Our Church in Action --
What we do for Mission & Outreach 
 
Mission & outreach ministry is very important to members of the Church of the Good Shepherd, Galax.
We believe that our faith challenges us, motivates us, guides us, compels us, and energizes us to share the blessings of our lives and faith with other people.  Those other people can be of any race or religion.  They can live anywhere -- from where we ourselves live to around the world.

  • Each year we choose several NEW mission ministry projects, usually a local or regional mission AND a distant mission project. 
  • Each year we continue local and regional mission projects that are our 'ongoing ministries'.

Ongoing Ministries
This category includes our Social Welfare projects in which we reach out to people and families where we live, and around the world.

  • Boys Home, Covington, VA
    We sponsor at least one resident every year at Christmas to provide gifts and necessities.
  • Lutheran World Relief:  Provides aid and relief to people of all faiths and circumstances throughout the world.  We participate via our annual Thank Offering and by making Layettes for distribution to new mothers.
  • St Francis Blessing of The Animals:  Every year to commemorate October 5th,  the Feast Day of St Francis of Assisi, Patron Saint of Animals, we hold an outdoor service to Bless the Animals.  An offering is collected and the entire proceeds are donated to an animal-related charity -- in 2008 they were donated to the H.E.L.P Fund @ a local veterinary office, in 2007 they helped local homeless animals, 2006 they were donated to Twin County Humane Society (more than $100) -- in 2005 they were donated to Animal Rescue from Hurricane Katrina (more than $120).
  • Christmas in July.  Special ecumenical and prison ministry for the Puppies and Trainers at Bland Correctional Facility who are part of the St Francis of Assisi Service Dog Foundation program.  In 2008 our goal was to provide scholarships for all new trainers to earn their American Boarding Kennel Association Pet Care Technician Level I Certificate.  In 2009 we raised more than $1000 to provide training and materials to the Bland Trainers.
  • United Thank Offering:   Supports local and distant relief through grants and aid.  Members keep a UNTO box at home and contribute in honor of their daily blessings and thanks.

Special Projects In The Past 

  • Hope House, located on Center Street in Galax, VA
    Provides temporary homes to people. Started by our congregation, we provide logistical support, and provide the building.
  • Dunor Refugee Family and Loafa Village, Liberia.  For the last 7 years we have provided financial support for this family and village of lepers in Liberia, Africa.  Our five years of help sustained this family of 44 plus, as they fled Civil War from their village homes, to Monrovia, then to Sierra Leone, and finally back to Monrovia, then HOME! They are now in their village in Loaf County, prospering.  Br. Emmanuel, the son who has led them, and his mentor from the Order of the Holy Cross, Fr. A. G. Stevens, are now also in the village, and have founded a new monastic order, The Community of the Love of Jesus, an order for African men. This mission will provide schooling, worship, and guidance for a broad area of northern Liberia, and we are humbled that God used our help to accomplish so much.
  • Health Fair for the community sponsored by Danny DeBord as part of his Eagle Scout Project.
  • CPR classes sponsored by Danny DeBord as part of his Eagle Scout Project.
  • Defibrillator obtained for the church by Danny DeBord as part of his Eagle Scout Project. 
  • Care in Community:
  • Food For The Poor.   In the past we supported Food For The Poor via sales of Fair Trade Coffee and Chocolate from small family farmers in Africa.  This helps both the farmers in Africa and their families AS WELL AS our profits being donated to Food For The Poor, which feeds needy families throughout Central and Caribbean America.  Thrivent Financial for Lutherans is matching our gifts to Food For The Poor.
  • Care in Congregations:  We are partially furnishing the Education spaces, making a better environment for our Youth Classes and their Christian Education.
  • STOP HUNGER NOW sponsored by the church as Will DeBord's Eagle Scout Project. 12,4000 meals were packaged at the church to feed the hungry. This was organzied by Will and involved scouts, people from other churches, and the community at large.
  • Sponsored a Community Garden in Galax: Fayma and Dennis spearheaded this project that provided garden space in downtown Galax for folks interested in having a garden and donating part of their yield to a community food program.
  • Care in Community:   In 2007, we are proud to partner with GLEANING FOR THE WORLD, a Virginia organization that seeks to match 'overages or excess' from industrialized areas with 'needs and shortages' in disaster-stricken or needy areas.  Learn more about them: www.gftw.org. 
  • Care in Congregations:  in 2007, our Care in Congregations projects will help to fund the expansion of our Christian Education spaces.  The congregation participates in fund-raisers such as a White Elephant Sale, Dinners For Donation, yard sale, sale of Good Shepherd note cards and Christmas cards.
  • Pennywise for Hospice -- in 2005 we collected loose change which was matched by Thrivent.  The result was a $1100 donation to Twin County Hospice in their 10th year Anniversary.  The original Hospice in Galax was founded by members of our congregation.
  • Food For The Poor -- in 2006 we challenged our members to forego purchasing as much food as they normally do during the time of Lent, and contribute instead to Food For The Poor, a religious based charity that provides food to people living in Central America and the Caribbean. Our contributions were matched by Thrivent and the result was more than $2400 in donations which resulted in MORE than food being provided:  our donations built a small home for a family, another of the blessings made possible by Food For The Poor