Serve

Mission Alaska 2012

June 24th-June 30th , 2012

Our Global Mission Team seeks to create connections between those who can give and those who need to receive, recognizing that the givers will be changed in the process.


Trip Description
Members of the Global Mission Team at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church are organizing a short term volunteer mission trip to share the love of Christ to un-churched children and adults in urban areas of Anchorage, Alaska.  Working with Global Partnership Ministries, our team will spend mornings providing kindness / servanthood ministry—working at the Food Bank, senior centers, prayer walking, painting/repair of homes of needy, delivering food bags to disadvantaged families, etc.   At lunch, we’ll help to feed hungry, disadvantaged children.  In the afternoons, we will serve in local parks conducting backyard bible school, games and sports with un-churched children and youth. In the evenings we will help host neighborhood evangelistic cookouts and block parties.  A week of serving others to the Glory of our Lord.

 

GraceWorks Anchorage
Members of the Global Mission Team at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church are organizing a short term volunteer mission trip to Anchorage, Alaska.  We will be working with Pastor Scott Kirby and his GraceWorks ministry through Global Partnership Ministries ( http://missionmatch.com/ ).  The GraceWorks ministry targets service to the disadvantaged and un-churched throughout the Anchorage area.  They partner with local churches and local agencies in this ministry and provide follow up to those our team reaches.  Their vision is to use summer volunteers to help them see new churches started.  As a result of their GraceWorks ministry this past summer they have 5 small groups continuing.  Their vision and plan is to take “church” to where the people are.

GSLC Vacation Bible School donated a portion of their offering to the Global Partnership Ministries organization in 2011. 

Separately in 2011, the Larson family participated in the GraceWorks mission and returned with high praise for the organization and its ability to reach out to the Anchorage community in sharing the love of Christ.  

Global Partnership Ministries will handle all ground logistics so our team can concentrate on our ministry.  They provide housing, meals, transportation, the ministry program, and even a day of guided sightseeing.  They also will provide our team with host(s) from their summer staff to help us through the week and to be a go to person for our team.

Here are the kinds of people we are looking for to join us on this trip:

  • People willing to show the love of Jesus by serving others and freely sharing the gospel when the opportunity arises.
  • People who will depend on their relationship with Jesus Christ throughout the trip.
  • People who have a heart to serve and enjoy children.
  • People who are in good health.  Due to the physical nature of some tasks (e.g. able to sleep on the floor, climb into vans, & very long, active days on your feet)
  • People who are willing to listen, learn and bring back the experience to others in our community.
  • People who are able to comply with the GraceWorks covenant (see application).

While the trip is open to the whole congregation, it affords a unique opportunity for family members to serve alongside one another.  Students must be at least 9 yrs. of age and accompanied by a parent.  Space is limited to a team of 15.

Prior to the trip we will have 10 Team Meetings (once a month Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb & Mar: twice a month for Apr & May and one in June).  It is important that team members attend all preparation meetings except in extraordinary situations.  Space is limited for this mission trip.  The nature of the work makes it a huge privilege to participate.  If you are unable to make the commitment a priority, we ask that you consider applying for a future trip instead.

The all-inclusive trip cost will be approximately $1210 per participant (dependent upon airfare and the number of people on the team).  This cost will cover all housing, meals, transportation, airfare, ministry supplies and a small offering to GPM.  This amount does not include souvenirs, incidentals, and food during travel.  Each participant will be responsible to pay for their trip cost by the following deadlines:  $50.00 non-refundable deposit due with application, airfare will be purchased first week of January (approx. $600), $40 due first week of Feb, remaining balance due May 23, 2012.  If you choose to send out fundraising letters to family and friends asking for support, it is requested that you do so to people outside of the Good Shepherd community. A sample letter will be provided to you.  GSLC will have a Paypal account set up, accepting major credit cards, so that friends and family can contribute towards your trip with the click of a button.    Any money donated online into the PayPal account is non-refundable and GSLC retains the rights to that money should you not be able to go on the trip for any reason or your designated funds exceed the cost of the trip.

Cancellations by participants must be received in writing.

Prior to filling out an application we ask that you prayerfully consider going on this trip.  Selection of team members will take place Nov.1, 2011.  Applicants will be considered in the order in which they are received.  Should you apply, we thank you for your desire to serve our Lord Jesus as a volunteer on this mission trip to Alaska.  You will be contacted personally about your application.

Any questions can be directed to trip leaders, Debbie and Pete Larson,  larsonsocal@cox.net
(949)454-1848, Debbie cell-(949)861-1651, Pete cell-(562)243-3497

Please fill out the application and return it to Pastor Ryan Warne-McGraw at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 4800 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine CA 92604.

May God use us to be a blessing to others.