Love For Others is a ministry founded to help members of our congregation and community who have fallen upon times of financial distress due to job loss or other unusual circumstances.  We help fund some of the most pressing needs these families have and provide a 'bridge' for them until the crisis has passed.  Some of the most common needs are housing, groceries, medicine, and utility assistance. 
 
Love For Others is funded solely by contributions from St. John members.  If you feel called to support Love For Others, please use one of the special envelopes located in the tract rack, and drop it in the offering plate or deliver to the church office.

The Love for Others Fund is overseen by Linda Adams and Deaconess Linda Nobili, who meet on an "as needed" basis.  For more information, please contact Deaconess Linda.

Procedure for assistance
An individual, or community agency, contacts the Director of Care Giving, the "Love for Others" Needs Coordinator, a Stephen Minister, teacher, or Pastor.   The need is reviewed after an application is completed and, in some cases, copies of income vs. expenditures have been provided.   Non-members will only be assisted after being screened and referred by Rochester Area Neighborhood House, or Lighthouse of Pontiac.   All decisions made by the committee are binding.   The LFO committee maintains strict confidentiality.  

Download a pdf copy of the Application for Help.  (please print, fill out and bring to the church)

Purpose
To maintain a benevolence fund that operates separately from the St. John budget, and is administered by the Director of Care Giving. The Director of Care Giving is responsible for the oversight of this off-site account, and is accountable to the "Love for Others" Committee, which consists of at least two other members. This fund is available for emergency (and other) assistance to individuals and families of our church and school, as well as the community at large, after a referral from a reputable community agency.

Goals

• To raise awareness at St. John about the financial, physical, and spiritual needs of members and others in our community and beyond (Acts 1:8) 
• To maintain a committee of three to five volunteers, including the Director of Care Giving  
• To maintain a "Love for Others" off-site bank account to be administered by the committee 
• To hold monthly assessment meetings  
• To assist those in need with emergency financial and physical needs  
• To collect and distribute funds collected for fundraising purposes 
• To assist St. John members and others in the Rochester and greater Detroit area with physical and financial needs. We network with the following community agencies: Rochester Area Neighborhood House, Lighthouse of Pontiac, Detroit Rescue Missions, LATINO, and Lutheran City Ministries to support their work