There are more than 20,000 cases of the Coronavirus in Michigan. Some of the people on the front lines during this pandemic are our ministries in the Michigan District, LCMS. Here is a peek into how our missions continue to operate, what they still need, and how you can help during the COVID-19 crisis.
Family of God
“We need YOU.” It started with a Facebook plea from Rev. Tyler Cronkright. The Associate Pastor at Family of God was happy to hear the government deemed the ministry essential to the well-being of Detroit’s West side, so they remain operating. They provide meals to the hungry 6 days a week even during the Coronavirus pandemic.
It hasn’t been easy with the Governor’s order to stay home, stay safe. Cronkright wrote, “Specifically what we are asking for is, if you have time and would like to cook food for one of our meals, please reach out to me. I can coordinate with you on how to get the food from your place to the church. We would need enough food for roughly 100 people per evening. This can be as exquisite as multiple casseroles with various sides OR can be as simple as having lunch bags. We are also in desperate need of bottled water, canned/bottled juice or soda, hand sanitizer, and plastic ware.”
Elli’s House
On a cold and rainy evening on Detroit’s East side, the familiar white van drives past the vacant lots and run-down houses throughout the neighborhoods between Chalmers and Kelly roads. Elli’s House founder, Deb Ellinger, and her husband are driving through the neighborhoods hoping to feed and provide for as many people as possible on these streets. Meanwhile, the tension is mounting due to the Coronoavirus, which has hit Detroit especially hard.
Ellinger recently posted this message on Facebook: “The streets have been busier and last week I could feel the anxiety and fear setting in. The anxiety starts to come out through anger, sadness, frustration and, sometimes, aggression. We experienced all of these emotions during one stop where we met with 7 people. I decided to stay the course and continue serving people as they approached the vehicle. One of the last people to approach us was our friend, L, who was really struggling. She didn’t ask for anything but to pray with her. This has never happened before. As we were praying, a new woman approached and prayed too. I know we must be safe, but I also know God continues to provide and protect as we follow what He has planned for us.”
Elli’s House is making many more stops during this crisis. The Ellingers are heading out almost every day to make sure people have what they need to survive. While food and clothing are always in need, more and more people are asking for masks, gloves, sanitizer, and Clorox wipes.
Franklin Avenue Mission
Pastor Christian Jones, Rachel Sieman, and a handful of volunteers camp out in the parking lot multiple days a week to feed this Flint community. No members or guests are allowed inside the Franklin Avenue Mission for Bible study or worship. For the moment, lessons and worship are all online.
While serving food to a large number of people, Sieman admits, “We’re still trying to figure out how we’re getting all of the supplies ourselves.”
Pastor Jones said, “I think the biggest needs at the moment are masks and gloves, as we try to keep our volunteers safe when they interact with our guests.”
Luke Project 52 Clinic
The Luke Project 52 Clinic has faced a number of challenges during this crisis. Right now, they are prioritizing and making sure those moms who are at high risk and must be seen get the attention they need. They have used the large mobile units at Family of God to see 15-20 patients and are now using their ambulance for home visits.
With new healthcare regulations recently put in place, there have been increased costs. Pastor Garrison said, “We still need gloves, masks, Clorox or Lysol wipes, hand sanitizer, but the biggest need right now is financial donations. We had to purchase over $5,000 in equipment to enable us to do Telemedicine.” The new technology has been a blessing during this crisis. It allows doctors to see remotely and in real-time ultrasounds that are being done in the mobile units.
Acts 2 Enterprise
As Detroit is in its Coronavirus peak, the needs appear to be countless in the city. Five members of Outer Drive Faith Lutheran Church, where Pastor Eddie Morales serves, passed away from COVID-19.
“This really hurts, to lose them was really painful,” said Morales; “to not be able to console the family has been rough.”
Many programs of the A2E ministry have been put on hold due to the Coronavirus. A number of the volunteers are elderly and at high risk, but the brave workers in the food pantry are still helping feed the hungry. Appointments are necessary, no one is allowed inside the church, but the volunteers felt they couldn’t let people go without during the crisis.
Megan Schultz, who was recently deployed by the Michigan District as the Family Life Minister at Large forA2E Detroit, is just getting to know the families she’s serving. Schultz is thankful the people she has talked with are in good health but said, “many of them are experiencing loss of employment.”
She said the families have been extremely selfless and everyone is praying that we would be able to get back to “normal” as soon as possible.
With even more issues being heaped upon communities that are already hurting, the ministries of the Michigan District, LCMS are in greater need now than at any other time. To find out how you can help these and other ministries, visit michigandistrict.org/joinaministry. Be sure to use the sign-up form and you will be contacted by the ministry directly.
Photo courtesy of Deb Ellinger
