Evangelism and Outreach
The Evangelism and Outreach Committee encourages active participation with the mission of spreading the Good News of God's grace, love and forgiveness to those outside of our congregation and invite them to join us in this mission.
Family Promise - Interfaith Hospitality Network
Peace Lutheran Church is a partner congregation with Hope Lutheran Church in Family Promise. Family Promise offers housing, food, and other necessities to homeless families. Anyone interested in assisting in this ministry should contact Virginia Sorenson. Family Promise is an interfaith non-profit organization committed to helping low-income families nationwide achieve lasting independence. We help families accomplish this by providing shelter meals, and support services for homeless families and through programs designed to redress the underlying causes of homelessness. Family Promise was founded on the belief that Americans are compassionate people who wan to make a difference. Our promise has been to link those in need with those who want to help. The Interfaith Hospitality Network networks congregations and volunteers to provide shelter, meals, and support services to homeless families.
Peace Re-piecers
The Peace Re-piecers meet on Wednesday afternoons at 1:30 p.m. Quilts are made for baptisms, seniors leaving for college, Lutheran World Relief and many other mission needs. All are welcome to come. For more information call Diane Oddy at 282-7986.
Shawl Ministry
The Shawl Ministry and the Peace Re-piecers of Peace Lutheran make Prayer Shawls, quilts and baby blankets. Babies baptized at Peace and our seniors going away to college are given a knitted blanket or quilt. Shawls are given to the families that are that enter the Family Promise Program as a gift from Peace Lutheran. Shawls are available in the Quilting Room, downstairs, for anyone that knows of someone in need of being 'wrapped in God's love' becasue of a crisis, transition, move or many other needs. The other knitters will teach knitting or crocheting if anyone wants to learn. For more information, contact Sandra Joubert.
Area Wide Mission Strategy
The Area Wide Mission Strategy was started in 2001 to assist and encourage the three ELCA congregations in the Gallatin Valley to work cooperatively together to represent the Lutheran tradition in the growing valley. The committee, which is comprised of the pastors and members from each congregation, identifies ministry focuses of each congregation, determining gaps in ministry and identifying needs in the community, and work cooperatively or supporting efforts of individual congregations to meet the needs. The Area Wide Mission Strategy supports the shared ministry of the three ELCA churches (Hope Lutheran, Christ the King Lutheran, Peace Lutheran) and the campus ministry program (Christus Collegium) in creating a "Lutheran footprint" in the valley by serving the needs of the congregations and the community.
Montana Food Bank Network
Peace Lutheran supports the Gallatin Valley Food Bank by collecting food supplies and delivering them to the Food Bank on a regular basis. Congregational members bring food on Hunger Sunday in addition to a special offering for Lutheran World Hunger. The Sunday School students also bring food as offering for the Food Bank.
Habitat for Humanity
Peace Lutheran Church supports Habitat for Humanity of the Gallatin Valley by housing building teams and helping with the building.
Healthy Communities, Healthy Youth - Belgrade's Promise to Youth
Belgrade's Promise to Youth was begun after Colin Powell held a meeting in Washington, D.C. hosting all of the states on a commitment called America's Promise to Youth. Our Govenor at that time held a meeting for the communities in Montana called Montana's Promise to Youth. Each community took back that information to begin their Promise to Youth.
Belgrade's Promise to Youth has continued to try and provide healthy choices for our youth since that beginning. The part time director, paid for by a grant from the Turner Foundation, meets with kids on Monday evenings at MYO from 6-8pm.
Chameleon Teen Center (CTC) (article) is a safe haven for social interaction for youth. CTC has activities that provide fun while giving reinforcement for positive choices. The Teens also do community projects. The goal is to provide a place without negative peer pressure.
Lutheran Campus Ministry of Montana (LCMM)
Lutheran Campus Ministry of Montana helps people in academic settings to discover and fulfill their vocation as disciples of Jesus Christ. This ministry is rooted in the Christian community gathered by the Spirit through the proclamation of the word of God and the celebration of the sacraments.
Montana has two campus ministries - one at Montana State University in Bozeman (Tim Spring, pastor) and one at University of Montana in Missoula (John Lund, pastor).
Lutheran Campus Ministry celebrates 100 years in 2007 and LCMM will be celebrating all year and will be raising money for the two programs.
Peace Lutheran Church supports LCMM by holding a special offering the Sunday before the Bobcat-Grizzly football game with a friendly challenge between Bobcat fans and Grizzly fans.
Christikon Bible Camp and
Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp
Christikon is an outdoor ministry of area ELCA congregations, based just north of Yellowstone Park and south of Big Timber in McLeod, MT. It offers programs, facilities, and trained staff for youth, families, and developmentally disabled adults. With a magnificent mountain setting and intensive experience in a Christian community, Christikon seeks to serve both church and world by bringing people together with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Peace Lutheran Church support Christikon by appointing delegates to the Camp Committee, supporting the Camp through designated giving, and participating in Camp fundraisers, like the annual Quilt Auction.
The other ELCA outdoor ministry facility is Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp located on the west side of Flathead Lake about 40 miles southwest of Glacier National Park, in northwestern Montana. Flathead Bible Camp offers camping, hiking and water activites for the whole family. Their staff is trained to help campers understand God's message of Good News and to provide positive Christian role models.
Crazy Mountain Cluster
Peace Lutheran Church is a member of the Crazy Mountain Cluster. Other congregations in the cluster are Immanuel Lutheran, Absarokee; Big Timber Lutheran, Big Timber; Melville Lutheran, Big Timber; Christ the King, Bozeman; Hope Lutheran, Bozeman; St. James Lutheran, Columbus; American, Harlowton; Trinity, Martinsdale; Grace Lutheran, Ryegate; American Lutheran, Livingston; Redeemer Lutheran, Livingston; American Lutheran, White Sulphur Springs; and Shields River, Wilsall. The cluster meets occasionally to fellowship and share programs. Other Ministries of Crazy Mountain Cluster include the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital, Bozeman; Montana State University, Bozeman, and Christikon Bible Camp, Mcleod.
Lutheran World Relief
Lutheran World Relief ministers to people in need in the U.S. (i.e., Hurricane Katrina relief) and in other parts of the world. Quilts, clothing, and materials for school kits and health kits are collected and sent to areas of need.
Lutheran World Hunger
Lutheran World Hunger ministers to people suffering from hunger around the world. Peace Lutheran church collects a special offering on the second Sunday of the month (Hunger Sunday). Members are encouraged to contribute the amount of a typical fast food meal.
Allegheny Synod - Sister Synod for Montana
Allegheny Synod is located in Pennsylvania and is a sister synod to Montana.
Bolivia - Sister Synod for Montana
Bolivia is a sister synod for Montana. Montana supports missions in Bolivia, such as a school. The Peace Lutheran Church Sunday School sponsored a child's education in 2005. Sponsoring a child's education in Bolivia costs $200 a year. Three members of Peace Lutheran Church participated in a mission trip to Bolivia in August of 2006.
St. Sylvester's Parish, Cape Orange Diocese South Africa -Sister Congregation for Peace Lutheran Church
St. Sylvester's Parish in South Africa is a sister congregation to Peace Lutheran Church. St. Sylvester's and Peace Lutheran share a ministry of prayer for each other.
Other Outreach and Mission
Many members of Peace Lutheran Church contribute to and/or prepare school kits, health kits, collect clothing, and make quilts for Lutheran World Relief. A group of women also support Christikon Bible Camp by making a quilt for the annual quilt auction fundraiser. If you are interested in assisting with any of these projects, please check the calendar for meeting times or contact the church.
Support of People in Mission
Megan Coughlin, a member of Peace Lutheran Church, taught at Christ's Gift Academy in Mbita, Kenya Africa. She taught 4th grade, Math, English, Literature and also worked with orphan issues and doing home visits. Peace Lutheran Church supported Megan's ministry in Africa through donations to assist her with living, working, and traveling expenses.
Elizabeth Coughlin, also a member of Peace Lutheran Church, worked with IntraVarsity in Kenya and ended up working with her sister Megan at Christ's Gift Academy.
Peace Lutheran Church also continues to pray for Dan Rusch and his mission work with the Magindanaon in the Philippines.