Missions & Outreach

Our Purpose Statement:  We will follow God’s example of love by collaborating with others to facilitate a world in which the basic needs of all people are met in an environment of peace with justice.

Missions & Outreach
Missions & Outreach

Loving Our Neighbors, Locally & Globally

Rooted in Trinity's vision of loving God and loving neighbor, our Outreach Missions Team strives to facilitate compassionate action in the world. We actively encourage and support diverse small group mission activities, believing in the power of accompaniment and shared purpose. We also oversee the faithful stewardship of all designated mission funds.

Outreach Missions Team Purpose Statement: We will follow God’s example of love by collaborating with others to facilitate a world in which the basic needs of all people are met in an environment of peace with justice.

Discover your path to service! Contact Marie Liberda to explore how you can get involved or scroll down to explore possibilities!

Serve Opportunities

Explore meaningful service opportunities to make a real difference in our church and community, walking alongside others—locally and globally.

Trinity has a rich history of outreach, practicing compassionate action by accompaniment right here in our community. Explore the many ways you can serve and make a tangible difference in the St. Croix Valley. 

Angel Tree Christmas Gift Ministry
  • What it is: Provides holiday gifts for children of incarcerated parents and gift cards for their caregivers.
  • How to help: Donate gifts or gift cards, or volunteer your time to help sort and deliver.
  • When: Late-November to early December.
  • Contact: Wendy Worner 
Community Thread
  • What it is: Partner with our local Community Thread to support various community programs.
  • How to help: Volunteer for roles like the Transport Team (medical rides), Call Companion Team (social calls), Home Help Team (indoor/outdoor tasks), Lawn Care Crew (yard adoption), or join annual one-day events like Stuff the Bus, River Rally, Holiday Hope, and Rake a Difference Day.
  • Get Involved: Visit Community Thread's website or contact their office directly for current needs. 
Dream of Wild Health Farm
  • What it is: Trinity proudly supports Dream of Wild Health Farm in Hugo, which empowers Indigenous youth in the Twin Cities area to restore health and well-being through traditional foods, medicines, and lifeways.
  • How to help: Learn more about their mission and how to support their work directly on their website. 
Last Sunday Supper
  • What it is: A FREE, delicious, home-cooked community dinner served next door at Ascension Episcopal Church, welcoming people of all ages from the St. Croix Valley.
  • How to help: Everyone is invited to enjoy the meal or volunteer to serve!
  • Contact: Josh Longnecker 
Valley Outreach Food Shelf
  • What it is: Provides vital food, personal hygiene items, and clothing to neighbors in need.

How to help:
  • Donate: Drop off non-perishable food items in the bin at the top of Trinity's 4th Street stairs; our Outreach Missions Team delivers them to Valley Outreach. Donations of hygiene items and clothing are also welcome directly at Valley Outreach.
  • Volunteer: Opportunities are available at both the Food Shelf and StyleXChange Clothing store, with a variety of days, times, and tasks. Orientation is provided.
  • Get Involved: Find volunteer applications and information at valleyoutreachmn.org.

Trinity has a long and dedicated history of global outreach. We believe in practicing compassionate action by accompaniment, extending our love and service beyond the St. Croix Valley to communities all the way around the globe. 

Our Partnership in Tanzania
Our international mission efforts are deeply centered in walking alongside our Tanzanian partners, focusing on three primary elements:
  • Companion Congregation: Our special relationship with Mwatasi Lutheran Church in the rural high country of the Iringa district.
  • Education: Providing Secondary School and College Scholarships for students from Mwatasi, investing in their future.
  • Medical Ministries: Supporting the vital medical work initiated by the late Dr. Mark Jacobson in Arusha.

We also maintain strong involvement with partner organizations making a difference in Tanzania, including Iringa Hope (savings & loan, agriculture cooperatives), St. Paul Partners (water engineering), water projects in Mwatasi village, and Global Health Ministries (learn more at www.ghm.org). 

Support Education: Mwatasi Student Scholarships
Scholarships are a critical and ongoing need, providing life-changing educational opportunities. Secondary school scholarships average $450 per student per year. We are committed to sponsoring about 26 students annually from our partner congregation in Mwatasi, with payments made each December.

Your support is welcomed in any amount throughout the year! Please contact Michele Hermansen to contribute or learn more.

The lack of affordable housing is a critical issue impacting individuals and families across the Twin Cities, Washington County, and the St. Croix Valley. It's estimated that around 7,000 people experience homelessness on any given night in the Twin Cities due to this crisis.

Trinity has a long history of walking alongside our neighbors experiencing housing insecurity. Through this accompaniment ministry, we offer tangible hope rooted in our shared values as God's people. 

The Housing Strategy and Advocacy Team (HSAT)
The Housing Strategy and Advocacy Team (HSAT) is a collaborative effort of church members from congregations across Washington County and the St. Croix Valley. We are dedicated to reducing homelessness through emergency and affordable housing initiatives.

HSAT's objectives include:
  • Educating the community about the realities of homelessness.
  • Identifying effective solutions to mitigate homelessness.
  • Advocating collaboratively by rallying support from faith communities, secular organizations, and government entities to implement housing solutions that improve our neighbors' lives.

HSAT welcomes anyone passionate about reducing homelessness, including other organizations, policymakers, government officials, and individuals. Many hands, hearts, and minds are needed to solve this complex problem.

For additional information or to get involved, please contact John Hodler or Jeff Anderson. 

Our Impact & Initiatives 

Tiny Home Initiative
HSAT proudly partnered with Settled to sponsor a tiny home for an individual experiencing chronic homelessness. Sacred Settlements prioritize sustainable housing, purposeful work, and supportive community. Thanks to generous donations of time and money, the cost of building this tiny home was successfully covered. The tiny home is now complete and placed in a Sacred Settlement. Watch the short video from Settled: The First Sacred Settlement is Open [Link to video if available].

If you have questions about the tiny home initiative, please contact Mark Weber. 

Emergency Housing Services Building Project
We invite you to prayerfully consider advocating for the Emergency Housing Services Building project for Washington County. Check out and share these two great videos highlighting this vital work [Link to videos if available].

At Trinity, we honor the strength and courage of people forced to flee their homes. Our commitment to compassionate action calls us to walk alongside refugees and displaced individuals, fostering empathy and providing vital care. This page highlights various ways you can engage in this meaningful ministry. 

Ways to Get Involved
Whether you have time to volunteer or items to donate, your support makes a direct impact. 

Volunteer Your Time
  • Lutheran Social Services (LSS): Become an ESL tutor for adult refugees. Weekly one-hour sessions are flexible, with an initial three-month commitment. Meetings occur at the refugee’s home or in the community.
    • Contact: Lynn Mullin, LSS Refugee Services Coordinator; 612-470-8806 or Lynn.Mullin@lssmn.org.
  • Minnesota Council of Churches (MCC): Serve as a "Befriender" to help refugees navigate transportation, customs, and language skills (six-month commitment, 2-4 hours weekly/bi-weekly). MCC also seeks Resettlement Assistants, Apartment Set-Up Volunteers, and Immigration Administrative Assistants.
    • Contact: MCC Volunteer Coordinator at 612-230-3291 or rsvolunteers@mnchurches.org.
  • International Institute of Minnesota (IIMN): Volunteer as a Refugee Mentor, English Language Classroom Assistant, Front Desk Assistant, or other roles.
    • Learn More: iimn.org/support/volunteer/
  • Catholic Charities of Southern Minnesota: Opportunities include Family Mentors, Grocery Shoppers, and Donation Collectors.
    • Learn More: ccsomn.org/refugee-resettlement-program/volunteering-with-the-refugee-resettlement-program/
  • Arrive Ministries: Teach English to adults, provide homework help for children, or teach sewing skills.
    • Learn More: arriveministries.org/volunteer/
  • Alight (formerly American Refugee Committee): Explore volunteer and internship opportunities to help with refugee resettlement efforts globally and locally.
    • Learn More: wearealight.org/volunteer-internship-opportunities/ 
Donate Goods
  • Bridging: Help furnish apartments for newly-arrived refugees by donating gently used furniture and household items (e.g., bed frames, chairs, desks (24”x42” or smaller), sofas, bookcases, vacuums, small appliances).
    • Contact: 952-888-1105 or bridging.org/give-stuff/
    • Drop-off: Bridging, 1730 Terrace Drive, Roseville, MN; Mon-Thurs (9 AM - 6 PM); Fri-Sat (9 AM - 3 PM).
  • International Institute of Minnesota (IIMN): Support new refugee families with essential household items (bedding, kitchen, bath, cleaning supplies) through their Amazon Wishlist Program. Items are shipped directly to IIMN for distribution.
    • Donate: iimn.org/how-to-help/donate-goods/ or directly at www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/1DJNU5TFF7CGT 
Trinity's Direct Sponsorship: Afghan Refugees
Our congregation, in collaboration with other churches and groups, has proudly sponsored an Afghan family who has now settled in Minnesota. We continue to provide ongoing support for school needs, work, transportation, and loving friendship to our new neighbors.
  • Questions? Contact Kat Carlsen or Spike Carlsen. 

Learn More: Featured Video [Embed or link: This video debuted in worship on Feb. 4, 2024 as our Mission Minute. (Include the actual video here if possible, or a clear link with a brief description.)]

Glimpses of Our Impact

See our faith in action! These photos highlight just a few of the impactful projects and the broad reach of our ministries, extending both near and far.