket … the Word of God.

Primarily delivered to area hospitals in St. Louis, each basket is filled with toys, hats, cassette players, Christian music, stuffed animals, and crafts – as well as Bibles and booklets provided by LHM. Booklets such as Why Do Bad Things Happen?, Lasting Promises, No Need to Fear, When in Doubt; Read the Book, The Truth about Angels, and Talking with God give families something positive to read while waiting long hours in the hospital.

Several families save every item from the basket because they want their child to know how complete strangers cared for them when they were sick. One parent shared that “… it was the first time that I read the Bible. It was in my language – no thee’s and thous! I read the whole thing. It was awesome! Thank you so much. We have not lost hope. God is with us.”

Connecting Creatively to the Community…

Nearly one thousand congregations have adopted Project Connect to assist their members in an easy-to-use outreach ministry. Nationwide, the program – which provides attractive freestanding displays that hold up to 24 topical booklets – helps individual congregations connect with their communities.

Originally designed to placed in a church narthex or foyer, churches are also placing their displays in creative spaces such as reception areas, hospitals, schools, counselors’ waiting areas, a customer service waiting lounge in a hardware store and now in Hawaii at Naval Security Group Activity in Kunia. After Chaplain Craig Muehler purchased 2,000 booklets to share with service men and women, Captain Tom Benedum, Assistant Director for Ministry to the Armed Forces – LCMS World Mission, met with Project Connect o discuss how LHM can assist Chaplains in the Armed Forces.

Additional Ideas…

•A church in the St. Louis area uses the Project Connect booklets as centerpieces during a recent sausage dinner they hosted. The books were free for the taking and received an overwhelming response.

•Food pantries are a perfect place for a Project Connect display. One church moves theirs to the front entrance of the pantry as people come in they are encouraged to take the books.

•First Lutheran Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma has been very busy after placing a Project Connect at a member’s meat market. The response has been a great success!

•The South Dakota District has taken on the challenge of placing one display in every prison and LCMS congregation.

•Here’s an idea you might want to use. One congregations places this information on the back of each booklet:

It is our prayer that the thoughts in this booklet will be very helpful to you. We invite you to look to Jesus Christ for the greatest help of all. Jesus said, “I have come that (they) may have life to the full.” (John 10:10) To find out more about Jesus’ SAVING HELP and the “full life” that He offers, please contact: Timothy Lutheran Church, Blue Springs, MO 63014 (816) 228-5300, Sunday Worship: 8:00, 9:15 and 10:45 a.m.

Do you have an idea or story to share with us? Click here!