Waters of Life Outreach Ministry Team



"As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
James 2:26

Waters of Life is committed to reaching out to our immediate and extended communities, in order to fulfill our mission of building a Christ centered community that serves all God's children.

Our members currently volunteer with several local groups in our immediate area, such as Second Harvest Food Bank and Allina Health's Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute. We also reach out to extended charities such as CHUM, The St. Louis River Experience, and Life House of Duluth.

The Waters of Life Outreach Program is looking for your help in reaching out to our community. We have a lot of opportunities to serve our neighbors here in Fredenberg and Gnesen, as well as expanding our outreach further out. Please take some time to look at the organizations we work with listed below. If you'd like more information, you can click the links to learn more and visit each organization's website.

Local Organizations We Reach Out To


Courage Kenny Northland Rehabilitation Institute

Courage Kenny is a local organization that offers quality recreational opportunities for youth and adults with physical disabilities. They hold events that allow these individuals the opportunity to fish on our local lakes, shoot archery at Chalstrom's Archery Indoor Range, and ski / snowboard at Spirit Mountain.

Each Fall, Waters of Life gets involved with Courage Kenny's main fund raiser: the Shoot for Fun held each September at the Old Vermillion Trail Hunting Preserve. Waters of Life volunteers supply both the volunteer dinner the night before the Shoot, as well as volunteering to help with the main event the next day.

Each Spring, Waters of Life volunteers help with Courage Kenny's Fishing Tournament on Fish Lake. This provides people with disabilities the opportunity to get out and enjoy the lakes in our area, as well as the camaraderie of others who enjoy fishing.

Waters of Life looks forward to continue teaming up with Courage Kenny with these events in the future. Watch for sign-up sheets in the church Narthex.

To find out more about Courage Kenny and how you can volunteer for other upcoming events, please check out their website at:

Courage Kenny Northland Rehabilitation Institute Website


Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank

Second Harvest is the largest hunger-relief organization in our area, and indeed the entire Northland. Each year they rescue and distribute over 6.2 million meals, to over 53,000 of our neighbors' families and seniors in need. Through their enormous buying power, Second Harvest is able to turn every $1 donated into $7 dollars' worth of food. Several of Waters of Life members already volunteer at this wonderful organization, helping out with packaging and sorting food, as well as actually distributing the food via Second Harvest's drive-up food shelf.

To find out more how you can volunteer with this great organization, or donate money to their cause, please check out their website at:

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Website


CHUM

CHUM is an interfaith coalition of 40 faith communities, formed by local churches pooling their assets together to help our neighbors. CHUM is Duluth's primary safety-net organization where low-income people who are homeless or in need of food, can come for assistance and a welcoming, safe community.
Each March, Waters of Life member Bob Suomela knocks it out of the park heading up CHUM's annual MN Foodshare Campaign at our church. Because of Bob's efforts, and the generous giving at Waters of Life, our church has been consistently recognized by CHUM for being one of the top donors in our area for this drive. All donations are matched by MN Foodshare, and all donations stay local. Water of Life looks forward to continuing to work with CHUM on this annual Spring food drive.
To find out more about volunteering or donating to CHUM, please check out their website at:

CHUM Website


Together Here Ministries

Together Here Ministries is part of the ELCA Northeastern Minnesota Synod. This important Ministry prepares our synod to walk with our racialized and marginalized neighbors in a process of learning, listening, and relationship building, grounded in truth-telling and the reconciling love of Christ, so that transformational change and healing can occur. Together Here consists of the Advisory Board and two ministry teams: The Bridge Building Task Force and the Anti-Racism Team.

The Bridge Building Task Force was created in response to the Northeastern Minnesota Synod Resolution 17.1, our synod's commitment to partner with our Ojibwe neighbors as we repudiate the Doctrine of Discovery. Waters of Life member Ron Osborne currently serves as our contact person for this important Task Force.

If you'd like to find out more, would like to donate, or learn how you can participate in this Ministry, please check out their link on the ELCA NE Minnesota Synod website below:

ELCA NE Minnesota Synod websit


The Salvation Army

The Salvation Army is a Christian based charity organization that provides an incredible number of services to our neighbors in need. Each November, Waters of Life sets up a giving tree in our Narthex, donating gifts to be distributed by the Salvation Army to local children, brightening up their Christmas. Please watch for this opportunity to brighten the Christmas for our neighbors in need, during the Holiday Season.

To donate or volunteer with the Salvation Army in Duluth, please check out their website at:

The Salvation Army Website


Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry

An Outdoor Ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry offers summer and year-round camping programs for God's people of all ages. Many Waters of Life members have attended camp here when they were children, and later have sent their own kids here as well. They have also sat on the Board of Directors.

Waters of Life looks forward to helping Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry on future fundraisers to help raise money to send kids to this wonderful camping experience in the northwoods. Please keep an eye out in our church newsletter regarding future fundraisers for this important ministry.

To see how you can contribute, please check out their website at:

Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry Website


Life House

Duluth's Life House is located in downtown Duluth, and they've been helping and re-connecting homeless and street youth to their dreams since 1991. Life House provides a safe place of acceptance, safety, and belonging where youth can reclaim a positive, healthy, and hopeful future. Waters of Life members have volunteered their time here, as well as donated various items needed by youth in our extended area.

To find out more about this wonderful organization, please check out their website at:

Life House Website


Center For Changing Lives

Each year, Lutheran Social Services (LSS) provides services to more than 880 young people experiencing homelessness in the greater Duluth area, making thousands of contacts and providing youth with the resources they need to launch into productive, healthy and independent lives. Most are not homeless by choice. Circumstances put them at risk of dropping out of school, unemployment, chemical dependency, sex trafficking and an adult life of homelessness.
LSS has pledged to end youth homelessness in Duluth, and nine years ago they created a plan to do just that. Following nearly a decade of fundraising and planning, the Center for Changing Lives Duluth opened its doors in June 2017. It is a safe, central site where young people who are at-risk or experiencing homelessness can find holistic guidance and support.
To learn how you can get involved, please see their website at:

Center For Changing Lives Website