"All men dream, but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes, to make them possible." – T. E. Lawrence
St. Luke’s is a small church in a big city. We don’t have many members and we don’t have a ton of resources, but we make a difference – sometimes a big difference – in the lives of the people in the communities we serve. Our little church restores dignity and revives hope. We help people find a community that supports them, the God who loves them, and the space to make life a little better.
Our Present
People come to St. Luke’s for different reasons. Some seek spiritual fulfillment, others because they have a desire to do some good, and some because they need some food, a coat, or a warm smile to get through the day. Everyone is welcomed as they are. Many find themselves drawn to our worship or service communities. The relationships they form when participating in these communities – whether their focus is worship, or service, or both – open up new possibilities alive with meaning, purpose, fulfillment and joy.
Consider Mike. Mike lives in the suburbs of Cleveland. He has volunteered at St. Luke’s mobile pantry program for more than a decade but until recently rarely attended worship services. Still, he feels a deep connection to our church because it has given him the “gift of service.” Over the years, he’s formed lasting bonds with both volunteers and those who come for food. While he doesn’t think of himself as particularly religious he does believe that “God is love” and will tell you that if you come to the corner of Lake Avenue and 68th Street every other Monday evening, you’ll see God made manifest.
Consider Marlein. Marlein lives in the neighborhood that surrounds St. Luke’s. After the pandemic she couldn’t work and started coming to St. Luke’s Community Meal. Soon, she began volunteering at the mobile pantry. Encouraged by others, she eventually attended Sunday services. Before she knew it she was running our free clothing store and exploring ways to expand worship in the Latinx community. Eventually she became a member. This transition from outsider, to volunteer, to worship participant, to church leader has changed Marlein but it has also changed our church.
Consider Albert (not his real name): Albert lived on the streets near St. Luke’s. He carried a lot of anger when he first came to our Community Meal, but he always asked for prayers to help him let it go. One day, a tall man walked down the street singing, and we almost didn’t recognize Albert. He beamed as he told us he had finally released his anger. Eventually he became a parishoner. Social workers worked tirelessly to help him find housing, and he was overjoyed when a place finally opened up. On the night before he was set to move in, Albert died in his sleep. He is deeply missed.
Our Future
St. Luke’s financial situation is a bit precarious. Our members give generously – those without much money give their time – but our numbers (while growing) are small. We rely on support from other churches, community organizations, the diocese, and a few extremely generous individuals. Without them, keeping our doors open would be difficult.
Yet, we believe our future is bright. The generosity of our members and outside benefactors and the commitment of our worship and service communities give us a strong foundation on which to build. We do not simply aim to survive – we aspire to grow and make an even greater impact. Our long-term aspirations are ambitious, but are by no means beyond our gasp.
- Aspiration 1: Maintain and expand direct support to those in need. Currently we provide food and clothing to those who need them. We want to expand these efforts and address other critical needs – especially affordable housing. We can’t do this alone, so we will work with government agencies, nonprofits, and faith-based organizations to identify service gaps and will find ways to fill them.
- Aspiration 2: Build pathways out of poverty. Meeting immediate needs is essential but we also want to create opportunities for long-term change. Research shows that one of the strongest predictors of escaping poverty is having social connections with people from higher-income backgrounds. Not only will establishing these connections help the poor but, by encouraging people to see the world through the eyes of their neighbors, will help the more affluent as well. We will seek partnerships with other churches and nonprofits to build these connections and explore other ways to support economic mobility.
- Aspiration 3: Share the “gift of giving.” At St. Luke’s, giving transforms both the giver and the recipient. The catchphrase – the first life you change may be your own – is not just a slogan, it is a lived reality for many of our volunteers. A core element of our ministry will be to share this “gift of giving.” To this end, we will work to create more opportunities for service at St. Luke’s, provide tools and training for people to develop and lead service initiatives in areas about which they are passionate, identify and remove barriers to participation, and build communities that can sustain these efforts.
- Aspiration 4: Expand worship to those who need it. Many in our community hunger for spiritual connection but do not feel at home in traditional church settings. We will seek creative ways to bring worship beyond our walls – whether through outreach programs, new services, or partnerships with communities that are underserved.
These aspirations are ambitious yet we believe they are attainable because they build on what St. Luke’s does best – forming communities of care and fostering deep, committed relationships. The lessons of St. Luke’s past and present is that the communities of worship and service we co-create can be transformative. We know we won’t succeed if we try to “go it alone” but by building communities with individuals, churches, and organizations in our neighborhood and beyond, our aspirations can be achieved.
Join Us
Community has always been at the heart of St. Luke’s ministry and this will not change. How our ministries will evolve to foster and support new and existing communities is as yet unknown. There will undoubtedly be dead-ends, missteps, and frustrations along the way – there is so much we have to learn. Yet, by working collaboratively to build and grow these communities we will make progress, find purpose and meaning, and hopefully have some fun along the way. Let’s be dangerous together. Join us!