Serving God by Serving People
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
Why Social Ministry Matters
Jesus gave us the greatest commandments:
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… and love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Matthew 22:37–39
Social Ministry is a faith priority. It’s how we live out Christ’s call to love and serve others.
St. Peter’s Outreach Team Helps
The St. Peter’s Outreach Team (“SPOT”), founded in 2015, is comprised of volunteers of all ages whose single mission is to use the gifts and talents we have in service to others. We have been to Belize to build a self-sustaining garden and chicken coop; Dorado, Puerto Rico twice after Hurricane Maria to help rebuild and serve those whose homes, roofs and spirits were decimated; and to western North Carolina to help those impacted by Hurricane Helene and the floods that followed. We will be heading back to Boone, NC this year on June 20-27, 2026.
During the year, we also reach out to Lutheran Churches in the areas where storms, floods or other catastrophes have occurred to just ask what we can do to help and to make sure our fellow brothers and sisters are okay. We raised over $3,000 in gift cards sent to the congregation members in Kerrville, TX after the Guadalupe River flooded in July 2025; and helped draft an emergency response plan for the Lutheran Church in Pacific Palisades, CA following the wildfires. We also maintain our regular contacts with Pastor Ihor Shemihon of the House of Mercy and Lutheran Church in Kyiv, Ukraine. Following the invasion, we collected funds to help the Church purchase a minivan – that is now used to pick up survivors whose villages have been bombed and many who are newly homeless and bring them to a place of warmth and safety.
Whenever natural disasters strike, there is a tendency to be diminished by the overwhelming nature of what happened. What possibly can we do to fix the situation? A number of us feel that the work we could do would be inadequate to respond to the extreme needs that still exist. However, if we can help to lift the burden of one person, one family, one home, one street or neighborhood, our efforts will have been successful. As we like to say, these events are acts of nature...but our volunteering is an act of God.
We would be delighted to have you and your family members (everyone is welcome) join us in our efforts. If you would like to be part of our SPOT Team, please contact Bernie Heinze: bernie@theheinzegroup.com. We promise that the experience will be life changing and faith fulfilling.
Global Projects & Mission Work
SPOT has partnered with communities around the world, using our skills and resources to restore hope and strengthen self-sufficiency.
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In Haiti, we sponsored a farm to provide tools, seeds, and training, which helped families grow their own crops. This effort promoted food security, self-sustainability, and dignity through work, empowering residents to provide for their families long after our involvement.
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In Belize, our team partnered with a village to construct a chicken coop that would supply food and income for local families. Working side-by-side with community members, we learned about their daily lives, shared faith and meals, and left with a deeper understanding of how even small projects can make a lasting difference.
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After Hurricane Maria in 2017, a team of 14 members traveled to Dorado to repair homes, rebuild roofs, and support families of the Iglesia Evangelica Luterano Ascension congregation.
During the week-long trip, seven roofs were rebuilt, multiple homes restored, and deep friendships formed. Our team also helped repair and paint the Campamento Luterano Eduardo Roig facility where they stayed. The experience transformed not only the community we served but also each volunteer — even leading to one engagement and many lifelong bonds!
A handmade wooden cross, gifted by our Puerto Rican partners from an oak tree downed by the hurricane, now rests on our altar at St. Peter’s — a lasting symbol of love, resilience, and shared faith.
Service, Charity, and Collaboration
At St. Peter’s, this commitment runs deep. In the 1980s, our congregation founded Nehemiah’s Way, a non-profit providing housing and services for families affected by domestic violence. That program, now part of Laurel House in Norristown, continues to offer transitional housing, counseling, job training, and children’s services — a legacy of compassion that began right here. Today, our Social Ministry Team meets every other month to coordinate outreach, service projects, and donation drives. Our ministry unfolds in three main areas: Service, Charity, and Collaboration.
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From our North Wales Day of Service — where 70 volunteers completed 10 community projects in one day — to mission trips with the Appalachia Service Project and local service days at Philabundance, Habitat for Humanity, and Good Works in Coatesville, we strive to make hands-on service part of our faith life.
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Since the 1980s, our Thrift Shop has been a cornerstone of our outreach. Open September through early June (Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. and Saturdays 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.), it donates all proceeds to local charities, expanding our Social Ministry impact throughout the North Wales area.
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We’re proud to collaborate with local partners and charities throughout the year. You’ll find donation bins (made from repurposed church pews!) near our parking lot entrance for non-perishable donations.
Manna on Main Street: Located in Lansdale, Manna provides a soup kitchen, food cupboard, financial assistance and a variety of other programs to help individuals in need. St. Peter’s has had a long relationship with Manna through volunteerism and providing food for their food cupboards and for holiday baskets.
Website — 606 E. Main Street, Lansdale, PA 19446 | 215-855-5454
Silver Springs — Martin Luther School: Located in Plymouth Meeting, Silver Springs provides a nurturing and healing environment with a quality education program. The school promotes trauma recovery and family reunification. St. Peter’s supports Silver Springs School with an annual Christmas Giving Tree that provides requested gifts for the students. We also participate twice a year in their “Pie Day” baking special desserts for the children of the school, and with other projects through our Sunday Church School.
Website — 512 Township Line Rd, Blue Bell, PA | 610-825-4440
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St. Peter’s members participate with Thrivent Financial with the Thrivent Builds program, a partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Thrivent Financial is a faith (Lutheran) based organization committed to helping its members achieve financial security and give back to their congregations and communities. Members of the congregation who have policies with Thrivent can direct their Choice Dollars to the church or the charity of their choice.
Since 1991 Thrivent and Habitat have built 500 homes through the Thrivent Builds Program in our area.
Website — 533 Foundry Road West Norriton, PA 19403
Restore: 610-631-3149 | Office: 610-278-7710 | Fax: 610-278-1634Website — 2031 N Broad St Ste 135 Lansdale, PA, 19446 | 215-368-4888
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Laurel House is a comprehensive domestic violence agency serving individuals and families throughout Montgomery County. St. Peter’s Nehemiah’s Way organization has joined with Laurel House. St. Peter’s supports Laurel House through member volunteers, providing space for counseling sessions and financially with contributions.
Laurel House Website — 605 Swede St, Norristown, PA 19401 | 610-277-1860
