"Our goal is to make the necessary changes to
merge the historical St. Paul’s Church into the
mission and ministry of an urban, international
congregation.”
 
Ethnic Outreach-St Paul’s Lutheran Church
Providence, RI
Rev. Leon Schultz, pastor, St. Paul’s, Providence

St. Paul’s Church is a busy church where members actively practice the Gospel in word and deed. This means that opportunities are provided for ministries in the local 02907 area, as well as ministries which involve the entire world.
 
Purpose Statement of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Providence, RI: "St. Paul’s Church is a community of believers in Jesus Christ committed to helping all people by actively practicing the Gospel in word and deed.”
 
A group of approximately 80 members of St. Paul’s gathered recently to participate in a discussion about what the words "community of believers” means; just exactly who in included in "all people”, what are the needs and the ways in which they can "actively practice the Gospel in word and deed;” what does "in word” mean for the church as a whole and for the individual; and what does "in deed” involve. The members of St. Paul’s are actively and consciously reaching out to their community (Jerusalem and Judea) around them through a variety of ways, including opening their facility to a number of community organizations. They are also continuing to reach out to those far away, and have plans for a mission trip to Monrovia, Africa, (ends of the earth) in early 2011 well underway.
 
Mission Trip to Monrovia, Africa
Members of St. Paul’s are currently planning a short-term, missionary trip to meet with and assist the members of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Monrovia, Africa, this coming January. The trip is tentatively scheduled to depart from Providence on Monday, January 11th, and will return two weeks later on Monday, the 24th. At this time 20 members along with Pastor Schultz are planning to make the trip, and an invitation is offered to all those who would care to join in with these plans. Housing will be proved for guests at the church compound. For more details please contact the church office.
 
An ESL (English as a Second Language) Program will be offered at St. Paul’s! Many hours of planning and meeting, along with many volunteers, have contributed to bring this program into being. Many more hours of planning, volunteering, and working out details and specifics will be required to make it successful. Opening Day is set for Monday, January 31, 2011. The hope is to offer classes two evenings a week plus Saturday mornings. Early attendance is anticipated at approximately 25 students and the overall goal is to reach a full capacity crowd of 120 students by the beginning 2012. To date, applications have been received from individuals from Peru, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and South Africa. Although St. Paul's is located in a primarily Dominican neighborhood, Providence is an incredibly beautiful collage of cultures and our aim is to minister to as many neighborhoods as possible.
 
Rev. Leon Schultz serves on the Missions Board of the NED and is the contact person for NED Missions Ethnic Ministries. You can email him at  NEDEthnicMinistries@ned-lcms.org. He would be happy to share his experiences and offer suggestions.