Mission & Outreach
ELCA and the world
At St. Paul, we believe that our efforts and generosity here on Brady Street in Davenport create a ripple effect of love to the world.
Commitment to churchwide ministries
St. Paul congregation works hard to make a difference in the world. We’ve earmarked 18% of our 2010 Daily Ministry Budget to give away for the sake of others in our community, state, and world. Learn more about the Evangelical Lutheran Church’s work on our behalf.
Responding to current global disasters
Our church responds to world crisis points as well as Iowa counties hard-hit by tornadoes and floods. You can help. The ELCA International Disaster Response provides emergency aid and long-term recovery efforts. Learn more »
Advocacy
Advocacy is a public witness, articulating positions that are consistent with our faith.
You can lend your voices — loud and strong — to stand with the poor and the powerless. The advocacy work of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is one way we act with love for our neighbor around the corner or across the globe.
St. Paul is a member of Bread for the World, a Christian organization that advocates for the sake of hungry people around the world.
We also support the ONE Campaign, advocating for significant increases in federal funding to fight extreme poverty and AIDS.
Support for Seminarians
St. Paul has an abiding commitment to the education of those preparing for church vocations. Tuition support is often provided through our Endowment Fund for Mission Outreach. Click here for more information on ELCA Seminaries.
Planting Seeds of Faith
Over the years, St. Paul congregation has dedicated human and financial resources to help establish new Lutheran churches in under-served areas. We helped “plant” four churches in the Iowa Quad-City area.
In more recent years, St. Paul people have been part of a vision to plant an ELCA church in the Lisbon/Mt. Vernon area near Cedar Rapids. We helped knock on doors. We sent financial “seed” money.
Now, after eight years worshiping in schools, Seeds of Faith Lutheran Church is living and serving in its own church building.
‘The Lutheran’ magazine
The award-winning magazine of the ELCA, The Lutheran, offers stories to enrich your faith and broaden your understanding of issues and events around the globe.
Each month, this print and online publication nurtures awareness of God’s presence in our lives, connects ELCA members with each other and the global Christian community, and provides an open forum for lively discussion.
A year’s subscription is only $17.95. Subscribe »
Global Connections
- Lutheran World Relief is an A+-rated partner organization, working to end poverty, injustice, and human suffering around the world. St. Paul people have given generously for LWR’s relief work following the Haiti earthquake.
- From providing goats through Heifer International, to interaction with Bombo Lutheran Parish, St. Paul has a multi-faceted connection with the people of Tanzania. Read more »
- Bread For The World, an organization which stands in a long biblical and prophetic tradition of those who speak out boldly in defense of people who are poor, hungry and consigned to poverty, receives an annual contribution from St. Paul congregation.
- Over a billion people on the planet don’t have access to clean drinking water. St. Paul congregation supports the work of Charity Water »
- We are called to help hungry people around the world. The ELCA World Hunger Appeal provides relief, development, education, and advocacy — to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. St. Paul people also package high-nutrition, vitamin-fortified rice-soy meals through Kids Against Hunger.
- St. Paul has provided support for the ELCA Mount of Olives Housing Project which addresses the housing shortage for Palestinian Christians in Jerusalem. The project’s goal is to provide 84 housing units on land owned by Lutheran World Federation, strengthening the dwindling Christian presence in Jerusalem.
Grace Matters
The Radio Ministry of the ELCA
From 2004-2009, St. Paul’s senior pastor, Peter Marty, hosted Grace Matters, the radio ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Through this radio oureach, Pastor Marty interviewed many compelling guests, exploring the intersection of grace and faith in their lives.
Archived programs of Grace Matters continue to be available online. Listen to programs online, download programs to your computer or MP3 player, or receive the podcast.
Our St. Paul Library has CD’s available for checkout.
Listen online:
Popup Player (So you can listen while you browse.)
Alternative giving ideas
For holidays and special occasions, consider giving with justice at heart:
"Earth's crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God." ~Elizabeth Barrett Browning