Good Samaritan Case Statement

Good Samaritan is the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America ’s presence in Pontiac and we have a good God and a blessed message to share with this community. The challenges faced by the residents of this area are immense, and we ask for your prayers for our ministry here. We are a congregation that prays for needs: every Sunday, the prayers of intercession here are a vitally important part of our worship, and we would humbly ask you to lift up the congregation of Good Samaritan in your own prayers. Pray for the vitality of this community of faith, that we would continue to be filled with the commitment to serve and grow. We ask your prayers for the unemployed and underemployed people of our congregation and city, and for the families and individuals who seek to live with faith and honor in a difficult area. Pray for the people who staff the Food Pantry and that the food may be given to feed those in need. And above all, give thanks for the new life and ministry of Good Samaritan Lutheran Church. And as you pray for us, let us know the needs of your own congregation; we pray fervently, and will lift you up even as you pray for us.

We have a need for your gifts and offerings both personal and financial. Our food pantry continues to serve the needs of families here. Throughout the summer, we are able to be open two Saturdays per month; in November and December, we are open three Saturdays to provide for the increased need at the holiday times, but we would fervently love to be able to be open every Saturday of the year. Financial donations and volunteers willing to be trained to serve on a team would enable that to happen.

There is a dream of our members for a van or a bus that would enable us to pick up some of the children and youth of the community so that they can safely get to church here for Sunday school and other events when their own parents aren’t part of the congregation or are unable to bring the children. And if the vehicle were so equipped, we could also transport some of the special needs people for our Saturday program and for our own members who are unable to drive.

One major need and hope is that in two to three years, we can build a new building for worship and service designed around our mission to serve the community. A new sustainable/green development of a few houses for individuals and large families is planned adjacent to our site; it would be wonderful if we could incorporate some of those same goals of environmentally sustainable planning into our future church. We have some funds from the sale of one of the church buildings whose members are now part of Good Samaritan, but new building costs will be far higher than we were able to receive from the sale of an old building. Contributions to our future center for worship and service would be gratefully welcomed.

Good Samaritan’s worship is alive with organ, piano, flute, violin and trumpet every Sunday! We would invite you to worship with us and perhaps bring some of your own musical gifts to share with us, and would be glad to worship together with you.

We began this journey into what is now Good Samaritan Church with the question “What is God up to in Pontiac and Waterford ?” We know now that God has been up to some very good things, and we welcome your partnership in this ministry. May God bless you as you prayerfully consider joining with us and letting us join with you in serving the Lord in ever-new ways.