outreach
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
Christ Lutheran Church, through works, actions and gifts, enthusiastically supports the vision of the ELCA Southeastern Synod:
“We will love God and Neighbor so that all people, transformed by the Holy Spirit, and believing in Jesus Christ, will be His disciples.”
In addition to Christ Lutheran Church’s General Fund budgeted items, its “Outreach Program” provides support each year for many charitable organizations. A good number of our members also personally volunteer their help and services to support the organizations listed as well as other organizations.
We are commanded by Christ to love one another; love is a choice, and love is an action!
MISSION STATEMENT
Christ Lutheran Church is a caring Community of the baptized people of God, saved by the gift of grace, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and sent into the world to share the Good News of God’s love.
The King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these my brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew 25:40
The following are the most recent recipients of our Outreach. These are reviewed annually by the Service team and adjusted as needs and requests for support warrant.
AVALON CENTER FOR BATTERED WOMEN
This ministry provides emergency shelter to victims of abuse and their children. A portion of our Outreach Fund supports the shelter. This Center is also included in our “Barrel Ministry” (see below).
BARREL MINISTRY
In addition to contributing monetarily to the organizations listed, each month we provide a barrel for the collection of material items for various ministries.
BREAD OF LIFE MISSION
This mission is a Christian resource for people experiencing a need for shelter or food. There are three buildings: a church for ministry with a strong focus on faith building resources, housing for men, and housing for women and families. The usual stay is three nights. The mission’s goal is to help the jobless find work and locate permanent housing (usually through the Crossville Housing Authority). Food baskets are also prepared for needy people in the Crossville area. We provide a noon meal each month on the 2nd Sunday.
CHRISTIAN COUNSELING CENTER
The Christian Counseling Center is a nonprofit faith-based organization. Their mission is to provide affordable counseling services that help build healthy families, strong
marriages and fulfilled lives. They offer confidential, faith-based counseling for individuals, couples, children and families.
COATS FOR THE COLD
Coats and other winter outerwear is collected to be given to those who do not have proper winter clothing. This is a county project that many organizations support and is part of our “Barrel Ministry”.
CRAB ORCHARD CARE CENTER
A small dedicated group has been filling backpacks with food staples for children to take home for weekends. In 2025, we added this organization to the outreach budget.
CROSSVILLE MISSION BIBLE TRAINING CENTER
This is a resident facility with separate quarters for men and women who are attempting to break out of addiction. As a faith-based mission, it is funded entirely by donations and ineligible for government assistance. Local individuals who ask to be accepted are initially taken in here, and then transferred to another facility to remove local influences. They state that their success rate is 80% and the local facility has been open for eighteen years while the parent group has been in existence for over 54 years. Many of the participants have been mandated by the judicial system to enter a program. In addition to financial assistance, items are provided through our “Barrel Ministry.”
EASTER BASKETS
Easter baskets and items to fill these baskets are collected to give to needy children who have been identified for us. These baskets contain games, stuffed animals, books, and various types of candy. We donated 49 baskets in 2025.
FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION
Fisher House Foundation is a comfort home where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is in the hospital. We support the one in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
GOOD SAM
This is an organization that addresses the poverty in Cumberland County by providing a thrift store that offers donated clothing and other merchandise at bargain prices. It provides food through a stocked pantry and a “Caring Wheels Meals” program. A Social Services Department evaluates, tests, and counsels clients to determine what barriers sent them to the agency for help. Good Samaritans also provides financial assistance with food, clothing, and necessary household items, assists with housing, utility bills, and medical expenses, and provides a self-help program. Counseling is provided to develop life management skills. In addition to financial assistance, this agency is also included in our “Barrel Ministry”.
GRIEFSHARE
Grief Share is a special weekly support group for people grieving the death of someone close. It is a place where you can be around people who understand how you feel and the pain of your loss. Information is shared to help individuals through this difficult time in their lives. Also, it’s open to the community.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
This is an ecumenical Christian ministry dedicated to helping low-income families make into a reality the dream of home ownership. Families must make application, be accepted into the program, agree to make mortgage payments, pay closing costs, and invest 500 hours of “sweat equity” into their homes. Counseling to new homeowners is provided.
HOSPICE OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Hospice of Cumberland County is a non-profit that will focus on the needs of the patient and the patient’s family first rather than on the financial bottom line. Hospice of Cumberland County offers a full range of exceptional services and support carefully established and refined over 30 years of service.
HOUSE OF HOPE
The House of Hope is more than just a 24/7 emergency shelter for children removed from the home due to drug endangerment, abuse or neglect. They take their cue from the Department of Children’s Services and Law Enforcement to find needs and fill them. They have multiple programs and services available to children and grand families (grandchildren being raised by grandparents) and here they educate and report on the progress of those services.
INGLESIA CROSSVILLE
A small congregation of Hispanic families that not only meets for worship but provides food staples and support to the immigrant population in the Crossville area.
KAIROS PRISON MINISTRY
The Kairos Prison Ministry is an international organization whose mission is to bring Christ’s love and forgiveness to all incarcerated individuals, their families and those who work with them, and to assist in the transition of the incarcerated back into society. Kairos inside is a well-organized program with well-trained team members, who spend 3 days with 30 prisoners conducting a short course in Christianity. The primary objective of the 3-day short course is to prepare selected residents of the prison to begin a meaningful walk with Christ in the Christian Community within the prison.
KID’S CHRISTMAS
Members of CLC donate money and some members volunteer to shop for a small number of local children who will not have Christmas gifts without help. Members buy gifts off of a wish list that the children have made with their parents. The gifts are wrapped and given to the parents/grandparents.
KISWAHILI LUTHERAN MISSION – NASHVILLE
Christ Kiswahili Mission of Nashville began services in 2012. This mission is served by Pastor Esther Ngomuo. This is a mission to help refugees from East Africa who relocate to other nations where they will find safety. The refugees are rigorously screened before traveling to new countries. Kiswahili refugees were relocated through Lutheran Family Services and World Relief. Kiswahili worships in Nashville at Christ Lutheran Church. Between the years 2012 and 2020 Kiswahili has helped over 870 children and their families find homes, schools, jobs, and new lives.
MORGAN/SCOTT PROJECT
The Morgan/Scott Project for Cooperative Christian Concerns addresses the many needs of the people in the poorest area of Tennessee. Their focus could be as simple as giving
a child healthy food and as complicated as remodeling a run-down home. It is currently one of the “Barrel Ministries”.
NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY – CROSSVILLE
In Crossville, TN, fire safety is a priority, with programs like the grant-funded smoke alarm installation program which has provided and installed over 2000 alarms. Funds are also used for fire safety education and emergency response.
NOVUS WAY
Lutherock / Lutheridge / Luther Springs
Funds are provided for general support for scholarship grants, camp growth, as well as repairs and rebuilding. Lutherock Camp near Newland, North Carolina, provides adventure-based outdoor ministry, featuring on-site high ropes courses, hiking, and rock climbing, combined with nearby whitewater rafting, caving, and backpacking on the Appalachian Trail. Lutheridge near Asheville, North Carolina, include a 41’ challenge tower, low ropes courses, and nearby canoeing, backpacking, and service opportunities. The camps are available for retreats and meetings. Luther Springs Camp and Conference Center is located south of Gainesville, Florida. The site allows for a variety of outdoor activities included great trails, a swimming pool, archery, group interaction, large fields, and more in a truly unique setting in the heart of Florida.
PEAVINE CARE CENTER
Peavine Care Centers mission is to provide hope to those families in need along Peavine Road and the surrounding area through caring relationships by making available: packed food, mobile medical clinics, health education, literacy training and spiritual support.
PHOENIX SCHOOL
This specialized school within the Cumberland School Department serves students with special circumstances that may prevent them from achieving their potential. They have a day care for student’s and teacher’s children and unique programs to support pupils in their lifelong learning. It is hoped that, in addition to monetary support, there will be opportunities to support the mission to inspire students to be lifelong learners, positive role models and productive citizens of a diverse world.
PLATEAU CRISIS PREGNANCY SERVICES
The agency provides free and confidential pregnancy testing, material assistance, client advocates, post-abortion recovery, parenting classes, and adoption referrals. An ultra-sound machine is now operational and assisting clients with delicate decisions. Age-appropriate abstinence education is provided through schools in Fentress, Cumberland, and Bledsoe Counties, as well as the Taft Juvenile Facility. PPC is included in our “Barrel Ministry.” From Mother’s Day to Father’s Day, we participate in the “Baby Bottle Campaign” to provide individuals with an opportunity to donate funds directly.
SALT AND LIGHT MOVEMENT
The purpose of the Salt and Light Movement is to share our resources with elementary school children who are often excluded or isolated from school activities because of poverty. Funds are directed to the teachers to disperse as they see the need.
SECOND HARVEST
For every dollar that Second Harvest receives, 3 meals are provided for the hungry in East Tennessee. More people than ever are seeking help from local church pantries, group homes, soup kitchens and shelters. These organizations turn to second Harvest for the food they need to serve the largely working poor hungry of East Tennessee.
SERVICE SUNDAY
Service Sunday is a day ELCA has declared. We have packed meals, made blankets, planted flowers at a mission, worked on homes, hosted a trash and treasure sale, and hosted a spaghetti supper for the public with proceeds going to a local mission and ELCA World Hunger and Lutheran Disaster Response.
SPECIAL NEEDS & EMERGENCY SITUATIONS
When emergency situations such as disasters or extreme hunger arise during the year, funds may be collected and designated for relief. This is usually done through ELCA Global Mission Support programs such as Lutheran Disaster Response, ELCA World Hunger or Lutheran World Relief. Also, funds may be raised for victims of local emergency situations such as tornado damage or fires.
T.A.D. (TEENS AGAINST DRUGS)
TAD is an after-school program aimed at providing young people with activities that are educational, fun, and safe. They have a wonderful facility that includes a basketball court, snack bar, big screen TV, and an educational area. The staff helps with school projects, educates on the dangers of drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, and provides programs to build self-esteem. TAD is also a recipient of the “Barrel Ministry”.
THANKSGIVING BASKETS
Service Team buys gift cards at a local grocery to give to needy elderly people. These cards may be used for one big Thanksgiving meal or for supplies to feed them for many days.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED SUPPORT GROUP OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY
The VIS Group has existed since 2006 and is passionate about their mission to improve the lives of the blind and visually impaired through education, communication, transportation, on-loan equipment, support group meetings and socializing. This all-volunteer organization works with city, county and state leadership, as well as local business leaders, and reaches a 14-county radius.
WILD ABOUT CATS & A TIME FOR PAWS
These two all-volunteer, nonprofit organizations work to reduce outside cat populations through a Trap-Neuter-Return program, provide shelter and feeding stations, adoption and neutering services. They are recipients of the “Barrel Ministry”.
Past recipients of support include but are not limited to:
CAMPUS MINISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
FAIRFIELD GLADE FIRE DEPARTMENT
FAIRFIELD GLADE RESIDENT SERVICES
SEMINARY STUDENT
Updated 07/01/2025