Local Mission Partners

By Vern Rice

About fifteen years ago, fellow member, Pastor Richard Mork (who was then serving as ELCA Mission Director for our St. Paul Area and three other synods) commented to me that Christ the King had such a dynamic Global Missions Team. Would I consider also starting a Local Mission Partner Team since there were several local ethnic/immigrant ministries that also needed our support?

So Dale Erickson and I met with Richard and reached out to local Hmong, Chinese and Latino ministries. We agreed to a three-part commitment with those ministries: To Pray for each other; To be Present with each other, and to share Presents with each other as our gifts and needs become known.

Since then we have developed local partnerships with Redeemer Lutheran Church in North Minneapolis and Daily Work, a job counselling service in St Paul. This Local Mission Partner ministry has become one of the main passions for ministry in my retirement years. I am so glad to have worked these many years with several ethnic/immigrant partners and members at Christ the King who continue to support this ministry.