Messiah on a Mission

Looking back on the past year at Messiah Lutheran Church, what stands out is not a single event or initiative, but a shared way of living: showing up for neighbors, responding to real needs, and trusting that faith is most alive when it is practiced in love. Throughout the year, Messiah has continued to live out its calling to serve locally, regionally, and globally.

Showing Up for Children and Families

Care for children and families remained a central focus of our missional life. During the holidays, Messiah sponsored children in the care of Parker County CPS through the Christmas Angels program. Congregation members selected individual children, purchased gifts, and ensured that each child experienced dignity, care, and joy during the Christmas season.

This commitment to families extended beyond the holidays. Through our annual Mission Fest, Messiah raised over $3,000, which will support a community-wide back-to-school supply giveaway next summer. Working alongside Grace First Presbyterian (PCUSA), Waterhouse Church, New Hope Baptist Church, and Central Christian Church, this collaborative effort is expected to served more than 400 income-constrained children and families across Parker County in 2025. This past summer was also the first time Messiah was involved in collecting for and helping with this amazing grassroots effort. 

Standing with Those Often Overlooked

Messiah also continued to serve neighbors who are frequently unseen or forgotten. Through a dedicated collection, we assembled holiday care packages for incarcerated men at the Walker Unit in Breckenridge. These simple gifts offered encouragement and a reminder of human dignity during the holidays.

In another expression of solidarity and justice, the congregation raised nearly $1,000 through a special benevolence collection for ReconcilingWorks and PLAC (Program for Local Advocacy & Community). These gifts support advocacy, education, and ongoing work to ensure that all people are safe, welcomed, and respected, both within the church and in the wider community.

Addressing Hunger Near and Far

Throughout the year, Messiah responded to food insecurity in multiple ways. Locally, our Summer Season of Giving supported the Center of Hope through donations of boxed and shelf-stable meals for families facing hunger in Parker County.

Messiah also began a partnership with Catholic Charities Fort Worth to support students enrolled in their Education Navigation program at Weatherford College. We have been able to provide microwavable meals and grab-and-go snacks for students navigating the challenges of work, school, and limited resources.

Globally, Messiah’s care continues through our Fair Trade Store, where ethically sourced gifts, coffee, and chocolate are sold, with 100% of proceeds supporting ELCA World Hunger. We also remain committed to global education through our ongoing budgetary support of St. Peter’s Lutheran Primary School in Sierra Leone, helping provide stability and opportunity for children and families.

Serving Together Through Presence and Partnership

Service at Messiah is not limited to donations alone. Seven members of the congregation serve as regular mentors with Academy 4, offering consistent encouragement and relationship-building with elementary students in local schools.

As a congregation, we also gather to serve together through projects like God’s Work, Our Hands Sunday, assembling quilts and personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief. These kits and quilts are distributed to communities around the world impacted by poverty, disaster, and displacement.

Mission Fest further reflects Messiah’s commitment to partnership beyond our immediate context. The 2025 Mission Fest recipients, Global Refuge and the Tarrant Area Food Bank – West, extend our shared mission to address displacement, hunger, and systemic need both internationally and regionally.

Faith That Moves Outward

Taken together, these efforts tell a larger story. Messiah’s missional life is not defined by one-time drives or isolated projects, but by a steady, outward movement—responding to needs as they arise, building relationships, and trusting that God works through ordinary acts of faithfulness.

We give thanks for every volunteer hour, every donated item, every shared dollar, and every prayer offered. As we look ahead, we remain committed to living our faith beyond the walls, listening for where God is already at work, and joining in for the sake of the world God loves. Want to join in on the mission? Come be a part of our commnity! There is a place for you here!