Serving Detroit Together

I’m very excited about re-engaging in partnership with two of the most respected service organizations in the city of Detroit: The Pope Francis Center and The Children’s Center.

As much as 2024 has been a good year of numerical growth at Mariners, I want to speak to you about a deeper spiritual growth, through loving and serving others.  This is the kind of growth that has more to do with our hearts, than programs or numbers.

The message is that we would serve out of a love for others, regardless of who they are, or whether or not they will attend Mariners.  This vision reflects the heart of Jesus  when He sends us out to share His Glory, shine His Light, be ‘salt’ on Earth. In other words, this has to do with growing the Kingdom of God, bringing praise to His name, not ours.  Through selfless service, our hearts grow in loving God and loving others.

As I said at our annual dinner, these two organizations have service marginalized communities in Detroit for generations.  Whether you can serve there yourself, or simply pray and give.  We want to be involved again at both The Children’s Center and The Pope Francis Center.

The Children’s Center has been serving our community for almost 100 years. We have volunteered at different events in the past, many times around Christmas.

In 2025 we will be looking at helping in the impressive and comprehensive After School Facility of the Center.   It provides after-school help (starting around 4pm) with reading, games, art, computers, and more.  They also provide clothes and food, which needs to be organized and distributed.  We are going to have a regular time there as a church and you will be able to come and serve as you can.

This service may include organizing the clothes in the boutique, or helping a child become a better reader by sharing a book on their level. They have a beautiful facility, and we will be serving at the impressive after school center, at the main campus.

We will have more information in the coming months, but please talk to me right away if this is something you are interested in.

The second organization that we want to highlight is The Pope Francis Center.  Some of you may be familiar with the warming center just a few blocks from the church.  Men and woman can come for breakfast, lunch, hang out, get warm or cool off – shower, and gain much needed medical, mental, and physical help. We have volunteered there in the past, and it continues to be a life-saving venue for many of our city’s homeless population.

Now the Pope Francis Center has a new, state-of-the-art short term rehab facility called the Bridge Housing Campus.  This is where men and women who are unhoused, and in some cases coming off addiction, can have a stable place to live for 90-120 days. This is a crucial step in helping people get clean and gain employment.

We are going to be filling a much needed slot each month, probably on Mondays, to serve lunch with those staying at the Bridge Housing Campus.  This is such a wonderful opportunity to serve and to join the participants for a meal afterwards.

Both these opportunities are about relationships, which is where love grows.  This is a wonderful way for us to respond to God’s love for us, by sharing in His love for others. Serving out of love is a way for us to embody prayer and be present with God, as He moves in us and others.

Please respond to this email, if you have interest in either of these opportunities, and we will give you the details. I’ll be there serving alongside of you.  I look forward to seeing all the ways God will move in and through us as we serve our community at large.

Blessings and peace,

Rev. Todd and Dr. Christiane